Mako tried not to hurt as he watched Korra and Asami dance at their wedding reception. He tried, but the sting was still there. It was not even the fact his two exes were getting married; they were his best friends and he was happy for them. No, the pain was from being alone while everything around him reminding him that he was alone. Mako sighed and took another sip of his drink as he watched other people start to dance.
After a few songs, he paused noticing a strange pattern: Korra and Asami were the only same sex couple dancing. Mako tilted his head. This did not make sense, Mako knew at least four other gay couples in attendance but they were all sitting on the sidelines looking awkward. Someone tapped on Mako's shoulder and the detective jumped before turning and seeing the ever-dashing General Iroh standing behind him holding a drink.
Iroh smiled. "Mind if I join you?"
"Not at all." Mako gestured to the seat next to him. "Just please don't ask how it feels to watch my exes getting hitched."
Iroh sat down. "Wasn't going to. I'd like to say I have better taste than that, but I figure follies of the past should only be brought up when one is good a drunk and I doubt either of us is at that level."
"Not yet at least." Mako took another sip while Iroh looked out on the dance floor.
"Hey have you noticed that Korra and Asami are the only gay couple out there?" Iroh observed casually.
Mako nodded. "Yeah, I was just thinking about it when you came over. I wonder why?"
Iroh shrugged. "No idea, but some look like they really want to."
"Yeah. Maybe they're waiting for other couples to start dancing too? I mean nothing's stopping them."
Iroh looked over. "Except maybe social pressure since there are so many straights here. Could be embarrassing."
"So? Half these people are never going to meet each other again. If someone wants to dance with someone they should just go for it. It's not illegal! If Meelo's willing to bust a move completely alone no one should worry what they look like!"
Iroh chuckled. "True, so do you want to dance?"
Mako suddenly felt red creep in to his cheeks and his drink become so much more interesting. "Well, uh. I've got to finish this…and uh."
Iroh gave him a look. "So all talk, no action?"
"No, uh I just can't dance…with men. I don't know how. I would if I could because I don't care but…"
Iroh stood up and held out and hand. "I'll let you lead. Come on, it will be fun."
Mako sighed and placed his glass down. "Ok but one dance; I have a reputation to up hold."
"You have a reputation to up hold?" Iroh asked almost mockingly.
Mako got to his feet. "Yup, failures in love can't be seen dancing with princes it's an unwritten rule of the universe. It's right next to the one about it always messing with Councilman Sokka."
Iroh laughed. "Well, let's not break the unwritten rules of the universe! Who knows what will happen!?"
Mako could not help but chuckle at Iroh's joke, there was just something about his delivery that cracked him up. Still laughing, the two made it on to the dance floor and true to his word Iroh let Mako lead until they almost ran into three couples and Iroh took over. At first Mako didn't know what to do if he should look at others or Iroh; it didn't help that he felt his mortification levels skyrocketing. Iroh squeezed Mako's hand.
"Relax officer, barely anyone's watching us and look, those two couples are dancing now. Hey even Chief Beifong is dancing with Kya." He flashed a smile. "We've started a trend."
Mako looked down at their feet. "Heh, I guess we did."
The song ended and Mako desperately hoped they would walk back to their seats before the next song started but that didn't happen. A slower song started to play and the dance floor lights dimmed. Suddenly the dance floor was flooded with couples and Iroh and Mako were hemmed in. More than a few times they were pushed chest to chest and both looked away trying to hide their embarrassment. When that song finally ended, Mako practically ran from the dance floor muttering something about needing air.
.o.
Mako leaned back and looked down from his perch on the top of the roof. He had been up there for about an hour and just now seemed to be catching his breath. Below, he could see people dancing and having a good time.
"So is this how you keep up your reputation? Hiding out on roves watching others having fun?"
Mako turned to see Iroh standing just to his left holding two glasses and an unopened bottle of champagne.
"Yeah, that's exactly how I do it." Mako looked back at the dancers. "And you're up here because?"
