literature

Sleeping Arrangements

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Teo rubbed his eyes with a stifled yawn. “Katara, I’m tired,” he groaned.

The waterbender turned to him with a soft smile. “I know, Teo. We should be landing soon, okay?”

The boy nodded wearily, his blinks getting slower and slower. Just then, Aang twisted from his position to speak to the crowd on the saddle of Appa. Katara, Sokka, Toph, Suki, Zuko, Teo, Haru, and The Duke all sat behind him, a nice size for a small space. Zuko was squished into the corner, with Toph and Sokka on either side. Toph was practically on his lap, and she was running her fingers over Zuko’s knife. By Sokka was Suki and she was leaned on his shoulder, slumbering peacefully. Katara flanked her, then Teo and Haru. The Duke was on his knees while talking reverently with Haru. After The Duke was Toph and the cycle repeated itself. And one more thing...

They were all shoulder-to-shoulder and very unhappy. And tired. And temperamental. Any minute now, someone was going to make a comment and the whole place would explode. Aang sighed. It would probably be Zuko or Katara.

He couldn’t believe he was going to say this. He took a long, deep breath, then announced. “Guys... um... we aren’t going to land tonight.”

The saddle erupted in shouts and whines and complaints from everybody, especially Katara must have been suffering from permanent PMS lately. Finally, Sokka’s voice became louder than everyone else’s. “Why?!”

“I’m not seeing any clearings and it’s going to get dark. Appa’s still strong enough to get us through the night. Come on, you guys. We can figure this out.” Aang sighed and let Appa fly alone. He slipped in-between Katara and Teo while folding his hands in his lap. “Can’t you all just sleep in the saddle. I do it almost ever night.”

Haru pulled a hand through his hair. “Yes, but you don’t have eight other people.”

“True, but it shouldn’t be that hard.”

ZKZKZKZKZKZKZK

He lied. It was hard. Everyone must have grown six inches since they had last slept in the saddle. This person didn’t want to sleep by that person, oh especially Katara when Aang mentioned lying next to Zuko.

“Why would I do that?!” she had exclaimed. Aang looked to Zuko and saw a little but of hurt in his eyes.

“You’re going to.”

“Since when did I take orders form you?!” she snapped, her pitch nearing all-out mad.

“Since I became the Avatar.” When had he started using this tone with her? His voice was hard as he continued. “Now, you go there, and Zuko you go right next to her. It’s only for a couple hours. Do you want to sleep or not?”

Zuko crawled over a few people and laid down on his back. Toph, without even looking to Aang, flopped down next to him. Zuko turned on his side, away from Katara,  to give her room She fearlessly dug into his pockets and found the knife again. “What does it say, Sparky?”

Katara was fuming at Aang’s sudden forcefulness. Why was he being so rude lately? She scooted as far as she could away from Zuko. Sokka turned with an angry look in his eyes. “Excuse me?”

She huffed and inched a little bit closer to her traitor. She caught wind of his conversation as the crowd around her calmed down, being content and just plain tired. Toph was complaining about the cold, and as she said the words, Katara shivered. Her friend was right; it was freezing. Zuko let out a slight grunt and Katara realized that Toph was cuddling up to him.

She sighed suddenly, Toph did. A heat was radiating off Zuko now. Katara mentally slapped herself before she could panic. Firebender. Toph murmured a thanks.

As the night went on, Zuko never slept. Toph was snoring lightly across his body, and Katara found herself very close to Zuko suddenly, and she realized she’d fell asleep and unconsciously scooted closer to Zuko. She started to climb back, but found she was entirely too cold when she did.

“Are you cold?” he asked. He turned over to face her, their noses about five inches apart. His eyes were glowing in the night, as piercing as a cat’s. She shook her head defiantly. He shrugged, and another wave of heat fell over her. She tried not to respond, but found herself sighing.

The corners of Zuko’s mouth lifted, a small, warm smile. “Suit yourself.”

She expected the warmth to die, but it came steadily for the next half hour. She found herself getting closer and closer without thinking. Finally, she tapped his shoulder. His eyes popped open. She knew he hadn’t been sleeping because his breath never slowed, and he looked alert enough.

“I am cold,” she admitted.

Zuko grinned. Katara cuddled up to his chest and when the warmth was too much for one side than her other, she grabbed Zuko’s wrist and laid it across her waist. He started breathing onto her neck in hot spurts, the heat making her icy heart melt a little more. She never knew he could be this nice.

While she told herself that repeatedly, she found her hand enclosing over his. She felt his breath, now only lukewarm, stop on the nape of her neck. She grinned mischievously, wondering where this was all coming from. Why was she plastered to Zuko, holding his hand, enjoying his warmth? She kept telling herself it was because he was keeping her from freezing to death. It was strictly life and death.

I’ll be dead if I’m away from him. She almost gasped at her own thoughts. What? Is she going crazy? Did the heat give her a fever?

Her conscious popped up, always coming at the worst times. She rebuked it. It’s ZUKO!

He’s warm... and handsome... and nice.

It’s ZUKO!

And he’s been nothing but kind to you since he’s joined.

It’s ZUKO!

He’s blushing. You can’t see it in the dark, but it’s there.

It’s ZU-... he’s blushing?

Her conscious giggled inside her head. Yes, he is. He’s as red as a tomato, Katara. You’re holding his hand for Agni’s sake.

But, it’s just to keep my hand warm.

Yes, of course. You keep telling yourself that, dear. He’s just keeping you warm. Not being nice, not blushing because you’re holding his hand, and that he has no feelings for you.

Feelings? All Zuko feels is hate and anger. He’s the Fire Lord’s SON!

Was. He WAS the Fire Lord’s son.

Katara rolled her eyes. Nonetheless, he’s dangerous, and I have no clue why I’m lying here.

She wanted to pull away, but then again, she didn’t. Her conscious was fighting her, battling inside her heart. She finally found some strength to rip her hand from his and scoot into Sokka’s back. She ignored his protest and gripped her cotton dress in pure disbelief. She didn’t like Zuko.

And he didn’t like her.

ZKZKZKZKZKZKZKZK


The morning sun shone on her face, waking her up. She saw Zuko’s dozing face first, his eyes closed, his face wonderfully peaceful. He had half rolled over and now Toph had an arm outstretched over his torso. She was awake, but she was trying to find the stupid knife again.

“Have a nice sleep, Sugar Queen?” Toph asked softly while prodding Zuko’s calf.

“Yes, I did. Thank you.”

“Did you feel Zuko blushing all night? He was so jittery. I couldn’t sleep a wink.”

“I’m sorry.”

“What, you didn’t do anything.”

“Never mind. Are we the only one’s awake?”

Toph had moved up to Zuko’s pockets. She grinned. “Nope. He’s awake now.”

Zuko’s eyes fluttered and he snatched Toph’s hand. He found the knife in his opposite pocket and handed it to her. She smiled triumphantly and started running her fingers over the words.

He looked to her and he blinked. “Hi.”

She felt her cheeks light up on fire and she ducked her head. “Hi.”
And now you get to choose how it ends (because I’m too lazy to find out)! YAYAYAY!

A) Katara launches herself onto Zuko and they kiss
B) They keep up their little blushing moments until finally something happens
C) Nothing at all proceeds and Katara dies with Aang as her husband (gag)
D) Another night of SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS! (this one is my fav, because I could have some funnnnnn)
E) Leave it as it is

Thanks guys! Comment with your choice!
XOXO, abby
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emoneous93's avatar
i agree with xxzutarafanxx either f.), b.), or d.)