A/N: FIRST OFF! I want you guys to know that I am a major KORROH shipper and that I really don't like Irosami or whatever that ship is called. I JUST UGH. No offence to them of course. Iroh is so just like Zuko and I am a major ZUTARA as well and it just breaks my heart thinking of that ship. :((
DISCLAIMER: I don't own LoK! I also sadly don't own super hot Iroh. :'( *dies*
Korra; 8 Iroh; 13 (First visit)
"You little- Get back here!" Yelled a steaming cook holding a spatula.
Korra ran for her life as she bit into the dumpling grinning devilishly. She ran with all her might trying to get away not noticing the Head White Lotus in front of her sending her slamming into him.
"Avatar Korra." The old bearded man said.
She bit her lip swallowing the last of the dumplings diminishing the evidence of stealing them.
But instead of getting mad the Head of the White Lotus waved her over. "There is someone here to meet you."
Little Korra's eye shot up. A visitor! She didn't have much of those and it thrilled her.
The old man side stepped and waved his hands towards the boy wearing a red fur coat. He was about 13. "He has traveled a great distance to meet you. Allow me to introduce to you Price Iroh of the fire nation."
The boy knelt down the 8 year old Avatar. "It's an honor to finally meet you, Avatar Korra." He says looking into her baby blue eyes with his golden ones.
He held her hand. The small girl gripped it firmly looking out of breathe and captivated by the boy.
"A-A prince?" The young girl stuttered.
The boy smiled warmly.
The members of the White Lotus watched with wide eyes as the usually hyper active girl stutter.
The girl looked at the boy and suddenly she burst out jumping up and down. "THEN YOU'RE THE BEST FIREBENDER RIGHT?!" She yelled eyes wide and sparkling. "OH, WOW! I KNEW I WAS GONNA FIGHT YOU ONE DAY."
The price's eyes widened.
Korra pointed a finger at him. "I CHALLENGE YOU TO A BATTLE TO THE DEATH RIGHT NOW!" The girl yelled in excitement.
Everyone's jaw dropped looking appalled by the little Avatar's challenge. Was she really challenging the Prince to an agni kai? Knowing Korra she probably did.
The Avatar then dashed away towing the shocked Prince to the near by arena.
The spar ended by Korra burning the Price. She giggled. "Let's do it again tomorrow!" She said happily tugging on the prince's coat.
The charcoal-ed prince walked back to the Compound staggering. Was his grandfather Zuko trying to punish him?
Once they reached the compound Katara met them in front of the house smiling. She already knew this would happen. His expression looked so much like Zuko if that were to happen to him. He looked just like his grandfather.
"Prince Iroh, it's good to see you. How you've grown." She said.
The boy looked as if the was burned to a crisp. Iroh looked up a blank expression on his face. "Master Katara, It's good to see you as well."
"What have you done to him, Korra?" The wise woman asked smiling at the little girl that was trailing behind the prince.
The little girl with the big balled stomach smiled. "I beat him, Master Katara I beat the best firebender!" She said jumping up and down pulling on the old woman's sleeve.
"Oh, you did now?" The woman patted the girl's head. "Well come in now. It's getting dark. We'll be having dinner soon." She told the two young ones ushering them inside.
The week of the Prince's visit consisted of Korra waking him up early in the morning in his room, Korra tackling him every chance she had and the little fat child climbing on him and sitting on his shoulder's while he ate. It drove him crazy but on one night, he fell asleep in his study and woke with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders he looked down and saw Korra sleeping her face buried on his lap.
When the Prince was waiting for his boat on the docks the little girl was looking down biting her lower lip. The prince smiled at this and knelt down in front of her and put his hand on her shoulder comfortingly.
"Would it be okay if I came back again?" He said looking at the girl's sad blue eyes.
The girl's head shot up, sparkling. She grabbed for one of his free hands smiling. "Yes, Okay." She said hopeful.
The boy smiled at her. Even though she was such a pain, he couldn't wait to be back. Leaving this place even made his stomach knot.
The horn that said that his boat to take him back to the palace was here and the girl tilted her head and saw the boat she looked down again, sad.
"Hey, I'll write to you if you like." He offered. He actually wanted to really bad for some reason.
The girl didn't lift her head but nodded. He smiled at this.
