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[bentflame]

It seemed that her memories were here to stay, after all.

While in the hospital- bored, with nothing to do- Azula had spent some time contemplating this fact, wondering how it could be possible. She had come up with several theories- that it was an effect of the medication she was on; that being shot, even just in the side, had caused some sort of trauma to the brain (Azula wasn't very familiar with the logistics of rifles and bullets, but this idea didn't seem too far out of the realm of possibility); etcetera. However, now that she was home, she realized that she didn't particularly care how it had happened. The point was that it had, and that she had her memories (good and bad) back- and though she logically knew that things had been much better off after the mindwipe, she couldn't really bring herself to be angry, or even displeased, about their return. Regardless, she would be paying a visit to the one who had agreed to perform the service for her. She had some gold to take back, and punishment (the severity of which she hadn't quite decided) to exact.

Upon her return, she was surprised to find no war reports waiting for her. On one hand, this was good news- no unexpected problems had arisen, and things were going quite smoothly. Still, she expected weekly status reports, and General Sho in particular was quite late with his. Had things really become so lax in her short time away? If so, that problem needed to be dealt with as soon as possible... but not tonight.

In the absence of any "required reading", Azula took a book on Fire Nation royal history to bed with her. It wasn't all that late; she could easily stay up for another hour or so before retiring for the night. And she hadn't done any pleasure reading for a while.
Dimming the lamps (but keeping it light enough to read without straining her eyes), she settled back against the pillows. Really, the beds in those hospitals had been atrocious- all hard mattresses and scratchy sheets and lumpy pillows; she had gotten better rest sleeping on a bedroll in the middle of the wilderness. After that, her own feather blankets and satin sheets were simply heavenly.

It was good to be home.

Comments

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

"That sounds like a stupid reason. I mean...some of the stuff that happened to us during viruses could be called stupid but that just takes the cake! What a stupid woman."

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

"Precisely. She really can't be very bright at all."

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

"I mean, c'mon. You weren't really a wolf. Why would she actually believe you were one?"

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

"Oh, she didn't."

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

"Then that's even more stupid!"

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

Azula raised an eyebrow. "You seem to be quite riled up about this."

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

Ty Lee looked down, mildly ashamed of herself. "Yeah...I mean, you mean a lot to me and she shot you without a good reason..."

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

"I mean a lot to you." Azula considered the words.

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, you do."

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

"Not just as a princess. As a... friend."

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

"Yeah...you know that."

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

"I know you've said it in the past."

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

"I mean it, I really do."

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

The words were nice. Azula wanted to believe them; she really did- but it was difficult. This idea of trust... it went against her nature. She had tried before, but...

Azula bit the inside of her cheek, thinking. Then, in a movement that she forced (probably not very well) to appear casual and unthinking, she slid to the very edge of the bed. "Ty Lee."

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, Azula?" She noticed her movement, it was a bit jerky so how couldn't she. Ty Lee responded by leaning a bit towards the bed.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

Azula looked slightly awkward, though she was trying to hide it. "... Come... come here. Just for a moment." She added that last part hurriedly, motioning to the space in front of her; indicating that Ty Lee could either stand or move the chair closer.

"... Though I wouldn't call that an order," she said as an afterthought. "I was simply... tsk."

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

Ty Lee stood up and moved closer. "I know that wasn't an order."

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

Azula leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Ty Lee's waist, hugging her tightly- though from her seated position, her head was only a little lower than Ty Lee's chest height. After a moment, she pulled away and moved back to the middle of the bed, where she had been when Ty Lee had first entered the room.

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

The hug had surprised her and was over before she was able to return it, which was disconcerting somewhat. Ty Lee sat on the edge of the bed.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

Azula eyed her, clearing her throat in a somewhat embarrassed manner.

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

"I can move if you want."

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

"Oh. No, that's not necessary.

"... Though if you wish to sit somewhere else, you certainly may."

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

"No, Azula. I'm fine. I just wanted to know if you wanted me to move."

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

"Mm. All right." She paused.

"I did that because... well. As I said, I had wanted to. At the hospital." She hadn't intended on revealing that bit of information in the first place, but because of that idiotic girl and her spells... Azula's fist clenched under the blankets, but she kept her anger at bay.

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. I remember. At least here no one would see you." Ty Lee's voice was quiet, but not quite surprised. "I didn't mind, it though."

((And somewhere, Sabrina just flinched. >>))