#110: Two Truths and a Lie
Prompted By: YouNeverCanTell
In Lo and Li's house on Ember Island, two girls stand on the balcony gazing out at the languid wine-dark ocean. Ty Lee uneasily shifts her weight from foot to foot. Azula leans against the railing and tries not to look at her friend.
Yesterday, the party, it was messy. Today has been nothing but awkward after the bonfire and now Ty Lee just wants to make it even worse.
"I am fine," insists Azula yet again. "I am fine. I need no one. I am happier alone."
Ty Lee smiles and moves forward so that she can face her princess. "Azula, these Ember Island kids are dumb. Back in Caldera, if we tell them you're on the market, there's gonna be people lining up for you."
Azula huffs and rolls her eyes pointedly. "Want to give me some names?"
Ty Lee softly smiles, her heart pounding. She knows this is terrifying, she knows this could end in her death, but she also knows that no one ever found love without being a little bit brave.
She leans in and kisses Azula on the lips.
Azula pulls back, startled, and the back of her hand suddenly and reflexively collides with Ty Lee's face. Shocked, Ty Lee's hand rushes to the site of impact as she whimpers like a puppy for a moment, but then Azula lunges in and kisses her on the lips again. It heals any pain.
They keep going for a thousand years, sinking into this, melting. They do not just feel it on their lips; they feel it everywhere, breathless, wanting, waiting forever for this without knowing it.
Slowly, they break apart and gaze at each other for long, soft moments.
Mai knocks on the door to the patio and they both look up simultaneously.
"Zuko and I thought we could play a game or something," says Mai dryly.
Azula and Ty Lee exchange a glance. Ty Lee very professionally helps the princess to her feet and they walk into one of the two guest bedrooms. Zuko already sits on the floor and Mai promptly sits down beside him. In a few moments, Azula and Ty Lee turn it into a circle.
Before anyone can suggest something silly and trite like truth or dare, Azula clears her throat and makes sure all attention rests on her alone.
"Two truths and a lie. It's a simple game," coldly announces Azula. She turns to Ty Lee and Mai with a small smirk. "And I always win."
Zuko mutters under his breath, "I'm not surprised."
Azula glowers at him for a moment. He returns no expression.
"Okay," Ty Lee chirps, interrupting the sibling staring contest. "I can go first!"
"A volunteer," says Azula with an affected wicked smile. Mai subtly rolls her eyes while her best friend does not look. "Step right up and give us a good show."
Mai clears her throat. "A good show at a dumb slumber party game?"
"You never know what you learn once it's dark outsider and we turn lies into a game." Azula smirks. Ty Lee blushes, a little breathless, unbelievably attracted to the princess when she purrs such smooth speeches.
"Okay," Ty Lee begins, "Two truths and a lie. I love reptile-birds, I failed my military combat test the first time, and I once did a circus act above a burning net and rampaging animals."
"I didn't realize this game was so easy," snorts Zuko. "The last one is a lie. The last one is always a lie."
"You have a phobia of reptile-birds," says Azula smugly, giving a little bow that makes Zuko feel rather sick.
Ty Lee beams and forces a cute giggle. Zuko and Mai exchange a weary glance as Ty Lee touches Azula's arm. "She does always win!"
Still smiling as brightly as the fierce Fire Nation sun, Ty Lee hugs Azula tightly and then slowly pulls away. Azula refuses to blush, but she keeps glancing around the room when the hug is over. Ty Lee wiggles happily in place.
"Wait what?" is Zuko's response, narrowing his eyes.
Azula purrs, "ZuZu lost; he's up next."
"Ugh. Uh, I… I uhm… I keep a diary, I can hold my breath for a really long time, I once broke my arm so hard that the bone was sticking out."
"We all saw your bone sticking out that one time," sighs Mai, and her two best friends nod in assent. "You don't keep a diary. I'd know."
"She wins," says Zuko.
"You two cheated." Ty Lee pouts. Azula conceals her smirk by looking away.
"I didn't realize we were playing on teams," dryly drawls Mai, glancing between her two best friends.
"Shut up," snaps Azula. "Fine. I will go then. Mai's mother is having an affair, Zuko scents his pillow with lavender every night and Ty Lee has walked face first into a door eight times."
"I definitely haven't walked into a door that many times."
"The one about my mom," coolly insists Mai, certain she will win and offended that Azula made up something so nasty just for shock value.
A cruel smile spreads across Azula's delicate face. "No. Zuko caught her with another man."
Mai's eyes flash. Azula finds some deep, sick satisfaction in seeing that.
"I think I'm going to win," Zuko says, laughing slightly.
Azula turns to him and cocks an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"I scent my pillow with mint," Zuko says, cracking his knuckles.
Azula declares, "And to my utter shock, ZuZu wins something for the first time in his life."
"My turn," says Mai. "I've always hated this game, I'm comfortable with Zuko keeping secrets from me, and thirty minutes ago I saw Azula and Ty Lee making out."
The room falls into silence.
Azula and Ty Lee exchange a glance. Zuko frowns.
The princess stands up and leaves the room.
Ty Lee gazes after, forlorn.
"Follow her," says Zuko suddenly.
Ty Lee does not want to trust him for love life, but at least she has someone to blame if this goes terribly wrong. She leaps up and runs after the princess, finding her in the bedroom, sitting at the foot of the bed, staring intently into the mirror as if she does not recognize the reflection.
"I'm sorry that you're upset."
"No. Mai will be sorry that I am upset." She clenches her fist around the blankets.
"She's… moody lately," whispers Ty Lee, hanging her head.
"She thinks being with Zuko makes her safe from me, from her own stupid actions."
"I…" Ty Lee furrows her brow and averts her eyes.
Azula suddenly snaps up to focus Ty Lee, terrifying the acrobat.
"What do you want from me?"
"I want you to be happy. I just want you to be happy. I love you, Azula."
"You cannot do this."
"Do… do what, princess?"
"Stare at me with your glowy eyes and admire me endlessly and think that counts as love. I don't want to be your dream girl. I don't want to be anyone's crush. I want people to like the real me, and that is impossible, because no one knows the real me."
"I—"
"You don't. Don't even try. Name five things you truly know at me, and none of them can have to do with my bending or my accomplishments or my famous beauty."
"You hate the word moist and think people should say damp instead. You love math. You refuse to wear blush because you think it's tacky. You're really, really good at skipping rocks. You always sleep with the windows open."
Azula does not know what to say.
Did she set herself up for this mess?
"Just kiss me again," Princess Azula snaps.
Ty Lee happily obliges.
