Welcome Home

Bolin ran around his small apartment like a maniac. He paced around straightening everything up and making sure everything was perfect. He was excited, excited and terrified.

Today his unofficial boyfriend the General Iroh was coming home from a two month long trip from the seas. Bolin missed him a lot. It was lonely in their apartment and the bed felt big and cold without the company.

Bolin wanted everything to be perfect for the fire-bender's return. He had a delicious Fire Nation food –Iroh's favorite- ordered. He set up their small dining table with their best plates and candles. And he had something special planned in the bedroom for later…

Tonight Bolin was finally going to officiallze him and Iroh's relationship tonight. To say he was about to pee his pants was an understatement.

A small annoying voice-that strangely sounded like Mako's - kept putting bad scenarios in his head. 'What if he laughs in your face? What if he doesn't remember you? What if he brings home another guy? OR worse a girl? 'The voice said. "Shut up," he told him. He didn't realize he said that out loud.

"Excuse me?" a familiar voice behind him said. Bolin whirled to see the general he's been waiting for standing at the door, looking handsome as ever in his formal red Navy suit, holding a small bag in his hand and carrying a confused look on his face.

"Iroh!" the young earth bender happily exclaimed as he thoughtlessly through his arms around the older man. The handsome general quickly dropped his bags to hug the earth bender back.

Iroh couldn't believe he was with Bolin again. He missed talking to him, holding him. He missed cuddling at night, and waking up with him in the morning. "Well hello to you too," he chuckled.

The general was actually scared for his return. Him and Bolin weren't exactly a couple. Neither of them put a label as a boyfriend on each other but tonight Iroh was going to change that. He didn't want to leave again not knowing if Bolin was his or not. A small voice in his head-that strangely sounded like the Avatar-kept saying bad things like 'What if he falls for someone else? What if he forgot about you? What if he's tired with your non-relationship? He politely told her to 'shut up'

Bolin seemed to realize what he was doing and pulled away-much to the General's displeasure. He coughed in his hand awkwardly and blushed. "Welcome back," he smiled, smoothing down his green suite. Iroh noted how it hugged his muscles and butt really well.

"Well," Bolin exclaimed happily, "Time to eat!" They walked to their small dining room.

"Bo," Iroh said softly as he stared at the meal, touched.

"I-is it okay?" Bolin asked nervously, half expecting to be laughed at.

"It's perfect," Iroh smiled back at the green eyed boy, taking his hand in his. Bolin face turned red.

They ate in silence, both of them desperately wanting to say something, anything! But neither of them being able to. They occasionally glanced at each other but quickly looked away.

'Cmon, Grow a pair!' Mako and Korra whispered inside their heads. 'Shut up!' They told them. They blushed and looked up, realizing they said it out loud. 'I got to stop doing that. Stupid tiny Mako' Bolin inwardly scolded himself

After dinner Iroh finally had the guts to say something. "Bolin I need to tell you something." He wrinkled his nose at how formal he sounded.

Bolin was terrified. Was he finally going to turn him down? Or laugh in his face? Or say he just doesn't feel the same way? Bolin's been hurt before a lot. He doesn't think he'd be able to get over heartbreak.

"Would you like to talk in the bed room?" Iroh offered walking to the door.

"N-n-no," Bolin exclaimed, blocking Iroh, "T-t-the couch is fine." If Iroh was going to brake it off he would not want to see what Bolin has done to the room.

Iroh was confused and a bit disappointed. He really wanted to put the bed to good use right now. All that time when he and Bolin lived together, slept together, it took all his gentlemanly self control not to rip their clothes off and claim him his. That and cold showers.

"Look Bo-" he stated when Bolin burst to tears. He became panicked "Bo-Bolin what's wrong?"

'You creped him out!' Korra exclaimed. He just ignored her and tended to the sniffling crying pouting earth bender in front of him.

Bolin couldn't help but start to cry. He knew it wasn't the most manly thing to do but it was out of his control. He's had this talk so many times before that he should have seen this coming. 'At least he waited until after dinner' Bolin stated sadly."Should have seen this coming," he mumbled through clenched teeth, "Should have seen it-"

"Bo- what's wrong," Iroh asked again trying to calm him down.

Bolin looked at him incredulously; Iroh was going to break it off and he was asking what's wrong? "N-nothing other than the fact you want to break it off our relationship!" he exclaimed through tears.

Iroh was stunned. Bo just called it their relationship. He was elated. But it took a second to dawn on him to what Bolin said.

Bolin took his silence as confirmation. He felt a new round of tears gather in his eyes "I guess I'll go pack my bags," Bolin stated sadly before running into their closet and locking himself in. He didn't want Iroh to see him more than he already had.

Iroh finally snapped out of his confusion and ran after Bolin. He pounded on the closet door. "BOLIN! LET ME IN!"

Bolin sat on the floor and covered his ears, like he used to do as a child. Iroh was obviously going to say they didn't have a relationship to begin with and he didn't want to hear it. He cried a bit before grabbing a random bag and blindly shoving an armful of clothes in it. "I can stay with Mako and Korra tonight" Bolin thought as the pounding stopped.

Iroh stopped abusing the door. He just wanted Bo to come out so he can kiss him and hug him and tell him he loves him. He tried again "Bo please.." he said softer. He was answered only with sniffles.

Iroh sighed and stepped away from the door. "What have I done?" he whimpered aloud. He walked away from the door knowing Bolin would come out when he was ready.

He walked into their bedroom and almost gasped. 'No wonder he didn't want me in here' the General smiled. On the bed there was a bouquet of panda-lilies and a note. Be mine? The note said.

Iroh found a new determination. He just arrived from two torturous month of wondering if his unofficial lover was with someone else and he was sure as hell not going to let this opportunity slip through his fingers

Grabbing the flowers, he stormed out of the room. He walked straight up to the closet door and kicked it down in a way that would make Korra proud.

Bolin squealed and held up the now fully packed suit case in front o him. "I-I y-you I-I-"

But Iroh was having none of that he walked straight up to the quivering boy and ripped the offensive bag from his hands. Before Bolin could protest Iroh crashed their lips together. As soon as he realized what was going on and started to kiss back, Iroh ended the amazing kiss.

"I love you, you stupid thick headed earth bender," he practically growled.

"I know that now," he whispered back huskily and connected their lips again. "I love you too"

Wow this was long anyways review please