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The air was electric as Tahla made her way through the market of Harbor City. As the home of the majority of the population of the Fire Nation Capital, the district of Harbor City was always bustling, filled with the voices of street vendors, shop owners, playing children, and young military personnel. As she weaved through the crowds of Fire Nation residents who were looking to buy seasonal fruits or handmade crafts from the wide array of vendors, she was very aware of the heavy basket of mangos that she carried, which she had hooked around her left elbow. The air was hot and the late morning sun baked down on the market, which was typical weather for the Fire Nation, and these conditions only seemed to energize the crowd. Before continuing through the market, she pulled her heavy curls off of her neck and into a bun with one of the silk ribbons that she wore around each of her wrists.

Tahla searched the vendor stands, looking for a particular pair of married florists named Tuki and Jin. When she finally found their stand, she was delighted to find that Tuki had saved the best bouquet of fire lilies for her. The flowers only bloomed for a few weeks each year, and Tahla had been going on for months about how excited she was to buy some from the couple. She swiftly paid for her flowers using her Fire Nation currency, but before she left, she offered a few mangos from her basket to the sweet florists. They happily accepted the fruits and Tahla began her long walk towards the Royal Palace, but only made it a few yards before she felt a strong hand rest on her upper arm.
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Iroh stood on the ramp of the ship, overlooking the group of naval men that were gathered on the dock below him. The men had been at sea for several months, training in the military procedures and protocols of the United Forces, and they had just been granted six weeks of supervised leave in the Fire Nation. While they were still required to complete combat training sessions during their extended stay, the men were clearly considering the next six weeks to be a vacation. This was obvious to Iroh, who addressed the men for a final time before setting them loose in the Fire Nation Capital.

“Please behave yourselves. We represent the United Republic of Nations above all else, so I don’t want to hear about any trouble,” he spoke in a serious tone. “You have housing assignments and money for food, which I suggest you spend wisely. Now, if I’m not mistaken, the Harbor City Street Market is open, and I would highly recommend that you visit. I’ll see you all in five days for combat training.” With that, he gave his men a faint smile and waved them away, and they took off running towards the market.

Iroh could not help but smile wider as he watched them hustle towards the market. The group of young men, none of them older than 25, amused him. He knew that they would run wild in the city, as many of them had grown tired of training at sea. Iroh, however, tried to maintain his stoic demeanor as he made his own way towards the market. At 34 years old, Iroh had less in common with his men than he would care to admit. He was certainly more mature than most of them, which was only accentuated by his status as a military General and Fire Nation Prince. To Iroh, it was essential that he maintained his maturity and level-headedness if he wanted to be respected.

Still, as he walked along the docks of his home city, he could not help but relax his shoulders and slightly drop his “General Iroh” persona. He removed his heavy military jacket, leaving his undershirt on and his arms exposed. He soaked in the hot Fire Nation sun and thought about how he would spend his next six weeks. Between the regular military training sessions that he would have to complete with his men, he intended to enjoy nature and spend some quality time with his mother. He had not been home in the Fire Nation in nearly three years, and he was starting to feel like both an absent son and an absent member of the royal family.

He had reached the market at this point, and he laughed to himself as he watched his men do exactly what he had expected them to. They had scattered themselves around the market, buying food and clothing items. What surprised Iroh the least of all was the sight of his men buying flowers for the women who caught their eyes; he remembered being a naval trainee, and he knew the charming thought of having a romantic fling in a new place. After all, several months at sea was quite a long time for new trainees. His eyes trailed along the various vendor booths, and he considered buying some fire flakes from a nearby stand as a treat, when his attention shifted abruptly.

His focus had turned to a flower stand. More specifically, his eyes had locked on a woman who was being handed a bouquet of fire lilies while she tried to balance a large basket of fruit on her hip. She appeared to be young, and she had soft features and a medium skin tone. Her sleeveless blue top stood out from the sea of red around her, and her dark hair was pulled up with a light blue silk ribbon that cascaded down her back. A similar blue ribbon was tied around her wrist. He assumed that she was affiliated with one of the Water Tribes somehow, based on her clothing choices and the pouch of water that she wore around her waist. In the brief moment in which he laid eyes on her, he became incredibly and unexpectedly transfixed.

Iroh was frozen in place as he watched her pay for her flowers and hand a few mangos to the couple at the flower stand. He felt a few busy marketplace shoppers bump into him as they passed, because he was blocking the path as he stood, unmoving. The only thing that drove him from that spot was the realization that the woman had turned from the flower stand and started to walk away. As if he had no control of his own feet, he walked in the same direction as her without realizing what he was doing. He only came to his senses when he caught up to her and placed his hand on her upper arm.

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As his hand connected with her skin, Iroh realized the nonsensical nature of his actions. What had compelled him to chase after a complete stranger? However, as soon as the question entered his mind, he realized that he did not have enough time to answer it, as the woman had turned to look at whoever was trying to get her attention. As their eyes met, Iroh began frantically trying to come up with a reason as to why the two of them had ended up in this position. He did this in vain, since the only thing he could think of was the beauty of her deep blue eyes and the adorable freckles that dotted her cheeks.

“Do you need any help carrying your items, miss?” he asked. He internally chided himself for not coming up with something smoother to say to the beautiful woman that stood before him. He panicked, thinking that he had scared her or made her uncomfortable, and he hoped that his years of practiced stoicism would not fail him as he tried to maintain his composure. His panic turned to relief as she gave him a smile that could only be described as radiant.
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When Tahla turned to look at the person who had stopped her on her walk towards the Royal Palace, she had never expected that she would come face-to-face with the Crown Prince of the Fire Nation. He was certainly a recognizable figure in the Capital City, and he was notoriously handsome, but she was struck by the beauty of his features in person. As she looked into his eyes, she tried to display a calm face rather than revealing to him that her heart was melting on the spot. It took all of her strength not to glance down at his bare arms, which were left uncovered when he removed the military jacket that was now slung over his elbow. She barely heard him ask if she needed help carrying her items before a wide smile crossed her face. A moment ago, actually, she had been internally dreading the long walk to the palace with her large basket of mangos, so she was glad to accept his help.

“Please!” she exclaimed, perhaps too eagerly. What she did not know at the time, however, was that Iroh was too mesmerized by her smile to fully comprehend her tone of voice. “I would really appreciate if you could take this basket,” she continued, “but I wouldn’t want to make you walk all the way to the palace if you aren’t headed that way.” In her head, Tahla assumed that Iroh would be going towards the palace to see his mother anyway, but in the spirit of treating him like a normal stranger rather than a celebrity, she decided not to let him know that she was fully aware of his identity.

Her last comment was met with a muted look of surprise from the General. “You’re on your way to the palace?” he asked, practically repeating her previous statement in his nervous state. She smiled in response, once again calming his nerves.

“Yes!” she affirmed. “I work there,” she continued, trying not to give away too much about herself too quickly. Even though he was a well-known figure in the Fire Nation, he was still a stranger, after all. This statement seemed to surprise Iroh, whose eyebrows lifted ever so slightly, but he was quick to continue the conversation.

“Well, that’s excellent! I’m headed there as well,” he responded, with a light smile. “I would love to join you on your walk, if you don’t mind.” With a nod of her head, she offered him the basket of mangos, which he carried along with his jacket on his left arm. He then offered his right arm to her, which she was quick to hold on to as she carried her bouquet of fire lilies. In this position, they began their walk towards the Royal Palace, located in the heart of the Fire Nation Capital. The first few seconds seemed to drag on as the two of them each racked their brains for a way to start the conversation. The hot Fire Nation air seemed heavier than normal, and Tahla began to realize the implications of being walked to the palace on the arm of the prince. As they took their first few steps, she felt eyes on them. Fire Nation residents who were visiting the market began to excitedly turn their attention towards their Crown Prince as the two of them walked by, but Iroh himself appeared to pay no mind to it.

He broke the silence by asking her, “So…did you pick all of these mangos yourself?” Tahla marveled at the even tone of his voice as he asked this question; she could barely stop herself from shaking, let alone keep her voice steady. To curb the awkwardness of the moment, as well as his own nerves, he offered her a gentle smile.

She beamed up at him, becoming more acutely aware of the six inches of height that separated their faces. “I did! The mangos are finally in season. Everyone in the palace loves them,” she replied, proud of how many mangos she was able to fit into one basket. She could barely carry the basket herself, but Iroh lifted it effortlessly. Tahla was already excited to deliver her mangos to the nobles and staff around the palace, who always enjoyed when she went out to pick fruit. He smiled lightly at her reply, and Tahla noticed the flash of curiosity in his eyes. She tightened her grip on his arm ever so slightly.

“What sort of work do you do in the palace, if you don’t mind me asking?” he inquired, clearly wondering how she might fit in with the Fire Nation nobility. She figured that he was mostly curious as to why an obvious water bender might be employed in the Fire Nation in the first place.

Tahla shook her head and giggled, remembering that she hadn’t even properly introduced herself. “I don’t mind at all!” she said, trying to ease his nerves and make the conversation feel more natural, for both of their sakes. “I’m the royal healer.” She watched a wave of understanding cross Iroh’s face, and she stopped herself from laughing at the way she could practically see the gears turning in his head. “I’m a water bender, if that wasn’t obvious already,” she said with a smile.

He quietly laughed at this comment, which made Tahla’s heart swell. She tried desperately to control her racing thoughts as he responded. “I thought so, with the blue shirt and the water pouch,” Iroh chuckled, “but I didn’t want to assume.” She smiled at this comment, noting how polite he was, and wondering if it was a product of his royal upbringing or his military training. After a few minute of comfortable silence and steady walking, he continued, “It’s a wonder that we haven’t met before. How long have you been working at the palace?”

She had been thinking the same thing, actually. Considering the fact that he was a member of the Royal Family and she worked in the palace, it was rather strange that this was the first time that they had met. “I was hired by the Fire Lord two years ago, when I arrived here from Republic City. Actually, two years ago today,” she stated with amusement in her voice. “These flowers are a gift for the Fire Lord.” Tahla could tell that Iroh was slightly confused by this last comment, and she realized that giving a bouquet of flowers to an employer as a thank-you-for-hiring-me gift may not have been entirely common in the United Forces. So, she continued, “She and I are quite close.”

Iroh seemed to understand more as Tahla spoke, and his eyes stayed connected with hers as they walked. The constant eye contact slightly intimidated Tahla, and her nerves got the better of her when she lost her footing while trying to walk and talk simultaneously. What could have been a major spill was avoided, however, by Iroh’s free hand wrapping removing itself from Tahla’s grasp and wrapping around her waist. Tahla felt the hot Fire Nation air fill her lungs as she gasped in shock, and her cheeks became flushed as she regained her footing and offered a weak “thank you” to Iroh. She placed her hand on his arm once again, and he smiled down at her kindly.

At this point, they had entered the volcanic center of the Capital City. “It makes sense that we haven’t met here before,” he said with a knowing look, returning their conversation to Tahla’s time in the Fire Nation. “I’ve been away from the Fire Nation for about three years, so our paths couldn’t have crossed until now.” In that moment, Tahla was thankful that their paths had crossed at all. She nodded and continued to smile up at him as they neared the palace steps. She wondered how their walk had happened so fast. “What brought you here from Republic City?” Iroh asked.

The question brought her back from her train of thought. They began climbing the large staircase towards the palace doors as she answered, “I was looking for a change. Healing is a passion of mine, and I came across some work here, and I have always loved Fire Nation history.” This was about as detailed as she planned on being with him, since she did not want to spill her life story to a near stranger, no matter his royal status. In fact, as they reached the top of the stairs, both slightly more winded than they wanted to admit, Tahla realized that she had not even given the prince her name. However, she did not have time to offer it to him before he was asking for it himself.

“I apologize for not asking sooner, but I would love to know your name,” he said softly, so the royal guards at the door would not overhear. She smiled at his words, as well as his unnecessary discretion, which she only imagined was a product of him wanting to maintain some privacy in his highly publicized life as a prince. Tahla had noticed how hard Iroh was to read, and how the expressions that crossed his handsome face were typically muted.

“Tahla,” she spoke quietly, flashing him a wide grin. She deliberately avoided asking for his name in return, because she found humor in already knowing it. “Thank you for walking with me, you’ve been so kind,” she said, only slightly louder this time. “It was lovely meeting you.” She took the large basket from him, and before turning to enter the palace, she picked the best mango she could see and placed it in his hand.

He smiled, making her heart flutter once again. “Thank you, Tahla. It was lovely to meet you as well.” With that, Tahla gave him a final sweet smile and quickly made her way down the hallway to pass out more mangos. What Iroh could not see as she walked away was the deep blush that graced her cheeks.
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As Iroh watched the healer disappear down the hallway, he felt his heart pounding in his chest. He tried his best to fight the smile that was making its way onto his face as he nodded in greeting to the guards at the front door of the palace. As he started towards the throne room to greet his mother, still holding the delicious-looking mango, he thought about his conversation with the beautiful woman, and he hoped that he had not revealed how nervous he was. He noted that his typical confidence and conversational skills were probably stunted due to his nerves, and he prayed to the spirits that she hadn’t noticed. At the same time, he realized that he had never given her his name. But, he knew that hers was Tahla, and he hoped that they would meet again over the next six weeks of his leave.

Chapter Text

Tahla’s life in the Fire Nation was nothing like what she had anticipated. She left Republic City when she was 29, and it was the first time she had ever been away from the city. When she first left, she had only expected to travel for a few weeks at most. What she had not expected, however, was to find comfort, stability, and fulfillment in the Fire Nation Capital City. In fact, when she first stepped foot on Fire Nation soil, she had never felt more unsure of herself in her entire life.

Before leaving Republic City, Tahla worked in a healing shop in the bustling downtown area, not far from City Hall. The shop, called The Jade Flower, was owned and operated by a middle-aged woman named Yune, who was a renowned water-healing expert in the city. Tahla learned everything she knew about healing from Yune, who was relentlessly kind and generous. By the time she left the city, Tahla had spent just over ten years working at The Jade Flower, and the work environment was nothing short of spectacular.

All of the women that Yune hired at her healing shop were school friends of Tahla’s. In fact, her closest friend, a bubbly water bender named Esine, was Yune’s niece. Esine was also the reason that Tahla even became interested in the art of healing. When Yune opened The Jade Flower, her goal was to run the most versatile and reliable healing shop in the whole city, and she improved that versatility by hiring all of her niece’s friends as soon as they finished school.

While they were children in school, Tahla and Esine became very close friends with a wonderful group of girls, all of whom had an affinity for helping others, working hard, and healing. The most outgoing and electric of the group was a fire bender named Zaila, who used her bending to perfect the art of fire massage. While Zaila was as rambunctious as they come, even as she reached her late twenties, her work on her spiritual side allowed her to channel heat into her hands, and she became one of the most highly demanded fire masseuses in the city. Ruma, a sweet and level-headed girl who moved to the city as a preteen, was an earth and metal bender. Even though she did not know the other girls since early childhood, she fit right in with them as soon as she enrolled in their school. At the healing shop, she provided acupuncture sessions and mud masks to clients, and her healing style was just as calming as her personality. The only non-bender of Tahla’s friends (and Yune’s employees) was Ki, who was charming, witty, and kind, and she moved to Republic City from Ba Sing Se as an infant. She was well-versed in medicinal healing, and Yune hired her as an herbalist at The Jade Flower.

As if they were all destined to become healers who worked together, the group of friends stayed close throughout their years of schooling and were eager to start working when Yune approached them with the idea of opening a healing shop in the heart of the city. Luckily for the girls, who were 18 when they began healing professionally, Yune used the moderate wealth that she had built up from her own healing career to purchase a building where they could live for free while they worked. Above the large storefront of The Jade Flower was a spacious apartment where all five of the healers lived together. Yune herself lived in a separate apartment nearby in order to give the young healers some independence. Tahla adored this living situation; she spent her days doing important healing work and helping her clients, and she spent her nights at home with her best friends.

Most of the businesses in the area were in similar situations, where shop owners lived in apartments above their stores. This led to a very tight-knit street of businessowners who often frequented each other’s establishments and helped each other out when they could. For the Jade Flower employees, this meant providing healing sessions for their neighbors at a reduced rate in exchange for discounted food, clothing, and other services. Even as The Jade Flower gained popularity, they still made time to squeeze in healing sessions for their friends.

Steady business came surprisingly quickly for the young healers. Just after opening, Yune’s reputation as an experienced water healer was likely the reason that they had so many customers. However, as the years passed, each of the young women made their own reputations as talented benders and healers. They each had regular clients after a while, which only improved their confidence, and Yune was thrilled with her shop’s popularity. As time went on, they even began to pick up some interesting and high-profile clients, including wealthy aristocrats in need of spa time and pro-benders with injuries or sore muscles.

After ten years of perfecting her healing abilities, treating a diverse range of clients, and continuing to learn from the healing wisdom of Yune, Tahla was completely content with her life and career. She had never felt the need to leave the city that she called home. The feeling that she needed to see more of the world did not cross her mind until Ki took an extended break to visit her family in Ba Sing Se. When she returned after a month in a different city, she told her friends about the wonders of travel. Tahla was transfixed by Ki’s stories of sightseeing, trying new things, and meeting interesting people.

As Tahla approached her 29th birthday, she began planning a short trip of her own. While she knew that she was still young in years, something felt right about leaving the city before she turned 30. She had been intrigued by the Fire Nation for many years, particularly because of Zaila. Her fire-bending friend was very enthusiastic about the culture of her bending, and she would often repeat stories of the Fire Nation that she had heard from her parents. Tahla became enthralled with the history of the Fire Nation, the fire lilies that bloomed for only a few weeks per year, and the redemption of Fire Lord Zuko and his familial line after the Hundred Year War.

Her trip to the Fire Nation Capital was only meant to last a few weeks. The boat travel alone was a one-week journey. She felt fine leaving the healers for that amount of time, especially since Yune and Esine were able to provide water healing services without her. Tahla was a notoriously hard worker who rarely took time for herself, and Yune had even suggested that she take the whole year off, but Tahla dismissed that idea almost immediately. What worried her about the journey was that she had never experienced life outside of Republic City before. While she was more than eager to experience new things, she also felt incredibly unsure of herself as she said a heartfelt goodbye to her friends and set sail towards the Fire Nation.

Her uneasy feeling did not disappear after a week at sea, and as she set foot on the docks of the Fire Nation Capital, her nerves hit an all-time high. Her emotions conflicted each other terribly, because she was still indescribably excited to be on a new adventure. She had planned to find a hotel or lodge that could house her for some time while she explored the new terrain, and she hoped that she could tour some of the historic landmarks of Capital City and its districts. Tahla thought that her vacation might consist of some long walks in nature, visits to cultural landmarks, and perhaps a quick peek at the Royal Palace if she could manage it.

