~Chapter 3~

~Live and Let Die~

Bolin stopped Korra before she entered the locker room. Korra tilted her head. "What's up Bo?"

"Um, I was wondering if we could not tell Mako about your prince."
Korra raised an eyebrow. "Ok…why?"
"Well, I don't want him getting all protective and saying you can't play, I mean he is team captain and he might feel weird having a princess on the team." Bolin scratched the back of his head. "He's got a weird thing about the royal family."

"That's weird." Korra crossed her arms. "You already told him something didn't you?"

Bolin gave her a guilty grin. "Yeah, I told him that our date went fine but you said you had your eye on this one guy you've known since you were fourteen and might be somewhere in the city and that you really just wanted to stay friends with me and I said that I was really cool with that."

"You couldn't admit you asked a married woman out on a date." Korra was suddenly struck with the urge to burst out laughing.
Bolin hung his head. "No."

Korra took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Well it's not ideal but security wise it's probably best." She thought about what little she knew of Iroh's work. "I don't need to anymore attention to me or to him." She looked Bolin in the eyes. "But if Mako asks I will tell him the truth. We don't need to keep secrets between team mates, not when it's public record anyway."

"What's public record?" Mako asked walking passed.

"Nothing important!" Yelled Bolin before Korra could answer.

Mako gave the two a queer look then shrugged. "Well ok then."

.o.

The crowd roared as the elements flew across the arena. Iroh, who had never really watched a live match before, was engrossed. It was down to the final seconds and while the whole game had been a nail biter these last moments were really something. It was in literally the last second the Fire Ferrets scored the goal they needed to push the game into over time. Iroh cheered with the rest of the crowd until he realized he had forgotten about the flowers in his hand. The bouquet was a little worse for wear at this late point in the game. He cringed, mentally berating himself for damaging them.

"Well a few of them are ok." He said to himself surveying the damage. "Maybe I can just pick those out."

Someone tapped him on the shoulder and looked over at men dressed in an usher's uniform. The guy was breathing heavy and had a crumpled uniform.

"Are you General Iroh of the First Fleet?"
"Yes?"

"You have a call out in the hall. It sounds urgent."

Iroh nodded and fallowed the Usher out into the hall and picked up the phone. "General Iroh here."

~General? This is Captain Ling-Tu of the Medusa. We have an issue and need you back a.s.a.p.~

Iroh sighed. "I understand. I'll be there as soon as I can."

He hung up the phone and looked at the sad flowers. "Sorry Korra, but I'll have to explain what happened to these later."

Using his impressive sneaking skills he was able to slip into the Fire Ferrets Locker room leave the flowers and slip out even before the girl watching ringside noticed. He did feel bad about the state of the flowers but he hoped Korra would be glad he bothered to show up. He'd have to wait until later to explain why they looked so bad.

.o.

Iroh walked on to the Medusa and was immediately met by Captain Ling-Tu who looked just as worried as his voice on the phone.

"What's the problem?" Iroh asked after returning the Captain's salute.

"I think it might be better if I showed you." The man gestured for Iroh to fallow him. "I know in the past it's been relevantly quiet between the benders and nonbenders of our ship compared to the others in the fleet but." He opened a door to the mess hall where the words: Equalism is Treason!, had been painted in read lettering and a poster of Amon hug ripped to shreds.

Iroh watched as the poster fell to the floor. "Well this isn't good at all. But tell me why did you come straight to me? Why not any of the other high officers?"

"Frankly Sir, if I did I doubt you would ever hear about it. I've made other reports in the past about my ship and they always seem to get lost."

Iroh nodded looking at the man's uniform and noting he was a nonbender. "I understand. Would it be possible for you to write up a report of all the times an incident like that had happened and deliver it directly to me?"

The man pulled out a large manila folder. "I have been documenting all such incidents for the past three years sir."

Iroh took the folder. "Thank you I will see that this time these make it to the right people this time." He paused. "Out of curiosity, why did you even bother to contact me?"

The man shrugged. "I believe it was worth a shot, and besides I keep hearing some of the higher ups complaining that you seem to treat benders and nonbenders pretty much the same. You can't be all bad if people are complaining about your niceness. You're also young haven't had time to fall into that camp yet." From the hall the two heard approaching footsteps and the Captain saluted. "Yes, Sir. I will get this cleaned up before your next inspection!"

Iroh saluted back. "See that you do. I don't want to see this kind of utter disrespect for United Forces' Property again." Iroh turned on his heal and made his way through the ship passing some of those 'higher ups' Captain had mentioned. Iroh frowned but kept walking.

He walked off the boat to catch a cab and go straight to UFO headquarters. It was there that these papers would do the most good.

.o.

