Azula wasn't greatly surprised to find her room empty when she returned to it. I guess Ty Lee must have decided to go for that walk, she mused, turning away. Something caught her eye. Pausing, Azula looked back into the room.
A large, cedar trunk was sitting in the middle of the floor. It was bound with brass, and had an ornate clasp. That must be the trunk that Lobsang was talking about. Azula hesitated, torn between her curiosity and the desire to find Ty Lee. Then, with a rueful sigh, she slipped into the room and closed the door behind her. I suppose Ty can wait for a few minutes more. She crossed the floor, knelt down before the trunk, and slowly lifted the lid.
A layer of crimson fabric lay on top, embroidered with the Fire Nation's royal dragon crest in gold thread. Azula brushed her fingertips over it. Silk. She paused to enjoy the smoothness of it. It was odd to think that she'd once dressed in this rich fabric almost daily. Silently, she lifted the cloth off, folded it neatly, and laid it down beside the trunk. Black metal gleamed up at her. Azula's eyes widened. Slowly, she lifted the heavy article up and into her lap.
It was her royal shoulder armor – the same set she'd once worn at the Boiling Rock. Azula stared down at it. Her mind was strangely blank. Her fingers traced its edges, at once strange and familiar. At last, she laid it aside. Drawing a deep breath, Azula returned her attention to the trunk's contents.
It was no surprise to her to find the rest of her armor. She lifted out her bracers, the thick leather skirt, and the heavy war boots. Her fingertip slid slowly over the pointed toes of the boots. It had been a long time since she'd worn shoes with the distinctive upturned toes of the Fire Nation. She set then down and continued her investigation. Her hands found more silks – crimson, scarlet, burgundy. Fire Nation clothes. Her clothes.
There was only one more item in the trunk. Azula reached down to pick up a flat, square box from the very bottom of it. The box was light, covered in black velvet, and closed with a golden clasp. With shaking fingers, Azula slowly unfastened and opened it. "Oh," she whispered. She sat staring down at it for some time as her eyes filled with tears.
The inside of the box was lined with crimson silk. At one end of it, four long, golden pins had been neatly lined up, held in place by loops of gold cord that had been sewn to the box's lining. Beside these were nestled two flame-shaped hairpins – one in scarlet, one in gold. They were the crowns of a Fire Nation princess.
Her crowns.
The reality of it hadn't struck her until now, Azula realized, still staring dazedly down at them. This is really happening. My title's been restored. It's…it's all really true. She let out a shuddering breath. I can't believe it.
How long she knelt there, just staring at the jewelry, she didn't know. Finally, with a sudden decision, Azula set down the box and rose to her feet. She disrobed with slow, deliberate movements. The silks felt soft and cool against her skin as she drew them on. Azula fastened her belt around her waist, noting how much looser it was with a rueful smile. Then she drew on her boots and bracers – then the leather skirt, feeling its alien weight pressing against her hips. She was about to pick up the shoulder armor when she paused. Wait. First things first. She crossed over to the vanity and took up a pearl-handled comb.
It had been a while since she'd pulled her hair up into a Fire Nation topknot. The last time had probably been during her informal trial in Gaoling. She worked silently, combing her dark hair first, and then twisting it up on top of her head. She examined her reflection with a critical eye, ensuring that the two bits she'd left to frame her face fell evenly, and then slid two of the golden pins from the box through the topknot to hold it temporarily. Azula then turned back to her armor.
The shoulder armor was the heaviest piece. She tied the laces up her front, and then tugged the straps at the sides tight. One strap buckled around each of her upper arms; Azula fastened them quietly. Then, taking up the box that held her crowns, she turned back to the vanity. Slowly, almost reverently, she lifted the golden hairpin from its place and slid it firmly into the soft knot of hair on the top of her head. Azula took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and looked up at the mirror.
It had been so long since Crown Princess Azula had been reflected back at her! The girl studied her own face in silence. There were some changes, she thought. Her face was slightly longer, her cheekbones more prominent now that they'd lost the last of their baby fat. Her nose was still long and aristocratic. Her eyes were still the same shape, and still that shade of piercing gold – but were they really the same? They were quieter, she thought. Deeper, maybe.
More like her mother's.
Impatiently, Azula turned from the vanity, swallowing the lump that had risen unbidden to her throat. She wasn't interested in losing it at the moment, and she knew that she was dangerously close. She packed the rest of the clothes back into the trunk and closed it. Then, briskly, she headed out to find Ty Lee. Her booted footsteps echoed loudly in the empty hall.
She didn't have to look far. Almost as soon as she entered the garden, she spotted the quiet form of the little acrobat over by the koi pond. Ty Lee was sitting on the bank with her back to Azula, dabbling her bare feet in the water. Her shoes and socks were wadded up on the grass beside her.
