Second Chances

A Little Bit

"You know, I think it's nice getting to see you," Ty Woo noted, later that night as everyone slowly began to disperse. "I've missed you. It's strange that your room is empty. I could always hear you being silly through the wall. Singing to yourself, muttering under your breath, even falling over. It's been really quiet since you left."
"I know," Ty Lee sighed, regarding her sister with a kind expression, "I just..."
"You and Dad," Ty Woo shrugged, "I get it."
"Yeah," the acrobat smiled faintly, "but uhm, how's mom? Did she ever come back? Did Dad ever offer to help with treatment?"
"I don't know," Ty Woo admitted. "None of us have heard from her since she left. She was really mad at dad for how he treated you...and the rest of us too. Just because she was sick doesn't mean she wasn't as feisty as before."
"I wish I'd gotten to say goodbye to her," Ty Lee mumbled, looking at the floor, her eyes sad.
"I know." Ty Woo gave her sister a sad smile and a gentle hug.
"Did everyone find their rooms?" Azula asked, making her way over to the two siblings.
"I think so," Ty Lee nodded. "Do you have a room?"
"I was going to share with Ty Lat," Ty Woo remarked, her nose wrinkling in disgust. "Can I maybe share with you?"
"Uh, sure," Ty Lee nodded, glancing quickly in Azula's direction. The princess didn't make any indication of having heard the question. "You know where it is right?"
"Yeah," Ty Woo promised, "it's kind of hard to miss since you leave the door open and it's totally got your vibes."
"Right," Ty Lee snorted. "I'll catch up with you."
"Sweet," her sister smiled, and headed off to Ty Lee's room.
"Do I give off vibes?" The acrobat asked.
"Mmm," Azula mused. "I won't say anything on the matter."
"I do don't I?" Ty Lee gasped. "Oh no."
"It's not necessarily a bad thing. It's just what makes you, you," Azula assured.
"Okay," Ty Lee sighed, relaxing a little. "You, uh, you don't mind sleeping in your own tonight?"
"I'm not a child," Azula snorted, "I'll be fine. Besides, at least one of your siblings wants to spend time with you."
"It's a small blessing, but with everyone here you and I can't really spend time together," Ty Lee worried, absentmindedly taking the princess' hand in hers as they walked slowly towards the acrobat's room. "And I don't know how sane I'll be by the end of this if my father continues to-"
"Is your mother not coming?" Azula interrupted, "perhaps she could ease his temper."
Ty Lee's expression was one of agitation and sadness. Her response, albeit silent, was enough for Azula to stop their walk just outside of Ty Lee's room.
"My mom left," Ty Lee whispered. "Ty Woo said no one really knows where she went. She and my father...when she got sick he started drinking and things were tense. She couldn't stand how he acted with us. How he treated me. When she started to get a little better she left, apparently, but I was gone before then. I didn't even get to say goodbye to her."
"I'm sorry, Ty," Azula spoke softly, gently resting her forehead against the acrobat's. "She really loved you."
"I know," Ty Lee sniffled, "but I worry. What if she gets worse again? Whose going to take care of her? I would if I knew where she was but-"
"Hey," Azula frowned, pulling back and taking Ty Lee's chin between her thumb and index finger. Her gaze was firm, and her words were somewhat harsh albeit true, "your mother made a choice like mine. She is not your responsibility . I had to learn that the hard way and I won't let you make the same mistake I did. You have every right to be angry at her and at your father. And you have every right to be sad. Understand?"
"I wish I wasn't. I don't like being angry," Ty Lee muttered, wiping hastily at a stray tear.
"You don't have to be angry all the time. Just enough to let it out," Azula assured.
"Right," Ty Lee nodded, trying for a smile. She took the princess' hand from her chin and settled it on her cheek. Azula's thumb gently ghosted over pale skin and the two enjoyed a moment of silence.
In that silence, Ty Woo managed to peek through a crack in the door. She hadn't meant to stumble upon the moment, she only had a question, but she wouldn't interrupt. Frankly, she'd always had an inclination that her sister was rather fond of the princess, so it wasn't too much of a surprise to see them being sweet together. She stifled a small giggle and waited impatiently for her sister to enter the room.
"Goodnight. I'll find a way to spend some time with you," Azula promised, knowing that Ty Lee would be desperate for company amidst such a hostile environment.
"I love you," the acrobat muttered, capturing Azula's lips in a firm kiss. The remark seemingly startled the princess and it took Ty Lee a moment to realize what she'd said. "You don't have to say it back."
