Ty Lee reaches down and gently shakes Azula to wake her.
When the princess does, she calls out some girl's name and clings to Ty Lee's arms so fiercely that she leaves red marks.
"It's me. It's me, Ty Lee," she says, as Azula does not seem to notice at first.
They are in a motel in Hisoka. Azula has a significant amount of cash with her, which makes sense, since it would be incredibly easy for the Fire Lord himself to track credit cards. It took up the most space in her backpack, which looks like it was packed hastily. She must have withdrawn the cash on her way to Sushi King.
"I know," Azula whispers, lying back down. She stares at the ceiling and Ty Lee sees that her eyes are damp. Azula does not cry; Ty Lee has never seen her cry, at least. "Go to the vending machine and find me something to eat. And drink. Don't forget the drink. No, scratch the food. Just get me something to drink."
Ty Lee nods and gets up. She pulls a hoodie over her pajamas, grabs the key, grabs a few dollars, and walks out into the warm night. Slowly, cautiously, she walks through the shadows and to the vending machine. She finds Azula's favorite and hers, and buys them. The machine groans as it dispenses the drinks.
She walks back to their room, hyper-aware of her surroundings. Something inside of her makes her feel like she is being watched. Is she being watched? Ozai would pursue his daughter to the ends of the Earth. He would never let her run away from home, especially when the crown is hers alone to inherit.
Azula has him. Maybe Ty Lee has Suki, but she probably has given up everyone in her life in favor of the girl sitting with the television on. Azula keeps clicking the remote, trying to get away from the broadcasts about her disappearance.
Not a disappearance. A kidnapping.
"You left a note?" Ty Lee asks, her eyes widening. She quickly shuts the door and sets the bottled iced teas down on the grimy table. "You faked your own kidnapping?"
Azula shakes her head.
"No. He left a note. It would destroy his political reputation if I ran away. Saying that I was kidnapped is the only way to save himself," Azula explains. She sounds hollow and Ty Lee wonders if it has anything to do with the nightmare.
She removes the hoodie and Azula sees the marks on her skin. If the princess cares, she does not say anything. Ty Lee would hazard to guess that Azula is ashamed that she is human enough to have bad dreams. Really bad dreams, judging by that one.
"Are you okay?" Ty Lee asks and, predictably, Azula nods.
Azula turns off the television and her gaze rises to meet Ty Lee's. She beckons for her dearest girlfriend to cross the room. Ty Lee walks to her as if hypnotized. She notices Azula trembling, notices that perhaps her perfect princess is breaking into pieces.
She leans down to give her a soft, open mouthed kiss. Azula stands and rests her hands on Ty Lee's waist. Ty Lee cautiously steps back and slides the straps of her nightgown sideways so that it falls to the floor. Azula returns the favor, easing those terrycloth shorts down until they collapse to a heap around Ty Lee's feet. Underwear next, now hastily, exchanging frantic kisses.
Azula pulls Ty Lee against her and they kiss. She kind of wishes her girlfriend tasted like ring pops again, but dismisses that thought.
While Azula is feverish, the motion makes Ty Lee shiver. Ty Lee's hands slide down to squeeze her hips, lifting her up so she can wrap her legs around her. Azula's eyes close, her mouth overwhelmed by Ty Lee's, but she is aware as her girlfriend shifts them and her back hits the bed. The princess lets her feet fall to the bed and Ty Lee kisses her way down, over her chin and neck, until her mouth reaches her chest. She sucks and licks and the princess really cannot take it anymore.
Azula's voice seems to have a mind of its own as it whispers, "I want you."
Ty Lee moans softly. Azula is quite used to her words having power, but not like this.
"I want you too," whispers Ty Lee.
"Is this real?" asks Azula. It is not a romantic rhetorical question; she seems to genuinely not know.
Ty Lee is worried about her. If Ty Lee were smarter or had more sense or more self-control she would stop and try to find out what happened to her princess. But she is selfish tonight and cannot help herself.
"Yes," Ty Lee breathes. "It's real."
Azula runs her hands down over her perfectly smooth back.
Ty Lee softly kisses Azula's cheekbone. She feels as if the princess is fragile for a few seconds, which is something she doubts anyone has ever thought. Maybe Ozai did, or Azula's mother before her death, but Ty Lee cannot imagine anyone ever thought of Azula as fragile.
She is. She trembles. She looks sick. She looks wan.
Her bones stick out just a little bit, something Ty Lee did not notice until they were naked.
Ty Lee kisses the tip of her nose, then her lips.
Azula bends her legs and draws them up, wrapping them around her. Ty Lee gives each of her breasts a little suckling kiss before sliding down between her legs. They flinch together, which never has happened before. Ty Lee should probably figure out what's wrong instead of this, but she cannot imagine anyone ever thought of her as sensible.
Ty Lee breaks free slightly and sits between Azula's legs, pulling them apart by the knees. Ty Lee runs her hands along Azula's thighs, smiling warmly at her. Azula does not return the grin, but she never has.
And Ty Lee kisses Azula's inner thighs while massaging around her hips. By the time she reaches her center, it's aching for attention.
Her lips open and close, her tongue swirls around, Azula pushes lightly against her, trying to deepen the feeling. She really has felt nothing for some time before this moment.
Ty Lee slides her tongue into her then.
For long, long moments Azula can only manage to take very shallow breaths and her eyes fall shut. She feels a wildfire inside of her and forgets the parts of the world that are not on fire.
She sucks in a short breath and sighs as her climax crashes over her.
Ty Lee wonders if she should say something.
She really does, because she really should.
Asking and getting a mean retort would be better than not asking at all.
Above all else, it would be brave, but Ty Lee is not brave.
Azula doesn't seem to be either anymore.