She knows it's summer and her birthday is soon. Something about the way her hair sticks to her forehead and how she can't get comfortable enough to sleep because it's too damn hot. The fire used to course through her blood with raging intensity as the year's longest day approached, but not anymore.
Despite the blasted heat, she sleeps anyway. She suspects they are drugging her. It's easier that way. Her usual guard left days ago—or maybe it's been weeks? She doesn't know. Everything blurs—burns—together.
Zuko doesn't visit anymore. Mother doesn't, either. It's pretty cold of them to forget her on her birthday. Father never forgot, at least not before...
Happy Birthday, my perfect princess…
She shivers at the memory, his voice was cold with his usual detachment, but there was an edge of warmth to it, a hidden meaning she wanted so desperately to know.
She never found it.
She has one visitor on her birthday this year. She doesn't recognize her childhood friend at first, clad in green and wearing that horrendous makeup.
"I see you traded one matched set for another," Azula says.
Her words don't have the same effect as they used to, she notices.
"At least my life as a Kyoshi Warrior has purpose now." Despite the coolness of her tone, Ty Lee is smiling—always smiling.
"What are you doing here?" It's a snarl, not a question.
"I'm your new guard, Azula." A frown finally tugs at those lips, painted deep burgundy. The color reminds the former princess of blood and of the fire that now consumes her to the core.
She remembers feeling bold, empowered on the summer solstice. This year, her birthday would fade just like any other day.
Or perhaps not.
She kisses those full, trembling lips with bruising force. She tastes blood.
"Azula, I—" Ty Lee's hand hovers over her mouth, her chest heaves with each shortened breath.
They are both thinking of the same thing. Another birthday. Another memory.
Another lifetime, Azula realizes with sudden clarity. She's seventeen and not in the place she expected to be. But Ty Lee has been there through it all, hasn't she?
The Kyoshi Warrior turns away, her cool and calm façade completely wrecked. With shuddering shoulders and a quivering chin, she says, "I don't think it's a good idea… for a guard and… you know…"
Azula narrows her eyes and considers what she might say to that. She's been reduced to prisoner or worse, patient. What happened to friend? Or… lover? Ty Lee only pities her now—maybe she always has. Azula is a monster, after all.
Before she has a chance to turn her fury into a fight, Ty Lee gently cups her cheek and places a chaste kiss on her forehead. Azula doesn't understand why her vision of warm, chestnut eyes—stark against the pale face paint—is suddenly so… blurry.
"Happy Birthday, Azula," Ty Lee whispers.
When she leaves, the heat of her kiss still lingers. Azula's throat burns, her hot tears sting.
The summer solstice—the longest day of the year in the Fire Nation. The birthday of a perfect princess. The forging of a terrible monster.
And maybe a chance to start anew.
A/N: I wanted to post this yesterday on the actual solstice, but it didn't happen. This one's for you, QueenTy. May be a oneshot, may not... we'll see what happens!