Agent E'vaan Black sat back and let out a big breath after reading a small part of the file. "Wooh, if these reports are accurate, there is going to be a small shit storm in the First Fleet." He looked over at Iroh. "Do you think he'll back up what he wrote?"

Iroh nodded. "Yeah, I do but I think we'll have to make sure either he's well protected or completely anonymous."

Agent Black nodded. "Of course, these accusations are pretty ugly. We won't leave him hanging. Good work, General."

Iroh frowned. "I didn't do anything I was just handed that."

"But he trusted you enough to give it to you. So you did something right." Agent Black pointed out. "Just take the compliment like a good boy and go home so I can sort through the rest of this file."

Iroh was about to leave when Arrem, one of the support agents and a stickler for the rules, walked in waving a piece of paper. "Hey! Iroh just the man I wanted to see!"

Iroh groaned. "I wasn't there, I didn't do it, and you can't prove I did it."

The man smirked. "You're not in trouble."

"That's a first."

"Well you're not in trouble with me per say."

"Definitely not a first. What's up?"
"Just got some fresh intel suggesting that you maybe should avoid sleeping on your ship tonight."

Iroh raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Don't ask, the less you know the better. Just avoid sleeping there. We can't afford for some of your magic tricks being exposed."

Iroh frowned but nodded. "Fine, if anyone needs me, my numbers in the file." He walked out of the building and took another cab to his apartment.

.o.

Still flush from the thrill of victory Korra, stepped in the locker room and instantly spied the bouquet of mangled flowers hanging in her locker. She raised an eyebrow surveying the battered blooms.

"Did you have a fight with the flowers Asami?" She asked picking up the bouquet.

"Huh?" Asami turned. "No, I didn't even know they were there. Who are they for?"

Mako crossed his arms. "Better question who are they from?"

Korra pulled out a card. "They're for me, but who'd bother to leave me mangled flowers?"

She looked at the two of her teammates who shrugged.

"Maybe you have a fan? One who can't keep flowers alive but has incredible sneaking skills?" Asami offered.

Korra shrugged and opened the card and read it aloud. "My feelings for you are just like these flowers. Huh, there's no name." She looked back and the banged up blooms.

"Maybe it's a death threat." Mako suggested with a shrug.

Korra looked down at the card and frowned. She knew that handwriting and wondered whether this was just another stroke of bad luck for Iroh or had he actually meant to send her an angry message? She shook her head. She wasn't going to jump to conclusions without actually talking to him. Walking over to her locker she began to take off her pads and gather her things. Swiftly, She grabbed her ring off the top shelf and slipped it onto her finger before she could forget and quickly left for a more private place to change.

"You ok. Korra?" Mako asked as she walked back into the room dressed in her normal clothes.

"Mmm? Oh yeah fine. Just, you know, little worn out by the game." She picked up the bouquet and fixed it so it was in a little better shape. "I should go. There's something I need to attend to."

"But what about our victory celebration?" Asami asked. "I had a table at the Sapphire Dragon for all of us."

"Sorry, I'm not really hungry." Korra pulled her strap over her shoulder. "You guy go and have fun without me."

Bolin and Mako glanced at each other then back at Korra. "Hey, Korra if you're bothered by the flowers Mako or I could walk you back to the harbor."

Korra shook her head. "Thanks Bo, but I'm fine." She left them in the locker room and hailed a taxi and gave him the address of Iroh's apartment but stopped at a few places along the way. A little bribery never hurt, especially when it involved food.

.o.

Iroh locked his apartment door and within five minutes had his contacts out, and was in the shower…singing because he lived alone and could do what ever he damn well pleased. He was on the second verse of Mini the Moocher when he heard the doorbell ring. Grumbling he stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist and headed to the door. Only the people he trusted knew about this apartment so he didn't worry about putting his contacts in again and just grabbed his glasses.

.o.

Korra was biting her lip when Iroh opened the door; her attention went right to his wet torso and her mind went blank as her eyes fallowed the little water droplets travel down his chest and abs. This was not the same man from almost a year ago. There was a lot more of him and so much more defined. Was this really her slender nerdy Iroh?

"My eyes are up here avatar."

Korra blushed. "Uh yeah sorry." She held up a bag. "I brought food, and cake."

Iroh chuckled and stepped back. "Then enter avatar even though I think cake is technically food."

She passed him. "Avatar huh?" She set things down on the table including the mangled flowers. "Are we back to that now Prince-y?"

Iroh closed the door and crossed his arms. "Depends, why are you here, baring gifts? Trying to apologize for something?"
"Possibly." Korra pointed the flowers. "Why are the flowers you left so beat up? My teammates thought it was a death threat."

"Really?" Iroh really tried to keep the amusement out of his voice.

Korra handed him the card. "The wording on this may have given them an impression."

