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They’re watching TV together, everyone hanging out at the tiny apartment Aang and Toph are renting together. The TV is actually just a laptop sitting on a chair, and a mattress on the floor with some pillows and blankets on it is functioning as a couch. But none of them care. The lighting in the room is comfortable, fairy lights winding up and down the walls, mostly because the ceiling light is broken and none of them has cared to fix it.
Sokka is already fast asleep, snoring and drooling onto Zuko’s arm, who strangely doesn’t really seem to mind, only shooting him the occasional glance accompanied by a hint of a fond smile. Suki is watching the movie intently, knees up to her chest and arms wrapped around them.
Toph looks interested too, sitting sideways so her ear is turned in the direction of the laptop. Katara and Aang seem to be liking the plot too, both watching with an intensity Mai wouldn’t have thought possible for this film, Katara sporting that familiar furrowed brow and Aang’s mouth is open ever so slightly.
Mai can’t help but notice the way Ty Lee’s feet are tangled with Sokka’s, almost feeling angry at the way they refuse to admit that they like each other. Ty Lee keeps telling Mai about just how cute she thinks he is, how she says she likes his crooked grin and his jokes. But Mai can't help but feel like Ty Lee is hinting at her crush being someone else than Sokka, because the way she speaks about him sometimes doesn't describe him at all.
Sometimes she even feels there is more than just platonic feelings towards her behind Ty Lees big gray eyes than she lets on.
Then again, that's probably just wishful thinking.
Of course Mai can’t be basing that idea off of purely nothing. She has a very private notes folder hidden away in her phone, where she writes down her observations. Mai supposes this might be her subconscious making her feed into her delusions, but she doesn’t really care. There’s not all that much she admits to caring about if you count Ty Lee out anyways, and so far there’s been an incredible amount of examples.
May 3rd
The way that her hands linger on mine, for much longer than would be necessary to take the glass of water I was handing her. Sometimes she even holds my hand, when there’s no one nearby.
May 8th
Every time she brings up boys around me, I can feel her eyes searching for something. Perhaps a slipup of my façade. Today she mentioned Sokka again. It makes my blood boil in ways I don’t want to express, but I want her to be happy. It doesn’t really matter who it’s with.
May 13th
I told her I had a date today. Her eyes lingered on me for so much longer than I’m used to. She also kissed my cheek and hugged me for a good minute when I was leaving. I did not go on my date.
May 17th
I can’t help but notice the fact that her breathing gets faster, and her eyes seem to get even bigger, always darting down to my lips when I’m close to her. I wonder if she likes me too.
Mai has learned over the years to be critical of her intuition, not to act on it, and with Ty Lee she couldn’t bear the thought of making even just a slight misstep. Life feels like a game that everyone has a manual for – except for Mai, and this is the exact same.
May 21st
I often wonder if this is all in my head. She literally paused her breath when my hand touched hers and I swear up to Agni that she keeps leaning into me whenever I touch her.
Ty Lee shifts her head in Mai’s lap, changing her view from the laptop perched on top of the chair to Mai, looking up at her. She doesn’t really know why, but she reaches her hand out to cup Mai’s cheek, palm lightly caressing her face, thumb drawing slow circles.
May 24th
The things she does for me aren’t even things I bother to do myself. She charges my phone for me. She reminds me to change my bedsheets, and her chipper voice reminding me to remember to drink water is a sound, accompanied by a feeling I will never forget.
Mai stiffens up, eyes widening, pulse picking up speed.
May 26th
We watched a movie together today. I laid my head on her chest and she gently traced patterns on my back. Her heartbeat is so fast, I wonder if my proximity is causing it to speed up.
Ty Lee notices Aang’s eyes dart over but he bites his lip and goes back to staring at the “TV” almost immediately, brow furrowed and ears twitching.
June 2nd
I’ve noticed that the others are a lot more careful around us than with anyone else. I see them glancing at our interactions with what I can only assume is a hint of curiosity in their eyes. Are they seeing the things I’m seeing?
Mai feels sure that her heartbeat is loud enough to grab every earthbenders attention in all of republic city. She instinctively feels the need to grab her phone, to add onto her notes that Ty Lee is caressing her cheek but instead she stays as still as she can, fearing for the moment to be over.
June 4th
I was sick today. She came over and read to me for over an hour until I accidentally fell asleep. When I woke up, she had cleaned the kitchen and made me noodle soup. She texted me four times while at work, just to ask if I’m okay. I’m not on my deathbed, I have a cold and a very slight fever and I am a little tired.
And then it happens.
Ty Lee takes a deep breath as she lets her hand fall back down, onto her chest, head shifting so she can see the laptop properly.
June 7th
Ty Lee really knows how to listen. It’s like she can almost hear my thoughts. She does so much for me. Today she came over with home made bread. She cares.
Mai takes a deep breath.
Then, she pulls out her phone ever so slowly, already thinking of a way to put into words what she just experienced.
June 11th
She caressed my cheek. For a full 27 seconds. I counted. Everyone saw it happen. Except for Sokka but he’s knocked out.