"I know you won't, and if you do we'll fix it"
Ty Lee runs through the gala looking for a girl with raven black hair and a ruby red dress, instead she finds Zuko. She grabs his arm "Zuko! wheres Azula?" she says desperately. Zuko frowns concerned by Ty Lee's frantic tone.
"She and Mai just left what's going on?" He asks looking at Ty Lee. The girls head slumps in defeat and she starts to cry covering her face with her hands. Zuko looks around and wraps his arm around Ty Lee's shoulder guiding her to a less crowded part of the museum. Ty Lee sniffles as she and Zuko sit on a bench, he squeezes her shoulder "Ty Lee please tell me what's going on so I can help" he says softly. She wipes her eyes and tells him everything sobbing, from the mess about the bets to Suki ordering Azula to stay away. Zuko's face falls the more Ty Lee talks.
"Zuko I need to tell her, I need her to know that i'm not afraid of her I just want to be with her" Ty Lee cries as tears stream down her cheeks. Zuko pulls her in for a hug, holding on tightly. Something Iroh would do to him, holding him close when he cried after a conversation with Ozai. "I just want to be with her, I want her to know I care so so much" Ty Lee sobs. "It's okay I'll help you fix this okay?" He says soothingly taking his phone out to text Mai.
Zuko: Mai wheres Azula?
Mai: I took her to get something to eat at a taco bell? she's not telling me why she's crying she just let me drive the car :(
Zuko: Ty Lee's crying too apparently Suki told Azula some stuff abt how she is bad for Ty Lee
Mai: Agni this is worse than I thought, Azula wants to go home now so I'm taking her there
Zuko: Okay be careful driving since it just started raining
Mai: ok ily
Zuko: ilyt
"Ty Lee she went back home, i don't know if she's up for a talk okay? so let me uber you home" Zuko says opening the uber app. Ty Lee nods and goes to coat check to grab her jacket, she notices Azula forgot her shawl.
"Ming can you give me her shawl?" Ty Lee asks. Ming hesitates for a minute then hands the red shawl to Ty Lee who folds in carefully under her arm. Zuko and Ty Lee wait in the rain for the uber, they got an umbrella from the museum gift shop. Ty Lee's are puffy and red, her cheeks are flushed pink from crying. Zuko gazes at her concerned. But he's even more concerned for his sister.
Mai walks with Azula up the stairs. Azula is sobbing as she takes a sip of a pepsi she got from taco bell. "I'm toxic Mai, all I do is hurt people" she babbles as she goes into her room. Mai rubs Azula's arm in an effort to comfort her. "Azula take deep breathes, Suki is just really protective". Azula sinks onto the floor of her room her breath ragged from crying. "my Mom was right, I am unlovable" Azula chokes out. Mai's eyes soften looking at Azula sitting in a ball on the ground, crying in her mother's dress.
Mai sits down next to the distraught girl "Azula you have to understand, Suki's not right. You aren't toxic although you can be, but so can Zuko" Mai sighs as Azula sniffles. "but thats the thing with you two, you both never really saw what love really was and thats why you both aren't always the best in that region" Mai looks at Azula who has stopped crying and is staring at her feet. "I would hurt her" Azula whispers
"you don't know that, you really care for her. And you aren't as awful as you swear you are. And I know that for a fact, because you care for me and Zuko despite whatever show you put on" Mai says chuckling softly. She squeezes Azula's cold hand. "You have a heart Azula, and so does Ty Lee" Mai says comfortingly.
Azula's phone pings and she quickly checks to see who it is, unexpectedly it's Suki
Suki: Azula listen, I was wrong. I don't know you as well as I thought i did. I don't trust you especially around Ty Lee. But she needs you so for Agnis sake just find her. Don't you dare hurt her
Mai reads the text over Azula's shoulder and gasps, Azula turns to Mai and tries to say something but no words come out. Mai smiles softly and mouthes "go"
Azula shakes her head in disbelief and puts her heels back on. I could hurt her and she could hurt me, but being apart hurts us both so much more. Azula goes down the stairs grabbing her car keys as she steps out into the pouring rain. The rain is cold and Azula's bare shoulders shiver as her dress slowly becomes soaked as she walks towards her car. I'm going to look like a madwoman by the time I get there. She figures that Ty Lee is probably at home right now. So she speeds her car towards the peach colored house. Azula doesn't know what she's doing, or what she's going to say. The only thing that matters is that she gets there.
