Azula was up at dawn, and Ty Lee got up at the same time. The princess first summoned a water bender, who healed Ty Lee's wounds. Then servants brought a simple breakfast to Azula's private breakfast area. The princess beckoned. “Come and eat, Ty Lee,” she said. “You haven't eaten since I summoned you here, and I want you at full strength for the debriefing.” The acrobat, who had been putting on her clothes, turned and walked quietly to the chair Azula was indicating. The princess sat down and leaned back in her chair. “Eat,” she commanded. Without a word, Ty Lee took a large peach from the bowl of fruit and bit into it. Azula smiled her satisfaction.
When they had both breakfasted, Azula went to sit at the foot of her bed. She pointed a finger at a large cushion on the floor nearby. “Sit,” she instructed. “Mai will be here any minute now, and I want to start as soon as she arrives.” Ty Lee sat down. She folded her hands in her lap and kept her eyes on the floor. “Don't forget, Ty Lee.” Azula's silky-smooth voice had a slight edge. “You will not tell Mai about what we've been doing together.”
“No,” Ty Lee whispered. “I won't.”
“Good girl.” Azula sounded almost amused. The acrobat's palms felt slick.
Then Mai came in. Ty Lee felt a rush of relief. Azula didn't want Mai to know. That meant that she was safe so long as Mai was there. She greeted the quiet knife expert with a shaky smile. Mai bowed to the princess and took a seat on a cushion beside Ty Lee. Azula began to speak, briskly outlining everything that had happened on the Day of Black Sun.
Ty Lee found herself watching Azula's mouth as she spoke. She felt a kind of horrified fascination as she watched the movements of the red lips and tongue and the pearly white teeth. She couldn't help but think about how that very mouth had claimed her body not so long before. Her eyes, too, were riveting. They were cold and unfathomable, like an insect's. Ty Lee's eyes moved to Azula's gesturing hands. Those hands had pinned her down mercilessly in the bath. She could still feel the pressure of Azula's arm on her chest, and the suffocating water in her mouth and nose.
“Ty Lee.” The voice was sharp. The acrobat's head snapped up to see that Azula was looking down at her with a dangerous frown. “Are you listening to me?”
“N-no...yes! I mean yes.” Ty Lee flinched at the anger in the princess's face. She wondered if she was going to be punished later. “I'm sorry, Azula,” she said humbly.
“Pay attention,” Azula ordered. “I don't talk just to exercise my jaw.” The acrobat hung her head in shame and nodded earnestly. She was very careful to listen to everything the princess said after that. She didn't want to give Azula any more excuses to punish her.
The meeting took about two hours. Afterwards, Azula waved them away. “My father wants to meet with me this afternoon,” she said. “I won't be needing either of you until after supper. We'll meet then, and I'll give you both your new orders.”
“Fine.” Mai got up from her cushion and looked at Ty Lee. “You want to go for a walk while we wait, Ty Lee?”
Normally Ty Lee would have jumped at the chance. She hesitated and looked at Azula, biting her lip. The princess was watching her out of the corners of her yellow eyes. Ty Lee saw her smirk. “Yes, that's a good idea. You go and play with Mai, Ty Lee. Just make sure that you're both here in my rooms at seven sharp to get your orders. Understood?” The acrobat nodded and followed Mai out of the room.
The two girls went out to one of the gigantic palace gardens. Neither of them said anything. With Mai, this would have been normal. Ty Lee would usually have been chattering about something, but she didn't want to talk. It was still good to be with Mai, though. Ty Lee trusted Mai.
They had been walking for about fifteen minutes before Mai finally said something. She turned her yellow eyes to look at Ty Lee. “What's the matter?” she asked. “You've been really quiet ever since I got here. You're never quiet.”
Ty Lee's eyes opened wide. “Nothing,” she said quickly.
“Come on, Ty Lee. I've known you for a long time. I know when something's wrong. Now spill it.” Mai looked at her seriously.
“I can't talk about it.” Ty Lee wanted to cry. “I would, Mai, but I can't. I'm sorry.”
The taller girl didn't break her stride. She looked around as if to see if they were being followed. “Ty Lee, what is Azula doing to you?” she asked. Ty Lee was so shocked that she couldn't speak. Mai continued. “Look, I know what happens to girls in Azula's rooms. It's not exactly a secret. Has she been doing things to you?”
