Driving all day wears you out. It also inspires you to write something cute. Or go to bed early, so count yourselves lucky that I like you so much.
Hair
He enjoyed a strong wind – after all, he was a sailor, and depended on it for travel. But some days he could easily do without the choppy waters it occasionally brought. And based on the way the ship was tipping and turning today, he was really hoping it would die down soon.
Of course, they just had to be sailing across the waves, so water would frequently hit the ship and splash up onto the deck, cascading onto whoever was unlucky enough to get caught under it. So far that had been Zuko, Nudge, and, three times now, himself. Wringing out his hat out once more, he sighed and tucked it into his pocket. It just wasn't worth the effort right now. Not when it was going to get wet again in a few minutes.
"How goes it, boys?" Tetra's voice rang out, and he turned to find her. She was walking onto the deck and glancing out over the railing at the water, riding the rocking as if it wasn't present. Of course she wouldn't be fazed by it; she had practically grown up on this ship, and knew its movements better than anyone. He had to admire that about her: no matter what the situation, she always appeared collected and ready. Even if it was something as simple as keeping one's balance.
He began to head over to her, ready to make a comment about her aversion to the water that was relentlessly hunting him, when a rather large wave crashed up against the ship, drenching the girl in seawater. He stopped dead, fighting a laugh that came to his lips when he saw the expression on her face. It appeared that he was wrong; even the steady captain got wet now and then.
"Ugh, damn it!" she cried in disgust, shaking water from her face. "Stupid weather. Why did I bother trying to fix my hair today?"
He smiled sympathetically as he approached her, noting the matted mess that her styled bun had become. A secret that she had once confided to him was that there were actually four clips that held it in place. He hadn't believed it, thinking there should have to be more. But after she had pointed them out, he'd had no choice but to accept it. She reached behind her head and began removing these, rolling her eyes as she did.
"I guess I should've expected it," she admitted. Glancing over him, she added with a smirk, "Looks like you got a pretty good soaking too."
"Y'know, just a couple times," he replied with a laugh. "At least the sun dries you quickly enough."
"Tell that to my hair," she countered, and they laughed. "It'll be soaked for the afternoon."
She removed the final clip and ran her fingers through her tangled hair, letting it fall down her back. He watched with amusement, but began to see her differently the longer he gazed. Without her hair up she didn't appear as Tetra. She seemed like, well, a girl. Not that she hadn't before, but this came off as very un-Tetra.
He had known her for the better part of a year now, but the only time he had seen her with her hair down was as Princess Zelda. Now, though, as the pirate he trusted, she looked… beautiful. It was a thought that didn't often enter his head, but he felt as if he wanted nothing more than to run his fingers through her hair, letting it slip away and shower down her back. He knew from experience how soft it was, but he longed to touch it purposefully, to whisper the fact in her ear…
He blinked quickly, jarring himself from his daydream. Where had that come from? She was still Tetra, just without her hair up. It happened to look good on her, that was all. There was no reason to see her differently because of it. Even though she ought to wear it down more often… Okay, he was making this too complicated.
He noticed her eyeing him oddly. "You alright? You just sort of went somewhere else for a minute," she said, brow raised. He nodded, trying to hide the flush of his face. The fact that she'd noticed made it even more embarrassing.
"I've just never seen you without your hair up," he admitted. Better to speak the truth. "It looks really good."
She blinked in surprise. After a moment of silence she chuckled. "Thanks. I usually wear it up because it's more practical. Doesn't get in the way then, right?" She shrugged. "But if you really like it, maybe I should wear it down more often."
She shot him a wink and strolled away, continuing to run her fingers through her damp hair. He did nothing but watch her, allowing a smile to rise to his lips. That was something that definitely needed to happen.
