Tysami Week 2012

Day 1

Prompt: Eternal

A/N: First Tysami week! Enjoy these drabbles.

The first forewarning for the terrible evening to come was entirely unnerving; the maître d' had misunderstood Asami, and had prepared their table for the heiress and her father, rather than the romantic candelit dinner she had planned. Flustered, he had offered to rectify his mistake; but Asami knew the classy restaurant was unbelievably busy on Saturday evenings, and opted to leave rather than waste time that could be spent with Ty Lee. His useless apologies still ringing in her ears, Asami whisked Ty Lee away to another restaurant she loved. Here, the maître d' told her there would be an hour and a half wait. Ty Lee had timidly suggested that they go somewhere "less extravagant"; Asami reluctantly agreed, for she had hoped to present Ty Lee with the best. They took the scenic route, strolling past a glittering river; and for a few minutes, caught in companionable conversation, it seemed as though the night would finally be looking up.

Then it had started to rain. Asami cursed herself inwardly for leaving the Satomobile, deciding to walk instead. Thoroughly soaked and disgruntled, the two girls exchanged a hasty one-armed hug, then headed for their seperate, entirely different homes.

In short, their first date went horribly.

An hour later, Asami was curled by the fireplace, having changed out of her damp clothes, when the doorbell rang.

Knowing her father was out, but wondering why he didn't use his key, Asami walked to the front door, and started when the heart-shaped face of Ty Lee greeted her.

"Ty Lee! What're you doing here?" Then, without waiting for an answer, she ushered her inside. "Come in, come in, it's still raining... Spirits, you're soaked!"

"I'm fine, really!"

Asami ignored her protests, seating her by the fire while she fetched her towels and one of her own kimonos.

"Here you go." She offered her the items; Ty Lee smiled radiantly in gratitude.

"I'll go make some tea," Asami offered, then departed to the kitchen, her cheeks flushed.

When she returned to the room, two steaming mugs in hand, she found Ty Lee dressed in the kimono of deep maroon; her clothes lay on the back of a chair, spread out to dry, as was her chocolate hair, cascading down her back in waves.

"I've never seen your hair out of its braid," Asami said, handing Ty Lee her tea.

"I don't usually wear it that way." Ty Lee took the mug, then a long sip. "Ah. Thank you."

"No problem." Asami took a tiny sip, hoping it would still the fluttering butterflies in her stomach. It didn't. "What're you doing here? The weather's terrible."

"I wanted to give you something." Ty Lee reached beside her, where Asami could not see; a moment later, she held the stem of a crimson flower between two fingers.

"A fire lily," Asami supplied, taking it and pulling it to her nostrils. "Thank you, it's beautiful. And it smells lovely."

"You're welcome. I'm so glad you like it."

Asami lowered the flower from her face, her expression softening. "You didn't have to come all this way, in the rain, to give me this."

"I did." Ty Lee turned her face to the fire, closed her eyes for a fraction of a second; the light of the flames danced against her skin. "Fire lillies are incredible flowers, you know. Beautiful, fragrant, and they're supposed to be very strong. Almost eternal, in a way."

"Really?"

Ty Lee bit her lip. "No, but if it is destroyed... I'll just give you another one." She met Asami's gaze, wide eyes alight. "We can try again."

The significance of this hit Asami; the corners of her lips turned upwards, almost of their own accord. She nodded. "We'll try again."

Ty Lee smiled in response, then bit her lip again; and Asami couldn't resist.

The kiss was tentative, exploring, unbearably sweet. Asami pulled away, eyes heavily lidded. "This was the best first date I've ever had."

Ty Lee, unbelievably, bit her lip again; and Asami was a goner. "You know, I can say the same thing."