~Chapter 14~

~Two Caged Dragons~

When Tarlok walked into Sozza's office with a face filled with pity the director's heart dropped to her stomach. He didn't say a word as he sat down across from her in her new make shift office in the capital building. He didn't say anything at all for a good few minutes. Sozza leaned forward.

"Ok Councilman what is it? I know that face is as fake as my nails." She tapped her acrylic nails together for emphasis. "So just spit it out."

"I have some bad news."

Sozza raised an eyebrow. "Can't be that bad, if it was you'd be smiling."

Tarlok chuckled letting all his pity fade away. "I guess it's not that bad. I have to inform you that we've found Iroh."

Sozza's face didn't portray any emotion. "Alive or dead?"
"Alive, he's working with Amon. Did his mission with the United Forces involve working for Amon?" he asked innocently.

Sozza frowned. "No but don't you dare have your meat bags try to kill him."

"Concerned about your family? That's touching Director, honestly I until recently I didn't think you were that found of the lot."

"Found of him or not. Working for Amon or not. Iroh is still the crown prince of the Fire Nation and as such your men killing him will spark a war that will make the hundred-year war look like a small disagreement. Get the picture?"

Tarlok nodded. "I understand but you have to know he's killed a man."

"He's killed more than just one man in his life time councilmen. I doubt it will be the last."

Tarrlok clenched his jaw. "I can't believe you turned your own cousin in to a monster. You sold his soul for your mission."

"Don't lecture me about monsters Councilman. I fight monsters, my people fight monsters, you only label them! I taught a flameless dragon how to survive in this world! If not for me he'd still be a doll for his mother and those fools in the Fire nation to pose as they wished! I care about Iroh, hell! Aside from Korra I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who gives a damn about him!" Sozza was on her feet with one hand holding an azure flame. "So don't you sit there condescendingly and say I've sold his soul. His mother did that when she traded him for peace! I gave him the tools he'll need to get it back again!" Sozza almost spat the last words.

Tarlok stood up and backed a few steps away. "Think I should leave you now so you can process what I've told you."

"Good leave."

Sozza watched Tarlok leave and sat back. She thought about the young man, the angry young man, fresh from the Fire Nation. There was a darkness she should have seen back then and addressed but she had been thrilled by his abilities she just forgot. She ran her hands through her hair trying to formulate her next move. Did she tell Korra or wait for the ugly news to come out in another way? Sozza stood up and grabbed her bag. She was going to tell her. It should come from family.

.o.

Korra was trying to air bend, she really was but she was as successful with making the air move and Iroh was at making a spark. Bolin and Asami sat near by 'encouraging' her efforts. Korra tried to move the air again with the motions Tenzin had showed her but nothing came of it. She kicked a ball left by Meelo. It shot straight for a wall and bounced back hitting her in the gut. She rubbed her midsection and looked up to see Sozza slowly clapping.

"I see you're hard at work learning air bending….or abusing your abs."

Bolin looked over. "Hi mom! Uh, why are you here?"

Sozza crossed her arms. "I need to talk to Korra. Why is Asami with you? I thought it was visiting hours at the hospital."

Bolin scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, um Asami and Sota don't get along at all and since he's with Mako, Asami decided to tag along with me."

"Oh. Well why don't you two go talk to Tenzin or help Pema. I really need to talk to Korra…alone."

Bolin looked worried but nodded and left the courtyard with Asami. Korra dusted herself off. "You're not here to tell me Iroh's dead are you?" Korra tried to hide the fear in her voice.

"No I'm not. My sources say that he is alive but…"
"But what?" Korra's stance became defensive. "Is he hurt? Imprisoned? What?!"

"An Equalist. He's joined Amon."

"Oh." Korra's shoulders dropped. "Is that all? I can handle that."

Sozza was taken aback. "You can handle that? He's working for the enemy! Amon can take people's bending away and your reaction to your husband going to the other side is 'is that all?'!?" Sozza looked at Korra in utter disbelief. "Do you know what you're saying?"

Korra nodded. "I do but I'm not surprised he joined Amon. His ideals, his true ideals not the ones he pretends to have, align nicely with Amon's cause."

