Chapter Text
The late night watch was always excruciatingly boring. Boring and creepy. The palace was quiet at night except for the clinking of the guard’s armor and the occasional soft tones of speaking. Ty Lee stood resolutely to the right of the Fire Lord’s bedroom, trying very hard not to fall asleep. Luse paced the halls, keeping an eye out for anything out of the ordinary. Hua was slumped against the wall, fast asleep. Ty Lee didn’t mind. The beta had partied hard at Aang’s party and was probably sleeping off all the sake she’d drunk.
Ty Lee scanned down the hall, her eyes picking out the shadows behind ancient vases, flickering in the torch light. Besides the warriors and herself, they were totally alone. A clock down the hall chimed the time- a new invention curtesy of Sokka.
The bell tolled once. A hollow, ringing sound that sent shivers running down her spine. She had never liked that sound. Especially not at one in the morning, when everyone slept. This was the time for ghostly things. The time when ghouls clawed their way from the soil of their graves, when banshees wailed into the wind.
She shook her head, earning a funny glance from Luse. Thinking about scary things only scared her worse than before. Azula-
No. She wouldn't think about her either.
Not about her shy, yet determined manners as she'd asked for a dance. Definitely not about how it had felt to have Azula's arms around her, or how they'd danced six songs in a row. No, she wasn't thinking about Azula's voice, belting out a song Ty Lee knew wasn't her favorite.
She was thinking about Azula's face when she sang "you know I still love you."
The unbridled longing in her eyes as she looked away.
But Ty Lee just couldn't. Not again.
Obviously, Azula had changed. She was gentler. Her staff spoke highly of her- none of them from before remained, though their "banishment" had been lifted. Her lady-in-waiting, Redi, had told Ty Lee how she'd improved since returning.
What, exactly, had changed Azula, was a mystery. Ty Lee doubted it was her time in the asylum. Maybe helping Zuko find their mother had offered some closure, but Ty Lee remembered seeing her after and she had still seemed... off. Perhaps it was the time she spent between the kemuricage incident and her return to the palace, but Ty Lee remembered seeing her then.
Remembering those wild golden eyes, how she'd snarled and spat like an alley cat, sent a sharp sting of pain into her heart. Yes, it had been a long time since she and the princess were friends. But seeing someone she had loved like that- so broken and beaten-
Ty Lee shivered. She would not forget how Azula had pleaded, while threatening them as they dragged her from the throne room, for help. Nor would she forget the scream of agony when the guards had burned her much to Zuko's irritation.
Really, Ty Lee thanked Cho for Azula's healing. The short, round woman filled the halls with laugher and gave great hugs to anyone who asked. Ty Lee took advantage of those warm, comforting hugs. No one knew where she had come from, but Cho made everyone's lives better. Her free counseling to anyone who asked was always worth while. Above all, though, Azula respected the woman.
Cho was no bender, no fighter at all, but her sharp wit and clever way of thinking had ensnared Azula. On sunny afternoons, and cloudy ones too, Ty Lee had often seen them walking the garden paths, deep in conversation. On the (very rare, Suki made sure of that) occasion that Ty Lee was assigned to guard the princess, she had listened closely to their conversation. Azula was, and still is, one of the smartest people Ty Lee knew. Cho took that, and Azula's overaggressive Alpha, and beat her into shape without lifting a finger.
Azula was almost always quiet during those conversations, asking and answering questions the only exceptions. They talked of the nature of humanity, the nature of an alpha and a woman. How all of the three combined to make a person. Cho drew the conclusions from Azula, trusting her instincts and intelligence to get the point across.
Luse cleared her throat as she passed Ty Lee, jerking her from her thoughts.
"Are you alright? You're projecting distress." The beta's nose twitched as she inhaled. Ty Lee sniffed reflexively, realizing that she was, in fact, sending out a lot of distress signals. Which was odd, since she didn't feel particularly distressed.
"I'm fine," Ty Lee relaxed and took a few deep breaths, calming herself. Luse raised an eyebrow at her. "Really! I was just thinking about... about Azula. You know, how good she's been doing." The look of concern on her friend's face turned to a smirk.
"Or how smooth she's gotten" Luse snorted as Ty Lee sputtered. "Definitely not how she looked like a kicked puppy when Suki stole you away. Or how you practically threw yourself back into her arms." Her snorts turned to soft chuckling as Ty Lee got herself under control, face flushed with embarrassment.
"I did not 'throw' myself into her arms." There was no real way to salvage this, Ty Lee realized. "But it was nice to talk to her again." Luse barked out a laugh, waking Hua from a dead sleep. Looking around wildly, Hua stared at them before huffing and closing her eyes again.
"Be quiet." She mumbled. "Trying to sleep."
"While on watch? Better be careful, Suki will whoop you for that." Luse teased, nudging the black haired girl with her foot. Hua grunted.
"Ty Lee won't let you tell." Which was true. Ty Lee knew that the dark haired beta had trouble sleeping, even when she wasn't halfway in a drunken stupor. She was a non bender from the fire nation, and sometimes Ty Lee wondered if she should have been an omega. She was sensitive even when she was gruff.
"Ty Lee is too soft for her own good." Luse continued to dig her toe into Hua's thigh. Ty Lee winced.
"My softness is my strength." Ty Lee whispered, repeating a phrase she'd learned from Cho. It did concern her, sometimes, how willingly her heart forgave wrongdoings. Especially with one certain fire bending prodigy. Luse looked up at her whisper and immediately her face fell.
