Shadow of the sun 3

"Korra," whispered a soft voice, pleading as it approached. Korra stood on the docks, watching the sun sink into the sea like a giant flame extinguished in the black waters. She knew who it was without turning around, felt his voice send needles into her heart, her mind suddenly becoming foggy.

Not now, please, she thought, as his footsteps revealed that he stood next to her, just behind her on the dock. She looked up to see a tall, slim man, dark hair and mournful face. His face was paler than usual, giving his cheekbones a sallower look in the dying light. His normally blazing amber eyes were dull, as if they had been zapped of all passion and ferocity, replaced by dying embers.

"Mako…" Korra began, her heart constricting at the sight of him. His shoulders hunched and he looked entirely vulnerable, his every move echoing the pain of their last encounter.

"Korra. I….I don't know what to say. What I can say…." his voice was hoarse, translating the anguish he had been enduring, the turmoil that had wracked his mind and heart since their last meeting. He stared out at the stained sea, watching it swallow the sun like an incredible sea monster, engulfing a star.

"Mako…I don't even know if-" she began, voice unsteady, as if she worried he might break with the weight of her words.

"Korra, no. The last time we talked…I made a mistake. I shouldn't seek to control what I don't understand. You…you can't be tamed and I was a fool to try. You are as wild and free as the sea, as powerful and insurmountable as the highest mountains. You're spirit soars, Korra. I should have repeated that. Respected you." His voice trembled but he continued on, finishing and then finally meeting Korra's eyes with his. Her gaze was pained, a thousand emotions swirling inside her heart, threatening to burst forth, to destroy Korra's sturdy wall of indifference.

But seeing his eyes, swimming with sorrow, painted with the regrets of his past and hope for forgiveness, Korra's heart hammered against her chest. Her breath seemed to catch in her throat, as if she were breathing rocks. She felt the sting of tears rise to her eyes, before he even whispered the words, staring into her face, contorted with confusion and indecision.

"Korra, I love you and I'm sorr-" he whispered, bending his knees so his eyes were level with hers, brushing his warm hands against her face. Korra spun around leaping to her feet, her eyes finally reaching their limit, salty tears brushing her face like painful, mourning kisses.

"Mako no! Stop! I can't…I don't want to hurt you. Please," she stammered, her eyes averted from his, willing him to go away, to disappear and forget about her and everything he felt for her. She wanted him to break her heart, to crush it into tiny pieces, so that the feeling she held deep down would be so terrible to admit.

Korra wait! " His call echoed in her ears, as if it was a million miles away, as if valleys, and cities, and seas separated them and the epic expose was unconquerable. He reached for her hand but she was already turning, feet flying down the dock, back up into the air temple.

Her shadow receded, beautiful in the dusky light, casting dreadful shadows along the high walls of the islands temple. The sun had sunk below the sea, and all that was left was a dark, disparaging world, haunted with the ghosts of the past, and eluded by the hopes of the future. In this sort of limbo, Mako stood, feeling a terrible wave settle over him, a crushing feeling that left him weak. Alone he sat on the dock, a pool of salty tears glistening in the cold light.

Korra soothed herself with the warm blankets, cuddling her legs as she sank deeper into her bed, willing all her thoughts to disappear, to sink away into the expanses of her bed, never to be uncovered again. But of course, Korra could have no such luck. Her feelings poured through her, igniting her heart with the strangest mixture of confusion, pain, and excitement. The turmoil bubbled up inside her, refusing to simmer away, and only intensified by any attempts to rationalize or hide.

A few months ago I would have been more than happy, she thought with a bitter smile. It was true, a short time ago Korra would have relished Mako's affections, would have wanted nothing else. But time changes, time rushes by, shaping and warping a person with each passing day, until they change. Their wants and needs are altered, disrupted by the rough hands of eternities rushing by in a day. Life was both eons long and seconds short.

And Korra couldn't discern exactly how, or why, but the truth lay as bare in her heart as the sun in the sky, or the water in the sea. Her love for Mako wasn't less; it was different. Instead of wanting to be with him, as a lover, she wanted him as a friend, but could find it in her heart to want no more than that. Her heart burned for him once, ached and beat in time with his, but now it blazed for another, carrying a passion and love that made Korra's legs weaken, made her mind whirl.

