Author's Note

Thank you all so much for the reviews! Keep it up; I love to hear what you have to say. I hope you enjoy this chapter because it was a bunch of fun to write. Well anyways, enjoy! Don't forget to write a review when you're done though.

Chapter 3

"Again!" shouted Tenzin from the bench he had sprawled himself out on just under a nearby tree. Sometimes Korra swore she could see him gazing off in the distance or fiddling with the sleeves of his robes when he was supposed to be critiquing her movements. For a monk who stressed the importance of patience she found him to bear limited resignation, she had only had three days to practice on the island, and he was already losing interest. They had been running these drills for hours now, yet the whole time all Korra could seem to think about was the moment she had discovered her airbending. That thrilling instance when she saw the disbelief in Amon's eyes as she threw him helplessly down amongst the onlookers gathered below. That power was so exciting, so new that the rush of adrenaline had last hours past her duel. She hadn't had any struggle mastering the other three elements but to have finally unlocked this whole new way of fighting that had been so strange to her before was breathtaking.

With one large gust of wind Korra launched herself forward with such speed that she caused Tenzin's robes to ripple despite the distance between them. Maneuvering ever so gracefully she evaded the elements being thrown at her by the benders who had volunteered to help with the day's exercises. Swiftly she sculpted the air with the tips of her fingers into a large horizontal plate levitating slightly above the ground. Fluid with her movements to dodge the onslaught of fire, earth, and water, she swung her creation swiftly around the practice ring knocking out the feet from under her opponents. Setting her feet lightly on the ground just meters away from the fallen benders, Korra extended her arms and released a current through the air that was centered somewhere between the palms of her out turned hands. Limp and helpless, the benders were thrown from the ring, completing yet another of the monk's exercises.

"Boo-yeah!"

She heard the sound of a slow clap approaching from the south; Korra turned her figure to see the young general approaching with a smirk tugging slightly at the corner of his lips.

"Well done Avatar, it looks as if your training is going quite well," Iroh said in his smooth voice inspecting her stance with his amber eyes as he approached the ring. "I'm glad to see that learning new forms comes so easily to you, it's a useful trait in an avatar."

Korra rested her prominent hand on the back of her head, releasing herself from the stance she had been frozen in at the end of the match before replying, "Yeah, I uh guess but that wasn't exactly…"

"What I told you to do," chimed in Tenzin, who had now risen from the bench where he had been sitting. He approached Korra with a serious look on his face, which turned slightly red as he yelled, "I don't see why you have so much trouble following my instructions! For Yue's sake can you listen to me just this once?"

"I err.. was.. experimenting..?" choked Korra, not quite sure how to respond.

Releasing a small sigh, Tenzin allowed his flailing hands to rest on his sides. "I'm sorry that was out of line, I just wish you would listen so that we can go inside and call it a day. You should never end a long day on a bad note."

"Maybe I could help," blurted Iroh, lifting a hand as if to push his way into a conversation not meant for him, "My grandfather always told me as a child that one may have the ability, but it is not until they learn how to harness it that it becomes able to be perfected. My point being I could help with the exercises if you please." Glancing slightly to catch a quick glance of the worn benders struggling to regain balance after being thrown a considerable distance across the training yard, he knew he might regret his decision in the near future. "It would be my honor to assist in the training to the avatar if you should want me to do so. I would be glad to face off against the avatar if it served as a way of allowing her to practice her bending."

Tenzin was concerned by the possible damage that could be done to the avatars morale if she lost a match, even to such a powerful bender, but realizing that this could possibly work to his advantage, he replied, "What a fantastic idea! Don't you agree Korra? How would you like to try out your abilities in a duel with an actual high ranking officer?"

Korra cracked a wicked smirk as she lifted her hands to rest on her now cocked hipbone. "Fantastic, but I hope know I'm not going to go easy on you pretty boy."

"Pretty?" He raised an eyebrow in acknowledgement "I'll have you know that I'm more than just a handsome face. It takes a lot to be at the top of your game, but then again that's not something you'd be familiar with, now would you?" His upper lip rose to expose the smile hiding underneath, this settled Korra as she realized that the young man was only teasing her.

