Varrick put on the robe Zhu Li had handed him. It weighed on him more than his Water Tribe outfits ever did and it would take time to get used to the metal collar. Not long, though. He had always bounced back from anything that life threw at him. There was no reason his prison escape would be anything different.
- What do you think, Zhu Li? Looking good in my Zaofu style garb?
He turned around to face her and was pleasantly surprised to find her smiling, although shyly.
- It suits you well enough.
He took her hand in his and pressed a kiss on it.
- You're quite a sight for sore eyes yourself.
They shared a look. Under the sun, her grey eyes shone in a very particular way. His hand found her cheek and she ever so slightly leaned into his touch. He thought she might kiss him if he gave her time but a knock on the door interrupted them. He sighed deeply. Her face turned back to the mask she wore with other people and she walked over to answer the knock.
- Hello! said Suyin with a cheerful voice. Is Varrick here?
Zhu Li stepped aside to let the matriarch in, then closed the door and went to stand by the wall behind Varrick to watch over the room.
It was good to see Suyin again. He had so many plans to share with her. On his way into Zaofu, he had taken in all the details of her transportation system and he explained to her the improvements he thought he might make to the city. The Water Tribe wars were long forgotten for him and he was facing his new life head on. He talked with Suyin for what became an extremely long time and it began to weigh on him. He had arrived at Zaofu at dawn, after having flown all night from the prison, and he longed for a nice nap next to Zhu Li. When Suyin suggested they had lunch with her family, he almost crushed her with his hug. He was completely starving. During dinner, he discussed the potential new railway system with Baatar and vegetarian alimentation with Opal, who would eat nothing but kale if it were up to her, it seemed. Finally, after two starters, three main courses and at least half a dozen desserts, Varrick was completely full and asked to be excused. He walked back to the room he had been given, followed by Zhu Li. As soon as they had left the dining room and were alone in the corridor, he took her hand. She was taken by surprise and gasped, but did not remove her hand from his. Instead, she gave it a faint squeeze and he whistled happily.
- After you, my sweet tiger seal, he said, opening the door wide for her.
It was a game they played. In front of people, Zhu Li would do everything for him, but when it was just the two of them, he would be at her beck and call. They were close enough for him to understand her better somehow. She had been opening up to him a little more now, ever since they ended up in prison together. They went into the room and Varrick threw himself of the bed.
- Zhu Li, I am just so tired! I can't stand it! I'm taking a nap!
She closed the shutters, which proved a lot harder than it looked. Apparently Zaofu had been made by metalbenders for metalbenders. But there was nothing his Zhu Li couldn't do. When the room was dark enough for sleep, she went to stand by the wall as usual.
- Zhu Li? he moaned.
She looked right at him with a slight expression of fondness in her eyes.
- Are you tired?
- A little.
- Would you come next to me, if you please?
For a few seconds she gave no answer and stood stiffly, but then she nodded and tiptoed through the room to sit on the bed next to him. He turned his head to look at her but she was staring at the wall in front of her. He took her hand and stroked it softly.
- What are you thinking about, tiger seal?
She blinked and looked at him. Slowly, she lay next to him and got so close he understood she wanted him to cuddle her. Her face was nuzzling against his neck, his was in her hair. It felt good to be able to hold her right against him.
- There is nowhere I wouldn't go for you.
He wanted to look at her then, to see her face when she said sweet things, but she didn't move so he just kept hugging her. Her hair smelled faintly of dirt and salt after their flight. It wasn't a very good smell, but not a bad one either.
- It was the same when we went to prison, and before that when we moved to Republic City, and…
She stopped and her arms snaked around his waist, tightening the hug.
- I'll follow you everywhere. I love you.
It was the first time those words had been said aloud between them. Varrick couldn't help but grin like an idiot as he pushed softly against her shoulders to look at her face. She was smiling as well, though shyly. He gave her a light kiss on the lips and watched her cheeks turn slightly pink.
- I love you too, Zhu Li. I wouldn't go anywhere without you.
Only then did he notice she had been rather tense, when she seemed to melt into his arms.
- Promise me you'll never leave me behind, she said and squeezed him closer.
- I promise.
He felt so good with her. His previous girlfriends had been either completely horrible or lying gold-diggers and the honeymoon phase had been shorter and shorter over time. With Zhu Li, he felt it would never end. They might keep their romance rather hidden to outsiders but in their private sphere, they were close as ever. He had good hopes for their future.
- You're quite the keeper, tiger seal.
Hugging Zhu Li, stroking her hair and kissing her forehead, he felt he could stay with her his whole life and not get tired. He trusted in his projects to provide for the rest. After a few instants thinking over the possibilities of his future, he noticed Zhu Li had fallen asleep in his arms. He smiled at the sight and closed his eyes to join her.
