It seems like every time I go for a shorter story, it comes out in these gargantuan updates. FML. Anyway, the second part of this project, we get the re-write/Ty Lee pov for 'Heart Over Honor'. Apologies for the length, but hope y'all enjoy it nonetheless. Once we get to the third part (the longform story) the chapters will probably settle in the 4k range, so there's that. As always, thoughts more than welcome. Until next time readers.
Clover Club
Rating: M
Ty Lee x Zuko
All hail Brian and Mike for creating such fun characters for us to play around with.
Listening vaguely to the din of conversation around her, Ty Lee slurped heartily on the noodles from the bowl resting on the counter in front of her. As the noodles slid down her throat, the effervescent girl sighed in satisfaction at the delectable food.
"Ahh, that's the stuff," she exclaimed, rubbing her stomach as she leaned back in her seat. Looking around the bustling restaurant, she felt a sense of warmth and comfort at the highly underrated restaurant in the Middle Ring of the city.
"Another bowl, miss?"
"Oh, no I couldn't possibly. But that was absolutely delicious," she cheered, a wide, satisfied smile on her face as the young busboy gathered up her bowls.
"Glad to hear that. So will there be anything else?"
"Hmm. What do you guys have in terms of drinks?" she questioned, silently lecturing herself for not taking a closer look at the menu when she had walked in.
"I could bring you a menu, if you'd like. Or you can head over to the bar," the young man offered, his goatee framing his smile in odd yet reassuring way.
"That's a good idea. How are the drink here, by the way?" she asked, hiding her mouth as she whispered just loud enough to be heard over the rest of the patrons.
"Top notch. I'll let the barkeep know to handle your bill when you're done over there," he said, his calm, friendly demeanor adding to the pleasant atmosphere of the restaurant.
"Thanks so much. What's your name, by the way?" Ty Lee asked, reaching into her pocket to procure a tip for the quality service.
"Haru. It's been a pleasure. I wish all our customers were as enthusiastic as you are, miss."
"My name's Ty Lee. I'll definitely becoming here again. The food was amazing. Here, this is for you," she chimed, her smile wide as she handed him a large denomination bill.
"Wha- Miss, I told you that you could handle the bill at the counter, there's no need to give me such a large sum right now," he murmured, his eyes wide as he gazed at the small rectangle with a large number scrawled on the corners.
"It's a tip, silly. For being so helpful. I've never been here, and I would have never known what was good without your help. And it's Ty Lee, not Miss. That sounds so informal," Ty Lee explained, her head cocking slightly to the side as she smiled at him.
"Then I will take it graciously. If there is anything else you need, just let me know," he said appreciatively, slipping the bill into his pocket before making his way towards the bar counter with the young woman in tow.
Ty Lee watched as he whispered something to the large built gentleman behind the counter, the bearded man nodding in acknowledgment. Catching Haru's eye, Ty Lee smiled cheerily at him once more, bowing gently in mirror of his own gesture of thanks.
"So, what'll you have, young lady?" the barkeep asked, his voice booming clearly throughout the dining area.
"Hmm. Do you know how to make a Clover Club?" she asked, her mouth watering as she recalled the last time she had enjoyed the delightfully colorful, pleasantly sour beverage.
"Sure thing miss. I'll be right back," the older man smiled warmly, before setting to preparing the drink.
As she watched the muscular man mixing her drink, Ty Lee heard her phone go off, the signature ringtone she had chosen for her friend piercing her thoughts. Slipping the device from her pocket, she looked at the name on the screen, her jaw tightening slightly as she recalled the reason she had come to Ba Sing Se to begin with.
With a defiant flick of her finger, she declined the call, the missed call icon tauntingly appearing on the top edge of the phone's screen.
"Things alright, miss?" the bartender asked, setting the drink on a coaster in front of her.
"Just some personal stuff. Needed to get away, but sometimes it's hard to cut people out of your life, you know?" she replied, her fingers clutching at the stem of the frosted glass in front of her after setting her phone face down on the surface of the bar.
"Well, you know bartenders are known for listening to problems," he said, his smile widening as he caught sight of the pleased smile on his customer's face upon taking her first sip of the bright pink beverage.
"Ahhh. Wow, I think that's the best one of these I've ever had. Do you ever think of starting your own bar?" she asked, wondering if he was as skilled with all his mixes as he apparently was with her particular favorite.
"One day. Just keep what I said in mind, and call me over if you need a refill," he offered, not wanting to push the young woman if she didn't feel like talking.
Nodding in affirmation, Ty Lee watched as he made his way to the next customer, giving him the same friendly greeting he had offered her.
'The people here are so nice. I could definitely see coming here a lot,' she mused to herself, grateful she had gotten word of the hidden gem of a restaurant after landing in Ba Sing Se.
She considered talking to him about what was on her mind, but she wasn't sure it was something she wanted to talk about with people she didn't know. Picking up her phone, she unlocked it, clicking into her contacts as she considered who she might want to actually talk to about things.
There were a few people in the city she knew a little bit, but she knew that if she so much as mentioned Azula around them, she was in for a lot of bashing of her long time friend, something she was not thrilled about despite her current tiff with the young woman.
A small flutter echoed in her stomach at the first name that came to mind.
'Zuko. I wonder if he's even still around here,' she wondered, the corners of her lips curling into a soft smile that always seemed to accompany thoughts of the young man who she had known essentially her whole life.
If there was anyone who could relate to what she was going through, it was him. The only person who had borne more of the brunt of her friend's teasing and bullying than herself. But despite all of the torment she had inflicted on him, while he would struggle to say kind things about her, he also kept the badmouthing of her to a minimum. When he did talk about Azula, he generally sounded more hurt or jealous over the comparatively lavish treatment she got, as opposed to genuinely angry at her.
She knew he he had just wanted to have a cute, sweet, loving little sister as opposed to a bully he was unfortunate enough to live with.
Catching herself before clicking on his name to give him a call, Ty Lee felt a nervous flinch of hesitation. 'No it's been too long. It would be weird to call him up after all this time. If he's even still in town,' she reasoned, knowing that he had experienced his fair share of issues in town before going on his own journey of self discovery.
