This one is a time skip to after The Search.
Four years after Azula vanished, dry lightning crashed in the night. It felt ominous, or significant, or something to Ty Lee. She was not sure what, but the sight of it cracking across the sky without rain felt significant. The stars were blacked out by smog. Ty Lee was used to being able to see the strands of stardust and every constellation on Kyoshi Island, but the sky was very dark in Caldera.
She walked back into the palace, taking another deep breath. It was a difficult moment. Far, far too difficult. Azula was here. And Azula was hurt. She was unconscious, drugged by Zuko. They found her half dead, which was not how Ty Lee wanted her to be found. Or maybe Ty Lee did not want her to be found.
No, no, Ty Lee was glad Azula was home. Whether Azula would be glad about being home was another matter entirely. Ty Lee walked to Zuko, who had not left the bedside of Azula for the entire day.
"I'm glad you came," Zuko said and Ty Lee had no immediate response. She still felt slightly in a daze. "I know things weren't, uh, so great last time you saw her. But she'll be happy to see you."
"I find that hard to believe," Ty Lee said quietly and Zuko cleared his throat. "But I couldn't not come."
She had been waiting for this letter. Deep down, she knew it would never come. But, lo and behold, it did. And she was the first person Zuko told, before Ursa or Ozai or Mai. As if it would do something, as if it would matter. Ty Lee did not know what to think and she hated it. Not thinking was always easier.
"Can you stay with her? I'm... I need a break," Zuko suggested and Ty Lee nodded sharply, like a little bird. Fire Lord Zuko smiled faintly at her, though the movement of his muscles was forced, and headed to the bathroom.
Ty Lee sat down on the mattress. It creaked slightly as she gazed at Azula for a moment. She looked very peaceful. Ty Lee did not think she had ever seen Azula sleep so peacefully. And for a moment Azula looked like a corpse to her and her heart leapt with panic.
But she did not break her stare. "You hate me. I know you hate me. But I missed you."
Of course Azula could not hear. She was in a drug induced slumber, and she probably would not be listening to Ty Lee even if she were awake.
Agni, she looked terrible. Needless to say, despite how powerful you are in combat and sharp your tongue is, when you don't know how to comb your own hair, the outside world is not the place for you. And Azula was not ready for life on her own or life as a fugitive.
Nobody knew what happened. They just knew they found her. And she was alive.
Azula's eyes flickered open and Ty Lee momentarily panicked. The princess squinted it at her for a moment.
"What are you doing here?" Azula asked dizzily and Ty Lee was not sure Azula even knew what 'here' was. "I missed you." Evidently she was wacked out and dazed.
But Ty Lee ignored her morality and better judgment, leaned forward, and kissed Azula on the lips.
It felt right.