Iroh sat on the narrow bed of Katara's guest room, elbows resting on his knees, with his head in his hands. He was using the same breathing technique that he'd learned to calm his seasickness. In for ten. Hold. Out for ten. Hold. Will the world to stop spinning.
And again.
As he breathed, he tried to put his whirling thoughts in order. He had kissed Asami. Kissed, and then some. She had kissed him back. And then some. He had said something stupid. She had said…
Nothing. Asami had said nothing.
On top of it all, the world's most legendary waterbender, also an intimate family friend, knew all about it. She had probably spent the last ten minutes telling Asami embarrassing stories about him. Oh, and a cloud of dark spirits was rushing down the mountainside to kill them all.
Come to think of it, there was the bright spot. He might not have to face Asami or Katara at all. Perhaps he could stay right here, locked in this room, until it was time to die.
In for ten. Hold. Out for ten. Hold.
Slowly, Iroh could feel his pulse return to normal. His pulse, and other things.
The truth was that he'd never done anything remotely like that before. He was usually so in control of himself. He'd had his share of relationships, despite having moved around quite a bit, and although nothing had lasted he liked to think that he'd at least always been a gentleman about it. He'd never once just… jumped in like that. But with the light and the fear and the probable end of the world, in that moment kissing Asami had somehow changed from a highly desired activity to a complete necessity.
Even worse, Iroh had no idea how to judge Asami's reaction. She had clearly kissed him back, and he had been the one to break away, not her. But the look on her face when they did so told a different story. Something in her eyes. Confusion? Disappointment? Whatever it was, it hadn't been encouraging, and however that stung him the last thing Iroh wanted was to go where he wasn't wanted.
In for ten...
"Iroh!" He heard Katara calling from the hall. It sounded urgent, but there was no way the spirits could be here already. He lifted his head.
"Iroh!" he heard again, closer. "Stop hiding in there and come help Miss Sato and I go kick some spirit butt. I know you can't waterbend, but she tells me she still has a use for you."
What?
Iroh got to his feet and opened the door. Katara stood at the end of the hall, belting two hide pouches Iroh knew contained her bending water into a pair of crisscrossed bandoliers. Behind her in the kitchen he could see Asami, hair bound up in a high ponytail, strapping on her electric Equalist glove. They were clearly prepping for a fight, but how could they possibly stand a chance against so many dark spirits? It had taken him and Asami everything they had to fend off only one, and they had only barely gotten away.
"There you are," said Katara. "Come on. Your Miss Sato here had an idea, and we're going to go check it out. Also, I'm demoting you." Iroh blinked. He was so confused. "Miss Sato is the general now. It's her idea; she's in charge. You listen to her. Got it, soldier?"
"Uh."
"Good," said Katara. "Let's go."