RL with Azula - So you thought you were safe?

[chimeranomore]

Zel was in a very good mood. Quite apart from feeling as if he was drunk out of his mind, he was almost certain he'd actually managed to win an argument with Azula for the first time in... ever. He managed to force himself to stop being smug, being aware, if only through a haze of alcohol he hadn't actually consumed, that this would not be useful in helping Azula.

He was still having trouble with the concept of her not wanting his help - surely if the virus was that bad she should welcome someone willing to help her relieve it? Eventually he dismissed it as Azula being her normal difficult self and decided that she'd surely warm up to the idea eventually. He couldn't help giggling a little at the unintentional pun in his own internal monologue, either.

He hummed happily to himself as he he gave a slightly arrhythmic knock at the door to her room. "Hello, Fire Lord?" he called out.

Comments

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

Azula immediately tensed at his voice, and her expression slid into a frown. It was ridiculous what this virus did-- she craved contact, no matter who it was from, but it didn't effect her mental processes enough that she didn't realize that without its influence, she would have told Zel to leave her alone the moment he suggested coming over to "help" her.

"Yes, I'm in here," she half-snapped, burrowing deeper under the blankets. "Where else would I be?"

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

"Just sayin' I was here," he mumbled, feeling a little slighted. Really, though, he shouldn't have been surprised. "Don't have to be snotty. Can I c'min?"

Not that he had any intention of listening if she said "no", but it was the thought that counted.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

"I told you, I don't care." There was more of a snap in her voice this time. She had to keep up the pretense of being annoyed, even though a very large part of her was relieved that he had come by.

"... You still sound drunk."

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

"Prob'ly still am," he replied far too cheerfully, slipping into the room. "Blame the community."

He leaned against the wall in an attempt at his normal "mysterious loner" pose, which didn't go so well when his sense of balance was completely shot. He completely ignored the tone in her voice; it was amazing what could be rationalized away once you were used to Azula.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

"I always do." She couldn't see him-- she had tucked her head underneath the covers before he had come into the room.

"What are you doing here?"

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

"Told you. I came to help." He poked at the pile of blankets playfully. "Are you hiding under there?"

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

"I'm cold." The lie was immediate and automatic; even though she knew he knew the truth now, she didn't necessarily want to admit it out loud.

That didn't change her from leaning up into his touch, no matter how slight it was.

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

"No you're not." He started trying to tug the blankets back. "C'mon, 'zula. Stop foolin' around. I came to help."

He had to smirk slightly when she shifted. So that was how it was...

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

She growled a little. The blankets felt good; she wanted to leave them on no matter what. "Stop it. I want to stay under here."

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

"If you say so, 'zula..." He plunked himself down on the edge of the bed and trailed a hand over what he was fairly sure was her shoulder.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

She let out a light, involuntary sigh. She liked being touched in general (but only by certain people that she liked and trusted; otherwise it just made her feel weird and uncomfortable), but this virus made everything feel ten times better.

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

He smirked slightly. "You liiiike that, 'zula?"

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

Yes, she really, really did-- but she frowned at his teasing tone. "I told you, I don't care."

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

"Oh, don't be a big baby. Just 'cause I was right for once..." He tickled her shoulder gently, testing her reaction.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

She huffed. "Don't call me a baby. And I never said you were right." ... That tickle made her shiver a little, but she tried to suppress it.

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

"Don't act like one, then. You're going all pouty just 'cause I actually made a good point." He ran a hand down what he thought was probably her back.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

"I don't pout," she pouted, giving another little sigh. "And if you call me a baby again I'll set your hair on fire."

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

"You don't pout, huh? Prove it," he challenged, delighted at the reaction he was finally getting from her.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

"Stop being an idiot." Did drunkenness always make people act so annoying? "Better yet, stop talking entirely." And keep stroking my back.

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

"Only if you sit up and act like you're as mature as you think," he shot back, grinning.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

"Sitting up wouldn't make me mature, any more than lying down makes me immature." As if to prove her point, she nestled down into the blankets even more.

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

"But hidin' does make you immature. And that's what you're doin'." As if in punishment, he pulled his hand away.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

She curled a little tighter at the removal of his hand. "I'm not hiding."

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

"Then why won't you sit up?" he asked. "Not like you can't keep the blankets around you."

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

"I prefer to lie down. Why does it matter to you?"