Ty Lee tosses and turns in the dead of the night. The ship is still four days away from the Fire Nation, without any storms, fog or tumultuous waves. And right now they are nearing arctic waters, and Ty Lee is freezing.

Azula sleeps beside her. The princess never sleeps very peacefully; Ty Lee thinks it is because she constantly has so much on her mind. Being a genius must be an odd and alien way for a person to live, particularly a person with as much ambition and intellect as Princess Azula.

"Azula," whispers Ty Lee as she presses their bodies together. She is warm. A thousand times warmer than the rough blankets draped over them. Ty Lee closes her eyes briefly as she basks in the sensation, until Azula stirs awake and turns to her.

"What do you need?" Azula demands coldly, closely studying her prisoner.

"I... I'm cold," Ty Lee says softly, her cheeks flushing. This is why she needs to learn how to be a firebender. To be able to regulate her body temperature would be miraculous; it almost sounds more appealing than learning all four elements as the Avatar.

Azula pauses and nods. "I can send for more blankets."

"You're warm," Ty Lee blurts out, feeling like an idiot.

Now, Azula is not much more adept at flirting than Ty Lee. In fact, she is far worse at it. But in their situation, Azula does manage to remain more detached and composed at all times, even if it makes her very far from sexy or romantic.

Azula touches her hands to Ty Lee, silently offering to both heat her and perhaps involve into something much more fiery.

But Ty Lee just moves closer. "I want... I want to share your heat."

Azula's eyes flash at that, as if Ty Lee has just said something shocking.

Ty Lee asks, "What is it? What's wrong?" She feels panic surging through her body. There is no way that the owner Ty Lee has fallen so madly in love with could be this angry or panicked.

"That's," Azula says slowly, "that's something that means a lot in the Fire Nation."

Ty Lee is unsure what to say. "I don't understand," can't hurt.

"To share someone's heat is a very serious desire in a relationship. That action means much, much more than sex," Azula explains softly, her cold, laissez-faire tone disappearing. Now, her voice is choppy and concerned.

It makes Ty Lee wonder just how much Azula might be interested in her. Perhaps the lies about being girlfriends had more than a kernel of truth. Maybe Azula is just as sick as Ty Lee feels, and that concept is so thrilling that Ty Lee can barely contain herself.

On the other hand, maybe Azula is disgusted by Ty Lee's misstep. There is always the chance that Azula is repulsed by her prisoner wanting to share her heat, to do something with such romantic significance in her homeland.

In their homeland.

"I didn't mean to offend you," Ty Lee whispers, gently shifting away from Azula's body. She does it as subtly as she can, but of course Azula notices. Nothing slips past the Fire Nation Princess. "I really don't know too much about my own culture."

"You really don't know too much about anything," Azula says mockingly, regaining her smooth confidence. It seems the further apart the Avatar is from Azula, the more like herself she feels. Perhaps it is some kind of odd Spirit World meddling or curse. Or so Azula hopes. "You're lucky that you're pretty enough to be stupid."

Ty Lee does not take too much offense at Azula's words. She does not think that the princess means them, even if it is just wishful thinking from a girl in love.

"If you want, you could send for more blankets, like you said," Ty Lee says gently, offering a friendly smile.

Yes. It does seem that Azula is evading any romance, which perhaps means that Ty Lee's feelings are entirely unrequited.

Azula sends for the blankets, as Ty Lee wonders just how screwed up a person must be to love their captor so passionately.


The next day, Azula sits with Mai, toying with one of the many maps strewn on the tables and plastering the steel walls. Mai is sharpening a blade, although she does not seem incredibly interested in it at all.

Mai says, "So, you have any plans about that prisoner of yours. I have to admit I don't follow just why you handed over the Avatar along with your brother."

Of course. Of course the only time Mai uses any inflection is to degrade Princess Azula and her tactical decisions.

"I will of course reveal the truth to my father alone. You've seen Zhao. If he knew who the real one was, he would steal her right from under me. I know what I am doing and it is all in the best interest of my future throne." Azula releases the map and clasps her hands.

Mai is beyond skeptical. "You're into her. You're really into her."

"That is ridiculous," Azula asserts, her eyes flashing and glowing molten gold.

But Mai is not deterred. "Right. I believe you."

"No. You don't. You absolutely don't and I can see right through you," Azula snaps, unable to control her rage at the suggestion that she could have romantic feelings for Ty Lee.

"No, I really do." Mai fights the urge to roll her eyes.

"Am I attracted to her? Yes. But that is fine. I am a teenager with desires. Do I like her company and conversation? Surprisingly, yes, but it isn't as if that matters. Does she make me feel those butterflies? Again. Hormones. Those butterflies have nothing to do with love and are just trying to prod you to mate."

"Prod you to mate?" Mai asks dryly in disbelief.

"Have I had sex with her?" Azula continues, undeterred. "Yes. But only because I was horny and she was the only option. Do I fantasize about her? Yes. But only in that whole captive kinky thing, and only in two positions for Agni's sake. Am I willing to sacrifice my integrity or take the risk of lying to my father and Zhao just in order to get with a petty thief? Of course not. I have no romantic feelings for her and you are sadly misguided."

Mai stares expressionlessly. Azula is so deep into denial that Mai does not think there is any chance of her managing to claw her way to the surface.

So Mai shrugs. "I guess you're right."

