Zutara Week Day 7: Storm

Zuko sighed. It was raining outside, actually, it was pouring rain. Zuko hated rain, so, he sighed again. Then there was a flash of blue light, a streak of electricity made its way down to earth and a deafening crack sounded. Zuko was so immersed in watching the storm that he was surprised to find Toph and The Duke in his room looking sheepish. Before he could ask what was wrong another lightening bolt hit, thunder exploded in his ears, and he was being hugged by two small bodies. He was surprised but still wrapped his arms around them.

"Sorry, Zuko…" The Duke mumbled quickly pulling back. Zuko could tell he was embarrassed, and by the looks of it so was Toph.

"It's okay, guys," Zuko chuckled. "You two scared of the storm?"

Toph scoffed, "I'm not! The Duke woke me up and asked me to bring him here 'cause he was to scared to-" A flash of light and a loud crack interrupted her and before she could help herself she let out a small scream and buried her face in his neck along with The Duke.

Zuko tried not to chuckle, "Are you sure, Toph?"

"Shut up, Sparky! If you tell anyone, I'll personally put you through hell!" Toph growls. The only thing that makes Zuko doubt her statement is the fact that she's still clinging to him like a small child.

"I won't tell," Zuko smiles. "Why'd you come to me? Don't you usually go to Katara or somebody?" he rubbed the back of his head with his hand nervously.

"Yeah, but…" The Duke started to say but blushed and mumbled something unintelligible.

"But what?" Zuko asked. He moved the small boy's helmet so he could see The Duke's face.

"Big brothers aren't afraid of anything, and sometimes Katara's scared too," The Duke sniffed.

Zuko blinked and stared for a moment before hugging the boy closer to him along with Toph as another lightening bolt hit. This time Zuko looked at his door when it open and heard someone sigh in relief before they walked into the candle lit sanctuary of his room. It was Katara, and she looked relieved and somewhat scared. Zuko smiled at her while rubbing Toph's back in a comforting motion.

"I was worried when I couldn't find you, Duke," Katara said as she sat on the edge of Zuko's bed and was surprised to find he didn't correct her. "Toph, what are you doing here? You're not scared, are you?"

"No!" Toph yelled, clenching her fists and looking rather embarrassed.

The storm chose that moment to let loose a lightening strike right outside Zuko's window and a thunderous boom sounded even louder than the last. The Duke buried his face deeper into Zuko's neck, Toph screamed and curled tighter into a ball on Zuko's lap, Katara leaped onto the bed and attached herself to Zuko's neck burrowing her head into his shoulder, and Zuko just sighed. The Duke was shaking uncontrollably and Zuko rubbed his back in soothing circles while making shushing noises. He placed his chin on Toph's head and felt her relax slightly. Katara was muttering something into his shoulder and shaking her head and Zuko was at a loss. He settled for rubbing her back like he was doing with The Duke. "It's okay… It's just a storm… It's okay… We're okay," Zuko was muttering in an awkward attempt to calm the three people that decided to have an impromptu fear party in his room.

The Duke peaked out from his place at Zuko's shoulder and saw Katara in a similar position as himself. He mumbled in Zuko's ear, "Told you she was scared too…"

Zuko blushed and glanced at Katara. Hearing that vocalized made it a bit more awkward than it already was. Almost absentmindedly, he hugged the three of them closer to him and they waited out the storm.

By the time Zuko fell asleep the thunder was a distant sound. The Duke was tucked under Zuko's left arm snuggled into his side like the big teddy bear the three of them made Zuko feel like. Toph was curled up on his lap, one hand gripping Zuko's shirt and the other keeping The Duke's body from touching hers. Katara was curled into Zuko's side with her head resting on Zuko's shoulder and an arm around him and Toph while Zuko's left arm held her in place. A few minutes after Zuko was asleep, his head fell to rest on Katara's head and he unconsciously nuzzled her hair. Unbeknownst to them they both sighed in their sleep and snuggled deeper into each others arms. They would deny it in the morning but right now it felt right.