"I've said it before," Azula stammered.
"On the boat?" Ty Lee asked. "That's not the same 'Zula. You know that."
Azula nodded, feeling her face grow warm and she hoped the blush wasn't that noticeable. "I'll see you in the morning."
The two parted ways with another quick kiss, and Ty Lee finally entered her room.
"Took you long enough," Ty Woo smirked.
"Why do you look so smug?" The acrobat asked wearily. She'd been on the receiving end of her sister's pranks and they were not fun. In fact, Ty Lee said a quick prayer in hopes she wasn't about to find some lizard in her bed or weird substance in a shoe.
"You gonna tell me about her?" Ty Woo asked.
"What do you mean?"
"The princess, silly," Ty Woo grinned.
"Did you-"
"It was only on accident, I had a question and didn't want to interrupt. But don't worry! I won't tell a soul. I think it's really adorable. I kind of suspected that you liked her when we were kids," Ty Woo rambled, hoping she hadn't upset her sister.
"Well, yes, I like her," Ty Lee stammered, blushing like Azula had only moments before.
"How long have you been a thing?"
"Not horribly long," Ty Lee sighed, relaxing a little, "nearly a year? Neither of us really kept track."
"So you don't even know when your anniversary is?" Ty Woo gasped.
"Why should it matter if I love her everyday?" Ty Lee shrugged, but her words caused Ty Woo to giggle excitedly.
"You're so romantic!"
"Why are you enjoying this so much?" Ty Lee asked, trying not to join in with her sister's laughter.
"Because," Ty Woo shrugged, "what if I told you...I swing both ways?"
"Wh-you do?" Ty Lee asked, eyes wide. "I never knew-"
"That's because I kept it on the down low...and father was so concerned about you that he never bothered to pay attention to my affairs," Ty Woo explained. "I even brought a handful of people home believe it or not."
"No!"
"I did."
"You scandalous little girl," Ty Lee laughed, her surprise clear in her expression. "How did you manage that?"
"I won't reveal my secrets," Ty Woo smirked, "but what about you? Didn't you ever sneak your way in and have some fun?"
"Here?" Ty Lee asked.
"Well, duh," Ty Woo snorted.
"With who?"
"You can't be that dumb," Ty Woo looked at her sister with a dead pan expression waiting for her implications to sink in.
"What?! Oh! No," Ty Lee shook her head adamantly. "Never. They would've had my head. Besides, Azula will never-"
"Will?"
"Yes," Ty Lee nodded, sensing her sister's next question, "and I'm going to respect that choice no matter what."
"I admire that," Ty Woo insisted, "I just-I don't know, figured that maybe...never mind."
"You have to understand that she's a lot better than she used to be but not everything can be erased with time," Ty Lee worried, "what Ozai did...she's not going to forget that. It was a horrible, horrible, experience-"
"I know. I'm sorry I asked. I'm not good at knowing boundaries," Ty Woo apologized, looking rather ashamed of herself.
"It's alright," the acrobat assured, not wanting to upset the one person in her family who actually wanted to talk to her. "You're just curious. We have a lot to catch up on anyways."
"Yeah, I guess we do," Ty Woo laughed. "Anyways, goodnight. I'm pooped."
"Goodnight," Ty Lee smiled, watching her sister nestle into the right side of the bed. She was asleep within seconds. It reminded Ty Lee of when they were kids. Ty Woo would be halfway through a sentence and just stop. You'd see if she simply forgot what she was saying only to find she'd fallen asleep. It was like her brain had an off switch and once it was hit she wasn't turning back on.
— — —
"Rise and shine!" Kiyi shrieked, dive bombing Azula in her bed.
"Why must you do this?" Azula grunted, taking the full weight of her sister.
"Because it's fun, and you're comfy," Kiyi yawned.
"Your are very much like a cat," Azula sighed, knowing full well that Kiyi wasn't going to get up unless she wanted to. She did this whenever their mother got Kiyi up early. She'd hide in Azula's room for a few extra minutes of sleep. It was pretty smart to say the least, but it consequently woke Azula up.
Sighing, the princess settled an arm about her sister and waited until their mother found them as she always did. Sure enough, a few minutes later, Ursa knocked on the door and let herself in. "Kiyi, you have lessons to go to."
"But I don't want to," Kiyi groaned.
