Chapter Text
One year later
“Well I made them,” Azula said with a playful sigh and eye roll, carrying a plate of vanilla cupcakes dyed pink over to Ty Lee where she sat at their kitchen table.
“Your famous pink cupcakes!” Ty Lee enthused, her eyes glossing over her screen. She clicked a few things and turned to face her girlfriend, shutting her laptop down with one hand. Ty Lee was in her second semester of her Master’s program. She decided to go with a Master’s of Education so she could teach high school English literature classes. The online option was the least expensive and most convenient, so she could manage her jobs as a home organizer and part-time barista.
Azula smiled softly at her as Ty Lee grabbed one. She was in her second semester of a Master’s program as well. Immediately following graduation, Azula approached her father and told him that she had been communicating with Zuko. He was very angry, but she held Ty Lee’s hand as she said that she was making her own decisions, and the other important ones would be cutting him off and living with Ty Lee. Luckily, he just growled and complained about “ungratefulness” and said she was no longer his daughter as the two of them walked off. Azula was fortunate enough to find a Master’s in Business Administration program that paid her a stipend as she worked for the company. She also picked up waitressing, which she hated , but she said Ty Lee and her reconnection with Zuko made it all worth it.
“Just don’t eat too many,” Azula admonished. “We’re going to meet Mai and Zuko for dinner later.”
Ty Lee got up and pulled Azula into a tight hug, planting a soft, slow kiss on her lips. “Can you believe it? Look at the two of us–earning graduate degrees, living together, going on double dates with Mai and Zuko,” she said the last part with a little smirk and wiggling of her eyebrows. Azula chuckled. Mai and Zuko weren’t big fans of their teasing, but Mai could sometimes dish it out back to them while Zuko coughed and blushed.
“It’s truly crazy, isn’t it?” Azula replied, taking Ty Lee’s hand and the plate of cupcakes while dragging them over to the sofa across from their little kitchen. Ty Lee snuggled into Azula, her girlfriend gazing lovingly at her.
“Yeah,” Ty Lee said, buried into the crook of her neck. She peered up at Azula. “You know, when I first met you, I didn’t think much of myself.” Azula’s lips turned down at that comment and she stroked Ty Lee’s hair. “I was bullied a lot. Like a lot . People said I was dumb and annoying. Even called me horrible other names. I didn’t think I had anything going for me except being pretty,” she continued. Azula laughed at Ty Lee’s candor.
“You are pretty, my love,” Azula said, rhythmically combing Ty Lee’s hair through her fingers, her other arm wrapped around her waist.
Ty Lee nodded and giggled, then sighed deepy. “I didn’t think anyone would truly understand me or accept me for who I am. It was a literal nightmare at regular public school, so I was prepared for the worst at private school. But then I met you ,” she smiled brightly. “I was so happy and so in love, though I didn’t know the last part until much later. I finally found someone who understood me and accepted me, and I got to find a friend in Mai too. There were so many changes. But I grew so much more confident over the past several years. I feel free to be me and do what I want. And I got to see even more of my worth through my relationship with you.”
Azula’s hand travelled down from Ty Lee’s hair to her face, which she cupped gently, tilting her chin up to face her. “Well, darling, I couldn’t help but completely fall for you from the moment you approached me in the library. No one but Mai wanted to spend any time with me and there were reasons for that,” her expression turned a little sober as she looked ahead and swallowed. “I used to do everything for my own image. I kept myself closed off from everyone and pushed them away, because I was afraid of anyone knowing my true self. But you …” she shook her head and turned her face back to smile at Ty Lee. “You wore your heart completely on your sleeve. You taught me that it’s not a bad thing to be vulnerable and you helped me be able to confront my emotions, even though it was so painful. And…” her eyes turned a bit watery as she trailed off. “I wouldn’t have been able to leave my father if not for you. I’ve told you that about a million times I know, but it’s true.”
Azula bent down to kiss Ty Lee’s forehead as Ty Lee pulled closer. “If it weren’t for you, my love, I don’t know where I’d be or if any of the positive changes in my life would have been possible.
Ty Lee held Azula tight and brought her in for a long, lingering kiss. Azula’s hands ran down Ty Lee’s shoulders, back, and stomach as Ty Lee clutched onto her tight, bringing her fingertips down Azula’s long hair. As they pulled away breathless, Ty Lee said, “I’m glad I could be that person for you. You’ve helped me so much in my own journey. That’s what a relationship should be right? Growing and healing together.”
Azula gave another playful eyeroll and Ty Lee gave her a little shove, the two of them laughing. “You’re something else, you know that, right?”
“Yeah I know,” Ty Lee said as they kissed once more.
“Alright,” Azula said, getting up and clapping her hands together. “We should get ready for dinner.”
***
Azula and Ty Lee walked hand in hand to the restaurant. As expected with Mai’s perfect punctuality, she and Zuko were already there before them. Ty Lee put on a pink babydoll casual dress with a matching ribbon braided through her hair and some subtle jewelry complete with espadrilles. Azula put on a crimson-red v-neck shirt with a leather jacket, black jeans, and some short black boots with a silver zipper.
It didn’t take long before they found Mai and Zuko. Ty Lee nudged Azula as she saw Zuko wearing a similar outfit, except he was wearing a button down shirt in the same color and a black hoodie with black sneakers. Azula rolled her eyes and scoffed as Ty Lee smiled cheekily. Mai had on a black tank top, a skater skirt, geometric tights, and some black Doc Martens, earrings all the way up her cartilage. She still liked to dress like that in her free time, but Mai wore very different outfits for work. Mai got a very well-paying job at a medical editorial publishing company and looked different in her dark colored blouses, dress pants or pencil skirts, and kitten heels.
Azula and Ty Lee sat down across from them. Azula looked over at Zuko and smirked. “What are you doing here?” she teased.
Zuko looked up to the ceiling and groaned. “You invited me, remember?” he said with a smirk of his own.
“Oh my god ,” Mai groaned. “Do you have to do this every goddamn time you see each other, it’s so annoying.”
“It’s our sibling bonding,” Azula mocked in a pouty tone, her own mouth turned into a pout. Mai muttered something under her breath as Ty Lee giggled and Zuko chuckled.
The waiter came by with some water as Azula, Ty Lee, Zuko, and Mai opened up their menus. They all talked about their weeks and what was new with all of them as they perused their dinner options. As everyone talked and laughed, Ty Lee couldn’t help but smile the whole time, a rush of joy coursing through her body.
Six years ago, when Ty Lee walked through the library and approached Azula for the first time, she never would have imagined this.
And she never wanted any of it to end.