Since Ozai's fall, months had flown by in a whirlwind. Ty Lee, once an outsider, found kinship among the Kyoshi Warriors, earning her a first seat ticket to guarding the Firelord. Her friend Mai, the firelord's girlfri- Fiance? She was not sure- employed the Kyoshi Warriors as Zuko's bodyguard. It were mostly mundane tasks nothing eventful happening not that she wish to induce danger to the boy but sometimes a little bit of occurrence would be quite amusing.
She stood at her post a lively acrobat in cavernous halls. Zuko, once banished, now burdened by the crown, sat with heavy scrolls casting shadows over his amber eyes. Observing him, curiosity piqued her
Zuko's face was shadowed, his back hunched over the parchment with narrowed amber eyes. His scar glistening with the soft orange light coming from the window and his Ink stained his fingers against pale skin drawn tight over his cheekbones. His occasional jaw clenches ridden with stress of the coming days. Ty Lee, seated on the lowest step of the dais, felt the oppressive silence. She wasn't suppose to sit, even the Firelord couldn't care less about noticing it at all,
"He's really serious," she mused, having observed him for hours. Zuko remained steadfast, his posture unwavering. He had matured significantly, and she understood why the women at court admired him. There was a sense of duty about him that spoke of strong leadership, along with a discreet kindness he had learned from Ursa and his uncle. Yet, despite being just 17, he shouldn't have to bear the burdens of the nation's aftermath alone. Normally entertained by court sessions, today she felt sorry for Zuko, feeling the weight of authority pressing down on him.
Humming a cheerful tune under her breath it was time to spice up his "Typical Tuesday afternoon grump session"
Ty Lee breezed into the throne room, presenting a steaming cup of jasmine tea. "Hey, Zuko! I mean, your highness," she teased, offering a playful bow. "Ready for a break from your usual Tuesday routine?"
Zuko's stern expression softened briefly, hinting at a sheer exhaustion from his duties. "Hey, Ty Lee. What's up this time?" He sounded a bit tired beneath the edge in his voice.
Ty Lee grinned, her eyes holding a hidden agenda. "Just a little something to perk up the busiest Firelord ever. Unless," she leaned in, lowering her voice,
"you've got some secret scroll hidden behind that frown and want it kept under wraps..."
"No" he said firmly his amber eyes piercing her own grey ones as if they held her captive their intensity sending shivers down her spine, her breath hitched for a moment
She blinked trying to break the spell of his gaze
Since when? she wondered, panic rising in her throat. Since when did looking at Zuko, the Firelord, the serious, brooding Firelord, make her feel... this? Nervous? Excited? Alive?
"So, about that tea... Did you know jasmine flowers bloom in the moonlight, just like certain Firelords tend to get grumpy after sunset?"
"Ty Lee, I really need to get through these papers," Zuko sighed wearily.
"No worries!" she chirped, raising her hands in jest.
"The Firelord's duties call! I won't disturb your royal... scribbling." With a wink, she spun into a series of playful handstands, hair flying.
A smile lit up Ty Lee's face as Zuko cautiously sipped the jasmine tea. His acceptance felt like a small victory
Just as she settled into the quiet moment for a few minutes watching the Zuko move his fingers gracefully signing away edicts and ordinances alike, a sudden yelp broke the silence.
"My cabbages!" echoed through the room, followed by hurried footsteps fading away.
Instantly alert, Ty Lee leaped to Zuko's side, ready in her chi-blocking stance. As the commotion quieted, she met Zuko's bewildered yet amused expression.
"Cabbages, Firelord?" she quipped, suppressing a giggle. "I thought the Fire Nation had bigger concerns than runaway veggies."
Zuko shook his head, smiling faintly.
Zuko returned to reading documents after that, he wasn't really the type to exchange conversations at all, just like his girlfriend Mai
Zuko rubbed his gritty eyes, the last parchment signed and stamped with a weary flourish. "Finally," he rasped, the word thick with exhaustion.
Ty Lee, perched playfully on the throne armrest, winked at him with a mischievous glint. "Shall I escort you to your royal slumber, Firelord?" Her voice teased, but under the lightheartedness, a subtle concern flickered in her eyes.
Zuko blinked at her, surprised at their proximity, He gestured towards the door with a tired nod.
Ty Lee sprang up, her usual exuberance tempered by the shadows beneath Zuko's eyes. She slipped ahead, eyes scanning the corridor before stepping out. A wave of her hand, and Zuko followed, the clack of his boots like a somber counterpoint to her humming, a soft, cheerful melody that seemed to dance around the edges of the shadows.
They walked in silence for a moment, the weight of the day settling between them like the heavy drapes hung across the hallway. Then, Zuko stopped, his back rigid. "You know, Ty Lee," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, "you don't have to walk behind me."
Ty Lee froze, caught mid-hum. Her gaze darted to his back, a question hanging in the air between them. "But... you're the Firelord," she stammered, the lightheartedness fading from her voice.
Zuko turned, his amber eyes meeting hers. "It's a bit weird to be walking in front of you" he says with his usual nonchalant demeanor
The air crackled with the unspoken weight of his words. For a moment, Ty Lee found herself lost in the depths of his eyes, their amber embers were reeling her in like a fish caught in a hook. This Zuko, weary and exposed, was a side she rarely witnessed, and it tugged at something deep within her.
"Then," she said, her voice gaining its playful lilt, "perhaps the Firelord should learn to trust his Kyoshi Warrior friend to walk beside him, not behind."
Her smile softened the sharp edges of her words, and Zuko's left corner lip curved in a genuine response. "Perhaps he should," he agreed.
Side by side, they continued their walk, until they had stopped in front of an Ornate Regal Door, perfect for his status.
She awkwardly scrambled beside him, should she open the door for him? it seems as if he's going to open it himself, but silly Ty Lee grabbed the locks of the metal minuet at the same time he was reaching for it
It's as if a bolt of electricity coursed through her veins, they have touched hands and she could feel the heat from her cheek rising insurmountably hot. She dared not look at his face
Why is she being so coy! She was a flirt, and she charmed her way out of trickier situations like, but at this moment her heart was racing so fast she couldn't bear to think let alone breath!
He cleared his throat awkwardly and she turned her head so fast and let out a nervous laugh
"haha! Yes it's uh- i was going to open the door for you, your highness" she says incoherently, unaware that her hand was still placed atop his
"Uh, Ty Lee your hand- " he says, his amber eyes flickering between her hand and her face, caught off guard by the physical contact, perhaps he cleared his throat again she formed an 'o' in her mouth snatching away her hands in embarrassment.
"Oh! Sorry!" Ty Lee's cheeks burned like the color of beetroot as she rubbed her head with a nervous laugh. It was brief..maybe? And yes definitely accidental, their touch had sent a jolt through her that she couldn't stopped thinking about after he stepped in his chamber
She watched him go, the dark-haired boy still holding onto his composure despite a long day
"Well! I'll see you tomorrow once again, Firelord!" she sang out, her voice a touch higher than usual. His head turned briefly, unreadable amber eyes that met her own, before he offered a curt nod and a murmured goodnight.
The heavy oak door thudded shut, leaving Ty Lee alone in the hallway. She pressed a palm to her chest, trying to calm the frantic dance of her heart. It was just touching of Hands!, she told herself, But the flutter in her stomach, the warmth tingling on her skin, told a different story.
Did Zuko feel it too? Did he feel that quick bolt of electricity Or was it simply her imagination
With a sigh, Ty Lee turned and walked away, retiring for the day as Suki replaced her post for the night.