Iroh's Day
Original A/N:January was Hot Tea Month, and therefore Iroh month. So, I wrote a little story, inspired by Ruhi-Chan's art, but it took a while to get it all together. I know these pairings may not be everyone's favorites, but they are mine, and I'm open to all. So, please don't judge except to critique the work and help me become a better writer. New A/N: the document manager said it copied correctly. This was posted on Deviant Art many years ago and I realized I never posted it here. I will be looking for the originals, but don't remember which flash drive they're on. I'll keep an eye to make sure they copy correctly. Thank you for the reviews letting me know it didn't post correctly the first time.
Iroh sighed as he set a few more pots onto the stove before going to the cupboard to get the tea leaves for the orders that Jin had brought back. Everything, everyone, was in turmoil, and they had all come to him to sort it out. He had obviously separated the ones most likely to fight. Toph, Zuko and Aang had been sent upstairs to his living quarters while Katara and Suki had been moved to the front of the shop with Ty Lee, Mai and Sokka at the rear of the shop while Jin and Song ran orders around the full business.
As Iroh waited for the water to boil, he turned and looked out into the shop. Katara and Suki were talking amiably and Suki was shooting worried glances towards Sokka and was occasionally glaring at Ty Lee. The Kyoshi warrior had apparently stumbled upon the scene of Toph sprawled on top of Sokka with both of them blushing. Ty Lee had told Suki that Sokka wanted to see her and they had happened on the scene together, though Suki had said that Ty Lee looked a little too smug as Suki had started to ask Sokka and Toph what had happened.
According to Toph and Sokka, nothing had happened. Toph had been teasing Sokka like she usually did, and then Sokka had turned around and picked Toph up and placed her on an ostrich horse to which she had immediately jumped off and landed on top of Sokka, knocking him down. Both had been blushing at the awkward encounter, and that had been when Suki and Ty Lee had come. Sokka had been looking for Suki, and when Ty Lee had failed to come back within an hour, he had sought out Toph to find his girlfriend. According to Sokka, he had been about to surprise Suki with an engagement necklace by their favorite fountain, but he couldn't find her.
Iroh shook his head and turned back to take two of the kettles off to make two batches of jasmine for his other customers. Toph was angry that Suki had insinuated that she would do anything to get between the Kyoshi warrior and her boyfriend. Turning around to give the tea to Jin, Iroh saw Mai pull out a knife and clean her cuticles with its tip. The problem between Mai and Zuko was always the same. The young Fire Lord spent far too much time worrying about his country and people and not enough time with his girlfriend. Mai took it silently, trying to be encouraging, but it grew until it blew up and they fought. It had been that way for the four years since the end of the war, but the fights were becoming more frequent and still Zuko had yet to propose to Mai.
Iroh called Song into the kitchen and had her finish the other teas as he placed a kettle of jasmine onto a tray with four cups and started heading up to his living quarters. The problem of Aang and Katara was simple. Aang had been trying to tell Katara that he loved her and wanted to marry her and had said the wrong thing. Katara had misinterpreted it and stormed away. Now she was looking guilty downstairs while Aang had come straight to Iroh, hanging his head in shame. As Iroh rested on the top of the stairs, he was surprised to hear laughing. And not just any laughter, but his dear nephew's laugher, a rare sound indeed.
Hurrying into the main room, Iroh was surprised to find Toph on top of Zuko with the poor Fire Lord writhing in laughter as the petite earthbender tickled his sides. Zuko was obviously trying to get Toph to stop and get off of him, but was unable to do so. The Avatar was laughing in the corner and wiped his eye when he spotted Iroh.
"And how did this happen?" Iroh asked, raising an eyebrow to Toph as his nephew tried to get Toph off of him neatly, but was still unsuccessful.
Toph turned to Iroh with a grin, pausing a moment in her tickling, but stopped Zuko from getting her off of him by pinning his arms to the ground with her legs.
