A/N: I went on vacation sorry
So, the more I think about the structure of this story, I think this chapter is kind of starting a new act. Act I (Chapters 1-26) was just about Ursa and Iroh coming to fall for each other and building up that slowburn. Act II (Chapter 27 - ?) will probably be a lot more sporadic / timejumpy, but it'll cover the Ursoh marriage and war stuff up until almost the ATLA timeline. Act III will be where we hit the ATLA timeline, although I'm still not sure what exactly that will look like in this AU aside from that the Gaang will exist in some form. Anyway, buckle in for Act II!
Disclaimer: Yee-haw, not mine.
That had been quite a dream she'd had.
It had been so…vivid, so erotic, so real.
Still half-asleep, Ursa's body went warm all over at the recollection of the filthy places her imagination had gone last night. If she laid very still with her eyes closed, it was all too easy to relive the sensations: Iroh's hands, callused and hot, teasing her into crying out his name; his mouth, kissing and sucking until she was trembling. A particularly thrilling memory - Iroh pinning her to her bedroom wall with his hips grinding into hers and his hands sliding up her thighs - made her toes curl. Where on earth had her mind found such intimate details?
"Hmm…" A very masculine moan behind her and a strong arm pulling her against an unmistakably bare chest made her realize three things. Last night hadn't been a dream. Iroh hadn't left for morning training like usual. And her own torso was bare as well.
"Iroh?" she gasped, immediately pulling her blankets up over her chest for the sake of modesty. Like modesty matters, after the things I let him do to me.
"Good morning, my wife," he yawned, oblivious to her shame as he pressed kisses to her ear, her neck, her collarbone. "My dearest, darling, wife…"
Dearest, darling, beautiful, gorgeous…the honey-sweet endearments rolled off his tongue like he'd been holding them back for months. He whispered them against her lips, above the curve of her breasts, down along her stomach, between her thighs as she mewled and uselessly grasped at the bedsheets-
"Good morning," she squeaked, tensing as he traced the curve of her waist beneath the covers. Of course, Iroh noticed and immediately stopped.
"Hey," he whispered, gently turning her to face him. "You okay?"
"Uh-huh," she managed to nod, still gripping her modesty blanket too tightly.
"Are you sure?" His eyebrows knit together in clear worry, but Ursa was more interested in how his messy hair hanging freely was giving him a rather boyish look. There was a small bruise at the base of his throat that she suspected she'd caused; she distinctly remembered thinking he tasted oddly salty, before he'd flipped her over and allowed her to fulfill her long held wish to card her hands through those wavy locks while he'd given her a few lovebites of her own.
Spirits of the islands, she was going to be useless for the foreseeable future if this was all she could think of. "Yeah, I'm sure," she reassured Iroh, self-consciously pursing her lips when she realized how foul her morning breath was.
"You don't look sure," he sighed, rolling onto his back. "I shouldn't have…I'm sorry, Ursa, I think I had one too many drinks and…that's not an excuse, but, I didn't mean to-"
"Iroh," she cut him off, laying a hand on his chest (his toned, just slightly hairy, perfect chest), "you didn't do anything wrong."
"I must have," he insisted. "Why are you so tense, otherwise?"
The blush crept across her skin again. "I'm tense because I'm nervous and I'm nervous because, um, I've never been with a man like this before…and, uh, I…" Her voice reduced to a whisper, "I liked it."
He raised his eyebrows. "What was that last part?"
"I liked it," she said, only marginally louder.
But he definitely heard her, as evidenced by the rather smug grin making its way across his face. "One more time?"
"You heard me!"
"You can't prove that. Come on, what'd you say?"
Ursa found a throw pillow somewhere above her head and shoved it in his face. "I said I liked it, you arrogant prince."
"Arrogant, am I?" Iroh grabbed the pillow and tucked it under his head. "How can one be arrogant if it's earned, hm?" Ursa couldn't help but let her eyes trail down the strong column of his throat, the rise and fall of his chest, the ripple of his abdomen…she'd immensely enjoyed letting her curious fingers satisfy their longing to trace the lines of his muscles last night, and she was pretty sure he had too.
"Arrogance has no limit." She kissed his stubbled cheek, dodging his attempt to kiss her lips. "Iroh, I haven't washed. My breath is disgusting."
"Don't care. You still smell like cake."
"Your breath is disgusting."
"How do you know? Come check." He wiggled his eyebrows.
Ursa blushed. "I'm confident in my guess."
He pouted playfully, before pulling Ursa on top of him and kissing along her jaw instead. She shivered, straddling his hips, and realized with a start that neither of them were fully nude; she was still wearing her underskirt (admittedly, with nothing underneath), and Iroh had his briefs covering the area between defined hip bone and muscular thigh. They really hadn't done everything, as tempting as it had been in the heat of the moment.
"What was your favorite part?" Iroh asked, nipping at her ear. "Of last night?"
Honestly, it had been too overwhelming to properly analyze; Iroh had always been a fast learner, and that apparently applied to learning her body too. "Um…I don't know. Do you have a favorite part?"
"I liked kissing you in the snow."
The sweetness of his answer caught her off guard. "Really?"
"Yeah," he smiled. "I mean, I enjoyed everything afterwards. A lot-" he squeezed her behind for emphasis, making her squeak and swat his nose playfully, "but it was so magical, when you kissed me for the first time, with the snow in your hair and your cheeks all red...I couldn't imagine a more perfect moment if I tried."
"You're so beautiful," Iroh whispered, gazing up at her like she was all that mattered in his world, and Ursa couldn't understand how or why that had come to be, but it made feel safe and adored in a way she'd never experienced.
"It was wonderful," she agreed. "I'm just glad you're not sick from lying out in the snow."
"Me? I'm a firebender, a few minutes in the snow aren't so bad. You didn't catch a cold, did you?"
"I don't think so." Things had definitely gotten too hot and heavy for the snow to keep her cold for long. "But maybe you should stay for a bit and make sure."
"Trust me, I have no intention of leaving this room any sooner than I have to."
The sultry promise in those words sent a lovely tingle up her spine, as did his hands tracing along her waist, and it was too easy to let him pull her down and get all tangled up in the sheets again.