Not that it bothered her that he didn't think to ask her, the person highly attuned to spiritual, emotional issues, which would certainly have come in handy on such a trip, or anything.
Not much.
With a sad sigh, she lifted her thumb from its perch over his name, returning to slowly scrolling through the list of names.
Taking another sip of her drink, she found the next best option coming to mind, someone she knew for sure was still around.
...and didn't giver her awkward butterflies in her stomach.
Scrolling down a few names, Ty Lee clicked happily on Iroh's name, holding the phone up to her ear as it rang. Sticking the tip of her finger in the white foam at the top edge of her drink, she stirred the beverage, anxiously waiting for the phone to connect.
'Ah, miss Ty Lee, it has been far too long. How are you today?' Iroh's jolly, boisterous voice sounded warmly in her ear as the line connected, the subtle hum of his own customers playing in the background.
"I'm alright. I'm sorry it's been so long, things have just been really crazy lately."
'No need to apologize. But I assume there is a reason you are calling me out of the blue like this. Perhaps a talk and a good cup of tea is in order? Though I am surprised you are calling me and not my nephew,' he reasoned, a knowing, playful tone to his voice as the words coursed through the phone line.
'Because it's so much harder to be around him when he's single, than when he's involved with someone,' Ty Lee thought to herself, her belly fluttering annoyingly at the thought. "It's kind of a long story. But basically I'm kind of traveling on my own for a while, so I was wondering if you knew of any good places to stay. And I think a talk over some tea would be delightful."
'Nonsense. We are practically family. I have a spare room at my place in the Middle Ring, and you are more than welcome to it,' Iroh seemed to pause, and she could almost feel him stroking his beard. Alarm bells went off in her head, a sense that the crafty old tea maker was mentally chewing on a juicy nugget of information.
At the very least she could tell there was something he wasn't telling her about his offer.
Maybe calling Zuko would have been a better option.
"That would be really helpful, thank you Iroh. I owe you," she chirped, figuring she might as well just take him up on his generous offer. She was confident she could handle just about anything, and what was the worst that could possibly happen.
'It is no trouble at all. I will send you the address. Feel free to stay as long as you like'
"Okay. Will you be at the Jasmine Dragon tomorrow?" she asked, figuring his insight would give her some guidance to help guide her on her journey.
'Yes, come to the one in the Upper Ring. We can have a bit more privacy to talk, if you like.'
"Sounds good. See you tomorrow, then." With that she clicked to exit the call, turning her attention back to the last remnants of her pink beverage. Taking a solid swig of the drink to finish it off, Ty Lee called the barkeep over, placing an order for another round.
Sighing deeply, the young woman collapsed against the invitingly cool surface of the bar, her eyes lazily looking at the condensation that had formed on the outside of the glass formerly filled with the delicious pink liquid.
A weird, uncomfortable feeling filled her chest as the drink settled in her stomach, a feeling she always got when something big was about to happen. But where usually she had at least a fair idea of what could be coming, at this moment she had no idea what was around the proverbial corner.
'I hate not knowing what's going on,' she thought, watching as the bartender set her second serving in front of her. Uncertainty was a weird thing. Both endlessly exciting and extremely nerve wracking.
After finishing her third helping, Ty Lee felt a little tipsy, a pleasant buzzed feeling echoing numbly in her mind. Assuring the worried looking bartender that she was fine, she reached into her pocket, offering a nice tip for his quality service before grasping her card to handle the bill proper.
Once she had payed up, she exited the cozy restaurant, making sure to save the address into her phone so she could make a return visit without much hassle.
Clicking into the text message she had received from Iroh, she set the address given into her navigation, eyes widening in surprise as she noticed it was surprisingly close to her own current location.
Gathering her pack and flinging it across her shoulder, she set out to follow the directions, taking in the sights of the town around her as she walked. The rumors she had heard were hugely exaggerated, the atmosphere not any more hostile around this part of town than most places she had visited.
After walking a few blocks, she came to the indicated destination, sliding her phone into her pocket before hoisting the small travel bag over her shoulders. "Looks like business must be really good," she remarked, taking note that the small residence was nestled securely within an extremely nice row of houses.
Approaching the fabulous looking home, Ty Lee came to a stop, something Iroh had said ringing in her head through the soft haze of alcohol.
"Why didn't I call Zuko? I guess that means he's still in town. Maybe he's staying here, too?" she mused, her chest tightening a bit at the thought. That was something she was not prepared for at that exact moment.
Ascending the small flight of steps leading to the front door, Ty Lee felt that feeling of hesitance from earlier return, fingers tracing softly on the edge of the ornately decorated handle. "Come on Ty Lee, you can do this. There's absolutely nothing to worry about. Even if he is here, you guys have known each other forever, so there's nothing wrong with you staying over at his place for a few days," she lectured herself, a soft pink tint to her cheeks as she realized how she must look to any potential outside observer.
Taking a breath to settle herself, she clicked at the handle's latch, stone gray eyes narrowing as the door made no effort to budge. "Great. It's locked. Maybe Zuko went out?" she murmured, perking up onto her toes in an effort to peer through the small panes of glass adorning the upper portion of the heavy door.
Grumbling at not being tall enough, she figured she might as well knock, hoping against hope that someone was at home and they were just trying to be extra safe by keeping the door locked.
The signature sound of bone rapping against wood resounded in her ears, her nerves jangling as she bounced back and forth from her toes to her heels.
Nothing.
Had Iroh been wrong about the address? No, that couldn't be it. He could get a bit absent minded at times, but generally he was among the sharpest people she had ever met.
Was there nobody at home? That was possible. But then the older man would probably have mentioned it if she were to have issues getting inside. No sense inviting someone to stay at your place if they can't actually get in.
Pressing her ears to the door, Ty Lee's eyes narrowed, cheeks puffing outward in annoyance as she heard muffled sounds of a television rumbling through the door. "Rude. It's good manners to answer the door when someone comes knocking," she lectured the person inside, despite the fact they could most definitely not hear her.