"He asked for it," she said and Iroh couldn't help but smile at her. Toph had grown into a beautiful young woman who all men loved. But they all wanted the wrong thing and hated that she spoke up for herself and was loud and brash. Only her friends knew who she really was and she had come to Iroh many times over the past four years with boy troubles, often crying her lovely green eyes out as one man or another hurt her with words.
Iroh set the tray down and poured the tea as Toph continued to tickle the Fire Lord who was in the simple clothes of an Earth Kingdom citizen. Zuko hated being formal when he visited his uncle in Ba Sing Sae. He said he liked to be just a teenager when he visited and his uncle and friends allowed him to be that way. At home, he was always Fire Lord, no matter what he wore or where he went.
"Toph, the tea is perfect," Iroh said as he sat at the table with his cup of tea.
Instantly Toph was there, picking up her glass and sinking into the chair next to Iroh. She inhaled the steam and sighed happily as Aang sat on Iroh's other side, still wiping tears away from laughing at Zuko's condition. Iroh sat up and saw his dear nephew still sprawled on the floor, just getting his breath back. Zuko turned his face to Iroh and smiled slightly, letting his uncle know he was all right.
"So, what's the remedy today?" Toph asked after she sipped her tea.
Iroh sighed. "It is one very large mess. Aang," he said, turning to the young Avatar. "You must go to Katara and take her someplace special, some place romantic, and tell her how you feel, plainly and simply. Then, you can propose to her."
Aang nodded and Iroh smiled, knowing the Avatar could do the right thing. Aang drank the last of his tea and rose, hurrying out of the room and down the stairs. Iroh felt better when Toph turned towards him and winked. She would know the young couple's every movement within a half mile and apparently Aang had done the right thing with Katara. Iroh turned to Toph.
"Toph, you need to tell Suki that it was nothing." He saw her open her mouth to protest and he quickly continued. "Without getting angry. They have been dating for four years and still he has not proposed. It has been a trying time for both of them, especially with the passing of Suki's father three months past."
Toph nodded and lowered her face so that her bangs hid her expression. "Snoozles has always been a slow one in some areas."
"Let's not forget that Suki knew about your crush on him," Zuko called out from the ground.
Iroh smiled as he heard Toph stomp her foot down followed by a muffled yelp from his nephew. He quickly hid it as Zuko sat up and glared at the earthbender who was calmly sipping her tea. The young Fire Lord turned to Iroh and scowled at him before falling to lie back on the floor.
"Zuko, your tea is cooling," Iroh said calmly, knowing he had not hid his smile completely from his nephew.
"You can have it," Zuko said dully.
"What's up with you?" Toph asked. "You wouldn't answer earlier, will you do it now?"
"How long have you liked Sokka?" Zuko spat back. "You wouldn't answer that."
Iroh watched the tension between his two favorite people. His beloved nephew had always been a moody one, but something seemed to have Zuko on edge.
"If I answer, will you answer me?" Toph asked and Iroh was surprised to hear softness and uncertainty in the blind earthbender's voice.
"Yeah," Zuko sighed.
Toph set her teacup down and Iroh refilled it, waiting to see what would happen. He had thought he had done some good by setting the two friends in the same room. They had been laughing when he arrived and Zuko had always gotten along better with Toph than any of the others. But now, he could see tension boiling under the surface of the two.
"A year," Toph sighed.
Iroh watched as Zuko sat up instantly. He looked shocked, but was starting to frown.
"I only liked him for a year," Toph said with a scowl. "I knew he loved Suki, and I got over him. Ok? Happy?!"
The old firebender continued to watch as Zuko immediately got up and sat in the chair next to Toph. Zuko's gaze never left Toph, and seemed to get more intense until finally Toph brought her head up and frowned at Zuko.
"Your turn," she nearly growled.
Zuko merely leaned back and seemed to remember Iroh was in the room when Iroh took a sip of tea. He looked nervous and glanced between Toph and his uncle several times before he sighed and raked a hand through his hair. Iroh noticed that it was past Zuko's shoulders now, and almost fell to his mid back, but Zuko had kept it well trimmed.
