Irosami Week Day 3 - Tea
In which Iroh is smitten, and Bolin is the puppeteer of all things romantic.
There was something in Iroh's tea, and it wasn't more tea.
Iroh squinted at the offending cup, trying to bring his thoughts together in a coherent way. Of course it wasn't tea in his cup. Well, there was tea in his cup. That's why he was drinking it in the first place. But there was more than just tea in his cup, and whatever that substance was was causing him to feel a bit woozy.
Not exactly a sick woozy, but not a one-too-many-drinks-with-the-men woozy either. It was kind of a sliding in and out of focus wooziness, that left his tongue feeling strangely elastic and his mouth sloping in an easy grin, despite his promise to remain serious tonight.
He had a good idea of who was to blame for this little stunt, too. Bolin had been the first to try to wheedle him into coming out on this night of all nights. A year since the Equalist uprising, a year since irreparable damage done to his crew, and the public decided to spend it drinking.
He supposed it made sense. They did win after all, and Republic City was rebuilding to be better than ever. If he pulled his head out of his stack of paperwork every once in awhile he would admit that the people of the city deserved a holiday. He just didn't often feel very charitable when surrounded by requests and pleas and applications. Rebuilding an army was hard work, and he wasn't particularly pleased that Commander Bumi had him settle here of all places to do it. But he simply had to stick it out and he would be out traveling soon enough, but that didn't leave much time for idle play and socializing.
When he first told Bolin such, the younger man seemed to understand. He gave him a lopsided smile and a mock salute, hoping him the best and skipping on his way.
Iroh hadn't expected him to send in his heavy arsenal, just to get the general to come out drinking for a night.
But there she stood, a day later right at his front door. Her hair cascaded down her back in heavy waves, green eyes bright and entrancing. Ruby red lips twisted into a smile that could be easily used for evil, if she wasn't so earnest and so concerned and so nice. "I'm worried about you," she said, eyes wide and innocent. He was a goner the minute he looked into them. "Bolin said you've been working nonstop since Bumi left. Won't you please come out with us, just for tonight?"
Bolin must have known the effect she had on him.
"I suppose I can take one night off..." he tried to sound forced, coerced into it. It wouldn't do for her to know the hold she had on him, when the truth was he would have done anything she asked the minute she showed up on his doorstep.
The smile that graced her face was brighter than the rising sun on the summer solstice. And Iroh both cursed and thanked Bolin for all his scheming.
And now she stood further down the bar, chatting with Korra and absentmindedly sipping on some dark drink. Brandy. A strong drink, much stronger than the ginseng tea he had ordered . The ginseng tea that didn't taste much like ginseng tea at all.
Because there was something else in it. Right.
Iroh frowned at his inability to concentrate on the problem at hand. Somebody who was very likely Bolin had spiked his drink, and he needed to know what it was and how long it would last.
He turned, gripping the very edge of the bar for support and looking for that somebody in question. He would find Bolin, he would find out what was in his drink, and he would figure out the best way to get home.
"Are you alright, General Iroh?" Somehow in the seconds that Iroh had turned away to look for the troublesome young earthbender, the object of his secret affections had noticed his less than balanced state and come over to check on him.
"I'm...I'm fine, Miss Sato." He felt the beginnings of a blush spread across his cheeks and willed her to believe him. He didn't want her knowing that he was any less than his normal, composed self. They spent so little time together, he didn't want to make a bad impression.
"Are you sure?" Her eyebrows knitted together in concern. "You look a little pale."
"The curse of my Fire Nation heritage, I'm afraid." Iroh's heart swelled as she laughed at his joke. When was the last time he had seen her laugh? It was beautiful.
"And the result of spending every waking moment working inside, General." The subtle barb was softened by her joyful smile and her eyes dancing with suppressed laughter. "You should come out to see the light of day more often. I-we-would certainly enjoy your company."
Iroh decided it was not in his best interest to point out that the sun had set two hours ago. After all, she was here, standing in front of him with a hand on her hip and that infuriatingly sly smirk on her face and imploring him to join them more often. He was not so woozy that he didn't catch her slip up-she enjoyed his company! The confession made his heart soar and stoked his courage.
"How could I resist such an invitation from you, Miss Sato?" Spirits, was he flirting? His tongue was looser than a sailor drunk on fire-scorched-whiskey! Whatever was in his tea was causing the bar behind her to slip in and out of focus, but thankfully Asami remained solid in his vision.
"Well then, perhaps I should invite you to join me in a dance." He hadn't realized it possible until then, but when she held a hand out to take him onto the dance floor she was even more radiant-or perhaps that was the soft, luminescent glow that was slowly taking over everything in his vision. Normally her request would leave him speechless and tongue tied, but tonight the tea spoke for him.
"I would be honored, Miss Sato."
"Please." Her hand was soft and warm inside his. "Call me Asami."
The dance floor was chaotic, Iroh's senses exploding with the commotion. Bodies packed everywhere, yelling and laughing couples twirled in time with the pulsing music. Soft lamps flickered along the walls, leaving floating wisps of light in his vision. But when Asami wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed close, mere breaths between them, all of that faded into the background.
Iroh kept his gaze focused on his partner, trying to keep the bold colors and warping voices at bay. Tonight was going so well, he couldn't let her know that his head was amplifying every noise, distorting all colors and faces.
Had she always had three eyes?
