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Ty Lee adjusted the mask on her face. The Kyoshi Warriors were getting ready for a party on some distant island that wasn’t their own. From what Ty Lee got from the memo, the part that mattered to her the most, was Azula, supposedly, was going to be at the party. That and some corrupt noble they were supposed to take down.
Azula had been spotted here and there with a squad of fire nation women that attacked caravans and caused upset with new government projects. Ty Lee had never stopped looking for her all these years, or as her official mission stated “never stopped hunting her down.” Her feelings had simmered down from “hunting,” feeling it was more important to bring her to a sort of stable home. She wanted to talk more than fight. And fighting at a party? She wouldn’t know when she would be able to get out of the Kyoshi Warrior uniform for a party again, her outfit was going to make it to the next morning. The flowy dress clothing was still green but it wasn’t armor.
The plan was the warriors would blend in, it being a masquerade helped in that regard, and take Azula and her warriors in a quiet hit-and-run. Ty Lee thought to say something about how Azula could probably pick them out, mask or not, just based on how the girls carried themselves as trained warriors but shrugged her shoulders at the thought. They were already here.
Someone took their invites at the door, giving them a knowing nod as they were directed to the garden where lights, tables of flowers and mounds of food, and zipping servants were waiting. A large crowd looked like they had quite the job ahead of them. The whole island looked like they were here.
“If I catch you guys by the food table for too long we’ll be having a private discussion tomorrow. For now we mingle and meet at the discussed meeting spot in the morning.” Suki said in a hushed tone as she swayed through throngs of people. The Kyoshi Warriors folded out and made for different stretches of the crowd.
Ty Lee rolled her shoulders and glanced behind her. Suki was talking to sweet looking old people. She wasnt getting out of that conversation anytime soon. Ty Lee tiptoed over to the food table, swiped some sweet cakes, and made for a stone pillar to eat them in relative privacy. It was a party after all she would enjoy herself. It wasn’t until she had stuffed the last cake in her mouth and was dusting off her hands that she sensed someone come up behind her. This person came up behind her and snorted. She turned her head and gave a bit of side eye then had to do a double take seeing familiar dark hair. Quickly turning around with a smile, and swallowing, she was met with shiny black hair and the same athletic build she knew her whole life of almost two decades. What she wasn’t expecting, and did everything in her power to not start giggling, was that she had grown a whole head taller than Azula. She remembered being about the same height as her a year or so ago. She couldn’t believe it had been that long.
She also thought her feelings for her best-friend-turned-outlaw were gone. Very far from it. Heat rushed to her cheeks realizing she liked how cute it was that Azula was shorter than her. Spirits help her.
Suki’s voice kicked her in the back of the head and she remembered she was supposed to be charming and melt into the island party crowd. She gave Azula her best lopsided smile and bowed her head slightly, “good evening your lady. I didn’t think anyone would catch me over here indulging in the sweets tray.” Did that sound noble enough? Oh, she was going to play with Azula. There’s no way she would recognize her, right?
Azula to her surprise had to tilt her head up to meet Ty Lee’s eyes. There’s no mistaking the signature braid, the way she carried herself, and most obviously her voice. Her mask wasn’t doing a lot of work. She had a feeling hers might, the height difference probably helped out, much to her chagrin. She hoped it was just because she was upset that Ty Lee grew taller than her that her hands began to get clammy. She cleared her throat before speaking and hoped to add more honey to her voice to throw Ty Lee off. “Good evening to you. We had the same idea of looking for a more quiet space in this crowd.”
“Well, someone as pretty as you shouldn’t go running away. That dance floor could be yours in a heartbeat.” Ty Lee didn’t plan on blatantly flirting with Azula out the gates but that’s what happened. She held back from smacking her forehead and rolled with the fact that that was how she was going to play with Azula. She saw it took Azula aback as well. There was a long moment of silence between them as the gravity of Ty Lee’s words sunk in. The only thing that kept Ty Lee from sinking into the fetal position was that she could count on the fact Azula didn’t recognize her.
Okay, Ty Lee, I can play this game, Azula thought to herself. “And what about you? You seem like you could command that dance floor with me, hm?” Heat immediately rushed to her face, silently thankful for it being a masquerade. She knew she felt more for Ty Lee than other people but she’s never been so bold before. Was it the mask? The fact Ty Lee didn’t know it was her? There wasn’t the possibility of a fight, just the reality of a conversation in a lighthearted atmosphere. That was nice for once she realized. She had to remind herself she had a plan to sabotage the recent elected officials plans for construction. But, what would it hurt if she stayed and chatted a little longer.
She wouldn’t be able to hide her feelings for long if they danced. She bit her cheek before answering. Suki told them to keep a low profile. “And lose the chance to keep you here for myself? I don’t know about that, sweet sugar cakes,” Ty Lee leaned against the stone pillar, making sure her voice was doused in honey on the last words. Maybe it wasn’t the smartest choice to use those words. Both girls’ eyes went wide. Ty Lee was afraid she just let her identity out. Who else but her has called Azula that. At a party again nonetheless!
Azula chuckled smugly and crossed her arms and jutted out her hip. Ty Lee felt a mixture of nervousness and attraction at the gesture. Leaning in Azula lowered her voice, “sweet sugar cakes?”
“Yeah, it’s cute. Are you not cute?” Ty Lee lost the suaveness in her voice she had earlier.
Azula slowly lifted up her mask behind the pillar, just enough for Ty Lee to see her face. “You…tell me.”
Ty Lee’s eyes widened and she smiled from ear to ear. “ I knew it. ”
“You knew? I knew it was you. You didn’t exactly disguise yourself,” Azula’s voice grew sharp and gestured to Ty Lee's tall frame.
“Wait? You knew?" Ty Lee snorted. "You were being quite forward with me.”
“Well, so were you,” Azula pointed.
“Yeah but you egged me on to tell you that you’re cute.” Ty Lee rubbed her neck and found the floor interesting all of a sudden. “I mean you are .” She mumbled.
Azula blinked and Ty Lee caught the blush on Azula’s face before she put her mask back on. “Well.” Azula cleared her throat. “Now that that’s settled do you mind keeping this between us.”
“Well only if we can keep it up,” Ty Lee said, offering her hand out to Azula and motioning her head to the dance floor. Azula smirked and took her hand. Government plans take longer than they should, Azula reasoned, she can play around tonight.