After leaving the docks, she entered the Royal Plaza and looked around in awe. She adored the architecture, the royal banners and decorations, and the deep shades of red that the residents of the Fire Nation wore. As Tahla walked around and took in the sights of the plaza, she passed a large bulletin board next to the sidewalk and was compelled to read the flyers attached to it, hoping to learn about upcoming events in the city. As her eyes travelled around the board, they landed on a flyer that brought time to a screeching halt.

Printed on royal stationery was a summons from the Royal Palace. It read: “Fire Lord seeking full-time healer. Inquire within the Royal Palace.” As Tahla read these words, a warm feeling began to form deep within her chest. It was as if the universe had aligned to lead her to this moment, as if fate had pulled her to that very spot. Suddenly, all of her uneasy feelings about travelling disappeared into the hot Fire Nation air. Almost like she was having an out-of-body experience, she watched her hand slowly and delicately remove the paper from the bulletin board. Holding the flyer like it was the most valuable item in the world, she began walking towards the beautiful palace in a trance-like state.

What was she doing? She already had a full-time job! Her thoughts raced as she continued in the same direction, her inner monologue having no impact on her walking path. It was as if she blinked and found herself before the doors of the palace, and she felt as though she had no control of her own body as she showed the royal summons to the guards and followed them to the throne room. She shook as she entered the elegant, fire-lit chamber and met eyes with Fire Lord Izumi herself. In this moment, Tahla had no way of explaining her actions, but she somehow felt like she was doing the right thing. It was utterly confusing for her.

Izumi greeted Tahla warmly, which helped in calming her nerves, since the Fire Lord was usually described as stiff and intimidating. Izumi explained how she was glad that someone had responded to her summons, since water benders were scarce in the Fire Nation, and that she was looking for a healer to assist her in “royal matters.” Before Tahla could even ask what that meant, Izumi continued by explaining her new efforts to bring peace and knowledge to the practice of fire bending by offering classes to the benders of the city. At the beginning of the next week, she planned on opening her palace to residents who wished to learn new fire bending skills in a controlled space. She explained that she intended to host classes for all age groups, from school children to adults, and she wanted to include lessons on classical fire training, defensive strategies, spiritualism, lighting generation, and flame control, among other skills. Izumi had spent her life studying the dark history of her nation, and she wanted to bring more light to the art of fire bending. Her father, Zuko, had only abdicated the throne a few months earlier, and Izumi was eager to make her time as Fire Lord synonymous with progress and peace.

Izumi continued by stating that she needed a healer on hand in the event that a student might burn themself or others. She wanted above all else to create a safe space where fire benders could learn and practice effectively. As Tahla listened to the Fire Lord speak, she became more and more amazed by the idea. In a sudden moment of complete mental clarity, she realized that she could be doing so much more with her healing abilities. While she loved The Jade Flower dearly, she knew that she was staring down one of the most important opportunities that she would ever face. In that split second, she decided to throw caution to the wind and graciously accepted the position.

Before she even had to worry about finding a permanent place to stay, the Fire Lord offered her a room in the Royal Palace. Tahla was awestruck by this offer. She had never expected to be living in a palace at any point in her life, and now she was being given a large living quarters and a private bathroom. She made sure to be as polite as possible as she thanked the Fire Lord and every palace staff member that she saw throughout the entire process of making herself at home in her new space.

That very evening, she settled into her new room and unpacked her belongings from her travel bags. She realized that she had grossly overpacked for the weeks-long trip that she had planned on taking, but she was grateful for that now, seeing that she would be in the Fire Nation for much longer than she first expected. After taking a moment to lay on the bed and contemplate the major life decision that she had just hastily made, Tahla sat down at the writing desk in her room and crafted a letter to her friends at The Jade Flower. In the letter, she explained her situation in as much detail as possible. However, she had to admit that the trance-like state that she found herself in earlier had caused her to miss out on some of the acute details of the day. She explained to her friends that they could write to her at any time if they needed her to return to the shop, and she would not be upset if they did so, but that something in her soul was telling her that she was meant for this job.

While it seemed old-fashioned, the Fire Nation still utilized messenger hawks to expedite their mail, and Tahla chose to send a hawk to Republic City to explain herself to her friends as soon as she possibly could. She worried that her friends might feel like she was abandoning them, but those uneasy feelings melted away when she received a letter in return, after about a week. Each of her friends had written a paragraph in the letter, and they all expressed their full support of her choice. Esine wrote the final section of the letter, which was a heartfelt and touching expression of her pride in her closest friend, and she told Tahla to write to them every week, since that was how often they planned on sending their own letters to her.

Her friends’ approval was all that Tahla needed to fully commit herself to her new job. As Izumi’s classes began, Tahla made sure to arrange a healing station in the very large room where the classes were held, prepped with bandages, cots, and large barrels of water. She typically stood at the side of the room and watched as the students practiced stances, moves, and sparring. She often provided her assistance when the students sparred, as many of them had never had the chance to practice their fighting skills before, and they lacked the ability to dodge attacks. When a student was burned during class, she was always ready to utilize her water healing abilities. Within minutes, the student would be healed, and she always worked quickly and efficiently enough to avoid scarring.

Tahla fell in love with the job very quickly. She thoroughly enjoyed being in such a hands-on environment, and she felt a sense of pride every time a formerly injured student was able to jump right back into the lesson after she had finished healing them. Izumi also seemed pleased with the success of each of her classes, as she would often express to Tahla how proud she was of her students’ progress. Six months after the classes began, she thoroughly surprised Tahla when she suggested that the healer start sparring with students. Tahla had sparred with friends in the schoolyard, purely for recreation, and she certainly did not consider herself to be at the level of a pro-bender. Izumi explained herself further, stating that Tahla could step in to spar with students who could use a challenge or a break from fighting other fire benders. As she thought about it more, Tahla realized that it could be a fun challenge not only for the students, but for herself as well, so she began sparring with the older classes.

As she practiced her sparring skills, Tahla realized how exhilarating and pleasantly challenging it could be. In just a few weeks, she found herself developing some real skills in combat. Over time, she also learned how to make her attacks and defensive moves appropriate for spars with different age levels. She became more comfortable with her bending than she had ever been before, and she was confident enough to gently spar with some of the younger classes. At the same time, she began giving the older students quite a run for their money during class. She was always sure to prioritize her role as a healer, stepping back from fights to heal wounds or burns, and she felt incredibly empowered as a water bender as the classes continued.

The classes became more and more successful as Tahla built upon both her healing and sparring skills and Izumi became more comfortable with her role as a teacher. The growing number of students in the classes drove the two women to decide that their classroom space was in need of a better water source. After completing a small renovation project, the floor of the room resembled the water bending component of a pro-bending stage. Beneath the room was now a massive supply of water. While the majority of the floor was solid, long metal grates were placed on the ground every few feet. In this more advanced setup, Tahla was able to pull water up through the grates from any location in the room. This made sparring more interesting, but more importantly, it made healing much faster and more efficient.

As she kept in touch with her friends in Republic City on a weekly basis, Tahla also found a close friend in the Fire Lord. Izumi, while level-headed and stoic while she conducted official business, was also incredibly sweet and friendly. When Izumi was not occupied with business and they were not busy with classes, the pair spent their free time together, often sunbathing in the garden, unwinding in the palace spa, or gossiping over tea. They grew very close over two years of working together, despite the fact that Izumi was the age of Tahla’s own mother. Izumi’s daughter was probably a more age-appropriate friend for Tahla, but she was not around often. The age difference did not bother either of them, however. They both knew that their friendship was as natural and as genuine as they come.

As both an employee and resident of the palace, Tahla made it a point to become friendly with staff members and nobles, many of whom also resided in the palace. While historically, only members of the Royal Family lived in the palace, Fire Lord Zuko organized several building projects that created dozens of new sleeping quarters for palace employees as an effort to integrate the residents of the city into a healthy palace environment. Tahla frequently visited the gardens and the hills to collect fresh fruit, and she made sure to share with anyone and everyone she ran into while roaming the halls. She loved to get into long conversations with the noblemen or listen to the cleaning staff complain about their family drama, and she made a habit of sharing a weekly tea with some of the handmaidens who worked in the royal spa. She had also made a habit of sneaking tastes of each night’s desserts as she visited the staff in the kitchens, and one of her first interactions with her favorite chef, a kind man named Taiko, involved her healing a cut that he had given himself while chopping vegetables. Tahla could not figure out why exactly, but she felt more at home and at ease in the Fire Nation than she had ever imagined to be possible.

While she missed her home city and her friends dearly, she did not grow tired of the Fire Nation in the entire two years that she had been living there. On one fateful day, she visited the Harbor City Street Market, which she adored, and purchased a bouquet of fire lilies for Izumi to celebrate the anniversary of both her employment and their friendship. However, on that day, she ran into a face that she recognized from a portrait in the royal gallery. In the moment that she locked eyes with him, she noticed a familiar warm feeling in her chest. The feeling, which she could only describe as the feeling of fate in action, was the same as what she felt when she noticed a particular royal summons on a bulletin board in the Royal Plaza. As the prince walked her to the palace, she could not help but wonder if all of her past choices had pushed her right into his arms. She tried to shove this overly romantic notion aside, but as soon as she finished passing out mangos to her friends around the palace, she hurried to her bedroom and began writing a frantic letter to her friends at The Jade Flower.

Chapter Text

After joyfully greeting his mother in the throne room, Iroh resigned to his childhood sleeping quarters, where he would be living for the next six weeks. He removed the remainder of his military uniform in favor of some more comfortable Fire Nation attire, and he began to settle into the space. While he changed his clothes and set down his belongings, he remembered the mango that he had placed on the bedside table when he entered the room. When he had arrived in the throne room earlier with the mango in hand, he was certain that he saw his mother shake her head and laugh lightly, like she knew exactly where he had gotten it. When he remembered how Tahla had mentioned that she and his mother were close friends, Izumi’s actions began to make more sense to him.

Iroh knew that he had been carrying some extra tension in his body during his last few months at sea, and nothing fixed sore muscles like the familiar softness of a palace bed. Before he even realized that he was laying down on the bed, his eyes were closed and he had drifted into a peaceful sleep. When he woke again, after what he assumed was an hour or two, he opened the curtains to reveal that an afternoon glow had settled upon Capital City. He did not realize how much he had missed that glow until this moment.

As the feeling of hunger began to creep in, he grabbed the plump mango off of the bedside table and made his way towards the kitchens. When he reached his destination, he cut his mango open and sliced it into cubes while catching up with a chef named Taiko, who had worked in the palace since Iroh was very young. Like the Fire Lord, Taiko also seemed to recognize where Iroh had gotten his mango. The chef made a small comment about how “that girl could always pick the best fruit,” and Iroh felt a small smile creep its way onto his face.

Iroh ate his mango and cleaned up his mess, which earned a chuckle from Taiko. The chef had told him for years that he was a prince who did not have to clean his own dishes, but Iroh always insisted on leaving the kitchen cleaner than it was before he arrived. After bidding farewell to the kitchen staff, Iroh decided to wander around the palace aimlessly as he enjoyed the feeling of being free of responsibilities, even if it was just for a short time. He walked through the royal gallery and admired the paintings of his ancestors before he decided to pay another visit to his mother.

On his way to the throne room, however, he became distracted by the unmistakable sounds of combat. He heard shouts, thuds, and blasts of fire from down the hallway, and instinctively hustled towards the sounds. Perhaps his military training had kicked in, because he was not exactly sure why he felt compelled to frantically investigate the situation. He reached a large door, which he remembered had belonged to a large hall where diplomatic meetings were often held, and he could hear what he could only imagine was a gruesome fight behind it. He swung the door open, expecting to have to jump into a major brawl, but was immediately surprised by the scene before him.

Instead of the furniture of a meeting hall, the room had been almost completely cleared of items. On the wall across from him were several large windows that cast natural light over the room. The only furniture that he could see was a large table covered in bandages and cloths, along with a large bouquet of fire lilies in an elegant vase. He also noticed that a few cots that had been pushed against the wall that was adjacent to the door. The furniture was not the most shocking part of the scene, however. As Iroh fully took the room in, he realized that he had walked in on Tahla, the woman who he had been mesmerized by just a few hours ago, in the middle of a ring of fire.

Another moment of processing led him to realize that it was not, in fact, a ring of fire, but a ring of children who wielded fire. What looked to be about 20 children stood in a circle around Tahla, and they were each taking turns shooting fire in her direction. Iroh barely had time to see each child shoot their burst of fire before it was quickly replaced by steam. Transfixed, he watched as each fiery attack was matched by a stream of water that ascended from the ground at the wave of Tahla’s hands. As the elements collided, a cloud of steam appeared in their place. Tahla’s movements remained graceful as their speed increased, and the tail of the blue silk ribbon that held her hair up spiraled in the air behind her.

When he had first entered the room, Iroh was too focused on the thought of danger that he had failed to notice the grates in the floor. As his heart rate slowed and his body began to relax, he was able to get a good look at the interesting foundation of the room, and he marveled at the large pool of water that was visible through the grates beneath his feet. His attention once again turned to the confusing fight in front of him, as he witnessed several bursts of fire turn to vapor in a matter of seconds. While he watched Tahla turn quickly and effortlessly to match the attacks that were being thrown at her from all sides, he wondered why she was fighting with a group of children who could not have been older than 12.

As Iroh tried to compose himself before his presence was noticed, he realized that his mother was standing on the opposite side of the room, watching the fight with a contemplative look on her face. His confusion only grew at seeing the utter calmness in her expression. He was beginning to become overwhelmed by just how much he had to process at once, until the sounds of fighting in the air were abruptly halted by the frustrated shout of a young boy.

“Everyone! We have to hit her at the same time!” the boy yelled, signaling for the other children to stop their bombardment. When he saw the approving nods of his peers, the child yelled once more, “On my count! One! Two! Three!”

On three, all of the students directed flames towards Tahla at once. Iroh would have intervened if his feet were not cemented to the ground in a combination of panic and confusion, which he had never experienced in all of his years in the military. Luckily for him, he did not have to act at all. As quickly as the fireballs appeared in the air, Tahla had encircled her body with the water from below the floor, leaving all of the children's fire no choice but to collide with her shield. The room was immediately swallowed by steam, and Iroh heard the confused and frustrated outbursts of the children at the realization that they had once again been outsmarted by the water bender.

The steam did not dissipate right away, which Iroh assumed was the intentional result of Tahla’s water bending moves. She wanted to obscure the children’s vision so they couldn’t see what she did next. He watched as she walked straight out of the cloud of steam, completely unharmed and unphased. She did not turn her attention towards him, which Iroh was grateful for, because the uncontrolled expression of shock on his face was sure to be embarrassing. His jaw dropped in awe as Tahla drew water from below the floor and attached it to her arm to resemble a long tentacle. In one low sweeping motion, she directed the water into the cloud of steam, and Iroh heard a chorus of soft thuds and exclamations. With a wave of her hand, Tahla dropped the water back through the grate and the cloud of steam disappeared into the air. Left behind were the children, who had clearly just been knocked to the floor when their ankles were swept by an unexpected water whip.

Iroh’s attention returned to Tahla when he heard the familiar sound of her contagious giggle, which led him to once again reign in his expression before he was noticed. “I loved your strategy, Lee!” she shouted, her hand resting on her hip. Iroh assumed that she was speaking to the boy who suggested that they all shoot fire at the same time. “Next time, don’t let me hear your plan!” she finished with a large smile, and the children laughed as they rose from the floor. Iroh turned his attention when he heard his mother speak from across the room.

“Thank you everyone, that will be all for today. We’ll see you next week. Keep practicing until then!” At Izumi’s words, the children issued a chorus of “thank-you’s” and started to head towards the door. Iroh caught his mother’s attention and made his way over to her, and he heard a few of the young girls who were leaving the room whisper something about “the prince” as he passed.

“Ah, Iroh!” Izumi began, obviously happy that her son was there to witness the events of the past few minutes. “I’m so glad that you were able to stop into class! I figured that you would be resting by now.” Iroh, who was about to ask her what sort of class involved a group of preteens shooting fire at a healer, held his tongue when Tahla appeared at the Fire Lord’s side.

“Yeah, thanks for coming, General!” she added brightly, paired with a knowing grin. It was then that Iroh realized that Tahla had known his identity from the moment that they had met earlier that morning. He allowed a slight smile to make its way to his face.

“You knew who I was,” was all he could think to say. When she laughed and confirmed his theory, he shook his head with a chuckle. He then turned his attention to his mother. “I apologize for my intrusion. Did you say that this was a class?” he asked.

She beamed at him, clearly thrilled to explain. “Yes! I’ve been teaching classes on fire bending skills. You happened upon our 12-year-olds this afternoon.” He gave he a slow nod as he tried to compare what he had just witnessed to any schooling that he had previously experienced. He smiled, more softly this time, knowing that only his mother would think of such an interesting way to bring the intricacies of the fire bending arts to the city’s youth.

He once again turned to Tahla. “I thought you said you were a healer,” he spoke, the confusion in his voice making it sound more like a question. She flashed him another wide grin, and he heard his heart pounding in his ears.

“I am,” she replied with a small laugh. His face must have still displayed traces of confusion without his control, because she continued, “I sit in with the classes and heal students when they get injured. But I spar with them when they want an extra challenge.” With that, Iroh finally understood what he had just seen, and he quietly laughed at the situation. He now knew that he had watched Tahla take down an entire class of students by herself during a practice exercise, which he decided was much better than stumbling upon a deadly fight in a meeting hall. After a bit of small talk about dinner and Izumi’s upcoming evening meetings, the three of them departed from the classroom in separate directions, Izumi taking the vase full of fire lilies from the medical table as she went. Iroh’s heart began to race once again as Tahla bid him a soft goodbye and a gentle wave, along with a promise that she would see him tomorrow.

Chapter Text

Iroh sat upright in his bed and contemplated the events of his first day home in three years. That morning, he found himself captivated by a beautiful water bender, and hours later he had watched her masterfully use her bending in ways that he had never seen before, including his experiences with water benders in the United Forces. As he tried to settle down for the night by turning off the lights and wrapping himself in his luxurious blankets, he allowed himself to revisit every emotion that he had felt that day.

Iroh was never one to follow emotions over logic. While he certainly had a soft side, especially around his mother and grandfather, a lifetime of being in the public eye had led him to perfect the art of stoicism. However, when he first laid eyes on Tahla, it was as if all his practice in seriousness and emotional regulation had flown away. Iroh tried to maintain his composure while he talked to Tahla that day, and he feared that his face may have revealed his attraction to her before he could control his expressions.

Iroh’s experience with romantic relationships was limited. He dated as a young adult, but he would not say that he had ever experienced true romantic love. As he continued to lay in bed, the idea of sleep abandoned, Iroh thought of how his heart raced and palms sweat when he looked at Tahla. He remembered how he felt as he watched her fight like a true water bending master. As he stood in the large classroom earlier that day, Iroh identified feelings of admiration, nervousness, and… love?