Gathering her strength, she again rapped at the door, a bit more insistent this time.
After waiting a moment she was again not greeted with any indication that the resident was going to be answering the door.
Now she was beginning to get a little bit mad instead of just mildly offended.
Looking around the space near the door, she noticed the doorbell, the small white button set against an intricately carved lion turtle. Smirking at the sight, she pressed her finger against the device, clasping her hands together behind her back as she heard the sound of the doorbell followed by a very distinctive grumble of annoyance.
"Alright, I'm coming," the voice was a veritable growl, the slightly gravelly rumble of his voice sending shivers through her body.
'Oh crap. He is here. I was kind of hoping it was just like a house sitter or a maid or something,' she thought, her mind racing in a panic as she considered backing out and just finding a place to stay the night before figuring something out the next day.
As the door swung open, she felt like the heavy object might just fly off the hinges with the aggression evident in the gesture. All her hesitation seemed to coalesce into a useless blur of emotions as she saw his face, the look of unadulterated fury giving way to a slightly bewildered, confused look.
Whatever buzz she had been feeling from her drinks dissipated, leaving her frustratingly sober. The butterflies returned, her stomach churning as her lips naturally pulled into a warm, toothy grin.
'You're such a sap. At least try to act normal, if you're going to freak out over it. And if you look him in the eyes directly, you're screwed,' her mind teased, the silent minority of her thoughts drowned out by her natural exuberance at seeing her close friend after so long.
"Oh my gosh, Zuko! It's been sooo long," she said, her inner self metaphorically rolling its eyes over how stressed she had been about the matter up to this point. Without thinking, she threw her arms around his neck, her body carelessly pressing against him as the nostalgia gripped her.
"Ty Lee!? What are you doing here? I thought you were off with Mai and Azula," his voice broke a bit, his arms instinctively resting around her waist nearly squeezing out a happy sigh from the brunette pressed to his chest. But the mention of his sister brought a halt to the gooey, happy feelings surging through her chest, the smile fading as the reason for her visit to the city found her once again.
"Well," she began, hesitantly extricating herself from his body. "We were. But then things got weird a couple of months ago, and me and Azula got in an argument and it got pretty bad, so I needed a break," she explained, tilting her head to the side as she grudgingly moved away from the warm embrace.
"That sounds... plausible. She can be pretty hard to get along with. I'm impressed you've managed it as long as you have," he said, a humorless chuckle as he no doubt imagined the puppy dog like appearance she knew everyone saw when she was around Azula. "I don't suppose you have any solid plans," he continued, his brow quirking upward at the unstated part of his question.
"I don't know. Maybe?" she answered hesitantly, forgetting for a moment that as well as she knew him, he had gotten to know her pretty well too over the years, and therefore knew that in depth planning was not necessarily her forte.
"Okay, then let me ask, what are you doing here?" he asked, his emphasis on the particular location indicating that he figured she had other options. Her own brows raised a bit at his tone, the words carrying a slightly bitter, acidic tone as he seemed to have had a particular thought in mind.
"When I got in, I got some lunch then I called your uncle, and he said it would be alright to stay here for a while," she said, deciding to ignore his bitter tone for the moment, sensing that Zuko was about to slip into his quirky stubbornness or irritation about the issue to begin with. A delightful thought came to mind, knowing one thing that always got him to soften up.
Pushing her lower lip outward, she pulled an affectedly sad mask on, the sad puppy dog look always getting positive results from her often times ill tempered friend. "Is it okay, Zuko?" she asked, her voice mirroring the sad face held on her features. She had to fight a giggle as she noticed him quickly turn his attention away from her, a frustrated grumble rolling in his throat.
"You can put that away, Ty. It's uncle's house, so if he says you can stay, then there's not much I can say about it," he said with his trademark resignation, his voice dropping to a whisper as he mumbled something about giving his uncle a good talking to the next time they met.
Before she could grab her bag, she watched as he leaned down, grasping the crimson pack before turning and gesturing inside.
Taking the cue, she quickly made her way inside, eyes closing to enjoy the feeling of the frosty air conditioning against the warm weather outside. The loud click of the door against the latch caused her to jump a bit in surprise, her eyes wide as she watched Zuko make his way past her.
Settling her nerves, Ty Lee caught sight of the television, a childlike sparkle in her eyes as she noticed what had kept him so involved when she had knocked. Taking his momentary absence as a sign, she hopped onto the sofa, the warmth in the spot she landed indicating that it was the place he had been sitting.
'See, there was nothing to worry about. You guys are just friends. Just be sure not to look him in the eyes, or you'll just lose it,' she reassured herself, settling her attention on the television to distract any niggling doubts on the matter.
Grasping the remote, she clicked play, watching the shockingly violent displays erupt on the screen. As the action played out, she nestled comfortably into the center of the sofa, finding the well worn groove easy to curl into.
After a couple of minutes, he returned from down the hall, his silhouette just barely catching the edges of her vision as she watched the anime on screen. Figuring she may as well be a good guest, she achingly moved from the most comfortable spot, the cool, formerly unoccupied cushion seemingly urging her back to her previous position.
"I love this show, I didn't know you had it," she murmured, trying to hide her jealousy at his perch on the good cushion as he settled in next to her. Ty Lee swallowed a lump that had formed in her throat, the feel of his warmth radiating across the small space between them. He thankfully said nothing regarding her comment, allowing her to chase the thoughts that began to spring up away by focusing on the rather macho anime.
As the anime played, a comfortable sort of silence fell over the two, both losing themselves in the action unfolding on screen. Gradually the exhaustion from travel made itself felt, stone gray eyes fluttering closed as the Sun began to descend in the distant sky.
The next thing Ty Lee recalled was a gentle rocking of his shoulder against her cheek, his warm voice complaining about her falling asleep on him.
Not wanting to wake up just yet, she effortlessly threw her arm over his body, sighing as she nuzzled against his warm frame. "Mmm, just a little longer," she mumbled, eyes steadfastly closing as she sought to return to the land of sleep.
