#ler!tylee

The afternoon sun bathed the palace courtyard in gold, casting long shadows across the sparring circle. Ty Lee bounced on her toes, hands poised, eyes twinkling.

“Ready?” she chirped.

Across from her, Mai rolled her eyes. “You’re always ready. Let’s just get this over with.”

She moved in a blur—throwing knives from her sleeves, each one aimed precisely. Ty Lee cartwheeled, flipped, and ducked around every single one like it was a game of tag. She came in low, landed a perfect roll, and—tap-tap-tap—three swift strikes to Mai’s shoulder, wrist, and lower back.

Mai froze. Mid-throw.

“Ugh.” Her arm dropped uselessly. “Chi blocking again. Cheap shot.”

“It’s not a cheap shot, it’s an art form!” Ty Lee beamed, hands on her hips. “That was a clean win, Miss Daggers.”

Mai just stood there, arms limp, her usual blank expression firmly in place. “Not a win. I can still glare you to death.”

Ty Lee huffed. “Oh, come on! You’re paralyzed, Mai. That means you lost.”

No response.

Ty Lee poked her ribs once. “Maiiiiii.”

Nothing. Not even a twitch.

She poked again. Harder. This time, right beneath the ribs. Mai jerked slightly—and then—

“Pff.”

A tiny, unmistakable giggle.

Ty Lee froze. Her eyes widened, lips slowly curling into a mischievous grin. “Waaait a second…”

“Don’t.” Mai warned, her voice still monotone but now edged with panic.

“Oh-ho-ho, don’t what?” Ty Lee sang, wiggling her fingers with exaggerated slowness. “Don’t do… this?”

Wiggle-wiggle-wiggle—right at Mai’s sides.

Mai twitched violently, then broke into a sudden burst of stifled laughter.

“Ty—Lee—DON’T—ha—STOP—”

“Wow, for someone so deadpan, you’re so alive right now!” Ty Lee giggled gleefully.

She danced around Mai like a sugar-high lemur, poking under her arms, tracing circles along her ribs, then zeroing in on the real jackpot—Mai’s bare feet, still planted stiffly in her sandals.

“Oh no,” Ty Lee gasped dramatically. “Look at these poor, unprotected feet! Who would dare tickle them?”

“Ty Lee, I swear, I will—HAHAA—NO—NOT MY FEET—”

She slipped a sandal off with ease and ran her fingers down the sole. Mai let out a shocked bark of laughter.

Now it was full-on.

“S-stahahap—this is childish—”

“Admit defeat!” Ty Lee sang, now scribbling her fingers under Mai’s knees and wiggling up her sides like a human tickle machine. “Say ‘Ty Lee is the greatest chi-blocking princess ever’ and I might consider mercy!”

Mai tried to glare, but her head flopped uselessly, her stoic mask crumbling under helpless giggles. “T-ty—Lee—NOHOHO—YOU—giggle fiend—”

“Giiiiggle fiiiiend~?” Ty Lee pouted. “That’s not very nice. Maybe you need to be reminded of who’s in charge…”

She unleashed the combo: ribs + underarms + a foot scribble. Mai buckled (as much as she could while paralyzed), laughing so hard her usual monotone broke into high-pitched gasps.

“OKAY! YOU WIN! YOU WIN!”

Ty Lee stopped instantly, arms in the air like she just scored in a pro-bending match. “Victoryyyyy~!”

Mai stood there, breathing hard, hair in her face, cheeks pink, trying to regain her dignity.

“…If you tell anyone about this, I’ll throw a dagger between your teeth.”

Ty Lee just grinned. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

Pause.

“…Unless you ever try to say you’re not ticklish again.”

Mai sighed. “I hate you.”