Hi. I have a plan for this story now. I'm going to update every month with drabbles based on the TyzulaTuesday prompts, and I probably will update for Tyzula Week and other events too. I always want to participate in the challenges but never have new ideas, and I hate leaving fics unfinished. Count on me to do this new plan and I hope you enjoy the story as Azula and Ty Lee get older.

Family Matters

Ty Lee feels like part of the family sometimes, but knows she is a possession. At best, she would be a family pet. They talk to her and let her sit on the furniture and show affection but they never let her forget that she is not one of them. Not a real human.

Azula even gives her second-hand sweets which are almost as blinding as the pretty lies that she feeds her friend out of the palm of her hand.

This is one such night. Ty Lee chews on cinnamon candies and Azula tells stories that leave Ty Lee clinging on every purred word.

They sit by the elaborate fountain that serves as a summer swimming pool. Azula is not a fan of water, so she usually stays away from it, but Ty Lee likes to swim, and Azula likes to watch Ty Lee swim because the water certainly accentuates her most attractive features.

The slave drips and rests her head on the master's shoulder.

Azula never tries to flirt, never tries to seduce. She would not know how. But she radiates it. The fire of desire and Ty Lee cannot resist.

"You're the best person in the world," Ty Lee says.

"I know," Azula says.

Her father calls across the courtyard, which is unusual for him—he always sends a messenger to gather his daughter—and says, "Azula, get here immediately."

She stands. Ty Lee begins to follow but Azula pushes her down.

"I am sure it is a family matter," says Azula, reminding Ty Lee again that she is not an equal.

Maybe, she thinks, as Azula walks away, that is not the worst thing.

She does not love Azula the way one should love a sister.

Hopeless Situation

"Azula, I'm going to speak freely," Mai says. Azula's eyes flare but it does not stop her. "You're in love with Ty Lee."

"I am not in love with a slave. Perhaps I will sleep with her one day but I certainly am not in love with a slave," Azula says, her fierce insistence belying her assertion.

"You're in love with a slave," says Mai.

Azula punches her in the face, breaking her nose. She does not even bother to be dignified and use her firebending; it comes from a deep, dark feeling inside of her that erupts like a volcano. Mai reels but does not react.

Princess Azula runs away and tries her best to ignore her hopeless situation.

She cannot be in love with a slave.

It would be horrid and heartbreaking and hurtful.

Those Eyes

It is the last summer of adolescence and Ty Lee teaches Azula to flirt. Or tries to, at least.

"Your eyes glimmer like starlight," Ty Lee says, smiling and batting her eyelashes. "You do it like that, princess."

"Do my eyes glimmer like starlight?" Azula asks, mocking Ty Lee, yes, but partially honest.

"No," says Ty Lee and Azula's hand twitches to hit her. "No. They shine like sunlight."

"You are too good at this flirting. Who are you sneaking around with?"

"Oh, just all the serving boys and your brother and all the guards and…" Ty Lee begins before Azula begins to smother her with a pillow.

Ty Lee laughs and Azula pulls away before any harm is done.

Summer Daze

Ty Lee swims again. Azula watches her again.

"Will you please come into the water, princess?" Ty Lee politely begs, unable to keep the teenage-girl twang out of her pretty voice.

"Maybe," Azula says, smirking. She dips a toe in and then quickly pulls it out.

Ty Lee swims forward and considers pulling her in, but then remembers what she is and what Azula is. So, she just sits there and lets Azula tease her.

Azula does not swim on this summer day.

Ty Lee wishes with all her heart that she would.

New Love

Azula jumps into the water days later.

Ty Lee could cry from joy but she just squeals. Azula covers her mouth and then slowly swims. She is surprisingly good at it for someone who avoids water like the plague.

"Why are you swimming, princess?" Ty Lee asks, sidling up against her. They linger there and could heat the ice cold water with a single touch of their skin.

"You have no right to ask me questions. You are a slave," Azula says, and she swims away.

Ty Lee does not follow.

Be Mine

"I swam because I want you," Azula says. It is an announcement, a royal decree. Ty Lee laps it up and sits there and tries to forget why they cannot be. "I want you but not yet."

Ty Lee then knows what she means. She should know better being property of the royal family since she is amazed no one else has made that proposition now that she is thirteen.

Azula sits down and sets her hands on her lap. Ty Lee never has seen her uncomfortable until tonight. That makes everything more confusing.

"I'm yours," Ty Lee says. "I'm your best friend and I'm your favorite doll and I'll be whatever you want me to be."

"Be mine," Azula orders, her voice cracking. Ty Lee never has heard that either. "Be mine and that is all. You need no other order."

Ty Lee smiles.

She wishes Azula meant something other than the physical, but that was a delusion.

Azula is a princess. Ty Lee is a slave. Any attraction or relationship beyond that never happened before in history, as far as the other servants say.

Why should Ty Lee be special?

You're Cute

The mistress of the palace says to Ty Lee, "You're cute. You're so cute being in love with her and I hate that she crushed you. She's Azula, though. You fell for the wrong one if you want love."

"I don't think Ozai would be any better," Ty Lee says.

"No. Of course not. He would be worse. I meant Zuko. He always was such a kind boy to the servants, when not throwing his tantrums. Those are unbearable. The boy might be arrogant and angry, but he isn't like her or his father."

"I'm not in love with Zuko. I'm in love with Azula. And I think she'll love me back. I think she does. You should've heard her. She didn't sound like herself when she said she wanted me," Ty Lee insists, but she knows her protests will go unheard.

"You're cute," repeats the mistress.

Ty Lee hangs her head.

She hates feeling like a silly little girl.

But she is one.

Oh, yes, she is one.