Katara absolutely hated being babysat by Ty Lee. She was so bubbly and sweet that it made her want to like the girl, but at the same time she knew the atrocity Ty Lee was capable of. It was an uncomfortable duality of emotion.
"Azula just doesn't want you to kill yourself," Ty Lee chirped as she walked on her hands slightly behind Katara. That's what Zuko and Katara had intended their performance to reflect. That Katara couldn't stand being a concubine, and so killed her master. Yet she was in love with that master, so she was to kill herself in order to follow him to the afterlife. It seemed that impression had been successfully cast.
Katara snorted in contempt. "Or run away," she added.
"She's not as bad if you get to know her. I know she seems mean but really she's a nice person," Ty Lee defended, arching a leg forward to rest her foot on Katara's shoulder. "Really. You'll see."
Katara started to form a rebuttal, but Mai walked in from an adjacent hallway. Her usually blank face was curled into a sneer, her eyes puffy and red. "Stop trying to make friends with the prisoner," Mai bit out. She tried to glare into Katara's eyes but couldn't hold it, so her death glare fell to the side.
Ty Lee cart-wheeled into a standing position. "Mai are you okay?" she asked in concern.
"No you idiot. Zuko's dead," Mai choked, shoving her fingers through her bangs.
"He's what?" Ty Lee gasped. She turned pale and her limbs went weak, causing her to sway. Even her braid seemed to droop.
"Of cour- Ty Lee! We watched her kill him!" Mai shrieked, pointing an accusatory finger in Katara's direction. Katara blanched. What was all this? They were upset about Zuko's death? They were Azula's minions, surely they had known she planned it? Or maybe they wouldn't have done it, and that's why she had to find an outside source…
"Did he drown in the storm?" Ty Lee asked in a small voice.
Mai let out a strangled grunt. "You idiot! She stabbed him! In the back! He was probably dead before he hit the water!"
Ty Lee tilted her head the side. "But that was just a circus trick," Ty Lee denied, a pretty crease forming between her brows. Katara froze. Beads of sweat prickled beneath her skin. She knew?
Mai's reaction was somewhat less accepting. "It was a knife, Ty Lee! In his back! We both saw the blood! I can't believe you don't- Real life isn't like the circus!" she screeched, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
"Hey! But, there was a small raised surface on his back that rippled when under pressure. It's an easy trick to spot once you've been in the business long enough. And, I was the one who taught him that trick! He had a blood-filled water skin," Ty Lee argued hotly. She turned to the girl behind her for support. "Right, Blue?"
Katara's mouth dried up. Ty Lee had known the whole time?! Had she told Azula? Was Sokka safe?
Mai must have taken Katara's silence for confirmation. Her face slackened as she looked to the ceiling. "I would have killed you. If Azula hadn't been there I would have killed you," she murmured, thoughtfully spinning a stiletto from her sleeve.
"I think it was quite romantic. Well, so was the whole double suicide thing they pretended to have going on. But they just wanted to run away together," Ty Lee giggled.
Katara's face heated up. "Hold on now. You have the wrong idea-" she interjected.
"To think he loves you that much, to give up his country, his family, his crown. It's just so adorable!" Ty Lee gushed, twirling so that her pink skirt billowed.
Now Mai froze. For a split second one could see her eyes narrow before a mask of composure settled over her features. "He loves you," she deadpanned.
"Oh I don't know if he really-" Katara laughed nervously.
"Oooh, we have to find him so we can have a wedding! I've always wanted to be a flower girl. Can I be your flower girl, Blue? Can I?" Ty Lee squealed, tugging on Katara's hand as she jumped up and down.
"Azula was making me kill him," Katara blurted. Both girls stopped, turning to look at each other.
"No, no. Azula wouldn't do that. He's her brother," Ty Lee refused, shaking her head. Mai's lips tightened in what might have been agreement.
"She threatened to decimate my tribe. To kill my brother," Katara continued. Her hands were shaking.
"I don't believe you," Mai said, her calm voice holding the slightest edge.
"Yeah, Blue. Your brain must be a little fuzzy," Ty Lee agreed, crossing her arms over her chest. Katara closed her eyes.
A/N: Sorry it's been so long! I'm excited to be celebrating 60 followers and over 40 reviews! You guys are awesome. I'm going to buckle down and focus on this story this week so you should expect numerous updates! I might even finish! (Wouldn't that be something :D ) Don't forget to review!