Ty Lee's Comfort
Azula was fuming alone in her cot when she was startled by the sound of her cell door opening. Whipping around to face the door, she saw none other than Ty Lee quietly closing the door. It had been over a day since her so-called brother had come to see her to deliver the news of her execution, and she certainly hadn’t been expecting to see anyone until she was dragged to her execution in chains.
There was a time where Azula held nothing but hate for Ty Lee after she betrayed her to save Mai, but now, all she could feel was relief and something else that she couldn’t quite place.
Ty Lee turned away from the door and what she saw took her breath away. The last time she had seen Azula, they were both fourteen. It had been over four years then and Azula was a young woman now. Even though she was clothed in ratty prison garments, they couldn’t hide her natural beauty. She took her breath away.
Azula finally broke the silence after a minute of silence between the two women. “Ty Lee…”
It was barely a whisper, but Ty Lee heard her. As soon as the words were spoken, she rushed forward and engulfed Azula in a crushing hug.
As soon as Ty Lee embraced her, Azula’s control finally cracked. She couldn’t control the sobs that wracked her body as she cried into her friend's shoulder.
After what seemed like forever, her sobs finally subsided enough for her to speak. “Why?” she whispered. “What did I do to deserve this? All I ever did was fight for my nation. All I ever wanted was to see the Fire Nation prosper.”
“I know, Zula,” Ty Lee said as she ran her fingers through her friend's hair. “I wish I never left your side. Maybe things would have been different.”
“What’s done is done, Ty Lee,” Azula said with a humorless chuckle. “There is no changing any of it now.”
Pulling away from Azula, Ty Lee looked into her eyes as she spoke. “Come with me Zula,” She pleaded. “I can get you out of here. It will just be the two of us and we could make a life for ourselves away from the Fire Nation.”
“Maybe we could join the circus,” Azula said with a genuine laugh.
“Exactly,” Ty Lee said with a smile. “Or we could be farmers. I always wanted to learn how to farm.”
Azula let herself get lost in the idea of a life with Ty Lee for a minute before finally coming back to reality. “You know I can’t do that Ty,” she said with a somber face.
“Why not?” Ty Lee said with indignation. “You don’t owe the Fire Nation anything, Zula. Especially not your life.”
Azula sighed, pulling away fully from Ty Lee. "I have never once abandoned my nation, Ty. I won’t start now. You should go before someone discovers you here. I don’t want you to get dragged down with me.”
“I had a feeling you would be too proud to run,” Ty Lee said with a defeated sigh. “But I’m not going anywhere. Not this time.”
“Ty…”
“Don’t, Zula,” Ty Lee said, cutting her off. Ty Lee knew coming in that Azula would most likely be too proud to run away, but it still hurt. She had hoped that she would have had more time to tell her how she felt about her, but now she only had a single night. Finally making up her mind, she surged forward a kissed Azula. She felt Azula tense, but after a moment she began to kiss back.
Azula was in heaven. She had always thought that her crush on the acrobat had been unrequited, but here she was kissing said acrobat and it was pure bliss. She needed more. If she was going to die in the morning, she wasn’t going to miss out on this opportunity. She pulled Ty Lee towards her so the girl was now straddling her lap.
They continued with their kiss, trying to take in as much of the other as they could. Finally, they pulled apart, resting their foreheads together, both of them out of breath.
“I should have done this a long time ago,” Ty Lee giggled.
“Yes, you should have,” Azula sighed.
“We can still leave, you know.”
Azula could see the hope in Ty Lee’s eyes, and she almost gave in and fled with her. However, her pride held her in place. “You know I can’t, Ty.”
Ty Lee sighed. “I know, but I’ll always dream.”
“If you really are determined to stay, then let’s make the most of the time that we have left.”
“I’ll never leave you again,” Ty Lee whispered as she leaned in to kiss Azula again, pushing her back onto the small cot.
If this night was all that they had, then she was going to enjoy it.
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A few hours later, Azula and Ty Lee laid together on the small cot. Azula had Ty Lee pulled up against her chest as she slowly stroked the acrobat’s chest. “It’s almost dawn, Ty,” Azula said, sadness heavy in her voice. “You need to go.”
“I told you I was never going to leave you again, and I meant it,” Ty Lee whispered. “Besides, who else is going to help you get ready for your first public appearance in over four years?”
Azula couldn’t help but laugh at that. “In case you haven’t noticed Ty, there isn’t much to work with here.”
“There is plenty to work with here,” Ty Lee said as she rolled over to face her lover. “I have you to work with.”
Azula laughed, leaning in to kiss the acrobat in her arms. “Flatterer.”
“Besides,” she said as she pulled back, “I came prepared.”
Ty Lee pointed to the wall by the door and for the first time, Azula noticed the large duffle bag that was sitting there.
“How in the name of Agni did you manage to sneak that thing in here as well,” Azula said laughing.
“It doesn’t matter. Sit up. If you are determined to go through with this, then you are going to do it looking like the Princess that you are.”
Sliding out of the cot, Ty Lee threw her clothes back on and made her way over to the duffle bag. As she began laying out the contents of the bag, she heard Azula gasp in shock.
“My armor,” she whispered.
“I had it refitted to me since we always wore similar sizes,” Ty Lee said. “As I said, you are going to go out there looking like the Princess you are, and the Fire Lord you should have been.”
Walking behind Azula, she began to comb the Princess’s hair. After a few minutes, she had gotten out all of the knots so she washed it as best she could with the supplies that she had brought. Once that was done she cut it into Azula’s usual style before moving on to the rest of her body.
It was no royal spa, but by the time Ty Lee was finished Azula felt like a whole new person. Hell, she had even managed to do her nails.
“Thank you for this, Ty,” Azula whispered, tears coming to her eyes.
“I will always regret not choosing you, Zula. I only wish there was more that I could do.”
“This is more than enough, Ty.” Azula leaned forward to kiss the acrobat, which she happily accepted. After a moment, though, Ty Lee pulled away.
“You still need to get dressed, Zula. Zuko and the guards will be here soon.”
Azula nodded, allowing the acrobat to help her into her armor. After that she finished up her makeup and hair, putting it into her usual top knot.
“Almost perfect,” Ty Lee whispered. “Now for the final touch.”
“What more could you possibly have?” Azula asked, growing curious.
Ty Lee didn’t say anything, instead, she reached into the pocket of her robe and pulled out a golden headpiece.
If Azula had been in shock before, it was nothing compared to this.
Ty Lee could see that Azula was at a loss for words, so she spoke for her. “Technically, Zuko never stripped you of your title. You have every right to wear this crown.”
“You’re going to make me ruin my makeup,” Azula choked out.
“I take it you like it,” Ty Lee said softly.
“I love it. I love you. I love you so much, Ty.”
Ty Lee stepped in front of Azula to fix the headpiece into her top knot. “I love you too, Zula. I always have.”
She would have said more, but it was at that moment that the door to Azula’s cell opened, revealing Zuko and his guards.