With that thought, he sat up in bed. He shook his head quickly to remind himself that he had not even known Tahla for 24 hours. He was just reflecting on how he had never felt real love, so how could he have already fallen for a near stranger? This thought was worsened by the knowledge that Tahla was technically an employee of his family. The romantic attraction that he felt for Tahla was undeniable, but Iroh realized that he was scared of these new feelings. Love was practically uncharted territory for him, and the last thing he wanted to do was make himself emotionally vulnerable when he had some major occupational responsibilities to worry about. In that moment, sitting in his bed in the dark, he definitively decided to start limiting his confusing thoughts about Tahla. He rationalized that the reason he had stopped her in the market was due to his chivalrous nature and urge to help a woman carry her items, and nothing more. His plan was to maintain a respectful friendship with her for the next six weeks.

He was far from sleeping at this point, so he decided to take another aimless stroll around the palace. He had always enjoyed the quiet hallways at night, and he needed to take his mind off of the healer. After slipping into his robe, which was deep red in color and made of silk, he began making his way through the halls in silence. He tried to steer his mind towards his plans for the next six weeks, and he thought about how he wanted to spend some time feeding the turtle ducks in the Palace Garden, like he often did with his grandfather during his childhood.

Without realizing where he was going as he let his mind wander, Iroh found himself in front of the door to his mother’s classroom, where he had been only hours before. He sighed as he was immediately reminded of Tahla, who he was trying to forget. He noticed that the door was slightly ajar, and his ears perked up as he heard the unmistakable sound of moving water, which he had become very familiar with during his experiences at sea. Iroh knew what he would find if he followed his curious thoughts, and while he was trying to deny his feelings for the water bender that occupied his mind, he decided to look through the half-open door anyway.

Iroh watched as Tahla stood in the middle of the room with her back turned to him, and the space around her swirled with calm streams of water that rose from the pool below the floor. Iroh was grateful to not be spotted. He would not have known what to say if he had been caught spying on her in his pajamas, even though his intentions were completely innocent. Tahla was engaged in a set of slow, flowing movements, which Iroh mentally compared to the tai chi sequences that he had seen some of his water-bending naval men complete during their morning stretches. As Tahla moved between positions at an excruciatingly slow pace, the streams of water that hung in the air followed the movement of her hands.

Her chest rose and fell rhythmically as she controlled the water. Iroh admired the flow of her movements, and he noticed how her limbs moved just as smoothly as the flow of the water. As the streams of water twisted and swirled up into the air around her, Iroh marveled in Tahla's beauty. Her curly hair, now void of the signature silk ribbon that typically held it out of her face, settled on her shoulders and framed her soft facial features. He noted how the moonlight that shone through the room’s large windows cast a blue hue over her skin while she gently manipulated the water. After watching for a few minutes, Iroh decided to retire to his room for the night, finally feeling tired. He had also decided that watching in the doorway for any longer may have been a violation of Tahla’s privacy, and he wanted to respect her space. He settled into bed for the last time that evening, and his final thoughts as he drifted to sleep involved the healer that he could not seem to forget.

Chapter Text

Tahla stood at the side of the classroom and watched as Izumi led the group of young students through their stretches. This class was the youngest age group that the Fire Lord offered classes to, and the students ranged from ages 5 to 7. While fire-bending children could sometimes demonstrate their abilities as infants, Izumi had decided that any instruction before the age of 5 would not be very effective. Young children could have short attention spans and unpredictable emotional outbursts, which would make teaching very difficult. After raising her own fire-bending children and seeing how they acted as toddlers, Izumi knew that an entire room of young fire benders could be a recipe for disaster, and Tahla agreed.

Tahla usually loved watching this age group during class. The young children were often timid as they first entered the class, but they quickly became confident in their bending abilities as they studied with the Fire Lord, which Tahla adored. They were too young to begin learning how to fight, so Tahla usually watched from the side of the room and paid extra attention to make sure that the students avoided burns. On this particular morning, Izumi explained to her students that they would be working on the skill of holding a flame. As Tahla tried to listen to the explanation of the skill, however, her thoughts wandered to the prince, who had been at the forefront of her mind since they met the day before.

Since the moment they had first locked eyes, Tahla knew that it would not take long for her to fall for Iroh. She was not typically one to jump into romantic relationships, even when she was living in Republic City. In her early and mid-twenties, she had enjoyed dating casually around the city, but her primary focus was the Jade Flower, so she never felt the need to settle down. However, she became instantly smitten with the General as he so politely escorted her to the palace, and she spent the next evening trying not to let her feelings cloud her judgement or interfere with her work. The same went for this morning, as she watched the 5-to7-year-olds create sparks from their fingertips in their attempts to build flames, but she could not help but continue to think about Iroh’s deep amber eyes and chiseled facial features.

During the previous night, Tahla could not sleep. She felt like a lovesick teenager as she obsessed over every interaction that she had with Iroh the day before. She thought about how he was there to witness her sparring with the 12-year-old class, and she was grateful that she was able to stay graceful and avoid embarrassment while he was watching. She wondered if her feelings of attraction would turn out to be a waste of time; Iroh seemed to be a very private man in terms of his emotions, and she assumed that his life was far too busy for romance. Tahla had already noticed how difficult he was to read, and she would not be surprised if his emotional restraint around her meant that he held no interest in her romantically. He always looked cool and collected when they were together, which was a major contrast to the nerves that built in her chest when he was near. As she thought about these things while lying in bed, she decided that the best way to both distract herself and tire out her body enough to sleep was to practice her forms.

In the middle of the night, Tahla went to the classroom and spent over an hour slowly moving through the tai chi forms that she had learned in her youth, when she had first started her journey as a water bender in Republic City. She often returned to these water exercises throughout her adult life; she found them calming. As she spent the night bending in the moonlight, she focused on breathing deeply and moving the energy in her body to match the flow of the cool water. In that moment, she did not think about Iroh, but about how powerful and calm the moon made her feel. When she returned to bed, knowing that she should get enough sleep before the next morning’s 5- to 7-year-old class, she felt fulfilled.

However, her thoughts had returned to the handsome prince as she listened to the joyous giggles of the students who had started to produce small flames in their palms. She was brought back to the present when she made eye contact with Izumi, who was beaming with pride as the first few students ignited their flames. Tahla smiled back at her, remembering that her primary focus when she was in the classroom should always be the students. She watched as Izumi checked on each child and reassured the ones who seemed upset by the fact that they had not produced any fire yet. This age group could always be temperamental and emotional, and the very real possibility of those emotions having an effect on the students’ bending was one of the main reasons for Tahla to pay extra attention when they practiced.

She was so focused on watching the students produce a mixture of frustrated sparks and weak flames that she had not noticed Iroh approach her. She only broke her attention from the class when she heard him clear his throat from beside her. Tahla jumped in fright, but when she realized that it was the prince standing with her, rather than a stranger, she laughed in embarrassment.

“Hello, General!” she giggled, beaming up at him. She had promised herself that she would try to maintain her usual chipper attitude around him no matter what his feelings for her turned out to be. After all, they had only known each other for one full day, and she knew that any hope for romance with the prince was probably very idealistic, so she vowed keep the energy between them light. She continued, “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize that you were standing there! What brings you back to class today?”

Iroh gave her one of his usual soft, muted smiles, which Tahla felt was more indicative of politeness than romantic attraction. While she understood the logic of this observation, she also could not help but look him up and down as they talked. She noted how the deep red hue of his clothing made his golden eyes sparkle, as well as the fact that his toned arms were well-defined enough to be visible beneath his shirt. She was so busy making observations that she almost missed the answer to her question.

“I wanted to witness a full class,” he spoke in a light tone, referring to how he walked into yesterday’s class during its most chaotic moment. “My mother seemed very excited about her classes, so I wanted to get the full experience.” He smiled wider as he made that last comment, which set Tahla’s heart aflutter. This brought an uncontrollable giggle to her lips, which she feared may have sounded too flirtatious.

“Well, I’m glad you could make it,” she spoke through an even wider smile. “This is my favorite group to watch.” Iroh turned his attention back towards the class at this comment, nodding in agreement. Tahla wondered what the young General was like as a fire-bending child. Izumi had always told her that Iroh was very close with his grandfather, Fire Lord Zuko, which made her wonder if he was ever a rambunctious kid or if he had always been mature for his age.

Iroh spoke again, and Tahla relished in the rough sound of his morning voice, which was undeniably attractive. “This is certainly a fun age for fire benders,” said the prince. “I remember how exciting it was to produce my first flame.” She grinned, picturing a young Iroh giggling with glee as he held a tiny flame in his palms, just as the students before them were doing. This picture amused her, especially as she compared it to the stoic figure that stood next to her in the present.

“I felt the same way when I first started water bending,” said Tahla, remembering her childhood fondly. “Healing, too. When I first learned that I could heal, I was over the moon.” The memory of her first healing session would always be special to her. When Esine first taught her how to focus her energy into healing, the resulting magical glow of the water sent Tahla into a tizzy. That moment had solidified her lifelong purpose of helping others through healing.

Iroh’s head once again turned to look at the water bender, who continued to watch the children fondly. Before he could speak again, however, a scream echoed through the room. Tahla’s eyes followed the cry, and when she saw a 6-year-old girl named Aya kneeling on the floor and cradling her hands, she jumped into action. She grabbed a bandage off of her table and sprinted towards Aya, who was sobbing as her classmates surrounded her. Tahla gently urged the students out of the way as she kneeled next to the girl and uttered soft reassurances to her, promising that she would be okay.

Tahla held her hands out to Aya, who slowly placed her own hands face-up on top of Tahla’s palms. Tahla tried to make sure that her face stayed calm so she would not scare the young girl, but she could not deny that the burns on Aya’s palms looked very painful. Izumi had arrived by their side, and she whispered to Tahla that Aya’s fire had grown too large, which had frightened the girl and led her to lose control of both her emotions and her flame. Tahla nodded in understanding, and she shut out the crowd around her in order to focus on the water that she had pulled up through the grates from beneath the floor.

The young girl flinched and continued to cry as Tahla placed the water onto her open palms, but she quickly relaxed at the cool sensation. Tahla then closed her eyes, focusing on directing the energy around Aya’s body towards her hands. She heard the young students gasp as the water began to glow and the burns on Aya’s hands quickly faded away to nothing. When Tahla opened her eyes, she let the water descend back below the floor to reveal a pair of small, unburned hands beneath. The crowd of children let out claps and cheers in celebration as Tahla reached out to wipe the remaining tears from below Aya’s eyes. The young girl flung herself onto the healer to give her a tight hug, which Tahla happily returned.

Izumi instructed her students to once again spread out and continue with their flames, this time reminding them to be careful. After Tahla wrapped a precautionary bandage around the girl’s hands, Aya jumped up from her spot on the floor and sweetly turned to Tahla to offer a final “thank you!” before returning to class. Tahla’s heart soared as she smiled and nodded at her, positively thrilled with the feeling of helping a student through her healing abilities.

Tahla returned to her usual spot in the room, but she saw that Iroh was no longer standing there. She looked around, only to realize that he had joined the crowd of onlookers while she was healing Aya’s burn. He had now taken to standing with his mother as she moved between students to observe their technique. She would have felt disappointed that her conversation with the prince had ended, but she was more focused on the fact that he had been there to watch her during a very successful healing moment. Tahla spent the rest of the class on an adrenaline high, and she could not help but once again feel like a lovesick teenager as she wondered what Iroh thought of her. While she began that class session trying to convince herself that her romantic feelings towards the handsome General should be forgotten, she felt herself getting swept away by the insatiable crush that she had developed.

When class was dismissed, Tahla caught Iroh’s attention and waved goodbye before she left the room. She hoped that he would observe their classes more often, not only because she was glad that he could see her excel at her life’s passion, but because she was starting to love the intoxicating feeling that came with his presence.
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As Iroh watched Tahla heal the young girl, he found himself completely captivated by her beauty. He marveled at the gentleness of her touch while she took the tiny, burnt hands in her own, and he studied her soft features as she concentrated on her healing. Her glowing cheeks and rosy lips were comparable to a work of art. Iroh considered himself lucky that Tahla’s eyes were closed while she healed the girl, because he was certain that his facial expression would completely reveal the feelings that he was harboring for her. While he had just spent the previous night trying to remind himself that he had not known Tahla long enough to be in love with her, he was starting to think that the battle against his feelings was futile.

Chapter Text

After class, Tahla returned to her room to decompress. While her many years of practice allowed her to make healing look easy, it was a rather draining task. As she removed her athletic shoes so she could walk around in her socks, she tugged at the silk ribbon in her hair until her dark curls rested on her shoulders. Instead of laying in bed, which she knew would definitely lead to an accidental mid-morning nap, Tahla opted to sit at her writing desk and re-read the letters that she had recently received from home. She considered writing another letter to her friends about her blooming crush on the General, but decided to wait, remembering that she had only sent her last frantic letter the day before. Even though they had agreed on communicating once per week, she had recently taken to writing to her friends multiple times each week, and they had done the same. This time, though, she wanted to wait to write again until she heard her friends’ thoughts about her romantic interest.

Tahla loved reading the letters that she received from Republic City. They often varied in length and author, as the women at the Jade Flower had started sending individual letters, rather than each writing a paragraph or two on the same paper. Tahla preferred it this way; she received more mail and felt like she was having more meaningful written conversations with each friend. Only a few days prior to her first encounter with Iroh, Tahla had received a letter from Zaila, who shared some of the interesting developments in her own love life. Zaila was dating the earth bender of the Mount Saon Moose Cats, a popular pro-bending team in the city. Tahla was thrilled for her friend. Zaila was one of the most passionate and caring people she had ever known, and Tahla was glad that her friend was able to balance her love life with her status as the most-demanded fire masseuse in the city.

After reading a few more letters that she had received from Esine, Ruma, and Ki the previous week, Tahla started to feel a bit homesick. She loved her current job tremendously, and while the romantic implications of recent events had made palace life very interesting for her, she couldn’t help but miss the sounds of her friends’ voices as they called to each other down the hallway of the healing shop. Tahla shook this feeling away for the time being, remembering that she had a few errands to run for Taiko. He was preparing for a special dinner that evening, which was honoring the prince’s homecoming, and he did not have enough time to run to the market himself. Tahla slipped back into her shoes, grabbed her large basket, and was out the door.
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That night, Iroh felt the nerves bubble in his chest as he got dressed. He wore his more traditional Fire Nation clothing, which included his nicer, deep red robes. As he fixed his hair in the mirror to match his usual clean-cut image, he could see the panic in his own face. He was not nervous for the dinner itself; he thought that it was rather sweet of his mother to honor his return to the Fire Nation. Most of the attendees were palace staff and nobility, who Iroh had known for his entire life, and he was very comfortable around them. However, among the staff would also be Tahla. His palms sweat at the thought. Iroh paced in his room until a palace maid knocked at his door, alerting him that dinner would be starting soon. He steadied his shoulders to relieve his nerves, much like he would do when he wanted to appear strong in military contexts, and proceeded down the hall.

When he arrived in the dining room, Iroh began making conversations with his mother’s guests. His true charisma emerged as he effortlessly engaged with each guest, and the nobility in attendance got an up-close look at his confidence and charm in action. After slowly working his way through the chattering crowd, Iroh found Izumi and his sister, along with his grandfather, Zuko, at the royal family’s table. He gave them each a grateful hug to thank them for honoring his return to the Fire Nation. He typically would not display so much emotion in public, but he considered the event to be one of celebration and decided to step away from his military seriousness for the evening.

Iroh had a deeply trusting relationship with his mother and valued her support of his military career, but he was even closer with his grandfather. Fire Lord Zuko was Iroh’s greatest role model and biggest supporter throughout his lifetime. Iroh was touched that his grandfather was there to welcome him home after his time away from the Fire Nation, although he tried his best to hide it to a certain extent. Izumi, knowing her son, however, could tell how much his family’s presence meant to him. Iroh drifted from his family to speak to more of their guests, and Izumi beamed at him with pride all the while.

As he caught up with a nobleman who he had known since childhood, Iroh let his eyes wander. He took in the room, recognizing some old faces and noticing the decorations that adorned the walls and tables. His conversation with the nobleman ended, and Iroh became curious about when dinner was starting. As he turned to where he had last seen his mother so he could ask her when the food would be served, Iroh observed a sight that was much more intimidating than his family of Fire Lords. His eyes fixed on Tahla, who was speaking with Izumi.

Tahla wore a long-sleeved gown that hugged her body and showed off her curves tastefully. Her curls were tied in a neat bun (without her signature silk ribbon, this time), and she wore jewelry that exemplified Republic City’s unique cultural blend. He marveled at the way the deep blue color of Tahla’s dress made her eyes appear to sparkle from across the room. He watched her shoulders move as she laughed with Izumi, and he realized that he had never seen a more breathtaking person in his life. "Beautiful," Iroh whispered to himself, no longer suppressing his feelings for the healer. Just as he tore his eyes from her figure to avoid being caught staring, the dinner bell rang, signaling that the crowd should find their seats.

At the royal table, Iroh sat to Zuko’s left with pride, once again feeling grateful that his grandfather was there for the occasion, and Izumi sat directly across from Iroh. Unsurprisingly, given their strong friendship and close professional relationship, Tahla sat at the Fire Lord’s side. This alone filled Iroh with nervousness, but those feelings doubled when his eyes met Tahla and she gave him one of her wide smiles. He smiled back at her, almost too eagerly for his own liking. He began a conversation with his sister, who was sitting on his other side, as dinner was served. He enjoyed catching up with her, but it was hard to focus on their conversation while he attempted to stop himself from shaking. The healer’s presence across the table made Iroh’s nerves bubble within him, and he desperately tried to avoid dropping food on his clothes or doing something embarrassing.

Iroh spent the evening looking anywhere but at her. He would converse with his family politely or focus intently on his food, but he avoided looking at Tahla. He reasoned with himself that it was not strange for him to stare at his plate; Taiko had made Komodo chicken for the occasion, which was a favorite of Iroh and Zuko’s. Iroh’s mother and grandfather addressed their guests and made toasts to the healthy return of the prince, for which Iroh was appreciative. He felt very honored that evening, but remained humble, as he always did.

By the time the meal was over and the last of the guests bid the royal family a good evening, Iroh was tired. He felt socially overworked, and he could tell that his mother and grandfather felt the same. While the position of Fire Lord demanded a great deal of daily interaction, it was clear that Izumi and Zuko were drained from the dinner party. With a hug from his mother, Iroh retreated to his room for the evening. He basked in the warm feeling of being welcomed home, but he noticed a twinge of regret as he thought about the evening’s events. He knew that he should have tried to make conversation with Tahla, but the thought of looking into her eyes sent a shiver up his spine. Iroh could not look at her all night, but he found himself missing her nonetheless.
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If Iroh had been able to glance across the table that evening, he would have noticed that Tahla did not look at him either. Of course, she clapped for him as his family members made speeches in his honor, but she dreaded the thought of embarrassing herself in front of him by stumbling over her words or seeming too unrefined for the royal setting. As she changed into her pajamas and removed her makeup, Tahla could not help but feel disappointed in herself for letting her nerves overwhelm her. She sighed into the emptiness of her bedroom, knowing that she would not be able to sleep any time soon.

