A.N.: Yar, nuther update yo.
Still playing by ear (or is it here?) with this story, i.e. making it up as I go along. Not really a defining plot line, but general so far so good... I think. Dun exactly know how to attract more reviewers; for some reason it seems like, the more reviewers you already have, the more people will be inclined to stick with your story. Kinda weird how that works, but then again, I have to admit, I'm a bit guilty in this category.
Now I know how everyone else feels. |D Damn you karma.
Onto le story!
Chapter Four
Suck Eggs!
Zuko and I both flopped onto the couch at the same time, the plastic shopping bags falling in heaps around us. The elevator had decided to break down upon our return home, so we ended up having to trudge up the eight flights of stairs. I lazily rolled my head over to look at Zuko, who respond by doing the same thing. "Hi," I said.
"Mmhp," came his reply. Yeah, we were tired. Jack waltzed over and laid his head on Zuko's knee who just glowered at the blond mutt. "What," he asked the dog. Jack perked his ears.
"He wants you to pet him," I filled in.
Zuko gives the mutt a look. "Why?"
I shrugged. "He likes you maybe?"
Zuko looked back at the dog, who was giving him the same look with those awfully adorable, puppy-dog eyes. Obviously Zuko was not immune to this, as he patted Jack's head.
I reached over to the end table and picked up the remote, flicking on the TV. This action caused Zuko to suddenly and visibly jump, which in turn caused me to do the same. "Geez, what is your deal," I said, placing a hand over my rapidly beating heart. I cast a sidelong glance at him; he was staring transfixed by the moving pictures on the TV. "What is that?"
I just stare at him for a moment. "You ask a lot of questions, you know that." He glowered at me.
"Things in this world are different than mine, so I'm sorry its an inconvenience to you that I don't understand half of it." He angrily crossed his arms, and I sighed. Again he was right, if only he wasn't such a jerk about it.
"It's called a television, or a TV for short. It takes recorded video and displays it on the screen. Sometimes it streams live footage, it really all depends on what channel your on." I flip through a few channels, stopping on one that was showing a re-run of House. Zuko's body language relaxed slightly as he watched and listened to my explanation, but his arms were still crossed, like he was unsure whether or not he was still mad at me. I placed the remote back on the end table and sat back, both of us watching the television in silence. I had seen this episode a thousand times over; the one where House and the team are trying to figure out what's wrong with this guy who says everything that comes to mind. The show was coming to the ending scene where House is asking Wilson is he really doesn't like monster trucks. Wilson replies, "Absolutely." 'So social contracts exists between just about everyone, huh," I think as the credits start to roll.
"Sorry."
I look over at Zuko, surprised, before relaxing again. "Don't worry about."
"It's just..," he trails of for a second. I stay quite, waiting. "Everything is so different here, so... abnormal." I spare a glance at him; his eyes are down cast, his face hard and stoney. He sighs. "I guess a part of me is just a little scared," he finally admits. I crack a smile.
"I completely understand." We share a look and I smile a little wider. "Don't worry about a thing, Zuko. Jace and I, we'll help you out, and you've always got a place here." He smiles a little as well. We both sat there and watched another hour of House, half of the time I was explain everything that was going on, or explaining exactly what certain things in the show were.
"Why is he walking with a cane," Zuko asked about three-quarters of the way through the episode. I rack my brain, trying to think of what exactly happened to House.
"If I remember correctly, I think he had some sort of muscular stroke, or something that caused damage to his leg. Honestly, it's sort of the reason he's the narcissistic jerk that he is." Zuko doesn't say anything and I can see his hand rise towards his face before it falls back down in his lap. And that's when I realize the slight similarities between House and Zuko. I can't help but feel like an idiot again. "But," I add. "House isn't all bad, I mean beneath his asshole exterior, he's not really a bad guy at all, just sort of, I don't know, troubled I guess. Something having to do with the Vicodin." At this, Zuko nods, but for some reason he's face doesn't really lighten up, but just forms more creases as if he's deep in thought. Wow, instead of making this less complex, I think I just made it more so. Great.
When the credits come on again, I yawn and take a glimpse at my watch. 7 o'clock. Gee, time flies when your watching medical geniuses at work. Suddenly, I hear a grumbling rumble from beside me. I look at the firebender who meets my eyes with a nervous chuckle. Before I can say anything, my own stomach inserts it's two cents. I glance down at my tummy then back up to Zuko.