Ty Lee began to cry. She couldn't help it. “I can't talk about it,” she sobbed. “I promised. She told me not to tell you. Please don't make me talk about it!”
“You didn't tell me. I guessed.” Mai looked up at a cherry tree as they passed under it. “Listen. Azula will get tired of you sooner or later. It won't be forever. Okay?” Ty Lee looked at her, still sobbing and wiping her eyes. “She always gets tired of her conquests after a few weeks,” Mai explained. “After that it won't happen as often. She might even stop with you completely. It won't go on forever.”
Ty Lee was no genius, but she wasn't stupid. She wiped her eyes one more time and looked at her friend. “Mai,” she whispered, “has Azula done this to you, too?”
The taller girl didn't answer directly. Her face, as usual, showed no emotion. “Unfortunately, I can't talk about it, either,” she said. “But trust me when I say that she'll get tired of you after a while. She'll set her sights on a new girl sooner or later. After that, she'll leave you alone for weeks at a time.”
The acrobat stared at her. “Mai,” she said slowly, “how long has she been...I mean, how long has it been since she..?”
“A long time.” Mai shrugged. “I was kind of hoping she'd leave you alone, Ty Lee. I'm sorry.” They both were quiet after that. There was really nothing else to say.
The two girls had a peaceful afternoon together. They had a light lunch, and spent the rest of the time talking quietly by one of the koi ponds on the palace grounds. They avoided the subject of Azula completely. By the time they went inside to eat supper together, Ty Lee was feeling a bit better. She knew Azula would probably take her again that night. But like Mai had said, it wouldn't be forever. If she could endure it for a while, maybe it would stop. There was hope.
Supper didn't take long. At precisely seven, the two girls made their way up to Azula's rooms. Ty Lee soon found herself sitting quietly on a cushion below the princess's bed, waiting while Azula considered a pile of papers in her hand. Mai sat down beside Ty Lee. She stretched out her long legs and began to toy with one of her many knives, looking impossibly bored.
Finally, Azula looked at them. “We've been gathering intelligence on where my brother and the Avatar might be,” she said. “Tomorrow, I'm going to be taking a small force to look for them.” She set down the papers and smirked, leaning back on her hands. “I won't ask either of you to come this time,” she said. “You've both served the Fire Nation well, and I'm sure you would serve again if I asked you to. But I'd rather do this myself. You will remain here, and I will rejoin you when I've brought the prisoners back to Father.”
Ty Lee couldn't decide if she was happy or sad about this. She was disappointed that Azula didn't want her to help, but was relieved that she would be able to live for a while without having to worry about being raped again. Azula looked them both over. She had a calculating expression on her face. “Mai,” she said, “I think you should stay here tonight with Ty Lee and I.”
Mai's expression didn't change. Ty Lee thought that her voice was a bit shaky though. “I don't know, Azula,” she said. “I've already been here all day. I wouldn't want to wear out my welcome.”
“No fear of that. I insist, in fact.” Azula smiled, but there was veiled threat in her voice. “I've even got your silk nightgown here from our last slumber party. I suggest you go and put it on now.” Without another word, Mai got up, bowed, and headed for Azula's private bath. Ty Lee sat silently, biting her lips to keep from crying, her eyes fixed on the floor. She saw Azula get up and walk slowly to where she was sitting. A strong hand squeezed her shoulder. “What do you think, Ty Lee?” the princess asked. “I think more company would make things far more interesting.”
“Yes, Azula,” Ty Lee whispered. She'd always been a little bit afraid of the princess, but now it was more like terror. She wondered what Azula had in mind. The hand on her shoulder slid up to claw affectionately at the back of her neck. She shuddered deeply.
Mai reappeared soon, dressed in a black silk nightgown. It had a low neckline with spaghetti straps, and ended slightly above mid-thigh. Her face was still impassive. Ty Lee envied her self-possession. Azula tightened her grip on the back of Ty Lee's neck. “Good! You're here, Mai. We can get started.” She tugged lightly. “Get up, Ty Lee. Take off your clothes.”
