In the Palace Gardens

[bentflame]

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.

Comments

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

Ty Lee followed to where Azula was. This was just getting better and better. "Oh, Azula."

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

"Hm?" She kept walking. Ty Lee could keep up.

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

Ty Lee hurried, she wouldn't lose this chance. "Nothing, Azula. You're the greatest."

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

"I know."

The room Azula was staying in at the moment was much closer to the gardens than her own, and they were safely inside by the time the rain started. She had gone outside wearing her robe and dressing gown, so no changing was in order- she simply slid out of her slippers and climbed into bed.

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

Ty Lee slept in anything, lack of proper clothes never made much difference to her. Plus the fact that it was Azula's bed...She slipped in beside her.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

Azula lay with her back to Ty Lee at first, Then, very casually (and with her eyes still shut), she turned over to face the other girl. She didn't have any particular reason for doing so; she just did.

Thunder rolled across the sky, closer now. Azula had loved thunderstorms- especially nighttime ones- ever since she was a child.

Perhaps this would turn out all right after all.

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

Ty Lee heard the thunder...the storms that produced it were somewhat scary. Flashes of lightning, uncontrolled...that could scare her in the right circumstance. However, that night was not one of them. Azula was there. A bender of lightning was good news in a storm.

Besides...Ty Lee pressed close, stealing some warmth. The night was good so far.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

Snaking an arm around Ty Lee's back, she held the other girl against her. Hopefully, the virus wouldn't wear off for a while...

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

Ty Lee placed her head on Azula's shoulder, close to her neck.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

"I love you," Azula murmured, so quietly that she could barely even hear herself. (Hopefully, Ty Lee would forget everything once the virus wore off.)

OOC: ... Edit because I wrote 'Ty Lee' instead of 'Azula', and therefore accidently godmodded... XD

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

Ty Lee thought she heard the three words, but that...there was something inside Ty Lee telling her that Azula wouldn't say that. Not to her. Not to anyone, it probably could have been a lie. Or she made it up. Ty Lee pressed closer as a response.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

Azula knew that her current situation was absolutely ridiculous. It was stupid. What she really needed was to kick Ty Lee out of her bed, out of her room, until this virus thing was over. Things really would be better that way. Ty Lee didn't know what she was doing... so it was all basically a lie, really.

Instead, however, Azula clung to her, burying her her face in Ty Lee's hair. Her mind was a mess of conflicted thoughts and emotions. Make her leave. (Don't LET her leave.) She hates you. (Maybe she doesn't.) It's a VIRUS. (Maybe that doesn't matter.) It'll go away. (Maybe it won't.) She's going to leave, no matter what; she should be banished before she has the chance. (She wouldn't... she...)

But no matter what, Azula was not going to cry.

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

Ramza. You can't...This is...She's just...nevermind, it's all fine, isn't it?

Ty Lee was as close as she could be Azula, near. She finally was so close...but it was all just a virus, wasn't it? She probably wouldn't even remember it later. "Don't...stop." She spoke it quietly.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

"Don't stop what?"

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

"This."

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

...

That did it. Despite her resolve, Azula began to cry. Though she did her best to keep back any embarrassing or undignified sob-like sounds... it didn't work that well.

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

...That really is going to ruin my hair.

"You don't have to cry..."

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

She shook her head. "... I'm not." It was the most obvious lie she had ever told.

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

"...Alright."

Ty Lee wasn't in the mood to argue with Azula.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

After only a few seconds, Azula roughly pulled away and rolled over, her back to Ty Lee. She didn't have any reason to, really, other than instinct- though Ty Lee was acting a bit... different. Perhaps the virus was wearing off.

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

"Hey! What'd I do?" Ty Lee was indignant, but went closer to Azula.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

"Nothing." Azula didn't move away, but she didn't move closer, either. She just ignored her.

Then, because she didn't think Ty Lee had heard her the first time (she wasn't really sure she had wanted her to, anyway), and because the virus was going to wear off soon (and Ty Lee might not remember anything, so it didn't matter as much), and because Ty Lee was acting a bit more like... well, the old Ty Lee, she said, a little bit more loudly and clearly this time (and with just the right amount of defensiveness, nonchalance, and feigned annoyance), "I love you."

It was Ty Lee's fault, after all. She had done far more risqué things that night- kissed her neck, for goodness sake. That was quite a bit less innocent than anything Azula had ever done. She frowned. If wasn't as if she could get accused of molestation again- she would have plenty of things to counter with if she was.

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

So that's what she had said, after all. Ty Lee was used to have that being to said. Most liked her enough. But...Azula. Azula was someone who Ty Lee just didn't...

"I love you, too."

Ramza's going to...well, I do love everyone.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

Azula sighed slightly, trying to make it sound more annoyed than hurt. "Well. Of course you say that now."

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

"Sorry for being late?"