"Well they're literally giving away this stuff." Iroh gestured to the champagne. "And I wanted to make sure you're ok. You did kind of bolt back there. Can I join you?"
"Yeah, sure."
Iroh sat down next to him and handed him a glass. "Champagne?"
"Please."
Iroh popped the cork using his teeth and poured generous amounts in each glass. "So mind telling me why after just two failed relationships you feel unlovable?"
Mako took a gulp of the champagne. "It's not because of the failed relationships its because that's all people seem to think about me. I ask someone out and they usually reply with 'oh but you'll make me gay' or other shit like that. So you know after awhile a man gives up." Mako looked over at Iroh. "Why are you up here talking to me when you could be chasing some of the beautiful woman down there?"
"I'm not drunk enough to answer that question." Iroh took a gulp of his drink. "Wow this is stuff is awful."
"Yeah, it's pretty cheep, but don't let that disrupt story time. If you're drunk enough to drink this you're drunk enough to tell me why you're here."
"You saw through my distraction! Fine, short answer; been there done that got the divorce papers…. and a restraining order."
Mako looked shocked. "You have a restraining order against you?"
Iroh shook his head. "No, I have one against her." He pointed to his left eye. "If you couldn't tell, this is glass, thanks to her."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." Mako looked away thinking it was the best way not to be rude and stare.
Iroh shrugged. "Eh, you get used to the lack of depth perception and I ended up with complete and full custody of my daughter so not all bad."
"You have a daughter?"
"Yeah, she'll be seven in two weeks, I'm headed to the Fire Nation in three days so I can spend the whole week with her."
"That's awesome." Mako admitted before taking another sip. "So what shall we do now? Go down and join party?"
"And ruin your reputation? Parrish the thought, also it's nice up here, you can see that stars."
Mako looked up. "True…. so I guess we can just stay up here and see if after finishing off that bottle how hard it is to get down."
Iroh refilled Mako's glass. "I like how you think Detective."
"Please General, call me Mako."
"Fine Mako but only if you call me Iroh." Iroh held up his glass and Mako clinked his against Iroh's.
"Deal."
The two sat up on the roof drinking and talking until the morning sun started to peak over the horizon. Mako frowned, hating the big ball of fire that gave him his bending. Iroh looked over too.
"Well, time certainly flew didn't it?"
Mako nodded. "Yeah, and I still feel like we could talk about more."
"Well, we could always meet up some times and talk; that is if you want to after." Iroh paused for a moment as if he had lost his train of thought.
Mako leaned closer. "After what?"
"This." Iroh kissed him. It was a chased kiss, too fast to experience; to sweet to forget.
For a moment Mako was quiet and then leaned in to kiss the prince properly. They pulled apart and now Mako had no problem looking right at Iroh. "Yeah, I still would like to; but first, I think I want off this roof and a shower."
"Mako, you read my mind."
.o.
Mako woke up to sun light streaming through red curtains and felt the soft red silk of his sheets wrapped around him. He smiled contentedly as two arms he knew so well wrapped around his torso.
"Did you have good dream?" His husband whispered in his ear.
Mako turned and kissed Iroh. "Yeah, I was dreaming of that night of the roof top with that awful champagne and our first kiss which was much better than the booze."
Iroh chuckled. "That's not saying much."
"I know." Mako stretched. "Spirits how many years ago was that?"
"It was eight years ago." He kissed Mako's neck in that place that made him shiver. "Seven years ago, we came out as a couple; six years ago you asked me to marry you and ruined my plan to propose to you."
Mako smiled. "Yup, and after two years of trying to plan a wedding with way too many 'helpful' people we finally got to say I do." Mako rested his forehead against Iroh's. "And we severed that same awful champagne because we convinced ourselves it actually tasted good."
"But we loved it anyway because we were already drunk on love."
Mako laughed. "That joke is as bad as the champagne!"
"Yeah but you love it."
"I love you."
Iroh kissed him. "I love you too."