The peach colored house comes into view, and a parking spot is free a few houses down. Not caring if she parks crooked Azula parks and hops out of the car. The rain is heavier now, and she quickly tries to walk up to the peach colored house. The light in Ty Lee's bedroom is off. Ursa's dress sticks to her skin and Azula softly sobs Mother didn't love me, and who will? She runs her hands on the heavy fabric and stares at the window. It slowly sets in that Ty Lee isn't home. she stayed at the gala, she realized that Suki was right so she stayed at the gala.
Letting out a shaky sigh Azula runs her hands through her wet hair and stands in Ty Lee's lawn for a few minutes just letting the rain fall onto her. All of it, she ruined all of it and now Ty Lee is just as disgusted with her as Suki is. I thought the project was a plot, I thought she placed a bet on me, i pushed her away, I made her cry, I made her friends hate me. Azula suppresses the urge to scream, but the problem is. She wouldn't change what happened at the Gala she wouldn't be able to push Ty Lee away for any longer than she did.
She wouldn't have ever been able to listen to Suki's words, she wouldn't be able to live a life without Ty Lee. I messed up, but I wouldn't be happy even if I did what Suki said. It was always a losing game, either way I would've ended up hurt. Either right here or constantly pretending that I didn't care for Ty Lee. Azula takes a deep breath and turns to head to her car feeling lost and defeated because for once she doesn't have a plan. No number of hours at her whiteboard will help her figure out what to do.
A car approaches quickly and halts in front of the house. Azula pauses and narrows her eyes trying to see who came out of the car, praying it's not a stranger who will probably be alarmed at Azula standing in the rain. Oh Agni let it be her. Ty Lee shuts the door of the uber and watches it drive away. Azula sobs in relief "Ty Lee" she cries causing the other girl to whirl around. Ty Lee spots Azula and shakes her head in disbelief "Azula?" she says running forward. Azula for once is the one who initiates the hug, she launches herself into Ty Lee's arms.
"I don't care, I'm scared Ty Lee but staying away from you scares me even more" Azula admits burying her head In Ty Lee's shoulder. Ty Lee gasps and cups Azula's face looking into her eyes "You have no reason to be afraid, I won't hurt you I promise" Ty Lee says pressing her forehead to Azula's. She doesn't understand "But i could hurt you, I don't want to" Azula says looking down at the ground. Ty Lee kisses her forehead "I believe you won't, I know you won't, and if you do then we can fix it" Ty Lee says softly.
The two hug again the rain not fazing either of them. She's not gonna run from me, she doesn't hate me. Finally when the hug breaks Ty Lee kisses Azula softly, still crying Azula kisses her back. "I'm not giving up on you, or this" Ty Lee whispers. Azula nods and holds Ty Lee's hands in her own "I'm so sorry, Ty Lee please forgive me" she begs. Ty Lee gazes into golden eyes and strokes the wet hair out of Azula's face and kisses Azula's face desperate to let her understand just how much she cares for her.
"you're everything to me of course I forgive you" Ty Lee says kissing Azula's other cheek. this can't be real this must be a dream but it's not Azula feels all of it. After one last kiss Ty Lee is just as soaked as Azula, and she laughs realizing that they look like they jumped in the ocean. "Oh my we need to dry off, aren't you cold" Ty Lee asks Azula who is facing the sky letting the rain fall on her face. Azula smiles and nods "Do you wanna stay at my place?" she questions pointing to her car. Ty Lee nods and the two quickly run to the car and laugh when they finally get inside, Azula turns on the heater and Ty Lee sighs comforted by the warm air.
The ride home is quick Ty Lee just smiles as Azula tries to navigate through the rain. Mai and Zuko are in the living room making hot chocolate and turning on some silly psychological thriller they want to watch. When Azula both stumble through the door covered in water but holding onto each other Zuko can't help but smile "so you two don't know what umbrellas are?" he chuckles sitting down next to Mai on the couch. Azula flips him off but she's smiling faintly. Ty Lee mouthes a "thank you" to Mai and Zuko before she runs after Azula up the stairs.
