It was the middle of the night and everyone on Varrick's boat was sound asleep. They had set sail quickly after another failed date for Varrick. This one tried to sink the ship with water bending when he said it wouldn't work out. But none of that really mattered. What mattered was the fact that Varrick was up in the middle of the night, sweaty, clammy, and pale. Something was wrong, clearly. He hadn't felt this bad in ages. It came to a point where he didn't want to be alone in case it was something serious.
As he tried to get out of his large, luxurious bed he only felt worse. He could barely stand and his nausea picked up on every move of the boat. He knew this wasn't good. He hadn't gotten sea sick since he was a child. He had to focus. He needed to find someone. He needed Zhu li. Her room was just across the hall. He could get to her room; hopefully without too much trouble.
He started taking steps toward the door with much labour. Every step he took became harder to think cognitively. All he knew when he got to the hallway was that he needed Zhu li. Five difficult steps later and he was at her door. He called out to her weakly then slumped to the floor.
Zhu li cracked her eyes open. She had always been a light sleeper and she swore she had heard something bump into her door. Then she heard her name called out by her boss and another thump outside her door. She rushed out of bed and to her door. When she opened the door she saw Varrick in a foul state. He was covered in sweat yet it looked like he was shivering. He also looked very green. She helped him get to his feet and into her room.
"Zhu li, I don't feel well," he said shakily. He then started to lose his balance and look greener. Zhu li managed to steady him and got a waste bin in front of him just as he started to vomit. She took a good look at him. Last time he looked this ill was when he had badly prepared clam oysters.
Zhu li tried to get him to focus on her. "Sir," no response, "Varrick, Sir, I need you to focus for a moment," Varrick looked up from the waste bin which gave Zhu li the go ahead to continue, "Sir, I think you have food poisoning. Stay here, I'm going to go get you some medicine and other supplies. I'll be right back," Before she left though she draped a blanket over Varrick's shoulders.
She hurried to the bathroom and grabbed some medicine. She also grabbed a wash cloth and ran it under the sink. When she came back Varrick was shirtless. Now he was just in his sleeping pants and the blanket she had given him earlier around his shoulders. He must be going through hot and cold flashes. He was shivering just minutes ago. Zhu li went to her bedside table and poured a glass of water and returned to Varrick's side.
"Sir, do you think you can hold the medicine down yet?" she didn't want to give him something that he would just throw up. When he nodded she handed him to pills and the glass of water. Varrick took the pills easily enough but tried to drink the whole glass. "Small sips, Sir. We don't need you getting sick again."
Varrick nodded, "Zhu li, how long is this going to last?" he said with laboured breath.
"Probably all through the night and into the morning, Sir."
Varrick grunted, "I knew I shouldn't have had those serpent squid noodles."
Zhu li shushed him and started using the damp cloth on his forehead. As she started to wipe away the drying sweat Varrick leaned into her hand. She wasn't sure if he was searching for the heat of her hand or the cool of the wash cloth. She placed her other hand on his cheek to keep his head steady as she wiped at the sweat.
"Zhu li what would I do without you?"
She just smiled softly and continued her work. When she was done she just sat with him. She knew in times like this he didn't want to be alone. It was quite amazing actually on how much she knew about him. She had worked for him for so long that he was practically an open book to her. She used the phrase practically because as much as she knew about her employer, there were still questions that she wondered if he would ever tell her. She knew little to nothing of his childhood or his parents. But these were not questions she would ask, especially when he was in such a weakened state.
While she was lost in thought she started to comb her fingers through his messed up hair. He hummed contentedly so she continued. She had thought about running her fingers through his hair before, although she had hoped for it to be under better circumstances. She always thought his hair looked so soft and smooth. She was sure that if it was not for his ill state it would feel better than it did now.
Varrick just leaned into her form. She was so comforting that he couldn't help himself. He then noticed something that he never thought he would hear. Zhu li was humming a gentle tune. Her voice was melodic and calming. He swore he recognized the tune but in his state he just couldn't think straight.
"Zhu li, what is that song? I swear I know it from somewhere," he whispered.
"It's an old fire nation song about the seasons. Last time I had heard it was from a music box. Sometimes I remember it and it soothes me. If it bothers you I'll stop, Sir."
Varrick shook his head and snuggled himself closer to her, "No, it's nice. Please continue."
And so she did. She hummed until she felt Varrick's body slump against hers. She knew he still would feel awful in the morning so she lifted him up, trying not to wake him, and got him to her bed so he wouldn't have a sore back as well in the morning. She went to the spare linens cabinet and made up the couch as a substitute bed for her. She took one last look at her boss before she turned to go to sleep. She knew that when morning came he would still be ill, but she would still be there for him. And with that they were both asleep, dreaming of a song and of better mornings.