The creak of the door sliding open jolted Korra from her mind, pulling her to the surface of reality. The corner of a serving tray peaked around the door, followed by a solid white napkin, which someone was waving animatedly in the air.

Korra giggled at the peace flag, rejoicing to be freed of her bitter thoughts for a few moments. "Come in," she sputtered, throwing the covers off her chest and pushing herself into a sitting position. From behind the door she heard a soft chuckle. The door swung open to reveal Iroh, tall and handsome, his toned muscles showing beneath his simple tunic and breeches. He bore a tray of tea, and some plain cookies, decorated with pastel vines to match the tea cups. He came to the bed, setting the tray on the floor and pausing to take Korra in. While her beauty wasn't disrupted, despite her disheveled appearance, her eyes showed her true grief. Her face was drawn, a weary look painting her face. Iroh's heart twisted, like a leaf battered by a terrible wind, as he saw Korra's torment apparent, her pain inexplicably harsh.

Iroh settled onto the end of her bed, brushing his ebony hair bcd from his forehead.

"I brought you some tea," he stated, gesturing to the tray and smiling, concern shadowing his face. "I thought….you see my grandfather…well he had a strange relationship with tea." Iroh's eyes grew distant, cloudy with the memory of his past, something strange and unreadable dancing in his eyes.

"He hated tea, of any kind. But each morning he would swallow it down, with a bitter gulp and a gag. He used to make me drink it too, though I didn't hate it as he did. He used to tell me that 'tea is the best medicine; it cures all that ails you. I think his uncle, my namesake, told him that. I think that's why he drank it." Iroh's steady hands poured a steaming cup, handing it to Korra with a nod, urging her to drink. He seemed to come back then, as if being pulled into wakefulness and out of a dream.

"So drink!" He chuckled, gesturing to the steaming cup waiting in her hands. Korra did drink then, but also felt her heart thrumming against her chest, joy and comfort swarming over her in Iroh's presence.

"Korra…." Iroh's voice faltered, only slightly, before he continued. "What happened?" His eyes searched hers, desperate to relieve her pain, to console her until she was no longer hurt. Korra's eyes met his, her heart swelling with her unspoken emotions, her blood singing her veins as it burned, feeling the press of his hand against hers, the electric touch making her body sing and cry for more. She broke then, her perfectly preserved walls tumbling down around her, like the walls of a great city, breached by one man. A single tear traced the corner of her cheek as she felt her breaths become awful and wracking, her body revolting against her own defenses.

Before she could speak or begin to explain herself, Iroh had pulled her to him, crushing her body to his, enveloping her in the warmth of his body, and of his heart.

"Shhhhh," he whispered into her hair, stroking her back, with long, slow motions, soothing her shaking body with his touch. Korra leaned against him, feeling her body sink into his, her skin buzzing with his touch. He was her only comfort, the only one she could talk to, who could understand her, past, present, and future. He was the one who had always been there for her and asked nothing. Now here he was again, comforting her, consoling her.

"I…he…." her sobs continued, but began to lessen, becoming dry, uneven breaths now.

"Shhhhhh…..you don't have to talk about it now. Or ever. It will be okay Korra." He pressed his lips to her hair, taking in her sweet smell, of pine and sea and wild things.

After a time Korra's breathing returned to normal, her chest falling and rising regularly, in time with Iroh's. She clung to him, her cheek pressed to his chest, feeling his heart beat softly again her face, like the hollow pounding of a tribal drum.

"Mako….he told me…he told me he loves me." Korra's voice shook when she spoke, and Iroh's heart fluttered, his eyes narrowing.

"Did he hurt you Korra?" There was an edge to Iroh's voice, and as he pulled back to look at her, Korra saw that his golden eyes were blazing with anger, a dangerous glimmer lurking in their depths.

"No! No, he didn't. I just…" Her eyes shone, meeting Iroh's with a timid fear, but also a bold excitement. Her mind spun, willing her not to make any rash decisions, as she spoke her next words, her voice catching in her throat.

"I don't love him back. I…I love somebody else." Despite her best efforts, Korra diverted her eyes, not wanting Iroh to glimpse the crimson tint that washed over her cheeks. Iroh's heart clenched at her words, a sudden hope ring in his stomach, curdling inside him as he took her face, pulling her chin up until their eyes met. His thumb stoked her face, drawing a line along her cheekbone, wiping away a stray tear, like a forgotten star in a lonely sky.