"Come on, the couch isn't for sleeping," Zuko shot back, a light tone to his voice as he extricated himself from the firm grip she held on his arm.
Ty Lee blinked in surprise as the fog of sleep fully wore off, realizing the position they were in.
And how comfortable it had been.
"No fair. I was having such a good dream," she murmured, pretending she was still half asleep as she stretched her arms out above her head.
"Somehow that doesn't surprise me," his voice grated on her ears, an odd tone to his words as he spoke.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ty Lee asked, a huffy pout on her face as she stood face to face with her friend. Eyebrows pointing in towards her nose, she tried to put on a tough expression, not liking the fact that he still seemed to think it was all sunshine and rainbows with her all the time.
"It's nothing," came his weak reply, his eyes glimmering as the blue light from the television shone illuminated the room.
Ty Lee felt that long forgotten ache in her chest at the sight, her heart tightening at the soft, vulnerable expression on his face. She found moving difficult, the brightly glowing pools of gold seemingly boring directly into her very soul.
'Don't look him directly in the eyes, was it? Or I'm screwed? I guess I'm screwed,' she thought to herself, the tightness in her chest causing her breathing to come in short, shallow gasps. She needed to get a little bit of space before she did something she couldn't take back.
Balancing back on her heels, she felt the forced look of toughness soften, her mind telling her, screaming at her not to do what she wanted to do in that moment.
"Alright. So where's the shower?" she asked, figuring a distraction would do the trick. Folding her hands together behind her back, she silently cursed herself for listening to the stupid, logical voice.
"Ah. It's right across from your room. The one with the open door," Zuko explained, his voice pained as it echoed across the otherwise silent living room.
As she made her way down the hall towards the indicated room, Ty Lee cast a glance over her shoulder, watching as he slumped down onto the sofa before staring vacantly up at the ceiling.
Gathering her toiletries from her travel bag, she made her way across the hall towards the bathroom, setting the small items on the counter top. Once satisfied she had gathered all she needed, she reached into the shower, adjusting the dials to the appropriate temperature.
As a thin layer of steam began to fill the room, she nodded in approval, quickly stripping before hopping into the shower. A heavy sigh escaped her as as the hot water rained across her skin, the unexpected rollercoaster of the day's emotions having made her more tense than she was comfortable with.
Tilting her head downward slightly, she let the water cascade over her, soaking into her hair and her body, rinsing away the grime from the day. She watched as the droplets splashed in the basin of the shower, the sound of water tapping at porcelain not registering as she slipped into her thoughts.
"What are you doing…?" she asked to herself, eyes unfocused as the steam engulfed her. A warm, pleasant tingle wracked her body as she recalled the comfortable feeling that had embraced her when she woke up against Zuko's body. The faint aroma of the various brews of tea, undoubtedly earned by spending a lot of time around the stuff, mixed with the odd scent of ash that seemed to cling to him beneath whatever other aromas he applied hung teasingly in her senses, her body loosening at the reassuring feeling.
She had tried to ignore it, but she had missed him during their time apart. Their trio was close, sure, but somehow Zuko had always been the glue holding them together, a weird focal point for so much of their activity growing up.
"Get it together Ty Lee. He's just your friend. It doesn't matter if you like him, he doesn't see you that way," she affirmed to herself, the words stinging like Mai's pointed daggers to her heart.
Squeezing out a bit of shampoo, she lathered it up before applying it to her hair, fingers firmly working the substance into her luxurious brown locks. But where the shampoo would normally have a soft, floral fragrance, all she could smell at that moment was the scent of tea… with traces of ash.
Closing her eyes, she worked the shampoo harder against her scalp, trying to somehow scrub the thoughts plaguing her from her mind. Her fingers came to a stop as a thought occurred to her, the last image she had caught of Zuko before entering the bathroom achingly flashing in her mind.
"He doesn't feel that way about you… does he?" she asked to herself, her words casually dissipating into the steam filling the room.
The moment of uncertainty over the matter allowed the feelings she tried so hard to hide to take root, a swell of emotion rolling through her core. Maybe she was just imagining things, seeing things that weren't there for her own selfish benefit.
But what if…
Rinsing the shampoo out of her hair, she stayed under the shower for a few moments longer, her mind echoing with those three annoyingly hopeful words.
If there was a chance her feelings were reciprocated, she owed it to herself to find out, didn't she? It was only fair, after holding herself back for so long.
Turning the dial to close off the shower, Ty Lee slid open the shower door, reaching out and grabbing the nearest towel. Gathering up the black cotton, she dabbed at her skin before rubbing as much of the moisture from her hair as possible.
Her hands came to a stop as she found herself wondering if this was the towel he always used, that thought naturally shifting to images of his toned, muscular body glistening along with the droplets of heated water.
The second image sent a surge of longing through her most intimate regions, her body heating up pleasantly at the mental picture.
Finishing her drying to an adequate if not complete measure, she grabbed what she used for her sleep shirt, the lavender fabric caressing her ample bosom as she pulled the material over her head. Dark, royal purple letters served as a guide for the natural gaze, the words of a band's name scrawled directly across her chest in scratchy, distorted letters.
Grasping the simple lime green panties, she slid the garment up along her legs, the ghostly touch of her fingertips on sensitive skin sending pleasant shudders up her body.
Wiping away a streak of fog from the mirror, she steeled her resolve, eyes set in determination as she made her way out of the bathroom. Once the door swung open, the soft white mist billowed out, her mind racing as she made her way out towards the living room to get the answers she wanted… needed.
Noticing the blue glow of the television against the dark living room as she made her way down the hall, Ty Lee giggled to herself at the thought of Zuko relaxing and doing nothing, something the boy she knew as a kid would never find himself doing.
'I wonder if maybe he just left the television on and went to bed' she thought to herself as she padded down the hall. Something was playing on the television, something boring sounding, so there was a good chance he was asleep. But it would definitely be weird for him to just disappear without turning off the tv or letting her know he was going to bed first.