"Mai's not the right one," Zuko said quietly and both Iroh and Toph set their teacups down, studying Zuko in whatever way they could. Iroh thought his nephew looked both relieved and nervous, and if the two emotions could possibly coincide, they did just then. The young Fire Lord was sweating slightly, but he also looked more at peace than he had since he arrived in Ba Sing Sae.
"Does she know this?" Iroh asked calmly as Toph continued to stare at Zuko in shock.
Zuko turned to his uncle and nodded. "Yeah, we fought, again. But I didn't have the…heart, to break it off."
"You mean the courage," Toph said with a small smirk, her body finally relaxing.
The Fire Lord scowled at Toph, and Iroh smiled slightly. Toph could tease and cajole Zuko back into a good mood, no matter what the situation was.
"Care to explain?" Iroh asked as Toph smirked at Zuko and the Fire Lord continued to frown at the earthbender.
"Mai gave him…terms, when they got together again," Toph said, her smirk growing when Zuko remained silent.
Zuko was instantly up and had picked Toph out of her chair, slinging the smaller girl over his shoulder and started tickling her feet before she could fight back.
"Hey…stop…Zuko!" Toph screamed between laughs as she tried to get down, but Iroh could only chuckle as Toph continued to try to get out of Zuko's hold, but failed miserably. Zuko was nearly twice Toph's height and at least twice her weight, and had more practice in hand to hand combat that Toph did.
"She did no such thing," Zuko said with a slight smile as he continued to tickle Toph.
"Oh…really? Then how…come…you won't…break…up?" Toph asked between laughs before she managed to wrap and arm around Zuko's arm and loosen his grip a little.
"No, little Bandit," Zuko said as he turned towards Iroh and smiled at his uncle. "Why do you have to know?"
Iroh was laughing harder as Zuko enjoyed himself, though they both knew Toph would make them pay for it later. Toph suddenly stopped struggling, though she was still laughing and Iroh saw the reason Toph had stopped and Zuko suddenly started frowning and stopped tickling Toph. Iroh held back a cough and took a sip of tea as he saw Mai, Ty Lee, Suki and Sokka at the entryway, Mai frowning and tapping her foot.
"Suki, there's nothing going on between me and Sokka," Toph said, still over Zuko's shoulder. "Snoozles, tell her, I can't feel anything."
Iroh watched with mild amusement as Sokka nodded and gulped before turning to Suki, taking the girl's hands in his and pulling something out of his pocket as he kneeled before Suki. Zuko was getting paler as he stood with Toph still over his shoulder and his back to the entryway as Sokka placed the item he had in Suki's hand.
"Suki, I know we've been though a lot lately," Sokka said nervously. "But, will you marry me?"
Suki stared in shock down at her boyfriend and then glanced at Ty Lee.
"He asked me to get you and take you to the Kyoshi fountain," the gymnast said with a shrug. "I guessed he might do this."
Suki turned to Toph, but the earthbender stayed silent, obviously still blind to what was happening.
"I asked Toph to find you," Sokka said. "When Ty Lee couldn't. But Toph had to tease me, she's such a little sister sometimes."
"Snoozles speaks the truth," Toph sighed.
Iroh grinned as Suki bent down and kissed Sokka soundly. "Yes, yes, a thousand times yes," she said happily before she kissed him again. Ty Lee hugged them both excitedly as Sokka stood up.
"Drinks on me," the gymnast said before she started pulling Sokka and Suki down the stairs. She looked back at Mai. "You coming, Mai?"
Iroh watched as Zuko's face went completely pale and he started sweating, again.
"Not yet, I need to resolve my dilemma," Mai stated with a small frown.
Ty Lee nodded and then bounded down the stairs.
"When did you plan on telling me about this?" Mai asked, gesturing to Toph from behind Zuko.
Iroh wisely kept quiet and hid his smile behind another sip of tea as Zuko slowly turned to Mai and he saw Toph grinning in a relaxed way, still over Zuko's shoulder. The Fire Lord immediately set Toph down and the earthbender moved quickly to sit next to Iroh again.
"Mai…" Zuko started, but Mai simply frowned more and Zuko became quiet.
"A few simple words," Mai said, anger showing on her face, making her silver eyes look like daggers. "A few words was all it would take!"