It was different stripping in front of Mai. Ty Lee had already lost most of her self-consciousness with Azula, and servants didn't really seem like real people. But Mai was! The acrobat could feel a hot blush of shame staining her cheeks as she slowly discarded the last of her clothes. Azula pushed her lightly toward the bed. “Lie down on your back,” she ordered. Already whimpering a little, Ty Lee obeyed. The princess turned to look at Mai, who was silently waiting. “I'm in the mood to watch tonight,” Azula said. Her voice was sweet. “You know what to do, Mai.”
The taller girl bowed her head and made her way over to the bed. Ty Lee gave a choked sob of fear as Mai crawled over to her, straddling her leg and bending over her, resting her arms on either side of Ty Lee's shoulders. She bent her head beside Ty Lee's, so that her pale lips nearly brushed the acrobat's ear. “I'm sorry about this, Ty Lee,” she whispered. “I promise I won't hurt you.” Then she moved back to catch the acrobat's lips in a burning kiss.
It was different with Mai than it had been with Azula. The fire bender had been dominant and pitiless, taking what she wanted without regard to her victim's feelings. Mai was gentle. Her lips pressed firmly against Ty Lee's. When her tongue pressed for entry, the acrobat let her jaw go slack. Mai's tongue explored her mouth thoroughly, pressing and flicking against Ty Lee's teeth and over the roof of her mouth. The acrobat groaned softly.
The kiss broke. Slowly and deliberately, Mai kissed and sucked her way down Ty Lee's neck. Then she went lower, licking down between Ty Lee's breasts until she reached the base of the soft swells. Ty Lee moaned as Mai ran her tongue around her right nipple, flicking every now and then at the sensitive skin. She felt her back arch then. Mai had gently pulled the nipple into her mouth, and was now softly sucking on it, teasing it with her tongue. The acrobat moaned again, louder this time. Her hands fluttered up to rest on Mai's sides. The silk robe slid against her skin like oil.
After she had suckled for a while, Mai began to massage Ty Lee's other breast with her hand. The acrobat groaned and pressed into it, trying to push her flesh harder against the probing fingers. Mai obliged, rubbing with greater force. Then she slipped over and sucked gently on her right nipple, scraping her teeth lightly against the kernel of flesh. The sensation sent soft shudders rippling over Ty Lee's body. The acrobat threw her head back, moaning. Her own hands began to twitch and rub over Mai's silk-covered back. She slid her hands up past the nightgown to find the velvety skin of Mai's shoulders, and then clung there, digging her fingertips into Mai's shoulder blades.
This was good. Ty Lee could almost enjoy this, even if they had been forced into it. Mai at least loved her, if only as a friend. She wasn't afraid of Mai. Ty Lee reached down, caught Mai's head between her two hands, and pulled her up for another kiss. The taller girl didn't resist, and the second kiss was just as tender as the first. Ty Lee felt Mai shift, and her thigh pressed in between Ty Lee's legs, rubbing up against sensitive flesh. The acrobat gasped into Mai's mouth as a spasm rippled over her body. Mai rolled onto her side, pulling Ty Lee with her. Bracing one hand against Ty Lee's right hip, Mai slipped the other one between the girl's parted thighs.
Ty Lee moaned in pleasure as the questing fingers slid into her. She wanted to taste Mai's lips again. She attacked Mai with hungry kisses, clinging to her and devouring her mouth with her own. The fingers thrust slowly in and out of her, making her moan again. Ty Lee rocked her hips against Mai's hand, her breath growing shorter. After a while, Mai's thumb probed along Ty Lee's wet folds, rubbing firmly against her clit. Ty Lee gave a cry of ecstasy and pressed her mouth hard against Mai's neck.
Mai's lips were close to Ty Lee's ear again. “Tell me if I'm hurting you,” she murmured. Ty Lee thought dazedly that she wouldn't have been able to speak if she had wanted to. The fingers between her legs were maddening! Ty Lee was thrusting with her hips and crying in wanton pleasure by now. She threw back her head, the kisses forgotten, and clutched desperately at Mai's back. The pressure built inside of her. Ty Lee's voice rose in pitch and volume, until at last...
“Aaaah!” The acrobat screamed in ecstasy, her body convulsing in waves of bliss. Mai continued to stroke her as she writhed and bucked with orgasmic release. At last, collapsing into a sort of dazed lethargy, Ty Lee went limp in Mai's arms. Her eyes fell closed.
