An AtLA character meets a LoK character in a crowded bar.
Prompts -

*(easy) falling

*(medium) "If I could take it all back, I would"

*(hard) "A real friend is one who walks in when everyone walks out" - Walter Winchell Round element: Metal

*Word Count: 1225

The dim room was overcrowded, cigarette smoke and the smell of sweaty bodies creates a film over her senses as she moves down the stairs. Heavy bass resonates through the earthen floor vibrating her to the core, shaking and pulling at her already tense muscles.

"Cactus juice on the rocks" she sighs as she flops down on the stool, her make up a bit smudged, always perfect hair out of place, and clothes disheveled.

"How about a nice cup of calming jasmine tea to soothe your soul," the kind voice was nearly impossible to comprehend over the DJ in the background, but it was still enough to grab the raven haired girl's attention, bringing her head up and senses on full alert. Rumors on the street have it that this was the best bar/night club in all of ZaoFu, what was the Dragon of the West doing here?

"Iroh? Is that really you?" An astonished look settling upon her weary face. "But... How are you here? Shouldn't you be in the spirit world?" Upon receiving the question the old man just simply smiles and goes about making her the cup of tea he had asked her about previously. "So how are your travels with Avatar Korra?"

With a huff she settles into her seat, unsure where to begin spinning her story, or where to end it. So much had happened since she had met the avatar, and it was always one fast paced adventure after the next, never really slowing down to take a breath. Maybe she should start with what brought her out to the bar in the first place? It wasn't to have a good time, that was for sure. The search for airbenders in the Earth Kingdom has gone way worse than anyone had anticipated, finding very few, and the ones they did find had no urge to leave their daily lives, although in their defense Tenzin didn't exactly make the nomad life very appealing. All this aside, this wasn't really what sent her in search of an alcoholic beverage, what really sent her was her contemptment for her friend.
Everyone's stress levels have been especially high since arriving in ZaoFu.

The elder man could feel the tension rolling off her in waves, and decided it best to find the root of her problem, what really brought the young girl here to the bar in the first place. "What's really bothering you? You could be basking in the companionship of your friends, but yet you chose instead to come to a nightclub alone."

The heiress was unaccustomed to sharing her feelings. Whenever she felt the need to relieve stress she would throw herself into a new invention, design a new car maybe. Yet here she was sitting across from one of the wisest people to ever exist, completely speechless. She could go find a problem with the airship to fix, but that wouldn't fix her problem.

"If I could take it all back I would..." she begins, contentment setting in firm on her face as she stares at the counter. "I snapped at Korra, about her being able to metal bend... How she thinks she's so perfect because she can bend…"

Tears begin to slowly slide down her cheeks one at a time as Iroh slides the cup of tea in front of her. She picks it up, hands shaking, and takes a sip.

"I didn't mean to hurt her, the look on her face crushed me inside... Just seeing all the others able to bend bothers me sometimes, I wish I could bend as well..."
Iroh listens intently to what the non-bender has to say, taking in each word and analyzing it carefully to come up with a proper response. "That can't be all that brought you out here.." he says, confident that there is more to be dug up before he can comfort the crying heiress.

"No, you're right," she sniffles, glancing up at the elder man. "I've found myself falling for Korra recently too… I don't understand how this could have happened, especially after I dated Mako. She's just.. just.. she's so strong, and the way she pouts, I can't help but to begin having feelings for her." "Ahh, now we're getting somewhere," Iroh thinks to himself as he gazes upon the sniffling girl in front of him.
"I'm here because everyone's angry with me, for what I said to her. I just wish I could take it all back, or start today over again…" The waterfall of tears falling from her red rimmed eyes slowly comes to a stop as the realization at how ridiculous she must look hits her. "I'm sorry for all… of this" she murmurs, too embarrassed to look up from the cup of tea cradled between her hands.

"A real friend is one who walks in when everyone walks out" Iroh states matter of factly. "When we open our hearts and our minds, we are open to the greatest change." Finally understanding what she must do, she stood up. "You're right, I need to go apologize to Korra and make everything better, and hopefully smooth over everything with the rest of the krew as well."

The raven haired heiress stood up, confidence renewed, and strode out of the nightclub with her head held high. Iroh let out a small chuckle as if laughing at a private joke, knowing that he hadn't really done much for her, that she had essentially solved her own problem.

Upon returning to the compound, the green eyed heiress hears laughter coming from the nearby gazebo, which upon further examination holds Mako and Bo, Kai and Jinora, even Tenzin, but the avatar is no where to be seen.

From behind she feels someone touch her startling her, only to turn and find Korra standing behind her wearing a concerned expression. "Can we talk?" she asks, face softening a bit as she slips her hand into the heiress's and begins walking in the opposite direction of their friends.
"...Sure…" murmurs the taller girl, anxiety settling like a rock in her stomach. "What's going on?"
Once the pair had gotten far enough away from the rest of the group, the Avatar sits down in the damp grass pulling Korra down beside her.

"What did you-" But before the sentence had fully come out of her mouth the Avatar's lips were on hers soft and sweet, testing to see how the other would react. The taller girl was shocked at first, unsure of how to respond to the shorter girl's actions before leaning into her.

Before long the two found themselves laying on their backs panting and looking up at the stars. "Wasn't there something you wanted to tell me?" The heiress says with a chuckle, glittering emerald eyes meeting cerulean ones.

"Oh… Yeah, that. I've been falling for you for quite some time, ever since I met you at the ball with Mako. I guess now I've finally gotten up the nerve to tell you."
A twinkle caught in the heiress's eyes but a frown fell across her lips, "Korra I'm so sorry for the way I acted earlier, it was way out of line… I-"
Korra cut her off with another kiss, this one more forceful, letting the heiress know that all was forgiven and not to worry any longer.