bentflame | In the Palace Gardens

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Current Location: The Fire Nation capital

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In the Palace Gardens

Azula knew from experience that when Ty Lee said "I'm coming anyway", she meant it- and for once, she wasn't in the mood to argue, or to threaten, or to fight.

She hated viruses.

The gardens were deserted, as she knew they would be- it was a couple of hours after midnight, after all. She didn't carry a candle, or anything that might alert someone to her presence. The full moon was bright enough to see by- and, having grown up here, she knew the grounds well.

She wasn't staying in her room, of course. Servants were working on fixing the bed, and the curtains, and the armoire- all of which had been burned during the... incident with that despicable woman. For the time being, Azula had relocated to one of the palace's many guest rooms, and while it was certainly spacious and comfortable, and and had all the amenities she desired, it wasn't her room.

It wasn't as though she couldn't handle anything less than the highest luxuries, of course- after all, how much time had she spent in the wilderness, searching for the Avatar?

At the moment, however, Azula wanted something familiar.

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She had done the same when a virus hadn't been around the community, hadn't she? Ty Lee had. Azula...Azula hadn't to act like she wasn't some virus crazed ditz. Which she probably was acting like one, but that didn't matter much.

Ty Lee had found the gardens with little trouble. She had spent some of her childhood playing in them. There had been one person in the garden, it had to be Azula.

Crouching low, Ty Lee ran towards her and gave her a quick hug. "You don't have to be such a grump all the time."

Azula pulled herself away sharply and quickly, as if Ty Lee's touch burned. "Stop it."

Why in the WORLD had she told her where she was?

She was surprised by Azula's movement away. She never acted like that before. "Azula..."

She kept her back to Ty Lee, her arms folded across her chest. "It's just a virus, Ty Lee. You're affected. It must have started last night.

"Whatever you're thinking... you don't mean any of it."

Ty Lee moved closer. "Are you sure it's a virus, Azula? I don't feel like it's one. You can't mean it."

Azula sidestepped away, frowning. "Of course I'm sure. And you never do- don't you remember that idiotic personality-reversing one?

In a few days you're going to go back to thinking I'm weird."

"I'd rather forget that one, to be honest."

Ty Lee frowned for a moment before moving closer again.

"No. No, I won't. Just a hug..."

"Forget which one? I don't even know what you're talking about anymore." She dodged away from Ty Lee again, a bit half-heartedly. "Don't touch me."

"The personality changing virus." Ty Lee followed again, ready to strike. "Just one hug, Azula...and then we can do more stuff if you want but at least one hug."

"Hm." She had thought she meant one of... those nights.

Casting an annoyed glance at Ty Lee, she quietly snarled, "No. Don't you get it? I don't want to do anything with you.

"I hate you."

Why wouldn't Azula let her? It'd be just like before...just them. Ty Lee couldn't understand it.

"If you hated me, you'd try to kill me."

Ty Lee pouted slightly, but shifted position so she could strike any pressure point she could if the need arose. She'd get at least a hug that night. Whether Azula wanted to give one or not.

"How do you know I won't?" She could potentially tip what was possibly a very delicate balance if she continued on this way, but why should she care? Ty Lee certainly didn't.

"I hate you," she continued. "The only reason I've ever kept you around is because you're useful. The minute you stop being of use, you're gone. I hate how stupid you are, and how annoying and cheerful you are all the time, and the way you always wear pink, and that silly braid, and..." her voice trailed off. "I just hate you."

That hurt...Ty Lee had to admit that. However...who had argued how much that she wouldn't try to kill her?

"How do I know you aren't lying?"

Azula was a good liar- no, she was an excellent liar. Even now, when her heart wasn't really in it, the skill was at least passable.

"I'm not lying." Her voice was cold and hard- not at all the sort of thing you'd want to hug. In fact, it was exactly the sort of thing you'd want to get up and walk away from, leaving it alone by the turtleduck pond.

"You could be..." Her voice trailed off, Ty Lee's heart wasn't into it.

Part of her wanted to leave, find someone else to...However, there was a part of her that wanted to stay. The part the virus that had stuck. That part sounded louder than the more intellegent part.

Ty Lee scooted closer, and was ready to try again. Whether that was smart or not. She wanted it to happen..

"I'm not," Azula whispered, shutting her eyes. "Go away." This was ridiculous. She wasn't going to allow herself to- to do anything pathetic and weak, especially not in front of Ty Lee.

When the virus was over she'd probably just end up using it against her.

Ty Lee used the moment to try another hug. "No...It's just us, no one will ever know."

Azula turned her back again, squeezing her eyes shut tight.

"Go away."

Ty Lee wrapped her arms gently around the princess.

"No...please. It hurts."

YOU think it hurts? Idiot. Azula angrily wiped at her eyes. She stiffened and leaned away slightly, but didn't totally pull away from Ty Lee.

"I hate you. Go away."

She wasn't even trying anymore, really.

Ty Lee ignored it, she had to, really. She pressed closer and gripped tighter. "No..please."

Oh for goodness' sake, she was actually crying- and even though she had sworn that she would never again do such a thing in front of Ty Lee, she had tears on her face and in her voice.

"You're going to regret this. You're going to wake up in a few days and realize..."

"Don't cry."

Ty Lee clutched her tighter, letting herself savor the moment somewhat. What was she doing...this wasn't what she was.

"No...No, I won't. I swear I won't."

"I'm not crying." A lie, obviously.

"You will. You don't know... you're affected. You're going to stop..."

And it was going to hurt.

"No, I'm not."

She wanted Azula to turn around, to work with her instead of saying she didn't care.

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