AN: This is written for the Tyzula Advent Calendar Week Two. I'm late to the party, and so I'm just doing seven of the days. It's going to be a continuous story that will be a bit brief since I want to finish it all.

Diamonds

1/7: Cloudy Days

On a very cloudy but very ordinary day, a Fire Nation ship sails into the harbor amidst the fog and cumulous haze. Ty Lee is watching. Suki is watching. Everyone is watching from the grey shadows at bright red and silver. No one here is too young to remember. . . except for Ty Lee.

The first time Suki ever saw a Fire Nation ship, it was Prince Zuko coming to burn down her village. After that, they became a fairly common sight when she helped refugees reach Ba Sing Se when the Fire Nation was so in the habit of trying to sink the ships she was guarding. Never, even now that the Fire Nation is allied with Kyoshi Island, has Suki been genuinely excited to see a Fire Nation ship. The metal streaking through the teal water just makes something primal and instinctual inside of her gut twist.

But right now, she feels somewhat thrilled. It is ridiculous, and Suki is not the type to get hung up on boys of all things. Yet, there is something strong she feels for Zuko, and his constant absence only seems to strengthen that need.

Ty Lee runs to the top of the slushy hill and squints through the thick air. It's cloudy, disgusting, sticky day and she is none too pleased about it. As if the aura-killing weather wasn't enough, she has to deal with this Fire Nation ship showing up out of nowhere.

She wishes she could pretend that maybe she is seeing it wrong through the haze, but no clouds can cover up the piercing red and shining silver. The Fire Nation never was much for subtlety. Ty Lee purses her lips and sighs faintly, the bitter taste of face paint now stuck in her mouth. It is incredibly doubtful that Azula would bother coming here to visit her, not to mention the fact that Azula is strictly banned from leaving the Fire Nation under all circumstances.

Which is, incidentally, why Ty Lee broke up with her two months ago.

She watches, a hint of jealousy in her gut, as Zuko leaves the ship, dressed in Earth Kingdom plainclothes and with his hair down, draped shaggily around his scar instead of tied up in a dignified, Fire Nation manner. Suki slinks to him, feminine form quickly pressed against his muscles as they exchange a heated kiss that Ty Lee thinks she should probably not be staring at creepily from the distance.

Suki takes the Fire Lord by the hand and guides him into the village, and Ty Lee stumbles down the hill before she gets caught spying on them, her cheeks flushing light pink behind her white make-up as the cold wind presses against her face.

"Ty Lee," Zuko says, spinning to face her as she is trying to tip-toe past him. "I have something for you... on the ship..."

"Oh, uh, okay," Ty Lee says weakly, glancing between he and Suki.

"You can just go check it out. The soldiers on board will show you. Whenever you want to, I suppose," Zuko remarks before being tugged away by Suki, and not resisting her pull in the slightest.

Ty Lee has no clue why she is so jealous. But she just sighs and starts plodding through the snow towards the huge metal ship in the middle of the small harbor. She remembers when she saw an identical ship outside of the circus, looming over the tents and casting shadows.

She knew it was Azula, and she was somewhat excited, although she did not get her hopes up. Ty Lee tries to push those memories out of her mind and get past her old relationship as she clambers onto the ship and is greeted by a soldier.

"Right this way," one says, bowing to her. People bowing is something Ty Lee got used to when she was dating a royal. Past tense... Oh come on, she reminds herself, you broke up with her. It's your own fault.

Ty Lee dives into the ship and is stunned by what is in front of her. She expected it to be some exquisite Fire Nation gift or furnishing as Zuko and Azula have been apt to shower her with, as if to bribe her into returning to the more 'civilized' nation. But this bribe is slightly more significant, and it is watching her closely with piercing golden eyes.

"I thought you weren't allowed out of the Fire Nation," Ty Lee says breathlessly, blinking twice. Her first instinct is to kiss Azula, but given their breaking up, it probably is not the best choice.

"I'm not," Azula remarks, standing up and poking the tips of her brother's broadswords displayed on the wall. "Which is why I can't leave my brother's cabin. Spirits, I have nightmares about what he does in bed when he's not lying right next to me..."

Ty Lee giggles and Azula just shrugs. "So, I guess this means no Water Tribe feast."

"Ew." Azula punctuates her scathing remark with retching noises and Ty Lee tries to fight her smile. "I'm here to... talk to you."

She looks genuinely pained by saying that and Ty Lee twists her fingers in her braid from worry.

"Yeah?" Ty Lee squeaks, shutting the door gently behind her. She does it as a show of good faith; that she trusts Azula will not murder her, in hopes that it will prevent Azula from murdering her.

"I want you back," Azula says calmly, turning away from the sword and examining the droplet of blood growing on her finger, dripping beneath her nail. "And I always get what I want."