"Oh, Iroh…" she moaned, winding her fingers through his hair as his mouth found a sweet spot on her neck and his hand snuck under her skirt. How could he do this to her so quickly, set her skin alight with desire and make her body ache for him with just a few well-placed touches? "Iroh, I- ah!"
"We're going to take today slowly, my darling," he informed, meeting her gaze with smoldering amber eyes. "I want to hear you tell me exactly what you like about each and every way I touch you, and then we'll test your favorite ones again to be sure. Understand?"
Just imagining what he was promising made her knees weak and her breath catch in her chest. "Uh-huh," she managed to gasp. Telling him what she liked was going to be difficult when this was how he made her feel…
"Good," he smirked, and then his mouth was on her skin again, nipping at her pulse point. Ursa arched her back, whining his name helplessly as his skilled fingers together with his persistent lips began to make her see stars-
"Princess Ursa?"
Both husband and wife froze at the sound of Yuna knocking at the door. Ursa's heart pounded as Iroh lifted his head and flashed her a guilty smile. It was like she was an ordinary teenage girl caught in a secret tryst with a handsome boy, rather than a princess rightfully spending some intimate time with her prince.
"I apologize for disturbing you," Yuna continued. "The Fire Lord urgently needs to speak with the crown prince, and I haven't been able to find him anywhere. Did he happen to spend his morning with you?"
Oh no. Her lust immediately evaporated, replaced with shame and dread and oh spirits everyone's going to know and everyone's going to talk and Azulon's going to be angry I kept Iroh so late-
Iroh, for his part, let out a quiet swear. "I'm so sorry, dearest," he whispered to Ursa, kissing her cheek. "Let me make it up to you later?"
Mutely, she nodded. Iroh looked truly disappointed, maybe even more so than her. He gave her one more longing look, taking her hand and pressing his lips to the back of her fingers, before sitting up and calling out, "Yuna, I'm here. Tell my father I'm on my way."
As Jun hurriedly clasped him into his armor, Iroh debated the merits of ceding the throne to Ozai. Of course, Father would never allow it unless Iroh had a very good reason, and he suspected wanting more intimate time with his wife would be insufficient.
An emergency war council the morning after his birthday; just his luck. He must have used all the Scarlet Dragon's good fortune on last night's snow, seeing as the stuff still coated the gardens and courtyards from what he'd glimpsed through the windows and balconies. And finally kissing Ursa had involved a decent amount of luck as well. He decided it was worth a brief war council, if she would be waiting for him when it was over…
But, as he stepped foot into the throne room, his heart sank. No Ozai, only the very top generals assembled, that telltale frown on Father's face: this wasn't going to be a brief one. Something bad had happened.
"Ah, thank you for joining us, son," his father greeted, prompting the generals to bow to the crown prince as well. "I'm sure you needed the rest this morning after your festivities yesterday, but alas, the life of a prince is never without obligation."
"I understand, Father," Iroh tacitly accepted the non-apology as he walked past the generals and ascended to his seat at the Fire Lord's right hand. "Please enlighten me, what heralds such a gathering of our army's finest in midwinter on such short notice?"
General Hu addressed him now. "Unrest in the colonies, Your Highness."
"Rebels?"
"Sort of. We've been experiencing an uptick of rebel activity this winter - nothing unusual by itself - but we're receiving reports that this wave of attacks is being supported by Bumi of Omashu."
No wonder Father looked so troubled. "I see," Iroh leaned forward, trying to show he was treating this situation with the gravity it deserved. "We're sure it's Bumi himself, and not just Omashu's forces interfering in the war?"
"Yes, Your Highness. Omashu's forces have remained at the city, but Bumi has been interfering with our winter shipments in the colonies. It's unmistakably his style of attack: jennamite crystals embedded deep within our ships and tanks, so we're unable to remove them without risking the crystal swallowing us up. Like a signature on his work," Hu concluded gravely.
"So, shouldn't we simply invade Omashu? Our finest regiments can certainly match their army if Bumi's away."
"That's probably exactly what that wily rockmuncher wants," Father muttered the words with a venomous rage that set Iroh on edge. "To lure us into a trap. Agni curse him…I could turn him to ashes and scatter him to the wind myself, and I still wouldn't be convinced he was dead."
"What should we do then, Father?"
"Well, my boy, I'm hopeful that your fresh perspective and the minds of our greatest generals can help us tease out a strategy. This is of the utmost importance; until it's been resolved, the council will not adjourn."
Blast. Iroh couldn't just half-ass participation in a council this crucial, and it would certainly be a lengthy affair. He just hoped Ursa would forgive him.
Iroh, cont.
Bumi of Omashu. Ever since I was a boy, that name was the stuff of legends, striking fear into me in a way no earthbender name should have terrified a Fire Prince. I grew up hearing report after report of his insane feats. He named himself King of Omashu at the age of only sixteen once he realized the old ruling family was too corrupt to fight back against Fire Nation invasions, and when the old family tried to assassinate him in retaliation, he sunk their home into a pit of quicksand until they swore their allegiance to him. When he was twenty-five, he drove Fire Nation forces out of the southwestern Earth Kingdom with an earthquake so powerful it triggered tsunamis in naval bases a hundred miles away; when he was in his thirties, he went undercover in a Fire Navy division and made off with copies of our invasion plans for the Northern Water Tribe, allowing them to fortify themselves quickly against the raids that disabled the South; by his forties, he'd used his espionage and raw power to transform Omashu into an Earth Kingdom stronghold second only to Ba Sing Se. Even when the war had reached its half-century mark, Bumi of Omashu still showed no signs of slowing down. If anything, he seemed to draw greater power from his age and experience, which was what caused my father to decide it was time to stop Bumi himself.
In 62 AG, Fire Lord Azulon marched on Omashu and challenged Earth King Bumi. The historic clash was so powerful it changed the very topography of the southwestern Earth Kingdom, lightning and earthbending carving new mountains and valleys into the battlefield. Eyewitness accounts spoke of Bumi throwing veritable hills at my father like they were pebbles, while my father blasted them into clouds of dust with so much lightning it appeared as if a freak storm had descended upon Omashu in the midst of summer. The earth shook, the sky turned dark and fiery, and after three days of battle, my father returned home with an irreparably shattered right leg and a military career ended too soon: all because of Bumi of Omashu.
