I'm not sure what wakes me.

It may be the morning sunlight streaming through the windows. It may be the sound of the doorknob rattling.

But it's probably the feel of Zuko's body tensing, and the sudden realization that he is wrapped around me on my spot on the hard dirt floor. His warmth fills me, and when I breathe it's as if I'm breathing him.

His scent, like smoke and him and dust from traveling through the desert. And the feel of his body pressed against mine, familiar and yet so very, very foreign. I'm not breathing. I should really breathe.

The door opens and bright light slants across us, and I suddenly have the strength to pull away from Zuko and leap to my feet. He follows more slowly, rising from the ground with the grace of the fighter he is. It's not fair for someone to be that strong.

I'm blushing bright red, I know, but I return my teacher's smile anyway. And when the front door of the shop opens and a young man stands in the doorway, my blush and embarrassment are forgotten.

"I have the passports for our two guests, but there are two men out on the street, looking for them."

I suck in a breath, and all three of us, me, Zuko, and my teacher, crowd around the panel in the door.

The muscled man and his older friend stand there, talking to a villager. "You seen these guys?"

I look at Zuko, Zuko looks at me, and then we both turn to my teacher.

"We need a plan."

He looks lost, but the young man who brought our passports speaks up. "I have an idea."

And that's why, a few minutes later, Zuko and I are in large flower pots, and the young man is pulling us out of the shop on a wagon.

It's a good thing I spent so much time in Aki's garden- I'm used to the smell of the plants and I manage to keep from sneezing. But I feel closed in in the small pot, and my breathing is shallow. I don't like this, I don't like this at all!

But I can feel Zuko's heat even through the clay walls of my pot and his, and I close my eyes and breathe deeply, focusing on that, focusing on him.

I will be okay.

I will be okay.

I will be okay.

And for the first time, I'm starting to believe that mantra.

________

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And you all owe me for updating two chappies in a row! :) Love y'all!

-Eon