"You know very well why," Zuko gritted out between his teeth and Iroh noticed he was stiff, his shoulders set. It was the start of another fight.
"Fine, you want me gone, I'm gone," Mai said before she turned to the stairway. She looked back over her shoulder and glared at Zuko once more. "Besides, you never have enough time for me, and I found someone who wants me, not just a pretty girl on his arm."
Zuko's shoulders dropped and Iroh knew his nephew was shocked by the turn of events. Iroh wondered if what Mai had said was a ploy to get Zuko back, but what was said next clarified everything.
"It's over? You ended it?" Zuko simply asked.
Mai stopped before she descended the stairs. "Yes, it's over and I ended it. Good luck, Zuko, and tell that girl how you feel." She turned back and gave a small smile to Zuko before she went downstairs.
The Fire Lord merely turned back to the table, his face showing shock and disbelief as he sat down next to Toph. Iroh poured hot tea into Zuko's cup, which the old firebender had emptied, not wanting good tea to go to waste. Zuko immediately picked up his glass and emptied the cup in one swig. Iroh frowned, knowing tea should be savored, but poured another glass. His nephew was obviously still in shock.
"She ended it," Zuko said dully before a smile started tugging at his mouth. "She ended it."
"Yeah, we all witnessed," Toph sighed. "Or rather, Uncle witnessed, I heard. But what was that last part for?"
Iroh watched cautiously as Zuko turned his gaze onto Toph and then a mischievous spark entered the young man's eyes as Zuko got up. Iroh expected his nephew to trap Toph again, but what Zuko did next shocked both Toph and Iroh. The young Fire Lord bent down and kissed Toph soundly. The blind earthbender froze, not knowing, or understanding until she finally pushed Zuko away and glared at him.
"What was that for?! I will not be a rebound girl!" Toph shouted, standing and pointing her finger into Zuko's chest angrily.
"You aren't," Zuko said simply. He sighed and sank into his chair as Iroh continued to watch the drama unfold. If he needed to step in, he would, but they needed to get a few things out into the open first. "Toph, you've always been there for me, and I realized recently that…that Mai wasn't the right one. You are."
Iroh turned to Toph and saw her freeze in shock. Apparently his nephew had spoken the truth, but knowing Toph, she wouldn't take this easily.
"And what?" she asked with an edge to her tone. "You think I would give up everything to live in a gilded cage?! I did that for plenty of years and I will not do it again! I like my life here, and just because some hothead who couldn't even break up with his old girlfriend thinks I'm the right one thinks he can come here and charm me, well, it won't work!"
She was still angry and turned her back to Zuko at the last, but Iroh saw her trembling and she was biting her lip, obviously holding something back. Zuko turned pleading eyes to Iroh and the old firebender sighed and nodded.
"Toph, you recently told me you liked an old friend, and have liked that one for quite a while," Iroh said calmly. "But nothing could happen. What if something could happen? Would you just give up on it?"
It was Zuko's turn to look shocked and then angry.
"Who is it?" Zuko growled. "Who's Uncle talking about?"
Iroh saw Toph start to smile, still with her back to Zuko. The Fire Lord stood and loomed over Toph, but she refused to turn back towards him. "Who is it?" Zuko growled. "Is he here? Do I know him?!"
"Yes, he's here and you know him," Toph said with a small smirk. Anger was still in her tone, but she was starting to enjoy teasing Zuko.
"Is it Haru?" Zuko asked. Toph shook her head in denial and Zuko looked relieved for a second. "Teo? Pipsqueak? Come on Toph, tell me!"
"He's a bender," Toph replied, obviously enjoying withholding the information.
Zuko turned pleading eyes to his uncle again, but Iroh merely sighed and saw Song come into the entryway.
"I'm needed below," Iroh said as he stood. "Toph, don't tease him too badly."
With that, he took the tray and handed it to his assistant before following her back to the kitchen. As he descended the stairs, he heard Zuko ask another question.
"How long have you known this guy?!"
"Four years, dum-dum." Toph retorted.