Peeking her head in the living room, her heart started pounding in her chest, noticing him still entrenched in the comfortable cushions of the sofa. 'It's now or never,' she said, gathering her courage before popping into the room.
"Hey. What are you watching now?" she asked, attempting to maintain her usual perky tone of voice as she strode towards the couch.
"Shouldn't you put on some clothing?" Zuko's voice rang out warmly through the room, carrying hints of embarrassment as his eyes wandered over her body.
"But I am wearing something, silly," she said simply, letting her own eyes glance down her body. "Or do the house rules say I have to wear pants? Afraid you can't control yourself?" she teased, her lips pulling into a playful, borderline predatory smile as she dropped her voice a tone lower.
Sure she had his attention, she gave her hips an exaggerated sway, her body warming at the panicked, nervous look on her friend's face. But the soft, glimmering eyes made no effort to shift away from her, the fact seemingly proving that her hunch had been right.
Before he had a chance to say anything, she hopped on the sofa, easily settling into the space immediately to his right. She fought the urge to fidget in place, her nerves flaring as she felt the warmth of his body through the small gap between them.
Taking advantage of his lack of response, Ty Lee pressed herself against him, nuzzling her head against the firm muscle framing his shoulder.
"Ty Lee, what are you doing?" he asked, his voice hitching adorably as the words slipped from his lips.
"Well, it's kind of chilly right after a shower, so maybe you can warm me up," she suggested, putting up an innocent expression as she fluttered her eyelids at him upon catching his gaze.
Her mind swam with questioning as Zuko's eyes shifted forcefully away from her, his body rigid as he stared idly at the television.
"Zuko? Is something wrong?" she asked, realizing that he was struggling to keep himself from letting his eyes catch hers, as though looking at her was something that he desperately wanted to avoid at that moment. Another mark in support of her theory.
"Oh, um, no, nothing is wrong," he stumbled over his words, his voice cracking a touch with some kind of internal struggle.
'Just go for it, Ty Lee! You can't keep just dancing around the issue!' her mind screamed at her. This was the point of no return. The thought that she could maybe lose one of her closest friends scared her to no end, but she just had to know where she stood once and for all. "Zuko?" she asked, biting down on her lower lip as she worked up her courage to ask the question she had struggled with for so long. The fact that he hadn't gotten up when she cuddled up to him was a good sign, but needed to hear the answer from his own lips.
"What is it?" he questioned in return, his voice regaining a bit of its natural firmness. Ty Lee began to fidget in her seat, nerves rattled at his single best quality, his concern for his friends, coming to the surface.
"How do you… feel about me?" As the words spilled out, she shifted her gaze nervously from his, anxiety spiking as she wondered if she had made a huge mistake.
"What do you mean? We're friends, right?" his voice was simple, gentle, and a little forced. Somehow it wasn't quite the answer she was looking for. It was too iplomatic. Noncommittal. Hesitant.
And somehow she could tell that wasn't exactly the answer he wanted to give. He could be so stubborn sometimes.
"Of course, always," she offered, her heart beating a million miles an hour as she truly hoped that to be the case. "But that's not what I mean," her voice was the one to crack now, her nerves overtaking her confidence. She desperately wanted to back out, say she was just kidding, but she knew that wasn't an option. Figuring she needed to see this through to the end, she lifted her eyes to look directly into his. "How do you feel right now? Here. With me. Alone together. Don't you feel anything?" she asked, the cracking of her voice deepening as she felt tears stinging at the corners of her eyes.
"Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"
"I don't know. I was going to just relax here for a few days, sort things out before deciding what I want to do, but then you were here…"
"Sorry to ruin your plans," his voice was half serious, and half joking as a forced smile crossed his face. Like he was trying to get out of the current situation.
"It's not that," she pressed, intent on not letting him back away from answering her. "It's just… seeing you after all this time, having such a good, relaxing time just hanging out with you made me think back to when we were growing up."
"We did have some good times."
Ty Lee smiled at his naive reaction to her words.
"We did, even though me and Azula were kind of mean to you and Mai," she murmured, fully aware that she was a part of his torment growing up, even if it wasn't necessarily her own choice.
"All of us had it kind of rough, so I don't blame you," he said simply, that damn kindness making it impossible for her to do anything but keep going.
"It's just… I've liked you for a long time. More than I realized until today," she said, her cheeks flaring as her chest felt like it would burst with the pounding of her chest.
It was out. In the open. He couldn't pretend he was misinterpreting something she did or said. He would have to answer her. And she could do her best to move ahead with whatever answer he gave her.
"I never knew. I had no idea… but then why did you always flirt with all those guys growing up? Why didn't you say something sooner?" Zuko's voice was heavy, flaring with a cocktail of emotions. That same slightly bitter, irritated tone from earlier found its way to the surface again, something Ty Lee couldn't think of a cause for.
"I always flirted with guys because I thought maybe I could find a guy to help me get over you. But none of them could ever compare. It's not fair, you know?" she felt a tear squeeze past her defenses, trailing lazily down her cheek.
"Not fair?"
"I was always thinking about you, but you never seemed to even consider me as anything but an accessory to your sister. Like I was just some lost puppy."
His face showed that she had hit a sore spot, a look of guilt written on his face as he thought about her words.
"I'm sorry. I never realized. You never seemed to show any interest," he explained, his eyes shifting from her to the television and back, his nerves obvious.
"That's partly my fault. Azula was so intent on trying to get you and Mai together for some reason, that I couldn't do anything about it." The tears stinging at her eyes began to fall, streaking lazily down her face, the hot droplets stinging her cheeks as they rolled down towards her chin.
"Azulacanbe kind of hard to deal with. She has this natural aura that just intimidates people," Zuko said, his voice soft yet strained at the mention of his sibling.
"She can be terrifying. I love her to death, but she's too much sometimes." As the words hung between them, Ty Lee looked into his eyes, his form blurry through the tears pouring forth with no sign of letting up.
An apprehensive, hesitant look crossed his angled features, his eyes showing that he was struggling with something in his mind. Ty Lee's heart sank as she thought of what it could be, an empty pit developing at the core of her stomach.
