Chapter Text
Mi-La Island looked nothing at all like Bliss Isla. For one, it had no large resorts. The far southern coast of the Fire Nation was in many ways still a wild place. Instead of crystal waters and waving palms the black sand beaches gave way to snarls of jagged volcanic rock thick with crab barnacles and covered in ropes of seaweed. The waves crashed against the shore in a steady roar. The cool mornings were filled not with the sounds of cantina music, but with the raucous calls of sea ravens and the lowing of iguana seals hauled out on the glistening boulders. It was a place of thick cool forests and secret waterfalls, of secluded lagoons and fresh fish grilled right on the beach. The only way to get to Mi-La was by private boat. By happy circumstance, that’s precisely what Iroh had rented. It was hardly convenient, but to a sailor—especially one who mostly sailed a desk in RC these days—the journey from Caldera to the remote island with the wind at your back had been half the fun. All the more so with perfect company for the journey. Iroh had never understood the bit about not having women on ships.
Just because Mi-La was off the beaten track didn’t mean he and Asami had nothing, however. They’d rented a villa about a quarter mile down the beach from one of the towns—easy enough to walk over, private enough that they didn’t have to be too careful about clothing or photographers. The town itself was modest but still catered to tourists, albeit of the more adventurous type, so they had everything they needed and, just as importantly, nothing they didn’t. Especially press. Though Iroh and Asami’s relationship was hopefully old news, they’d both had enough surprises in the tabloids to last themselves a lifetime. Here on Mi-La island Iroh hoped they could just be themselves.
He jogged slowly down the beach in the bright morning sunlight. Every so often a cold wave washed up onto the sand in front of him, edged in foam. Iroh had made a little game of dodging them. He was in no rush today. He could hear Asami just behind him, her footfalls a bit faster, her breath ragged. Despite being very fit she’d never been much of a runner. But she’d complained they were eating too much and she’d wanted the exercise. There weren’t exactly kickboxing classes on Mi-La Island. But Iroh found if he dropped to an easy lope she kept up just fine, and on the whole he liked the company. The whole point of this trip was to spend time together.
This area of the island was new to him, however. They’d gone away from the village this time, instead turning west and jogging off into the unknown. So far, they’d encountered no one. Iroh didn’t mind that in the slightest. There was a time for friends, but in his opinion a perfect first vacation together included a minimum of other people. For the time being it was just him, his girlfriend, and the squawking sea ravens.
Iroh felt the corners of his lips curl up into a smile. His girlfriend. Even though it had been some time he still loved the sound of it. His girlfriend, Asami. Hi, I’m Iroh, and this is my girlfriend, Asami. We’re staying two weeks. It was a little funny to think that no one here knew them as anything but a couple. A happy couple. At least, Iroh hoped that Asami was happy. She gave every indication that she was, but that hadn’t stopped a small worried part of him from wondering sometimes anyway. It still seemed a miracle that they’d navigated this together. Two years ago Iroh had put his sorry heart in a box and hugged his best friend tight as she told him she and Korra were engaged. Six months ago he’d thought he’d lost even that bright spark of friendship. And only a few weeks before he’d sat on Asami’s couch, numb, convinced that all his efforts had failed and that she could never love him the way he’d grown to love her. And now?
“If this was your plan to get me to notice your butt, it’s working,” Asami panted behind him. “Maybe you should slow down and let me have a closer look?”
Iroh grinned. “Need a break, slowpoke?” he called back.
“Oh!” Asami gasped suddenly. “Do you see that? It’s beautiful!”
“I’m sure it is,” he replied, feeling the heat rise to his face. He hadn’t spent a whole lot of time looking at his own backside, but if she liked it that much that couldn’t be a bad thing, right?
“I don’t mean your ass, Iroh! Look!”
Iroh skidded to a halt on the wet sand and spun. Asami stood about twenty feet behind him, one hand pointing off to the left where the black cliffs rose steeply up from the beach and into the thick forest. Something shimmered just over the rise of the beach. Iroh shaded his eyes against the glare.
“Lagoon?” he ventured. The shining water was so bright it was almost aqua. He’d only missed it because he was so focused on his little game of dodging the waves.
