A/N: Okay, all of the inspiration for filling this prompt came from endless videos of red pandas playing in the snow. It is the cutest damned thing in all existence.


(Theme Fifty-Eight) Gifts From Iroh

(As Prompted By) Don't Touch My Walkman

"Gifts!" shrieks Azusami, tugging on Azula's legs as she sees Iroh walking into the palace.

Ty Lee frowns for a moment at her lack of etiquette, but Iroh sets himself up for being seen as a gift dispenser by Azusami and Izumi. He hugs Izumi first, who launches herself into his arms, while Azusami is slightly shyer.

Iroh is kind to both of them, but the unease in Azula's eyes always makes Azusami cautious. Something else Ty Lee knows she ought to comment on, but chooses not to in order to make her life easier.

Izumi quickly asks, proving Azusami is not the only greedy princess, "What did you get us? Swords? Hats? Oh-oh-oh mystical Earth Kingdom amulets!"

Iroh chuckles to himself at how much Izumi reminds him of her father, and he gently sets down the small box he is holding. Azula's eyes flash as she sees that it is not a box; it is a kennel for an animal. Ty Lee clasps her hands together, trying to hide her excitement.

A pet, finally, a pet.

"Azusami," Iroh says, beckoning. The little girl glances between her mothers and they both nod, and she quickly skitters across the stone floor and presses her face up against the metal grate opening.

"It's a weird furry red thing," Azusami murmurs as Ty Lee pulls her away.

"Don't put your face against things with claws," Ty Lee says, patting her scowling daughter on the head.

"It is a fire ferret," Iroh says, gently unscrewing the metal and releasing an animal that causes the entire room, save for Azula, to coo and gasp from the sheer cuteness.

"Oh, they do amazing tricks," Ty Lee remarks gleefully, remembering her encounters with them at the circus. "And they're very loyal."

Azusami grins as Ty Lee beckons the fire ferret into her hands and sets him on her daughter's lap. The little girl cradles the fire ferret like a baby, smiling, her big golden eyes squeezed shut and her small nose inhaling the smell of Ba Sing Se from its fur.

Izumi squirms impatiently, wanting to hold it.

"They also are good food for pythonacondas," Azula purrs coldly and Iroh cringes slightly. "Azusami, wash your hands when you're done with that thing."

She walks away with a slight coldness in her step, like icy flames that lick the inhabitants of the room. Ty Lee pouts for a moment as the fire ferret instantly starts showing off for Azusami and Izumi.

Azula should absolutely be present for Azusami's first pet. Well, the royal family's first pet. Zuko and Mai have just stumbled into the room belatedly, and Zuko completely ignores his uncle when he sees the fire ferret.

"I don't want to not sound like the Fire Lord right now... but aww, what's his name?" Zuko walks over with such speed he nearly trips over his royal robes, and he kneels beside his daughter, niece and sister-in-law.

"Sparkles," Azusami declares with the regality of Azula.

"I wanted to name him glimmer," Izumi whines, glaring at her cousin. Azusami returns the steely gaze before softening.

"Sparkle Glimmer," Azusami says and Izumi smiles. "Prince Sparkle Glimmer the Fire Ferret."

The new pet makes a squeaking noise, as if in assent, and curls up in Azusami's arms. She buries her face in his fur, seeming incredibly happy. Ty Lee grits her teeth at Azula's absence. Priceless family moment.

"Well, hey there, Prince Sparkle Glimmer." Mai steps forward and joins the small party.

Ty Lee stands up and Azusami looks scared for a moment.

"I'll be right back," Ty Lee says, but she thinks she goes unheard as Prince Sparkle Glimmer starts to sit up on his back paws like he is trying to be people.

Even Mai is joining in, Ty Lee can only think to herself as she hunts for Azula.

Azula is locked in their bedroom. Of course. Ty Lee raps on the door several times before Azula sighs and opens it, allowing her wife inside.

"Azula, we finally have a pet." Pause. "It's an important moment for Azusami, and she gets worried when you just leave things."

Azula feels her gut twist. "Don't try to make me feel guilty. I have every right to behave how I see fit."

Ty Lee crosses her arms and response, "You do realize that you're a mother, and you have to occasionally sacrifice your own feelings to make her life better."

Azula grits her teeth and shifts her weight from foot to foot. Finally, she collapses onto her bed with a sigh. Ty Lee studies her for a moment.

"Why do you hate pets?" Ty Lee finally dares to ask. She hopes the answer is not too gruesome, as things can be with Azula.

"When I was a kid, my father would get me pets and then give them away a few days later," Azula admits begrudgingly. "I just... ugh. Never mind."

"You associate them with your childhood pain, and so you don't want Azusami to get attached and get hurt," Ty Lee finishes and Azula rolls her eyes.

"I forgot that you were my shrink," Azula purrs and Ty Lee sits down on her lap, straddling her.

"Okay, his name is Prince Sparkle Glimmer of the Fire Nation and you are going to help me choreograph his routine," Ty Lee says, wrapping her legs around Azula's back.

"Prince... what?" Azula laughs and Ty Lee grins. "Children are dumb. Ugh... I suppose I can."

Azula hates making decisions that are not in her best interest and her best interest only, but she did see Azusami's face when she saw the fire ferret. And Azula knows she will not inflict the same pain on Azusami that Ozai inflicted on her.

And so she kisses Ty Lee fiercely, ignores the heat between her legs, and she and her wife go to ready Prince Sparkle Glimmer of the Fire Nation for his circus debut.

That is, if they can catch him, seeing as Izumi and Azusami are chasing him through the palace wildly, laughing like lunatics. And then he starts chasing them...

Azula and Ty Lee exchange a glance.

Their family is weird.