Ty Lee<br/>Fire Nation Capital, Azula's Lap<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/65/C98ab66c466d3fbc213734974fbc8f54.png)</div>Azula was always so warm. Others that had touched her and lived often described her as hot or burning, as if she had a fever; Ty Lee had never agreed with that. Maybe she was just more resilient than most, but she wasn’t even a fire bender, and so should have been more susceptible to heat. Instead, she basked in the waves of warmth that flowed through her with each beat of the Phoenix Queen’s vital heart.<br/><br/>The soft turn of the pages swam together with the rainfall, singing a lullaby in Ty Lee’s ears. Azula’s perfectly smooth, warm flesh only served to relax Ty Lee further, and she found herself sinking into her wife, idly wondering if they were still two people, or if they had finally merged. She struggled to keep her eyes open… though reading was not a pastime of hers, Azula sometimes liked to discuss their readings and would get displeased when Ty Lee got lost, which was too often.<br/><br/>Today’s reading was something historical. Fire Nation this, Avatar that… lost bending techniques and important names. Ty Lee wasn’t stupid, but academics had never been her interest, as she had preferred to get outside and play. It was lonely at times, as the playmates she was with were usually more interested in books and discussion. Still, Ty Lee decided it was worth trying to remember a few names to get a few more moments feeling Azula’s breast against her spine.<br/><br/>Like Azula, and at her request, Ty Lee had loosened her robe to bare her own breast to serve as a shelf for the book. Its silk binding was soft, and Ty Lee found herself shifting slightly now and then to enjoy the feeling of it sliding against her skin. It was all she could do to stay awake under the cascade of relaxation, and more than once a cherry gently pressed to her lips by Azula had brought her out of a near-nap.<br/><br/>She didn’t know how much time had passed when the soldier finally arrived and Azula had her bit of fun with him. At first she didn’t move to cover herself, as decisions like that were typically left up to Azula, but as the conversation ended and Azula prepared to leave, she wrapped up her matching robe and tied it lazily, holding the book tightly to her chest under an arm so her chest wouldn’t pain her as they walked quickly to the throne room. She kept up effortlessly, as usual, but not before swiping the bowl of cherries.<br/><br/>Her usual place was back and to Azula’s left, close enough to be within the queen’s reach at any time but far enough away to give her freedom of movement. One never knew when Azula would need to prepare a lightning bolt. The brisk pace brought her back to her senses, for whatever good they would do in the well-protected throne room as those of more responsibility than her talked politics and strategy. Still, she enjoyed watching Azula work. The way she treated most people was so very different from the way she had treated Ty Lee… at least, since the Phoenix had risen. Ty Lee tried not to think about how it had been before.<br/><br/>Zhao couldn’t help but glance at Ty Lee upon Azula’s comment about bedding. Ty Lee was already vaguely flustered about it, but his piercing gaze, if only for the slightest of moments, made her clench her jaw. There was judgment in those eyes, and she didn’t like it. Not that it was out of the ordinary for Zhao, of course; he made most people uncomfortable. Not as uncomfortable as Azula, though…<br/><br/>She inched slightly closer to her love.<br/><br/>Azula’s mere presence was a comforting shield from the daggered glances of Zhao. Ty Lee was always one to enjoy attention, and most of the time basked in it, but of late she had become acutely aware of the leering and sneering aimed their way from time to time. Back in the Earth Kingdom she thought it was just because they weren’t welcome, but she had been stunned to discover the same kind of looks here, just well-hidden. Their union was unwelcome everywhere. Ty Lee wasn’t sure why… they were in love, and so they should be married. It was simple. Of course, it wasn’t simple at all… but Ty Lee was good at convincing herself things were okay.<br/><br/>As Zhao took his leave, Ty Lee retrieved the fresh-hourly bowl of warm water from behind the throne. As thorough as the capital’s custodians were, dirt nonetheless accumulated on the floors, and Azula disliked her feet being dirty. She knelt before the throne, and the goddess who occupied it, gently taking her feet in hand and dipping them in the water, a ritual they had practiced a thousand times. Azula barely seemed to notice it, at first, as Ty Lee’s gentle, sure hands found every little nook and took the dirt from it. She never bothered with the towel; she liked the intimacy.<br/><br/>When she was done, and Zhao safely out of sight, she cupped her hands underneath and lifted Azula’s feet to her lips, kissing them gently. Satisfied, she was standing in a flash, giving Azula her best enthusiastic smile. “It is time for your daily exercises, my queen,” she said in a goofy mock-serious tone. “Spend all day in that chair and you’ll become part of it!” Her robe had slipped from her left shoulder when she jumped up, leaving most of a breast visible. She let it be. “C’mon, ‘Zula. Let’s play.”