Iroh read the words. "Oh, oops I forgot that I wrote that. Originally I had intended these to be still beautiful. I just got a little too into the game and well," He gestured to the flowers, "The victims."

Korra sighed a bit of relief washing over her face. "So you're not mad at me? Wait you came to my game?"

"Of course I watched your game and I'm not mad at you…well depending on how you answer this next question I'm not mad at you."

Korra bit her lip trying to figure out what Iroh was going to ask. "Um, Ok, what's the question?"

"What is the relationship between you and your earthbending teammate?"

Korra snorted. "Oh, Bolin and I are just friends and teammates. Wait, why are you even asking me about him?" She crossed her arms. "Don't you trust me?"

"Yes, of course I trust you but a few days ago I saw you riding Nagga through the streets of the city with him and you didn't even tell me you where in town." Iroh crossed his arms. "What was I supposed to think, Korra?" His eyes betrayed a sadness that his voice didn't.

She reached out and stroked Iroh's cheek. "I'm sorry, Iroh I meant to send you a letter but things just got so busy I forgot. You know I'm horrible at sending latters but trust me there is nothing between me and Bolin, and there's not going to be. Ok? Feel better now?"

"Yeah, I do." He sighed and kissed her hand. "You're wearing your ring."

"Yeah, I got my ring resized so I can wear it now." She kissed him one the cheek. "Now, why don't you finish your shower? You have soap in your hair. We can catch up once you get dressed and stop distracting me with that," her voice became low, "well sculpted body."

Iroh gulped. "Yeah, I'll be right back." He turned to leave.

"Hey Iroh."
He turned back. "What?"

"Your glasses are all fogged up."

He blushed gave a nervous laugh and disappeared back into his bedroom to finish his shower and get dressed.

"Yup there's the Iroh I know." She whispered as she stated to unpack all the food and drink.

She glanced at the clock it was almost nine she sighed Tenzin was going to have her hide if she wasn't back in an hour. Iroh walked back into the room in sweat pants and an undershirt, he smiled.

"So now that I'm not a distraction what do you want to talk about first?"

.o.

The clock chimed two and Korra was still at Iroh's apartment, curled up against him on the couch, her lips interlocked with his. The food had either been eaten or put away and the two had discussed many things, including what they were both doing in Republic City, and were now necking in the living room. Korra pulled away to look at the time.

"Oh, monkey feathers, Tenzin is going to kill me for getting home so late!"
"Do you want to call him? Tell him you're ok and will be there in the morning." He kissed her neck. "I mean it's so late already, do you think he'll want you traveling across the city at this hour?"

She leaned back. "Why, Prince Iroh? Are you trying to seduce me into spending the night? How scandalous!"

Iroh chuckled. "Yes, because it is truly a scandal when a husband wants to cuddle with wife all night."

Korra looked at Iroh her eyebrow raised. "Really, only cuddle?"
"Okay…make love to her all night, but if cuddling is all that happens I'll be content." He smiled. "Honest."

Korra could help but snort. "Ok, Prince-y let me give Tenzin a call and tell him I'll be back in the morning. He should understand." She picked up the phone and dialed the number. She was surprised and kind of guilty when he answered on the first ring. "Hey, Tenzin, it's me Korra…yes, I know it's late. I'm sorry I lost track of time. Look I'll be back on air temple in the morning, I'm spending the night at I-…well that's not nice to assume! I am an adult and not as you put it a teen without control over my impulses! No! I will not walk through the city at two A.M. because you don't like me spending the night out at-Oh! I am not acting like a little child…Yes, there is a guy here! It's his apartment!...No!...ok just for that comment I'll make sure he can't walk in the morning!" She slammed the phone down. "Spirits! What a prude!"

She looked over at Iroh who had moved away from her. "I have work tomorrow, I'll need to walk." He looked genuinely terrified. "If you're that pissed off, I'll sleep her and you can take the bed and I would like to point out that you at no point actually told him who you were staying with."

Korra let out a breath. "Even if I had, he wouldn't have known. I asked him if he knew that recently the Fire Nation and the Southern Water Tribe went to war and he told me 'no' and then went back to his history lesson about the air nomads." The anger in her face faded and she curled back up to Iroh. "Let's not talk about it now. I don't want to think about anyone but you and I don't just want to cuddle." She kissed him deeply feeling his arms wrap around her and pull her close.

.o.

Iroh woke to sunlight streaming through his windows, the feeling of Korra's mocha skin against his, and the sound of someone pounding on his front door. He groaned and kissed Korra's shoulder before getting up and a pulling on the pair of sweat pants that had been thrown across the room the night before. Still wiping the sleep from his eyes he opened the door to find a police detective standing there. She crossed her arms.

"General Iroh?"

"Yes? How can I help you?"

"General Iroh of the United Forces' first fleet you are under arrest for the murder of Captain Ling-Tu."