"Yes, well, unfortunately they're a requirement, so un-koala your sister and get ready for the day," Ursa mused, as Azula gave her a 'why must I suffer?' look, though it was only half hearted.
"Fine," Kiyi groaned, clambering out of bed and stomping off with slumped shoulders and pouted lip.
"She will never act her age will she?" Ursa asked.
"Probably not," Azula conceded, "but that's what makes her, her."
"Well, since you're up," Ursa continued, "do you mind helping Tom Tom find his way about the palace? He keeps getting lost."
"Of course he does," Azula snorted. She'd heard from Mai once or twice that her brother had the directional compass of a piece of dirt. It was none existent. Which made his choice of study in Geography even more hilarious.
Getting out of bed, Azula made quick work of getting ready for the day, and ventured out into the palace to locate Tom Tom. She ended up finding him at a dead end hallway where countless paintings loomed overhead. One of which belonged to Ozai. It was one of his many portraits.
"Did Ursa send you?" Tom Tom asked, as Azula stepped up beside him.
"She said you were lost."
"I am, or was," Tom Tom admitted. "This place is just really big. I was exploring and forgot which ways I had gone. Ended up here."
"You'll get used to it," Azula promised. "Which is your favorite?"
"I don't know," Tom Tom shrugged, his eyes scanning the countless portraits. "They all look so...frightening. Like they aren't even people."
"Intimidation was always a way to keep people in line. Servants would see these and remember their place. It was as much a political move as any," Azula replied, unable to look away from the detached gaze of her father.
"Did you ever get one done?" Tom Tom asked.
"No," Azula shook her head, "and I'm glad I didn't. I'd hate to look at myself in such a manner. What use is it anyways?"
"A fair remark," Tom Tom smiled. "So, your sister Kiyi, she's pretty...spontaneous."
"Yes," Azula smirked, "she is. It keeps things lively around here. But you better get used to it. She'll be part of your family soon."
"Oh I like her, I do," Tom Tom promised, "she's a good person. I think we'll be good friends."
"Right answer," Azula teased, finally tearing her gaze away from that of her father's. "Now, lets get back to real civilization. Breakfast should be done soon."
"I do love food," Tom Tom muttered. Smiling lightly, he followed Azula through the winding halls towards the smell of breakfast. His stomach growled loudly. Enough that those already at the table heard it. "Sorry. I'm hungry, in case you couldn't tell."
"Well, there's more than enough for everyone," Ikem promised. Pleased with this information, Tom Tom sat down between his parents. "Azula, are you eating with us?"
"I'm not hungry," Azula assured, "I'll eat later."
"Alright," Ikem nodded, but he got the impression Azula just didn't have the patience to tolerate Ty Lee's father or the rest of her family, but he couldn't blame her. He'd had half a mind to beat the man up after his remarks at dinner the previous night. Thankfully, though, most everyone was in a pleasant mood.
— — —
"You weren't at breakfast," Ty Lee noted, leaning over the back of the couch so her tip toes touched the floor and her chin rested on Azula's shoulder.
"I wasn't up for the social obligations," the princess admitted, "I'll eat later."
"As long as you remember too," Ty Lee insisted. "Now, just so you know-"
"Oh no-"
"Everyone wants to explore the garden which means no bending out there because you might smite someone," Ty Lee smirked.
"I thought you were going to say something more horrible than that," Azula sighed, relaxing a little.  "Can't I at least smite your father?"
"No," the acrobat chastised. "Don't stoop to his level. I know it's hard and I know you want to defend me...but-"
"He's your father," Azula muttered.
"No, your meddling might inadvertently out us, and let's just say my father is far worse than Zuko when it comes to those matters," Ty Lee explained. "Just, know that I know you care. That it means a lot."
"Alright," Azula grumbled, earning a very swift and light kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you," Ty Lee smiled, "now, on a brighter note, my sister knows about us and she's more excited than anyone else about it."
"Which one?" Azula asked.
"Ty Woo."
"Ah," Azula nodded.
"She's promised to keep quiet about it," Ty Lee informed. "She's one of the few in my family who can keep secrets."
"Well, if you trust her then so do I," Azula decided. She absentmindedly, reached back, eyes still trained on the paperwork in her lap, and gently pulled  the acrobat's head down to press a kiss to her temple. "Now do something entertaining for me, I'm losing my mind over these reports. Later you can tell me all about it."
"Oh yeah? How entertaining? Walking a tight rope between spires entertaining or conquering a city entertaining?"
"Surprise me," Azula smiled faintly as Ty Lee laughed.