He got up then and started to board the ship when he felt someone arms wrap around his chest. He looked down and saw a tearful little Avatar.
He patted her head reassuringly and hugged the girl as well.
Korra; 10 Iroh; 16 (Second visit)
"Korra, what is this?" Asked a boggled eyed Iroh. Eyeing his tea cup that had black gunk in it.
Korra grinned. She had slimmed from the last time they met. From her bulging showing belly to hidden under the shirt one. "Tea. Katara's been teaching how to make it since it's your favorite."
Iroh eyed the black gunk again. It was worse looking than his grandfather Zuko's then again no one could make a more terrible tea than him without daring to smell it he took a sip.
His lips curled inwardly, he blinked forcing his tears back. Korra looked at him expectantly.
He forced a smile but nothing more.
"It's good right?" She asked though it didn't sound much of a question.
He nodded clenching his jaw.
"Oh, dear. Korra, what did you do to him?" Katara said coming in to the kitchen walking towards a paling Iroh.
Korra smiled and lifted her tea pot happily.
Katara flinched upon seeing the pot. "Oh, spirits."
The boy edged away from the elderly woman. "I'm f-fine." He managed in between coughs. "It's exquisite, Korra." He says with a little bow of his head.
Korra grinned happily at this. "See! He likes it!"
"Likes what?" said an elderly Zuko going in the Kitchen with long strides.
Korra lifts her tea pot happily.
"Grandfather makes tea every morning." Says Iroh gulping down a glass of cold water.
Katara's lips twitched remembering Zuko's tea. "I'm sorry to hear that."
The retried Fire Lord frowns at this. "I make excellent tea if I do say so myself."
Katara and Iroh let's out a laugh. Katara shakes her head then. "You worked at a tea shop for spirits sake. No wonder you got fired."
"I was not fired! If you must know I left!" Retorts Zuko looking embarrassed.
"Of course you did, Zuko." Katara says with a smile.
The retired fire lord then walks toward the Avatar. "How about I teach you some fire bending?" He says with a smile on his face. "then we'll make tea together later."
The little girl smiles approvingly and walks out of the kitchen with the man.
"Penguin sledding?" repeats the Prince to make sure he heard her right.
The girl nodded tossing him a fish. "Penguin sledding." She said smiling.
He catches it and gets crowded with penguins snapping their beaks at him.
Not long after, Korra and Iroh were riding a penguin around the icy tundra, Korra in front and Iroh barely holding on at the back.
Soon later they were both sitting on the edge of a cliff overlooking the tundra.
"So, you want to join this army thingy?" Korra asked wide eyes.
Iroh nods not looking at her. "The Palace isn't for me. The sea is what I love the most that and I want to help the world and being cooped up inside the palace doesn't really help with anything." He admits with a sigh.
"I think that's an amazing idea!" Korra comments clapping her hands together and jumping up. "We'll bring balance to the world together!" She yelled throwing a fist in the air.
Iroh smiles at this. He pulls her down scared that she might fall of the cliff. "We will. Someday but-" He frowns.
Korra looked at him worriedly. "What's wrong?"
"The training. It's gonna be really long." he says looking away.
Korra shrugs. "You can do it!"
He sighs. "It's not that." He takes a deep breathe "It means I won't be able to come back here if I go off to train."
Korra went silent. She could feel her heart dip heavily in her chest. "You're not gonna come back?"
He doesn't reply.
Korra then stands up again and looks down at him. "You have to do it." She says a determined look occupying her face. "You have to go and save people."
He looked at her then shocked at how this girl looked so mature all of a sudden. He smiles and held her hand. "To save people, together."
Like all visits they all had to end in some point. Korra and Iroh stood there in the docks with Katara and Zuko just a few feet away, chatting. Korra didn't look at him. She was afraid she'd cry in front of him or even say something stupid.
He elbowed her playfully. She raised her head a bit just to sneak a peek at him. He smiled at her. "I'll come back soon to go penguin sledding with you." He says nudging her.
Korra's throat was suddenly dry. She hated goodbyes. Especially when she had to say goodbye to one of her only friends. He held her hand then and her heart leaped.
"I'll see you soon okay? Don't forget to write to me." He says with a sad smile.
She pouts and nods at this unable to say a word.
The horn sounds signalling them that the boat was here. "I'll miss you." she blurts out as he was walking away.
