#98: The Family Fight
Prompted By: ThisUnitHasNoSoul
"I'm super happy to do this with you. I mean, why else would I be your best friend and amazing wife and beautiful accomplice?" Ty Lee says, taking Azula by the wrist and pulling her into a slow sway.
Azula does not mind dancing in the empty beachside house she illicitly acquired. If it were any other situation, she would have pushed Ty Lee away.
"Because no one else applied for the job," Azula replies, earning herself a slap on the shoulder.
Their frivolous two-step comes to a swift and bittersweet end. Ty Lee looks around at the new life that Azula apparently desired so much. She wonders if the princess always wanted this, or if she just became tired of running and wanted to catch her breath. Ty Lee did not want to ask, because she did not want to know.
She is happy, and that is all that matters.
one year later
Azula ceases her training when Ty Lee approaches. She has been smoothly practicing pointless firebending forms for four hours—since dawn—in front of the waves, like she always does. Azula always loathed beaches, but she loves this one.
"Do you need something?" Azula asks her fellow fugitive. Ty Lee faintly smiles. It looks devious, which Azula finds to be very hot.
"I was thinking about… parenting," Ty Lee says, enunciating every syllable.
"Yes?" Azula does not know where her wife is going with this, nor does she want to know.
"I think you and I should…" Ty Lee hums. "I think I should with you…"
"Spit it out," Azula snaps.
Ty Lee is not certain how to express her desire. It is very complicated and illegal, but she thinks it is a vital next step of marriage. It is their anniversary of two years.
She begins with the disclaimer, "I know your mother is awful and—"
Azula spins around, her hair whipping through the air. "Do not insult my mother."
"B-but you hate her and always insult her." Ty Lee blinks several times.
Azula glares at her. "I can insult or disrespect my mother, my father can insult or disrespect my mother, my brother also could but he has far too much guilt to do it, my probable sibling can insult or disrespect my mother. You cannot. If I did not like your face so much I would have punched you. With fire."
"What?" Ty Lee squeaks, aghast and confused and kind of turned on.
"You have poor listening skills," says the kettle. "People who have been inside of my mother can discuss how truly despicable of a human being she is. People who have not are insulting or disrespecting me by insulting or disrespecting my family."
"I'm your family!" Ty Lee exclaims, throwing her arms up in the air.
Azula purses her lips. She lets Ty Lee sweat for a few satisfying moments before explaining, "Well, we are married, but I wouldn't call that family."
"That's exactly what it is!" Ty Lee gasps out, her eyes wide. "That's exactly what marriage means! You made me your family by marrying me!"
Azula hesitates, carefully considers her response, and replies, "Have you been inside of my mother?"
"No." Pause. "And it's super gross that you phrase it like that."
"You haven't. Our children can insult or disrespect us, I can insult or disrespect you, and that's it, because that's how that law works."
"Is that a law?" Ty Lee asks, scratching her head. Oh, how Azula envies that blatant ignorance. They say it can be bliss, and Ty Lee tends to be unnaturally happy.
"It is if I say it is," Azula decides, tapping one finger on her lip.
Ty Lee hesitates, carefully considers her response, and replies, "Can I not insult or disrespect you? Because I've been…"
"What do you think the answer to that question is?" Azula snaps.
Ty Lee shrugs. She knows who she married.
"Wait! You just said our children!" Ty Lee exclaims, grinning.
Azula feels momentarily worried. Ty Lee concerns her from time to time. "We don't have any. That was hypothetical, Ty Lee. Hypothetical means—"
Ty Lee kisses her fiercely on the lips and whispers in her ear, "I know what hypothetical means. I just love that you're also thinking about kidnapping a cute baby to raise."
"What? I am…"
The princess is speechless.
Azula shrugs. She knows who she married.
[to be continued]
