bentflame | 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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"I'm talking about the real you. The way you are without the virus.

"And after all, that's what matters, isn't it."

"...I don't know."

Azula listened to the thunder outside, and said nothing.

Ty Lee had nothing more to add, laying there.

Slowly, Azula began to shift backwards, until she was resting against Ty Lee. Despite her movements, however, she kept her face blank and emotionless, as if she wasn't doing anything at all.

"You're back."

Azula raised an eyebrow, though she doubted that Ty Lee could see. "Hm?"

"You moved back."

... Well. Yes. I suppose I did."

Ty Lee sighed, touching Azula's shoulder briefly. "Yes, you did."

She leaned back slightly at the touch.

"I love you."

Azula sighed. It'll be over and forgotten soon, anyway... She turned over to face Ty Lee, resting her head in the crook of her neck.

"As do I."

She sounds like... Ty Lee gently touched Azula's hair, giving it an experimental stroke.

Turning her head just slightly, she moved closer, leaning her forehead against Ty Lee's neck.

She stroked Azula's hair again, gently.

Azula sighed, then quietly slipped an arm around Ty Lee's middle.

Ty Lee sighed happily, this was incredibly comfortable. She put herchin lightly on Azula's head.

"We can stay like this until the virus is over," she conceded quietly, using her other hand to give Ty Lee's palm a quick stroke. Hopefully, it would start to wear off of other people first, so that she'd have enough of a warning to have time to make her "getaway".

"Do you promise?" Ty Lee wasn't listening much to what Azula was saying or how she was responding. If Azula had asked her to get the moon just then, or kill the Avatar, Ty Lee probably would have agreed.

"Mmm-hmm." She stroked Ty Lee's arm. "Don't worry about it."

"I won't." She shivered lightly at the touch.

"All right.

"... Are you tired?"

"Maybe a little."

"You may fall asleep here, if you wish. I don't mind." She herself needed to be awake when the virus started to dissipate, but... it would so much easier if Ty Lee was out for the count when it lifted. She didn't feel like answering questions, or being threatened and having to threaten back, or... well, dealing with anything that would likely come with the aftermath, really.

She continued to stroke Ty Lee's arm, rhythmically and soothingly. Go to sleep...