A/N: Some Quick Facts About This Fic:
Chapters: The Limit Does Not Exist
Pairing(s): Azula x Ty Lee, Mai x Katara, Zuko x Jin, Toph x Aang, Sokka x Suki.
Rated: M for mature humor, intense nongraphic violence, blood and gore, sexual themes and strong coarse language.
Notes: These are just little drabbles existing in a zombie apocalypse AU. Is for #TyzulaTuesday so I'm challenging myself to update weekly. This is shamelessly, shamelessly inspired by my addiction to the app Zombies Run. The chapters will be only 1k to 3k words each (premed leaves me with little time to update something lengthy once weekly) and they all are chronological because I plan to do some plot arcs here and there. Anyway, thank you for clicking and I hope you enjoy the show.

GODS & MONSTERS

"If I were a zombie
I'd never eat your brain
I'd just want your heart."
-Stephanie Mabey-

I. End of the World

The bell tower clangs as the gates slowly rise. For a few brief moments as four young women scuttle into the compound, a colony of teenagers and young adults exposes itself to the zombie-ridden wasteland outside of its thick stone walls. Republic City then closes its groaning gates as Azula, Ty Lee, Mai and Katara breathe uneven sighs of relief.

Ty Lee muses with a thoughtful gleam in her protuberant eyes, "Those poor gates. They sound awful. They've been through so much. If those gates could talk they'd say…" She pauses to think before settling on, "'Help, I'm constantly being attacked by zombies.'"

Azula cracks an amused smile that she swiftly erases as soon as she sees that Mai noticed it. She averts her tired eyes as Katara sheathes her sleek katana and grabs Mai by the hand. Ty Lee beams at the cute couple.

"We're really glad to have you back," says Aang brightly, stepping out from the radio building just at the moment that Suki approaches from the main street, prepared to examine the contents of four backpacks.

"Did you run into too much trouble?" asks Suki and Azula shakes her head.

"It was an exceptionally boring supply run. Dawn of the Dead and Night of the Comet made me think that zombie apocalypse malls would be much, much more fun," purrs Azula, smirking.

"I got shot," Mai sharply interrupts, narrowing her eyes for a flicker of a second.

Azula scoffs and snaps, "And our dear paramedic Katara fixed you. Stop whining. Everyone gets shot sometimes."

She gives a smug and decisive nod when finished speaking, as if no one could argue that having a bullet removed from your arm is not something worth bitching about. Katara opens her mouth to snarl something vicious and passionate at Azula, but Mai squeezes her by the wrist to shut her up. They exchange scowls, but Azula tosses her runner backpack at Suki and grabs Ty Lee by the elbow.

"I need a cigarette and a shower," Azula declares, and, again, no one argues with her. After seven months fending off zombies and trying to rebuild society together, they all have learned that arguing with Azula is far from worth the wasted breath.

"Mai and I will handle the debriefing then," Katara announces through clenched teeth.

Suki beckons for the sullen knife-thrower and irate brunette to follow her into the broadcast building.

[X]

Ty Lee sits with her hands folded on her lap as Azula sets two pistols down on the bench outside of the shower. The rusty charms on them jingle as they settle atop the tattered towels.

"Are you going to turn around?" demands Azula and Ty Lee nods, spinning as Azula strips her clothes off and steps into a dilapidated shower that makes one from Camp Crystal Lake sound luxurious. Under the pathetic level of water pressure, Azula asks, "You sounded like you wanted to tell me something when we were in the mall? Was it important?"

"No," Ty Lee lies.

"Oh. Then why waste your time trying to say it?"

"I'm not smart. I never said I was smart," Ty Lee hastily states, trying to steer the conversation as far away as possible from her almost-confession-of-love.

"And no one has ever thought that you were." Azula falls silent as she attempts to wash her hair.

Ty Lee does not exactly know why she loves someone so cruel. Yet, despite Azula's vanity, selfishness, wrath, and all those other ugly words that seem so pretty on a girl like her, Ty Lee has been in love for years upon years upon years. Yet, it has remained secret thanks to the apocalypse and friends.