Hmm so the astound general likes to talk smack? she thought as she smiled as well. "Oh well I wouldn't have assumed that something so disappointing was the top of your game, but uh," she shrugged slightly turning so that her back now was to Iroh, with a quick glance over her shoulder she looked into his steamy eyes and muttered sarcastically, "I'll take your word for it."

"Are you going to take that?" uttered Tenzin before he had the time to realize what he was saying. "I mean," he cleared his throat before continuing, "Korra, that is no way to speak to the esteemed General Iroh. He is your elder and a master of both firebending and strategic warfare; you should show him the proper respect." Completely content with the salvaging of his dignity, Tenzin snapped his cape in the wind as to add to the dramatic effect of the already awkward situation.

"It's okay Tenzin, I started this, I can take a little fire if I have too. It looks as if I going to have to prove it to you then Korra." He took a step closer to her as he said this. His face was inches from hers now as he spoke, "But only if you're willing to let me." His breath was hot against his face, and his eyes sparkled as if set aflame by her teasing.

Looks like this is going to be a little harder then I thought. I have a feeling I'm going to struggle keeping my mind on the match if he keeps looking at me like that. His eyes stared at her melting her insides with their intensity; she gulped, trying to keep herself from stuttering as she replied, "Bring it on." She hoped he didn't realize how nervous she was; after all he was the head of the United Forces, he had to be real good to have gotten that title so young. But judging by his body language, she assumed he was only doing this to protect his honor as a master and not to take advantage of her inexperience in airbending to show her who was in charge.

"Tenzin, would you be ever so kind as to hold my jacket? You would think that they would make them as to allow movement seeing as they are made for those whose jobs are to fight, but alas." As he slowly unbuttoned his large coat Korra caught glimpses of his athletic torso thru his thin undershirt. "I won't be needing this either if I plan on doing this duel justice." Smiling slightly, his eyes met hers only to be hidden again as he lifted his arms over his head, removing his shirt and exposing his bare chest.

Now that's just cruel she thought, he's just doing this on purpose. I bet it's because I called him cute... He was of a powerful build with no need to flex his muscles being as defined as they were. His legs shifted as he turned to hand the monk his clothing, landing his back clearly in her view. His muscular shoulder blades shifted as he extended his arm to hand off the ball of scrunched up garments. Korra shifted her gaze away from the shirtless Iroh. He's a teacher that's all. He's like Tenzin, exactly like Tenzin, just a teacher and not an incredibly ripped general. She assured herself, gulping, forcing back all the thoughts flowing through her brain.

"Well then, let's begin," said Tenzin, slowly backing away to return to the bench he had been using earlier that evening, "take your places now." Signaling the starting boxes on either side of the practice ring, Tenzin glanced at Korra, then at Iroh to make sure they were situated properly before beginning.

"On the count of three. One... Two... THREE!" He yelled, his cry almost being drowned out by the rushing of air leaving the ring.

-
One's best offense is a strong defense, thought Iroh as he advanced into the ring. He shifted his feet as to move himself along its edge not once removing his focus from the young avatar, who seemed to be mirroring his motions. "Coming from both an elder and a general I will respect your state of inexperience by allowing you to make the first move." He examined her face as her jaw hardened; she raised an eyebrow in acknowledgement. This action drew his attention to her eyes which were staring straight at him. They were a shade of blue that was unfamiliar to him. So captivating... the young general thought as he shook his head slightly to remind himself of the duel his was currently partaking in. Having spent what seemed like ages engulfed in her stare, he finally heard her response.

"It would be my honor." Crossing her legs she bowed slightly in what he recognized as her attempt to impersonate his composure. Rising from her bow he saw her hands rise to ready themselves in front of her torso. She quickly swiped her hands thru the air in front of her releasing gusts of wind directly at him. With an easily executed maneuver he evaded the attack smiling slightly to stress how truly basic this move was to him.

