Chapter Text
Ty Lee looks at the text she got yesterday. It has clear instructions for how to get to this kid’s address and now she’s standing at the front door of some truly huge house, about to knock for the second time when a tall, gloomy looking girl opens the door.
Mai.
Oh. Oh no.
She’s had a crush on Mai for ages but the two barely ever speak. It doesn’t bother her, she’s certain that someone like Mai could never like someone like her and she’s okay with that. Crushes fade out eventually and Ty Lee is determined to wait for that.
Still, whenever they do talk they get along well, despite their personalities seemingly being very different.
Ty Lee tries to hide the redness of her cheeks. She can feel them warm up. Damnit Ty Lee, get a hold of yourself.
Mai stares at her. Ty Lee manages a choked “Hey” and Mai replies with a quiet “hi”, wearing a slightly confused expression on her face.
Spirits she’s cute. I should probably tell her why I’m standing on her doorstep though. Ty Lee shakes her head, trying to shove away her thoughts about just how pretty Mai looks, and looks the taller girl in the eyes. Agni they’re pretty. “I’m here to babysit a kid named TomTom?”
It was supposed to be a statement but it comes out like a question. She sees a flash of annoyance cross Mai’s face and winces, hoping she’s not the reason. When she looks at Mai again, she has her façade back up, a neutral, bored looking expression she always wears and nods, taking a step to the side and motioning Ty Lee to come in through the door.
Ty Lee takes off her shoes while Mai waits for her, and then follows her inside.
The interior of the house looks like it fell straight out of some catalogue or magazine for minimalistic rich people but somehow even less homey. Is that even a word?
There are a few pictures on the walls and Ty Lee notices that none of them are family pictures. They all look like expensive artwork, painted by some famous artist. There’s not a single thing out of place, and it somehow makes the place look even less homey. It kinda looks like it was abandoned, but even if it was it wouldn’t be this tidy looking, she can’t help but think.
Ty Lee follows Mai along a hallway, up some stairs and along another hallway until they stop in the doorway of what must be TomTom’s room. He must be about five or six, sporting the same black hair Mai has and very similar facial features. They even share a similar eye color. TomTom is sitting on the floor and puzzling. He looks up when they appear in his doorframe but focuses his attention back on the puzzle almost immediately .
“Hi, you must be TomTom” Ty Lee says.
TomTom looks up at her, then at Mai and back at her. He grins.
“yes”, he says, looking rather proud of this simple statement. Kids take pride in the weirdest things.
She crouches down to look less tall and intimidating (although Ty Lee is probably the least intimidating person ever and also she isn’t tall but a girl can dream).
She’s had some experience babysitting in the past, (though most of the kids she babysits don’t count as babies anymore). Why is it called that anyway? and has found it a very helpful thing to do when meeting a new kid.
“I’m Ty Lee” she says. TomTom looks at her again. “Hi” he says, before again focusing his attention back to the puzzle.
Ty Lee almost lets out a little sigh. Most kids are way less calm and would be either chattering as if their life depended on it or would’ve already stood up and ran somewhere in order to prank the new sitter. This one however, even from their very limited interaction she can tell he’s a bit different from most children she’s babysat and she’s not quite sure what to do with him.
She can tell he wants to be left alone but wouldn’t that be not so good babysitting? She glances at Mai trying to signalize that I’m not a babysitting expert help me pls but she just shrugs. She looks back at TomTom who seems to be enjoying the puzzle.
Mai and Ty Lee are sitting at a small, but fancy, kitchen table. Who has a fancy kitchen table?? Dining table, sure, but if you have a fancy dining table, why do you need a fancy kitchen table??
After a few attempts Ty Lee gave up but got TomTom to agree to come downstairs when he’s finished the puzzle. Now her and Mai are sitting here together and Ty Lee has a cup of juice standing on the table in front of her. Mai poured it for her.
Ty Lee looks around the kitchen, noticing again how much everything looks unused. There are no dishes in the sink or anything. Mai notices her glance. “We mostly order food. It’s usually just me and TomTom”. She pauses. “and a random babysitter” she adds. Ty Lee looks at her. That comment has made her curious but her question is interrupted by TomTom coming downstairs and calling for them.
Ty Lee and Mai order pizza for dinner. Then they go to watch a movie in the living room with TomTom. He already has his pajamas on and about an hour into the movie Ty Lee notices him almost falling asleep so she coaxes him to bed, somehow finding his room. She finds her way back into the kitchen where an exhausted looking Mai is standing, with a blanket around her shoulders and cradling a cup of tea in her hands.
Ty Lee approaches her and tries but fails not to startle her. Mai manages not to spill tea all over herself though, just a little bit on the counter and floor. She looks at Ty Lee. “I guess my parents want you to stay the night.”
Ty Lee nods. "I got a text earlier but I don't have any overnight stuff"
"no problem, I'll lend you some"
Mai takes a sip of her tea. “Do you want to watch another movie before I show you to the guest bedroom?”
