A/N: Topless Azula! Just kidding. Or am I?

Chapter 36

"Hmm…" Ty Lee mumbled deep within her throat as she circled Azula for the third time, her slender hands moving drowsily to the thick belt around her waist and tucking an experimental finger easily beneath it. She tugged lightly to feel the material stretch and contort to the intrusion of her finger, while on the other side of the fabric Azula's stomach retreated on reflex.

With the same deep purposeful look on her face Ty Lee pulled in even closer until her sweet warm breath was wisping over Azula's skin in heady flickers and the air between them became wet and warm from the close contact, their body shared heat. Ty Lee moved her hand to lay a spread palm flat against the hollow of Azula's stomach beneath her makeshift beltline. It moved with her. Every rise and fall of breath, holding fast to Azula's breathing pace, firm but light enough for the desire for a harsher grasp to ebb on the corners of that remained of Azula's fogged-over mind.

Ty Lee began to move then, dragging her pressed hand around the small of Azula's waist with a tantalizingly slow solid movement. Her pretty head stayed leaning over the line of Azula's drawn shoulders as she breathed, open-mouthed, over the barely covered skin that lay there. Still oblivious to the affect of her touch, Ty Lee's face was set curious and focused, looking at the planes of Azula's body like a blueprint rather than living breathing flesh. Yet still Azula felt herself flush being examined under those eyes and touched so casually, without shame or recognition, like a child.

A gentle sigh seeped out of Ty Lee's neatly pinched lips as she settled in sweetly against Azula's back, head lulling at the crook of her bared neck, hand resting soundly between a small smooth waist and a defined hip. It felt nice there. She felt nice there. And Azula wished she'd never leave.

"We're going to have to get this taken in." Ty Lee whispered directly into Azula's ear, her lips so close they brushed the top of her earlobe making her shudder. There were so many drowsy heady undertones in her voice it was easy to get lost in the how and forget all about the what. It took Azula a long while for her head to catch up with her body so that she could muster up a pathetic little nod in response.

Ty Lee let out a deep breath and pulled away breaking all contact completely and inching toward the seamstress that was looking towards them with a strange expression on her face. Her wrinkled old hands clinched together patiently as she set her eyes warily on her customers.

"Another couple inches around the waist and maybe the shoulders, please." She gestured with a limp wrested hand and collapsed down on one of the shop's divans while Azula was once again poked and prodded with needles. Azula and Ty Lee locked eyes dangerously over the expanse of the shop.

It was as if there was some sort of tense thrill in the air between them. Something vague, indescribable, and fuzzy around the edges but definitely different and definitely there. It felt like the too calm air before a big battle. When the crisp air is just rattling with electricity and soldiers are twitching, fidgeting-- too much calm for all the anticipation, all the energy. A time when you could read someone soul inside and out by the glitter of their eyes, the thrumming of their heart, and the sweat rolling down their bulbous necks.

This was a feeling Azula normally thrived on. She was not one of the pathetic creatures that shook in their boots at the look of an approaching army. She knew she could do no wrong so truly what reason was there to fear? Now, however, there was no certainty. Pain and humiliation waited just beyond the horizon, at the first lightning strike and clap of thunder. Ty Lee and all that she represented could be truly fearsome.

Azula straightened as the old seamstress placed a final pin and jostled her. Azula's dead weight arms were thrust out and upward, her doll joints bent and contorted to see if the green silk would not be harmed. She hardly paid any mind to her movements however. Her eyes still focused straight ahead on Ty Lee drinking up the air between them as she stared back not even watching the adjustments the seamstress made.

A few words drifted between them, Ty Lee and the old women, short jilted sentences of "How does this suit?" and "That will be all." Blind pleasantries between disinterested strangers.

All the while that sharp connection stayed intact. Contact never broken.

The old seamstress jostled forward yet again. Azula expected more needles and measuring tape but instead she felt the belt around her slim waist being loosened and heard the sound of her silk robes hissing lightly as they rubbed.