"It's not so bad, Iroh," he said to me, during one of the many Pai Sho games we played while he was healing, "I got that rockmuncher in the end. I shot him with enough lightning to take down a small army, and he fell beneath his own pile of rocks and dirt, never to bother us again: that's worth a bad leg. You'll be old enough to lead our military efforts soon anyway."
So, when the reports came that wily Bumi of Omashu had somehow survived the battle and slunk back to his stronghold to drive the Fire Nation out once more…well, it crushed part of my father's spirit. It was the second great failure of his reign, right behind the continued existence of the ever-elusive Avatar. Consequently, once Bumi sought yet another confrontation in the winter of my twentieth birthday, I knew it would be a pivotal moment in my budding military career. I just didn't know how.
[Notated by Azulon III, 168 AG
One of the many mysteries surrounding the famed war hero Bumi of Omashu is how he survived his confrontation with Azulon I. Some say perhaps the lightning didn't strike him, and he went down as if it did in order to end the battle. Others claim that he unlocked the coveted secret to immortality and used it to recover from the attack. There are few people left in the world who knew much of Bumi on a personal level, but those that did simply say if the truth was something he wished the world to know, we would know it. The man, after all, was a genius. A mad one, but a genius all the same.]
It was embarrassing enough that Ursa was running late after getting carried away with Iroh that morning. The fact that the event she was late for was breakfast with Iroh's grandparents…well, that was enough to make her wonder if she could feign illness and stay in her room all day. She felt certain that anyone who looked at her would see last night's events in her face; not to mention the love bites that dotted her neck.
But she really did like Lu Ten and Lihua, and they'd be sailing back to Senlin after breakfast. So - after applying a bit too much makeup to her neck - she dutifully hurried to the dining room where they were already eating with Ozai.
"General Lu Ten, Lady Lihua," she greeted, "I hope you both had a restful night after yesterday's party. My apologies for a late arrival to our morning meal."
"No apology needed, dear girl," Lu Ten's warm smile showed he meant it. "I imagine you need your rest after planning such a marvelous affair. But where is our other handsome grandson?"
"Iroh has been summoned by the Fire Lord for some urgent matter, so I unfortunately don't know if he'll be able to join us," Ursa explained, sliding into her chair next to Ozai. The breakfast looked delicious: salted fish congee (her favorite during the winter months), ji dan bing, fresh fruit, and of course, tea. A brief inhale of her cup told her it was hojicha, a green tea blend she'd become fond of due to how its smoky aroma reminded her of Iroh.
"Ah, well," Lihua sighed. "Such is the life of a crown prince. Still, you and Iroh must make time to visit us on Senlin soon. We were just saying to Ozai that he should come as well: our oldest Mynah is planning to venture back from the colonies next month, Kai Ming's twins are almost ready to begin meeting family, and it's so rare to get all three branches of the family in the same place. Oh, they'll be shocked to see how tall Ozai's gotten. He may be even taller than Iroh now."
Ozai merely grunted, not quite looking at his grandmother as he polished off another bowl of congee. At some point over the past few months, he'd begun wearing his black hair half-down like Azulon instead of gathering it all into his topknot like Iroh. Combined with his ongoing growth spurt, the style gave him a more mature look. Once the lingering baby fat melted from his face, his resemblance to his father would be more striking than ever.
"I think that sounds like a fantastic idea," Ursa said brightly to Lihua. "I would so like to meet Lady Mynah's family as well, and Kai Ming's little ones. Doesn't that make you an uncle?" She directed the question at Ozai.
"Technically, we'd be first cousins once removed," he replied. "But I'm sure I'll be an uncle soon enough if you and Iroh keep at it."
The fish in her mouth suddenly lodged itself in her windpipe. "Wh-what?" she coughed, just barely managing to keep herself from choking on her embarrassment.
"You missed a spot," he said drily, gesturing at the side of his own neck. "Not to mention that Iroh hasn't slept in for seven years, except for today when you just so happen to also be running late."
"Now, Ozai," Lu Ten said quietly. "That's quite rude to point out. You should apologize to the princess."
"Fine. Sorry. But everyone knew it." Ozai stuck his chopsticks into his bowl inappropriately and stood. "I have lessons."
"Oh, but- will you come to Senlin, darling? We haven't had you there in over a year," Lihua smiled at Ozai, ignoring her husband's attempts to shush her. "We've just renovated the guest rooms, and yours has a balcony now-"
"I don't know, Granny. Maybe."
It was better than a full rejection, but as Ozai swept out of the room, Ursa was tempted to order him back inside to show a little warmth to his grandparents. Poor Lihua looked close to tears as Lu Ten rubbed her shoulder.
But ordering Ozai around wouldn't magically change his personality. "I'll talk to him," she promised. "I know it's been…difficult in the past, getting both Iroh and Ozai to Senlin, but I think this time could be different. Really."
"Thank you," Lihua dabbed at her eyes. "I'm just sorry we seem to have put him in a bad mood towards you as well. I shouldn't have needled him with so many questions before you got here."
"Now now, a boy should be able to answer some questions from his grandparents without losing his temper. Don't blame yourself, my love." Lu Ten refilled her cup of tea.
"It wasn't you, Lady Lihua," Ursa added. "You must keep in mind he's fourteen. I certainly behaved rather regrettably at that age, and I've learned to not be offended by similar behavior from Ozai."
"I appreciate the insight, Princess. Maybe it's because I only raised daughters, but…it just hurts in a different way when he has fits of adolescence."
"Iroh had his moments too," Lu Ten reminded her. "Remember when he refused to see us for six months because we made a joke about his little crush on Jade?"
"Oh, yes. And then he went and courted her for a year and a half, and never admitted we were right after all," Lihua rolled her eyes. "Not that it was a serious courtship, dear. Iroh's far more taken with you, from what we can see."
