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“I can’t do this anymore,” Azula sighed and buried her face into her palms.
“What do you mean?” Ty Lee asked. She instinctively scooted closer to Azula and tried reaching out her hand to comfort her, as she’s done many times before — only for Azula to swat her hand away.
“I meant exactly what I had said. I no longer require your companionship,” Azula spat as she stared at the floor.
Ty Lee became exasperated. “Unless you can look me in the eye and tell me exactly why, then I’m not going anywhere, Azula. We’ve been over this before.”
Azula scowled and began massaging the temples of her forehead.
Ty Lee knelt in front of Azula.
“Please,” Ty Lee pleaded, reaching for Azula’s hands. “Look at me.”
Azula remained still.
“Azula.. I know it’s hard for you to believe anyone who tells you that they’re not going anywhere. Especially after everyone else around you has done exactly that and left,” Ty Lee began.
“Your nonchalance while saying that irks me a great deal,” Azula spat, rolling her eyes and still refusing to look at Ty Lee.
“And I know that this is rich, coming from me, after what happened at Boiling Rock—“
Azula scoffed before letting out a humorless laugh.
“But I—“ Ty Lee attempted to continue, only for Azula’s cold gaze to finally meet her eyes.
“‘But I came back,’ is what you were going to say, correct?”
“Yeah, but—“
Ty Lee felt a lump in her throat as Azula abruptly stood, towering over her.
“And that’s supposed to make everything okay again?”
Ty Lee stood up, locking eyes with Azula. “No—“
“No, it doesn’t make it okay!”
Ty Lee wanted to respond, but couldn’t find the will to do so as Azula’s gaze burned into hers.
“You left for selfish reasons, and you came back when you felt that your return would serve you better. And everyone is just supposed to be happy that you’re back at all. You’re just like my Mother.”
Azula turned away before continuing.
“Just as I no longer have a need for my Mother, I no longer have a need for you.”
Ty Lee remained stunned in silence as Azula made her way to the door and opened it.
Azula turned around and looked into Ty Lee’s eyes one last time.
“Since you will not leave, then I will.”