Autumnal Fire

By Nikkel

© to Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Koneitzko, and Nickelodeon Studios

In honor of Tyzula Week 2015

"I love days like these!" Ty Lee exclaimed, twirling on the dirt path ahead of Azula. "Fall is my favorite season!"

"Every season is your favorite season," Azula clipped in response, dusting a leaf from her shoulder. All around them, a cool gust whisked through the trees, releasing a dazzling array of gold, orange, and scarlet, and there Ty Lee was, dancing among them like it was the limelight.

Azula sighed, wondering how much longer they would be going on their "adventure" as Ty Lee called it. She needed to get back to her dorm and study. It may have been the beginning of the school year, and exams were still weeks away, but that didn't mean that she had time to goof off. Her father certainly wouldn't approve of such foolishness.

"Well, yeah, but none of the other seasons have colors like this one!" Ty Lee exclaimed, doubled-over, and picked up a bundle of leaves. She marched back over to Azula. "Look at all of them!"

She tossed the leaves right in Azula's face. Azula winced and frowned, not at all amused.

"They're leaves. It's not like they're anything special," Azula replied, and tromped right over them, crunching underneath her boots.

"Well, I think they're special," Ty Lee pouted, and picked up a maple leaf the size of her face. The center was a pale green radiating yellow into red, and she looked between the sinuses at the Princess. "See? This one has all the colors."

Azula watched as Ty Lee tucked the leaf into the bag on her hip, already stuffed with acorns, sticks, rocks, and a wild eagle-hawk feather. She bent down and picked up another maple leaf, smaller than many of the others, and a deep shade of mulberry purple.

"How often do you get to see purple leaves, Azula? Purple!"

Azula crossed her arms. "All right, you have a point. Some of the leaves are unique."

"No, all of them are," Ty Lee corrected, tucking the purple leaf into her bag with the others. She jogged to close the distance between them. "I'm so happy we got to see them change this year. I think we're lucky."

"Yes, that's true," Azula said with a knowing smirk. Without warning, Ty Lee slipped her chilly fingers into Azula's warm hand. She tried to tug away, but Ty Lee held firm. "You should have brought gloves if you were going to get cold."

"But you're hand is perfectly warm."

"Fine, but I'm letting go when we get back."

"Okay," Ty Lee replied, stopped short, and bent over to pick up a bright crimson oak leaf, grinning. "Azula, look at this one!"

"Ty Lee, if you make me look at one more leaf, I'll burn this whole forest down."

"But what about this one? And this one? And this one, and this one, and—oof!"

Azula shoved Ty Lee into the ditch piled high with dead leaves, her mirthless laugh rising above them. Ty Lee groaned and climbed out of the pile, leaves clinging to her braid and mud staining her uniform.

"I think fall is my favorite season, too," Azula concluded, and tucked her hands into her pockets this time, before Ty Lee could grab them and make her heart pound, her breath shallow, her head spin, and do all of these silly things that a young woman's body did.

But only because I'm falling for you.