Azula's Recovery (Atla fanfic)

Ch 4: Asylum Visits

Sorry for not updating! 😅 I was busy with school and tests. :(

TW: Abusive behavior (Not sure)

When Ty Lee stepped through the door, she saw Azula already sitting there with a pai sho board already set up and a somewhat welcoming smile. "I already set up pai sho, I was wondering if we could play?" Pai sho was one of Azula's favourite games, often involving manipulation, deception and wits, all things she was good at. Ty Lee, being the nice person she was, she agreed.

As both became wrapped up in the game, hours passed and neither noticed. Just as Ty lee thought she had achieved victory, Azula made her finishing move, making her the overall winner. The iconic grin spread across her face, something Ty lee hadn't seen in ages. Soon night fell, and Azula packed up while they exchanged goodbyes.

— Magical time skip to the next day :) —

Ty Lee deciding to make it a daily habit packed a lunch of fire nation delicacies, courtesy of the palace cook. After many hours of many hours of begging and some persuasion on Mai's part, Zuko had allowed Ty lee to bring food to the asylum. Skipping happily, she did a cartwheel before going in. Humming her favourite song, she went in and in a sing-song voice said "I brought foo-ood!" Azula immediately looked up from whatever she was doing (which was examining her fingernails if you were wondering) and asked "food?"

"Ya know, the thing you eat?"

"No, I know what food is, but however did you get Zuzu to let you bring it? He hates me remember?"

"Hours of begging and some of Mai's help."

They began digging in.

"Ah, Mai, does she hate me?"

"Not as much."

"Heard she got with Zuzu."

"Yeah, they were meant for each other."

Ty lee then noticed Azula declined the food after a few bites, so jokingly, she used used a metal spoon and brought it in front of her while singing "Here comes the air glider (closest thing to an airplane I could find)." Triggering some recent memories that Azula wanted to forget, and her grip on the bowl tightened, turning her knuckles white. Ty lee sensing her discomfort, took the bowl away from her.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Ty lee."

Ty lee, treading on thin ice decided to question her later, and turned the topic to some other subjects.

— That night after Ty lee left —

Azula woke up, covered in cold sweat and trembling, making sure she hadn't alerted the guards, tried to stop her panting. It was the same nightmare every night, and the last time she woke up thrashing, her head was dunked in cold water. The nightmare consisted of her reliving everything that had happened ever since she came to the asylum. She sighed, before trying to go back to sleep with no avail.

— The next morning —

Azula sat on the chair as Ty lee used a cloth dipped in cold water to tend to her injuries. There was nothing except silence between them, but it was comforting. Perhaps it was the fact that they were so close together, there was a slight pink dusting both of their cheeks, yet they both wrote it off to the summer heat.

How did they end up in this situation? Well then, flashback to around 20 minutes ago.......

— Magical flashback brought to you by me re-watching book 3 and realizing just how gay Ty lee & Azula were — 

Basket in hand, Ty Lee once more made the trip from the palace to the asylum. As she entered the room, ready to greet Azula, only to be met with the sight of an empty chair as well as an empty table. Settling down, she decided to wait for her, yet after a couple of minutes of waiting, Ty lee got impatient and restless, before deciding to wander around the place for a bit in hopes of finding her friend. To this day, she still believes that it was one of the best decisions she'd ever made.

Walking out of the room to see a vacant corridor, she began stroll around the place. After roaming for a bit she suddenly heard some voices coming from the room opposite to where she was standing. Peeking in, her eyes widened at the site. On the floor sat Azula, bruises all over her face, cowering in fear as 3 of the male guards surrounded her. Her heart shattered at the sight as she watched them approach her with tools of violence and malice in their eyes. Ty lee couldn't handle watching anymore before running in and chi blocking the men, then running to check if Azula was ok. They had somehow stumbled back into this room, and hence the situation they were currently in.

That day, Ty lee was afraid to leave her alone, afraid of what might happen if she wasn't there, but Azula reassured her that she would be fine, that she could come earlier the next day to check on her. Of course, Azula was lying, knowing that the abuse would get worse just because of what happened that day, but not wanting to tell the innocent girl with the high braid in front of her, she lied through her teeth.

Azula was right about the abuse part, so soon the time she had with Ty lee became her new safe place. At first, she managed to hide the marks, everyday waiting for Ty lee with a fake smile. This went on for a week or so before Ty lee noticed the rare slip up, a small bruise that wasn't covered up, a new scar on her leg, etc. She quickly became worried and had her suspicions as well, but needed confirmation to her theory. Before long, an opportunity presented itself.