The guard led Ty Lee through the prison to Azula's isolated cell. The deeper they went, the darker and more disheveled the prison became.
It had been almost two months since the war ended and Ty Lee spent most of that time healing from Azula's attack, thanks to that Water Tribe girl Katara. The only remnants of her injuries were slightly impaired hearing on her left side and a scar that ran from her shoulder to her stomach.
She thought about not coming here–about never seeing Azula again–but she was helplessly compelled. If anything, it would probably be the last time Ty Lee would try to reach her.
At last they came to a thick metal door and the guard opened a series of locks. "You have an hour," he said as he pulled it back.
Azula sat in the corner, her limbs shackled with chains. She was asleep, or at least had her eyes closed, but the light streaming inside roused her. Ty Lee stepped inside and the guard shut the door. Now, the only light came from a small cutaway in the door.
Her hair was matted and her clothes torn and her face still stone cold, but she was there and the small traces of guilt in her expression where enough for Ty Lee. She could feel it, too. Some of the blueness in the princess's aura had returned.
So maybe Ty Lee hadn't been hallucinating. Without a word, she sat next to Azula, but Azula wouldn't look at her.
"Well, you seem to be doing alright," the princess said. "I thought that maybe you would've been. . .worse."
"Well, I'm not thanks to Mai and an expert healer."
"I'm glad she stopped me, but I still thought I'd–" she quivered and grabbed at her hair. She always cried silently, even if front of Ty Lee.
"You were so ready to kill me."
"I know."
"You hated me and pushed me away no matter what I did."
"I know." Azula hugged her knees. "Why did you even bother coming here?"
Ty Lee sighed. "Same reason why I quit the circus to join you in the first place. I'm drawn to you, Azula. It's always been that way and I can't explain it." She wrapped her arms around Azula and tucked the girl's head under her chin. "There's no logical reason why I should be here. Not after everything that happened. But here I am. I don't think I could leave you even if I tried."
Azula returned Ty Lee's embrace and Ty Lee kissed her head. "I'm sorry about everything. There's no way I can even begin to make it up to you."
Ty Lee lifted Azula's chin and brushed the hair away from her face. "Just get better. I'm working on convincing Zuko to move you somewhere else. Prison won't help you."
Azula pulled her close and Ty Lee could sense her desperation. She wanted Ty Lee to stay with her and a large part of Ty Lee wanted to stay too.
"But, you know, things can't be like they were before for us," said Ty Lee, tracing her fingers over Azula's stomach. "You would've killed me if Mai didn't stop you. I'm afraid of you getting to that point again."
"That's why I'm still surprised you're here. Surprised, but glad." Azula cradled Ty Lee like she always did and kept her arms around her waist. "Remember the first time I kissed you and how jittery you were even though I knew you wanted it?"
Ty Lee laughed nervously and her mind flashed the scene behind the waterfall. Azula had pressed her against a stone wall with one hand and caressed the end of her braid with the other. "Yeah, how could I forget?"
"You relaxed rather quickly."
"I didn't see it coming, honestly, and then suddenly. . ." Azula had left almost no space between them. First their foreheads touched and then their lips. The contact was surprisingly soft and sweet.
"Well, I'm never one for words when it comes to these things. You know that."
They stayed like that for the rest of their time together and when Ty Lee sensed the guard's presence, she stirred and pulled away from Azula a little. "I have to go, but I'll be back."
Azula gave her a pleading look. "Promise?"
Ty Lee's face softened and she sighed. That look always got her. Always. She leaned in and kissed Azula deeply. "Promise."
There was a loud click and the door creaked open. Ty Lee walked out and looked back at the princess one last time before the guard shut it again. Yet another promise that she would try as hard as she could to keep. She would be Azula's sole advocate if she had to because even a peaceful new world might have little sympathy for someone who truly could've been a fearsome tyrant. Although things were far from perfect, neither she nor Azula could descend any farther.
The only direction from here was up.
End.
A/N: Stay tuned for a one-shot prequel called "Behind the Waterfall" and a double-shot sequel called "The Last Night."