CLOSE YOUR EYES

Azula and Ty Lee watch the ocean together. In the midst of it, Azula bursts at the seams with an angry secret and Ty Lee endures the tirade without even flinching. She is too… happy about it to be afraid.

"You could lose me forever over this absurdity. How does that make you feel?"

"I… feel…" Ty Lee does not know how to reply.

"Like what?" asks Princess Azula, her voice commanding but her fingers trembling.

"Like I'm in love with you." Ty Lee does not mean to be so loud or panicked.

Azula tries to hide that she is even more nervous and awkward than Ty Lee is right now.

"Good. As you should. I don't doubt that a multitude of people are madly in love with me." A crazy, insane, ridiculous part of Azula wants to tell Ty Lee that her whole life has been so lonely and she needs someone. The sane, stable, certain part of Azula that she lets control her life says, "I imagine this is the part where it would be customary and socially appropriate to kiss."

Ty Lee smiles, a little unsure. Nothing with Azula is ever certain or simple; she learned that being friends with a terrifying superweapon in the guise of a young woman.

"Okay, uh, I'll just, uh, close my eyes." Ty Lee honestly wishes she knew what she was doing as much as people thought she knew what she was doing. Being friendly and attractive doesn't always make someone socially perfect, especially in scary situations.

"Right." Azula leans in and kisses Ty Lee on the lips.

They both close their eyes.

They both wonder why this doesn't feel like fireworks, like it's supposed to.

But it feels right.

It really does.