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[princeinexile]

Sulking gets old after a while. Zuko can maintain it for quite some time-- the deep and abiding irritation, the brooding aura, the scowl over his maimed face. He really gets into it.

But it's tiring. It's why he's sprawled out on the couch with a book on his chest an an arm over his head, with the dogs sleeping in a heap in the kitchen. It's almost homey, except for the part where Zuko hates this box he lives in here (and in the Earth Kingdom) and the dogs are dreaming of the green open spaces of Yorkshire.

He broods, even when he sleeps.

Comments

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph is very good at sulking too. But she's also, well, Steph.

And he still doesn't look as healthy as he could.

She has a casserole dish, wrapped in aluminium foil and steaming a little, under one arm, and a determined set to her jaw.

Knock, knock. Guess who?

[princeinexile]

Annie would be so insulted! Still, Zuko grumbles and rolls out off the couch, tossing the book (The Three Kingdoms, Vol 1.) on the table and stumbles to the door with a bleary look.

...oh hi.

"...what do you want?"

Isn't he so welcoming and friendly?

[alwaysroomforhope]

"Making sure you're not sulking yourself to death," Steph retorts, and attempts to elbow her way past him to his kitchen. "You're predictable some ways."

[princeinexile]

Zuko snorts and lets her by, wandering over to watch her own his kitchen. "What did you bring?"

[alwaysroomforhope]

"Pasta bake. With pepper meatballs." She gives him a little smirk. "I'm guessing your tastes haven't changed much."

Cunning Plan to get inside and make sure he's looking after himself succeeds! She sets the casserole dish on the bench and leans on her hands there, looking around curiously.

[princeinexile]

There is a momentary Intrigued Look, but then Zuko sighs and then moves the casserole to the table and gets dishes. You know, for two people. Glumly.

[alwaysroomforhope]

"I'm not that hungry," Steph says, shaking her head. "I'm just gonna sit here and make sure you eat."

And maybe clean up for him a little. Maybe.

[princeinexile]

Zuko LOOKS at her.

And then he fills two dishes anyway.

Spite? Certainly.

[alwaysroomforhope]

Fine. Steph raises an eyebrow at him, and settles in one of his chairs anyway, looking like she's pretending very hard to be comfortable.

"At least I know it's edible."

Because she cooked it.

[princeinexile]

"Just because I haven't learned," Zuko grumbles as he sets their places. He sits down heavily and pokes at the food fitfully. Not comfortable at all.

[alwaysroomforhope]

"Your curry's good."

She goes a little bit pink, because she remembers exactly what happened last time he made curry. Same awkward setting. Same places.

"...So, what have you been doing since ... you got healed?"

[princeinexile]

"I stayed in Yorkshire," Zuko says blandly, his eye on his food. He ignores the subject of curry.

[alwaysroomforhope]

"With the Wellses? Good."

She likes them.

... swallow swallow chew swallow. Mmm, awkward meals. Did he make her stay out of spite or something? :O

[princeinexile]

Mmm, maybe.

Chew chew chew swallow.

"I don't like Spoon. But he seems to be staying peramently."

[alwaysroomforhope]

"I think he's sweet," Steph says, raising an eyebrow. "He's teaching me how to fight with a sword."

Stick that in your sulky pipe and smoke it. Hmph.

[princeinexile]

OH SMOKED.

Zuko GLARES.

"Is that so?"

[alwaysroomforhope]

"Yes, actually." She leans back and meets his gaze levelly. "Problem?"

Don't you tell her what she can and can't do!

[princeinexile]

"If you want to waste time with braindamaged dogs, that's not my business."

SO THERE.

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph glares.

"Do you have to be a total jerk? He was tortured! It's not like it's his fault!"

She gives him a very pointed look.

[princeinexile]

Zuko snorts softly. "And?"

As if the last three years haven't been prolonged torture? He hasn't forgot how to read and write!

[alwaysroomforhope]

"And I like learning, and he likes teaching."

And you didn't teach her, Mr Master Ninja. ... even if she never asked.

"And he can spare the time for me."

... She doesn't have to justify this to Zuko! He's not anything any more! ... even if he totally is.

[princeinexile]

"That's because he's a layabout on the farm," Zuko says, even if this is not at all true. It's true for Zuko, because Zuko said so. ...what, it's teenage logic. It doesn't HAVE to be so if he wants it enough to be otherwise. "So of course he has plenty of time. He has nothing better to do."

Ace would argue very hard with that, but Zuko doesn't have a whit of idea about any of that, either.

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph leans back in her chair and folds her arms.

"What do you have to do that's better?"

[princeinexile]

"..."

He wants to say something about his mission-- but he's supposed to give that up. He wants to say something about -- about anything.

But there's nothing left.

[alwaysroomforhope]

Strangely, this triumph doesn't give Steph anything even remotely resembling satisfaction.

She just looks at him for a moment, face falling.

"Zuko ..."

[princeinexile]

"Li," he says numbly, and eats without enthusiasm.

[alwaysroomforhope]

"You can't be both," Steph protests. "If your sister's here..."

[princeinexile]

"I'll figure it out," Zuko says without much optimism.

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph picks herself up and comes around to stand behind his chair, hands going tentatively for his shoulders.

"I'll help." This with determination, and an air of whether you want me to or not.

She's dumb that way.

[princeinexile]

He doesn't flinch.

"How?" is all he asks.

[alwaysroomforhope]

Ninja healing massage is go, then. She rubs softly for a moment, thinking.

"Whatever you need, I guess. I can warn people about your sister, at least."

[princeinexile]

"That's a start," Zuko grumbles, his eyes darting to the side. He's not sure what else could be helpful.

Other then his hands there, anyway.

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph goes still for a moment at the touch.

"Okay. I'll do that. And I'll warn you whenever they're here, if I can. And. Um. What else?"

[princeinexile]

He'd shrug, but he's busy getting all hot under her hands.

Darn.

[alwaysroomforhope]

Mmm. Firebenders.

Steph looks at him, and steps back a bit so he can get up.

"...yeah."

[princeinexile]

"...yeah?"

Yeah what? He blinks lazily -- or maybe that's sensually, who can tell? -- back at her. (It was probably lazy, really.)

[alwaysroomforhope]

Of course it was lazily.

And she's just folding her hands behind her back out of ... abstract motion, or something. Nothing to do with curling fists around palms to savour warmth.

"...I don't know."

[princeinexile]

He rises now, and looks -- a little lost. This is the part of the song and dance that leads up to the frantic pace and then--

Well.

"Me either," he says.

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph just isn't sure how to do this without the song and dance.

... or if it's even remotely a good idea in the first place.

But she steps forward awkwardly anyway, uncurling hands to hold them out to him tentatively.

"...do we have to shout at each other for a bit more first?"

[princeinexile]

He laughs -- weakly. "I don't feel like it."

Yelling, anyway. Taking her hands is another thing. So is leaning down to kiss her. He really ought to know better-- but Zuko lives too much with his heart and nto enough with his head.

Dumb kid.

[alwaysroomforhope]

The both of them.

They never were much good at restraint.