Azula paused, feeling unaccountably shy. Would the Fire Nation clothes be a shock to the girl, she wondered? Slowly, she moved forward, stopping about ten yards to the side of where Ty Lee was sitting. Her amber eyes moved lovingly over the gymnast's profile, lingering on the snubbed nose and the long curve of her brow. Azula inhaled deeply. "Hey," she said, keeping her voice soft so as not to startle her.
Ty Lee looked up – and froze. Her gray eyes grew wide and round with astonishment. For a long moment, neither girl moved. Then, hesitantly, Ty Lee got up. Her steps were light and timid as she approached. Azula gave her a quiet smile. The little acrobat stopped about an arm's length from her lover; her large eyes trailed slowly over the angular armor. Tentatively, Ty Lee stretched out her hand and lightly grasped the high collar of Azula's shirt. Her gaze met the princess's golden one. "We're going home, aren't we?" she whispered.
The black-haired girl smiled. Her eyes stung. "Yes," she said softly. "In a few days. We're going home, Ty."
The solemn gray eyes moved up to the flame-shaped hairpin. "Your brother forgave you?"
It's still not safe to tell her everything. Azula swallowed the sudden lump in her throat. "Something like that," she murmured. She studied the acrobat's round face, and saw her deep uncertainty. "Ty," she said quietly, "are you afraid of me?"
Ty Lee's gaze met hers with stark honesty. "Yes. A little."
"Don't be." Azula reached out, caught Ty Lee gently by the waist, and pulled her close. She felt the little acrobat's arms slipping timidly around her middle as she wrapped her own arms about the girl's shoulders. "Don't be," she said again, softly, as she felt the girl's head rest against the side of her neck. "This armor, this crown – they don't change anything, all right? I'm still your Azula. I won't hurt you." She pulled back. Her amber eyes sought out and found the hesitant gray ones. "I'd never hurt you."
The gymnast searched her face for a few tense moments. Then the wary suspicion faded, and Ty Lee just looked tired. She leaned into Azula and let her head fall back onto her armored shoulder. "I'm tired of being scared," she whispered. "I'm tired of being confused. I'm…" She stopped. Azula felt her fingers cling tighter. "I want to trust you, Azula. I need to trust you." A soft breath. "I do trust you."
"Do you?" The princess couldn't help smiling as the girl nodded. She breathed deeply and tightened her arms around Ty Lee's body. "I'm glad."
"Yeah. I do." The acrobat's hands slowly relinquished their grip on Azula's shirt. One of them began to slide gently up and down over Azula's hip instead. The former firebender felt her breath catch in her throat. "Are you the princess again, then?"
"I am." Azula's lips curved upward. "Kind of unbelievable, isn't it? I'd given up even thinking it was possible." She glanced up at the foliage overhead and grimaced. "Katara's just going to love this. Do you suppose this time she'll accuse me of orchestrating the entire War retroactively, or just stick to blaming me for a few genocides?"
"What?" Ty Lee blinked at her.
"Never mind." The princess bent her head to brush her lips across the acrobat's. "I was just grousing." She paused then, as Ty Lee returned the kiss, pushing herself closer. Azula's breathing hitched again. So," she said softly, "do you want to go for a walk out here? It's pretty nice."
Ty Lee looked up at her thoughtfully. Her arms rose to Azula's shoulders, and her hands clasped together firmly at the nape of the princess's neck. Still thoughtfully, Ty Lee leaned forward and captured Azula's lips with her own a second time. Azula felt the tip of the girl's tongue play lightly at the corners of her mouth. Her amber eyes slid closed, and she barely managed to stifle a groan. Ty Lee pulled back a bit, regarding the princess solemnly. The hint of a smile finally curved the acrobat's lips. "No," she said. "I think maybe I'd rather go back to our room. With you."
How long had it been since she'd heard Ty Lee say something like that? Azula suddenly felt flustered, and she hoped she wasn't blushing, although the distinct heat she could feel in her cheeks didn't exactly raise her hopes in that respect. She swallowed hard. "Very well," she said, and was relieved when her voice didn't squeak. "Better go and get your shoes, then."
The acrobat grinned then, and it was very like one of her old, playful smiles. "What for?" she asked innocently. "I won't need them there, will I?"
Azula was surprised into laughter. She released her grip on Ty Lee and turned back toward the door that led inside. "Okay. Suit yourself." Slim fingers slipped into hers, and Azula closed her hand over them, faintly surprised. Then she smiled and clasped them firmly. The two girls headed back inside, out of the sun-drenched garden.