"You should have said something sooner…" he muttered, his fingers reaching up to dab at the tears staining her cheeks.
"I'm saying something now," she replied, her eyes remaining locked on his as she leaned gently into the warm, soothing touch of his hand.
In her eyes, in her whole world at that moment, there was nothing but the two of them. He hadn't turned her down flatly, which she took as a good sign. But he seemed to be holding himself back for some reason. His eyes wavered as he looked at her, a flicker of a flame sparking to life behind the deep gold pools.
The trickle of tears eased, her eyes puffy and red as she blinked the remaining moisture away. The air between them grew heavy, an awkward silence. Ty Lee knew in her heart was about to happen if she let him say anything.
Before he could, she leaned in, catching him by surprise as she pressed her lips to his, more gently than she had expected. Closing her eyes, she deepened the kiss, a soft moan mixed with a sigh escaping her lips. Little electric bolts zipped from the spot where their lips joined, surging easily through her body.
The sigh deepened as she felt him return the kiss, his tongue slipping past her lips as it sought her own. Strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her body closer to his as their tongues wrestled for dominance.
Then as though an outside force had grabbed hold, Zuko broke the kiss, his body tense and rigid as he came to his feet. Her worst fears seemingly being realized, Ty Lee felt the hole in her heart grow, struggling with the idea that she had ruined her friendship for nothing.
"I can't do this. It's not right," he spoke, his gaze pointedly turned away from her, as though the sight of her would make him unable to say what he needed to say.
The faintest glimmer of a light echoed in the all consuming darkness in the pit of her stomach, her eyes watering as she straightened her posture atop the immaculately trimmed couch.
"What do you mean?" she asked, trying her best to keep her voice as close to its usual tone as possible, failing miserably as it cracked under the pressure of her emotions.
"I have a girlfriend. She's away on vacation for one day, and suddenly I'm turning into Sokka. I shouldn't have kissed you, I'm sorry," his voice trailed off, self admonishment evident on each syllable.
Tilting her head down towards the soft cushion on the couch, Ty Lee reached out, her mind a jumble of thoughts and swirling emotions. That had most certainly not been what she wanted to hear. But still, she held onto that small sliver of hope. If he had kissed her back, that must have meant there was something there.
"It's alright," she whispered, her slender, trembling fingers clutching at the back of his shirt as she spoke.
"It's alright? What's alright? Shouldn't you be mad at me for leading you on, or accuse me of just being a cheating scumbag or something?" he asked, his voice frantic, as though he had settled on that as the only outcome possible from the current situation.
Feeling her grip slacken as he turned around, undoubtedly with a look of pure frustration on his face, she looked up, trying her best to force a smile to her face as she looked into his eyes. Those eyes that had started all of this.
"It's alright Zuko. I was the one who started this whole thing, even though deep down I knew there had to be someone else. Your face is a lot more expressive than you realize," she reminded him, giggling despite her situation. His innocent reactions to things always had that effect on her.
"Then why…?" he asked, the expected irritation in his voice failing to appear.
"Because I'm sick of hiding how I feel. I mean, sure, I'm crazy jealous, but that's not your fault. Like you said, I should have spoken up sooner. But it's alright," she said, finding the words coming more easily than she thought. Maybe this would be the last time she would see him, and she had to make sure it counted. "I'm really jealous, but I'm also happy for you. You deserve to be happy, Zuko," her words seemed to strike him with the force of a freight train, his face wavering as he looked at her.
"Ty Lee…" his voice sounded like she felt, aching and strained.
"But, even after that, I can't just forget how I feel. I want you Zuko. More than I think I've ever wanted anything. I just need to know, once and for all, how you feel about me," she said, pouring the full brunt of her emotions on display.
Sensing that he was going to try and be evasive, to try and spare her feelings somehow, she tugged on the back of his shirt, pulling him down onto the sofa next to her. Before he could react, she clambered on top of him, the soft waves of chocolate toned hair cascading around her face as she looked down at him.
"Ty Lee, what are you doing?" he asked, his eyes wide, like a panicked animal in front of a predator.
"I'm not letting you go until you answer my question, Zuko. How do you see me? What do you feel when I'm sitting on top of you like this, or when we kissed a minute ago?" she asked, her eyes showing that she was not going to let him go without her resolution.
"It's not that simple, Ty Lee," he replied weakly, shifting his gaze away from her as he spoke.
"Sure it is. Can you say with one hundred percent honesty that you didn't feel anything when we kissed earlier? Did I ever have a chance?"
"...of course I felt something," he said, his voice barely a whisper as he gradually turned his attention back towards her, his golden eyes glittering with a near silver sheen over top as they caught the light from the television.
"What was that?"
"Of course I felt something! How could I not? You're beautiful, and kind, and you brighten up everyone's mood when you walk into a room. But that doesn't matter, I already-" his speech was cut off as she leaned down, capturing his lips with a deep, mind numbing kiss.
That was all she had ever needed to hear from him. But at the same time, hearing it had flipped a switch, the dull ache of want forcing itself to the surface. She would let him be mad at her for the rest of time afterward, she would take the blame if things got rocky when he told his girlfriend what happened (because she knew he wouldn't be able to keep it inside), but for tonight, she was going to make sure he would always remember her.
Steel tinted eyes fluttered closed, her tongue pushing past the meager defense of his lips, soft moans roaring from deep within her as she rubbed her tongue purposefully against his. Zuko's body tensed momentarily at the sudden action, before relaxing, his own eyes shuttering as he pressed his tongue against hers.
'Maybe it's not super serious. Maybe I still have a chance,' she thought to herself, nipping at his bottom lip as she ground her pelvis teasingly against his. A thick, lust tinted groan echoed from his lips at the contact, his body warming against her in response.
Rolling her hips suggestively against him, she arched her back, her purple clad breasts teasingly swaying with each subtle movement. Ty Lee felt her cheeks warm up at the feel of the bulge in his pants pressing against her panty clad womanhood, her entire body feeling as though she were sitting beneath the desert sun.