That secret has begun to weigh heavily on Ty Lee's heart. In fact, she wants to blurt it out right now in this summer camp shower but she knows better. She knows it needs to be perfect because Azula insists that everything in life be perfect or it is not worthwhile. Almost isn't good enough has always been her motto, ever since before the world ended and Ty Lee copied her homework at midnight and what color glitter pen to use seemed like a huge problem, a huge choice.

That all seems so hollow and petty now that choices are always life and death.

Ty Lee waits for Azula to finish showering.

[X]

After Azula and Ty Lee shower, "The princess and her loyal puppy dog at last grace us with their presence," says Katara smoothly as Azula and Ty Lee walk into their dormitory.

Sunlight pours into the cramped room through the solitary dirty window. Katara and Mai sit on one bunk, while the other awaits the two girls stepping into the room.

Azula and Ty Lee do not dignify that statement with a response.

"Are you always such a bitch?" Mai demands of her girlfriend.

"Count on it," teases Katara in response, corner of her lip turned upwards. "But only to people who deserve it."

Mai shrugs.

"I prefer it, actually," remarks Azula as she sits down on her bunk. "The sugar queen thing is so obnoxious. I hate what a sweetheart you are to everyone. Makes me want to retch. This whole vicious snark thing is a grand improvement."

Katara opens her mouth to argue, but then just takes in a deep breath through chapped lips and exhales a frustrated sigh.

Mai breaks the awkward silence that follows by complaining, "Why does no one ever salvage Icy Hot? My quads are killing me. Or making me want to kill someone. Either works."

"Excellent point. Icy Hot is much more useful than the twenty packets of Viagra picked up on the last meds run."

"The oldest person here is like twenty-one."

Ty Lee argues shrilly, "Katara always says not to bother reading the labels."

Mai cannot suppress laughter. It becomes infectious and soon Ty Lee blushes and giggles as her companions cackle.

"That was you?" remarks Mai as soon as she composes herself and becomes cold once more. "I thought for sure, like, Sokka or Zuko or something."

Ty Lee shrilly protests, "There were like five crawlers in there! I'm lucky I wasn't bitten grabbing all those pills."

Mai remarks, "God it'd be an awful way to die. Bitten by legless zombies while salvaging Viagra."

"Shut up." Ty Lee crosses her arms childishly over her chest. Mai fights back a smile.

Katara lies down on her bunk and pulls Mai down to lie beside her.

"Goodnight, ladies."

"I will sleep when I want to sleep, and do not refer to me as a lady."

Katara laughs. "Goodnight, Princess Azula."

Azula purrs smoothly as she leans against the filthy wall, "You think that is a cruel nickname, but I like it."

Ty Lee smiles.

Oh, God, she is too in love for her own good.

[X]

Four drowsy girls stand half asleep in the Communications Tower at the crack of dawn. Aang messes with the controls of the radio, getting it warmed up for the day. Suki and Sokka stand, hovering over a large sheet of yellowed paper that appears to be a map.

"Well, we are sending you to Chinatown. It seems mainly untouched by looters and we need a decent food run," Suki announces, straightening up.

Sokka adds, "I've got a map of the area from before, y'know, the total destruction of society."

"It's in the city, so we all need to be careful. Headcam range doesn't go that far so Aang will be mainly flying blind. Communication is invaluable so Katara will take point," orders Suki, and, as she should have predicted, Azula's lips contort into a snarl.

"Why is Katara in charge?" she demands. "I am far more qualified."

Sokka replies before his girlfriend can say a word, "Well, because, y'know, you're crazy."

"Crazy?" And now it starts. That word. Ty Lee cringes. Mai and Katara exchange a glance. Azula bitterly snarls, eyes smoldering, "Sixteen is pretty young to be a goddamned psychiatrist. What is that? Four years of medical school and another four years of residency? What are you, Dougie Howser?"

Sokka croaks, "I…"

Azula huffs. "Don't call people things, asshole." Pause. "Katara and I will share leadership of this mission."

"Fine." Katara crosses her arms.

"If that is settled, grab your weapons and backpacks and I'll open the gates," says Suki, shooting a glare at her boyfriend. He just shrugs.