She felt Mai stretch herself out on top of her, and the warmth of her breath on her neck. “Are you all right?” the taller girl whispered. Ty Lee nodded, letting her eyes drift open again. She turned her head to look for Azula.
Azula was sitting by her bedside table, leaning back in her chair, her fingers steepled together. As Ty Lee's eyes found her, the princess smirked. “Not a bad show so far.” She leaned forward to tug lightly on the thin silk strap over Mai's left shoulder. “Take this off her, Ty Lee. It's your turn.”
The acrobat bit her lip and looked up at Mai. Mai sighed and nodded her resignation. She grabbed on to Ty Lee's shoulders and rolled onto her back, pulling Ty Lee on top of her. Then she let go, patting the acrobat's arm briefly as a prompt. Ty Lee tentatively pushed herself up on her hands and knees. She'd never yet had to undress someone else, and she wasn't sure how to go about it. Nervously, Ty Lee began to tug at the bodice of the garment. Mai sighed, and a small smile appeared on her face at Ty Lee's awkwardness. She put her hands over Ty Lee's and guided them down to the hem of the nightgown, then drew them slowly upward. The acrobat understood. She hooked both hands under the black silk fabric and pushed upward, sliding the nightgown up Mai's body. Mai shifted underneath her, allowing the fabric to slide under her back. Finally the taller girl lifted her arms, and Ty Lee pulled the garment off completely, letting it spill like quicksilver onto the floor.
Ty Lee stopped, taking a moment to look at the naked girl beneath her. Mai's body was sculpted and toned and flawlessly white, without so much as one hair. Ty Lee felt her own heartbeat quicken. She wondered for a moment if maybe she liked girls more than boys. Then the thought was lost as she slowly lowered herself, letting her body press against Mai's pale flesh. She stifled a gasp as her breasts rested against Mai's. Ty Lee reached up and pushed her fingers into Mai's black hair, seeking out the pins and combs that held it up. Soon she had removed them, and Mai's thick, soft hair spilled out over the crimson pillows. Ty Lee buried her face in it, inhaling the delicious scent of jasmine that seemed to follow Mai wherever she went. “Mmmm,” she murmured, pulling the ebony locks through her fingers.
Then Mai's hands were tugging gently at Ty Lee's braid, pulling out the ribbons that held it and running her fingers through it. The acrobat's brown hair soon fell over her shoulders in soft waves, mingling with the black on the cushions. Ty Lee's breathing deepened. She brushed her lips against Mai's face, placing tiny little kisses over her cheeks and chin, before finally descending on her mouth. Ty Lee couldn't help but moan as Mai's lips parted, allowing her to push her tongue between them. She deepened the kiss, hungrily devouring Mai's mouth. Ty Lee's hands were still entangled in Mai's hair, holding her head still. The taller girl's fingers rubbed gently up and down Ty Lee's naked back.
Ty Lee wanted more. She wanted to make Mai groan and writhe. Pulling out of the kiss, Ty Lee slipped farther down Mai's body, trailing her hands down the taller girl's sides as she went. Mai's skin shivered at her touch, but no sound escaped her lips. Gently, Ty Lee took Mai's left foot in her hands and began to rub and caress it, bending down to flick her tongue lightly along the arch. Another delicious shiver ran up Mai's body. Her breathing came faster as Ty Lee slowly worked her way upward, placing warm, wet kisses on her ankle and calf, and then the back of her knee. Ty Lee could feel Mai's muscles stiffening as her hands and mouth caressed her hip. She waited for a moment, sliding her fingers along Mai's inner thigh, just barely brushing the soft lips above it. Then, with a tiny ripple of teasing laughter, Ty Lee slid back down to take Mai's right foot in her hands.
A frustrated groan passed Mai's lips, the first sound she had made thus far in their lovemaking. The acrobat smiled. She would make Mai cry out! She slowly began to work her way up Mai's right leg, kissing and sucking on the flawless skin. The taller girl began to squirm as Ty Lee moved above the knee. Ty Lee's fingers and lips slid slowly up her inner thigh, rubbing and licking, until finally her face hovered mere inches from the tender flesh between Mai's long legs. Ty Lee blew out gently on the sensitive skin, making Mai gasp. Then Ty Lee crawled up Mai's body again, this time stopping when she reached the perfect, white breasts.