"Is that so?" he whispered, his voice unsteady, husky, as his eyes shone in the dull light of the room. His heart threw itself against his chest, writhing with emotions that he had schooled himself to suppress.

"Yes," her voice was barely a whisper, more a soft kiss of breath on Iroh's neck. He knew how he felt, from the first time he had seen her, he had known. But now she was returning his feelings. The eruption of heat that flew through Iroh's veins was terrible and electrifying, beautiful and liberating, like lava being poured through him.

"Korra… I love you-" Iroh whispered feeling his stomach clench as the words escaped him mouth, like water from an overflowing dam.

"I love you." Korra's whisper danced across Iroh's skin as he pressed his lips to hers, sending shivers of fire across her skin. Her body arched against his, her skin cold against his heat. His lips were warm, tracing hers, moving down to her neck, her collarbone, a trail of warmth which spread across her entire body. She dug her nails into his back, feeling his groan rumble in his chest as she, pushed herself down on him, straddling him, her legs intertwined around his waist. The kisses got longer, fiercer, a passion burning through both of them, like a wild, insatiable fire. It was a need, a need to be close, to communicate their love in a most basic way.

Korra found her hands tracing his chest, feeling the sharp outlying of his muscles through the cotton shirt. Korra's lips quirked into a smile against his as she realized how much the shirt annoyed her. Solving the problem, Korra grabbed the laces, unbinding them until only his bare chest lay before her. As Korra stared, his chest rose and fell, the muscles tightening and relaxing as she trailed kisses down his abdomen. His stomach was hot against her lips and as she returned to his mouth, she heard him groan with pleasure as he undid her shirt, leaving her body bare except for her meager bindings. She slid her pants off, wriggling out of them and placing her naked thighs against Iroh's waist.

She sighed, heat pulsing through her, overwhelming her mind. She kissed Iroh's mouth, and as he moved down her neck, dusting her body with soft kisses, she kissed his head, brushing her lips against his ear. She gave a playful nip, laughing when he gave a groan of pleasure, then returning his pleasure with a heavy sigh of her own, a yelp as he kissed her stomach, tracing her waist with his strong hands.

Korra pushed her palms against his chest feeling her heart dance in time with his as she drew back, straddling Iroh still as she traced a hand down his chest, to his chiseled stomach, and finally reaching the waistline of his trousers. Their eyes met, a question unspoken in their mutual depths. Iroh grabbed Korra's hand gently in his own, taking it and pulling her down onto of him, so that they were pressed against one another, inseperable, two parts of one whole. Korra looked into Iroh's eyes, golden and dark, filled with passion and desire, but also something else, deeper and more powerful.

"Korra….I meant what I said earlier. I love you." His words were strong, unwavering, but his eyes shone with an uncertainty, as if he thought Korra might have been playing him as a fool.

"I meant it too. You….you are everything to me. You are the person who truly makes me feel safe. You….I've known you forever and I think that maybe deep down I have always loved you. You bring me something else…something nobody else can." Her eyes were strong and blazing, locked on his with a ferocity and love that mad Iroh's heart contort, squeezing until he couldn't feel anything but this moment, this room, Korra's body pressed against his, her breath tickling his skin, her heart thundering against his own. She gave him a freedom, a passion unlike any other he had ever felt. She was his everything and in that moment he had no doubt that he would give anything and everything to protect her.

"You are my sea, my sky Korra. I love you." His words struck her like a rush of cool water, overwhelming her with relief and happiness and joy and love.

Korra pulled her self closer to him, the darkness of the room casting shadows against the walls like great caverns of a cave. She lay beside him, pressed against him in the small room, feeling the pull of sleep in her mind. Iroh tugged the blankets up without a sound, cradling Korra against him, in their little cave, and allowing her to float away, into the realms of dreams.

As Iroh and Korra slept, knitted together in perfect harmony, slipping away into unconsciousness, as small smile slipped onto Korra's mouth.

Sweet dreams my sun, she thought as her mind faded away into the warmest, most comfortable sleep she had had in a long while. The light of the moon slipped through the shutters of Korra's window, casting a lovely blanket of serene light on the two lovers, drifting into oblivion together, as one.