"Earthbender? Waterbender?! Not airbender!" Zuko started saying, getting louder as Iroh descended the last few stairs.
"It's you, you stupid jerkbender!" Toph yelled back and then silence reigned.
Iroh smiled, knowing they could sort it out on their own. He stopped when Song turned to him.
"You have a few guests and the only other guests are your friends and another who came back with the dark-haired girl. Mai, right?" Song said and Iroh nodded. The young woman smiled. "Also, does Jin know who your nephew is? I mean, she knows, but does she believe he's the…"
"Now, now, my dear Song," Iroh said with a smile, interrupting the girl before she could say Zuko's title. "We don't use titles here, you know that. I believe she does know, but she still sees the young man named Li who took her out on a date."
"And stole my ostrich horse," Song said with a wry smile.
"And he paid for it ten times over once the war ended," Iroh replied with a grin.
"Well, your friends and guests are waiting for you," Song said with a sweet smile as she set down the tray of teacups Iroh had given her before handing Iroh a new tray. The old firebender smiled as he smelled white dragon tea and took it to the front. There, he was surprised, but happy, to find Jeong Jeong, Piandoa and Bumi at the Pai Sho table as Katara excitedly hugged an unfamiliar young man.
Mai seemed actually happy next to the stranger and Iroh noticed both Suki and Katara had new necklaces on and all the youths appeared happy, though the stranger was a little shocked as he was flanked by Song's boyfriend, Pipsqueak and his friends, Longshot and Smellerbee. The old firebender walked over to his guests at the Pai Sho table as the young people caught up and he caught snatches of "Jet", "alive" and the Avatar and his friends relayed the end of the war to their newfound companion.
"A lot of action," Bumi remarked with a grin.
"Yes, a lot has happened today," Iroh sighed as he set the tea down and poured his friends some tea, as well as a glass for himself.
"Where's your nephew?" Jeong Jeong asked after moving a tile against Bumi and looking around the shop.
"Upstairs, taking care of some…business," Iroh replied with a smile.
Bumi grinned at Iroh, though Piandoa and Jeong Jeong just glanced at Iroh, the old admiral merely shrugging as they watched Bumi place another tile. Iroh just enjoyed the tea and game as Bumi slowly beat Jeong Jeong. Once the game was finished, Bumi having beaten the admiral, Iroh glanced around the shop and saw Jin talking with Song and Katara as Mai talked with Suki and the stranger, Jet, taking in a relaxed way with Sokka and Aang, though he stayed close to Mai. But Zuko and Toph had not appeared yet, and several people were starting to question where the two friends were.
"I will go check on my nephew," Iroh said after he finished the last of his tea and slowly got up, feeling the ache in his knees more often now than he had before. He knew he was getting older, and he had hoped to see some grand nephews and nieces before he passed. Though he had hoped Mai could provide those, he was now happy that there was a great possibility Toph could. But Zuko had better be quick about courting the earthbender, or Iroh very well might have to ask Toph to take control.
He rested on the top of the stairs again, but this time, he didn't hear laughter. Instead, he heard nothing and hoped that the pair had not skipped out on him. Iroh got his breath back and hurried into his apartment. The front room was empty, so he hurried to the bedrooms, looking into the closest first. That was empty, and before he moved on, he heard laughter from the back, Toph's room, and it was Toph's laughter. The retired general heard other people coming up the stairs and looked back. He smiled when he saw that Katara, Aang, Sokka, Suki and even Jin had come up. Iroh placed a finger to his lips to signify silence and the youths nodded. He then started to creep towards Toph room, occasionally hearing laughter from both Toph and Zuko. Aang was soon behind him and after a shared smile, they opened the door and found Toph holding the Fire Lord down to her bed and kissing him soundly.
"Nice one, Toph," Aang said with a grin and Iroh could only chuckle as Zuko instantly pulled away from Toph and stared in shock at his uncle and friend before he glared at Toph as the others appeared behind Iroh, almost pushing the general into the room.
"Toph," Zuko growled, but the earthbender merely laughed.
