Zutara Week- Youth
"Youth these days, they don't even know love when they see it", the water bending master grumbled as he sipped his tea. Iroh and Pakku were spying on Zuko and Katara through a window, which was cleverly concealed by a leafy tree and the fact that they had the advantage of elevation.
"They are too young to understand what they are feeling, Pakku. Give it time, they will soon confess their feelings and marry!" Iroh sighed dreamingly.
"Confess their feelings and marry? Ridiculous! Can you see the tension between them? It's made of bricks!" Pakku half yelled half whispered while gesturing at the pair sitting by the pond and talking about who-knows-what. Katara then scotched to sit in front of Zuko and placed a hand over his shoulder.
"Is this the moment?" Iroh gasped. He leaned closer to the window sill in anticipation for a steamy kiss.
Zuko leaned back on the tree and Katara placed her hands back on her lap, much to the disappointment of Iroh. He slouched back on a nearby chair, looking deflated.
"That was the twelfth time they had come this close and didn't kiss!" he moaned.
"At this rate, they will never marry. Why not make a forced marriage? They love each other anyway" Pakku glanced back at the pair, they were having a heart-to-heart on something that made them blush, but neither had they moved closer. He was sure that Zuko even bowed his head; yes, he is really an idiot.
"No, no, no! They must realise their feelings for each other themselves before they marry! Love is not to be rushed!" Pakku grunted his disagreement, but privately he hadn't the heart to impose a marriage upon the lovers either.
"Well, we have to do something soon, they are ripe for marriage for crying out loud, I can't stand watching them beating around the snow!" Suddenly, Iroh's eyes lit up like a lantern. Pakku raised his eyebrow, he had the 'I had discovered some amazing plan' look on his face.
"That's it! I have an excellent idea! No one said anything about speeding up the love process, did they? I am a fool for not having thought of this before!"
"Oh, just spit it out, Iroh!" He had better talk, before Pakku would splash him in the face with this steaming hot tea.
"We add a tiny portion of rum to their tea! It's genius!"
"WHAT?" Pakku bended out a tea flavoured ice dagger out of his cup, ready to knock the mad old man out. He had a sneaking suspicion that Iroh was drunk, stupidly drunk.
"So, you disagree?" Iroh narrowed his eyes.
"You're crazy" Pakku growled back.
"Well, then may the best bender win!" Iroh spurted a volley of flames from his fist and dashed out the room, dazing Pakku before he sprinted after him.
….
Abrupt ending, but I'm already late for the next prompt! I always wanted to write more about Pakku and Iroh, they would make a great bending duo.