#03: I Am Not Helpless
Prompted By: HeavenBesideYou13

Azula visits Kyoshi Island for the first time in the dead of winter. Not only is she shivering the moment she arrives, but the snow utterly disgusts her. It is warm in the Fire Nation, and she longs to be in her home. But she promised to visit Ty Lee, and she will hold true to that promise.

Things are going... better. Maybe better. She has good days and bad days and some days just wants to scream and other days simply lie in bed and sleep for a thousand years. But here she is, trekking across the ocean to visit an old flame. A new spark; someone she won't admit she is in love with.

She clutches a bag she packed herself, much to the dismay of Zuko. He insisted that she had no idea how to pack for herself, to which she snarled at him and he let her dig her own grave. She pulls the bag close to her and squints at the warriors. They all look exactly the same to her.

"Well, hi you," comes a familiar voice and Princess Azula feels relief wash over her.

Lips touch hers and she sinks into the embrace. Ty Lee still smells like cinnamon, even after living in this disgusting peasant village. Azula misses the palace beyond all else, even if it is her prison without bars. Even if it is reigned over by Fire Lord Zuko, who thought she could not pack a bag by herself.

Princess Azula is not helpless. She is not insane and she is not helpless, no matter what they all say. What they all say but Ty Lee.

"Come on, let's get you unpacked," Ty Lee murmurs, wrapping her arm around Azula's waist. Azula allows it, although flaunting the relationship is an unpleasant thought to her. She is quite selfless, isn't she?

"I'm freezing cold," Azula says airily, as if she does not care. Ty Lee frowns, examining Azula's clothing. They are more fit for a Fire Nation winter.

"I'll keep you warm," Ty Lee responds, a tone of seduction in her high, blithe voice. Azula smirks wickedly.

They come to a stop at a small, ramshackle house. These are no conditions for a princess, but Azula takes a deep breath and tells herself that she can manage. She conquered Ba Sing Se, she slew the Avatar; she can spend a few nights in a gross island village. Even if it is so cold.

Azula steps inside and tosses her bag on the bed. It could fit two people and Azula's expression sours at the thought of all of the little peasants knowing that Azula is sleeping with Ty Lee. Well, she is, but she does not want people to think that.

"You can just unpack. Use the drawers if you want, of course, princess," Ty Lee says and Azula must admit she likes being spoken to like royalty instead of a criminal.

Azula reaches into her bag and empties the contents on the bed. Ty Lee starts giggling hysterically and Azula purses her lips, golden eyes flashing like an aggravated beast. The princess takes a deep breath.

"I don't understand what's funny, Ty Lee. Please enlighten me?" Azula crosses her arms tightly across her chest, elbows pressing against her cleavage. Ty Lee coughs and chokes, trying to stop laughing.

"You... you packed two shirts, and some underwear and... no pants. I don't..." Ty Lee stammers, turning bright red. She examines the princess's belongings one more time and sucks in air to keep from laughing harder.

"I can pack my own bags. I am not helpless," Azula says sharply, her silver tongue barbed. Ty Lee coughs again, trying to disguise her laughter. "I don't need servants to do everything for me. I am a perfectly capable adult."

"It'll be okay. You can borrow my pants," Ty Lee says, smirking so smugly that Azula wants to slap the look off of her face. But the princess has been forced to practice restraint in the custody of her brother, and she applies it to the situation, lying down on the bed.

Ty Lee was right when she said she would keep her warm. Azula sleeps in her underwear and slim cloth bra, and the Kyoshi Warrior wraps herself around her in the cold winter night.

Azula feels a warmth in her body and her bones. Ty Lee's lips touch her neck and sends more ripples of heat through her half naked body.

Maybe it wasn't an incredible mistake to pack so lightly.