Ty Lee! Damn it all! Could this really be that Ty Lee—Azula's friend, the one who effortlessly took people down with those deceptively delicate hands all throughout… whatever season that was? Hell, it all fit. The hair, the circus… How did I not realize it sooner?
"Well then, I won't take up any more of your time, Miss Lee. You must be tired, and here I am, distracting you with idle chatter."
"No, no, I'm really glad!" she protested. "A-a-are you going to come to the show again? We'll be here for a few days, and the program changes every night!"
...Hmm. I didn't quite understand that reaction. All I'd done was bring her flowers and compliment her skills, yet she was acting as though we'd gone on a date at the very least.
Then again… the Ty family. Seven daughters... Education, etiquette, carefully cultivated manners—and all of it in a crowded environment. And now someone was giving her flowers, not because she was a daughter of the Ty family, but because of her own achievements.
So this was probably a first for her.
Come to think of it, I vaguely remembered something along those lines from canon too…
Right… I should probably say something before this silence turns painfully awkward.
"Unfortunately, I won't be able to. I'm only passing through the town, and I'll be gone by tomorrow." Not that the idea of getting better acquainted with such a flexible young lady was unwelcome, but… I genuinely had things to do, and I certainly hadn't planned for anything beyond giving her flowers! Not to mention…
"That's a shame…" Her face genuinely fell.
"Me too, but there's nothing to be done about it. Hopefully, someday I'll get the chance to see your performance again."
"That would be wonderful! And then… next time… you can just call me Ty Lee, okay?!"
…Hm. No, I really couldn't afford to pass up the chance to get acquainted with one of the key figures of the future. Besides, running away from a pretty girl? If the guys ever found out, they'd laugh me out of the barracks regardless of rank.
"Well, in that case, before I leave, how about joining me and my companions for dinner by the campfire? I guarantee good food and lively company on our end."
She gave me an appraising look, her gaze briefly lingering on the thin scar crossing my eyebrow. She seemed to weigh something in her mind, then—
"Why not?" she said, once again radiating warmth and cheer.
"Then we'll be waiting for you by the exit."
"Mm-hmm! I'll be right there!"
***
A couple of minutes later.
"Hi, everyone!" Ty Lee waved cheerfully.
"And… how exactly am I supposed to interpret this?" Suki's eyebrow twitched dangerously.
"Well, you see, I gave her some flowers, we chatted for a couple of minutes, and somehow it just… happened—I invited her to have dinner with our group…"
"You're losing ground, my friend," Malena—the Honored Scourge of Kyoshi—whispered sweetly into the valiant commander's ear. Suki's eyebrow twitched even harder.
"Is it just me, or is he actually starting to develop a death wish?"
"Habit is second nature," the girls continued murmuring among themselves.
Not all of them, though. A few had already gathered around Ty Lee, bombarding her with questions. Some were even asking about exercises for developing that kind of flexibility and agility. The circus performer, practically glowing under all the attention, answered everything honestly, all the while radiating happiness and positivity. Meanwhile, I seized the opportunity to speak with the leader of the warriors.
"And what exactly did you need all this for?" she immediately pounced.
"I just liked her performance, and then things kind of unfolded on their own. You can see for yourself—after even a few minutes of talking to her, it's impossible not to warm up to her. She's an exceptionally positive person." I nodded toward Ty Lee and the girls, already laughing together over something.
"And no cunning, long-term schemes? You just took a liking to a gymnast, and that's it?"
"Well… yeah." At least, at first. "It's not like I have to constantly cut a grim path across the seas. Sometimes you need to let your soul rest, too."
"Hmm… All right." It wasn't that Suki fully believed me, but she stopped drilling holes into Ty Lee's back with her stare and even went over to chat.
***
A few hours later.
"Aw, it's a shame you can't travel with us, Ty Lee!" the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors sighed. "You're really good with a fan."
"And you'd make an amazing circus performer, Suki!"
"Sadly, who else would take care of this slacker?"
"True enough. Men are just like that…" The girls burst into laughter, apparently finishing the thought among themselves.
"They've bonded," I sighed dramatically. "Women… such gentle and defenseless creatures, and yet there's absolutely no escaping them."
I spent the remaining hours in a rather philosophical mood, observing the incomprehensible bustle of women that no normal man could ever hope to fully understand, while half-listening to their conversations. The worst part was being dragged into them from time to time. I could only endure and persevere with stoic resolve. Life is pain. If I'd known it would turn out like this, I would've steered clear of that acrobat from a mile away, no matter how positive she was.
Closer to nightfall, everyone finally began to disperse. We had to move out again in the morning, and the acrobat had her performances.
"Until we meet again soon, I hope, Ty Lee."
"Bye, Chan, Suki, girls! I had so much fun with you!" The bundle of positivity smiled and waved.
(End of Chapter)
P@treon: /SadRaven
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