not from around here | Zuko X OC

| chapter seven |

I rolled over.
It was late, but I couldn't sleep.
I wasn't even tired.

I gave up trying and pushed the covers off of me, my bare feet touching the red rug.
Pulling down Zuko's t-shirt I was wearing as something to sleep in, I stood up.
The t-shirt was red, obviously, and went halfway down my thighs.
I couldn't be bothered to put my shoes on so I just walked out of the room barefoot.

As I hoped, no one else was around, so I walked down the hallway to the upper deck.
I stood by the railing, leaning my arms on the metal rungs.

Why did I come here!?
The question that had been bothering me all night rung in my head yet again.
It was such a stupid idea. No one wants me here. Why did I leave my world behind, I knew what was going on there. There was no one who could bend elements, no one who wanted me dead, no one who shouted at me for everything I did.

I missed sitting in my room. Where I felt safe.
I glanced down at the scars on my arms and legs.
I'd been through so much and I was on yet another journey where I didn't fit in, where no one wanted me.

Silent tears streamed down my cheeks.
The moonlight and stars were blurred by my teary eyes. The sight was rather beautiful, the lights against the dark sky that was then reflected in the ocean looked unreal.

"I guess you can't sleep either?"

I jumped and quickly wiped my eyes, not wanting to show any weakness to anyone on this ship, let alone him.

I looked up to se Zuko, also staring at the stars.
"What's up with you?" He asked me.
"Just... thinking." I answered shortly.

"Oh. What about?" He pressed.
"Stuff." I answered, dryly, not wanting to give too much away.

He moved closer and looked down at me.
He noticed the straight scars on my arms and legs and frowned, no doubt wondering what did that to me.

He wanted to ask but knew he shouldn't because he knew how personal these things could be.

"If you wanna know how I got them, just ask. It's better than just staring at them."
He went pink and looked down.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I know how sensitive the subject of scars can be." He said, raising a hand to touch his own.
"Thanks Zuko." I felt something warm in the pit of my stomach, making me smile.
I moved closer to him and leant my head against his arm.

He blushed slightly and looked down at me with a look on his face which meant he had no idea what he was meant to do.

"Sorry for letting the avatar escape." I said.
"It's okay I guess. Sorry for shouting at you when you helped me."
I was taken aback by Zuko apologising, this was not the normal Zuko. Maybe he was just really relaxed. Or on drugs. Do they have drugs over here? They better.

The two stood next to each other, chatting casually.

Little did they know, Iroh stood behind them, smiling. He had talked to Zuko and convinced him to apologise to the girl who was just trying to help him.
Hopefully, they would start to be friends.
Or at least not shout at each other with every meeting.

And if Iroh was lucky....maybe a little more than friends...

"Hey! Is that my shirt?"
"Oh right, Iroh said I could borrow it if I wanted. I needed something to sleep in."
He blushed again. "Yeah that's okay. You should get some sleep. We're getting the ship repaired tomorrow."