Note: I wrote this months ago, but due to a sudden death in my family, and then one in my extended family, it wasn't posted. Because, as it turns out, people are actually harder to deal with when they are dead than when they are alive. (Yeah, I said it. WHAT.)

Also, Sirena-Lune, I am so incredibly sorry, but I've somehow misplaced your e-mail. I apologize profusely! Please go ahead and shoot me in the foot now.

The Bend in the Road

i. post-redemption depression

i.

There's something glaringly feminine about her that takes him by surprise. She's unabashedly coquettish, throwing him winks between cartwheels and handstands that make Mai scowl. Like Azula with her lightening, or Mai with her flying daggers, Ty Lee has mastered the art of manipulating her girlish charms to work in her favor, and it's a dexterity that's hard not to admire.

ii.

What makes Ty Lee different is that he doesn't have to be with her. He doesn't have to tolerate her inane antics or her infectious laughter for any longer than he wants to, and she doesn't take much offense when he decides to ignore her for the afternoon.

There's something endearing about her sunshine smiles, though, that's making it a little more difficult for him to turn his back.

iii.

When he reaches up to cover the marred skin, she catches his wrist.

"Don't," she says softly. Then a teasing smile blooms across her face and she adds, "It's actually kind of sexy."

Zuko surprises them both by blushing furiously.

iv.

Their clothes are falling effortlessly from their limbs as they stumble around the room. Everything's lustfully awkward and he thinks he steps on her foot more than once before the backs of her legs bump the bed. She's giggling softly against his mouth in between gasps as he discovers, with clumsy fingers, what little skin her clothing doesn't cover. Her laughter should probably be insulting, but right now he just appreciates her uncanny ability to break the tension.

And as their touches begin to travel lower, he starts to appreciate quite few of her other...more flexible qualities, as well.

v.

"Well, that was interesting," she says after a moment and Zuko stares at her like she's gone absolutely insane. Then she turns to him to look at him, and she smiles so shyly that he laughs at the strangeness of it all.

She wrinkles her nose at him playfully, hands already navigating across his skin once more.

"Let's try again."

Ty Lee is all about second chances.