They were a bit smaller than Azula's, but still beautifully formed, about a handful apiece. The aureoles were darker in colour, a warm brown, with the nipples resting like lumps of milk chocolate in their centers. Ty Lee cupped one breast between her hands, kneading it gently. She rubbed the nipple until it hardened. Then, as Mai gasped and moaned softly beneath her, Ty Lee took the nipple into her mouth and sucked it. She remembered how gently Mai had treated her own breasts and responded in kind, licking and sucking softly, every now and then letting the bit of flesh pop out of her mouth and blowing on it. Mai groaned louder and hooked one leg over Ty Lee's waist.
Encouraged, Ty Lee massaged her other breast, without stopping in her oral attentions to the first. Mai writhed in pleasure. Ty Lee glanced up as she let the first nipple fall from her mouth. Mai's eyes were closed and her lips were parted. With a victorious smile, Ty Lee bent over the second breast and put out her tongue. She licked the dark aureole thoroughly, running her tongue over every lump and pucker in the skin, before finally taking pity on the girl and drawing the second nipple between her lips. Mai was moaning with almost every movement of Ty Lee's mouth now. Ty Lee sucked firmly, rubbing the tip of the nipple with her tongue and relishing the sounds of pleasure Mai was making.
It was time, Ty Lee decided. She still felt a bit nervous, but this was better than it had been with Azula. She could actually want it with Mai. Slowly, she drew her tongue down the sweet curve of Mai's breast to her flat stomach. Sucking and licking ardently, she worked her way down to Mai's navel, and then farther down, until at last she was suckling the top of Mai's bare nethers.
The taller girl was writhing and gasping. She wrapped her fingers around Ty Lee's head and tried to drag her lower. Ty Lee resisted, still in the mood to tease her. She spread her new lover's lips with her fingers and, ducking her head down, licked once up her aching folds, taking care to flick Mai's clitoris as she did so. Mai's body jerked, and she cried out. Ty Lee grinned, still resisting the pull of Mai's hands, and considered the hot flesh beneath her hands. Still holding her open, Ty Lee took another teasing lick, this time dipping her tongue briefly into Mai's slick opening. Mai almost screamed in pleasure and frustration, this time dragging Ty Lee's face forward. With a soft laugh, Ty Lee finally took pity on her and began to lick passionately.
Mai's body was worming and twisting as Ty Lee's tongue worked. The acrobat wrapped her arms tightly around Mai's thighs, holding her down. She ran her tongue up the length of Mai's slit a few times, basking in the other girl's passionate moans. Then she spread Mai open again and pressed her mouth over her sensitive clit.
The pitch of Mai's voice shot higher. Her smell was smokier than Azula's, and she didn't taste as sharp. Ty Lee sucked gently, working her mouth slowly up and down, listening to Mai's gasps and cries. She teased with her tongue. Finally, as Mai's ecstatic cries reached their peak, Ty Lee suddenly sucked hard, nipping softly at the swollen flesh. Mai spasmed, her white legs wrapping tightly around Ty Lee's shoulders. Her nails dug into Ty Lee's scalp as her body jerked with ebbing waves of pleasure. The acrobat held her down, still gently teasing with her mouth, until Mai lay still again. Then she slipped up Mai's body and lay down beside her, laying her head down on the girl's heaving breasts. Mai's warmth was comforting. Ty Lee shut her eyes tightly and tried to forget that Azula was in the room.
It was not to be. Azula's low chuckle came a few seconds later. “You two are adorable together.” Ty Lee opened her eyes to find the princess standing over the bed, her arms folded. Azula smirked down at her. “That was a good show. But now I think you and I need to discuss why you weren't listening to me earlier, Ty Lee.” She reached down; her strong hand grasped Ty Lee firmly by the upper arm and pulled her up to sit on the edge of the bed. The acrobat's lip quivered. “Did you think what I was saying wasn't interesting enough? Tell me.”
“No,” Ty Lee whispered. “I just lost my train of thought.”
“Oh, really. And what was so fascinating that you found it more important than what I had to say? I'd like to hear it.” The princess stood straight, watching Ty Lee calmly.
