Chapter One: Fancy

There was no denying that Ty Lee too often saw her importance only in the eyes of others.

Being the fancy of a princess made her feel like she was worth more than diamonds.

Being the fancy of a soldier was almost as incredible and indulgent.

Being the fancy of a hero also elevated her sense of self sky high.

But once she had all of that and more, it was the very ordinary girl she met in her favorite teashop was the most thrilling affair of her life. When that waitress looked at her with a small smile that he couldn't suppress, she felt her heart flutter in a way that no one had in a long time.

The moment that waitress asked her to go on a date, she had never felt happier. Not when that princess finally expressed interest, not when that soldier asked her to dance, not when that hero asked her to marry him.

She was raised on dreams and so reality felt like fantasy.

"You're so good at that!" Jin said and she knew he meant it because of the stupid grin on his face.

They were in Ty Lee's house, and Ty Lee was upside down against the wall. Her girlfriend was amazed, which was a response Ty Lee had not gotten in what felt like millennia.

"Yeah. I mean, thank you," Ty Lee replied, and she tried not to notice that her past affairs were as talented as she was, and she hated it. "Thank you. You could try standing on your head."

"I'd break my neck and die," she said, laughing.

"When I started, I just thought that if I had to die, I would rather die having fun," Ty Lee explained earnestly, sitting down right-side-up again.

"That's a good way of looking at it," Jin sweetly said, "but I'm still way too scared. So, what do you do?"

"Oh, I set down my hands and then—"

Jin giggled. "No, oh, I mean a job."

Ty Lee blushed. Why did she always botch things like this?

"Ohhh, well," Ty Lee said, "right now I'm just drifting. I've never really had a normal career and my skill set is pretty specific, so, I took my inheritance from my parents and bought a house here. Ba Sing Se has everything."

"I want to know your weird careers." Jin's eyes lit up.

Ty Lee was pretty used to this story, so she began it as she always did.

"Well, first I joined the circus—"

"Why?"

"They came to town and I thought it was the best thing I ever saw, and when they left, I went with them." Ty Lee could still remember the lights, and how they dazzled her more than anything else. It was a pleasant memory.

"That's sweet," Jin said with a half-smile.

"Right, then I was an elite soldier," Ty Lee said, and her breath caught for a moment. She was not explaining that job, no matter what happened. It was a chapter in her life that she was sure could wait at least five years to discuss with a girl from Ba Sing Se.

Jin laughed. "Very normal jump."

"Then I was a Kyoshi Warrior," Ty Lee said, relieved, "and then I moved home to help my mom while she was sick and I tried to work at a boutique but it sucked so I ran away from home again after she died and I ended up here. I mostly just sit in Iroh's teashop all day. I get all my drinks for free."

"You know him?"

"Oh, yeah. He's so funny." Ty Lee smiled until she realized she would have to admit her background. Hopefully Iroh would understand what parts of her past to conceal.

"I kind of figured you did," Jin said, shrugging. "He told me to stop blushing and just ask you out."

"Aww," Ty Lee crooned.

"He's made me date five people since I've known him," Jin said.

"I guess those didn't end well."

"They were fun while they lasted." Jin cringed when she realized what she was saying. "I make our relationship sound doomed. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I'm not lucky in love either," Ty Lee said.

"Isn't everybody?"

Until they find the one person they are lucky to have.

Ty Lee knew what was coming when her girlfriend of six months asked her out to a fancy restaurant. And she was so excited. The last guy who proposed to her struck out, but she thought this girl was right for her. No, she knew this girl was right for her.

She had been to nicer places, despite how ornate this restaurant was, but she didn't care.

Because she knew this night would be perfect, no matter where she was.

Jin lit up rooms, but not in the way Ty Lee did. Ty Lee attracted the eyes of everyone, but Jin just seemed genuinely happy. Not Ty Lee perpetually concealing any real feelings happy, but happy. That was enough to make anywhere seem brighter.

Ty Lee's past lovers also drew attention.

Jin drew Ty Lee's attention alone, and that was the best feeling in the whole world.

"Hi. Sorry I'm late." Jin was already nervous.

Ty Lee could not hide her excitement.

Two hours later, Ty Lee was trembling and about to burst as leapt over a fence in order to get to Iroh's side door. She had to take deep breaths to calm down, and then she viciously pounded on it. The minute it opened she held up her hand and screamed, "I'm engaged!"

"To who?" asked someone who was definitely not Iroh.

Ty Lee very slowly lowered her hand. She made an expression not unlike her mom's cat when she put spicy soup in front of its nose. Tonight was perfect until this moment. The past six months were perfect until this moment.

All Ty Lee could do was whisper, "I'm going to come back in the morning."

But she was frozen in place.