(Untitled)

[i_spoiled_it]

Those heading to the Infirmary in search of Steph may be surprised and pleased to find her bed empty.

Of course, if they look around they'll realise she hasn't actually been released; she's just decided her own bed wasn't what she wantedNow she's stretched out atop the covers on the one just to its left, cuddled against a tired and pale fire

Comments

[princeinexile]

Zuko is sleeping remarkably well for all that he's acquired a limpet.

Mind you, waking up to blond hair tickling his nose has never been good. But at least this time he doesn't sneeze smoke. He just sneezes once, and then turns his head, blinking.

"Nngh?"

[i_spoiled_it]

"Hey," Steph says, and brushes her hair off his face guiltily. "Oops."

[princeinexile]

There is another sound, but Zuko cannot properly do what he does in bed; roll over, tug her against him, and spoon against her back possessively. Instead, he hides his face in at her collar, and goes quiet.

He'll be like that for a bit.

[i_spoiled_it]

That's okay. It brings a soft smile to her face, the way he's all warm and snuggly against her; she strokes his hair and waits for him to wake up properly. Or go to sleep again, if that's what he needs.

[princeinexile]

It's a little of both. He dozes off for a while, and then a little later, wakes up and makes a face. He is tired! Why is he awake? Nnngh.

...wait, oh, warm body.

"...hey."

[i_spoiled_it]

"Hey."

She has her hair wrapped up and tucked down the other side of her head now. That way he won't choke on it. Steph's SMRT.

"You look better."

[princeinexile]

"I do?"

[i_spoiled_it]

"A little bit," she confirms.

A very little. But it's something.

[princeinexile]

"Oh," says Zuko.

He leans his head against her collar again, and then adds, "I suppose it's a start."

[i_spoiled_it]

She wants him strong enough to hug her properly, dammit.

"You look stacks better now than you did when I first woke up," she says, with a faint shiver. "You were ... I was scared. But you look good now."

[princeinexile]

Well, he'd flatlined twice! Of course he looked like crap!

But now, Zuko just smiles a little for her, and then says, "Don't be scared. I'm hard to kill."

[i_spoiled_it]

"You'd better be," she says, half joking - but only half. "One of us dead is enough, I think."

The fact that dead is even a consideration scares her. The hand in his hair tightens a little.

[princeinexile]

There is a look given, and it's dark. He does not find that half-joke even one-quarter-funny.

"Don't talk like that."

[i_spoiled_it]

"...'kay." Chastised, she rests her head back on the pillow, looking up at the ceiling. "Just ... it's ... I was really scared."

[princeinexile]

"I understand," zuko says, and he DOES. She didn't see herself smoking right after the HIT... It scared him, too!

[i_spoiled_it]

She snuggles a little. "Ichigo said you threw things at his weird body-sharing friend," she says, after a while. Her tone does not indicate disapproval!