The acrobat, who was thinking uncomfortably about the contents of the drawer of Azula's bedside table, whimpered. She didn't want to tell the princess that she had been thinking about their last encounter. “I don't know,” she said. Her voice cracked.
“You don't know.” Azula's voice sounded dangerous. “Really.”
“No.” Ty Lee wanted to cry. “I'm sorry. I really am, Azula. Please don't punish me. I swear it won't happen again.”
“No. It won't.” The princess pointed at a nearby carpeted corner of the room. “You'll sleep over there tonight, Ty Lee. Go.” Ty Lee obeyed at once. It was chilly in the corner. She curled up and wrapped her arms around herself to keep warm. The fire bender watched until Ty Lee settled down. Then she turned back to the bed and waved one hand. All the candles in the room went out. In the faint moonlight, Ty Lee saw Azula undress. The bluish light cast deep shadows over the pale skin of the princess. Azula gracefully slipped into the bed, and she was lost from Ty Lee's view.
Even though Ty Lee couldn't see what was going on, she could hear it. The rustle of sheets and the sliding of skin against skin was loud in the silence of the room. Azula made sounds every now and then, mostly lustful growls, but Mai was silent as a corpse. Ty Lee cried silently. “She's raping her,” she thought. “Azula's raping her, and there's nothing I can do.” After a while, Mai groaned in pain. Ty Lee heard Azula's cruel chuckle. There was a quiet murmur of voices, but the acrobat couldn't hear what they were saying. Mai cried out softly. The bedsprings began to creak in slow rhythm.
Ty Lee hid her face in the corner. She wanted to plug her ears, but she didn't. She listened in horrified fascination to Mai's tortured moans. The bed creaked faster, and Mai stopped groaning. There was silence for a while, except for the rhythmic thumps and creaks. Ty Lee listened, her hands clenched into tight fists, and her body rigid. Then Mai uttered a loud gasp. There was a pause, and then she gasped again. After a second pause, Mai gave a long, breathless cry. The creaking stopped. Ty Lee could hear Mai panting for breath, and the murmur of Azula's voice.
She hoped that it was over, but it wasn't. A few minutes later it started again. Ty Lee lay curled up and listening for hours. Finally, at about one in the morning, the noises stopped. Ty Lee waited for a long time, but they didn't start again. The acrobat sat up slowly and looked over at the bed.
Even though it was dark, Ty Lee could see well enough to tell what was going on. Mai was lying on her back on the bed, covered to the waist by blankets. On the other side of her lay Azula. The princess wasn't moving, and Ty Lee guessed that she was asleep. Mai's eyes looked like black jewels as they blinked up at the ceiling in the darkness.
Ty Lee was still scared, but she felt horrible for Mai. “All this might be my fault,” she thought. “If I had listened to Azula before, maybe she would have let Mai leave.” She wiped her eyes. “And Mai misses Zuko. She loves him. It almost killed her when he left. And now this!” Slowly and fearfully, Ty Lee began to crawl across the floor until she was next to the bed. She knew she was taking a horrible risk. If Azula was still awake, she would probably be very angry. Her hand shook a little bit as she reached up to touch Mai's shoulder.
Mai was never nervous, and she didn't jump now. Her head turned to look at Ty Lee. Her face held no expression. Now that Ty Lee was closer, she could see that Azula was lying on her stomach, with one arm over Mai's body. The princess's eyes were closed and her breathing was slow. She was asleep. Ty Lee looked at Mai again. “I'm sorry,” she whispered. The other girl said nothing. Ty Lee squeezed her shoulder. “You miss him, don't you?” Mai still didn't speak, but Ty Lee felt her tense up, and heard her sharp intake of breath. “I'm sorry,” the acrobat whispered again.
“Not your fault.” Mai swallowed. Ty Lee could see her throat moving in the faint light. She found Ty Lee's fingers and squeezed them lightly, once. “Go get some sleep. Don't let her find you here.”
Ty Lee hesitated. “Mai?” The girl on the bed made a soft sound. Ty Lee hesitated. “Thank you,” she murmured. “For being gentle, I mean.”
It seemed for a minute that Mai hadn't heard her. Then she nodded her head and let go of Ty Lee's hand. “You're welcome.” The acrobat went back to the corner and lay down. She was very tired. Soon after she closed her eyes, Ty Lee fell asleep.