“Won’t know until we go,” Asami said. She turned and gave him a sassy smile. “Race you?” Then without another word she took off running.
“Hey!” Iroh yelled. He dug in his heels and sprinted off after her. Asami might have the edge on time and distance, but Iroh had always been fast and it wasn’t long before he was right behind her. He laughed to himself as he put on a burst of speed, leaned forward, and scooped her right off her feet.
“Ayee!” Asami shrieked, laughing and kicking as Iroh lifted her off the ground and kept on running. It felt good. He’d probably pay for it later, he wasn’t as young as he used to be, but at the moment he couldn’t think of any better use of his strength and energy than carting his giggling, wiggling girlfriend off towards the lagoon she’d spotted.
“Thats…” he huffed, “what you… get… cheater.”
“Iroh, put me down!” she wailed. “Don’t make me kick you in the balls!”
Iroh chuckled and set her down on the soft sand. The lagoon sparkled before them like a bright blue mirror. It was far larger than it had looked from the beach.
“It’s beautiful,” Asami breathed. She trotted over and peered into the water. “It's like glass.”
Iroh followed her, still faintly out of breath. The lagoon was indeed as clear as crystal. He could see small fish darting here and there just above the soft sandy bottom. It was also utterly deserted.
“It looks like a pool,” he said. He wiped his brow with his forearm. “It’s too bad we didn’t bring swimsuits. I could use a dip.”
Asami threw him a mischievous glance. “Who needs swimsuits?” she asked. Without waiting for him to respond she pulled her tank top up over her head. Iroh just stared at her, slack jawed and speechless. Spirits, were they really—in broad daylight?
Asami smirked at him, then wriggled out of her shorts and panties all in one go. They were already barefoot. Iroh had seen her naked just last night, it wasn’t like any of this was new, but he felt an immediate response all the same. It seemed some parts of his body were very, very interested in what was suddenly happening here.
“Coming?” she asked, then stripped out of her sports bra. Iroh hastily pulled off his shirt. He wasn’t about to miss this.
Asami backed up a few feet, the morning sun gleaming off her pale skin, then pelted forward and cannonballed into the lagoon. The splash shattered the stillness like a bomb. She came up sputtering and laughing, then looked expectantly at him.
“Come on!” she called. “It’s not even cold.”
Iroh yanked off his shorts and underwear under Asami’s heavy gaze and tried not to die of embarrassment. It wasn’t anything new for her, either, but that didn’t mean he liked an audience. Did he? There were some things between them they were still figuring out.
Before he could overthink it he ran to the edge and dove in. The water felt as warm as a bath—a stark contrast to the chilly sea. It was wonderful. Iroh took a moment to relish the feeling, then kicked out with his legs. He’d always been a strong swimmer from the time he was a child. He held his breath and darted forward, barreling into Asami’s legs and wrapping his arms around her knees. She let out a giggling shriek as he pushed her backwards under the surface.
They both came up sputtering a moment later. Asami’s dark hair was plastered to her skin. Her green eyes glittered with amusement. Iroh could see tiny droplets in her eyelashes.
“You jerk,” she teased. She reached up and pushed the wet hair off his own forehead, then ran her fingers through his hair. “You’re going to pay for that.”
“Your jerk?” Iroh asked hopefully.
Asami laughed. “Sure,” she said. "My jerk." She sidled closer to him in the water, all smooth skin and soft red lips. When she kissed him, it tasted like the sea.
***FOUR YEARS LATER***
Iroh lay on his back and watched the sunlight slanting through the tall windows, a faint smile on his face. He’d been awake for a while, but felt far too comfortable to move yet. The beds here were a perfect compromise of firm mattresses, cool sheets, and soft, fluffy comforters that could be easily piled up on top of Asami to leave his skin bare to the crisp morning air. His muscles ached pleasantly from a full day’s sail, as well as from the rather vigorous nighttime activities that had followed their arrival at their usual villa the evening before. His pants were probably still in the hallway. Best do something about that. Eventually.