"Look, I didn't mean it that way." She amended. "You're right, it is your strength. You've saved me so many times from Suki's wrath, I can't even count!" Her green eyes flickered in the torchlight, finding Ty Lee's gaze one trembling lip away from tears. "You have this way with people, especially alphas. It's inspiring to say the least. And, the thing about Azula?" Luse left Hua alone in favor of offering a comforting touch to Ty Lee's arm. "She'd be lucky to have you. I didn't know her before, but I know she's changed for the better if the rumors are true. She's very pretty and I can definitely see you two together. The most powerful Alpha and the sweetest omega- you'd make a fine pair!"
"Suki would end you for saying that." Hua mumbled without moving her face from between her knees.
"Suki doesn't get to choose our mates." Luse countered, scratching idly at the mark on her neck.
"Yeah, but she doesn't like it when other Alphas try stuff with her omegas." Hua finally looked up. "She was one word away from challenging Azula earlier." Ty Lee let out a sigh, remembering the roiling chi brewing between the two alphas. "Ew, Lee. Don't start drooling." Pursing her lips, Ty Lee again got her chi under control.
"Sorry. I don't know why I'm so project-y tonight." Ty Lee felt her cheeks burning again. "I'm not due for my heat for quite a while." With a heavy sigh, Hua stood up and stared at her friend, a look of clear exasperation written all over her face.
"Girl, you just danced with the love of your life."
"Azula is NOT-" Ty Lee protested, heart clenching at the barest hint of the thought.
"Don't." Raising one finger to stop Ty Lee, Hua continued. Her richly toned voice filled the space between the three of them. "I'm not blind and neither is Luse. Literally everyone knows you like Azula- even though you two had that very, very dramatic falling out like four years ago. Even Suki knows. You practically run away every time you see her plus the look in your eyes when you think of her. But, that's besides the point." Hua's lips quirked upwards. "Being around such a strong alpha probably messed with your hormones, that's all."
As Ty Lee glared, she realized that Hua was right. The connection she'd once had with Azula was broiling just below the surface. It made her skin crawl, but in an almost pleasant way. "You're probably right." Ty Lee conceded, ducking her head a bit.
Then, something crashed at the end of the hall. All three warriors snapped to attention, fans extended and ready. Luse crept forward.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" She called, eyes searching the darkness. Ty Lee took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. Hua gave her a look. A 'calm down' look. Swallowing back her fear, Ty Lee tried to focus on breathing deep and slow, but all she got was the thick smell of distressed alpha, one particular alpha in fact.
"Wait-" Ty Lee stepped forward, brushing past Luse. "It's Azula."
It was. The princess walked toward them, a blue flame flickering in her hand. Sometimes she slept walked. In fact, it used to be a common occurrence, but it had been quite a while since she'd walked. This time, Ty Lee could tell she was awake, or at least mostly awake. Her eyes didn't seem to be focused, but when they landed on Ty Lee, they snapped to reality. She blinked and paused mid stride.
"Hey," Ty Lee offered a small wave at her, which Azula half returned. The princess shifted her weight, almost awkward. "Can we help you?" At that, Azula's eyes flicked over her companions. The princess swallowed and stepped closer to Ty Lee. Without a thought, Ty Lee stepped back right into Luse, who caught her shoulder and squeezed. Hurt flashed over Azula's face for just a moment before returning to neutrality.
"Actually," The princess sniffed the air and took a step back. "I thought something might be wrong with you." Those golden eyes scanned Ty Lee up and down, searching for proof of her distress. Shivering Ty Lee, hugged herself.
"I'm fine," She stared at the ground between them. "Sorry if I woke you." Azula opened her mouth before shutting it again.
"You didn't. Wake me that is." Azula sighed, glancing back down the hall. "But you're sure you're alright? I thought I smelled distress, your distress." Heart clenching, Ty Lee nearly flung herself at Azula. Her omega strained at her control, begging to be let out. Oh, how she wanted to be in Azula's arms!
"I'm sure, Princess," Her voice came out a whisper. She didn't trust herself at full volume. Lips pursed, Azula nodded, turning around.
"I'll leave you to it then. Good night." Ty Lee stumbled forward a step as Azula walked away. Tears pricked at her eyes, but she shoved the feelings down because she and Azula could never work.
Azula was too broken, too far away, for Ty Lee to do something about her. She'd tried to save her and failed. The look in her friend's eyes when she'd betrayed her... this time a sob did escape her. Her knees gave out. She felt Luse and Hua's hands on her shoulders, comforting her, but it did nothing to ease the pain. No matter how much she wanted, maybe needed, Azula in her life, it was always doomed to end in pain. Her head sunk into her hands.
Luse held her close, hoping the sound of her heartbeat would soothe her. She looked down the hall wishing she could hurl her daggers at the princess. But instead of finding the hall empty, she saw Azula standing there, staring at them with heartbreak all over her face. One hand reached out, too far to do anything, but helpless to do anything else.
Turning to Hua, Luse saw her staring at Azula too. Dark brow furrowed, Hua sighed, exhaling calming pheromones to help calm Ty Lee. Ty Lee burrowed deeper into Luse's uniform, her sobs already subsiding. When Luse felt Ty Lee relax, her grief spent, she turned to look where Azula had been standing.
She was gone.