HEATED

Ba Sing Se was cold. Really, really, really cold.

Ty Lee shivered as she stuck her face in the steam of the teapot. Iroh was cleaning up to have friends over, Azula was upstairs sulking (presumably), and Ty Lee was attempting to be helpful to make up for the (presumed) sulking. Azula had not been what one would call nice on their vacation to stay with Iroh. Then again, she had not been what one would call nice in her entire life, and so it was not too startling.

"Ty Lee, you really don't need to do that," Iroh said as he walked to the pantry to put his broom away. Once upon a time she would have thought something mean and scathing about a former prince sweeping a floor, but she had lived on Kyoshi Island and was one to talk. "You should go up and convince Azula to grace us all with her presence."

Of course, Ty Lee burst into hysterics before realizing he was being serious. "I don't think Azula will like any of your friends. She doesn't even like her own friends."

Iroh laughed as if that were a real joke. Ty Lee smiled at him and hoped that would make the awkward fade away. She had never felt so uncomfortable as she did right now being here with Azula. Ty Lee tried to strike up conversation, but it remained awkward, until, finally, the door opened and Iroh's friends arrived for his Music Night.

"You two are still welcome to join us," Iroh said and Ty Lee shook her head before running up the stairs.

Cold, cold, cold, cold, cold. She thought the kitchen was freezing, but it was nothing compared to the apartment above. Ty Lee ran as fast as she could to her and Azula's bedroom, slipping on her way, and leapt to the bed with the grace of a very ungraceful cat.

Azula screamed and her fist narrowly missed Ty Lee's face.

"Don't jump onto sleeping people!" Azula snapped and Ty Lee whimpered.

"It's freezing! I'm sorry!" she stammered before wrapping herself around Azula's body. "Make me warm, firebender lady."

"Firebender lady is a really stupid nickname," Azula said, pushing on Ty Lee twice before giving up and lying back down.

It was cold. But she was comfortably in her bed, trying to fall asleep before the horrid music began. Her plan was not working as well as she had hoped.

Ugh. There was the talking. Soon would be the first note. This was terrible.

"Please," Ty Lee begged and Azula turned to face her, their noses nearly touching.

"Okay, well, I want to fall asleep despite the noise… you want me to make you warm…"

It was too silent. Azula had no desire to elaborate beyond that. Ty Lee would get it eventually.

And she did. "Oh!" Her lips opened. "Oh, that sounds perfect. Please make me warm now."

Azula smirked. She repositioned slightly and Ty Lee felt a chill. That was the opposite of what she wanted to happen. Then the princess slid her hand behind Ty Lee's back, her touch very warm, very heated.

Ty Lee did have cold skin. She felt like death even beneath Azula's palms. The princess's lips touched against her neck next and Ty Lee moaned. Then Ty Lee blushed and grabbed onto Azula.

"I'm coldest here." She moved Azula's hands. . . and moaned accidentally again. "Nope. I'm not gonna do that again, I promise. Let's keep going."

They kept going. Ty Lee did not keep her promise.

"You have to be quiet," Azula insisted and Ty Lee glared at her.

"You think me freezing to death is funny, don't you?" she whispered crossly and Azula nodded.

"I think it's hilarious. Not the you freezing to death. The you keeping moaning part." Azula reached out her hand again and this time Ty Lee rolled away from her.

"All of those old men are going to think we're having sex."

"Are we not?" Azula asked, puzzled, and Ty Lee groaned into her pillow.

She snatched up the blankets and attempted to maintain her body heat.

Azula's idea did not play out how she imagined it would.