Ursa blushed. "I know. Thank you."
"You're quite welcome. Now, do tell me about these combat lessons of yours with Headmistress Aiko. I'm always curious to hear what my successor's up to."
The rest of breakfast thankfully proceeded without any other embarrassing incident, although the grandparents' grief over Ozai hung over the pleasant conversation like an oddly ominous cloud in a blue sky. "You really did throw a lovely party, dear," Lihua told Ursa as she walked with them towards the palace gates, where their procession home was already waiting. "And I know you'll say most of it was planned for you, but the music especially was inspired. It wasn't that way in years past. Ilah would have loved it."
"Thank you, Lady Lihua."
"You really must stop with the General this and Lady that," Lu Ten informed her. "Please, we're simply Lu Ten and Lihua. Even Grampa and Granny if it suits your fancy."
"If you insist, Lu Ten. I'll try to remember that."
Lu Ten chuckled in a very Iroh-like fashion, and Ursa was once again reminded of that strange older Iroh she'd seen in those spirit tunnels. It all felt like a lifetime ago, and she hadn't had any such visions since returning from the Autumn Festival, but she couldn't shake the notion that she'd fallen into those tunnels for a reason. Lu Ten was so jolly, but the old Iroh had been so sad…what made the difference between grandfather and grandson?
"Good. Until we meet again, Princess Ursa." He dipped his head in a quick bow.
"Come now, if you wish for me to drop your title, you must drop mine too," Ursa pointed out.
Lu Ten let out the big belly laugh she imagined Iroh's laughter would one day grow into. "Sharp as a tack! As you wish, Ursa."
"Well, Ursa," Lihua grasped her hand with sudden intensity even as the pleasant smile remained on her face, "thank you for hosting us. Please, visit soon and keep me updated on how your lessons with Aiko are going. And tell Iroh not to forget how lucky he is to have you."
"I will."
Lihua's hand squeezed slightly, and for a moment, Ursa saw something like sorrow flicker in the tall woman's gold eyes. Then, as if it were a trick of the light, she blinked and it was gone.
Ursa waved as the grandparents' carriage pulled away from the palace, standing with her hand raised until they were well and truly out of sight. It left a strange pang in her chest. Was this what having grandparents was like? Aside from a handful of minutes with Roku's spirit, she had nothing to compare it to.
Blinking rapidly, she turned and gasped slightly when she found someone standing behind her. "Ozai!"
He remained stone-still, arms folded and an odd not-quite-frown on his face. "They left already?" he asked.
"Yeah." Had he come to see them off, to apologize for his earlier behavior? "You know, I'm sure we could get a carriage and catch them at their ship if you wanted-"
"No."
"Okay."
Ozai finally loosened, uncrossing his arms and turning away. "It's weird when I see them," he said, and it took Ursa a moment to realize he was explaining himself to her. "They always seem to care so much."
"Isn't that what grandparents are for?"
"I don't know," he shrugged, before starting to walk away. "Sorry about breakfast, by the way. For real this time."
"You know," she called after him before he could get too far, "sometimes, when people care about you…just letting them care can be enough."
He didn't stop or look back at her, but Ursa thought she saw a beat of hesitation in his stride.
Regardless, family drama was not what she wanted to worry about right now: not with the memory of her night with Iroh still shuddering through her with every beat of her heart, alongside his promise to make it up to her whenever he was released from his princely duties. He'd been gone a couple of hours at most…how much longer would it take? Perhaps she could see him for lunch.
With that hope in mind, she made her way to the garden to check on the plants and turtleducks. Last night's snowfall had certainly been romantic, but in the light of day, she worried about the unusual weather hurting the garden's inhabitants. At least Xiliu was unbothered; Ursa laughed as she watched him dive into snowdrifts and pop out with little piles of snow atop his small head. Although he'd grown a lot since Iroh had scooped him up for her, he was still a kitten.
"XiXi, you'll make yourself sick," she scolded. He mrowed at her as if to say No I won't, and disappeared back into the snow.
By the time she had counted off the turtleduck nests, checked her plants for frostbite, and satisfied herself that the garden had suffered no lasting damage, it was decidedly lunchtime and Iroh still hadn't surfaced. What could he be doing? They could be kissing in the snow again right now…
"Ursa!"
Piandao's voice made her glance over her shoulder to find him and Korzu making their way through the snow to her.
"Hey, what are you two doing here?"
"We said the four of us would do lunch today, remember?" Piandao extended a hand to help her up, and a harsh-looking bruise on his temple became visible as she stood. "Where's Iroh?"
"Oh, he's been off doing something for his father all morning," she shrugged, hoping she didn't seem as dejected as she felt. "He might not be able to join lunch. What happened to you, by the way?"
"What, this?" He touched the bruise. "Had a drunken stumble last night, it happens."
"To fools," Korzu muttered under his breath.
"Anyway, Ursa," Piandao ignored the remark, "where do you want to go for lunch?"
"You still want me to come?"
"Sure, unless you don't want to," he confirmed. Korzu nodded in agreement.
Deep down, Ursa generally thought of Piandao and Korzu as friends of Iroh's who were nice to her out of obligation; sure, they were good company and lent a wonderful sympathetic ear, but at the end of the day, she wasn't part of their little group. Except, apparently, she merited an invite out to lunch.
"Okay," she said, trying not to sound too excited. "Um…how about a phở spot?"
"Sure, I know a place near the square," Korzu volunteered. "Do you need a moment to get ready or shall we go?"
Ursa glanced down at her rather plain gardening tunic and leggings. "Give me a minute. If we're on the square, I imagine there'll be an audience."
It took some effort to convince Mika and Rei she didn't need them to accompany her - Piandao was a master swordsman, for crying out loud, and Korzu was equally combat-trained even if he'd chosen healing as his profession - but eventually, she donned a warm maroon robe and met her friends at the palace gates. After another argument with the perimeter guards insisting she didn't need a palanquin or an armed escort (honestly, she would never get used to how much work it was to go anywhere without Iroh), they were on their way. It was quite something, seeing the familiar Hari Bulkan coated in last night's snow; like it was experiencing the frost and renewal of spring she'd only ever heard of in stories.