"Oh..." The whole world suddenly became too much, and Iroh sunk to his knees. Asami gasped and kneeled down next to him, placing her hand on his shoulder. Even with three eyes and blurred around the edges, she was beautiful. Spirits, what had Bolin put in his tea?
"Are you alright?" Her voice was worried, eyes brought together in concern. Iroh fought to stand up and quickly lost.
"I'm afraid not," he replied, keeping his gaze focused on the ground in front of him. "I think I need to sit down."
She placed an arm, surprisingly strong, beneath his shoulders and helped him up. Together they hobbled, . Iroh couldn't remember being more mortified in his life.
"What happened?" she asked, placing a hand to his forehead. Her proximity was making it hard for him to breathe, and he was having a difficult time remaining sufficiently stoic under her tender care.
"I believe there was...something my tea." Despite his antics, Iroh was hesitant to oust the younger boy, especially when he wasn't completely sure that he was to blame.
He needn't have bothered. "Bolin," Asami ground, glaring down the bar towards the rest of their party. Too late, Iroh remembered that it was Bolin who brought them all their drinks.
"Bolin!" she called, and Iroh shivered at the dangerous tone lurking behind her friendly beckoning. Bolin must have heard it too, as she cringed slightly and hung back until his brother pushed him in their direction.
"What did you put in Iroh's tea?" Asami wasted no time once he came within earshot.
The younger earthbender put a hand behind his neck and smiled, looking distinctly uncomfortable. "What do you mean?"
"Cut the act, Bolin." Iroh had never heard Asami so angry. At least, not since the war. The thought of her being upset on his behalf caused an embarrassing explosion of butterflies in his stomach-completely not befitting of a military man of his rank. "What did you put in his drink?"
Bolin blushed bright scarlet and looked utterly shamefaced as he muttered, "Cactus juice."
"Cactus juice?!" Her voice rose and Iroh flinched, hearing echoes bouncing his head. Cactus juice. Juicy cactus. The bar in front of him swayed dangerously, and he grabbed the edge for support.
"Only a little bit..."
"Only a little bit of cactus juice is still dangerous, Bolin." A bit of command had crept into her voice, and Iroh could see how she managed to take over her father's company so effectively. "I am taking General Iroh home, and you are coming over first thing tomorrow to apologize!"
"Yes ma'am."
As they left, Iroh could have sworn he saw the younger earthbender smile.
"I'm sorry about this," Asami was saying, walking carefully to not trip her companion. She kept a firm grip on his arm slung around her shoulders as he leaned on her like a crutch. "Bolin can be so silly sometimes."
The stars in the night sky were dancing and winking at him, almost blindingly bright. Iroh watched them for a moment, mesmerized, before shaking his head and focusing on the road beneath his feet. Just a boring old road, nothing weird about it. Now that he knew what he had been drinking, he found it a bit easier to focus. Hopefully that meant it was wearing off.
"I'm sorry, too." He sighed. "I was enjoying dancing with you. This is not how I hoped this evening would go."
"And how did you hope for this evening to go?" Her tone was curious, not teasing.
Apparently not all effects of the cactus juice had worn off. "I was supposed to be able to charm you with my dance skills and company, not fall down on the floor like a drunken buffoon with two left-"The words hit his ear and he flushed, realizing for the first time exactly what he was saying. He shut his mouth with an audible click. "Nevermind. Forget I said anything."
His apartment was blessedly close, and he was able to slip away from her hold as he stumbled up the steps. "Thank you for the escort home, I am feeling almost myself again. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, I do hope you'll forgive-Asami?"
He hadn't seen her climb the stairs, but suddenly she was right in front of him, a warm hand pressed lightly on his cheek. She smiled. "I like it when you call me Asami." Her eyes were dancing and Iroh felt his heart leap into his throat. His entire body was focused on that one hand on his face, like his nerves started there and then stretched throughout his body. "And you worry too much. I enjoyed your company tonight, drugged or no. And either way, I always find you quite charming."
Surely this wasn't happening. Iroh wasn't completely aware of the effects of cactus juice, but realistic hallucinations had to be one of them, right? "You're not...you can't mean that."
She rolled her eyes, a very Asami-like gesture despite being improper, and leaned forward, sealing his rebuke with her lips.
The kiss was soft and sensual and sweet, and Iroh wasn't sure if it was the lingering effects of the cactus juice or simply the amazing woman in front of him causing sparks to dance on his eyelids. He wound his arms around her middle, bringing their bodies as close together as he could without crushing her. His entire front felt warm with the contact, and he came to the realization that he could stand outside all night if he was able to hold her in his arms like this.
"You," Iroh said, once he was able to regain his senses. "Are unlike any woman I have every met."
Asami grinned, clearly happy with the praise. She trailed a hand around his neck to play with the hair on the nape of his neck, sending shivers down his spine. Feeling emboldened, Iroh continued. "Perhaps you should stay here a while, to make sure the cactus juice does not have any other ill effects." In the back of his mind, he could hear the whistles and jeers from his men, but he didn't care. He only cared about the woman in front of him, whose hands and lips he now knew the feel of.
Her smile could have melted the frozen tundra in the middle of winter. "I think that is a very good idea, Iroh."
When Bolin came by the next day to apologize, neither of them answered the door.
A/N: What is it about tea that makes me write the strangest things? I hadn't exactly planned out this chapter (just like Bolin hadn't planned out his whole matchmaking scheme), but I think it turned out okay anyway. Hope you enjoyed it!
Reviews and constructive criticism always appreciated!
