ILLNESS
Ty Lee does not show her fear. She does not mention her fear. It makes her feel like a terrible person to be afraid of this.
It all comes pouring out, however, to Fire Lord Zuko.
"Were you scared that Izumi would be crazy?" she says. Ty Lee had really hoped that she would have cushioned that statement somehow. It sounded way better in her head.
"Yes," Zuko replies, calmly, as if it is simple and not so complicated that Ty Lee thinks she might explode. "My family has a history of that. She still could be. She's, uh, two, and she's pretty oppositional and screams a lot, but I think all two-year-olds might do that."
Ty Lee stops biting on her thumbnail.
"Why are you so calm about this?" she whispers, making Zuko laugh for some reason. She does not get it. "I'm terrified. She's having a baby and I'm terrified that my baby will be not healthy because everybody just wants their baby to be healthy."
"Your baby probably won't be," Zuko says honestly. It is the cold, bitter truth.
"Zuko!" Ty Lee screeches.
"But if anyone is equipped to deal with my family's incredible insanity, it's you. You do really well with my sister," he says, shrugging as if it is natural and not so frightening that Ty Lee has not slept in weeks. "I'd be way worse with Izumi than you'd ever be with your kid."
"Azula is different. I know her. I've known her for her whole life."
"Can I point out that you'd actually know your child for longer?"
"I guess I would," Ty Lee admits begrudgingly. "Okay, okay, so I guess I can handle insanity but what if my baby is ugly? That's way worse!"