"Here's the spot," Korzu said, gesturing at a restaurant she'd passed many times but had never stepped foot in: Drops of Sunshine. It was an upscale place, with ornate marble birds on either side of the entrance and gorgeous tapestries of sunset sceneries on the inside; also known as, exactly the sort of restaurant a Fire Princess would be expected to dine at with her friends. Ursa thought of the inns she'd visited with Iroh during the Autumn Festival and decided she would have preferred those casual crowds.
Thankfully, since she hadn't been here before, there wasn't an immediate commotion when she walked in. "Lord Korzu, Private Piandao," a young woman, presumably a hostess or waitress, greeted at the door, "no Prince Iroh today? Who's our new guest?"
Korzu spoke softly, "This is the Princess Ursa, Quỳnh. Like her husband, she greatly values discretion and a quiet lunch with friends."
"I understand," Quỳnh smiled cleverly, nodding at Ursa. "It's an honor, my lady. I have just the table for your first time dining with us."
It was a large table at the corner of the well-heated balcony, clearly reserved for important guests like Ursa, with its strategic white hangings giving them a bit of privacy. Quỳnh poured some spiced tea and rattled off a brief list of the day's offerings, collecting Piandao and Korzu's orders quickly. Ursa blinked, thrown off by the absence of a physical menu, and ended up simply requesting the chef's special for lack of remembering the other options.
"You two come here often?" she asked once Quỳnh had gone away.
"Not really. It's just a very concise menu that rotates every few weeks, and we've had the opportunity to try most of them," Korzu replied, sipping his cup.
"Is that normal for these restaurants?"
"Absolutely for the upscale ones," Piandao confirmed. "Having a small menu they've mastered is the sign of culinary refinement around here. Add a new dish that's essentially a remix of an old one every year or so, and you're golden. Have your servers memorize the menu for double the prestige points."
"You're not a fan?" she guessed.
"The food's certainly good, but the showiness gets old. Sometimes a no-frills greasy spoon hits the spot just as well, if not better."
Ursa couldn't have agreed more. Leaning forward, she began a conversation about the inns she'd visited with Iroh along the Autumn Festival route, sparking laughter and comparisons to places in Harbor City that Korzu and Piandao favored, including a few spots they'd visited the previous night with Iroh.
"What were you all doing last night anyway?" she asked. "It was so late by the time Iroh came back."
"Oh, sorry. We were just drinking and listening to him bitch and whine about how he didn't think his wife had feelings for him."
Korzu elbowed Piandao in the ribs as the latter laughed, while Ursa felt her face flame with embarrassment for what felt like the hundredth time that day. "Wh-what?"
"Come on, the poor sod's so caught up in the fact that you didn't want to marry him that he'd half-convinced himself you would hate him forever. But that must have changed last night, right? He ran back to the palace saying he had to see you like hounds were at his heels." Piandao was unrepentantly smug as he explained, and even Korzu's little half-smile showed his amusement while he weakly shushed his friend.
"I don't think that's your business," Ursa said, refusing to meet either of their eyes.
"Let up, Piandao. She's uncomfortable."
Korzu's interference and the arrival of their meals gave her a brief respite from the discussion of her marriage. The chef's special was a delicious rice noodle phở with delicately thin beef slices, topped with generous helpings of chili oil, fresh bean sprouts and lime wedges. Ursa's mouth watered.
"Seriously, though," Piandao picked up again once he'd had a few mouthfuls. "Are you and Iroh good now? Did he get over himself and straighten everything out last night?"
All of it flashed through her mind again - the cake, the snowball fight, the kiss - and she determinedly focused on her lunch. "Yes," she said, fighting off an involuntary smile, "Everything's…good. I suppose I should thank you two for that if you were encouraging him."
"Please, we just told him to get out of his own head and look at the evidence. It's something he needs a little kick to do sometimes," Korzu shrugged.
"Just settle something for us," Piandao added. "Who made the first move, him or you?"
Ursa replayed the night again as she blushed. Iroh had woken her up and taken her out to the garden, but she was the one who'd actually kissed him. "I guess me?"
With a groan, Piandao dropped a few coins into Korzu's hand. "That's what I get. Too much faith in the prince."
"You were betting on it?"
"Betting on Iroh is a very lucrative pastime," Korzu explained as he counted his coins. "It's better to win money off him in Pai Sho, but he's been too difficult to beat for the past few years."
"You should be ashamed of yourself," Piandao told him, "taking money from a broke soldier."
"You say that like you didn't wrestle me to the ground last night to keep me from picking up the tab. That's where he got the bruise," Korzu added to Ursa. She laughed.
The conversation turned to chatter about what the two men would be doing now that Iroh's birthday was over. Korzu was leaving the next morning, and Piandao would be staying for about a week or two longer to spend time with his mother before returning to the front lines.
"You sure I can't convince you to stay longer?" Ursa complained to Korzu. "At least until Piandao leaves?"
"I'm afraid not. The Lord and Lady Rinta are growing weary of my presence in their home; it reminds them that I'm not doing something more worthwhile with my life like my older brothers."
"So, you could stay in the palace." Ursa knew enough of his parents to understand why he wanted to be out of their house. "Piandao will be around as well to be with Aisha."
"No, I've already booked my travel up north," he shook his head. "There's a strain of flu that tears through the villages each winter I need to help treat. I'm sorry to not have more time with Piandao now that he's back, but that's just part of growing up."
"Korzu?" A female voice interrupted his small lecture. "Korzu, is that you?"
A girl about Ursa's own age was peering at their small group through the white hangings. Ursa could discern chin-length brown hair and a dimpled smile that seemed familiar.
"Hi, Hana," Korzu greeted. "How are you? Out for lunch as well?"
"Yes, I was here with my sister, but she's busy telling off the poor chef who didn't add enough fresh cilantro to her phở for her liking," Hana rolled her eyes. "I thought I'd come say hi to you, I remember you said you're leaving the capital early tomorrow."
"Only to him? Not to the honorable soldier at his side?" Piandao wiggled his eyebrows.
