#23: Firebenders Are Hot
Prompted By: Streetlight Eyes

"That... uh... brings out your eyes," Ty Lee says uncomfortably. If there has ever been an awkward sleepover, it is this one. Azula sits preternaturally still as Ty Lee opens an antique wooden box filled with pricey make-up.

Sometimes Azula looks like a statue... or like a cat about to pounce. It terrifies Ty Lee, who is constantly fidgeting. The room smells like a mixture of their perfumes, and the incense of the palace. It makes Ty Lee's head slightly fuzzy as she tries to analyze Azula's every move. But Azula probably can see directly through her.

"I kind of always do the same thing with them," Azula replies awkwardly, although she is trying to sound normal. But her purring voice is constricted and her alabaster skin sticky with cold sweat and thick make-up.

Azula stands and straightens her back to Ty Lee's relief. She walks to the sparklingly clean yet archaic mirror and examines herself closely. Ty Lee smirks towards the floor as Azula also examines her body, running her fingers over herself, much to her own pleasure. "This is actually nice as disgusting and tacky as eyeshadow is. I mean, I wouldn't walk into a battlefield in it, but maybe a date."

"You would look good and scary no matter what make-up you wore. Are you allowed to wear make-up at war?" Ty Lee asks before biting down on her lip so hard it makes her wince.

Ty Lee closes the make-up box too quickly and regrets it. Azula jumps slightly at the clicking sound and quickly tries to regain her composure. She is overly-beautified and incredibly vulnerable.

The acrobat is overly beautified as well and she sits down on the bed. She considers getting up when she realizes exactly what she has done in this bed four nights ago, but does not want to be too obvious about it. Now she feels trapped and as if she is suffocating, breaking out in a sweat that makes her peachy skin glisten.

Ty Lee did not expect to be sleeping over at Azula's house. She brought make-up and sleepover things, unsure if it was a sexual invitation or not. It is incredibly complicated. Neither of them is quite good at this sort of thing.

"You'd probably look good with your make-up running from sweat and your face splattered in blood." Pause. Azula raises an eyebrow. "I mean, if that happened. I... I'm trying to tell you you're pretty."

Ty Lee's face is as pink as her clothes. Azula looks casually amused.

"I have nice features. But I wouldn't be overshadowed by those earthbending ─ what did you call them? ─ muscly guys," Azula asks and Ty Lee senses a little jealousy in her tone. Victory.

"Well, firebender bodies are the best," Ty Lee replies, shrugging as if it is obvious. Azula suppresses a smile. "I mean, earthbenders are bulky. Waterbenders are just no. Firebenders are just the best looking."

"Waterbenders are just no?" Azula asks, smirking.

"Well, they have flexibility. But so do firebenders. But firebenders also have like muscles and stuff." Ty Lee feels her throat closing up as if she is having an allergic reaction. Azula is shaking slightly and trying to keep a blank expression.

"I'm really intrigued by this assessment of the four elements. Tell me more," Azula walks to the bed and sits down very close to Ty Lee. She turns to face Azula and their noses brush against each other.

Ty Lee screams internally.

So does Azula.

Neither of them show it.

"Firebenders are just hot," and then Ty Lee realizes her terrible pun. No, no, no. "It must be something in the training."

"Firebenders are hot?" Azula asks, smirking now. Almost smiling. "All of them?"

"No, only good ones." Punching herself in the face. Punching herself in the face. She is blushing so hard she feels her face might combust. "I mean, not, like you I mean. I mean ─ no!─ I mean you're the best firebender and you're really, um, attractive, but I'm generalizing and, just forget I said that."

She might actually punch herself in the face. But Azula is shaking with silent giggles.

"And you thought you had to teach me how to flirt."

Azula presses her lips against Ty Lee's.