Iroh turned to glance "We'll both have the komodo rhino sausage special with some ginseng tea." His order sparked the waitress out of her surprise "Of course, I'll get right on it sir." Korra watched her scurry off "What's with her exactly? It's not like she really knows what that robot or it's super weapon was like."
The general shrugged "Actually she probably does. After Raiko ordered me to stand down, a Fire Nation camera crew recorded some of the robot's attacks. The footage was actually circulated widely around the Fire Nation."
Korra bristled at that "So instead of Izumi sending her forces to help us fight the Earth Empire, she sent a camera crew? A lot of people could have been killed or imprisoned by Kuvira. Great decision making by the Fire Lord."
Iroh stiffened looking offended "That's not a fair thing to say. I thought you had a better grasp of politics then that. Izumi has to tread very lightly with how she deploys her army, particularly in the Earth Kingdom. Relations there have been volatile ever since the last approach of Sozin's comet. If Izumi had sent her forces in, Kuvira would simply have used it as political ammunition."
Korra flinched as Iroh chided her "You're right, I've never really thought about it like that. I've always preferred to attack things head on. I shouldn't have said that about Izumi." The general smiled "Don't worry about it, I've always admired your directness and I like to think that I have a similar approach. And let's change the subject. What brings you to the Fire Nation?"
She started to answer but hesitated as their food was brought out and set down. "Well, Izumi sent an invitation to Asami mentioning some kind of business and she asked me to come along. Constructing a set of railways and some other stuff they didn't get into." Iroh rubbed his chin "Ah yes, that's something Izumi has been after for a while, did she mention the issue with the volcanoes?"
Korra blinked in surprise "Volcanoes, like active eruptions? "Yes, there's some other issues according to the engineers, but dealing with the lava flows is the real problem. I don't envy the challenge, but I'm sure someone of Miss Sato's ability will find a solution. So Asami is here for that, and you're what, on vacation?"
The avatar paused to take a few more bites and drink some of the tea. She didn't want to really get into what she had been doing since she arrived. "Well, I've never visited the Fire Nation before and I figured it was past time I did so. What about you? I didn't think hunting Red Lotus members is something a United Republic General would concern himself with." "That's true, but I've been taking some leave-" "You're hunting terrorist members while on leave? And I thought I had a hard time relaxing."
Iroh laughed "I suppose I deserve that. But that's over with now, how's your food?" Korra glanced down "It's spicier then what I'm used to, but it is excellent. What did you say this was again?" "Komodo rhino sausage, it's something of a delicacy, komodo rhinos were used in combat during Avatar Aang's time."
"So what are you planning to do after your leave is up? Return to Republic City? Go back to the navy?"
Iroh shook his head "I'm not sure, I've been considering retiring, get married, settle down, that sort of thing."
Korra lifted an eyebrow in response "Well, I'm not sure I'll be much help when it comes to that sort of thing. What would you do, you don't seem the type to sit back and let the world pass by." Iroh shrugged "Don't know, travel the world, find a new hobby. I'm just thinking out loud right now. I'm finished eating, how about you?" Korra looked down at her empty plate "Well, shall we go then?"
After dropping her off at the airship, Iroh kissed her hand "Thank you for a lovely evening Korra, we should do this again sometime." She smiled "It's surprising how different things can be when there isn't an emergency or looming threat." With that, she headed back onto the airship. Iroh didn't leave until she disappeared from view then got back in the satomobile heading off.
"Was that general Iroh Korra?" She turned to see Asami looking at her amused "So, the red dress huh? And here was I was hoping I'd be the one you broke it in with." Korra's cheeks colored, embarrassed "It was just dinner, Iroh said it was a formal wear restaurant so I figured this would work. There wasn't anything to it other then that."
Asami laughed "It's all right, I know you wouldn't do anything like that to me. You do realize he's interested in you right?" Korra's face got even redder "What do you mean he's interested in me? We're friends, nothing more."
Asami leaned back in her chair "That might be true on your end, but what kind of things did he say tonight? Compliments, flattery, any kind of innuendo? What did you eat?" Korra seated herself across the table from the other woman "He did say I looked beautiful or stunning a few times. He mentioned …. retiring and getting married. And I ate … some kind of sausage dish." She buried her face in her hands "I'm such an idiot, it's so obvious now that you point it out, but it completely went over my head."
Asami rose from her chair and made her way over to kneel by Korra grasping her hands "It's all right really. All this means is that you have more to learn. And to be honest, I'm a little proud. A man like Iroh would be a fine catch for just about any other woman and he's interested in you. That speaks well to who you are as a person. Come on, let's go to bed."
Lying in bed, Korra felt herself relaxing as Asami's arms slid about her waist again. Iroh was interested in her. The thought had never occurred to her, all of their previous meetings were in the middle of a war. She had always been focused on the upcoming battles at the time. It seemed his attention had been more divided then she realized. "So, what should I do Asami? Tell him about us, say I'm not interested, ignore it?" Asami shifted before giving a sleepy response "I'll figure something out, but not tonight. Go to sleep Korra."