For a moment she stiffened, Ty Lee's pretty eyes grew shy as well. But no one moved. Why should they anyhow? They were just two women, shopping together for clothing, in anyone else's eyes. Obviously the old seamstress thought nothing of stripping Azula to her bones before Ty Lee. Despite the fact she must have noticed before that she wasn't wearing any sort of breast bindings. Ty Lee hadn't been in the room then and Azula thought nothing of it. Not so long ago after all she was bathed on a daily basis by strangers.

Azula let her gaze steady as she was striped of her thin top robe. An amused look ran over her features. Her mind ticked deviously. If Ty Lee reacted to Azula's state of toplessness in any way she would know.

She was torn into two halves. One half clung like a shy little girl. Shy about being absolutely naked before someone she had "feelings" or whatever for. What if Ty Lee didn't like what she saw? What if she realized she couldn't be so attracted to a woman after all? The other was intrigued at the aspect of a little game, a little test. What would she do?

The seamstress folded the shirt over her arm dubiously and then worked to help her out of her pants. Still Azula stayed pliant like a little doll. Her face however was alight. She couldn't help but allow a small grin on her face as she watched Ty Lee's face run from a light gentle flush to bright red. Ty Lee stayed almost frozen and visibly stirred for a long moment. Her eyes were big and wide and unblinking.

"What do you know, you're not wearing any clothes." Ty Lee mumbled shyly with a nervous little laugh at the end. She finally took her fall letting the eye contact break and became fascinated with the back of her hand.

As if released from a spell Azula felt her muscles relax. "Nothing you haven't seen before I'm sure." She mumbled with a small smirk, then began lifting her feet in turn so she could be striped of her pants. At least she'd worn other under things that day. "I seem to recall your being fascinated with the palace bath and joining me on more than one occasion."

"But that's different." Ty Lee moved her head up to look at Azula's face, then squeaked and covered her face with her hands.

"Really now, dear?" Azula laughed and began to look around the room for the clothing she'd worn in, "I do believe you were nearly fifteen at the time. How old are you now, again?"

"That's not what I mean and you know it!" Ty Lee whined. She still had her hand clasped tightly over her eyes.

"I don't know what you mean." Azula mouthed haughtily. She was looking all over and couldn't seemed to find her clothing anywhere. Maybe she'd ask the old woman when she came back.

"Things are different now…" Ty Lee mentioned quietly, her small hand dropped from her eyes and landed on her lap, where she proceeded to stare at it intently. "There's too much, you know, stuff."

Azula turned to her quickly from wherever she'd been rummaging. "Good stuff or bad stuff?"

"Definitely good stuff." Ty Lee said with a little smile. She raised her head again thoughtlessly only to close her eyes as soon as she realized. She was still smiling a little endearing smile though.

Azula smiled back at her knowing she wasn't looking.

"Sorry, Miss. Here's your clothing. We'd had them hanging so as not to get wrinkled." The seamstress walked in carrying Azula's darkly colored work clothes and a thick purchase ledger which she tried to hand over to Ty Lee who refused to even look at it until Azula put a shirt on.

She was almost reluctant to dress herself. It was nice seeing Ty Lee so bashful and out of place for once. It seemed like lately Azula was the only one ever lighting up like a candle and getting flustered. Knowing that she could have that affect on someone too made her feel heady and powerful. At the same time, however, she'd had enough public (well semi-public) nudity for one day.

Ty Lee began scribbling away and looking through her pocket for piles of coin which she still had the miraculous ability to acquire doing absolutely no job whatsoever. She'd wanted to treat Azula to a present of new clothing in exchange for going shopping with her all day. Not really much of a treat in Azula's book.

After she was finished filling out forms and cementing a transaction, Ty Lee looked back to Azula straight on for the first time in a while.

Ty Lee was right, things were different now and it would be hard for them to go back to the way they were. How many things had they given up to be in a "relationship" like this? How much would they lose after it inevitably, like all things, ended? There certainly would be no more taking bathes together in giant tubs, or squeezing tight under the same blanket at night. No, they couldn't be friends like that ever again.

Until that end, however, she'd have to live on "good stuff". Whatever the hell that meant.