The pink clad girl sprawled across the red comforter. She was on her stomach and swaying her ankles above her in a way that resembled a cat. Her gray eyes were watching the ruby red lips in front of her as they moved in exotic ways.
"Are you listening?" Came the sharp voice. Ty Lee glanced up to see the golden eyes staring intensely at her. She tilted her head to the side and tried to give a disarming grin. It was all the answer that raven haired princess needed.
Azula closed the thick book she was reading with a loud thump. "Because it would be rude for you not to listen when you begged me to help you study Ancient Fireabic so you wouldn't fail and have to repeat a year in the Royal Academy."
Ty Lee pouted. "But 'Zula!" She rolled onto her back. "It's so hard! No one speaks it anymore. I don't see why we have to learn it."
"It is still used among the top generals and royal family as a way to pass classified information without risk of it being picked up by spies." Azula said with irritation. "On top of that, you need to pass this class to graduate the Royal Academy. You need a foreign language credit."
Ty Lee tilted her head back to see the displeased expression on Azula's beautiful face. Knowing full well what would sooth the hardened lines from her face. "But 'Zula. Not everyone is as smart as you. This is hard for me."
At the compliment, Azula lost her irritation at the younger girl and sighed. "As true as that may be, it does not excuse your lack of attention while I have taken time out of my busy schedule to attempt to teach you."
Chastised, the teen rolled back to her stomach and crawled over to where the royal teen was sitting. "I'm sorry, Princess. I'll pay attention, I'll promise."
Once again, Azula flipped open the book. "Read this to me."
Ty Lee forward and rested her temple against Azula's bicep. She knew that it was a lame excuse to touch the other girl that Azula most undoubtedly saw through. Still the girl allowed it to happen. Ty Lee nibbled on her lip.
"Iti bun Ljtik delua fetulika…"
"Don't just read it." Azula growled. "Actually interpret it."
Ty Lee eyed it wearily. She recognized a few odd words here and there but there were a lot of words that she couldn't even attempt to figure out. She glanced up through her lashes at Azula but the princess stared back.
She dropped her head onto the princess' thigh. "I don't need a foreign language. I already know one."
That gave the princess pause. Ty Lee smiled inwardly when her eyebrows furrowed and she leaned impeciably forward. It clearly bothered her that there was something about Ty Lee that Azula didn't know. The acrobat was well aware that Azula made it her business to know everything that occurred in Ty Lee's life. Some would find it overbearing or controlling but it flattered Ty Lee to no end.
"And which language is this?" Azula asked.
Ty Lee grinned. "I am fluent in Azula!"
For the first time in many years, it was clear that the princess had been taken by surprise. "What foolishness are you sprouting?"
The acrobat grinned from ear to ear. "I speak Azula!" Seeing that same lost look in the princess' eyes, Ty Lee moved until she was sitting cross legged in front of the princess. "This is how I see it. Everyone can learn to speak Fireabic but not everyone can speak Azula. I'll show you."
Ty Lee reached forward and traced the princess' sharp eyebrows with her thumbs. "Do you know when your eyebrows shift forward like so and your lips press together just slightly, most people see nothing different but I can actually hear you saying "I don't know something and it makes me afraid that you will, because of that, make the mistake that you are smarter than me.'"
Watching the slight widening before narrowing of Azula's eyes, Ty Lee continued. "You see how you lean back away from me but actually move your hands closer to me? You're saying 'I don't like you knowing me so well and I want you to stop' but, at the same time, you are telling me, "Take my hand. Don't let me pull away. I don't want to be alone.'"
The princess was to her feet so quickly that Ty Lee didn't even have time to blink.
"If you are so smart," Azula snarled, "Then what am I saying now." Everything about Azula's body language screamed challenge.
Ty Lee looked calmly but knew she must tred carefully. A part of the responsibility of speaking Azula is knowing when to back down.
"You're saying "Ty Lee you are stupid and have no idea what you are speaking about and, if you continue to sprout such nonsense, I will burn your tongue off.'" The acrobat's big grey eyes began to water as if Azula had spoken the words out loud herself.
Ty Lee covered her eyes with her hands and waited. Sure enough, she felt the bed dip and was nearly violently jerked towards the headboard.
The princess's armor was hard but it was warm and felt brilliant against her skin. Azula always held Ty Lee like one who hold a precious possession. Holding it tight enough that it ensures that no one can steal it from your grasp but not tight enough to cause any type of damage to it.
The only thing was better than lying on Azula's armor was the times when she got to lie on the girl without the armor: skin against skin where Ty Lee could hear the girl's heartbeat. Maybe if she spoke the right words of Azula language, she could convince the princess to strip herself from her armor.
It would only take an excess of attention to Azula's throat and some begging.
When the first piece of armor hit the ground, Ty Lee was thankful that, while she couldn't speak a word of Fireabic, she was fluent in Azula. The results were much more pleasurable.