"Alright," the acrobat shook her head in amusement, "I'll see you later."
— — —
"Lee," a familiar voice called. The acrobat turned to find her sister Ty Lat waving her over. A little skeptical at first, Ty Lee crossed the garden path. "I wanted you to meet him."
"Who?" Ty Lee asked, somehow missing the fact that her sister was holding an infant.
"Maoro," Ty Lat laughed, holding out the baby boy. "You can hold him. Go on."
"Are you sure?" Ty Lee worried. She hadn't expected this to be what their little rendezvous was about.
"Yeah," Ty Lat nodded, "he's your nephew after all. You should meet him."
Chewing nervously at her bottom lip, Ty Lee took the little boy in her arms and studied his face. He had the same little nose as her sister, same shade of brown hair, but his eyes were a different color and his eyebrows were much more angular than Ty Lat's. "He seems like the perfect mix between you and..."
"Tozun," Ty Lat finished.
"Right," Ty Lee smiled faintly. She wasn't sure what to make of Maoro. He was certainly adorable, but she didn't know him. People would think such a thought was foolish, what could anyone possibly need to know about a baby, but babies had personalities, dislikes, quirks, and more. Ty Lee knew none of that. It was like looking at a very small stranger. "You-you should take him. I-"
"No it's fi-"
"Ty Lat, please," Ty Lee insisted, her hands beginning to tremble. She felt something knew in her chest. Like her lungs had been stuffed with cotton and a weight had been placed on her shoulders.
"Lee," her sister worried, taking Maoro back, "what's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just," the acrobat struggled to come up with something but her sister had always been good at detecting emotions, "Why didn't you tell me about him? About any of this?"
"I wasn't sure what to say," Ty Lat admitted. "We hadn't talked in so long and when you left you were so angry-"
"I had a right to be," Ty Lee protested.
"Maybe," Ty Lat conceded, "but I worried that-"
"That'd I'd be like mother?" The acrobat finished. Her sister said nothing but Ty Lee knew her conclusion was true. "I would never abandon any of you by choice and you know that. Now you invite me into your family but you're all strangers to me. I don't know your child, or your husband, or-or you! I haven't for a long time. And frankly, I don't know if you ever even knew me. So I can't just...I can't just act like this is fine. Like we're fine. Because we aren't and I'm sorry for ruining this but I have to come to terms with so many things right now that I'm a little overwhelmed."
"I-I understand," Ty Lat nodded, trying for a smile but it came out like more of a grimace. "Just, whenever you're ready I'm here."
"I'm sorry," Ty Lee apologized, and with a rather pained expression she left her sister to wander the gardens alone with Maoro.
Lost in thought, Ty Lee stared intently at the ground. Her whole world was a  mess. Like a million puzzle pieces that didn't fit together and she didn't have the time to make them fit. She'd missed so much. So many milestones and moments, and maybe experiencing those moments with stories would help but it wasn't the same as living through them. It wasn't the same as experiencing those memories for herself.
She would never get to comprehend the full emotional, physical, and mental impact of meeting her nephew as a newborn or even seeing her sisters get married. She couldn't go back in time.
"Ty Lee," Ikem spoke gently. He'd found her standing rather still, unmoving in the corridor, eyes trained on the floor, and with her mind in an entirely different universe. "Are you alright?"
"What?" The acrobat asked, snapping out of her daze.
"Are you alright?" Ikem asked, his eyes soft and warm, his brow knitted in worry, the corners of his mouth turned down with concern. It was the expression of a worried father. One Ty Lee hadn't been greeted by in nearly a decade.
"Not really," the acrobat admitted, and for some reason Ikem's presence drew out a new series of emotions in her. The man very hesitantly but very gently pulled her into a hug. Neither of them said anything and neither of them really knew how much time had passed before Ty Lee stepped back. She felt better to an extent and while she wanted to ignore the reason why, it was hard to. Because she hadn't been comforted by a father-her father-in a very long time. And she began to understand a bit of Azula's pain. Little girls, and even big girls, sometimes just needed to be held by their father's when the world was a scary, messy, troublesome, and sad place. It was instinctual. And the idea that not every little girl, or big girl, got to experience that was heartbreaking.
For the first time, Ty Lee felt a little bit like Azula. A little unwanted, a little unloved, and a little wounded. Fortunately, there was also a little bit of Azula to make her feel a little bit wanted, a little less wounded, and maybe a little bit loved.