not from around here | Zuko X OC

| chapter twenty eight |

Saki woke the next day to see that Iroh was gone from his sleeping place, but Zuko was still there with her.
She wasn't surprised, he hadn't slept in days so it's no wonder he was exhausted.

Saki tried to stand up, but the pain in her ribs and Zuko's sleepy arms around her hips wouldn't let her.

Zuko muttered something in his sleep and pulled her back down next to him.
Saki smiled and obliged, putting her head on his chest and feeling his arms wrap around her.

"Good morning, Saki." Said Iroh as he backed into the room with tea.
"Morning." Saki yawned, turning away from Zuko's chest and sitting up as much as she could.
"How did you sleep?" Iroh asked her, setting down the tray of tea.
"Good, surprisingly." She grinned, rubbing the last of the sleep from her eyes. Iroh smiled and sat next to her, plus the asleep Zuko, and handed her tea as she sat up, slowly.

"Thanks, Iroh." Saki nodded at him, taking a sip from the cup.
"Ah yes, I was thinking about that." Iroh said, thinking and putting a finger to his chin.
"Huh?" Saki cocked her head at him.
"What you call me." Iroh elaborated.

Saki's brow creased as she frowned, bringing the cup of steaming tea to her lips.
Just before taking a sip she asked, "Should I call you General Iroh?"

"Oh, no no. I was thinking, we've known each other for a long time now. And we've been through a lot together. You can call me uncle if you like." He smiled warmly at her and her eyes widened slightly in shock.
"Really? Will Zuko mind?" She asked, sparing a glance to Zuko, who was still asleep.
"I appreciate your concern for my nephew, but I'm sure he won't mind." Iroh shook his head slowly.
"Thanks Ir-I mean uncle." Saki laughed and he chuckled as he took a sip from his own tea.

"I am going to go freshen up in the stream, you and Zuko can get ready when you're fully awake." He said to Saki, standing and beginning to walk out of the hut.
Saki smiled as he walked out of the cabin, leaving an empty tea cup.

She then turned to Zuko, who was laying on his side facing her, one arm wrapped around hers as he slept. Saki thoughts he always looked so cute and adorable when he slept, like a small child did.

Not wanting to wake him up, she carefully pulled her hand from his grasp and started to stand. She walked over to her bag to find a change of clothes. She'd been in the same clothes for four days, she really wanted to change.

She pulled out a neatly folded pair of clothes she used to swim in that she had packed when her and Iroh went off on their own, and placed them on the floor.

"Saki?" Zuko muttered from behind her on the sleeping mats.
"Morning, sleepy head." She said, turning to grin at him as he sat up.

"What time is it?" He asked, starting to sit up and run his eyes.
"Morning time." She grinned, nodding at him knowingly.
"That's helpful." He said sarcastically as he rolled his eyes.

"I'm gonna get changed, then do some waterbending training." Saki told him.
"But you should rest." He protested.
"I'll be fine, besides, I can do some healing whilst I'm there." She tried to convince him.
"Fine. I'm coming to make sure you stay safe." He demanded.

"Uncle wants you to train with him." Saki told him, shrugging.
"It can wait, we have all day." Zuko pointed out, starting to push the covers off of himself.
"If you insist." Saki sang and ruffled his hair as she walked past, making him pout which made him look even more like a child.

Zuko took his clothes around the corner so they could change separately. Once they were done, they both walked outside to see Iroh coming back.