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Azula stepped back out onto the beach, it was the dead of night, Ty Lee said she was going to follow them in but it’d been 2 hours and she was still sitting by the dead fire. “You mind?” Azula asked, Ty Lee shook her head and Azula sat next to her. She lit up the fire again with her bending, the warmth felt nice. “I’m sorry for what Zuko said earlier…” She apologised, “It wasn’t right, I should’ve spoken up, I just…”
“It’s okay. You can’t apologise for him.” Ty Lee interrupted the princess. “I get it, you want him to like you.” Ty Lee threw a piece of driftwood into the fire, there was force in the throw, anger.
Azula let out a guilty sigh, “Still…” They sat in silence for a while, “For what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re a freak, I think it’s really cool, with the flips and the bending.”
Ty Lee cracked a smile, “Yea? Well, for what it’s worth I don’t think you’re a monster.” She said in return.
“Thanks.” Azula laughed out a bit, before scooting closer to the girl beside her. They sat in silence for another few minutes, Azula couldn’t shrug off the feeling of guilt in her stomach, and Ty Lee could feel the aura. Her aura was grey, dark grey.
Ty Lee rested her head on Azula’s shoulder. “I’m sure he’ll apologise in the morning.” Ty Lee said, “He’s just upset.”
“Don’t make excuses for him.” Azula said, wrapping her arm around Ty Lee.
“He’s had a tough life.” She said, sympathetically.
“So did we, and Mai, we don’t take it out on other people.” Azula argued.
“I guess…” She replied, looking up at Azula. “Don’t blame yourself, it isn’t your fault he said it, I should’ve stood up for myself, I don’t need you to fight my battles.” She said.
Azula smiled a bit, she did feel a little better. “I would happily fight all your battles.” She said, holding Ty Lee close. “I’ll fight for you anyday, forever and always.” She declared, causing them both to laugh and briefly forget their sorrows.
“That a promise?” Ty Lee asked.
“Of course, that’s what best friends are for.” She said, Azula’s smile grew wider while Ty Lee’s faded.
“Right, best friends.” She said, pulling away from Azula a little.
“Did I say something wrong?” Azula asked, leaning forward to fill the gap that Ty Lee made.
“No!” She replied quickly, “It’s okay, just, don’t think about it.”
Azula thought about it, what’s more than best friends? Ty Lee could see Azula realise what she meant. Her eyes widened and her face flushed, “Ty Lee Thats-! That’s so… taboo!” She exclaimed.
Ty Lee was overwhelmed with shame, she was fully ready to get up and sprint into the ocean to never be seen again, but Azula put her hand on Ty Lee’s shoulder and forced her back down. “I didn’t know you thought of me… that way.” Azula said, her face still red, her eyes fixed on the fire, away from Ty Lee.
“Please don’t tell anyone I don’t want to get… in trouble.” There was a grimace in her voice.
Azula shook her head quickly, “I’d never!” She insisted. “I was just taken by surprise. I didn’t expect that you were… you know…”
Ty Lee winced a bit, “You can say gay, Azula.”
“Yea, that.” she gulped, looking around behind them to make sure no one was there. “So, how did you know that you were… that way inclined?” She asked.
Ty Lee shrugged a bit. “I guess I just always knew, you know? Like, I looked at girls, at you, and it made me feel the way boys felt about girls in romance novels and plays.”
“What’d that feel like?” Azula asked, she seemed to have poked too far though, as Ty Lee was starting to get suspicious.
“Why do you wanna know so bad?” She asked, though Ty Lee already had a clue.
“I-I don’t!” Azula insisted quickly, though she wasn’t very convincing. “I just never met a gay person before.” She whispered the word gay.
Ty Lee narrowed her eyebrows, “Have you ever felt like that towards any girls, Azula?” She asked.
“No! Of course not! Well, I mean, everyone has sometimes, right? Like, you know, sometimes you look at a girl and you think ‘if I were a boy then I’d totally ask her out.’ Right?” She asked.
Ty Lee slowly shook her head, “I don’t think that’s a universal experience, ‘Zula.” She said.
Azula went quiet, and started to panic. “Am… Am I gay!?” She asked.
Ty Lee couldn’t help but laugh a little. “I don’t think I can answer that for you Azula.” She said.
Azula had almost a terrified look on her face, “But, but, but I can’t be gay, I’m the princess, my dad’s already arranging my marriage with a lordson.”
Ty Lee pat Azula’s shoulder, “It’s alright, Azula. Maybe you like guys too? It isn’t always one or the other.” She said.
Azula thought for a few moments. “Shit…” she muttered, Ty Lee moved from patting her friend's shoulder to hugging her tightly.
“You’re okay, ‘Zula.” She whispered, “Maybe we should go back inside, fire’s dying, don’t want to get sick.” She said. “You’ll feel better under some warm covers.” She said, rubbing Azula’s back to comfort her.
“Yea… that sounds good.” Azula agreed, getting up. “You’re not gonna..” Azula couldn’t even finish her sentence.
“I won’t tell anyone.” Ty Lee reassured, “Promise.”
Ty Lee smiled, leading Azula to her bedroom and helping the dazed girl lay down. “Thanks, Lee..” Azula said.
“Don’t mention it, but, I would take a quiet, secret, illicit date as payment.” She said, with a bit of a giggle.
Azula couldn’t help but smile a bit at the idea. “We’ll see.” She said, “Good night.” She said, as her friend left the bedroom.
“Goodnight, Azula. Sweet dreams.” Ty Lee said, as she closed the door behind her.