Princess Azula is well aware that Mai still does not believe her, but Azula does not need to justify herself.


They are at last in the Fire Nation, and Azula is pacing outside of the throne room.

She is eager, of course, to return in glory. But she is also riddled with confusion, particularly about why she keeps getting a sick feeling in her stomach when she thinks about revealing her Avatar to her father.

Azula just swallows and walks inside as a guard opens the door for her.

She can see Zhao inside, bowed nearly to groveling despite his usual straight shoulders and over the top power positions. Of course father allowed Admiral Zhao to speak first. Azula did not find that very surprising.

The princess kneels in the orange glow of the flames as Zhao is dismissed. He gives her a brief glance, acknowledging that he is playing along with her plans.

"A life debt?" Ozai inquires, not offering more words than that.

"Yes. A life debt," Azula says cleanly. "I owe Zhao one, and as an honorable royal, I intend to be faithful to it. But, he may have told you the reason I insisted on keeping my prisoner."

"Yes," Ozai replies and Azula can see the look on his face. He allowed Zhao to be examined first because he trusts Azula more, and Zhao is more likely to lie if he goes before her.

Not that Azula does not know that, and not that she isn't unafraid to use it to her advantage.

But of course daddy's perfect little girl could not be a compulsive liar.

"Well... I lied to Zhao. I couldn't have him screwing up because of his pride. My prisoner is the Avatar, father. Not the earthbending girl," Azula purrs and Ozai's eyes flash. "Please hear me out. I have been thinking about the potential that I personally, with all due respect to grandfather, think was wasted with Hama."

Ozai does not hesitate to ask, "Yes?"

"My Avatar, Ty Lee, is of Fire Nation descent. She is loyal to the Fire Nation despite being raised by an Earth Kingdom family. I believe that she could be our weapon." Azula silently awaits his approval or disapproval, but he seems to be waiting for more. "Her life debt will allow me utter control over her. She also is very attached to me, and trusts me deeply. I could mold her into a weapon that could destroy the rebels and assure that the Fire Nation will never fall."

Fire Lord Ozai likes that idea. How could he not like that idea?

But, "Of course the public and advisors would object to training an Avatar. They expect us to buy time by letting the Avatar die in captivity."

Azula faintly smiles. "Yes... but we have people already under the impression that the Avatar is ZuZ─Zuko's new girlfriend. We chain her up and I train Ty Lee. No one would be the wiser until we have an Avatar loyal to the Fire Nation."

Ozai is impressed, he must admit. Azula is clever, yes, but he could not imagine an idea that is more appealing.

"I like your idea. I will allow it." He leaves it at that, although there is clearly much more to discuss.

Azula smirks.


Toph gnashes, shouts, curses and rages at the guards who have her locked in metal. Metal, inescapable. She does not think she could ever hate the Fire Nation more in her life. And that is a pretty huge statement.

She is not the Avatar, but she also isn't dumb enough to say that she isn't. The only reason they're keeping her alive is because of that, and Toph needs to be alive if she is going to escape.

Right now, she is in a prison with Zuko, and she can feel his heart pounding with either panic or rage.

The guards leave, and Toph is left alone with him for a moment.

Zuko just says, "I know you're not the Avatar."

"Well, duh. Thanks for stating the obvious!" Toph snaps, enraged. She thrashes against the metal again, and suddenly a hand is on her.

"Please don't do that," Zuko says and Toph makes a growling sound like an angry animal.

"Stop trying to protect me! I know that I'm blind and a kid but I'm also capable of taking care of myself! I'm going to get out of this!" Toph screams but Zuko does not lift his hand.

"I'm not trying to help you because you're blind. That obviously doesn't matter, because you're pretty much the most badass person I've ever met," the prince says awkwardly, immensely glad that Toph cannot see his blush. "I'm making sure you don't hurt yourself because you're... my friend. My friend, okay?"

Toph has no words.

None at all.

Toph wants to punch him, or cuss him out for being such a weakling. But, on the other hand, that forest changed things forever in Toph's life, and she kind of might like Twitchy a little bit.

And so she says, "When I break out, we're breaking out together."

That is the end of the story.


Azula walks to Ty Lee's prison and allows herself in.

"I'm not supposed to be here," the princess whispers and Ty Lee looks up at her, confused and shivering. "I'm sorry about what happened with you being imprisoned. I wanted you to be free and you know it. But I can't control my father's decisions."

Ty Lee peels more skin off of her lower lip with her nails. She knows that. She knows that it could only be Fire Lord Ozai who did this to her, and not Azula.

"Do you need something?" Ty Lee asks quietly as Azula walks closer to the cot on the edge of the cell.

"You're shivering," Azula remarks, looking at Ty Lee. Her skin is damp with sweat and the frigid chill of the prison is making her shiver and shake out of control. Even her teeth are chattering. Azula licks her lips and reminds herself over and over again that this is just to use her Avatar. "I want to share my warmth with you."

Ty Lee's eyes light up as Azula is on the cot before another word can be said.

Azula feels a satisfied growling of some beast within her that she refuses to acknowledge.


AN: Not much Toko in this chapter; I'm sorry. It just didn't fit in while they both are prisoners I'll make up for it next chapter. Also - the headcanon about sharing warmth being a romantically significant thing in the Fire Nation isn't mine, but for the life of me I couldn't remember in what Tyzula fic I read it. If you know or its yours and you want credit, please tell me. Thanks much for reading!