Brief Author's Note: Yes, yes, this chapter is a bit (a lot) shorter than the last one. I know. But it's an interlude. You know, before shit hits the fan? Enjoy!

A Drunken Interlude

Nighttime, to some, a brief interlude. To others, the fear of solitude. -The Moody Blues

Iroh swirled the amber liquid in the glass, staring at the contents slosh along the sides with an intense curiosity. Whiskey, we're all trapped in some hell hole of a prison, he mused. Iroh let out a bark of a laugh, loud enough to cause the kind bartender who had been serving him to look at with concern in her green eyes. He shrugged her off. He was four drinks passed caring for other people's feelings.

As long as the drinks kept coming and keeping his mind off of her, he'd spend all night in the bar. Contemplating his life and how she waltzed in and made him like her (he refused to say he loved her. That would kill him).

He took another shot.

He didn't want to think about Korra hanging out with her stupid boyfriend and doing the things that Iroh and Korra did so passionately. He didn't want to picture him holding her without her saying that "that isn't part of their deal." It's funny, because Iroh didn't remember agreeing to anything.

"She's right," Iroh muttered bitterly. "I do sound like a jealous fucking teenager." The bartender looked at him with pity, debating whether or not she should go talk to him, help him ease his mind. Her conscience won.

Sighing, the woman walked over to Iroh, wiping the inside of a glass. "Hey, do you want to talk about it?" she gently asked, a small smile curling her lips.

Iroh looked up, his eyes bloodshot. "What's makes you think I have a problem," he slurred.

The bartender chuckled lightly. "It's Friday night, and you're drowning your sorrows in a bar. Alone. There has to be a problem." She looked around at the mostly empty bar, aside from the couples making out in the booths. "Plus, you've been scowling at every happy couple that's walked in."

"Oh." Iroh rested his head on the countertop, a blush spreading that he wasn't sure was from the alcohol in his system or the fact that this girl figured him out so fast. "Yeah, I guess I do have a problem. Girl problems," he mumbled under his breath.

The bartender nodded her head in understanding. "Ah, women, the root of all problems," she laughed. "So, what happened?"

Iroh sat up a bit straighter in his seat. "There's this girl, and she is truly one of the most amazing people I've met. She makes me feel like I'm not holding the weight of the world on my shoulders. I really like her."

The woman quirked an eyebrow. "She sounds great. What's the problem?"

Iroh snorted. Oh, if only you knew. "She has a boyfriend. And before you judge me, I didn't know she had a boyfriend at first. I didn't find out until we...you know." He gestured with his hands. She got the hint. She nodded for him to continue. "I just," he sighed. "I just don't know what to do. We had a fight about what she really wants because I told her what I wanted. Of course, she didn't agree." He chuckled without humor.

Iroh looked away until he felt a hand on his arm. He glanced up at her, a question in his eyes. "You know, maybe she does like you, but she doesn't know how to deal with it or she can't. Like a defense mechanism. You can't be too upset with her, because she's probably hating herself for doing this to you." She smiled at him again. "Trust me," she added.

Iroh nodded his head, digesting the advice. "What's your name? I've had a full conversation with you, and I don't know your name."

The bartender blinked. She wasn't expecting him to ask for her name. "Asami. My name is Asami."

"Well, thank you Asami. You gave me a lot to consider." She smiled and returned to cleaning glasses with a rag. He stood up, placing a hundred yuans on the countertop. He looked at her before he walked away. "Hey, how old are you anyways? You look really young to be a bartender."

Asami looked around to see if there were any unwanted ears nearby. "Actually, I'm only eighteen,"she whispered as though it were a conspiracy. "My family is really wealthy, and I feel like I can just get away here, you know? Making my own money without my father's help. I'm actually a university student, but we're on break right no, so here I am."

"You're still a kid, and you're working in a bar," he deadpanned.

"I'm not a kid. I am legally an adult," Asami scowled. Iroh smirked. As if being an adult solved all of life's problems. "Well, I'll see you around..."

"Iroh," he answered as he once again walked towards the exit.

"See you around, Iroh!" he heard Asami call out.

Walking out into the cold night, Iroh began to sober up. He knew what he needed to do about Korra.

Everything was clear. I'm going to get her back.

Another Author's Note: You thought there was going to be some Irosami didn't you?! Heh heh heh wait and see! You never know..

Yeah, sorry about how short this is, but the next will be longer. School is blah so I don't have much time to write, but I should be updating again in a couple weeks. Until then!

Review/ Favorite/ Follow!

Korroh on.