Chapter Text

Tahla rolled out of bed, still regretting her choice to not interact with the prince during dinner. As she wrapped her pale blue silk robe around herself and slipped on a pair of sandals, she thought about how handsome Iroh had looked in his royal robes that evening. She sighed, deciding that her thoughts would keep her up all night if she did not get out of her room for a while.

She left her room and turned left towards the palace gardens, which she often did when she could not sleep. As she stepped outside, the pale moonlight hit her skin, bringing a wave of calmness over her. Tahla loved the way the moon made her feel as a water bender, so powerful and at peace with herself. She took deep breaths of the cool night air as she walked lightly along the garden path. The soft breeze swept over her while she hummed an aimless tune, internally hoping that the turtle ducks were awake when she got to the pond. However, before she made it there, she was surprised by the sight of a shadowy figure sitting under her favorite tree.

Before she could stop herself, Tahla quietly gasped in shock at the sight of the unexpected figure. She went to turn on her heel to give the person some privacy, understanding that she was not the only person in the palace who could take a midnight walk in the garden, but was halted by a familiar voice calling to her from the shadows.

“Wait!” said the voice, sending a chill down Tahla’s spine. Iroh rose from his comfortable-looking spot in the grass, stretching his arm towards the healer. “I’m sorry if I scared you,” he continued. Tahla was certainly surprised by his presence, since she typically found the garden empty at this time of night, but she let her body relax at the realization of his identity.

“General!” she laughed. “I wasn’t expecting anyone else to be up this late!” She guessed that it was after midnight by now, which did not bode well for the early morning class that awaited her the next day. She noticed a slight smile on Iroh’s face at this comment. “I can leave you alone if you want the garden to yourself,” she continued, wanting to respect his privacy. Tahla felt her cheeks turn warm as Iroh closed the distance between them.

His voice was quieter when he spoke again, this time just inches away from her. “Actually, I wouldn’t mind the company,” he said. Tahla’s heart pounded in her chest. “If you would be comfortable with talking, that is,” he finished. She thought this was sweet of him to say; he was being very considerate of her feelings. “Of course,” she responded happily. Just as it crossed her mind that Iroh was probably acting out of his typical politeness and that she should not allow her mind to run wild with romantic dreams, he extended his hand to her. She took it gently and let him lead her back towards the tree, her thoughts racing all the while.

"Oh spirits," she thought, questioning whether she was really awake. How could she not interpret that as romantic? "Relax, girl," she told herself internally. She reasoned that princes like him were probably taught from a young age to do chivalrous things all the time. She also knew that Izumi would have taught her son to be respectful towards women, so Tahla continued to rationalize his behavior as platonic instead of flirtatious. Even as she debated his intentions, though, she blushed at his charming, old-fashioned gesture.

They sat beneath the large tree, and Tahla took in the scene around her. A soft breeze rippled through the grass, and she could smell the pleasant scent of the garden’s flowers. She looked over the glimmering pond to see the turtle ducks sleeping, many of their heads drooping to the side as they floated on the water. She turned to the prince, who now sat next to her in the grass, propped up with his arms behind him. “I didn’t think anyone but me came out here this late,” she laughed softly while pulling her legs close to her body. “I wouldn’t be out here in my robe if I knew someone would see me.” This earned her a slight chuckle from Iroh, who was wearing his own silk robe. “Don’t worry about it. You’re not the only one,” he said lightly.

The sound of his quiet laugh echoed in Tahla’s ears, and it sounded like sweet music. They sat in comfortable silence for a few more moments before the prince spoke up again. “I wanted to apologize for my rudeness earlier tonight,” he said with a wrinkled brow. Tahla was confused. She couldn’t recall a rude interaction between them that evening, so she gave him a puzzled look and asked, “What do you mean?” He continued, “I barely looked at you during dinner. It was unkind of me.” Tahla giggled at this, which earned another look of puzzlement, this time from Iroh.

“Don’t worry about it, General,” she said. “To be honest with you, I barely looked up all night, so I was just as rude. Although, your mother had me cracking up. I never would have expected her sense of humor when I first met her.” She laughed again, hoping that they could both forgive themselves for their behavior at dinner. Tahla watched his shoulders relax ever so slightly, which sent her heart soaring. He exhaled through his nose in a muted laugh at her last remark.

“Oh, my mother. She’s funnier than most people think, wouldn’t you say?” he turned to look Tahla in her eyes now, leaving the healer breathless for a moment before she laughed again. “Oh, yes! I was worried about working here since she has such a scary reputation, but she really is great,” she responded. A look of curiosity now took over Iroh’s face.

“I don’t mean to pry, but I was wondering about that, actually,” he said, still looking into her eyes. As he spoke, a turtle duck who had woken from its sleep noticed the two figures sitting under the tree and went to investigate. It floated to the grass and waddled towards Iroh’s outstretched legs. The prince turned his attention to the small creature as it hopped its way up his legs, at which point he lowered himself onto his back to lay in the grass. The turtle duck moved its way up to Iroh’s stomach, spun around in a few circles, and snuggled into the silk fabric of his robe to continue its slumber.

Tahla watched this interaction in amazement; the turtle ducks were usually only this friendly when they were bribed with snacks. Still overwhelmed by cuteness, as well as the opportunity that the scene gave her to quickly sweep her eyes over Iroh’s toned muscles, she followed his lead and laid on her back next to him. Continuing their conversation she asked him, “You were wondering about what?” He turned his head to meet her eyes once again. “About how you started working here,” he said with another smile, which seemed softer than usual. “People usually leave the Fire Nation to go to Republic City, but you did the opposite. It’s interesting,” he finished, with a hint of curiosity still lingering in his voice.

She giggled at this, now understanding his curiosity. At first, Tahla struggled to decide where to start in her explanation, but before she knew it, she was delivering a full synopsis of her past. She could not stop herself from sharing the whole story with him, from her days as a young healer at the Jade Flower to her epiphany at the bulletin board in the Royal Plaza. Iroh made noises of understanding as she talked, and his amber eyes remained locked on her face the whole time. While his attention flustered her at first, his calming presence made her feel safer as the minutes passed, and soon it felt like she had nothing to be nervous about at all. Tahla could swear that Iroh’s smiles got bigger, and his laughs got louder, as she went on.
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Iroh was utterly entranced. Tahla’s eyes sparkled in the blue moonlight as she told the story of her life, which Iroh found more fascinating with each word. Her experiences with fate sounded eerily similar to what he felt in the market when he first laid eyes on her. He silently adored her love of healing others, and he became more captivated by her as he learned about her life in Republic City.

As they laid under the tree, more turtle ducks gathered around them, attracted to their warmth. They climbed on Iroh’s chest and Tahla’s legs, making soft quacking noises all the while. One nuzzled its way into Tahla’s hair, causing her to giggle in glee. Iroh melted, knowing he could listen to that sound forever. She continued her story, and Iroh could smell the sweet grass, the cool garden air, and a hint of Tahla’s flowery perfume. Before he knew it, she had told him everything about how she ended up working at the palace, and the air felt empty without the sound of her voice. “Your story is beautiful,” was all he could think to say. While it was more forward than he intended, any other descriptor would not have been enough. Even in the darkness, he could see a small blush rise to her cheeks.

“Thank you, General,” she smiled. Iroh secretly loved that she called him General. He liked to be recognized as more than just a prince; he had worked hard to get where he was in the United Forces. He adored how she said General like a pet name, while also finding a way to respect his life’s efforts. She continued by asking, “Can I hear yours?”

Iroh chuckled, feeling sheepish over the thought of talking about himself. He got past this quickly though, knowing that it would make her happy. He started with his life as a young prince, and he described his close relationships with his mother and grandfather. He told Tahla how his work in the United Forces was driven by his desire to carry on his grandfather’s dream of bringing peace to the world. Iroh went on about how he pushed himself to his limits in training, and how he found strength in the independence of making a career outside of the royal family.

He pet the turtle ducks, played with blades of grass, and ran his hands through his hair a few times while he talked, but he never dropped his eye contact with the healer. He watched her nod along with his story, smile at his fond memories, and eventually yawn as the night drew on. After he finished his life’s tale, they continued to talk about anything and everything; their favorite things, happiest memories, and biggest fears. Iroh was blissfully comfortable around Tahla, and he could tell that she felt the same way.

They decided to call it a night after a while, knowing that if they pushed it too much, the sun would rise and they would still be laying in the garden in their robes. After carefully placing the sleeping turtle ducks onto the grass and helping Tahla from the ground, Iroh walked her to the outer palace door. He recognized the nerves that swam in his chest as he looked into her eyes once again.
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When they entered the palace, Tahla thanked Iroh for spending the evening with her. “This night wouldn’t have been nearly as nice without you,” she said, trying to ignore how pathetically lovestruck she sounded. He beamed down at her, and her heart nearly exploded at how genuine and sweet his smile was. He took her hand once again, gave it a gentle kiss, and bid her a very soft goodnight. “Goodnight, General,” she breathed, and they parted down different hallways. Tahla slowly moved towards her room, in a daze from everything she had experienced that night. When she entered her room, she slipped her robe off and curled into her plush blankets. She drifted quickly to sleep while her cheeks ached from smiling.

Chapter Text

Tahla and Iroh spent the next two weeks taking regular late-night walks together. Each became steadily more comfortable with the other as they shared their pasts, goals, and dreams under the moonlight. Their friendship bloomed quickly during those two weeks, and they thought about each other constantly when they were apart.

When Iroh was off with his men leading training exercises and Tahla was occupied with classes or healing sessions, they continually inhabited each other’s daydreams. While they grew to know one another as individuals, each treasuring the time that they spent with the other, both Iroh and Tahla fell quickly and hopelessly in love. Their close friendship developed into mutual feelings of endearment, which soon caught the eyes of the palace staff.

Taiko was one of the first to notice the pair, who had taken to having lunch together almost every day. They would sneak into the kitchen to steal desserts, drawing the attention of the other chefs as well. The handmaidens often saw Iroh and Tahla having tea in the courtyard, and the nobles frequently passed the two of them while they took aimless walks in the Royal Gallery together.

Izumi caught on to them immediately. In the late hours of what became a very important night, the Fire Lord heard laughter coming from the garden. When she pulled her curtain aside to take a stealthy peek at whoever was outside at such a time, she spotted two figures laying in the grass under a large tree, surrounded by sleeping turtle ducks. After looking closer, she identified the healer by her shiny blue robe. Izumi had seen that robe many times before, when she and Tahla would wear their pajamas and read in the library together.

What surprised her most was the realization that the man lying next to Tahla was her own son, Iroh. Izumi was not shocked that the two were spending time together. She had actually expected them to get to know each other eventually, since they were close in age, and they shared similar personality traits. They were both adventurous, caring, and personable, so Izumi knew that they would make great friends. The surprising part was Iroh’s body language; he looked to be at ease, one arm behind his head and the other petting a turtle duck that slept on his abdomen. He laughed from time to time while Tahla talked, and even from a distance, Izumi noticed the genuine happiness on his face. Her son usually only acted this carefree around family members, so seeing him open up to someone new was a delight.

She closed her curtain after a few minutes with a content smile, not intending to invade their privacy and certainly not wanting to be caught snooping around in her son’s romantic life. Izumi decided that from then on, she would watch the two of them a bit closer as they interacted around the palace. If she could, she might subtly and privately suggest to each of them that they would make a nice couple. After all, Izumi could think of no one more worthy of loving her closest friend than her good-natured son, and she knew that Tahla could be trusted with Iroh’s heart.
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On a warm Friday morning, Tahla woke to the sound of birds chirping outside her bedroom window. She rolled out of bed after a long stretch and got dressed for the day. She knew it would be an exciting one, since Friday mornings were reserved for the 16-to-18-year-old fire bending class with Izumi, and the teenage students were always eager to learn.

As she tied her blue silk ribbons around each wrist, Tahla wondered if Iroh would stop in for class that day. The night before, she had received a letter from her friends in Republic City. The women at the Jade Flower had read and responded to the news of her royal love interest, and their letter was long and full of frantic questions about the handsome-sounding prince. Tahla was giddy to write her reply to them, filled with details about her moonlit conversation in the garden with Iroh, but she wondered if she was being too hasty in delivering such a message.

She sighed, feeling conflicted about her relationship with Iroh. It was his third week of being home on his military leave, and she had fallen for him swiftly. While Tahla could not deny the affections that she harbored for the handsome prince, she had some reservations about moving forward with him. As a city girl, Tahla felt too unrefined and uncultured to be worthy of a prince’s love. Iroh was charming and sweet, but she could not imagine that he felt the same way about her. For three weeks she spent her free time with the General, enjoying life and learning more about him, but she could not bring herself to admit her feelings to him. Tahla would not do anything to risk losing Iroh’s friendship.

Rather than moping over the state of her love life, Tahla ventured across the hall to her bathroom to brush her teeth and freshen up before class. She hustled to the training room, ready to get started, and was greeted with a chorus of “good morning” wishes when she opened the door. The teenage students were stretching together, obviously itching for their chance to show off their combat skills. Tahla and Izumi chatted against the wall until the students began to line up in front of them, signaling that they were ready to begin their lesson.

Izumi cleared her throat and started by saying, “Good morning, everyone!” She was met with large smiles from the youths before her, and she continued, “It’s wonderful to see you today. If you remember from last week, we worked on a few defensive moves. Today, you’ll pair up and spar for a while, and you should make sure to use those moves whenever you can. I’ll come around and watch for them!” She reviewed the defensive moves next, moving through the forms herself to jog her students’ memories. The teens paired off and began sparring enthusiastically, and Tahla giggled as she watched them take over the space in an eruption of effortful shouts and dramatic fighting movements.

The room grew warmer as blasts of fire filled the air, so Tahla removed her jacket. She circled the outer edge of the floor, hoping to avoid the chaos while still watching out for injuries. She had been enjoying the spectacle of an energetic spar between two 17-year-old boys named Usai and Aikuru when she heard the door open, and her heart danced with joy as Iroh entered. He crossed the floor towards her, smoothly dodging a stray fire blast, and settled next to her with a pleasant “Good morning, Tahla.”

“Good morning, General! How are you doing today?” she responded, hoping to hear more of his gritty morning voice. They talked for a few minutes, until Tahla paused their conversation to take an observational lap around the room. The teenagers moved erratically around the space as they sparred, but they were doing surprisingly well with avoiding any burns or major, injury-causing collisions. After ten minutes of sparring, Izumi called the students toward her for a break. They panted and shook their partners’ hands before returning to stand in lines in front of the Fire Lord. She gave them comments about their forms, defensive styles, the strength of their fire, and everything between. Before Izumi could tell her students to find new partners and try again, a girl in the back row raised her hand and asked for a longer break.

“Yeah, can we sit?” inquired another student. Others began to chime in, expressing their agreements with this sentiment and wanting to catch their breath after sparring for so long. Izumi rolled her eyes and laughed at the class, until Usai asked, “What if you give us a demonstration?” Tahla knew that the students only wanted a demonstration so they could rest for a few extra minutes, and she sensed that Izumi had caught on to them as well. Surprisingly, though, Tahla noticed a thoughtful twinkle in the Fire Lord’s eye, which she barely had time to question.

“Great idea, Usai. Luckily for you all, there are a few very talented benders in the room,” Izumi said with a mischievous laugh. Tahla’s expression of confusion quickly turned to one of understanding as Izumi continued. “Iroh and Tahla can show you how it’s done,” she said with a large grin. Tahla sighed in Izumi’s direction before turning her attention to Iroh, who met her gaze with a smile that portrayed a mix of puzzlement and intrigue. He shrugged his shoulders at her playfully, and the two of them stepped to the middle of the room while the class excitedly circled around them.

As she tied her hair up with the ribbon from of her left wrist, Tahla gave Iroh a jokingly intimidating glare. “Don’t go easy on me, General,” she said while pulling a sphere of water from below the grates and assuming a fighting stance. Tahla’s heart fluttered as he lit a flame in his palm and shot back at her, “I wasn’t planning on it,” with a muted grin. He maintained his usual unexpressive demeanor around the class, who still knew him as their crown prince. After getting to know him, though, Tahla could tell that he was having just as much fun as she was.

With a yell of “Begin!” from the Fire Lord, the pair jumped into action. Tahla sent her ball of water flying towards Iroh’s chest, and she rolled out of the path of his fire. Iroh side-stepped her water, but Tahla sent it orbiting around him and into the back of his head. The class roared with excitement, and Iroh shot a dark smirk towards the healer, making her giggle. A swirl of flames raged towards her but was quickly transformed into steam when she pulled a column of water upwards from the pool beneath their feet.

Tahla took advantage of the vapor that obscured her opponent’s view. In a move that Iroh had seen before, she gathered a stream of water around her arm and sent a water whip towards his ankles. She was taken by surprise when he saw her trick coming, though. He blasted fire around his feet, effectively filling the air with more steam. With the wave of her hand, Tahla pulled the mist into droplets, which she propelled towards Iroh. They continued with this back-and-forth, matching each other’s attacks and defenses at every turn. Both Iroh and Tahla predicted one another’s moves every time, and the class loved the show.

Their attacks grew faster and more powerful as they danced around the circle with each other. When Iroh would push Tahla back with a blast of flame, she would send him back just as far with her water. They maintained eye contact when they were not distracted by each other’s moves, which made Tahla’s mind race all the more. Iroh’s amber eyes were mesmerizing. She lost track of how long they had been going, but the class did not let up on their cheers. In all of the excitement, combined with the sight of Iroh’s tousled hair and heaving chest, Tahla reacted a bit too slowly to one of his fire streams. She stepped out of the way quickly enough to avoid harm, but the blue ribbon that held up her hair was not as lucky. When she noticed that the ribbon was aflame and threatened to singe her hair, she tugged it off and let it fall to the ground as it burned away.
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Iroh barely heard the gasps from the students, who worried that Tahla may have burned herself in her effort to remove the flaming ribbon. All he could focus on was Tahla’s beauty. When she pulled the silk strand away, her curls fell delicately to her shoulders. He froze in place, noticing her deep breaths and fast blinking. Iroh thought she was a work of art, so beautiful, powerful, and one with her element.

Before Iroh could apologize for destroying one of her signature ribbons, Tahla laughed. “This is why I have an extra,” she giggled before taking her other ribbon and tying her hair back once again. He gave her a nod, silently asking her if she was alright. When she returned the nod, he felt a wave of relief. That is, until geysers of water began shooting up from the floor, and their fight continued.