"Take out Chinese?"
I ended up having to clean out the old chest of drawers in the studio to make room for Zuko's newly acquired things. Through all the old papers, I ended up finding a few CDs I thought I had lost, an unopened pack of erasers, dust bunnies, and strangely enough a winning lottery ticket from three years ago. How did I know? Because I had memorized the damn numbers that I knew I had picked right. If only I had known it was here...
Meh; woulda, coulda, shoulda, am I right?
By the time I was done cleaning out everything, the food came ringing at the door. Ok, well, not the food itself, just the dude carrying it. I paid the guy, shut and locked the door; can't have anymore people barging in on me unexpected and unwanted, now can we? I laid out the cartons of Lo Mien on the coffee table as well as two pair of chopsticks. I didn't even have to call Zuko as the boy followed the smell of food from his temporary room. Both of us dug in, the House marathon still going on. Anytime I tried to suggest a change in the channel, Zuko would protest, so I was forced to re-watch re-runs of re-runs. Then again, who would protest against watching that hilarious yet strangely attractive curmudgeon?
By the time the episode was over, we had pretty much downed everything from the noodles to the egg rolls, except for the fortune cookies. I pick one up. "Please tell me you at least know how these things work," I say to him.
He grins and rolls his eyes, reaching for his own. "Yeah, I know how these things work." We both unwrap our cookies and I open mine first, tearing out the slip of paper.
Wrong cookie. I blanch. "The hell?" Zuko leans over to read mine and chuckles before cracking open his own. He reads it silently, his grin slowly fading from his face. I bend over to look at his.
You are free to invent your own life.
I look between him and the piece of paper. "At least you got a good one." He smirks, popping part of the cookie in his mouth. I do the same straightening back onto my side of the floor and that's when the lightning struck, causing me to jump. The loud boom of thunder following close behind. The lights flickered once, twice, then went out all together.
"Well... that just perfect." We sat in total darkness until the sky once again lit up, the thundering booming loudly, causing the pictures to shake against the walls. I got up from my spot, groping around in the darkness and stubbed my toe on the coffee table. "Ow, damn it all!" I make it over the the entertainment center and opened one of the drawers, digging aimlessly in the dark.
"What are you looking for," Zuko asks from his spot on the floor.
"A flash light so we can see..." I trail off as suddenly Zuko is beside me, his hand alight with fire casting dancing shadows everywhere and illuminating the area just enough so I my vision returned. "You know," I said looking up at him. "You could have don't that earlier and saved me from a stubbed toe."
"Your right, I could've."
"But you didn't."
"Yup, your right about that too." I narrowed my eyes; is he messing with me? He flashes me a lopsided grin. Yep totally messing with me. That's ok, I'll get him back later. I finally dig out the flashlight and flip on the switch... only to have nothing come out.
I groan. "You've gotta be kidding me!" I shake it a few times, flipping the switch on and off. Not even a spark.
"Do you have any candles or anything," Zuko asks, another flash of light and roll of thunder sounding. I cringe at the loud noises. "Uh, yeah," I squeak. I lead him around the apartment, letting him light the few candles I had. We situated them out in the living room on the coffee table, all five of them. Jack was curled underneath it as Zuko and I took our previous seats on the floor. With the power out and no TV, what else did we have to do? We sat in silence for a while, the harsh pattering of rain could be heard against the glass. I had pulled the curtains back in place to spare our eyes from the blinding lightning. Each time the thunder rang throughout the flat I visibly cringed.
"Are you afraid," Zuko ask, slight laughter evident in his voice.
"No!" I say it too fast, giving it away. Zuko snorts.
"Your afraid."
"I am not!"
"Are too."
"Am not."
Are too"
"Am not."
"Are too.
"Look, if four-to-floor beats don't scare me, how the hell is some measly storm?" After that statement, the loudest clap of thunder vibrated all over the apartment, making me leap against Zuko, clutching onto his arm desperately. 'Ok," I say into his shoulder after the noise settled. "I'm afraid."
"That's what I thought," he says with a sigh. I jerk my head up and point a finger at him. "You've won one this one sir, but you shalt win the next!."