Azula seizes her dual pistols, Katara her sword, Mai her throwing knives, Ty Lee the lucky fire axe she grabbed from her high school on the first day of the outbreak.

[X]

After the gates of Republic City open, four girls step out into the brisk air warmed slightly by the rising sun. They adjust their headsets, strap on their backpacks, and mentally prepare for the mission. One must be on edge and ready for a fight at all times these days.

Aang's voice comes to life in the four headsets. "It's the Charlie's Angels!" Pause. "Uh, is that sexist? I hope that's not sexist. You're, uh, the Four Musketeers. There we go."

"I preferred the Charlie's Angels," says Mai dryly into her headset.

Katara gently slaps Mai's shoulder. "He's trying to be polite."

"And I'm just being honest." Mai shrugs as the four girls set out running into the wasteland of a world.

Ty Lee cannot help but steal a glance at Azula's ass as she runs.

[X]

In the middle of the decaying city, the four girls weave through the shadows, away from the packs, heading towards Chinatown. Four zombies approach after a relatively calm run, and the girls snap into action. Katara stabs one through the face, clean out of the back of the skull. Mai throws a knife through one of their eyes. Ty Lee hacks off a head.

And, "How does it keep moving with just those bloody stumps for legs?" Katara lividly demands. "This entire zombie virus makes no medical sense!"

Azula snaps as she shoots the stumbling zombie in the face, "We are aware. You only say that every time we go out."

"Check out this car," chirps Ty Lee, her face pressed against the window of an SUV. "It's got like more ammo in it than a Texas Walmart."

Her companions quickly join her. Mai pries open the car door, Azula puts down the growling zombie trapped in the driver's seat, and they start loading the backpacks with anything they can. This will certainly help benefit Republic City defense.

Ty Lee makes a strangled noise and Azula jumps to face her.

"What's wrong?"

"I've needed glasses all along but I didn't know!" Ty Lee exclaims, turning to the girls, displaying the salvaged pair of hipster glasses on her face.

Mai pokes her finger forward and Ty Lee jumps back, before she snatches the glasses right from Ty Lee's nose. "These glasses have no lenses, dumbass."

Ty Lee pouts.

"I think they suit you," purrs Azula, rolling her shoulders. Ty Lee's heart jumps into her throat. "They make you look smarter and you really could use the boost. And glasses are attractive."

"Thank you," Ty Lee gushes.

Katara and Mai exchange a disgusted glance.

[X]

In the middle of Chinatown, the girls split up into the usual groups (they are more predictable than a Scooby Doo episode when it comes to this). Azula and Ty Lee stand in a store room sifting through bags of rice to find the best preserved ones.

"You're acting weird lately," says Azula, shoving aside a useless and infested bag. "You keep looking away when I look at you. What are you hiding? Did you screw my brother or something?"

Ty Lee takes a breath. She has been waiting for this since she was in middle school, and it has only been more painful since the apocalypse began.

Finally, she speaks up, for the first time in over a decade.

"It's about what I was trying to say back at the mall yesterday," she explains quietly, staring at a seemingly bottomless bag of rice. She cannot bear to look at the beautiful spectre of a best friend beside her.

"Spit it out," coolly orders Azula.

Ty Lee inhales sharply and blurts out, "When this all started, when we were at the high school during the moment the outbreak started… I was gonna ask you out that day. But then we were running from zombies and police and the army and it didn't seem right to ask. And I've been… holding it in for a real long time. I even made you a card 'cause I was scared to tell you how I felt. I don't have it anymore but…"

Azula kisses her, deeply, fiercely, passionately with all of her twisted black soul.

Ty Lee whispers as the kiss breaks, "I love you."

"Shhh," breathes Azula, pressing one rough finger against Ty Lee's lips.

She pulls it away and kisses Ty Lee again. They grab at each other, trying to get closer and closer because nothing is close enough as their lips crush together.

Suddenly, Azula breaks away and shoves Ty Lee to the side.

Ty Lee knew it. She knew Azula would reject her.

Then, Azula shoots the groaning crawler reaching at the two girls. It falls limp and dead, blood and brains splattered on the cracked stone floor.

Azula spins Ty Lee around and pulls her into another kiss.