Iroh was getting tired. Tahla was a stellar opponent, and he had to admit that her bending skills matched his own. He silently wondered if she was an official water bending master, like he was with fire. The class’s energy continued to rise as the benders whirled around the circle, but Iroh was quickly losing stamina as he countered most of Tahla’s attacks and landed a few of his own. He looked up at her as he prepared to launch a fire ball in her direction, but froze mid-motion.

Tahla’s hair had slightly fallen from its perch atop her head, leaving loose strands sweeping across her cheeks. In a split second, Iroh studied the picture of her face; he saw her eyes twinkle in the morning light that flooded through the windows.

Iroh found himself dwelling on a thought that he had struggled with for three weeks. He was in love with Tahla to the point of heartache. He had not acted on his feelings, though he desperately wanted to, because he knew that his royal status could be intimidating. He did not want to force her into a life of royalty, and he could never forgive himself for causing her unhappiness. Iroh knew that he should have a direct conversation with Tahla about his feelings for her, but he feared that he might scare her away and lose her forever. Still, the idealistic hope that she might accept his life and love him back continued to preoccupy him.

In his distracted state, Iroh’s fire dwindled in his hand, and Tahla took advantage of his lapse in attention. She seized her chance to shoot water directly up his legs and around his hips. With a swift wave of her hand, the water froze into a thick block of ice, effectively cementing the prince to the spot where he stood. He struggled against his icy prison for a moment, but soon realized that his fight was futile. With a breathy chuckle, Iroh lowered his head and raised his arms in defeat. He barely heard the class erupt into cheers when he locked eyes with the healer once more. The only thing that he could focus on was her sweet smile.
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Izumi clapped along with the teenagers as Tahla melted the ice that trapped Iroh. The healer let the water fall between the grates and bent the remaining moisture from his clothes. Izumi could feel a smirk creep onto her face as the fighters shook hands, never dropping their eye contact with each other.

The Fire Lord paid close attention during the sparring match. Tahla and Iroh were both extremely talented benders, but their interactions were more complex than they appeared. Izumi saw each of them hold back at certain points during the fight, and she knew that they did so to avoid hurting each other. She could tell that they cared about one another deeply, and that they valued each other’s safety and happiness. Tahla may have won in the end, but Izumi knew that the two of them would be content to continue their dance forever, if it meant they were together.

Izumi let the teens spar for a while longer before dismissing them. They were positively buzzing after such an impressive show of bending expertise, and she knew that they would not be able to focus on their own forms for much longer. Before leaving the training hall for the day, Izumi turned over her shoulder to thank the demonstrators for their performance. However, she left with a silent grin after seeing them locked in conversation, Tahla giggling cheerfully while Iroh looked at her like she was the only woman in the world.

Chapter Text

On Saturday, the day after Iroh and Tahla faced off during class, the General worked with his naval men in their training gym. He put them through a rigorous set of warm-up exercises as a reminder that their leave in the Fire Nation was not an excuse to neglect their regular fitness routine. Iroh paced slowly between the rows of young men while they did push-ups, and his booming voice echoed through the gym when he instructed them to stand.

“Good work, gentlemen. Take a break,” he said in a commanding tone. The men panted away to grab some water, thankful that Iroh’s generous disposition had earned them a short rest. As they caught their breath, Iroh was delighted to see Tahla prance through the large gymnasium door. His already decent mood brightened tenfold at the sight of her bouncy curls and freckled cheeks, but he kept his face relatively straight for the sake of his no-nonsense image.

“General!” Tahla called as she jogged towards him. They shared a hushed conversation about the surprise that Iroh had planned for that training session. Iroh noticed that his men had grown curious of their unexpected guest, so he called for them to gather around while Tahla grinned at his side. His men stood in clean lines before them, and Iroh explained that his guest was there to give them a demonstration in combat. Tahla introduced herself warmly to the group, and Iroh sensed that they seemed skeptical about her fighting expertise, given her small stature and approachable demeanor. He let the tiniest smirk appear on his face, knowing that the men were in for a surprise.

Tahla uncapped the water pouch that rested on her hip and pulled its contents out with the wave of her hand. Iroh grew more amused when she flashed him a mischievous grin, and he instructed the group to form a single-file line. Some of the men were benders, and others had trained extensively in hand-to-hand combat, but he knew that none would be able to match her skills. His thoughts were confirmed very quickly, as Tahla’s water stream knocked each man to the floor in a series of whirling offensive shots.

When she began, at least thirty men stood in line, confident in their fighting abilities. In less than five minutes, all of them were on the ground, having been tossed, pushed, and flipped around by the healer’s powerful bending skills and just a small amount of water. She drew the water back into her pouch and beamed at Iroh, who crossed his arms smugly and addressed his men by saying, “Let this be a lesson to you all. Never underestimate your opponent.” He thanked Tahla for her time and she strolled out the door to let him continue with combat training, but not before she took another proud look at the men who still laid on the floor in shock.

Iroh ran the men through several more drills that day, barking at them about their performance against Tahla all the while. He could tell that they were disappointed by their quick defeat, but thoroughly impressed with her skills. Iroh could not deny that he shared their amazement; she fascinated him more each day.
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The following Tuesday, Iroh went for a run before dinner. He liked to keep himself in shape while he was at home, and he enjoyed taking in the views of the Capital’s volcanic island while he ran. He took his usual running path down to the harbor and along the edge of the city, since he liked to see the ocean and smell the sea air before circling back to the palace. Sometimes, residents of the city’s districts would call to him as he ran by, starstruck at the sight of their prince. He would usually wave or nod back at them, but he was never too fond of the attention.

He picked up his pace when he got close to the harbor, eager to feel the salty breeze on his skin. He took a short break there before resuming his run. He basked in the late afternoon heat and felt more energized by the burning sun. As a fire bender, Iroh thrived in the heat of the vibrant, sunny Fire Nation, and he felt strong while he ran for miles through the city.

He began circling the palace, nearing the end of his run. He had been out for nearly an hour, and the sun had started to lower into the horizon. He admired the sunset between deep, effortful breaths. The sky was painted with marvelous hues of pink and purple. He could not help but think of Tahla as he took in the picturesque view. He jogged on, thinking that the sunset paled in comparison to the healer’s beauty.

These days, Tahla usually occupied Iroh’s mind. She was radiant, perfect in every way he could imagine. His thoughts were dominated by daydreams of what their future together could be like, but he still debated whether confessing his feelings was a good idea. He slowly lost focus in his run as he dwelled on this decision. Unfortunately, as he became more concerned with his love life than his running path, Iroh tripped over a loose stone. He lost his footing and heard a dreadful pop before falling to the ground.

Iroh groaned as his hands scraped the rough dirt and he collapsed onto his stomach. His left ankle throbbed horrendously when he rolled to sit upright, and it had already started to swell and bruise. He went to touch the injured area, but the smallest pressure sent shockwaves of pain up his calf. He gasped in agony, unsure about his next move. He was far enough outside the palace perimeter that yelling for help would not likely catch anyone’s attention. Iroh sighed, realizing that walking back to the palace was his only option. He raised himself onto his knees slowly, trying desperately not to agitate the ankle that was surely sprained or possibly broken. He grabbed the nearest fallen tree branch and used it to stand, putting most of his weight onto his right foot.

It took Iroh nearly thirty minutes to hobble his way to the palace’s garden entrance. Using the branch as a cane helped him to keep pressure off of his injured ankle, but the walk was still agonizingly slow and painful. It had grown dark now, and Iroh was physically exhausted from his earlier run and the effort that it took to practically drag himself home. He collapsed on the steps outside the garden’s outer palace door. Knowing that his horribly swollen ankle could not carry him any farther, he began to yell for help.

“Tahla!” he shouted as loudly as he could, recognizing that a healing session was in order. He hollered her name a few more times before a palace handmaiden came rushing outside to investigate his cries. From his spot on the steps, he instructed her to find the healer, which she did promptly. It took only minutes for Tahla to appear next to him, looking concerned.

Iroh looked up at her with an embarrassed frown. “Hi,” he began, not knowing how to explain where he had been or how his ankle had become so swollen. “Iroh, I’ve been worried about you! What happened?” she replied frantically while placing a hand delicately on his shoulder. His heart fluttered at her soft touch, but the pain in his ankle brought him back to reality.

“I fell while I was out running. I think it’s sprained, or maybe broken,” he said sheepishly, and he felt his cheeks grow warm. He watched the healer’s face relax in understanding, and she turned her eyes towards his swollen ankle. “Ouch, that looks like it hurts,” she sympathized, and Iroh nodded his head in confirmation. She continued, “It looks broken to me. Let me see what I can do.” He thanked her vigorously before slowly rolling the leg of his pants upward to expose more of his calf. She scanned his body quickly, looking for minor cuts and scrapes, before uncapping her water pouch.

“This is going to hurt a little more before it gets better,” she warned as she bent the water to rest upon his ankle. He winced at the cold pressure, but nodded in understanding. They shared a moment of eye contact that made Iroh blush once again, and Tahla gave him a reassuring smile before she closed her eyes. Iroh watched as her brow furrowed in concentration and the water began to glow brilliantly.

She was correct; it took a few seconds, but the pain became much more intense. Iroh tried his best to contain his reaction, but a quiet groan still escaped his lips. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, barely audible as she kept her eyes closed in focus. “It’s okay,” he replied, still holding back a cry as the pain grew more intense. The discomfort in his ankle was almost too much for him to bear, and he was moments away from pleading for a break when an intense wave of calmness washed over him.

The pain melted away quickly, and Iroh breathed a deep sigh of relief. His ankle began to shrink down to its normal appearance, and he watched in fascination as the bruises disappeared. A feeling of comfort enveloped the General, and a peaceful warmth engulfed his body. Iroh could not quite explain the sensation in words; it was entirely unique compared to the healing sessions that he had experienced when he had been minorly injured during military duty. The feeling reminded him of Tahla’s personality; she was pleasant and sweet, and her existence brought an overwhelming sense of peace to his life that he had never quite known before.

Before he knew it, Iroh’s ankle felt as if no injury had occurred at all. When Tahla opened her eyes and the water returned to its usual clear color, Iroh felt barren at the departure of the healing’s comforting aura.
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Tahla was fatigued after healing the injury, which she determined to be a serious fracture. She offered Iroh a tired smile before telling him to move his ankle around. She studied the sharp line of his jaw as he focused on the rotation of his ankle, and her heart soared when he smiled back at her, free of pain. Iroh thanked her repeatedly, and Tahla felt deeply satisfied with her work.

They rose from their spot on the garden steps, and Iroh took her hands in his own. She nearly swooned at his soft touch, and she cherished the feeling of his rough hands against her smooth ones. He looked into her eyes again, and she noticed something deeply complex in his expression. “You’re amazing,” he nearly whispered, making Tahla’s face turn a deep shade of red. Her stomach raged with nervous butterflies, and she felt her heart beating in her ears. This was the most emotion that Iroh had shown to her during their weeks-long friendship, and she melted in the presence of his soft side.

She giggled bashfully, not exactly knowing how to respond. Remembering that Iroh had missed dinner, Tahla offered to raid Taiko’s fridge with him. He agreed with a sweet laugh, and the two took off towards the kitchen, arm in arm.

Chapter Text

Tahla and Iroh leaned against the wall of the training room as Izumi taught her class the skill of blocking fire. The class of 14-and-15-year-olds was progressing very well, and they had just started studying the fundamental moves of combat. Izumi instructed her class to pair up and focus on extinguishing each other’s flames with defensive jabs and kicks. Her one condition in this exercise, which she made very clear to the young teens, was that their attacks should be gentle; they were still young, after all, and they could lose control of their fire blasts very quickly if they did not act carefully and deliberately.

As her students moved about the room with a storm of excited chatter, Izumi turned her attention towards Tahla and Iroh, who were still talking to each other quietly as they leaned against the wall. She smiled at them and wondered how long it would take for her son to finally ask the healer out on a real date. It was his fifth week home on leave, and he was nearly out of time. Soon, he would be off at sea once again, and he would have missed his chance to confess his feelings to her. Izumi sighed, knowing that if something between the two of them did not develop soon, both Iroh and Tahla would be heartbroken.

Tahla strolled towards the Fire Lord, ready to monitor the class for injuries. The two of them discussed their expectation that the students might have trouble with diffusing their opponents’ fire at first, since the skill was so new to them. As she talked, though, Izumi noticed a dreamy smile on Tahla’s face. She giggled at her young friend, who was clearly lovestruck. Izumi glanced past Tahla to see Iroh, who was still leaning against the wall, had a similar dazed smirk on his face.

Izumi and Tahla stood together and watched a pair of young girls as they practiced; a sweet student named Ty-Mei sent a soft blast of fire towards her opponent, another girl named Ayuma. With a graceful sweeping motion, Ayuma met the blast with her hands and directed it outwards from her body, which sent a soft halo of sparks and a gust of warm wind into the air. The girl smiled as she successfully extinguished her friend’s attack. “Excellent work,” Izumi beamed down at the two girls, who thanked her gleefully and continued to shoot fire back and forth.

Izumi turned towards the healer to whisper about her students’ impressive display, but the water bender was staring out the window with a misty look in her eye. The Fire Lord, who knew that Tahla could only be daydreaming about Iroh, decided to seize the opportunity of having her friend alone. She cleared her throat, which knocked the healer out of her trance. “Oops!” Tahla laughed, jumping slightly. “I’m a little out of it today. Sorry, Izumi,” she continued, clearly embarrassed over her lack of attention.

“It’s not a problem,” Izumi reassured her with a smile. “Actually, dear, I think I know what’s been distracting you lately.” With this, Tahla’s expression warped to convey a mix of confusion and panic. Amused, Izumi laughed, louder than she usually did with students present. “Don’t worry. I think it’s sweet,” she chuckled lightly. Tahla laughed with her; her sheepish grin confirmed her crush on the General, and she seemed comfortable with Izumi knowing about their budding romance.

“I think that you two would make a rather fine couple,” Izumi continued with a supportive smile. She watched as Tahla’s cheeks assumed a light pink hue. Izumi knew that the subject might be strange for Tahla to discuss with her at first; the two of them had a close friendship, but Izumi was still Iroh’s mother. However, Tahla breathed a sigh of relief, clearly comforted by Izumi’s support of their potential relationship. Just as Tahla opened her mouth to respond, though, their conversation was interrupted by shouts from across the room.

“Hey, that was too hard! What are you doing?!” a boy named Torin shouted at his partner, who had just thrown a fire ball his way and knocked him to the ground. Torin rose to his feet and threw a set of massive fire lashes back at his partner, another boy named Meeko. The class began to take notice and stopped their practicing as the boys’ shouts grew louder. Torin and Meeko became angrier by the second, and their emotionally-charged fire attacks threatened to cause a severe injury as they increased in size.

Izumi and Tahla shouted for the boys to stop as Torin sent a fire whip towards his opponent’s ankles. Meeko had just started to gather a powerful fire ball in his palm when Izumi instructed the rest of the class to back away from the fight. Just as Izumi had placed her own body between her students and the raging fight, Iroh appeared at her side, and Tahla jumped into action.

Izumi’s stomach twisted with nerves while she watched her friend pull a large wave from the depths below the floor. Tahla hurled quick jets of water at every attack that the boys attempted, which still grew steadily more powerful as their rage increased. The room began to fill with steam as she neutralized each of their blows, but the boys did not stop their efforts to hurt each other. Tahla called at them repeatedly, begging them to stop, but they did not listen to her. Izumi and Iroh continued to back the rest of the class against the wall to keep them away from the danger.

Just as Iroh moved forward, as if he intended to jump into the fight, Izumi grabbed his wrist to hold him back. He whipped his head around to face his mother, and she noticed that a mixture of fear and concern dwelled behind his eyes. Izumi could tell that he cared deeply for Tahla, and he was worried about her getting hurt. “She’s okay,” she reassured him, and although his body language still revealed his apprehension, he returned to Izumi’s side with a short nod. He looked back at the class of young teens, who all looked terrified and gasped at each blast of fire. Izumi felt pride in her son when he told them, “They’ll be okay, everyone. And you’re safe with us.”

Tahla continued to keep the boys, who still had not tired, from hurting each other. Each fiery strike threatened to burn an innocent bystander as the boys’ fight drifted towards the wall where the other students had taken shelter, and Izumi could see that Tahla had become frustrated with their behavior. In one swift movement, Tahla raised her arms and surrounded Torin and Meeko with water, then promptly froze it into a solid state. The boys were frozen from their necks down, but they struggled against their icy prisons, still visibly angry.

Izumi approached the pair, who were no match against Tahla’s ice. Before she got to them, though, she dismissed the rest of the class. As the teens slowly shuffled out, clearly disappointed that their lesson had been cut short, Iroh tried to offer them words of comfort and promised that their class the following week would be better. Izumi reached the healer and the two boys, who had grown tired and no longer attempted to escape the ice. With a terrifyingly rigid tone, the Fire Lord scolded the boys over the seriousness of their actions. Their faces conveyed more embarrassment by the second as she chided them for almost injuring each other and their classmates.

Tahla melted the ice and let it fall through the grates. The boys landed on the floor with two soft thuds, and they apologized profusely to the Fire Lord as they rose to their feet. Izumi pitied them; she remembered how difficult it could be for young fire benders to control their anger. She recalled her father’s tales of his relationship with anger in his youth, and she knew that her duty as a teacher was to help her students through their own emotional journeys. She sighed and told the boys that they were forgiven under the condition that they cleaned up the training room for the rest of the afternoon. They agreed and got straight to work, scrubbing scorch marks from the floors.

Izumi turned to thank Tahla for diffusing the situation without injury. Upon closer inspection, though, she realized that the healer looked remarkably pale. Tahla’s hands shook, and an expression of shock overtook her usually gentle features. “Are you alright, Tahla?” Izumi asked quietly. After receiving only a faint head shake in response, Izumi could tell that the healer had been rattled by the fight, so she wrapped an arm softly around the young woman’s shoulders and guided her out of the training room. Before turning down the hallway towards Tahla’s bedroom, though, the Fire Lord looked back to see Iroh standing in the center of the room, looking worried. Izumi called to him and requested that he watch over the boys as they finished their cleaning. He nodded to her, but his concerned grimace did not fade as the two women continued down the hall.

Chapter Text

Hours after class was dismissed, Iroh paced in his room. When Torin and Meeko finally left the training room earlier that day, Iroh had rushed to check on Tahla, but he was interrupted by his mother. Just outside Tahla’s bedroom, Izumi had placed a hand on his shoulder and told him that the healer wanted to be alone. Iroh’s face must have revealed his concern, because Izumi continued to offer him words of comfort while she steered him away from Tahla’s door.

“She’ll feel better in a little while,” Izumi had assured him in a motherly tone. “I know that you care for her, dear. You should check on her later.” She parted from her son with a mention that she was nearly late for a meeting, and as Iroh begrudgingly resigned to his room, he wondered if his mother had caught on to the serious feelings that he harbored for Tahla.