She could almost see his self control loosening, reason slipping by the way side as his hands gripped her hips, guiding her slowly against his hardening erection. His body's reaction was undeniable, an instinctual passion bursting through every action.
Feeling the pitched tent pressing against her through her panties, Ty Lee moaned, her mouth hanging open as the sensual sound echoed through the room. It was so much more intense than she had expected, so much more pleasurable than when she took care of her needs on her own.
"Oooh, Zuko, what's this?" she lulled, seductively chewing on her lip as she rocked against him, shuddering as she felt his hands begin to snake up beneath her shirt.
"It's your own fault," he replied, his voice thick and smoky as it echoed warmly in her ears.
Ty Lee's breath caught in her throat as she felt his hands slip along her sides, calloused fingers teasingly rubbing at the soft outline of her taut muscles, gently tracing along her ribs before reaching her breasts. The young brunette sighed as he began to massage her ample bosom, his fingers grasping at the firm globes with an almost innocent enthusiasm.
A playful, taunting smirk crossed his lips as he caressed her breasts, his fingers focusing in on the erect peaks atop the soft mounds. Ty Lee felt her body begin to wriggle against him, jolts of pleasure rocking her body as Zuko pinched and rolled the sensitive nubs between his fingers.
"Zuko, don't tease me," she whined, hair sticking to the back of her neck and her cheeks as a thin layer of sweat broke out across her immaculately flawless skin. Feeling his forearms catching at the bottom edge of her shirt, she threw her arms upward, breasts jiggling as he lifted her shirt up and over her head.
She was so glad she hadn't bothered putting on a bra at that moment.
Anticipation boiled in her core, her pussy twitching with the thought that she was about to have an experience she had not even considered in her wildest dreams. The teasing itch grew as Zuko's hands trailed back down her slender frame, rough hands resting lazily on her wide hips.
Brown gray eyes widened as his fingers flexed against her, the world flipping upside down as he effortlessly switched their positions. Her chest heaved in surprise as she looked up at him, the molten gold of his eyes glittering beneath the black curtain of his hair as it fell around his face.
Holding her breath in expectation, she watched as he leaned down towards her, her lips naturally parting with the anticipation of his lips on hers. But the air caught in her chest as she instead felt his lips latch onto her right breast, his tongue playfully flicking at the hardened tip. Ty Lee bucked her hips up as he lashed her breasts with his tongue, his lips opening wider as he sought to encompass as much of her breast in his mouth as possible.
Ty Lee's mind hazed over, loud moans resounding in the large living space, slim fingers finding their way into the mess of black silk atop his head. Each touch of his mouth on her body elicited urging pleas, her breath coming in strained gasps as his tongue trailed lower and lower on her body.
The heat within her core grew, her body feeling like a blast furnace as Zuko's lips kissed at the flat of her stomach, her honeypot itching with delight as his fingers hooked into the waistband of her panties. Soft, ghostly kisses followed the receding fabric, self satisfied chuckles rumbling past his lips as he saw her body's reactions to his teasing.
"Z-Zuko, no teasing, please," she rasped, her voice uncharacteristically weak as she craved the feel of his tongue on her most intimate of spots. Lifting her legs from their resting place on the sofa, she felt the tight fitting cotton slip down the toned limbs, her womanhood bared before him.
With the hunger to match a long starved sailor, he slid between her legs, trailing his tongue teasingly, agonizingly along the inside of her left thigh, his hands resting on her knees. With a soft pressure, he pressed her legs apart, allowing him full access to her glistening flower.
A harsh spasm rocked her body as his tongue finally pressed against her engorged clit, the bundle of nerves acting as a button to trigger her arousal further. Ty Lee felt like she was losing her mind, the warmth of his wet tongue on her sensitive nub driving her deeper into the haze of lust.
Each soft flick of his tongue across her clit sent small tremors surging through her, her fingers tightening their grip in his hair in response.
Just as she felt she was going to fall over the edge to her orgasm, he pulled back, his saliva slick on her sensitive spot as he sat back. A frustrated, pleading look masked her features, cheeks flush with her arousal.
"Why did you stop? You're not backing out now, are you?" she challenged, her hands running casually through the smooth expanse of his hair.
"Not even close. I just think we should move this to the bedroom," he responded, flicking his thumb across her enraptured clit as he spoke.
"Mmmm. That, mmmmnhhh, does sound, ahhhh, good," Ty Lee said, her voice strained between almost primal moans.
Gathering herself, the athletic young woman leapt towards him, his body tensing as her legs encircled his waist. He chuckled a bit at her response, the bulge in his pants teasingly pressing against her ass.
"No more waiting. Now," she whimpered, a pleading command as he lifted himself to his feet with a grunt of exertion.
Her body rocking against his with each step, Ty Lee pressed a hot, heavy kiss to his lips, nearly causing him to lose his footing in surprise.
Quickly regaining his footing, he nipped at her bottom lip in retaliation, earning a soft moan from his long time friend.
Reaching the room in which she would be staying, Zuko dropped her on the bed, a soft squeak of surprise escaping her lips as she bounced gently on the expansive mattress. Eyes glazed with hunger, Ty Lee scooted back a bit, watching as he deftly removed his clothing, the contours of his chiseled muscles catching the pale moon's light.
Licking her lips as he crawled along the bed, the bubbly brunette spread her legs, inviting him to take what she was more than willingly offering. Soft, light breaths filled her lungs as she watched him close in, his body's heat radiating through the ever narrowing space between them.
A breathy, haunting moan rolled past her lips as he gripped her hips, the tip of his manhood teasingly sliding along her soaked slit.
Shifting her gaze towards him, she noticed a questioning look, his eyes wordlessly asking that this was truly what she wanted. Nodding in acknowledgment, Ty Lee braced herself, eyes squeezing shut as he slid his length slowly into her eager tunnel.
Soft, wet squelches filled the room as his cock buried itself into her, Ty Lee lifting her hips up eagerly to capture as much of his length as she could manage. Blissful sighs slid off of her tongue, her legs closing around his hips as he pulled back, the underside of his glans rubbing pleasurably against the wet ridges of her womanhood.