"But aren't you scared? Iroh could lead Amon to you!"

"Lead him where? Everyone knows where I live! And Iroh would never let Amon hurt me like I would never allow someone on my side to hurt him." She leaned against a wall. "My trust in him is not shaken."

"What makes you so sure about that Avatar Korra? Why trust a man that switched sides? I love my cousin but even I worry he's gone over to the enemy lock stock and barrel."

Korra gave a dark chuckle. "Oh, you can't trust him and I fully believe he's capable to fully invest himself in Amon's cause. You and the rest of the benders in this city aren't safe by a long shot but Iroh will protect me."

Sozza shook her head. "Enlighten me as to why you still trust him? Has he contacted you?"

"No but I know. Iroh and I we're two of a kind, we have a deep understanding of each other."

Sozza frowned. "Now you just sound like a love sick fool."

"I could, but have you ever heard the story of the two caged dragons?"

"I don't remember most of the tail. Remind me."

"An Ancient Fire Lord had two dragons, one that was wild and one that was tame. He caged the two dragons together to see if they would kill each other or tame each other. For three days and three nights the dragons raged against each other until one day they stopped. The Fire Lord was summoned and found the two dragons asleep curled up against each other as clam as a pool of water. The Fire Lord was over joyed and let the dragons out of their cage believing they were now tame."

"Were they?" Sozza asked.

Korra smirked. "No, they burned down the palace and ate those who had caged them. You see the dragons after raging against each other realized that they were the same and it was the outsiders that were their enemy. They built a trust so that when they were freed of their cage they took revenge. Iroh and I can relate extremely well to that old fairy tail."

"You and Iroh are the caged dragons now free?"

"Well at the moment he is." Korra pushed herself off the wall and started to walk away. "I'm a fire storm is coming director I'd start preparing for it."

"You really think Iroh would cause that kind of destruction?"

Korra paused. "No, not on his own. But I've seen all this before; two sides building up power for an enviable bloody clash. Iroh and I are tools we aren't running the show others are but what you told me about Iroh means Amon is still recruiting."

"You're not going to join him are you?"

"No, I am still very committed to my duty as the Avatar but I can't help but question why Amon would recruit one person on the same night he would bomb five buildings elevating him to a true terrorist. That seems counter productive to me." She continued to walk away finding Bolin and Asami having tea. Korra sat down next to them joining the conversation all the darkness and jadedness in her gone. Eventually she would tell them what happened to Iroh but for a few minutes she pretended like she didn't know.

.o.

Sozza watched Korra walk away while her blood ran cold. What had those old fools done forcing the two together? Sozza looked down suddenly horrifically aware of who and what Korra and Iroh had become. They did things out of duty, only duty, not love or compassion or any internal drive. Duty. And duty while a strong motivation will crack under pressure given enough weight and time. Iroh may have already cracked while Korra seemed to be dancing near the edge.

She cursed under her breath. "Looks like I'm going to have to write a letter to Izumi and Tonraq and bring them into the loop. This is not going to end well at all."

.o.

Sota sat back holding his book. "Uh…so um sorry about that, uh maybe we should get back to the book?"

Mako nodded. "Yes let's."

Sota looked down finding the page they had been on. "Uh your nose, does it still itch?"

"Nope, I'm good." Mako wanted so much to tap his fingers on something or just fidget but he couldn't. "So get back to the story what's going on with Elisabeth and Booker?"

"Yeah, yeah." Sato's face turned red and he started reading the page out loud.

Lin walked back into the room and almost chocked on the awkwardness in the air. She shook her head before telling Sota that visiting hours were over. She looked at her son. "Good news! The Doctors are going to refit a new cast on your arms tomorrow and then you can go home the day after that."

Mako leaned back. "Thank the spirits I am so ready to be out of here."

"Yeah, I bet." She put her hands on her hips. "So you going to tell me what's going on with you and Sota?"

"No! There's nothing to tell."

"Ok."

.o.

Iroh looked around their new head quarts, which was now further out of the city. He could tell Amon had a silent, but very affluent, partner. Amon walked over after talking to his Lieutenant about something.