When Tahla missed dinner, Iroh’s anxiety surged. Since the moment he noticed her pale, terrified expression in the training room, he grew steadily more uneasy, but the empty seat across from him during dinner nearly sent him into a panic. As he paced around his bedroom, he could no longer bear the thought of Tahla being alone and in distress. After pulling on a soft sweater and a pair of slippers, he hustled through the halls towards the healer’s living quarters.

If it was a few weeks earlier, Iroh would have been apprehensive about knocking on Tahla’s door. However, they had grown very close over the first five weeks of his leave while taking walks in the garden, watching Izumi’s classes, and visiting the market together. Iroh was as comfortable around her as he was with his own family, and while he still held immense feelings for her, Tahla’s presence no longer made him nervous.

What did make him nervous, though, was how little he had heard from her all day. He started to worry that she may have been badly hurt during the fight and was unable to call for help. He reached her door and knocked quietly, breathing a sigh of relief when he heard her roll softly from her bed and shuffle across the floor. Iroh was eager to see her face, but his heart shattered when Tahla opened the door to reveal her blotchy cheeks and puffy eyes.

“Iroh,” she spoke quietly through a sad smile, her voice hoarse. Iroh felt instantly guilty for not checking on her sooner. He knew that his mother was right; Tahla needed some time to herself after all the excitement, but he left her alone for too long. Without thinking, Iroh closed the gap between them and wrapped Tahla in a tight hug.

He felt Tahla’s body relax as she pressed closer to his chest. She sighed into the fabric of his sweater, and he tightened his arms around her shoulders while resting his chin on the crown of her head. Their frames fit perfectly together like this, and Iroh admired her warmth as they stood in the doorway. Iroh pulled away so he could look at her face once again. “Do you want to talk about it?” he asked carefully, knowing that he could not fully understand her feelings until she was ready to share them. To his relief, she nodded her head up and down and invited him into her room.

Tahla looked like she had been crying all afternoon, and Iroh did not want to worsen her mood. Still, he knew that talking was sure to help, so he reached forward to tuck a loose curl behind her ear while offering an encouraging smile. Tahla sighed, and with a shaky breath, she mumbled, “I thought I was going to hurt them, Iroh. And I could have. If I had done anything differently, I could have hurt those boys.” Iroh tried to keep his brow from furrowing as Tahla’s voice trembled. He knew that she was right; all bending abilities had the potential to cause harm, and the boys’ behavior could have resulted in terrible injury. However, he also knew that Tahla was strong, level-headed, and purposeful with her bending, and even in a crisis, she would never make a choice that could put someone else in danger.
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Tahla looked up at Iroh through tears. She was emotionally drained after a long day of feeling scared by her own abilities, and she did not attempt to keep herself from crying. After class, she initially wanted to be alone. She had been thoroughly unnerved by the fight, and she needed time to think. Tahla spent an hour reading the letters that she had recently received from her friends; she missed them more than ever, but their written words were comforting. For most of the afternoon, though, Tahla struggled with the reality that she could have injured Torin, Meeko, or anyone else who had been there to witness their brawl. She thanked the spirits that no one was harmed, but she became quickly overwhelmed by guilt over what could have gone wrong.

With Iroh as her audience, Tahla talked about every emotion that she felt that day. She explained her commitment to healing, how it helped her decide that her bending should only be used for good, and that she could never live with herself if her actions put another person in harm’s way. Her throat was dry and her head slightly ached, but the tightness in her chest loosened with each moment that Iroh sat with her. Tahla started to feel embarrassed and avoided making eye contact with the prince, until Iroh placed his hand below her chin and gently tilted her head upwards.

He gave her the most genuine, kindhearted smile that she had ever seen. “Tahla,” he spoke, just above a whisper. “I can see why you feel that way. But I know that you never would have hurt those boys, not even by accident.” He maintained their eye contact, and Tahla knew that his words were sincere. “What happened today was dangerous, but you’re so much smarter and stronger than you give yourself credit for. I watched the whole thing, and I know that every choice you made was for the safety of those kids. I don’t know anyone else with that kind of control, and I think that makes you perfect for your job.”

Tahla felt her ears burn from the attention. Iroh’s hand moved to her cheek, and she leaned into his touch. “You’re perfect,” he spoke again, barely audible this time. Tahla watched his eyes sparkle, and she could tell that he meant every word. Her heart melted; no man had ever been so sweet to her, so supportive of her actions. Needing to be closer to him, she wrapped her arms around his torso, and he enveloped her in another tight hug as they sat at the foot of her bed.

Tahla felt infinitely lighter. As she sighed into the embrace, she felt Iroh’s heartbeat against her ear. It was solid and strong, just like Iroh himself. The sound was comforting; it made Tahla feel safe, protected, and loved. When they separated, she sulked at the loss of his touch. She could not stand to be alone all night, like she had been for most of the day. Remembering how secure she felt in Iroh’s arms, she decided to throw caution to the wind.

“Will you stay?” she asked. She expected him to show some surprise at this request. They had never shared so much physical touch, and Tahla was unsure if Iroh would be comfortable with sleeping in her bed. She did not need to worry for long, though, because Iroh immediately agreed. He stood up from the bed to draw her curtains closed before they settled under the soft blankets together.

After blowing out her bedside lamp, Tahla rolled towards the middle of the bed. To her utter delight, Iroh wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to his chest. She could smell his freshly washed sweater and the subtle, manly scent of his cologne. She breathed in deeply, desperately wanting to live in that moment forever. After whispering a sweet goodnight to Iroh, Tahla listened to the steady sound of his heartbeat against her ear and drifted into a peaceful sleep.
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Iroh watched Tahla’s shoulders rise and fall in time with her deep, even breathing. She deserved a long rest, and he was glad that he could offer her some comfort. He had never met a more kindhearted and talented person, and he wanted nothing more than to dote upon her at every moment.

While Tahla poured her heart out to him, Iroh fought the urge to grab her by the shoulders and kiss her with all of the energy that had developed between them since the moment they met. When Tahla described her passion for helping others, Iroh swore that she was the most beautiful being he had ever laid eyes on. He cherished every moment that he spent with her gentle soul, and to see her cry over her guilt made him want to kiss away every bitter tear.

He sighed blissfully, savoring the comfort of his position. Tahla radiated warmth as she slept, which quickly lulled Iroh into a state of drowsiness. He smiled as the sleeping healer grasped a handful of his sweater, and he held her tighter when she cuddled close to his chest. Iroh knew that he could no longer hold back his feelings for her. In his last thought before he was overtaken by sleep, he decided that if Tahla felt better in the morning, he would finally follow what his heart had been telling him for weeks.

Chapter Text

Tahla woke to the sound of birds chirping outside her window. The room was filled with a hazy glow that filtered through the edges of the still-closed curtains. She took a deep breath in and smelled the familiar aromas of clean laundry and manly musk. Tahla laid on her side facing the outer edge of the bed, and she felt a comforting weight on her hip. She looked down to see Iroh’s strong arm wrapped around her, and she felt his chest pressed against her back.

She smiled contently and relaxed into the comfortable position, until she began to crave the sight of his face. She rolled over delicately, hoping not to wake Iroh. When she settled onto her other side, she studied the gentle lines of his face. Tahla admired the beauty of his relaxed expression and spent the next few minutes enjoying every detail, from the faint freckles on his nose to his strong jawline.

Iroh’s arm remained slung over her waist, and Tahla wrapped her own arms around his torso. She nuzzled into his chest and listened to the sound of his deep breaths. She was grateful that he had stayed with her; she felt infinitely better compared to the day before, and she had Iroh to thank for the feeling of comfort that settled in her chest. She laid in the same position for a while as her mind drifted aimlessly, until she felt Iroh take an especially deep breath. Tahla giggled softly as Iroh, who was still in a drowsy daze, wrapped his arms fully around her and squeezed tightly.

He placed his chin in the crook of Tahla’s neck and she continued to giggle at the feeling of his warm breath on her skin. “Good morning,” Iroh mumbled in a gruff voice, just below her ear. Her heart fluttered at both the sound and the feeling of his words. “Good morning, General,” she replied with a dreamy grin.

Iroh removed his arms from around Tahla’s back and laid his head on the pillow next to her. Tahla placed her hands on his chest while she gazed into his bright amber eyes. In the same raspy voice, he asked, “Are you feeling any better today?” She replied, “Oh, yes, a million times better.” She paused before adding, “Thank you for staying.” She flashed him a grateful smile and hoped that the prince realized how much his presence meant to her. Before she could speak any more, though, Iroh took her by complete surprise.

In an instant, Iroh placed his hands on both of Tahla’s cheeks and pulled her in for a deep kiss. After letting a tiny, surprised squeak escape her, Tahla let her eyes flutter to a close. It was respectful and sweet, but she could practically feel the electricity and passion flowing between them. She clutched at his sweater as they shared a few more loving kisses, and they moved in perfect sync. It was as if five weeks of romantic tension evaporated into the air. Tahla practically melted on the spot, and her heart surged with happiness and satisfaction.

They separated, far too soon for Tahla’s liking. She felt a blush rise to her cheeks and giggled at Iroh, who wore a dreamy grin. He laughed with her and pulled her close once again. Tahla smiled into his sweater and looped her arms around him while he planted another kiss on the top of her head.

“I’ve been meaning to tell you, Tahla,” he spoke softly. The butterflies in her stomach continued to rage as he talked. “I think we were meant for each other.” Tahla pulled back at this comment so she could look into Iroh’s eyes.

“I think so, too.”

Chapter Text

Holding his packed duffel bag by the straps, Iroh closed his bedroom door behind him and began his walk toward the palace’s front entrance. As he passed by, Iroh poked his head through the kitchen door and offered a friendly goodbye to Taiko. “Stay safe out there, kid!” called the chef, who was busily chopping vegetables for dinner. “Always am,” Iroh laughed before continuing down the hall.

Iroh’s six-week leave was over, and his next adventure was a two-month sea assignment to train his men in United Forces procedures. Although his last departure kept him away from home for three years, two months on the water promised to feel like an endless task. When Iroh stepped outside, he stopped for a moment to enjoy the sensation of the warm sun on his skin, then set out on his long walk toward the harbor.

Two days before Iroh was set to leave, Izumi departed from the Fire Nation for a diplomatic trip to the Earth Kingdom. When she said goodbye to her son, Izumi told Iroh that she was proud of him, and she made him promise to stay for a longer amount of time during his next visit home. Iroh understood her sentiment; something about that six-week stay made him feel more connected to his home than ever before.

As he walked, Iroh daydreamt about Tahla. They had spent the last week of his leave doing nearly everything together, including sleeping. During their mornings, they would walk through the gardens or explore the hidden trails of the volcanic island, hand in hand. At night, they cuddled by the fireplace in the library and took turns sneaking into each other’s rooms to sleep. For Iroh, every moment with Tahla was perfect, and the last week of his leave was bliss compared to the time he spent trying to deny his feelings.

To leave Tahla behind crushed Iroh’s heart, but he still looked forward to his military duties, and he knew that his time on the sea would be enjoyable. In fact, although he would never admit it to them, Iroh had grown fond of his men during their weekly training sessions. Their combat skills and personalities matured with Iroh’s guidance, and he was eager to continue working with them. Still, although his life would be incomplete without his position in the United Forces, Iroh knew that a piece of himself would remain in the Fire Nation when he left.

Before he arrived at the docks, Iroh passed through the Harbor City market. It was bustling as usual, and Fire Nation residents moved in every direction while they tried to patronize the countless market stands. With his duffel bag slung across his back and his military jacket draped over his shoulder, Iroh stretched his neck upwards and gazed over the crowd. He managed to spot Tuki and Jin’s flower stand and slowly pushed his way through the swarm of busy marketgoers. Iroh bought a single, perfect fire lily from the kind couple; it was the last week of the year that the fire lilies would bloom, and he could not resist the purchase.

Iroh strolled lazily away from the market and into the Royal Plaza, out of sight from the crowd. The soft wind brushed along his arms as he looked over the harbor, where a fleet of United Forces ships was docked. Iroh felt a flurry of conflicting emotions; he was excited for the months to come, but images of his beautiful water bender still danced in his mind. Tahla was supposed to meet him in the Royal Plaza to send him off, so Iroh leaned against a wall and closed his eyes, waiting for her while he enjoyed the warm weather. Just as he began to imagine the pleasant melody of Tahla’s voice, she appeared at his side with a chipper, “Hey there, General.”

He grinned before wrapping her in a tight embrace. When they separated, Iroh pulled the recently purchased fire lily from his back pocket. Tahla smiled in delight when he gently tucked the flower behind her ear, and Iroh was pleased with the soft blush that formed on her cheeks.

“Aw, thank you,” she giggled before planting a quick kiss on his cheek. “Ready to go?” she asked. Iroh sighed, barely hearing her question while he committed every perfect detail of her face to his memory. “Almost,” he smiled playfully, before showering her face with kisses. She screamed with laughter, and Iroh felt fulfilled; it was music to his ears. He only stopped his barrage of kisses to place one more on her lips.

Tahla clung to Iroh’s arm while they slowly approached his ship, which was the largest in the fleet by far. The healer gaped at the enormous ship while they walked along the deck, and Iroh silently adored her facial expressions. The pair talked and laughed together while they entered the inner chambers of the ship, and they came to a halt when they reached the door of Iroh’s sleeping quarters. He gave Tahla a brief tour of his room, which was nowhere near as lavish as his palace bedroom. It was modest and well-organized, just as he liked it. Then, with a surprise in mind, Iroh led her back outside and towards the bridge of the ship. It was the tallest point of the vessel, and it was where Iroh often stood to think quietly or look out over his fleet.

When they reached the bridge, hand in hand, Iroh sighed fondly at the sight before them. From that height, they could see the entire Harbor City district, including the still-bustling market. The silhouette of the Royal Palace rested in the distance, and wispy white clouds danced through the sky. Tahla quietly gasped at the view, and Iroh smiled while he stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. She held on to his forearms and leaned backwards onto his chest, and Iroh felt entirely at peace.

They stood there for a few minutes, and Iroh propped his chin on the top of Tahla’s head. He breathed in deeply, and he smelled a mix of her sweet shampoo and the fresh midday air. They were silent for a few moments, only wanting to enjoy each other’s company. Iroh tuned in to the soft breeze; it was pleasant and light, and it reminded him of the joy that the past six weeks had brought to his life. He silently claimed the breeze as theirs, a tribute to his sweet and graceful healer. When Iroh began to notice his men trickling slowly down the docks and towards their ship, he let out a deep sigh, grabbed Tahla softly by both shoulders, and spun her around to face him.

“I’ll see you soon,” he breathed, barely audible. He wiped away a tear as it rolled down her cheek before giving her one last, gentle kiss. She hugged him tightly and mumbled into his chest, “Be safe, Iroh.” He assured her that his duties were strictly training-based for the next two months, which seemed to alleviate her mood, if only slightly. As they walked arm in arm back to the docks, several of the naval men offered delighted greetings to the couple. After the men were demolished by Tahla’s fighting skills during one of their trainings, they grew very curious of her and questioned Iroh incessantly about her during their next session, so they were intrigued by her presence at the docks.

They reached the dock and shared a final warm embrace. Iroh knew that he would miss Tahla most of all while he was gone, more than any other part of his life in the Fire Nation. He reminded himself that two months was not an outrageously long span of time, but he knew that it would feel like an eternity. After they shared a pair of whispered goodbyes and a few comforting smiles, Iroh boarded the ship once again to welcome his men aboard. The men had all arrived and settled into their rooms, meaning that they were ready to depart.

As the fleet of ships pulled away from the harbor and into the open water, Iroh told his men to relax for the time being. He was not yet in the headspace to be "General Iroh," so he decided that their training would start the next morning. He returned to the bridge of the ship to watch the Fire Nation fade into the distance, and he sighed as the breeze cooled his skin and tousled his hair. He laughed to himself upon the sight of a small figure standing at the end of the dock, waving frantically at the fleet. Iroh mirrored Tahla’s large waving motions before he blew her a final kiss from across the water.
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The first few days after Iroh left were difficult for Tahla. After she watched his fleet disappear into the horizon, she had spent her afternoon in the garden, feeding the turtle ducks and laying in the grass under their favorite tree. Tahla did not care to socialize for the rest of that day, and the next several nights were lonely without Iroh sleeping next to her. She tried not to feel so sorry for herself; they had only been “together” for a week before he left, after all. Still, Tahla could not deny her deep, intense feelings for the General, and she missed his presence.

Though it took some effort at first, Tahla tried to stay positive in Iroh’s absence. She attended Izumi’s fire bending classes and put her whole mind into the process when she healed students. After she took some time to think about her power as a bender, she mentally recovered from her fight with Torin and Meeko. She once again felt confident enough to spar with students, and she was even able to make strides in her own abilities. With her new attention to detail and a particular focus on maintaining peaceful control over her bending, Tahla learned new water bending moves and felt more connected to her element than ever.

Tahla even began to attend the classes of the older fire bending students, not as a healer, but as a student. The older age group, who carried lifetimes of experience with fire bending, often did not focus on sparring and did not require Tahla’s healing services. Instead, they worked on perfecting their forms and discussed the foundational ideas of bending fire. During these classes, Tahla would join their ranks and participate in their deliberate breathing exercises and slow-moving stretches. She loved listening to Izumi explain balance, drive, and control as just a few of the core values of fire bending. One of Tahla’s favorite forms that she learned during these weeks was the Dancing Dragon, which Izumi described as an ancient form that originated from dragons and helped her father and the Avatar discover the true meaning of fire bending. Although she could not bend fire, Tahla grew stronger as a bender and became more at peace with herself with every class she attended.

She spent more time with Izumi during the two months that Iroh was away. Although she missed her prince, she delighted in the company of the Fire Lord. The pair explored the library and relaxed together in the royal spa, just like they used to. When Tahla realized how long it had been since she spent one-on-one time with Izumi, she vowed to balance her friendships and romantic life more evenly in the future. Her friends, including Izumi and the palace handmaidens, Taiko and the other chefs, and the friendlier members of the nobility, made Tahla feel more at home in the Fire Nation than ever during those two months.

Still, even though Tahla was happy in her social and professional lives, she could not ignore the feeling of homesickness within her. On top of longing for Iroh, she missed her friends at the Jade Flower more each day. She wrote to them more often, and she got into the habit of sending a new letter every day. Thankfully, the healers wrote her back just as often with details about their social lives, their new healing clients, and the gossip around Republic City. Tahla wrote about her new relationship with Iroh, and she often found herself giggling at her friends’ responses; they teased her for “going soft” over a prince, and she wished that she could hear the sound of them laughing along with her. Tahla was comforted by their written words, but she still wished that her best friends were not so far away.

