In honor of the Tyzula December Advent Calendar 2015
[Prompt: Sweet Sugar Cakes]

Ty Lee's heart sank like a priceless jewel thrown into the depths of the ocean.

She watched as Chan sauntered away from the balcony. Ty Lee paused, silently hoping Azula was following him, the two of them sneaking away like normal horny teenagers. Unfortunately, Ty Lee knew that Azula was anything but normal.

"Hold my drink," she said to the boy that had been following her around. He was cute, but she didn't know his name. Ty Lee heard a thud and the shatter of glass behind her, but didn't bother to turn around, hovering in the doorway to the balcony. "Hey, Azula. How did it go?"

No response. Azula was still as stone as she leaned on the wooden railing, arms folded, watching the dark waves pound against the black shore.

Ty Lee cleared her throat and tiptoed alongside the Princess. Their bare arms brushed. Ty Lee braced herself. She expected dragons and hellfire, but when Azula was steeped in bitter reflection, she was as cold as ice.

Ty Lee poked her arm. "You can talk to me. What happened?"

Silence.

Silence always made Ty Lee uncomfortable. She fidgeted, wishing she could go back to the party, but she had the noble duty of making sure her best friend was okay. A cool breeze drifted off the sea and goosebumps prickled her skin.

"Ooh," she said, shivering. "I might have to go back inside, Azula. It's cold out here."

"I scared him," Azula finally responded. Ty Lee flinched and blinked as the Princess turned her golden gaze upon her. Her normally thin, curved eyebrows were furrowed together in profound confusion. "I did everything you told me to, and still he ran away. I didn't do anything horrible to him, either."

"Really?"

"Yes," Azula replied with a frustrated sigh. "We came out to the balcony. I laughed at his stupid joke. We kissed. He ran away."

Ty Lee gasped, her big eyes seeming bigger at this revelation, and she bounced on her heels, clapping her hands together. "Oh, you kissed? Azula, that's good news! What was it like? Was he good?"

Azula quickly turned back to looking out at the ocean. Ty Lee froze.

"What's wrong?"

"It was fine."

"But…?"

"I didn't feel anything."

Ty Lee tilted her head like a confused puppy. "Um… Maybe he wasn't your type?"

"Of course he is, Ty Lee," Azula growled and rolled her eyes. "Didn't you hear him? His father is an admiral, he is clearly talented in the athletic department, and is likely someone my father would like to see me betrothed to."

Azula threw her a quizzical gaze. "You know what's considered socially acceptable and… normal. It's one reason I keep you around. So, tell me: Is what I feel – or rather, what I don't feel—towards the opposite sex… normal?"

Ember Island does strange things to you, Ty Lee thought before replying. Not until the party, which was outside of the palace and surrounded by commoners that were there age… Did Azula look oddly vulnerable, or perhaps out of place. She reminded Ty Lee of an ornate vase her parents used to keep around their poor, plain house. Like the fragility of the vase, Ty Lee knew that if she said the wrong thing, Azula could easily set her on fire. She tried to shake away the thought of a burnt corpse in her head as she offered her a reassuring smile.

"I think it's fine," she finally replied after an unsettling silence. "Everybody feels differently about other people. I mean, I like girls as much as I like boys, or maybe more than boys, so…"

Azula grimaced, analytical. "Interesting."

"What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking that we should get back to Zuko and Mai," Azula concluded with a smack of her bitten lips. "This party is lame."

"Oh, um, okay. You don't want to, uh… Talk anymore?"

"No, I have complete confidence in my decision now."

"Huh?"

"Hmm… What was it you called me?" Azula mused, drumming her elongated fingers on her chin. "Sweet sugar cakes?"

Ty Lee blushed redder than Sozin's Comet. Azula smirked.