not from around here | Zuko X OC

| chapter twenty seven |

Saki was still "wounded" as Zuko called it, so he made her stay in bed all day everyday.
Staying in one place all day was extremely boring for her and definitely not what she was used to.

"Pleeeease! I promise I won't go far, I just want to go outside." She pleaded with Zuko and Iroh, putting her hands together.
"I think it's best if you stay here." Iroh answered.
"But-" She started, about to protest.
"You're not going anywhere." Stated Zuko simply, looking up from where he was on the other side of the cabin.
Saki put on biggest puppy eyes she could, her lip sticking out as she pouted. Zuko glanced at her and instantly regretted it. He could see her blue eyes shimmering, big and round, and he wasn't sure how long he could resist.

Before Zuko could get fully entranced by her eyes, Iroh spoke up.
"You heard what Zuko said, stay here."
"Fine. But can you pass me my sketch book please." Saki asked Zuko as he stood up.
He nodded and went to her bag of stuff.

Zuko and Iroh had told Saki how Iroh had tried to redirect lightning, but it had still hit her and Zuko told them about all of the adventures he had when he was travelling alone.

Saki offered to make dinner but Iroh wouldn't let her and said he could handle it. Zuko stayed with Saki to keep me company and in case she needed anything.

Saki sat in between Zuko's legs as he leant against the wall and had his arms wrapped carefully around her waist, not wanting to hurt her. His head rested on Saki's as she doodled in her sketch book.

"Give me another one." She whispered to him, jabbing at the page with her pencil.
"Uhhh okay... draw a... turtle duck!" Zuko told her, nodding happily with his choice.

Zuko was giving Saki cross animals from his world and Saki had to guess what they looked like by drawing them.

"Aww that would be so cute! Is it like a turtle seal but a duck?" She asked, thinking.
"You have to guess." Zuko told her, a huge smile etching its was onto his face.
"Okayy." Saki whined and started doodling what she thought a turtle duck would look like.

"How's that?" She asked, pulling her pencil away from the page to show Zuko.
"That's exactly what it looks like! How did you know?" He asked, frowning.
"What can I say? I'm a master at drawing." Saki shrugged and Zuko's frown turned into a grin.

He smiled down at her as she chuckled and felt a sharp pain in her ribs. Wincing, she shifted her position slightly so she was sat higher on Zuko's chest.

"What's wrong? Does it hurt? Sorry!" He said quickly, moving his hands away from around her waist.

"No, no, it wasn't you." She grabbed his arms and moved them back to how they were.
"Your arms are warm." She giggled and he smiled down at her.

Iroh walked in with three bowls balanced on his arms and caught sight of the two teens sat together.

"Ah, I see you two worked it out." Iroh smiled.
"Worked what out?" Saki asked as Zuko shook his head and made cutting signals across his neck.

Saki glanced up at Zuko and he gave her a smile, moving his hand from his neck to back around her.

Iroh was still slightly confused.
"What is it Zuk-oh! I mean, uhm. Worked out what...uhh... you were going to do to keep Saki entertained...?" He finished, unsure of what he was saying.
Zuko face palmed.

"Oh. Yeah we did, Zuko is giving me mixed animals and I have to draw them." Saki said, turning her notebook round to show Iroh what she'd already drawn.
Zuko looked down at her and swiped a hand across his forehead and muttered "phew."

Dinner was delicious, Saki was extremely hungry from not eating for ages, so she was glad to have a meal. To be honest, using chopsticks was pretty painful for her because she had to move her arm back and forth. Unluckily, the wound was on the right side of her ribs, which was her dominant hand.

The other two were finished and Saki wasn't even half way done. Iroh told her not to worry about it and to go at her own pace as he left to wash up.

"Need a hand?" Asked Zuko, who was still sat behind her, after she had dropped the chopsticks and winced again.

"Yes please." She sighed in defeat. He smiled and took them from where they had fallen onto the bowl and easily picked up some noodles.
Saki opened her mouth and Zuko fed her what was on the chopsticks.

It all was going very well until Saki nearly spat out a mouthful because she was trying not to laugh. This made Zuko laugh too and saki laughed even more, nearly spilling the bowl of noodles.

After a few more minutes and about half of what was left of Saki's dinner later, they gave up and Zuko took the bowl out to where Iroh was.

Saki looked outside and saw that it was getting dark. Even though she had been asleep the last few days, she was tired from the pain in her side and leg and the hot dinner made her feel even more sleepy.

Zuko came back into the room, followed by Iroh, and sat next to me.
"I think it's best if we all rest tonight and then me and Zuko will start training tomorrow. Saki, you can do healing sessions in the river near us if you like?" Iroh suggested as he laid out his sleeping mat.
"That would be great, thanks Iroh." Saki answered.

"What kind of training?" Asked Zuko.
"I have some new techniques I want to show you." Iroh winked at Zuko and Zuko nodded, knowing he would have to wait until tomorrow to find out.

They stayed up for a little longer, informing each other of what they had been doing when separated and just generally talking. Zuko was being oddly quiet and not including himself in the conversation as much as usual.

Saki felt a weight against her shoulder and looked to see Zuko fast asleep, his head leaning on her. She smiled and Iroh suggested they all go to bed.

Iroh went to the other side of the room, where he slept, and Saki grabbed the blanket that she had over her earlier. With a glance up at the sleeping Zuko, Saki pulled the blanket over herself and him, turned, and buried her head into his warm chest.

A shawty today folks.
Today was mainly just a fluffy extra chapter that I felt like writing because I can hehe.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

Bea, out.

Word count: 1151