Her communications with Iroh were less frequent, which made their time apart slightly more difficult. Messenger hawks were less reliable for the couple, since Iroh’s fleet moved a great distance each day. With Tahla using the palace’s communication system, they would send short telegrams to each other whenever they could. This never felt like enough to Tahla, though. By the end of his two-month assignment, their overseas relationship had been longer than the six weeks that they had seen each other in person, which was disheartening. Tahla wanted to talk about their romance with Izumi, like she would with any of her other friends, but she feared that their friendship might be altered as a result. Tahla had no idea if Izumi would be comfortable with talking about them being couple, and she wanted to wait to find out until her relationship with Iroh was sturdier.

Tahla could not contain her excitement on the day of Iroh’s return. When the Friday morning 16-to-18-year-old fire bending class wrapped up for the day, Tahla practically buzzed with happiness. Izumi did not outwardly question the healer’s chipper mood, but sent Tahla a knowing look that she barely noticed in her hurry to get to the docks. She bid a sprightly goodbye to the Fire Lord before practically sprinting outside, jumping on her bicycle, and flying toward the harbor.

When Tahla reached the harbor, she squealed at the sight of Iroh’s ship, which was already docked. It must have barely beaten her there, because only a few crew members had begun to slowly trickle down the ship’s ramp. As she leaned her bicycle gently against a wooden pillar at the end of the dock, she saw a familiar, broad-shouldered, dark-haired figure appear at the top of the ramp. With a giddy shriek, Tahla took off running down the dock. Iroh noticed her coming and picked up his pace, and he jogged toward her until they met in the middle. Iroh picked Tahla up by the waist and spun her around before placing her gingerly back onto the dock. He planted a desperate, loving kiss on her lips. Tahla sighed into it as she tangled her fingers in his hair, and she felt the soft summer breeze dance along her skin as they stood there, together.

Chapter Text

When Iroh returned to the palace, he removed his arm from Tahla’s grasp, and with a kiss goodbye and a promise to see her later, he drifted toward the throne room. The pair had walked all the way from the harbor to the palace together after Tahla abandoned her bicycle at the docks. Iroh had chuckled at this decision, but he was happy to enjoy every bit of her company. Just as he had predicted, two months apart was rather tough.

Iroh stopped by the kitchen to shake Taiko’s hand and popped into his sister’s room to say hello before arriving in the throne room. His mother jumped from her seat upon his entrance. He wrapped Izumi in a tight hug and smiled into her shoulder. When they pulled apart, she beamed up at him. “Welcome home, dear,” she said, looking proud of Iroh and relieved that he was home once again. They caught up with each other for a few minutes before Iroh set off toward his room, ensuring his mother that he would see her at dinner that evening.

Iroh enjoyed his two-month assignment, but he was glad to be home. He made great strides with his men while they were at sea, and he passed them off to Commander Bumi to continue their training in the North Pole. The men would be stationed there for an entire year, working on their combat and defensive skills with the Commander. After a year, Iroh planned to join the men on a new assignment in Republic City. That was far in the future, though, and Iroh was ready to relax in the Fire Nation for the time being.

After dinner, Iroh laid on his back in the center of his large bed, grateful that he was no longer limited to his uncomfortable cot and small sleeping quarters. He breathed in the smell of Tahla’s shampoo and ran the pads of his fingers over her unclothed shoulder. She hummed at his touch and nuzzled closer to his bare chest, and Iroh placed a loving kiss on the top of her head. They had spent the evening in a passionate whirlwind, both desperate to be closer together. Iroh had once admitted to her that he was old-fashioned, so his advances took her by pleasant surprise. He was not typically one to rush into the physical side of a relationship, but he felt something different with Tahla. With her torso slung across his chest and fingers tracing soft circles over his muscles, Iroh felt secure.

They laid there for a while, talking and laughing together. “I missed you, you know,” Tahla giggled as she craned her neck to look at Iroh’s face. He smiled down at her and replied, “I missed you too, love.” Iroh’s heart swelled when Tahla explained how quickly she had realized that she hated being apart from him. When Iroh shared his own, similar feelings, they decided that their relationship was more than a fling. With a happy heart, Iroh asked Tahla to be his, fully and officially, and she accepted with a delighted squeal. When they finally drifted to sleep, their clothes still scattered about the room and their limbs tangled together, Iroh’s cheeks ached from the smile that occupied his face.

Over the next three summer months, they became inseparable. Summers in the Fire Nation were always electric, and the hot sun energized the Capital City like nothing else could. Iroh and Tahla took long bike rides, strolls through the city, and trips to the market together, and Iroh fell more in love with her by the day. They tiptoed through the palace hallways at night to steal food from the kitchen, lounged in the garden under the shade of their favorite tree, and clicked physically and emotionally as the weeks went on. Iroh began to attend every one of his mother’s fire bending classes, not just to watch Tahla in her favorite place, but also to advance as a bender himself. He loved to teach alongside his mother and spar with the adult classes, and he felt himself grow stronger all the while.

By the end of the summer, Iroh was completely smitten with Tahla. In those late summer days, he tried to remember what it felt like when he first met and fell for her, because his feelings now were even more intense and powerful. He grew more attached to her beautiful personality and bubbly laugh as the summer reached its final weeks, and he finally felt comfortable with telling his mother about their relationship. Iroh and Tahla had discussed that they wanted to keep their romance private until they were sure about their future together, and Iroh was now certain that his future, whatever it became, was meant to include Tahla.

Iroh’s 35th birthday took place during the final week of the summer. As he reflected on his latest year of life, he thought about how much he had changed in just the past few months. By his birthday, he had only known Tahla for six and a half months (for two of which they had been separated), but he felt like they had been together for a lifetime. He was softer now than he had ever been, and he liked it that way. His life was richer, more emotional, and he had never known such happiness. His life before Tahla was not miserable, by any means; he was still a prince, after all. Still, she brought a new meaning to his existence.

For his birthday, Iroh’s mother decided to throw him a party. Royals, nobles, military officials, and family friends from around the world gathered in the Fire Nation Royal Palace for a formal party in his honor. Usually, Iroh would protest, and he would discourage his mother from making such a fuss over him. However, when Tahla heard about the party and began excitedly planning her outfit, Iroh happily gave in and accepted his fate. On the evening of his party, he looked himself over in the mirror. He wore a clean-cut, formal suit that accentuated his mature facial features. Iroh proceeded to the royal gallery, where he was greeted by a horde of guests and a chorus of happy birthday wishes.

Iroh mingled with his guests for a while before he greeted his mother, who was dressed in a deep red gown and a long royal robe. He hugged her warmly and thanked her for such an extravagant display. He looked around the gallery and noticed the lavish decorations that adorned the walls and tables. Nobles and high-ranking military officials waltzed about the room, and Iroh noticed that a few members of the United Republic Council were in attendance. He understood why these people were invited; it was important for him, as a member of the Fire Nation Royal Family, to maintain strong relationships with the world’s leaders. In fact, his birthday parties had almost always been like this.

After a moment of looking around, Iroh noticed a group of younger men talking amongst themselves, near the side of the room. Upon closer inspection, he realized that they were the elegantly dressed versions of his childhood school friends. Even in their mid-thirties, his friends maintained their boyish charm, and their goofy laughter filled the gallery that was otherwise occupied by stiff politicians and nobility. Iroh smiled at his mother gratefully, who confirmed his realization with a motherly smile and a kind laugh. He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before speed-walking towards his friends, who he had not seen since they were teenagers, before he joined the United Forces. They welcomed Iroh with a flurry of brotherly hugs, loud laughs, and old jokes, and Iroh felt like a young man for the first time in a long time.

After catching up with his school friends and promising them that he would return later in the night, Iroh resumed his chore of making small talk with his other guests. He did this for some time, until the most beautiful woman he had ever witnessed came into his view. Tahla had just entered the room, and she looked like a vision. She wore a black, floor-length gown that shimmered in the light. It was a color that Iroh had never seen her in before, and it gave her a dark, commandingly beautiful look. Her curls cascaded down her back and her blue eyes sparkled, and Iroh could not keep his eyes off of her well-accentuated curves.

Snapping from his trance, Iroh crossed the room to greet her. He held her hand delicately in his own before he placed a soft kiss on her knuckles, which made Tahla blush furiously. “You look very handsome tonight, General,” she whispered to him, so the other partygoers could not hear. He smiled down at her and replied softly, “That means a lot, coming from someone as beautiful as you.” Tahla’s blush intensified, which Iroh did not think was possible.

As the party around them began to pick up, many guests migrated to the center of the room to dance to the smooth, jazzy music that was playing. Without hesitation, Iroh guided his healer towards the fun. He hooked his arm around her waist, and she happily lifted her hands to cradle his neck. They danced the night away, leaning into each other as they slowly spun to the soft music. They took only a few short breaks to grab some fancy snacks and make small talk. Iroh introduced Tahla to his childhood friends, and he laughed to see them just as instantly intrigued by her as he was. Even as he attended to the normal duties of a party host, Iroh spent most of his night with Tahla in his arms.

Near the end of the party, Tahla held Iroh’s hand and pulled him away from the dance floor. Iroh giggled as he was dragged along by the water bender’s strong grip, and when they reached the edge of the room, he hooked an arm around her waist and drew her in close. Before he could kiss her, though, Tahla introduced an idea that had been hovering in Iroh’s mind for weeks.

“We should tell her,” Tahla said, nodding her head towards Izumi, who was talking with a few United Republic Council members at the other end of the gallery. With a soft smile, Iroh tucked a stray curl behind Tahla’s ear and nodded in agreement. He offered his arm to her, and she took it enthusiastically. Together, they walked towards the Fire Lord, whose conversation seemed to be wrapping up. She turned around to greet them, and her eyes immediately glanced towards Tahla’s hands, which rested softly on Iroh’s arm.

“Hey, Mom,” Iroh started, with a nervous vibration in his voice. He thanked his mother again for the glamorous party, and he grew more jittery when he explained how much he had enjoyed being home that summer. Finally, he broke the news. “You should know, we’re together, and we have been for a few months,” he said, glancing down briefly to meet Tahla’s encouraging gaze. When his mother’s face did not change, Iroh began to panic, and he thought that Izumi was upset with them. “We wanted to wait to tell you until--“ he started, but he was interrupted by the sound of his mother’s laughter.

Izumi’s delighted laughs rang through the gallery, which had started to clear of its guests. Iroh and Tahla shared a confused look before Izumi finally spoke. “I know, dear,” she chuckled. “I’ve known the whole time.” With this comment, Tahla joined the Fire Lord in a fit of laughter. Iroh then considered how he did not hide his affections for Tahla all night, meaning that his mother likely saw everything. Izumi placed a hand softly on Iroh’s free arm, and after looking them both lovingly, she added, “I’m so happy for you.” With that, she flashed them a joyous smile and turned to speak to a few more guests.

Iroh and Tahla stood together for a few moments, laughing out of shock and relief. Iroh scooped Tahla into a tight hug, lifting her off her feet and spinning in a small circle. When her feet reconnected with the floor, Iroh leaned down and placed a sweet kiss on her lips. Tahla giggled before pulling him back towards the dance floor. They danced to the soft, slow music as guests trickled out of the gallery. Iroh looked up and waved goodbye to his friends as they called to him from across the room, and he bowed his head to each partygoer as they offered their final happy birthday wishes. Soon, Tahla and Iroh were the only two left in the gallery. Tahla whispered up to him, “Happy birthday, Iroh,” and as they swayed together, he was blissfully happy.

Chapter Text

The day after Iroh’s birthday, the clouds turned dark to signal one of the only times that it would rain in the Fire Nation all year. The annual late summer rainfall was one of Tahla’s favorite parts of the blisteringly hot months. She felt stronger below the shadowy sky and loved the feeling of the heavy rain upon her skin. She was used to frequent storms in Republic City, but the rarity of such an event in the Fire Nation was thrilling to her. However, she was one of the only people in all of Capital City who enjoyed the yearly summer showers; the city of fire benders thrived off of the sun’s energy, so the dark sky and downpouring rain were not usually welcomed by anyone other than Tahla.

After dinner that night, Tahla and Iroh ran through the halls and out toward the garden. When she got outside, Tahla raced straight for the open grass, where she twirled and danced while the rain poured down. She shrieked with joy as the large raindrops splashed onto her face and arms. Tahla wore a thin-strapped tank top on purpose; she wanted to bask in the feeling of the rain on her bare skin, especially since storms happened so rarely in the Fire Nation. She stretched her arms outwards while her hair, which had grown heavy from the moisture, clung to her shoulders and back.

Tahla closed her eyes and let her head fall backwards while she enjoyed the rain. After a moment of bliss, though, she realized that Iroh was still standing under an awning near the outer palace door. She smiled wickedly, not planning on letting him walk away from the storm with dry clothes. Tahla laughed as she eyed the awning where Iroh had taken shelter. In a move that she could rarely practice, since consistent rain in the Fire Nation came so infrequently, Tahla pushed her arms out in front of her in a wave-like movement. To her delight, the rain that had been dripping from the awning in large streams began to fall sideways, directly toward Iroh. He tried to run at first, but the rain caught up to him quickly. He was showered with the warm water for only a few seconds, but when Tahla let her arms fall to her sides again, Iroh was soaking wet.
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Iroh had been admiring his girlfriend’s beauty when he was bombarded with a shower of rain, despite his sheltered location. As he leaned against the palace wall and watched her excitedly dance through the rainstorm, he smiled at how cheerful she looked, and he dreamt about making her that happy for the rest of his life. His romantic thoughts were cut short, however, by Tahla’s mischief.

Iroh was a good sport about the water bender’s sneaky trick. With a loud laugh, he peeled his wet jacket from his body and dropped it onto the ground, leaving only his undershirt to cover his torso. He grinned at her playfully before running out into the pouring rain. Tahla screamed in delight and ran from his outstretched arms, but she was no match for his speed. Iroh wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and spun her around in circles until he was almost too dizzy to stand. They roared with laughter as they chased each other around the garden, and Iroh felt lighter than air.

In that moment, enjoying the storm with the woman of his dreams, Iroh felt alive. He loved the way Tahla’s infectious giggle tore through the booming sound of the rain, and even with her hair sticking to her arms and the sides of her face, she was radiant. When they calmed down, he wasted no time in pulling her into a deep, passionate kiss. The rain dripped down their faces and his hand nearly slipped from her wet cheek while he cradled it, but the moment was perfect.

“I love you, Iroh,” Tahla said when they pulled away, only slightly louder than the sound of the pouring rain. Although the warm water cascaded down his forehead and into his eyes, Iroh could see a blush beginning to form on the tips of Tahla’s ears. His heart nearly burst from happiness; he felt the same for her, and those three words sounded angelic, coming from her perfect lips. In a moment of pure joy, he grabbed her by the shoulders and kissed her again, more passionately than he ever had before.
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When she said those three powerful words, Tahla’s stomach bubbled with nerves. She had felt love for Iroh since she had first met him, but she did not want to act too quickly for his comfort. They had only known each other for six and a half months, and they had been dating for even less. Still, when Tahla told Iroh that she loved him, she meant it with her whole heart.

In the moments afterwards, time seemed to stop. The rain still poured down on them, and Tahla could still feel herself taking shaky breaths as the seconds passed, but waiting for Iroh’s reaction was almost unbearable. She would have understood if he did not return her phrase; she was fully aware that he may not have been ready to take such a step. Still, she grew anxious in the few seconds that it took Iroh to process her words. She watched his face cautiously in those moments, and she smiled at the way his usually well-kept hair laid messily against his face, now completely soaked from the rain.

Tahla’s heart melted when iroh pulled her in for the most electric kiss they had ever shared, which turned into several more long, drawn out kisses. He smiled into each one, which made Tahla giggle uncontrollably. She felt joyfully dizzy in that moment, kissing in the rain with her sweet prince. Iroh pulled away from her, and while he wrapped his arms around her waist, he leaned down slightly to press his forehead against hers.

“I love you too, Tahla,” he whispered, barely audible above the storm.

Chapter Text

Tahla and Iroh’s autumn was very similar to what their summer had been. They grew closer every day, and Tahla became certain that she had found her soulmate. During those fall months, Iroh often joined Tahla for her long, moonlit tai chi sessions. Although he could not bend water, he copied her slow movements and completed each stretch alongside her, and Tahla adored him for it. Iroh was so supportive of her, not just in her bending, but in every facet of her existence. During that autumn, she realized that if she had to continue her life without Iroh by her side, she would feel terribly incomplete.

Tahla and Iroh laid in the grass under their favorite garden tree, chatting the afternoon away. The breeze grazed over her skin, and Tahla smiled at the feeling of her hand in his, their fingers woven together. Not long after they settled into their grassy spot, they were startled by the screech of a messenger hawk that had landed near their feet. Tahla shot up with a startled gasp, but she quickly laughed at the sight of the bird. She untied a letter from the hawk’s foot and gave it a soft pat on the head before it flew away.

Tahla read the envelope and let out another gasp, this time in delight. “It’s from Esine!” she exclaimed, and Iroh smiled while she ripped the letter open. She had not heard from her best friend in three weeks, and she missed the neatly-written stories that Esine would tell. Tahla’s excitement swelled, but as she read, her heart began to pound in her ears. Her face must have reflected the fear and worry that the letter ignited within her, because when she looked up at Iroh, his brows were furrowed with concern. She barely heard him over the sound of her own panicked heartbeat when he asked, “What’s wrong, Tahla?” Unable to find her voice for a moment, she silently offered him the letter with a shaky hand.
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Tahla,

I’m sorry that it’s been so long since my last letter. I would have written sooner, but something has kept me busy. Too busy, I’m afraid.

I should have told you about this earlier, but we thought that the problem might go away at first. For a few weeks now, a group that calls themselves “the Equalists” has been campaigning around our city. They’ve been saying some horrible things about benders, and they want people like us to lose our bending. They say they want us all to be equal.

Please don’t be upset that I didn’t tell you about them. We didn’t want to worry you, and since we didn’t think that they had much support, we expected that the group might fizzle out. I’m sorry. We were wrong.

A man named Amon, the leader of the Equalists- he’s terrible. He thinks that bending is the worst thing to have ever happened to the world, and he wants to destroy it all. He can take away people’s bending, Bug. I didn’t believe it at first, but it’s true. He held a rally a couple days ago, and he took away people’s bending in front of a big crowd. We thought that only the Avatar could do that, but… Amon can, and he’s done it to dozens of people in just a few days.

Most of the people who lost their bending have come to us for help. We’ve tried, but no one has gotten theirs back… not after Amon gets them. The only thing that we’ve been able to do is help them feel a little better when it’s gone. We’re so overwhelmed. We can’t keep up with everyone who needs our help, and we’re exhausted.

This is the part that I feel the worst about. I know you’re happy there, with Iroh. But Tahla, I’m so scared. We barely make it through each day, and we’re worried that Amon might come for us. Everyone knows that the Jade Flower is run by benders, and it’s a matter of time before someone turns us in to the Equalists. You’re so strong, Bug, and we need your help.