He looked back and grinned. "I'll miss you too, Avatar."
Korra; 13 Iroh; 18 (Third visit)
Prince Iroh came back alone this time. Both he and Korra knew it was his very last visit. During their separation over the last visit, they had been exchanging letters nonstop saying that they missed each other and telling stories about their day. Korra kept every single letter hidden under her mattress. At night before she would go to sleep she would open them and read them silently with a smile on her face.
When Iroh sent her the letter saying that he'd be returning to the South Pole she let out a small shriek making her White Lotus sentries run to her in dismay. She couldn't wait for his return. Everyday since the last visit she'd been missing him and thinking about him nonstop. She couldn't eat or sleep she didn't know what was happening to her.
She waited in the docks for him that day hugging her parka close, it was extremely cold that day. She blew hot air to her hands until she could hear the boat approaching the docks. She jumped and had a huge silly smile plastered on her face.
As soon as the boat lowered it's landing port Iroh appeared through the mist running towards her with a smile. She smiled back at him and ran to him. They hugged. Iroh was taller now with much more broader shoulders and firmer arms due to his royal training. Korra on the other hand had gotten taller as well, having a flat toned belly and growing lady parts she looked so different from the 8 year old that used to grapple him.
Iroh buried his face in her hair. "I missed you." he muffled.
"I missed you too." She replied hugging him tighter. "Penguin sledding?" She said with a smile as she pulled away.
He smiled back. "You read my mind."
Soon after they sat on their cliff neither mentioning the fact that it was his last visit but neither couldn't think of anything else.
Korra bit her lip. "You'll still write to me while you're gone write?" She finally said in a low voice.
He smiled at this. "Of course I will." He said placing his hand on top of hers. Korra's heart hammered inside it's cage.
"Will this really be the last time we'll see each other?" She asked looking away not really wanting to know the answer.
Iroh placed his hand on her face making her face him. "No. It won't. I promise you that." He smiled then. "We still have to bring balance to the world together right?"
She nodded sadly.
He pulled her into a hug then not wanting to see her sad face. Memories of his time here flashing before his eyes. He was gonna miss this girl. This crazy avatar that would wake him in the ungodly hours of the morning to challenge him to an agi kai. The girl that would bother him out of his mind but would still make him smile at the end of the day, the girl that would draw stick figures of him and her on his letters to the fire nation. He would miss penguin sledding with her, he would miss her antics and he would miss her.
The day of his leaving was inevitable. They knew it was coming sooner or later. Korra was even deciding if she should stay in bed and wait for him to leave so she wouldn't cry in front of him but she knew she couldn't do that to him.
Walking to his room that she used to come to when he wasn't there just so she could feel him made her clench her jaw. She used to jump on his bed when he was there poking him to wake up. He was really leaving and possibly never coming back she thought but pushed it aside. He told her he was coming back and he will.
She rounded a corner and opened the door without knocking. He was still packing and bustling inside his room he stopped when he saw her and gave her a small sad smile. He sat down on his bed and patted the spot beside him telling her to have a seat.
She sat down then not saying a word scared that she might ask him not to leave.
"Say something." He said looking at her.
She shrugged. "What do you want me to say?"
"Anything just say something." He said sadly placing a hand around her shoulders.
She humphed and looked away. "There's nothing to say, Iroh."
He looked down at her sadly. "I'll miss you." He finally said. "I wish I didn't have to leave."
She bit her lip angrily trying to push back the tears. "I'll miss you too." She managed.
Iroh hugged her then. "I promise to come back for you. After my training, where ever you might be I'll find you. I promise you that."
She started to cry then hating herself on how weak she was.
They waited on the docks hand in hand gripping each other's hand sipping the warmth from each other. Iroh took off his one of a kind fire nation jacket and wrapped it around her shivering body. She clutched it like her life depended on it.
The dreadful horn then came and right then and there she was lost. The boy that she'd cared for, for most of her life was leaving. Her eyes prickled crying again. He faced her then lifting her hand and kissed it. Her eyes widen. "I'll be back for you." He says holding her hand tightly.
A/N: How was it? I kept deleting and retyping on and off. :( I still think it's kinda terrible but I promise to make the next ones better.
The idea isn't mine by the way I was going around tumblr when I saw this comic about it. It was just so cute I wanted to expand it a bit. :D
Until next time!
XOXO