"hey keep it PG up there you guys!" Zuko shouts after them Mai rolls her eyes. Azula yells from the top of the stairs "ZUKO YOU AND MAI NEVER KEEP ANYTHING PG" she bellows. Azula makes the shower run hot and opens the bathroom door "you can go ahead" she says to Ty Lee who smiles playfully "You're not coming too?" she asks twirling a piece of Azula's hair. Azula swats her away "agni not now" she says laughing. After Ty Lee showers she borrows Azula's track shirt again and some fuzzy pajama pants. Azula showers and just puts on a hoodie and basketball shorts.
They decide to watch a movie in Azula's room. The two snuggle under the covers and turn off the lights.Ty Lee rests her head on Azula's chest as the movie plays, Azula strokes The top of Ty Lee's hair. Eventually Azula drifts off to sleep, Ty Lee smiles and kisses her lightly. She snuggles into Azula's side and once again is the big spoon, but she doesn't mind. Azula looks peaceful when she sleeps raven hair spilled across the pillow, her face relaxed and happy. Although Ty Lee knows that none of it is going to be easy, she's willing to be with Azula. She's willing because of moments like this where they are happy and at peace.
Quietly Ty Lee takes a picture of Azula sleeping so soundly, feeling like a creeper Ty Lee blushes. But Azula looks beautiful and the picture captured her beauty perfectly. Ty Lee smiles and makes the picture her home screen.
"goodnight Azula" Ty Lee whispers before shutting her own eyes. "Sleep well Ty Lee" Azula sleepily mumbles back turning to kiss Ty Lee's cheek before rolling back over. The night is peaceful the rain patters on the roof. Azula doesn't have any dreams tonight. She's safe in Ty Lee's arms.
The night doesn't go on for long though, the sun soon wakes the two girls up. Ty Lee is up and she's impatient for Azula to wake up, she kisses Azula's cheek three times hoping it'll wake her up. Azula grumbles and opens her eyes. She smiles softly when she see's Ty Lee next to her. "morning!" Ty Lee chirps leaning in for a kiss, Azula's hand blocks it. "Morning breath" Azula says laughing when Ty Lee pouts. Eager to fix the problem Ty Lee drags a very sleepy Azula to the bathroom so they can brush their teeth.
With freshly brushed teeth Ty Lee grins and kisses Azula, who kisses her back immediately. Continuing the kisses Ty Lee tries to lead Azula back to the bed, "Ty Lee it's awfully early for that" Azula chuckles. Ty Lee buries her head in Azula's shoulder obviously embarrassed. "Sorry it's just we've never been able to be like this, finally not pretending" Ty Lee explains her face pink from embarrassment. Azula beams and explains that they have all day. She kisses Ty Lee again and heads downstairs for breakfast.
Ty Lee stays in place, Azula turns confused. "Um Ty Lee, don't you want food Mai usually makes pancakes" Azula asks raising an eyebrow. Ty Lee smiles and nods joining Azula as they head down the stairs. Sure enough the smell of pancakes was wafting from the kitchen. Zuko was yelling as Mai chucked an orange at his head cause he was complaining about how long the pancakes were taking to make. Azula laughed and followed suit and threw an apple from the fruit bowl at Zuko's head. Ty Lee giggled.
Taking a seat at the table next to Azula, Ty Lee watches as Zuko and Azula bicker over whether maple syrup or blueberry syrup goes better on pancakes. "Well I think strawberry syrup is the best.." Ty Lee says quickly. Zuko and Azula both turn and glare at her, Ty Lee raises her hands in defeat. Mai places the pancakes in front of them, Azula and Zuko fight over who gets the one on top. Mai and Ty Lee lock eyes knowingly. Eventually Azula gets the first pancake and sneers at Zuko as she pours maple syrup all over the pancake.
Breakfast is fun, Azula steals a strawberry off Ty Lee's plate but Ty Lee couldn't care less. Mai drinks black coffee and stacks fruit on her pancake, Ty Lee drinks two glasses of apple juice. The food is great and Azula and Zuko fighting over everything is quite the show to watch while they eat. Azula smiles at Ty Lee every now and then when Ty Lee isn't looking at her. Still nervous and worried about where they are going with their relationship Azula gets very nervous, but Ty Lee is here now. And they are having pancakes.
Everything is okay