"My turn," he said, surging forward with both fists clenched in front of him; he directed an explosion of fire at the avatar. She evaded this attack effortlessly as having been taught to in her very first airbending lesson. He responded by releasing himself from this stance which was followed by a mutter, "Good, good. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't wasting my time." Shuffling his feet as he went Iroh began throwing fists though the air releasing sharp stings of fire which forced their way across the ring. Again using her new found bobbing and weaving technique she avoided this skillfully placed shots.

He was impressed, for a person who knew how to bend the element she was being bombarded with she was awful good at sticking to just airbending. Her motions had been fluid and effortless, but he knew he was only getting started. Dropping his arms to his sides he released his fists, wiggling his fingers slightly he formed long whips of fire which he then wrapped his hands around. Her eyes widened as they followed the extents of his bending with her eyes. Swinging his arms forward he cracked the stream of fire on the place the avatar had been standing had she not formed an air pocket to shield herself. Quickly he swung both whips horizontally through the air colliding sharply with the side of her makeshift shield. Having been knocked out of her stance Korra was thrown to the ground where she looked up to behold her opponent. He saw her mouth widen with a grin when their eyes met as he continued to take steps to takes steps toward her. He was slowly extending an arm forward to help up the fallen bender, as was custom to do at the end of a duel in the Fire Nation, when he felt his feet give away underneath him. Continuing her motion of spinning her feet underneath her while resting mostly on her hands, Korra launched herself to be the one now standing.

"You thought you could beat me that easy. Ha!" she exclaimed as she looked down on him. Her chestnut hair draped slightly on the sides of her face where it had fallen out of her ponytail. He saw beads of sweat forming on her forehead just under her hairline, but he couldn't tell if these were caused by fatigue or the fire he had been throwing at her. Seeing that her breath was only slightly harder than it had been before the match, Iroh chuckled slightly.

You can do better than that, he thought, Are you going to let her get away without even breaking a sweat? Then grinning, he muttered to himself under his breath, "Let's see how hard we can make her pant."

Korra staggered backwards as the air around her erupted into a ribbon of fire. Struggling to regain her footing she saw as the wall of flames deteriorated exposing the now standing general. She could feel a bead of sweat dripping down the bridge of her nose which she quickly wiped away with the back of her hand. Her eyes met his, fixated as if in a trance she peered deep into them. Korra swore that she could see the flames reflecting in his eyes, their brightness only emphasized the intensity of his gaze. She allowed her eyes to trace down his figure to his bare chest which was now raising and sinking steadily. The setting sun cast a shadow over him as she examined his pecks which stood prominently from the rest of him as he flexed his biceps lifting his hands to his sides. Iroh's hands were gripping two fire daggers as he surged in her direction. Instinctively altering her body to avoid his reach, Korra now stood so that her back was pressed against that of the general. She could feel the heat of his skin burning through her clothing. By Yue she thought, this man is burning up!

Releasing a sound of frustration he spoke, "You remind me of Aang, he seemed to always use this move on my grandfather." Preoccupied by his raspy voice she didn't seem to notice as he wrapped his foot around the back of her ankle. He pulled his foot back causing Korra to lose her balance, which forced her to thrust both arms forward to steady herself. Seconds later she saw him from the corner of her eye charging at her, fists clenched in a ball of flame. Without due time to react she turned sharply and struck him with an open palm.

Time seemed to stop as Iroh slowly lifted his hand to his face, his eyes plastered with a sense of bewilderment. The only sound he was able to muster was a simple, "Uh well..."

"I..I...I didn't um-"she replied, scrambling desperately for something to say.

Tenzin stood off to the side, mouth agape, completely unsure of how to handle the situation.

"Dinner!" rung Pema's shrill voice through the practice field, "Oh General Iroh, I had no idea you were here. Are you planning on staying for dinner?"

Dropping his hands to his bare sides he replied, "Um that would be great but I would hate to be a burden."

"Oh no, not at all! We would be honored to have such a venerable guest to join our humble family for a meal," she smiled politely, "I'll have the chef prepare you a plate."

They began heading to the dinning hall when Tenzin handed Iroh his wrinkled garments sheepishly saying, "You might want to put these back on."