Ty Lee nods again. Spirits what’s gotten into me? I’m always so chatty, but right now I can barely manage a word, let alone a sentence.
They’re back on the couch and Ty Lee musters all her strength she can before speaking up. “what did you mean earlier?” Agni, why is it so hard to talk to her? Maybe it’s because we barely know each other and yet I am in her home. Though that is all the more reason to try and talk to her.
“what?”
“when you said that it was usually only you and TomTom and a random babysitter”
“I meant what I said. It is usually just TomTom and I.”
“And some random babysitter” Ty Lee adds.
Mai nods. “And some random babysitter.”
“why?” Ty Lee wonders “i mean, why do you need a babysitter when you seem perfectly capable of taking care of things yourself?” shit. Now it sounds like I didn’t like being here. “I mean, it was nice to be here and all, but it still seems a little, I don’t know, unnecessary? A waste of money?”
Mai doesn’t look at her when she speaks. “yeah. They don’t trust me to watch him myself but they also don’t want me out of the house so I stay here”
Ty Lee’s brow furrows. “why do you listen to them? It’s not like we’re still kids. You could just move out” she regrets her words instantly when she sees Mai’s reaction.
Mai looks at her with a frown and her tone is harsh. “Are you suggesting I move out and leave my little brother alone with parents who neglect him?”
“I- No! that’s not what I meant, I just” she stops. “I’m sorry”
Mai looks at her with those beautiful eyes that pull Ty Lee into a swirl of emotions she doesn’t want to feel and sighs.
“It’s okay. I’m sorry for that outburst” Her tone is much softer already. “I just, I know what that is like, to be all alone with parents like that”
she looks kind of sad, and Ty Lee’s heart twists at the thought of Mai being ignored by her parents. She finds herself wishing she knew her back then but shoves the thought aside and offers Mai a hug instead. Mai looks surprised but doesn’t say no, and Ty Lee hugs her tight and doesn’t let go for a while. After a while she feels Mai’s hands awkwardly pat her back, as if she’s trying to comfort her and not the other way around, and her heart flutters. She gives a small smile into Mai’s shoulder.
When she feels like it’s been long enough she breaks the hug, pulling away and briefly mourns the contact being broken, even though she knows it was time. She glances at Mai again, Agni did she just blush?? no, can’t be, must’ve been my imagination. She shakes her head to clear her thoughts. Mai looks at her weird. I gotta stop doing that.
Both of them change into Mai’s sleepwear, then go back to the couch. At some point Ty Lee becomes hyper aware of how close they’re sitting and for Agni’s sake their knees are touching, but she doesn’t move. There’s a blanket draped over them and it feels warm and cozy to sit here with Mai and Ty Lee doesn’t ever want to move, but she notices how tired she feels and sees that Mai is seemingly just as tired.
Ty Lee wakes up. Her and Mai are still on the couch, leaning against each other, her head leaning against Mai’s shoulder and Mai’s head resting on top of hers. It’s dark around them, probably around 3 or 4 a.m.
Her heart starts beating faster. I am sleeping on Mai’s shoulder, she thinks and the thought makes her feel all warm and gooey inside. The couch is not the most comfortable spot but Mai’s body against hers makes it very okay.
She feels bad about enjoying it though. Suki would absolutely lose her shit if she saw this, she thinks and the thought almost makes her chuckle. Suki is her roommate and a friend of hers. Ty Lee’s crush on Mai didn’t go by her unnoticed and she teases Ty Lee mercilessly about it.
She’s super supportive though, even though she can't not tease her about it, partly because she knows Ty Lee has only spoken with Mai a few times. As a good friend should be supportive, Ty Lee reminds herself. Ty Lee had smiled at her, knowing that even if she were single, Suki wouldn’t do anything because she’s well aware of Ty Lee’s crush and she’s a good friend. Ty Lee can feel herself dozing off again and doesn’t try to fight it. It feels so natural, laying here and cuddling with Mai.
When Ty Lee wakes up it’s morning already. She realizes that Mai is gone, but the spot on the couch is still warm so it can’t have been too long since she got up. When Mai comes back into the living room holding two steaming teacups she almost drops them and her cheeks go slightly pink for just a second.
Ty Lee is stretching on the floor, her neck feels stiff from sleeping on the couch but this time she is certain she didn’t imagine it. She totally blushed this time, right? Mai seems to gather herself quickly though and in a heartbeat her face is back to her usual stoic expression. She hands Ty Lee a teacup. “here” she says stiffly and sits down on the couch. Ty Lee yawns. She takes her hair out of the now messy braid she always wears, and rebraids it. They sit in silence, but it’s a comfortable one.
That is, until Mai’s phone gets a text notification.
She looks at it and her brow furrows for a second as she turns to say something to Ty Lee but TomTom appears, interrupting them.
Ty Lee can tell he’s sleepy, he’s still wearing his pajamas, his eyes are only halfway open and he’s holding a stuffed animal in his left arm. He looks adorable.