Iroh stretched his arms up over his head and half-heartedly told himself to go for a run. Unsurprisingly, he didn’t move. Instead he rolled over and buried his face in Asami’s hair. She made a muffled sleepy sound in response. For a moment he simply lay there and took it all in; the crash of the waves, the warmth of the bright morning sunlight, the feel of smooth white sheets against his naked skin. Asami’s heat against his side, and the scent of her hair. The promise of tea and a hot breakfast with the windows wide open to the fresh sea air. Agni, how did he deserve such happiness?
Not for the first time he considered buying this place, or something very like it. Maybe a little sailboat to go with it. Iroh could well afford it, even alone. They couldn’t live on Mi-La full-time, of course, not with their jobs, but having a place ready to go might help them take breaks more often. He imagined inviting Bolin and his wife out for a week, and the baby when it came. The extra bedroom here had always stood empty. His own family coming down from Caldera to stay. Or maybe, one day…
Asami wiggled a little closer. Iroh smiled and wrapped an arm around her under the blankets. His fingers stroked across her flat stomach. Maybe, one day. He’d give her all the time she needed though. He’d promised himself that. Some times were harder than others though. He’d caught himself looking at rings again only last week. Just in case.
“Cold?” he asked, pushing the thought aside again.
“Hrmpf.”
Iroh chuckled to himself and pressed his chest firmly to Asami’s back. “Noted.”
They stayed that way for a while, just comfortable. The sun rose a little higher. Iroh thought about getting up and found himself burrowing deeper into the bed instead. His girlfriend was simply too snuggly. It had been a while since their last vacation, too. With every passing minute he could feel the months of stress leaching out of him like poison drawn from a wound. There would be plenty of time for activity later. For now, Iroh wanted love.
“Iroh?” Asami said. She sounded much more awake now.
“Hmm?”
“Can I ask you something?”
Iroh scooted backwards as Asami twisted in his arms to face him. She looked delightfully tousled. They were both older now, but looking at her you’d never know it. The faint laugh lines around her mouth only made her look happy.
“Of course,” he said.
Asami gave him a soft smile, then propped herself up on one elbow. “You know, loving you is the happiest I’ve ever been,” she said. “I was hoping to, you know, lock it in. If you’re okay with it. I think it’s time.”
“Lock it…?” Iroh trailed off as Asami reached underneath her pillow and pulled out a small wooden box. The very type of box he himself had been looking at more and more frequently these days.
He met her eyes, disbelieving. “Asami?”
“Iroh,” she said steadily, “will you be my best friend forever? Officially?” She flipped open the lid of the box with one hand. Inside was a ring. It was made of some silvery metal and covered with sleek, swooping designs. Simple, yet elegant and distinct. Exactly the kind of ring he might have picked for himself.
“Are you… are you saying you want to get married?” Iroh stammered. Something in his brain abruptly felt jammed.
Asami shook her head. “No. I’m saying I want to marry you, Iroh. Just you. Will you?”
Iroh lunged forwards and tackled her into a kiss. Her mouth was soft and warm and everything. Everything.
***
Iroh held open the door to 31 Glass as Asami walked past in her new black dress. They’d been intentionally late in hopes that everyone would already be there. She might be able to keep secrets, but Iroh himself was hopelessly transparent. The entire last week it felt like he couldn’t keep the stupid smile off his face. His new ring felt heavy and awkward and amazing all at the same time. He kept fiddling with it, as if he somehow expected it to disappear when he wasn’t paying attention. Anyone with a brain would take one look at him and know what was up. Never mind that the ring he'd picked out with Asami last night could probably blind people.
“Hey!” Bolin waved from a table beyond the long glass bar. His wife sat beside him, round and glowing. On his other side was Mako, and beyond him Hartok and old Commander Bumi and a few of Asami’s friends from Future Industries and the tech circuit. It wasn’t everyone, but it was a good showing for short notice.
“Hi, guys,” Asami called. “Thanks for coming.”
“Welcome back,” said Hartok. He gave Iroh a white-toothed grin. “Something you two want to tell us in this fancy bar of yours, by any chance?”
She looked up at Iroh and beamed at him. “What do you say?” she whispered. “Do you want to tell them?”
Iroh wrapped his arm around her back and faced their friends. “Asami asked me a question,” he said. “But the answer has always been yes.”