"If I recall correctly, you are far from honorable," Hana snorted derisively.
"Hana," Korzu interrupted the snarky exchange, "have you had the pleasure of meeting Princess Ursa?"
"Not formally, I don't think." She bowed to Ursa now. "Apologies for the interruption, Your Highness. I am Hana, daughter of deputy finance minister Lady Aoi. My utmost gratitude for inviting my family to yesterday's celebration of your husband. We had a marvelous time."
The introduction clicked why Hana seemed familiar. "You're Mariko's sister, aren't you?"
"Yes, Princess." Something twinkled in her eyes, like she remembered Mariko insulting Ursa at the Autumn Festival kickoff party a few months ago. "I understand my older sister has made an impression on the royal family; allow me to make a new one."
So, she was distancing herself from Mariko, for better or worse. "Absolutely. You're most welcome for the invitation, by the way. Your mother has been a dedicated support to my family for years, so a birthday party is hardly enough repayment. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it."
Korzu butted in again. "Hana here is a fan of the theater, much like yourself Ursa. I'd just been telling her of when we visited Ember Island and were treated to a performance of Love Amongst The Dragons during the festival."
"Really?" Ursa regarded the girl in a new light. "What's your favorite play, then?"
"The Song of The Phoenix."
"That's a wonderful one. You must tell me, how do you manage in the capital? I find that theater lovers are so few…"
It was easy to lose track of time once Hana sat in the empty fourth chair and began exchanging thoughts on theater with Ursa. Dramatic performances had lost importance in the capital after the marriage of Azulon and Ilah, as Ilah had favored music and Hari Bulkan's arts and culture scene had bent to the Fire Lady's interests.
"Music is wonderful, of course, but it's even better when it's in conjunction with a drama," Hana remarked.
"And what drama would you tell with it?" Piandao asked with a transparent grin. "A romance?"
"Perhaps the tragedy of the perverted soldier who didn't know when to hold his tongue."
Ursa liked this girl.
By the time Iroh stumbled out of the war room, eyes heavy and brain half-turned to mush, it was well after dinner. He couldn't believe how long it had taken to get the generals to agree on the best course of action for Omashu, what with all the discussion about what Bumi's unpredictably insane mind would be expecting them to do. Nor could he believe what the plan had ended up being. Spirits, Ursa was going to be so disappointed. If she was even awake, at this hour. Hopefully she didn't think he'd just been off avoiding her all day.
"I'm sorry," he said when she answered her door, "the war room, it took forever-"
"It's all right," Ursa cut him off, stepping back to allow him to enter and close the door. She was wearing a nightgown and dressing robe, with her pretty hair in its customary evening braid; ready for bed, if she hadn't already been sleeping. "How was it?"
"Miserable," he replied, meaning it from the bottom of his heart. "I just wanted to get away and see you, darling, I'm so sorry it took all day. Did I wake you up again?"
Yawning, she shook her head. "No. I was waiting for you."
He took her in his arms, holding her close as he breathed in the Ursa scent he'd been missing all day. There was a note of jasmine that hadn't been there before, further soothing the ache inside him. "I don't deserve you," he murmured.
She kissed him in response.
His armor, as impressive as it was, was not particularly convenient for these sorts of activities. Ursa was happy to help when he moved to take it off, hands running over the hard plates to find the hidden fastenings.
"That's much better," he sighed, pulling it over his head. "Half the torture of the war room is spending hours in this stuffy armor."
Ursa trailed a finger along his armguards. "I don't know, I think it suits you."
"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow at her. "Tell me, how exactly does it suit me?"
"Hmm…" Her wandering fingers reached his upper arm, and her other hand joined it to trace the lines of his collarbones through his tunic. "It makes you look…princely."
"And what does it mean to look princely?"
"Some might say regal, or handsome, or strong."
"Would you?"
Her hands dropped down to his waist, fingers sneaking underneath the cotton tunic prompting him to let out a quiet moan. "Yes," she whispered, eyes glinting mischievously.
"Good." Iroh kissed her again, tongue eagerly pressing against her lips. They parted readily, and he relished the sound she made as he found the taste of her. He couldn't get enough of this after dreaming about it all day; not the way her arms wrapped around him as she tilted her head back to give him better access, nor how she seemed to mold perfectly into his body, all slight and sweet curves that he desperately wanted to explore again.
A whine of disappointment escaped him when she pulled back first, but it was quickly appeased when she began kissing along his jaw instead. He groaned as she nipped at a patch of his skin just below his ear that sent a jolt of pleasure down his spine. Noting his reaction, her mouth formed into a small 'o' and began sucking intently. His hand flew to the back of her neck as his eyes fluttered shut. Iroh was no stranger to these sensations, but something about her magnified it tenfold.
"Ursa…"
"Yes?" She came back up to kiss his nose playfully.
He rested his forehead against hers, getting his wits back before her lips could steal them away again. "I need to tell you something."
Her face dropped like she could sense the premonition in his words. "Is something wrong?"
"My father's assigned me a mission in the Earth Kingdom. I'm leaving for Omashu in the morning."
"What? Omashu? That was why you were in the war room?"
He nodded, giving her a brief rundown of Bumi's history and his current attacks on the colonies. "Anyway, after a ridiculous length of discussion, we came up with a plan to send a small espionage team into Omashu while Bumi's away. Since his battle with my father, we haven't been able to gain a lot of intelligence of how the city's refortified itself and how he was able to recover. Hopefully, we can get something while he's gone."
"But…" Ursa squeezed his hands, clearly shaken by what he'd told her. "Isn't Omashu practically a fortress? Aren't they diligent about outsiders in order to survive the war?"
"Yes, but we're expecting they'll be on guard against an invasion while their king's away. Not spies who intend to be in and out without any combat or confrontation. I know it seems risky, but, well…Bumi's unpredictable, and rumored to be mad. We have to behave a bit madly in retaliation to stand a chance."
"I see." The mention of madness had been a bad idea, given how her mouth drooped with clear worry.
"I'm sorry, my darling. I'm just going to have to plan something special for us when I'm back. I really will miss you."
