3/3: HOT & COLD

"I thought about what you said," announces Ty Lee as she enters Azula's room without invitation.

Azula looks up from her meditation. She almost did not expect Ty Lee to speak to her.

"Surprising," Azula comments, silencing the candles. "What do you want?"

Ty Lee wants to take offense, but knows she should value Azula's rare bout of honesty. Azula may be like a child; she lies to hurt people and is honest to hurt people, but Ty Lee usually leaves her over the lying habit.

"Well, I know our relationship is kind of hot and cold but. . ." Ty Lee loses her focus. Azula is paying too much attention to her, and that makes her nervous. "I think you're right."

"Of course I am," Azula replies.

Ty Lee walks to her and sits right beside her.

"I think you had to love me a lot to say that," Ty Lee lightly says, and Azula supposes she should have expected this act yet again. The epic romance nonsense Ty Lee adores.

"Also not too difficult to figure out," says Azula.

"I think you're wrong for me," Ty Lee says.

It hurts Azula briefly, but Azula is used to that sting. They are the most off again on again couple in Fire Nation history.

"Unsurprising," Azula says. "Perhaps surprising to you. You always seem shocked when we break up."

"I thought maybe we were still broken up and just sleeping together. Never mind. My last thought is that: Zuko is right and I should break up with you," Ty Lee says. She expects to be snapped at, but Azula does not move a muscle.

"It is hard for you to handle the truth, isn't it? Goodbye then."

"I said should, not would."

"I am now lost." Azula turns to face Ty Lee. Their noses now almost touch.

"I think it's dumb to just do what you're told. I'm not as dumb as I act. I think you're wrong for me, but no wrong thing has ever felt so right." Ty Lee kisses her.

Azula pulls away first.

"And. . .?" She does not like this. Ty Lee clearly learned nothing from Azula's efforts to be clear to her.

"Will you marry me?" Ty Lee breathlessly asks with a warm smile and her hand on her heart.

"Maybe," Azula replies. "I'm not saying no, I am just saying—"

"You need me and I need you."

Azula sighs and stands up.

"This is exactly what I was talking about. You do not understand love outside of adolescent daydreams and I am not marrying you because of some kneejerk speech. I am far better at those than you are," she says stiffly.

Ty Lee expected her to melt, but there is still hope.

"If I don't get it. . . teach me."

"You're an awful student."

"You're an awful teacher."

"Maybe I will. I'm not saying no, I am just saying—"

Ty Lee kisses her.

Nobody learned anything from Zuko's commentary and Azula's brutal honesty, but the bed is just right over there and it's so difficult to have cold, mature discussions with it so hot in here.