The enraptured sighs gave way to guttural, lust filled moans as he slid into her, fully burrowing into the inviting depths of her body. The bubbly girl felt her breasts rolling back and forth with each thrust, her body crying out in joy as he knocked against her cervix again and again. Hot embers burned in her body, stoked further each time he slid into her.
Wrapping her legs around his back, she hooked her ankles together, intent on keeping his body as close to hers as he fucked her. Whenever he pulled back, the young woman tensed her legs, doing her best to hold him in place, her pussy clenching around him to aid in the gesture.
A thick pink haze filled Ty Lee's mind, her thoughts all focused on the crackling pleasure surging through her body. If it had been up to her, she would never leave this bed, staying beneath his body as his manhood pierced her over and over.
But all too soon for her liking, she felt her orgasm begin to creep up, the warm feeling in her loins increasing in its intensity as he ceaselessly rutted against her. Grasping at his muscular ass, she felt her fingers digging into the flesh, wordlessly urging him on.
Finally the thrust that pushed her over the edge came, her entire body tensing beneath him as her voice rung harshly throughout the empty room. Well trained muscles spasmed and jerked as her climax overtook her, the pink haze brightening to a white tint. As he fucked her through her orgasm, he set his lips against hers, the sensual, passionate kiss heightening the intensity of the sensations rolling through her body.
After what felt like an eternity, Ty Lee's body relaxed, her muscles loosening as she began to suck in deep, labored breaths.
"You alright, Ty?" he asked, a playful yet concerned tone to his voice.
"Yeah. Just, that was more intense than I expected," she replied, her hands seeking out his cheeks.
"Should we take a break?" he asked, the understanding that they were in no way done apparent in his tone.
Ty Lee smiled a bit sadly up at him, her fingers tracing the outline of his regal looking cheekbones. If this was going to be the only time she could have him, she would make sure that she took full advantage of his offer.
"No. Way. We are going again, right now," she demanded, a face of determined arousal clouding her normally innocent features.
"Yes, ma'am," he replied, a light chuckle ringing delightfully in her ears. Pressing his lips to hers again, he set about stirring her up for round two.
Once they had finished their love making for the night, sleep had overtaken them, pleasantly embracing each other.
A few hours before the sun began to rise, Ty Lee stirred from sleep, fighting her urge to just curl up into his body and retreat back into the world of reassured slumber.
But she couldn't.
Gently slipping from his comforting grasp, the young woman carefully removed herself from the bed, being careful not to wake him up earlier than she knew he usually arose.
The veil of passion having been long since lifted, the pang of pain she had felt when he had told her the truth echoed tortuously in her chest, her stomach feeling empty and devoid of any substance.
She knew she couldn't handle being around him after having experienced all he had to offer her.
She wasn't worthy.
Guilt piled on top of the agonizing pain, searing deeply into her very spirit. She had done something unforgivable, putting one of her best friends in such a precarious romantic predicament. Ty Lee knew Zuko. She knew that he would feel the guilt of their tryst gnawing at him until he spilled his guts to his girlfriend (the lucky bitch) and take whatever consequences came as a result.
Selfishly, Ty Lee found herself hoping that things didn't work out between the two, giving her a real chance to really be with him.
But after putting him through that, she wouldn't be surprised if he never wanted to see her ever again.
The notion of him being angry, disgusted, or disappointed in her hurt more than her own negative thoughts on the matter.
She had to leave. Feeling that he was mad at her was infinitely preferable to actually experiencing it firsthand.
Tears pushing for release, she gathered her things, pulling out a pair of comfortably worn jeans to pair with the lavender shirt she had put on after the shower. Once she was dressed, she stuffed the few small items she had taken out back in the bag, casting one last look in his direction.
Setting the bag on the ground near the bedroom door, she tip-toed towards him, the aching longing screaming at her that she had already caused enough trouble. Casting the thought aside, she leaned over his peacefully sleeping form, placing a soft, whisper of a kiss to his cheek.
"Good bye, Zuko. I love you," she whispered, her voice quivering as the tears began to squeeze forth.
Catching sight of a bundle of stationary on the night stand, she grabbed a pen, scribbling a short note so that at the very least she could apologize in some way for potentially ruining his love life.
Setting the note on the pillow next to him, she hurriedly made her way out of the house, being careful to make as little noise as possible.
With the clicking of the front door behind her, Ty Lee collapsed against the heavy wood object, the forcefully shackled sobs crashing out with full fury.
Pulling her knees up towards her chest, the young woman knew she looked a total mess if anyone happened to see her. She needed to get away as soon as possible. And she needed to talk to someone, so that someone could condemn her for acting so selfishly.
Pulling her phone from her pocket, she scrolled down the list of contacts, honing in on her longtime friend. She had tried to avoid bothering Mai since the cool tempered young woman was spending some quality time with her girlfriend after the two had argued over the phone during Mai's trip accompanying Azula and herself.
But she was the only one she could think to call.
Pressing her thumb to the digitized text, she held the phone to her ear, sniffling as the tears continued to pour forth.
'Ty Lee? Do you know what time it is?' Mai's irritated voice drawled through the phone's speakers, an unspoken threat of suffering if it wasn't something major.
"Mai? I messed up. Can we talk?" she squeaked out between sobs, the sound seemingly abating any groggy annoyance from her friend.
'Sure, Ty. Are you okay?' Mai's voice rang with concern for her friend, which just made Ty Lee feel even guiltier.
"I don't know. I'll see you in a little bit, okay? At your place?"
'Yeah, sure. You know where it is?'
"Yeah. I'll be right there." Ty Lee forced the words out, listening for affirmation before exiting the call.
Casting her watery eyes up at the sky, she wondered to herself just how she was supposed to live with herself after this.
Aww, Ty Lee, it's alright girl, things will work out. Cheer up. The next update will be the beginning of the longform story part of this project, picking up immediately from where we are leaving our melodramatic girl right here. She will get back to normal, I promise. She just needs some hugs. Until next time y'