"I'll miss you too," she whispered. "And, um, I have something for you, before you go."
"Hmm…is it more of your lovely lips?"
Thankfully, she smiled and rewarded him with a kiss for that. "Sure, but afterwards. This is something else."
"Alright." He stole one more kiss from her, which turned into a second, then a third and fourth, until Ursa was laughing and playfully squirming away.
"Patience," she mock-scolded. Iroh pouted, flopping down onto the bed and admiring the view as she walked into her dressing room. Her training with Aiko had done her well; spirits, he wanted so badly to have that lovely figure beneath him again…or on top of him would be fine too, really. He wasn't picky.
"Here," Ursa emerged with a small box. "I was going to make this your birthday gift, then I second-guessed myself and thought the painting would be more appropriate. But, well, I want you to have it before you go to Omashu."
"Oh?" He sat up and pulled her into his lap, nuzzling her cheek. "What is it?"
"Have a look."
Interest piqued, he took the box, resting his head against the curve of her sweet-smelling shoulder as he popped it open. Inside sat an intricately braided brown leather necklace, with fine threads of gold winding through its pattern and a gold clasp.
"It's dragonskin leather," she explained. "Maya gave me some, and I couldn't figure out what to do with it until I was thinking about your birthday. She said they used the dragon's sheddings to make good luck charms."
Iroh remembered the Hira'a custom, wives weaving handmade tokens of protection for their traveling husbands. "You made this for me?"
"Mmhmm. I want you to wear it, especially when you're going off to spy on insane Earth Kings."
"I'll wear it always, darling." He picked it up, admiring how smooth and warm the dragonskin leather was in his fingers. Maybe it was just his imagination, but he really thought he could feel the energy of Ran and Shaw contained within it. "Help me put it on?"
Ursa clumsily clasped it around his neck, her bad hand trembling slightly. Involuntarily, Iroh's eyes flicked to her burn: it had healed enough that it didn't need to be bandaged anymore, but there was now reddish-pink scarring like a grisly handcuff just below her right wrist. In comparison to how pale and smooth the rest of her skin was…guilt rolled through him.
"It suits you," she said with a smile, distracting him from his thoughts.
He fingered the necklace, feeling her protection settle against his skin. "Of course it does. You made it for me."
"So you like it?"
"I love it."
Her sunshine eyes lit up, and she kissed his cheek. "Good! Now, I don't know if it'll protect you from King Bumi, but it's worth a try."
"If it makes you feel any better, I shouldn't actually be facing Bumi since we're specifically going to spy while he's away from Omashu."
"I see." Ursa reached up to trace along his hairline, making it clear that she wanted his hair down. He obeyed, tugging his topknot free, and she happily twirled her fingers through his unkempt mane before continuing, "It's not standard for royal family members to conduct espionage missions themselves, is it?"
"Not standard, but to be fair, there haven't been that many occasions calling for it." Iroh wasn't particularly fond of his hair, but Ursa seemed to enjoy playing with it, and he couldn't think of any real reason to deny her such a small happiness. "You know, you're actually why the idea even came up."
"I am?"
"You are. When we came back from the Autumn Festival, I talked to my father about how blending in with the public at markets and inns helped me learn more of their sentiments than I would've as just Prince Iroh. He thought there was some merit to the strategy, which led to today's whole discussion of me spying on Omashu. And I wouldn't have tried stepping out of my bubble like that if it weren't for you."
"Oh…I just wanted to eat some regular food," she shrugged. "Speaking of which, we really should do that again soon. I went to that restaurant, Drops of Sunshine, for lunch with Piandao and Korzu. It was very nice, but they were mentioning some greasy spoon places in Harbor City that sounded good."
"I'll have to take you to some when I'm back, then. What did you have at lunch?"
"The chef's special, a spicy beef phở. Definitely the best phở I've ever had, aside from my mom's. But," her eyes sparkled, "did you really spend last night arguing with your friends that I don't have feelings for you?"
Blast. Iroh really was going to have those two banished this time.
"Don't laugh at me!" he protested when she began to grin.
"I wouldn't dream of it."
"I can see you smiling."
"I just think it's sweet that you were so patient with me," she explained, shifting so she was straddling his lap and facing him. "Even if your friends were right about you overthinking a little by the end. In case you're still not sure, by the way, I do like you."
That almost made his embarrassment worth it. "Really?"
"Yeah."
"But what if I still feel a little unsure?"
"Then I'll tell you again. I like your eyes,-" she kissed his forehead, "your nose-" a kiss for his nose- "those dimples in your smile-" one on each dimple-
"What about my lips?" he asked pointedly.
"They're okay, I guess."
"'Okay?'"
"Kidding!" she laughed. "I definitely like your lips."
She kissed them to prove it, and Iroh sighed, content at having achieved his goal.
"What else did you do today?" he asked, leaning back into her pillows in preparation for the story.
"Well, let's see…I had brunch with your grandparents this morning, and they very much want us and Ozai to visit them next month when your aunt Mynah will be back from the colonies."
"I'd love to see Aunt Mynah, but the Ozai part might be more of a challenge."
"I know." Her smile faltered slightly, but then she simply leaned down and kissed him again. "After that I went into the garden with Xiliu and played with him in the snow for a while, and then I made sure the turtleducks and plants were all okay after the snow, which they are."
Of course precious XiXi got to spend a nice day in the snow with her while Iroh had been stuck in the war room. "Where is Xiliu, anyway?" he asked, peering around the room in case the cat suddenly leapt out at him without warning. It had happened before.
"He went outside after I fed him dinner. I think he somehow gets that we want our privacy." Ursa gave him a rather mischievous smirk. "Still, he'll probably be happy to have his room back once you leave for Omashu."
"I'm sure there's nothing that clawed furball would like more than for me to drop off the face of the earth and leave you all to him."
She giggled. "Iroh, are you jealous of my cat?"
"I am!" He defended himself. "He gets to spend his whole day lounging around with you petting him and hand feeding him and calling him handsome, and what do I get? A war council and a lousy half-hour before and after bed, if that."