By the time Korra woke up the next morning, Asami was already gone. There was a note on the dresser. She picked it up 'I'll handle General Iroh so don't worry about that. Some of the local firebending masters asked me if you would visit their school today. I believe they wanted to test some of their students against you. One of the students will be waiting for you outside. I'll see you this evening. -Asami'
Korra glanced out the window to see what time it was. After the previous night, she didn't feel like eating any kind of meat so she simply ate some noodles. Upon leaving the airship, she saw a skinny lad standing about "Avatar Korra?" "That's me, are you the student from the firebending school?" He nodded and started moving with the occasional glance over his shoulder to make sure she was still with him.
The academy was pretty spartan both in design and appearance. A large open square surrounded by some unusually high walls. She noticed scorch marks at random spots on the wall, that explained the height. Something seemed off to her for a moment before she realized there wasn't any kind of wooden objects, plants or anything that could burn in sight. Just stone and people.
An elderly man approached her bowing as he placed a fist into the other hand's palm "Greetings Avatar Korra, I am Luzon the master here. It is an honor to welcome you to the Iba Academy. This school was founded by Jeong Jeong after the end of the hundred year war."
Korra returned the gesture "Thank you for having me. Jeong Jeong was one of Avatar Aang's teachers for a time wasn't he?" Luzon grunted amused "He was, though it did not go well for the two of them. You'll find Jeong Jeong's teachings were more successful here. I've heard rumors you can bend metal, like the people living in the city of Zaofu. There are also tales of some earthbenders being able to bend lava as well, though I don't believe it."
Korra stuck her hands behind her back "I can bend metal yes, but there are limits to it. Platinum for instance can't be bent by anyone, not even Toph Beifong. And the tales of lavabenders are true, though there's only one, maybe two people in the world who can do it. My friend Bolin is one, and I believe I may have seen Toph doing it as well."
Luzon laughed "The ironies of this world, The Fire Nation lives in a land of volcanoes that can defeat the likes of Avatar Roku. And yet it is the Earthbenders who have the ability to master them. It makes me wonder if we truly should be living apart." He shook his head abruptly "Forgive me, you didn't come here to listen to me ramble. Ifuago! Where are you?"
A tall figure broke away from some of the nearby students "Yes Master Luzon?" "The Avatar is here, I leave her in your hands. You know what I expect to be seeing." Ifuago bowed "As you will it." Ifuago turned towards her, he was fairly stocky for his height towering over Korra by half a foot or so. "You know, you're shorter then I expected." He grinned "But we'll see what you can do, it's said you bend metal. We've never had the chance to spar against anyone capable of it."
Korra lifted an eyebrow, she wasn't that short. "Yes I'm a metalbender, though I hope you brought some for me to use." Ifuago pointed towards a wicker basket set nearby "It's mostly scrap, but I think it should suffice for this." Korra headed over taking the top off and looking inside. She levitated a few pieces out contorting and twisting them to test their malleability. "These will work fine, so how many people am I sparring today?"
"We have ten of our top students that Master Luzon granted permission for this. Each round lasts five minutes or until someone loses control of their footing. That typically means falling to one's knees or losing all points of contact with the ground."
Korra nodded "Seems simple enough. Whose first?" The first student stepped forward looking somewhat nervous but eager enough. The first few rounds were a little shaky for her, she wasn't familiar with this particular style of firebending. Most of the firebenders she had trained against before preferred to plant themselves before they threw their attacks. These were much more agile, never fixing themselves to the ground, instead always throwing their attacks as they moved.
She still was able to work her way through them, the last two pushed her into the final minute. Then, her last opponent, Ifuago was up. She eyed him for a moment 'I'm not that short.' before attacking first. Her best strategy thus far had been to use a thinned out sheet to deflect their attack then weave it into a kind of net and countering towards their legs. Her first attempt was easily dodged as he simply spun over it throwing a vertical flame strike. Korra spun to the side sending two half circles forward looking to catch either one of his arms.
The firebender was far quicker then she had expected as he dropped to the ground in a vertical pushup position. She anticipated his next attack, a horizontal flame kick as he pivoted on his hands. She snared one wrist and leapt over the flame easily enough. Pinning his hand to the ground and trapping him in place was easy enough after that.
Ifuago's face contorted angrily as he moved his free hand in a pattern she vaguely recognized seeing Mako do. Oh no. The burst of lightning came before she had time to dodge. The impact drove Korra down to her knees Every nerve in her body came alive at once, and her hair sprayed outwards from the charge. Without thinking about it, she flung one hand upwards to the sky. There was a rumbling sound then silence.
After a moment, she heard Luzon shouting and the sound of someone getting hit "You disgrace our school with such behavior. How dare you behave like this towards a guest, the Avatar no less." Korra staggered back to her feet "Wait, stop hitting him."
She heard footsteps "Are you all right Avatar Korra? I apologize for my student's behavior, he'll be living on the streets after this." She shook her head "Ifuago's never lost to anyone before has he? It's a hard thing to accept defeat for the first time, but even I've lost battles. What matters is how he behaves after today. And the fault is partly mine as well, I've never faced a lightning bender before."
Luzon remained silent for a long moment "It shall be as you say Avatar. There is wisdom in your words that even an old man like me can forget. Do you need a doctor?" Korra shook her head standing up "No, I'm a little rattled, but I'll be fine. Though I will need someone to guide me back to my airship. I still don't know my way around this city."