TomTom walks over to Mai and climbs onto her lap. Then he cuddles himself into Mai’s chest and closes his eyes. Mai holds him, smiling down at him and Ty Lee can tell she cares about him a great deal. Mai looks at her again and remembers she was going to say something. “You should go. My parents will be home soon. I'll take care of him.”
Ty Lee nods, checking her phone. She sends a text to Suki telling her to come pick her up and asks Mai for directions to the nearest bathroom so she can freshen up. Mai lends her a towel and a fresh hoodie, saying that she can just give it back next time when they meet and that she’s welcome to use the shower if she wants to.
Ty Lee can’t help but smile to herself at the 'next time'. A warm feeling flushes over her. She wants to meet me again. Wait no this is my job now. The warm feeling is gone now but it’s fine, really. She shouldn’t hope for impossible things.
After a quick shower she checks her phone. Suki’s on her way to pick her up. Ty Lee puts on the hoodie Mai gave her. Given that Mai is taller than Ty Lee and prefers wearing baggy clothes the hoodie looks huge on her but Ty Lee likes it. A lot. Maybe a bit too much. She hears a knock on the door and a muffled “your friend is here”
Ty Lee smiles and walks out of the bathroom when she’s done getting ready. She feels much better after the shower and finds her way easily into the kitchen, where Mai is giving TomTom cereal. He eyes it hungrily and starts shoving it into his mouth at incredible speed as soon as she’s done. Ty Lee hands Mai the towel and sleep clothes from last night.
“Thank you.”
Mai stares at her for a second before finding her voice. “you’re welcome.” She leads her to the door and gives her a little wave as Ty Lee walks toward Suki’s car. Ty Lee waves back.
As they head away from the mansion-house whatever-it-is where Mai lives Suki’s smile grows. “Sooo?”
“what?”
“you just came out of Mai’s house and you’re wearing her hoodie.”
Ty Lee blushes. Crap, I forgot about the whole hoodie thing. It smells wonderful though. Flowery. “yeah, turns out the kid I was babysitting is Mai’s little brother” she swears she can almost hear Suki squeal out of excitement.
“and?”
Ty Lee shrugs. “nothing. Though I did fall asleep on her shoulder”
Now Suki is actually squealing. Ty Lee grins at her. “and she also fell asleep” She launches into gushing about Mai and does so for the entire ride home somehow. Suki’s grin grows even bigger (how is that even possible??) and Ty Lee only feels a little embarrassed.
The next Monday morning Ty Lee makes sure to put Mai’s hoodie into a bag and take it with her on her way to class. She liked wearing it but she needs to bring it back, she even washed it over the weekend because not doing so would have been rude.
The weather is nice, it’s a warm morning in late September and Ty Lee’s mind wanders on the walk to the gym. She has acrobatics practice every morning and thoroughly enjoys it. She also offers lessons twice a week.
She likes being in control of her own life, choosing what college she wants to go to has been the best decision she's made in her life so far.
She’s met so many great people here, Aang, his girlfriend Katara, Katara’s brother Sokka and his ex Suki, who is currently Ty Lee’s roommate.
Sokka's current boyfriend Zuko also goes to the same college but Ty Lee knew him before, she'd met him a couple of times when she was younger.
She’d met Toph, Jin, Jet, (whom Katara had briefly dated, as a drunk Suki had once told her. Katara didn’t like to talk about it though. understandably. Jet was kind of an ass.)
and so many others. It’s weird how all of our lives are intertwined. Everyone is somehow connected. Zuko and Jet dated each other too. He and Katara need to get their taste in guys checked though
After practice, when Ty Lee is done stretching, she takes a shower and checks what time it is. Her first class doesn’t start until in two hours since her professor sent out an email saying he’s sick. More than enough time to get herself a coffee at the Jasmine Dragon. I should probably find Mai and give her the hoodie back though.
She bumps into Mai and awkwardly hands her the bag containing the hoodie. When she’s about to leave Mai calls after her. “where are you headed?”
Ty Lee turns around. “Jasmine Dragon. Wanna join me?” Woah. Where´d that come from? Please say yes otherwise I will go die of embarrassment.
“Yeah I’ll join you”
Or not. Nice. Death will have to wait another day.
Ty Lee waits for Mai to catch up with her. On their walk Ty Lee manages to be her usual chatty self and Mai sometimes adds in a sarcastic remark here and there. Ty Lee can tell she’s having fun.
They order a drink each and sit down in a booth, facing each other. When Jin brings their drinks over she stops for a chat, but then she leaves, and they sit in silence for a while.
Ty Lee takes a sip of her drink. So does Mai. The silence is comfortable, and Ty Lee barely feels the need to speak. She does so anyways though, old habits die hard and whatnot. They talk about a show they both like, and Ty Lee feels sad when Mai has to go. She waves her goodbye, finishes her drink alone and tries to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. No problem. I can totally keep it platonic with her.