"So what do you think old friend? Pretty impressive, no?"

Iroh nodded. "Quite."

"Curious as to how?"

"Not really. Your supporters are yours alone. I'm here because you know the right buttons to push to get me on your side. I'm not here to find your secrets and go running back to you-know-who."

Amon chuckled. "That's what I like about you Iroh, your ability to know what people are thinking and stating it out right. How's the ankle?"

"It's fine. Can't walk on it still but that's what crutches are for. The burns are pretty much ignorable now."

"That's good." He slapped Iroh on the back causing him toe flinch. "You know I'm curious it's been five days since Tarlok's little band struck why hasn't your face plastered every paper calling you a traitor?"

Iroh shrugged. "Maybe Sozza is trying to keep it under wraps or," He glanced over his shoulder at the city in the distance, "maybe they're still reeling from the attacks?" He patted Amon's shoulder. "Also they've already got their villain, they don't need another." Iroh grabbed his crutches and crutched away to go back to his own room. He passed a stack of newspapers talking about Councilman Tarlok's plans for combating the Equalists. Iroh shook his head before he sat down on his bed and took a deep breath. He looked out the window and thought back to a time he didn't wake up alone.

.o.O.o.

Iroh woke up surrounded in red sheets and missing the pajamas he usually wore. At fist the twenty-one year old couldn't quite remember what had happened the night before, it was his anniversary he knew that, but his mind was blurry from the moment Korra had walked in to the dining room dressed in a blue gown with silver flams. He rolled over and found Korra sleeping on her stomach the blankets almost to her mid back, almost. Her mocha skin contrasted beautifully with the red sheets.

Iroh stretched out a hand to pull her close but hesitated. He had no idea how she was going to react, waking up in the nude with her husband in a similar sate. It might seem odd to other folks his hesitation but this was a first for them. Iroh compromised his original plan and gently stroked her shoulder trying to wake her up. Korra woke up slowly her blue eyes blinking sleepily at him. She smiled and moved close to Iroh kissing him.

"Good morning Iroh."

Iroh smiled and kissed back. "Good morning to you too."

Korra stretched and lay on her back staring at the ceiling. "So, can't nullify this marriage now."

"Guess not, though honestly with it being the lynch pin of the treaty would it ever be?"

Korra looked over at him before shrugging. "I guess you're right. You know I was thinking about your question last night."

Iroh moved closer. "Which one? I recall asking quite a few."

"Well ok, I was thinking about the question: What would the prefect present be?"

"And?"

Korra sighed and looked at him. "I want a house, a big hour far away from people, that's beautiful and has electricity and running water but one phone that no one knows the number to. It would be in a forest or secluded beach and the only people who know about it are you and I. It would be the prefect escape." She smiled. "If I could have anything that's what I'd want."

Iroh pulled her closed to cuddle up with her. "So no help?"

"Huh?"

"At this manor in the woods, no help or staff?" He nuzzled her neck. "We'll have to cook and clean ourselves. Be normal average people with a big house in the woods."

Korra giggled. "None at all! No staff just us. I bet one of us can figure out how to feed ourselves and cleaning isn't that hard."

Iroh chuckled. "I guess not. So that's what you want? If I showed up one day with a key in hand to the house you described you'll be happy? You'd like it?"

Korra looked over at him. "I'm pretty sure I'd love it."

"Promise?"

Korra kissed him. "Promise."

.o.

Iroh sighed looking up at his ceiling wishing nothing more than to have that sanctuary of a house and hide from the world there with Korra. Iroh felt a longing that was more than just lust with in him. Iroh sat up; he needed to see her but how? Iroh gritted his teeth. He was one of Sozza's best agents damn it! He should be able to formulate a plan to see his wife without either side knowing it and execute it without a hitch.

Iroh turned over and smiled a plan formulating in his mind. See you soon my love.

A/N: Thanks for reading this installment to the reviewer who pointed out my name spelling issues thank you! I'll be fixing the names in the past chapters shortly. I really do appreciate it! And all the input it get. Comment if you feel so compelled I'll see you all later!~ C.C.