THANK YOU
Azula woke from her nightmare drenched in cold sweat, bathed in pale moonlight and feeling as if she had just taken a rough punch to the gut. She instinctively reached out to her side and seized Ty Lee's hand with a powerful force that roused her girlfriend from her deep sleep with a start.
They lingered in dark silence for a few moments before Ty Lee summoned her bravery, kissed Azula's damp, salty cheek and asked softly, "Bad dreams?"
"As always." Azula kept her tone and expression cold, but was belied by the trembling of her body. "It's too hot tonight."
"Summer nights are always like that. Want me to draw you a bath?" Ty Lee interlaced her fingers with Azula's. She expected to be rejected but she was not. Azula holding her hand in return made her stunned enough that her bright eyes widened.
Azula turned to her and drew in a breath.
"Did I ever say thank you?" asked Azula. "For the way you stay despite all this?"
"No," replied Ty Lee with a small smile, "but that would be a first, I think."
"Thank you," whispered Azula before kissing Ty Lee passionately and warmly.
Ty Lee would pretend to forget this show or vulnerability in the morning and so would Azula.
But now they were together and grateful for each other and unafraid to show it as the rest of the world lay asleep.