SWIMMING
In the dead of the night, after confessing secrets and destroying a vacation home, Mai and Zuko have gone to bed while Azula stands on the shiny dock beside Ty Lee. They both keep moving to hold hands but stopping at the last moment, obliviously not noticing the other doing the same thing.
Moonlight shimmers on the water. The smoke of the bonfire from earlier is imbibed in their hair and sticking to their skimpy clothes.
"Tonight has been quite the nightmare," remarks Azula, breaking the silence at last.
"May I suggest something, princess?" asks Ty Lee, a little nervous.
"I suppose."
"Do you want to swim with me? The water looks so nice."
"Firebenders usually do not swim."
"Oh. Is it okay if I swim?" Ty Lee wrings her hands and blushes.
"I could not possibly care less what you do," lies Azula. If this trip taught her anything, it is that she cares very much what Ty Lee does, but she will never reveal that.
Ty Lee starts stripping before they can exchange another word. Azula knows she should turn away but she is frozen in place as Ty Lee ends up naked in front of her. Thankfully the darkness hides the violent flush in her cheeks.
Ty Lee leaps into the water and Azula looks down at it for a moment.
She watches Ty Lee smile and wave as she surfaces.
And feeling more utterly unlike herself than she ever has in her life, Azula strips down naked and jumps into the water.
She hates water. She hates swimming.
She loves that Ty Lee takes her hand and cautiously, buoyantly balances on Azula's knees.
"Thank you for swimming with me," says Ty Lee.
Azula gulps as Ty Lee kisses her on the cheek.
They swim together until dawn.
