concoursec | backdated to yesterday [dec 20]

Character(s): Katara, Zuko
Location: Katara's dormitory
Rating: PG
Open/Closed/Finished: Closed
Summary: Unbeknownst to Katara, it's the night of the lunar eclipse-- and her body isn't responding well.

Katara, to put it lightly, was feeling horrible.

She wasn't sure what had happened to make her fall into such a state-- she had been perfectly fine just the day before, showing absolutely no symptoms of sickness. When she woke this morning, though, she couldn't even manage to muster enough energy to get out of bed, her body completely drained of energy. She'd grown up in the cold so the change in setting to the northern continent certainly couldn't have contributed to the change in her physical well-being. But at the moment, she was curled up in her bed with the covers drawn up to her chin, her body shivering with fever-chills and limbs aching from fatigue. But as tired as she was feeling and as much as she closed her eyes to try and rest herself to recover from her illness, sleep wouldn't claim her.

Katara shifted onto her side to try and find a more comfortable position, her hands drawing the blankets up over her head completely in a futile attempt to warm her freezing body.

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Zuko stiffened at the sound of her sleepy mumble. His eyes dropped down to where he could make out her face in the white tones of the blankets, swallowing audibly. Drat, he’d been caught. Warmth spread over his cheeks at the surprise in her voice, and Zuko frowned to cover it up. “Of course I’m still here,” he muttered. “Someone had to take care of you.”

The Chicobo gave a a kwehhhh and tried to walk its way over to Katara’s head, hopping around the odd lumps an hills of blankets.

“I uh… I tried not to wake you. I was going to leave before you woke up but…” Zuko gestured to where his arm remained pinned down beneath her.

The sleepy veil over her head seemed to finally lift enough for Katara to be able to evaluate the situation again. Yes, Zuko indeed was still in her bed, and laying quite close to her come to think of it. Her cheeks immediately reddened, but she tried to wave away whatever embarrassment she was feeling; she had slept this close to boys before, like Sokka and Aang while they had all been traveling the world. What made this any different?

There's definitely something different about this, her mind tried to convince her, but she immediately dismissed the thought.

"Oh, right-- sorry about that--" the apology was hasty as she rolled off his arm, her body now pressed against the wall as she waited for him to retrieve the appendage.

Edited 2011-02-04 23:07 (UTC)

Wincing he pulled his arm up, Zuko finally sat up. He let his arm rest in his lap, flexing his fingers to get feeling back as he reached up with his other hand to rub at his shoulder and bicep. They were somewhat numb, but it was the 'asleep' numb feeling that one got when laying on something for so long.

Another wince and quiet hiss of breath was indication of the pins and needles gradually setting in.

"... Thanks."

In all honesty, Katara had expected Zuko to dart out of her room the moment she rolled off of his arm-- she was more than surprised to see that he was still in her bed, and seemingly okay about it. A fleeting thought crossed her mind; maybe this wasn't the first time he'd been in such a situation.

"Did you stay only because I was sleeping on your arm?" The question had come out before she had a chance to really process what she was asking, and her cheeks reddened when she realized what she had asked. But more than that, she wasn't sure if she was curious or dreading the answer he would give her.

Zuko was only okay and 'comfortable' (yeah right) with being in her bed due to the fact that she was under the blankets and he wasn't under them with her. That was an entirely different situation altogether, and Zuko was quite content not being under there with her because ... awkward...

At her unexpected question, Zuko froze, his hand still gripping at his shoulder. He glanced over at her and noticed the blush on her cheeks, an odd little flutter coming to life in his chest at the sight. "I..." he began to say, his voice gruff from sleep, "I uh... yeah," he then finished lamely, golden eyes dropping to his lap where he flexed his hand.

"Yeah," the firebender repeated with a nod, speaking to himself mostly. And then added on a quieter tone akin to a mumble after a moment of pause, his gaze averted downward, "It would've been dishonorable of me to leave you by yourself after you kind of fainted on me..."

Edited 2011-02-12 09:40 (UTC)

Right. Honor. Katara wasn't sure why, but she was oddly disappointed by his answer... but why did it even matter? It's not like she really cared why he bothered to stay the whole night or not.

But the mention of her fainting had her eyes widening in surprise; she certainly didn't remember that episode. "I fainted? How long was I out for?"

His brows drew together as he thought back to last night and her brief fainting episode. "Five minutes?"

Zuko shrugged, rotating his shoulder to make sure the uncomfortable tingling was completely gone.

"I was a little too busy carrying you to your bed to think about the passing time, Katara."

"You carried me into my bed?" This was getting more and more embarrassing, as well as more and more awkward. Unable to help the groan that escaped her at hearing his words, Katara buried her face into her pillow for a moment to wallow in the embarrassment she felt, as well as to hide her blushing cheeks.

Finally after what seemed like minutes of agony, Katara peeked over at Zuko. She took a moment to assess him, took in his slightly disheveled 'just woke up' state with his hair in a slight disarray, the way he rolled his arm to shake off the sleep that her weight had forced upon it. He really had taken care of her while she was in such a sickly state-- and she found herself feeling quite grateful for his kindness.

"... Thanks, Zuko." The thank was a soft whisper that, despite the quietness of her words, managed filled the silence between them.

Even as she burrowed her face into the pillow and wallowed, Zuko responded with, "What? You thought I was just going to leave you out there?"

Zuko tried not to roll his eyes and snorted to himself, frowning down at his lap while still flexing his hand; the pins and needles were nearly over and done with. Zuko seemed completely oblivious to her scrutiny, preferring to keep his head down, the silence between stretching. What now? Did he just get up and leave? Would she be alright now on her own? Maybe he should go to find Aang and tell him what happened so the monk could take his place...

At her faint murmur of gratitude he lifted only his eyes to peer out at her from beneath his messy bangs. "...You're welcome," he finally murmured back, cheeks feeling especially warm in that moment.

Edited 2011-02-19 12:47 (UTC)

backdated to yesterday [dec 20]

I need to remember; this isn't journal log, it's GAME LOG, next time 1 comment and not 2 plz self

Re: I need to remember; this isn't journal log, it's GAME LOG, next time 1 comment and not 2 plz sel

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