Day One: Red
"I'm only here for a week," sadly says Ty Lee.
"How unfortunate," Azula replies, and Ty Lee does not know if the words are genuine or not. It is always difficult to tell with Princess Azula. "Let me show you to your room."
Ty Lee knows that should not be necessary, but she nods and follows the princess. Azula looks well, surprisingly well. Ty Lee tries to be happy about it, but maybe a part of her was wishing that Azula would desperately need her help. Princess Azula seems fairly like Princess Azula.
They enter a bedroom Ty Lee recalls. She stands silently in it while Azula studies her closely, and Ty Lee gazes down at a faded red stain on the stone floor. Apparently the servants never could remove it; they must have suffered for that.
Ty Lee remembers how it got there, like she remembers most things in this palace (she practically grew up here, after all).
"What are you looking at? Is there a bug you're too afraid to kill?"
"The bloodstain." Ty Lee smiles, then giggles, while Azula stares at her like she is the crazy one. "Do you remember that blood pact we made? We were only like seven I think."
"Of course I do. It was a test of faith, and you passed." Azula sits down on her bed.
Ty Lee remembers her panic as she sat across from Azula. The princess had a knife to her palm and Ty Lee had a knife to hers and they were staring at each other. Even Azula's golden eyes were wide. The room was stained red from the curtains as the dim evening light poured in.
"Azula—Azula—this is kinda dangerous and I'm kinda—"
"Shut up," snaps Azula. "If you love me you will not hesitate."
Ty Lee loves her, so when Azula confidently slices open her own hand and stark red pours down, staining her ivory skin, Ty Lee does the same. It makes her almost throw up, while Azula looks perfectly fine.
They touch their hands together and Ty Lee's heart flutters.
"It was so scary to see you do that. You didn't even flinch or hesitate." Ty Lee shakes her head with a small smile on her tan lips.
"Well, I have remarkable self-confidence. It is one of my best qualities." Azula smirks. Ty Lee deeply loves that signature half smile.
"I'm confident but not you confident."
"Oh, I think we could make you more confident…"
Ty Lee smiles, but, secretly, she fears the sound of that.
"Anyway, you are staying with me, despite my concern that you may kill me in my sleep," coolly says Azula, cracking her knuckles. "I don't trust you. I will never trust you—"
"You can trust me."
"You would have to prove it."
Azula says no more.