Lessons over Tea
For #19: "love isn't that easy"
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Steam rolled from the top of the kettle. The smell of jasmine tea filled the small room, and brought a smile to Iroh's face. He carefully poured two cups and waited.
Just a few minutes later, Sokka came back into the small room. The first thing Iroh noticed was how much time had changed him from the boy he had first met. He was now much taller, and broader in the shoulders. His face was more chiseled, and his eyes more defined. Sokka's hair had grown. More hair lay, now, outside the wolf's tail than bundled in it.
To think, Iroh smiled, that just four years could do this to the boy.
Upon seeing Iroh sitting peacefully in the room with a tea cup in his hand, Sokka laughed. "Is now that time with tea?" he laughed again, taking a sit across from the old man. Bringing the cup to his lips, he cringed. "Didn't think it'd ever bother me before, being from the South Pole, but it just doesn't taste right cold."
Iroh laughed at the young man's face, and took the teacup from his hands. Sokka's face brightened and a smile cracked on his lips. "Being a fire bender does have its advantages." The young man nodded, and eagerly drank his tea. "But this isn't the time I meant."
"Oh."
"I know I am not from your family, or even your nation, but there is something I want to share with you," Iroh began. He reached into the folds of his robes and pulled out a small necklace. It was a long, thin piece of fabric with a stone dangling in the center. The stone was a beautiful emerald with mountains carved into its facing; the words: "love's path is full of thorns, but the roses are sweetest" written in fine calligraphy on the back.
"A betrothal necklace?" Sokka whispered. He stared in wonder at the small piece of jewelry.
"Aang came for Zuko's birthday last week, you know. He told me that you were spending time with Suki," Iroh smiled at the young man's blush. "He also said that you were planning on asking for her hand sometime."
Sokka grumbled, turning away from the necklace. "I'll kill the bald headed cretin."
Iroh laughed again, lightening Sokka's mood a little. The older man sobered however. Setting his teacup down, he stared Sokka through. "I know your father was killed in the war and that you have no one now to teach you…"
"How to be a good husband?" Sokka cut in, slightly agitated. "Yeah, yeah I know. But I figured I'd pick it up on the way, you know. Besides, there's Bato and Pakku and Gran Gran who're older and will teach me."
"Yes, but they are from the Water Tribe. Suki is from the Earth Kingdom, and I know Earth Kingdom girls," Iroh grinned. "I did set Zuko up with his fiancée didn't I?"
Sokka laughed, remembering the horrified look on the Fire Lord's face when they showed up for his engagement announcement. "Yeah, that's something I'll never forget."
Laughter took the place of jasmine tea in the room as the two men drifted off in memories. After the tea had gotten cold—Iroh didn't feel like reheating it—things calmed. Sokka, casting a glance at the old man across from him, smiled.
"So, what's the first lesson?"
Iroh laughed and ran a hand over his beard. "The first lesson is that marriage is anything but a free and easy ride. If you are not careful, you can spend the rest of your life in self inflicted mental anguish and physical pain."
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AN: The best note I can leave you with here and now are these words:
You can't hurry love
No, you just have to wait
She said love don't come easy
It's a game of give and take
If you know what it's from, I'll write a story especially for you. First person with the right answer gets whatever story they want, the rest get cookies. :D
Check out my C2! PM me if you want to be on the staff, or you want your story in there. I don't care to add any, as long as there isn't a lot of romance to it and they're complete.