He smirks. "I'll take that bet."
"'Least your not the only one scared anymore." That makes his grin falter for a second.
I decide to pony it up through the rest of the storm. Well, at least I tried. Half the night I was clutching onto the dog for my life and had half the nerve to think about going and bursting into Zuko's room screaming. Thankfully I have a little bit more dignity than that. But only a little.
By the time morning came around, I knew I must have looked just as ragged as I felt. I trudged in to the living room. Zuko was sitting on the couch and had found the remote, flipping through the channels, looking quite bored. "Try Cartoon Network, there's usually some good stuff on around this time." He turns his head upon hearing me voicing my opinion.
"You look horrible." Well, glad you noticed that there chief. I ignore him and shuffle my feet towards the kitchen my mind set on something easy to make for breakfast: Lucky Charms. 'It's so easy, even I can do it.' I walk back into the living room, two bowels in hand, and plop next to Zuko, handing one of them to him. He takes it without question, for once, and chows down.
"What are we watching," I ask in between bites.
"Something called 'Ren and Stimpy'. I really... have no idea what's suppose to be going on though."
I watch the screen for a little bit, and instantly pick up on the episode. "Oh! It's the one where they sing the Happy Happy Joy Joy song! I love this one!" I bounce a little on the sofa in excitement as Stimpy puts puts the record on the machine. I squeal, and Zuko looks at me as if I'd gone mad. Not too far from the truth.
It's the Happy Happy Joy Joy song!
I glace over at Zuko, grinning like a mad woman. He inches back a bit as the song starts and I sing along with it.
Happy Happy Joy Joy, happy happy joy joy, happy happy joy joy, happy happy joy joy, happy happy joy joy joy!
I don't think your happy enough!
"Yeah Zuko! I don't think your happy enough!"
That's right!
I'll teach you to be happy!
I'll teach your grandmother to suck eggs!
"Suck eggs, Zuko! Suck eggs!"
Now boys and girls, lets try it again!
"Again, Zuko! Again!"
Happy happ-
The song stops as the TV goes black. I gawk at it before swinging my gaze around to Zuko, who is holding the remote in the air, his finger hovering above the power button. "Let's not," he says rather coldly. I cross me arms over my chest. "Party pooper."
With a sigh, he announces he's going to take a shower, shaking his head and muttering 'strange girl' under his breath. I wait until I hear the bathroom door close before turning on the TV, catching the last bit of the song. A few minutes later, Jack waltz up to me, a towel hanging in his mouth. My eyebrows push together as I pick up one end. I was about to ask him where he got it from when I heard a very male shout coming from the bathroom. Naturally, I jump up and run to the source. As soon as I round the corner, Zuko whips the curtain around himself, blocking my view from anything, well, important. The bathroom door is wide open, letting the steam from the hot shower drift into the hall way.
"Don't come in here," he shouts, his voice a teed bit higher than usual. I can't tell if his face is red from the hot water, or because I almost got a glimpse of nakedness.
"Dude, you shouted, what do you expect me to do?"
He shrugs off my question. "Where's my towel!"
My gaze drifts down to the dog who happened to follow me. Jack looks back up at me, the towel still hanging from his mouth. A triumphant look was plastered on his hairy face. I grin, "Oh, your too good." His tail wags. Yeah, and he knows it.
"Can you just, hand me my towel." His voice was tight and his golden gaze was narrowed on my and my now trusty side kick. I grab the towel from the dog's mouth, who lets go of it without protest.
"So, are you going to allowing me to come in so I can give you this little something something," I ask, my grin widening to a mocking smile. His glare just deeps. I stifle a giggle, crossing the threshold and closing the three steps, dangling the towel between two fingers. He snatches it, still glaring. I calmly take my time backing out until I'm entirely out of the steam filled room. As soon as I turn around, "Shut the door!" I snort and grab the knob, yanking it behind me. I stay a moment longer, pressing my ear up against the door to hear "Strange girl and her stupid dog".
I can't help but crack up.
A.N.: Ha! I think Jack likes Zuko a little bit more than Tabby thought. X3
Nuther short one. Meh.
With no underlying point. Meh.
Review? Yes yes? Please? Yes?