Ty Lee picks at her lips and looks Azula up and down. The princess waits for her answer, dabbing the blood on Zuko's sheets and examining her now dry finger with brief satisfaction. She then locks eyes with Ty Lee, who is not prepared for that.

"This... Azula, I have always loved you, and loved in a way that's really stupid and reckless. Not-not that there was anything wrong with our relationship. I just... it's a hard choice. You can't leave the Fire Nation, and I'm happy with my life here," Ty Lee says quietly, wringing her hands. "Please don't make me choose."

"So you choose this ramshackle island over a life of luxury with me?" Azula crosses her arms and Ty Lee bites her lip.

"Come to the bonfire tonight. Come meet everybody and we'll, we'll discuss this like mature adults, okay? Maybe something... can be worked out."

"Yes, we can live happily ever after with three kids and a piranha dolphin as we make our home on International Waters," Azula purrs fiercely, but then she sees Ty Lee's face. And realizes that she can pick apart Kyoshi Island and make her resent it if she takes this opportunity. "Alright, I'll meet your friends. Although I don't think they'll be very happy to see me..."

"Please. They all really won't mind. I mean they let me join them, and I helped totally beat them with you," Ty Lee says, turning up a palm.

Azula grits her teeth. "Well, it will piss off ZuZu to my satisfaction, and I have always wanted to meet your pretty peasant prison gang."

Ty Lee claps her hands excitedly, grabbing Azula's hand before she remembers that they are no longer together. She awkwardly pulls it away and wipes it on her sleeve, cursing herself internally.

When they arrive in the town, Suki and Zuko are sitting down to eat as a light grey snow flurry begins. Suki's hand rests on Zuko's wrist. It makes Azula feel like burning Suki alive, and she is not entirely sure why. This girl, this girl that Azula tortured suddenly decides she loves Zuko so much after all of these fiascos Azula was pleasantly in an asylum during. Lo and behold, Azula makes it home after some spirit bullshit and a journey around the world to find herself, and the leech has latched onto Fire Lord Zuko and abandoned her peasant boyfriend.

"Suki," Ty Lee says, now grabbing Azula's wrist with ferocity, to show control over her, Azula supposes. "I brought someone."

Suki's expression becomes blank, her eyes wide as she does not seem to know what to say. "Hi, Azula," she murmurs, averting her eyes. Zuko looks at his hands, feeling guilty that he has not done more to repair his sister's relationship with his girlfriend.

"Mm," is Azula's nonverbal response.

Suki looks at Zuko with mild disdain. "You didn't come alone, huh? You realize that I'm going to have to arrest you for breaking international law..." And then she watches Zuko's lips part in shock and utter horror before bursting into laughter. "You're gullible." Pause, as Zuko breathes a sigh of relief. "I think it's cute."

Azula sticks out her tongue in disgust and Ty Lee jabs her rib. "Play nice," whispers the acrobat, and Azula wishes they were playing something to a more sexual tone nice and safe on the Fire Nation ship. Instead of this.

Ty Lee grabs Azula and two sets of eyes follow them. And Ty Lee says, "At least you're not being fed to a sea monster. I thought that could happen."

"Wait – what did you think could happen?" Azula demands and Ty Lee waves one hand.

"Forget I said that."

"So, are you going to tell me why she's here?" Suki asks, cocking an eyebrow.

Zuko sighs. "To win back her girlfriend."

"You're half-lying."

"That's very specific."

"I know. Because you're half-lying and I can tell."

"You're worse than her."

"What – what did you just say to me?"

"Forget I said that. No, she kind of might have something with her."

"What kind of thing? It's awful isn't it?"

"No, not awful, but I didn't recommend it. She is going to propose marriage," Zuko says and Suki looks at him like he just suggested burning down the island again. "Why does that bother you?"

"Because of course it does!" Suki demands in a tone so loud it could probably clear the clouds from the sky. "Ty Lee will say yes! That's the problem!"

"Are you cheating on me with her?"

"No. Not my type. At all. But Azula isn't her type at all!"

"She's the only person Ty Lee has ever dated. Except for…" Sokka. Shouldn't have said that. Shouldn't have said that. "I think that Ty Lee is an adult and we should let her make her own decisions."

Suki doesn't know how to respond to that.

Ty Lee takes Azula to her home, which she…

"You share this with another person?" Azula asks, aghast.

"You share the palace with Zuko and your mom and little sister," Ty Lee demurs and Azula clenches her jaw. "She's out on a thing at a place."

"Can we just stay on the ship?"

"In your brother's bedroom?" Ty Lee asks, laughing.

Azula glares, but sits down on Ty Lee's bed.

So it begins.