Rites of Romance

I: GOLDEN

there's a story
the gypsies know is true
that when your love wears golden earrings
she belongs to you
"Golden Earrings" — Gandalf

"Why exactly are golden earrings so important?" asks Suki, studying Ty Lee closely. He takes a breath and tries to think.

"It's just—it's just the fact," she says, uncertain why she cannot string something decent together. Golden earrings and love are normal, they go unspoken, everyone knows. "They're, y'know, golden earrings!"

Suki looks at the plain earrings that Ty Lee holds in the palm of her hand as if they contained her very soul. It made no sense to the native of Kyoshi Island, who happily has little experience with the Fire Nation's culture.

"I know they're golden earrings. I just don't know why you're so afraid to wear them," says Suki with her arms crossed. She uncrosses them when she sees that Ty Lee looks hurt.

"If you wear golden earrings when you're with the person you love, then it means that you—that they're your true love or something like that. I guess that you belong to them," Ty Lee explains to the best of her ability. "Everyone does it. Even people who can't afford real gold will paint any metal the right color. And I'm just so nervous about how she's going to react."

"Probably…" Suki wants to be honest and say poorly because Azula is hands down the worst person who ever lived, but she cannot hurt Ty Lee. She loves the wrong person but many people make that mistake. "Probably just fine. I'm sure her ego will be flattered."

Ty Lee smiles. She completely agrees; Azula will love that Ty Lee belongs to her. Why would she not? Well, other than old grudges that hopefully have gone away.

It will be perfect, she hopes.

And she turns out to be right, because Azula says that night, "Your earrings are better than usual. You tend to wear such tacky and sad clothes, but I might like those."

Ty Lee blushes and beams. "Thank you, princess."

"You do realize what they mean?" Azula says, leaning forward and flicking one of them with her sharp fingernail. Ty Lee tries not to shiver.

"That's why I wore them." Ty Lee's heart races. "I wore them for you, not somebody else, just to, just to make sure."

Azula smirks. "Not bad."

It might as well be an I love you. Ty Lee could not be happier about that reaction.

"You like them? Do you—do you respond to them or…?" Ty Lee does not know any of the right words. She lacks the knowledge and would be tongue-tied even if she knew.

"I accept," says Azula, so calmly. Little does Ty Lee know, Azula is shaking from her nerves. She never was good at relationships of any kind, or any interactions with people not involving manipulation or intimidation.

"I love you so much," says Ty Lee, pecking Azula on the cheek with her lips.

"I know," replies the princess.

Ty Lee closes her eyes and memorizes the moment.