Searching (Zuko x OC)

Chapter 12

Zuko's POV:

When I woke up, I felt so calm. Last night was one of the first nights in a long time that I actually slept well. I laid still and just let the feeling wash over me. As I laid there, I began listening to the sounds around me. I could faintly hear the waves against the ship. I heard the creaking of the ship as it moved. I heard the small rise and fall of breathing.

"Wait a second. Breathing?" I thought to myself.

I snapped my eyes open and my heart started racing when I saw her laying next to me. The events of last night came rushing back to me all at once. She was laying her head against my shoulder and I had my arms curled around her. At some point last night, she had made her way into my arms. She had her hand on my chest and the other one was somewhere under her pillow. I blushed and tried to calm my racing heartbeat.

"Stay with me. Just for tonight..."

Oh my Agni. What was I thinking!

I turned to look at her once more, but this time I just observed her. She looked so peaceful as she slept. I could see the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. She was cuddled into the pillow and some small strands of hair cascaded across her face. She looked beautiful.

I startled slightly when she moved slightly. She moved her hand to curl around my torso and her face snuggled into my neck.

"Oh this can't be happening," I thought to myself.

Half of me was screaming at myself to get up and pretend like the events of last night hadn't happened. It would be so easy. We wouldn't have to talk about it. I could just move her to her bed and she could think it was all a dream. But the other half of me wanted to stay. It was screaming at me to pull her closer to me and never let go. Just relax and enjoy the warm feeling growing in the pit of my stomach.

That was the feeling that won out. I carefully wrapped my left arm around her torso, moving her close to me and just laid there. I closed my eyes and let myself relax. I didn't know why, but being with her made me calm. It made me remember who I used to be.

I allowed myself to drift back to sleep as a smile crept onto my face. This would probably never happen again so I wanted to soak it up for a long as I could.

•••

Sora's POV:

I woke up slowly. I felt my mind slowly start it's gears as my body began to wake up as well. It was calming. I thought about the events of last night and suddenly my slow morning was smashed to pieces. I felt an arm around my waist and I felt a heartbeat under my own. I opened my eyes to find myself curled up against Zuko.

I thought back to last night when I had started to get cold and connected the dots that the warmth that had encompassed me had been him. I blushed profusely as I realized the reality of where I was.

I was literally cuddling with the Prince of the Fire Nation. In his room. In his bed. All night.

I lifted my head head slightly to look at him. He looked more serene than I had ever seen him before. The ghost of a smile was on his face as he laid there. I smiled. At least I had been able to help him.

That was definitely the only reason I had agreed to his request last night. He was my friend. What kind of person would say no to a friends call for help?

I shook the thoughts out of my head when I realized that I needed to get up and start my routine. I carefully moved my arm away from his torso and moved his off of mine. My body immediately missed the warmth that being curled into his body had given me. I made sure to slowly place his arm down as I crawled out of his bed. I sat on the edge and tried to calm the butterflies in my stomach. I turned my head to look at him and smiled.