"I though it would be a nice surprise for them, and Mai too. Hi Mai!" Toph called, still keeping her face turned towards Zuko.
"Glad to see it all worked out," Mai said dully from behind Iroh and the old firebender chuckled as Zuko's cheeks turned crimson.
"Ah, you're blushing, how cute," Toph said with a smile. "I think they'd like us downstairs now. Right, Uncle?"
"Yes, apparently it has turned into a celebration, and we should celebrate this as well," Iroh said with a grin. "Drinks on me. Jin, there's some sake in the top counter. A special brew of mine." He turned and saw Jin looking slightly disappointed, but she smiled at Iroh and nodded, disappearing to head downstairs again.
"Come on people, back downstairs," Katara said as she started herding everyone back down to the tea shop. Iroh waited and knew Toph was waiting from her smile as the group headed back downstairs. Once he was sure everyone was gone, Iroh turned to give his nephew an inquisitive look.
"So?" Iroh asked.
Zuko glanced up at Toph and smiled. "So…I have a new girlfriend."
"Why don't we go down and celebrate with everyone else," Toph said with a smile to Zuko.
"Sounds good," Zuko replied before turning to his uncle. "Give us one more minute."
Iroh nodded. "Don't take longer than ten, or I'll send Bumi up to get you."
"We'll be there, Uncle," Toph replied and bent down to kiss Zuko again. Iroh wisely left and headed downstairs to find a full party going on.
"So," Bumi said as he appeared at Iroh's side. "Your nephew finally stepped up."
"Actually, Mai ended it," Iroh said with a smile. "And Zuko started it with Toph. Though she did tease him a bit before she gave in. You owe me."
Sighing, Bumi pulled out a bad of gold and handed it to Iroh. Before the general could open it to count it, a small hand grabbed the bag and Toph bounced it on her hand.
"Bumi, you owe him five more," Toph said as she dove a hand into the bag and then pulled out a handful. "And this is my cut."
"Hey, what's this?" Zuko asked as he appeared behind Toph.
"A bet, on you," Toph told the Fire Lord with a grin and Iroh wisely kept his mouth shut as anger started showing on Zuko's face. "Don't worry, Uncle won."
"And I did too," Zuko said quietly to Toph and Iroh smiled as the earthbender blushed before Zuko met his uncle's eyes and nodded once before moving into the front room to talk with Sokka and the stranger.
Iroh watched as the stranger tensed while Zuko approached him and suddenly recognized the young man as the one who had befriended Zuko on the ferry and then attacked them in the tea shop. After a few quiet words with Sokka and Aang there, nodding their acceptance, both the new addition and Zuko relaxed and started talking. Toph remained at Iroh's side as Bumi left to grab a glass of sake.
"Not too bad for meddling, huh?" Toph asked, keeping her gaze towards the young Fire Lord.
Iroh glanced at her and saw her cheeks turn a nice shade of pink when Zuko glanced back at her and smiled.
"No, a dire situation has turned into a party. Not a bad way to end the day. Especially after how it began this morning."
Toph flashed a grin at Iroh and leaned towards him, lowering her voice. "So, you up for another bet?"
"And what would be the odds for this bet?" Jeong Jeong said from behind Iroh.
The old general smiled sheepishly, but Toph continued to grin. "I say Hothead there asks me within six months," Toph stated and brought out a bag from her pocket. "Two hundred."
Iroh whistled appreciatively, but kept it low so that his nephew wouldn't investigate.
"A year," Jeong Jeong stated.
"No, you'll ask him before the year," Iroh said and Toph just smiled.
"Done," Toph said and gave the money to Piandoa to hold.
"What was that girl talking about?" Piandoa asked.
"How long it will take for my nephew to ask for her hand in marriage," Iroh said with a smile as he watched Toph walk up to the young men and wrap and arm around Zuko's waist. "Even if I lose, it has already been worth it."
"And I say a year until you have mini Zuko's running around," Jeong Jeong said with a smile as he added another fifty gold pieces to the stash.
"Longer," Iroh said and added his money before he joined his nephew and friends in celebrating two engagements and two new relationships.