Chapter Three – Zuko & Ty Lee
"Hey," Zuko says, realizing Ty Lee arrived two days ago and he has still not acknowledged her.
They never were close. He barely knows anything about her, but that is mostly because, despite how much she likes everything to revolve around her, she says very little about herself. In fact, she says very little that matters or interests Zuko.
"Hi," Ty Lee says in a painfully pitchy tone. She is intently studying a portrait, which leads Zuko to believe she is feeling very uncomfortable and likely wants to go home.
"How's being back in the Fire Nation? You know, I haven't seen you back here in five years. Even though your whole family is here," Zuko says, standing beside her to gaze at the portrait. It is of a Fire Lord Zuko cannot recall the name of; he must not have done much.
"I don't get along that well with my family. If that isn't obvious from my running away multiple times then moving across the ocean from them," Ty Lee replies lightly, still staring at the portrait. "Does Azula seem different to you?"
"Not really. Well, define different," Zuko says and Ty Lee hesitates. It takes a long time for her to respond and so Zuko says, "She's different from when we were kids, when we were teenagers and when she was kind of... raving? Raving is a good word for that. But she's still Azula. She still makes servants cry and likes to be scathing and... yeah."
"She looks scared, Zuko. I've never seen her so scared." Ty Lee suddenly does not sound ditzy and sweet; her voice is dark and close to hollow. Zuko feels his insides twisting.
"I've been trying to make her feel comfortable. I promised─"
"You know what? You can't just redeem her like she's some kind of charity case! She is this unstoppable force and now she's ─ she's ─ you can't force people to change! You can't erase her, Zuko!" Ty Lee shrieks before looking stunned at herself. Her fingers gently touch her lips as she frowns. "I'm sorry. I'm just feeling tense being back here. There's a reason I avoid the Fire Nation."
"You really think that?" says a voice that is not Zuko's as he opens his mouth to speak.
"Yeah," Ty Lee says as Azula makes herself fully visible. She moves through the light from down the hall, like something stepping into this world from another. But when she is in the dim lamps of this hallway, she looks frail and small. Small. Ty Lee has never seen Azula looks so small and it makes her so angry.
It is three weeks before the Day of Black Sun and Ty Lee is in her pale pink underclothes with her cheeks flushed and Azula in a virulent rage.
"You are in love with this idea of me," Azula snaps, leaning against the wall of her bedroom. "You don't know me. You know nothing about me."
Ty Lee can only swallow. She feels very exposed, half dressed. Azula just snapped as they were lying there peacefully. It makes Ty Lee feel kind of used and she doesn't know what to make of that. And Ty Lee had the nerve to ask if they had a future together, after the war.
"Azula, I love the real you," Ty Lee insists passionately.
"You have no idea what the real me is. And you never will."
Ty Lee studies her feet. Azula twists her lip to stop it from trembling. No one will see her cry. Maybe that's why no one knows her.
"We left off on bad terms," Azula says, walking to stand beside her brother.
For the first time, he does not seem to fall in her shadow. And Ty Lee is revolted and scared. She does not know how to feel because she wanted Azula to be stopped and reeled in, but she did not want it to look like this. Or, at least, she did not want to have to look at it. Look at the fact that, while Azula isn't showing, Ty Lee can just see it inside of her growing.
"That's an understatement," Ty Lee says as Zuko fades into the walls.
"And I didn't ever treat you with any form of respect," Azula continues and Ty Lee wants to stop her. She knows that Azula is forcing the words because they are what people want to hear. She knows that even though Azula no longer looks and plays the part of a military mastermind, she still is pushing those around her like little stone pieces on a war table.
It just doesn't look like it anymore.
"I didn't treat me with respect either. We were teenagers and we're adults now. And I would be honored to be your baby's aunt," Ty Lee says and watches the old Azula flash. Her eyes sting Ty Lee the moment the acrobat discreetly makes it clear that the romance is over.
"I appreciate that," Azula says, and there is a dragon's voice beneath the pretty princess one she uses. Ty Lee notices it. Of course Ty Lee notices it. "How long are you staying?"
"Nine months," Ty Lee replies and Zuko looks aghast and Azula looks as shocked as she did at the Boiling Rock. "I'm not leaving until that baby is born. You're stuck with me for a while."
"Okay," Zuko says quietly, unsure how to decline. He knows he probably should tell her to not make this reckless decision, but he also knows that it is her decision in the end.
"Great. It's settled then," Ty Lee says, grinning with her wide eyes sparkling in the lamplight.
"How interesting," Azula breathes, and Ty Lee knows that if she weren't playing the part of the defeated princess, she would have just said something devastatingly cruel.
Ty Lee smiles at her.
Azula's lip twitches as she gives an openly forced one in response.