Abnormal Life
44. Changes
Azula and Ty Lee stand in a burnt bedroom. Again, Princess Azula lost her head, and Ty Lee watched the destruction unfold. Now, Ty Lee walks forward and takes Azula's hands in hers. The panting princess does not have the energy to resist.
"Do you hate me yet? I prefer it when you hate me," Azula smoothly says, exhaling her pain.
Ty Lee vigorously shakes her head. "Nothing could ever change the fact that I love you."
Princess Azula scoffs.
"Not looking at me like this? Not learning how crazy I am?" Azula snarls, tearing her fingers through her raven hair. Ty Lee reaches forward and pulls Azula into her arms.
"Nothing, nothing," Ty Lee says, kissing her on the lips. "I love you and I love this baby and I will love you forever."
"How poetic," Azula snaps. "Could you get more pathetic?"
"Yes," Ty Lee says. "I made up a really nice one. You were the breath in my lungs, the blood in my veins, the hearth of my home… and then after the war, that breath was gone, that blood ran dry and that hearth turned cold."
"How long did that take you?"
"A whole night. I was sitting awake waiting for you to fall asleep and I really thought I'd try love poetry. It works for some people!" Ty Lee's eyes glitter. Her cheeks glow. Azula's pallor is illuminated by the woman in front of her.
"How are you so happy?" Azula whispers. "I torment you."
"I'm happy because I'd rather you be here tormenting me than you be dead or missing," Ty Lee says, brushing her lips against Azula's. "I'm happy because we have a chance to change everything and I wanna do that with you."
Azula closes her eyes and touches her forehead to Ty Lee's, holding her in place by her wrists. Her hot fingers dig into Ty Lee's skin, but she loves the feeling. It makes all of this real.
"Okay. I will give you that. Things have already begun to change and I will admit it," purrs Azula. "But I doubt they will change in a good way." Ty Lee breathes in deeply.
She asks, "Can I make a suggestion you won't like?"
Azula's lips twitch. She cannot help it.
"Do you make any other kind?" she asks.
"Let's get married," Ty Lee states with a fervor.
Azula's eyes widen.