"If it makes you feel any better, XiXi really doesn't spend more than a few hours with me each day. Cats are rather independent creatures," she shrugged. "But you're very handsome too, my jealous husband."
"You're just saying it now."
"I'm not. In fact, if you take this silly tunic off, I'll show you just how handsome I think you are."
"Oh?" he grinned, watching her blush at her own brazen declaration as his arms circled her waist. "Come on then, Princess, what exactly do you have in mind?"
"Hang on now, I thought you wanted to hear about my day. Or did you only come here for my body?" she sniffed in pretend offense.
"Alright, alright, finish telling me about your day," Iroh rolled his eyes with mock exasperation. Honestly, he didn't care whether she wanted to talk or do something more physical; what mattered was just being with her, running his hands along her back and admiring her sunshine eyes up close.
"Okay, after the garden I went to lunch with Piandao and Korzu, and while I was there Korzu introduced me to someone interesting: his friend Hana."
"Hana, Mariko's younger sister?"
"Yes. Do you know her?"
"Not well, but I certainly think better of her than Mariko." Iroh scanned his memory for any standout incidents of the young Lady Hana. "She's been at plenty of royal parties over the years, friendly and funny but never pushy."
"I think that's a fair assessment." Ursa began playing with his hair again. "We ended up talking a lot about theater, and I liked her. Korzu thinks she and I might be friends."
"I don't see why not."
"Well, I'd like to have more friends among the noblewomen. I just don't know how to tell who's genuine and who might be trying to get favors from me."
That was the eternal struggle of royalty. "I wish there was a trick or something to differentiate those two kinds of people, but there really isn't. It's just a sense you hone over time." Iroh considered Hana's background carefully. "I can't think of any favors Hana might want. Her family's already in a very respectable position, and it's not like you could influence a promotion for her mother. I suppose if she's planning far enough in advance, she could be trying to position herself as Ozai's bride."
"What?" Ursa looked astounded. "But- Ozai isn't even fifteen yet."
"Darling, he's a Fire Prince. Nobles were shoving their daughters at me when I was that age. Hana's only a couple years older than him, I think. It's not unimaginable."
"But he's never even had a girlfriend…has he?"
"Not that I know of. Doesn't stop people from trying."
"Ugh." Clearly disgruntled, she dropped her head down. "When my children are old enough, I want them to have something a little more normal for their first relationship."
"I'll keep it in mind."
"I guess if she is interested in Ozai's hand, she can wear herself out trying to win it while being friends with me," Ursa sighed, drumming her fingers on his chest.
Iroh chuckled, squeezing her slightly. "I hope she's not. It would be a waste of her time. So, what happened after that?"
"Not much, really. I returned to the palace, said goodbye to Korzu, did some correspondence with Yuna, then decided to freshen up in the spa. Ozai and I had a rather quiet dinner, and then I came back here to read and wait for you. Do you want to tell me what happened in the war room?"
"Spirits, no. It was just a bunch of grown generals shrieking at each other in their fright over Bumi while I was trying to hide my hangover. I'd very much like to forget that meeting."
Despite his joking tone, Ursa propped her chin on his chest and frowned at him. "Bumi is very dangerous, isn't he? To injure your father so terribly and terrify all the generals like that…"
"He's nothing to scoff at," Iroh admitted. "He's the only person in the world my father regards as his equal."
"What about the main Earth King?"
"Earth King Chen sealed the walls of Ba Sing Se at the start of the war, and we haven't heard anything of him or his family since. It may be a good strategy for keeping their royal line safe, but it's clearly a line of cowards."
"I wish you were sneaking into the cowardly king's city instead of the insane king's," Ursa sighed.
"Trust me, if there was a way to slip past the walls of Ba Sing Se, I'd be headed there instead.."
"How long will you be gone for?"
"I don't know. Could be a couple of weeks or a couple of months, but it really depends on how long Bumi stays out of the city and how much information there is for us to find."
"Oh." Her hands fisted in his tunic. Iroh's heart clenched like she'd squeezed it instead.
"It'll be okay," he promised. "I'll write to you as often as I can. I won't get into a fight unless I have to. Not even a spark of firebending if I can help it. And once I return, we'll go to Senlin and all the greasy spoons you want. I swear I'll make this all up to you. Okay?"
"Okay. It's just….two weeks, two months," she shook her head. "I can't imagine it. The most we've been apart for is two days."
"I know." Iroh remembered it too well: when she'd vanished into the woods after their first (and hopefully only) fight, then turned up two days later burned and barely conscious from Tiron's attack. Sometimes, he still found himself awake in the middle of the night to make sure she was safe and sound next to him.
This is different, he told himself. Father and Ozai are here, and Jeong Jeong's been whipping the guards into shape. She'll be safe in the palace now.
"I suppose I'll just have to kiss you enough tonight for the weeks we're apart then," she said, sliding a hand under his tunic.
"Good plan." Iroh flipped her over, Ursa letting out a surprised squeak in the process. Her robe had come undone, exposing her pink silk nightgown that rode up her legs and clung temptingly to her slight curves; most notably, at the rise and fall of her chest. In the haze of last night, he'd been nervous and still a bit buzzed, with his hands fumbling and his head spinning as they'd explored each other. Tonight needed to be slower, more deliberate: something to truly savor. "I want to memorize you," he whispered, trailing a hand along a pale thigh.
"Memorize me?"
"For while I'm gone," he explained, watching her shiver as he gripped her hip. "I want to remember…how your skin feels under my touch, how you gasp my name, how you blush so prettily when I tell you you're the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on. So I have something to tide me over when I miss you."
Sure enough, she blushed. "What are you waiting for, then?"
"Permission, mostly."
Her arms around his neck pulled him down til her nose brushed against his. "I'm all yours," she breathed, the quiet declaration vanishing into yet another kiss. True to his word, Iroh memorized those words, storing them somewhere safe and sacred in his mind alongside the other precious moments she'd given him, before sinking into the slow pleasure he'd been craving all day.
"Iroh," she gasped as her willing thighs parted for him, and it was music to his ears.
A/N: I am SO excited to be doing Bumi lore…I just hope my mind's crazy enough for him.
~Bobbi