Azula wakes up groggily. She glances out of the window, trying to figure out what time it is. The sun is in the sky, with only shreds of pink remaining, and usually she wakes just before sunrise, but the panic of waking up late is slurred and slowed by her exhaustion.
She does not recall getting into any fights. Her training was not particularly grueling. Rush of abrupt panic that is not dulled by her slow senses; the all day war meeting is today.
It is at that moment that she realizes she is distinctly lacking a variety of clothing, and someone's arm is wrapped around her waist. She wishes she had noticed that before the trajectory of the sun. Slowly, cautiously, she turns around and her lips brush against the nose of her companion. Her one night stand. Azula is slipping.
"Mphm," murmurs Ty Lee unintelligibly before she opens her eyes. "Hi."
"Hi," Azula chokes back. This was intentional, she realizes as she remembers her night. Certainly intentional; she just did not imagine Ty Lee to be here when she woke. Surely she had the sense and intellect to escape before she was caught in bed with the princess she was distinctly not supposed to be dating.
Then again, it is Ty Lee Azula is accusing of not having forethought. Or thought at all.
"You have to go," Azula says and Ty Lee's eyelashes flutter, startled. She wipes drool and Azula's lipstick from her chin and sits up slowly.
But before Azula can help shove her out of the window, there is a rapping on the door.
Please be Zuko, please be Zuko...
"Princess," comes a cautious yet assured voice. Kyiatchi. Azula's ninth dayplanner in the past year. They become so interchangeable when she finds little things to get them fired for when they displease her. "You have to wake up for the meeting with your father."
Azula takes a deep breath. Of course, of course she is caught by someone who will tell her father. Of course.
"I need you to hide," Azula whispers as she leaps out of bed. Tired, her legs vaguely sore, she walks to the door and runs her fingernails across it before opening it. The motion buys her little time but it is effective. "I'm getting ready."
Kyiatchi looks at her with a small nod before entering the room.
"I said I'm getting ready," Azula snaps but she is disobeyed. She is going to make up so many horrible lies about this woman she will be banished forever. "What are you looking for?"
"Who were you talking to?"
"You're not my mother," Azula snarls. "Or a commanding officer. I was talking to myself."
It is then that Azula sees bright pink against her red sheets. Some hiding. Ugh. Ty Lee. Azula really needs to date someone more intelligent, regardless of how happy they make her feel or how good their lips taste. Pink toenail polish in Azula's dark, blood red room.
Kyiatchi follows Azula's gaze before the princess realizes she gave herself away, and throws the blankets off of the bed.
"Hi!" Ty Lee waves feebly.
She hid under the blankets. A closet would've been more effective.
Kyiatchi cocks an eyebrow at Azula.
"If you tell my father, I will tell him..." Pause. She thinks sleeping with Ty Lee has drained her quick wits. "I will tell him you made me eat spider-fly webs."
Her nanny simply sighs, looks at the hopefully grinning Ty Lee and says, "I was a teenager once too."
Under the blankets.
"Nice toenail polish," Azula says sharply before starting to get dressed for the war meeting.
"Thank you, princess," Ty Lee says blithely.
Directly over her head.