::Variation 02: Fever::
Ty Lee met Azula for the second time when she was attempting to sew her costume.
She tore it during an aerial move or three and now she had to fix it before anyone noticed. It was not going as well as she had hoped, despite Katara trying her best to help.
"No, you really have to…" Katara did not know where to begin with Ty Lee's stitches. "Uhh, can I just do it?"
Ty Lee was about to agree before she heard the voice downstairs. She stood up, the dress slipping from her lap – Katara thankfully caught it – and saw that girl, Azula, with Hakoda. Just her, and she was as stunning as before.
She was so talented, so pretty, so perfect. Ty Lee stared for too long before she realized what she was doing and quickly moved away from the edge of the balcony.
"I hate her," Katara hissed and Ty Lee looked at her with wide eyes.
"Why?" Ty Lee asked and Katara shrugged.
"She's mean and manipulative and awful. I heard she once put glass in someone's shoes."
"People make up that rumor about anybody they don't like," Ty Lee protested and Katara shrugged.
"Yeah, but I'd believe it with her. She connives as well as she dances," Katara explained and Ty Lee knelt down to peek between the glossy wooden bars of the balcony.
"She must be a really good conniver then," Ty Lee whispered. "She looks sick. Do you think she looks sick?"
Katara shrugged. "Maybe. Can you help me with the dress you ripped?"
Ty Lee got up and got to helping Katara, but not without listening to the pretty music and the pretty girl. She was finished with her dress and walking down the stairs when she heard the thud. Ty Lee turned into the room and saw Azula on the floor.
She fainted. Ty Lee ran inside with complete disregard for being uninvited. Hakoda was already looking at her and Katara, despite hating Azula, went to go find the first aid kit to help heal whatever was wrong with her.
"I told her she was sick and should stay home," said Hakoda before looking up at Ty Lee.
Ty Lee blushed. "I can help her. I can talk to her or something," she said, feeling foolish. She always thought he was so attractive.
"Yes, that might help," he replied and he picked her up with such ease.
Azula was lying on a couch when Ty Lee sat down across from her and wished she knew the words to say. She did not know if Azula would really like waking up to see her, but the doctors were not here yet, and she was sweating from a fever.
Ty Lee had ice in her hand and was touching it to the forehead of a girl she had only met once in her life. But she felt such a strong connection to her that she could not resist. It was a pull like the ocean beneath the moon.
"What are you doing?" hoarsely whispered Azula and Ty Lee perked up.
"You passed out," Ty Lee explained.
Azula looked alarmed by that, her rare golden eyes flashing from fear. Ty Lee wondered what could possibly be scaring her so much, but her fear faded before Ty Lee could examine it.
"Oh," Azula said, sitting straight up. She seemed dizzy and her face flushed even hotter. But she still said, "I feel much better. I should keep practicing."
Ty Lee looked at her like she was crazy.
She stood up and grabbed the shoes Ty Lee had removed.
Yes, she was definitely crazy, Ty Lee decided. But that fact just made her more interesting and irresistible.