When you left the city, you said that we could call you back any time. I’m so sorry, but I have to do it now. We’re desperate, and we miss you. Who knows… with you here, maybe we can find a way to fix the horrible things that Amon has done to these people. I’m not sure about that, really. But I know that having you back, at least until this is over, would be more helpful than you can imagine.

I understand if you can’t leave right now. You have a job, and Iroh too, I know. But if you can… please come home.

I love you, Tahla. I’ll wait for a letter from you.

Essie
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Iroh looked up at Tahla, who was trembling. “Oh, spirits,” he whispered, unsure of how to react to the shocking news. At first, he hoped that the letter was a cruel joke. From what Tahla had told him about Esine’s honest character, though, Iroh understood that she was telling the horrifying truth. Whoever Amon and the Equalists were, Iroh knew that they were damaging Republic City. If Amon eliminated all bending, he would destroy the city’s foundations and culture, and his dangerous ideas would spread to the rest of the world.

Iroh sighed, realizing what was to come. He knew that Tahla would be overwhelmed with guilt if she did not return to Republic City, and there was a possibility that her advanced healing skills could help the people whose bending had been torn away by Amon. Iroh rose to his knees and wrapped his arms around her. He heard her breathing shakily, and he mumbled, “You need to go.” She looked up at him, with tears in her eyes. “Yeah, I do,” she whispered back.

Together, Iroh and Tahla broke the news to Izumi. The Fire Lord had only heard rumors of the anti-bending movement in Republic City. She explained to them that the United Republic Council had grown quiet in their political relationships, not just with the Fire Nation, but with the whole world. Although she was hard to read, Iroh could tell that his mother was worried. Izumi thought for a moment before giving her blessing for the royal healer to take a leave of absence and declaring that a boat would leave for Republic City the next morning. Iroh felt sad for both his mother and his girlfriend as the women shared a long goodbye hug, and his heart broke at the sight of Tahla’s teary expression.

Iroh considered going with her to Republic City. The thought of being so far apart from her without knowing when she might return caused him an awful heartache. Unfortunately for him, though, he had to remain in the Fire Nation so the United Forces would know where to find him in if an emergency arose. Based on the content of Esine’s letter, however, Iroh wondered if he would also be called to Republic City in the near future. If danger was mounting there, the United Forces would intervene eventually.

That night, Iroh helped Tahla with her packing. They strolled around the room, grabbing Tahla’s necessities and putting them neatly into her duffel bag. A strange sadness hung in the air around them, and Iroh tried his best to lighten the mood. “So,” he said with a grin while he hugged her from behind, “Esine calls you ‘Bug,’ huh?” Tahla giggled at him, remembering the pet name that Esine included in her letter. “Yeah, she started that when we were kids, and now that’s what they all call me,” she laughed, and Iroh saw her shoulders relax. Despite the seriousness of the circumstances that called Tahla back to the city, Iroh knew that she missed her friends, and he hoped that she could find some happiness in their company.

As they packed Tahla’s belongings, they talked and laughed the night away, and Iroh enjoyed every moment. Tahla’s mood had improved dramatically, and Iroh was glad to hear her chatter excitedly about seeing Republic City after her years away. While she continued to talk about the city and slowly fold her clothes, something came over Iroh. Before he knew it, Tahla was gasping softly as he left gentle, slow kisses down her neck. He had given her countless hugs and kisses that night as he tried to memorize the feeling of her touch, but these kisses were different, more purposeful and deliberate. Iroh adored Tahla’s breathy sighs as his lips trailed along her collarbone, and the evening escalated from there.

They quickly lost track of time. Iroh could only think about how beautiful she was, how much he loved the warmth of her skin and the feeling of her breath on his lips. The air carried an electric charge, and Iroh tried to commit every single detail to his memory. Sometime later, they flopped onto their backs on the bed. Iroh turned his head to place soft kisses on her cheek while their chests heaved, and Tahla rolled closer to him so he could wrap his arms around her. As they laid together, Iroh thought about everything that made Tahla perfect- her mind, her spirit, her caring soul. Even though he was in ecstasy from what had just occurred, a small, sad voice in the back of his head reminded him that he would soon be hopelessly far away from his Tahla. Iroh loved her more than life itself, and he felt an overwhelming wave of certainty before he opened his mouth to speak.

“Marry me,” he said softly, barely above a whisper. As he held her close, he felt her breath hitch at his words. Tahla laughed, which Iroh had expected. “Oh, come on,” she snorted while looking up at him. Iroh knew that she thought his words were only a post-intimacy outburst, and that he had simply been caught up in the moment. He smiled down at her, fully understanding her skepticism. Iroh slid from her grasp and rolled off the bed. He searched the floor for his pants, which had been cast aside long ago, and from the back pocket he pulled out a beautiful necklace.

Tahla gasped and sat up straight as Iroh approached her, the necklace in his closed hand. She wrapped herself in a blanket and pulled her legs close to her body while Iroh sat in front of her. “Tahla,” he began, suddenly very nervous. “I love you. There aren’t enough words to describe how much I love you. You’re so kind and strong, so beautiful, and you make me a better man.” He noticed Tahla’s eyes beginning to water, so he placed his free hand on her knee and squeezed reassuringly before continuing. “We’ve only known each other for nine months, which seems like such a short time, but I feel like you’ve changed my entire life. I didn’t even know it was possible to have such a strong connection with someone, and it’s changed my whole perception of the world. Honestly, I couldn’t imagine my future without you.”

Iroh opened his hand to reveal the necklace to Tahla, and she gasped again. It resembled a Northern Water Tribe betrothal necklace, but the pendant was a unique, circular stone that swirled with deep red and bright blue hues; a representation of her water and his fire. It reminded Iroh of how well he and Tahla connected, how united their souls had become.

Tahla’s hand moved to cover her mouth, which had fallen open in shock. Iroh smiled at her and said, “Mom helped me pick it out.” Tahla laughed, and tears began to fall down her cheeks. He cupped her cheek with his hand and used his thumb to wipe them away. Quietly, he asked her, “What do you think? Will you marry me Tahla?”

Tahla shrieked happily and threw herself forward into Iroh’s embrace. She held her arms around his shoulders so tightly that he thought he might explode, and he hugged her back just as tight. The nervous knot in Iroh’s stomach melted away at the sound of her delighted laughter. When they pulled away, he looked into Tahla’s deep blue eyes. “Is that a yes?” he asked amusingly.

“Yes!” Tahla squealed before placing a hand behind his neck and pulling him into a passionate kiss. Iroh was surprised by her strength, but his heart melted at her affections. When they parted, he unclasped the necklace and placed it delicately around her neck.
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The next morning, Tahla and Iroh stood on the docks, holding each other tightly. Tahla sighed into his chest and listened to the strong, comforting sound of his heartbeat. Half an hour earlier, they had raced through the palace halls, worried that they had slept in too long. Despite the risk of missing her boat, though, the healer popped her head into nearly every room they passed to shout hasty goodbyes to her friends and coworkers. Now, Tahla did not feel nearly as energetic. Simultaneous waves of apprehension and sadness consumed her as she realized that she was in her last moment with Iroh for an uncertain amount of time.

She started to cry softly, and when she looked up at Iroh’s face, she noticed that his eyes were also watering. Tahla reached up and placed her hand gently on his cheek. She admired Iroh’s strength in difficult situations, but she also loved that he was not afraid to share his emotional side with her. Her fiancée smiled down at her, but Tahla could tell that he was just as heartbroken as she was. She raised herself onto her toes to give him a final kiss. It was sentimental and sweet, and it pained her to finally pull away.

Iroh leaned down to press their foreheads together, which made Tahla smile. “You’ll write to me, yeah?” he asked her softly. She giggled back at him and replied, “Only if you write to me first.” Iroh flashed her a wide grin, and Tahla tried with all her might to commit that image to her memory. “I love you,” she whispered. He tucked a stray curl behind her ear before he whispered back, “I love you, too.”

After a final bone-crushing hug, the pair finally parted and Tahla boarded the small royal ship that was set to travel to Republic City. The trip would take a week for a large vessel, but the crew assured her that their smaller boat would arrive much sooner. All too soon, they began to drift away from the harbor, and Iroh waved to Tahla from the end of the dock.

“Don’t forget about me, love!” he called to her with another large smile. Tahla giggled, knowing that she could never forget her sweet Iroh, not for as long as she lived. “I won’t!” she shouted back to him with a smile. “And don’t YOU forget about the wedding we have to plan when I get back!” Iroh let out a thunderous laugh at her comment, and when he regained his composure, he blew her a kiss over the water.

Soon, the Fire Nation disappeared into the distance. Tahla felt a strange mix of emotions as the boat sailed along, a combination of already missing Iroh and Izumi, worrying about the Equalist problem, and feeling excited to see her friends. As she was reminded of the close-knit group of healers, Tahla wondered how she would be able to help those who had lost their bending in Republic City, and she thought deeply about the healing techniques that she would try to use with them. After settling into a comfortable spot to think, Tahla prepared for the rest of her journey home.

Chapter Text

One week after Tahla left for Republic City, Izumi received a letter from her favorite healer. The royal ship made excellent time in its journey to the city, and Tahla sent a message to ensure Izumi of her safe arrival. Izumi was relieved to hear that her friend was home, but she was still riddled with anxiety over the turbulence in Republic City. Although the city’s leaders had been secretive about the anti-bending movement there, Izumi knew that danger was mounting, and she could only hope that Tahla would stay safe.

Izumi also worried for her son, as Iroh’s mood had dampened noticeably since Tahla’s departure. For a week, he moped around the palace hallways, was quiet during dinner, and had a hollow look about him. Izumi knew that he would feel better if he talked about his feelings. As his mother, she wanted to help him out of his slump without forcing it too much, so she devised a plan and asked him to attend an evening fire bending class.

On the night of that particular class, Izumi was relieved to see Iroh enter the training room. He carried an air of sadness with him, but she was glad that he made the effort to attend. Izumi called for the class, which was comprised of some of the most expert and experienced fire benders that she worked with, to line up in rows. Iroh stood against the wall, unsure of why his mother had requested his presence, and Izumi smiled at him reassuringly.

“Good evening, everyone,” Izumi started. “I’m glad to see you all here tonight. I wanted to take some time to tell you a story. I’m sure many of you have heard parts of it before, but I am going to tell it to you now, because it means a lot to me. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.” She motioned for the class to sit, and they settled comfortably onto the floor. Showing curiosity, Iroh joined them and sat cross-legged in the back row. Izumi smiled at him once again. She was reminded of how Tahla would join this group while Iroh was away on duty; Tahla used to spend her evenings with the experienced fire benders, practicing her forms. Izumi knew that the classes helped Tahla when she missed Iroh, and she hoped that Iroh might find some comfort in them as well.

With her class and her son before her, Izumi wove an emotional tale of her family’s past. She explained her father’s journey with his fire bending, and how he learned to turn his anger into strength, courage, and inner peace. The Fire Lord watched her class’s emotions rise and fall with her story. They laughed at the tales of Zuko’s silly mistakes, gasped at his most dangerous fights, and breathed relieved sighs at his toughest victories. Izumi laughed at how her father took years to overcome his fixation on his honor and learned to trust the instinct of the Avatar, and she reminisced over the way her childhood allowed her to closely witness the development of coexistence and peace in the bending world.

When she finished her speech, the class erupted with compliments and excited chatter. Izumi smiled at their praise, although she knew that they had heard certain parts of the story before. The journey of Fire Lord Zuko was common knowledge in the Fire Nation, and everyone knew about the adventure that led him to stop the Hundred Year War, unite with Avatar Aang, and take his honor into his own hands. However, in her storytelling, Izumi shared a sentimental side of the tale that only she, as Zuko’s daughter, was familiar with. She described Zuko as a dedicated father who cared deeply for his child. He was loving and sweet, a goofball compared to his stern political persona, and supportive of Izumi in every way.

As she talked, Izumi watched Iroh’s face closely. The longer she went on, the more his features relaxed. Iroh had always looked up to his grandfather, and the two were just as close as Izumi and Iroh were, if not closer. Iroh enjoyed hearing about his family’s history, and Izumi figured that he resonated with Zuko’s story in more ways than one. His expression adopted a touched smile as his mother spoke. Izumi loved the sight of her son’s genuine smile, especially since he showed it in public so rarely. When Iroh showed his happiness openly like this, it reminded Izumi of what he was like as a child; he was bubbly and lovable, and he had the cutest dimples.

The class stood once again and began their normal stretches. That evening, they focused on lightning generation- a skill so advanced and potentially dangerous that Izumi would only allow its practice in her advanced classes. Iroh joined the fire benders in creating swift strikes of lightning, and Izumi could see how strong and powerful he was. The strength of his lightning signaled to her that he was driven and concentrated, and his mood was the best that it had been all week. He lit up the air around him with blue electricity, and it was an impressive sight.

When the class concluded, Iroh approached his mother. He rubbed his hand on the back of his neck nervously, and he laughed quietly at Izumi’s knowing expression. “I’m sorry that I’ve been acting like a child lately, Mom,” he started, but Izumi silenced him by placing a hand softly on his shoulder.

“I know you miss her, dear,” she said, hoping to comfort him. “I miss her too. But, when you were gone, Tahla worked on herself in these classes, and it really helped.” Iroh nodded along, and Izumi continued. “I can tell how much that story meant to you, Iroh. You remind me so much of my father.” With that, Iroh grinned widely and blushed profusely. It was a flattering comment for someone who loved Zuko so much, and Izumi could not help but share her thoughts about how similar her son was to her father. “I know that it’s hard right now, Iroh. You’ll see her again soon. But, in the meantime, I’m here for you.”
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Iroh was grateful for his mother’s support. Suddenly, he was flooded with guilt. He decided to keep the news of his engagement private for a day or two, but in his week-long bout of sadness, he had completely neglected to inform his mother about it. “I proposed to her, mom,” he grinned, knowing that Izumi had expected the news to come at some point, but still feeling regret over keeping it to himself. She had helped him pick out the stone of Tahla’s betrothal necklace, after all. To Iroh’s relief, Izumi squealed with excitement and clapped her hands together.

“Oh, Iroh! That’s amazing!” she exclaimed before pulling her son into an extremely tight hug. Iroh laughed at her affection; the two of them rarely shared moments like this. Of course, they loved each other immensely, but they did not often show it so freely. Iroh smiled as he hugged his mother, and he thought about how Tahla had led them to this moment. The sweet healer, in all her wonderful ways, brought out the emotional sides of both Iroh and Izumi. Iroh adored the way Tahla made him feel content within his soul, and while he missed her more by each passing second, his mother’s support brought joy to his heart.

For the rest of the month, Iroh continued to attend the adult fire bending classes, and he enjoyed the journey of experimenting with his bending. He learned more about his relationship with his fire, and he noticed that his flames were more powerful than they had ever been before. Each time he thought about Tahla, they grew brighter. Iroh knew that his fiancée brought out the best in him, but this was its own display entirely; he could see the physical proof of how his love and passion for her had fueled his spirit.

Although that month gave Iroh the opportunity for personal growth, he could not ignore the worry that grew within him. Since the letters that arrived from Tahla were sparce, Iroh sensed that she was extremely busy with her healing work. This meant that more people were losing their bending every day, and tensions were rising in the city. To no surprise, only four weeks after Tahla had made her departure, Iroh received new orders from the United Forces. There had been a change of plans, and Iroh was directed to retrieve his men from the North Pole six weeks ahead of schedule to begin “extensive marine training.” Iroh scoffed when he read the orders, as he knew that he was only being sent to sea so his fleet would be accessible and ready for combat. Iroh hated this thought, but he had to be realistic.

Iroh set out to sea the day after his orders arrived. His plan was to continue to write to both Tahla and Izumi as often as possible, but he predicted that letters would go few and far between, since he would be travelling so much. He promised his mother that he would send her telegrams when possible, and that he would try to stay safe, no matter what.

He journeyed to the frigid North Pole and was reunited with his men, who had transformed from young, rambunctious trainees into a humble, disciplined naval crew. They each greeted Iroh enthusiastically as they boarded the ship, and while they maintained some boyish charm, the General could tell that they had matured quickly.

They set sail towards the open water, and Iroh was initially unsure of what to do with his crew. Their orders were vague, and he was in charge of occupying an unspecified amount of time with training exercises. They ran drills occasionally, but Iroh’s favorite part of those few weeks was the time that he spent getting to know his men. As it turned out, they were great companions. Iroh loved their youthful energy and humor, and even though he constantly missed his home and worried for his fiancée, he was able to enjoy his time with good friends.

After three weeks on the water, Iroh received a letter from Tahla. He gave a snack to the exhausted messenger hawk that delivered the letter, and as he read it, his stomach dropped. The city was no longer a safe place for her. In her writing, Tahla described attacks on benders throughout Republic City, and the women at the Jade Flower were no exception to the persecution of the Equalists. The healers had faced some terrible harassment, and Iroh fumed over his inability to help them from his position. After reading the letter, Iroh directed his fleet to sail closer to Republic City, as a precaution.

Just as Iroh expected, only a week after Tahla’s letter arrived, he received a message from Avatar Korra herself. The fleet was called to action and Iroh was more than ready to take the city back, not only to secure harmony between benders and non-benders, but to ensure that his Tahla was safe. It had been two months since he had seen her, and he was desperate to be with her again; he was ready for their nightmare to be over.

When the fleet approached Republic City’s Yue Bay, Iroh felt like he could literally spit fire. Adrenaline coursed through his veins at the thought of defeating the people who had brought so much pain and fear to the city. Moreover, Iroh’s communications with Tahla had run dry since her last letter, and he was anxious to hear from her. This was the closest they had been to each other in two months, and the only thing standing between them was Amon. As they entered the bay, though, Iroh’s stomach churned with uneasiness. He could sense that something was wrong.

Where are they? Iroh thought to himself. He expected that his fleet would be met with a wave of reinforcements. Instead, it was eerily quiet. Until, suddenly, his ships began to explode as they came in contact with underwater mines.

Iroh jumped to action. He gave orders for his men to destroy the mines and he joined many of them in sending blasts of fire towards the wave of incoming Equalist airships. Iroh chided himself for not expecting some type of ambush, but between the massive flames that he was sending in every direction, he did not have time to focus on his regrets. He caught glimpses of his men being thrown into the water by huge blasts, and he prayed to the spirits that they would make it to shore unharmed.

Iroh found himself at the bridge of the ship, fighting as hard as he could against incoming bombs. After a defensive move gone wrong, he was thrown from his ship and into the bay. He drifted toward unconsciousness as he sank deeper into the water, too shocked and exhausted to move. His vision became dark, and he thought of Tahla. He remembered the sound of her laughter and the touch of her soft, freckled skin. He could not die this way; he needed to see her again.

Just as he began to feel hopeless, though, Iroh felt a pair of strong arms pull him towards the surface. As he gasped for air, he realized that it was the Avatar who had rescued him. He felt an overwhelming wave of relief wash over him, and he thanked Korra for saving his life. Together, along with a group of teenagers whom Korra introduced as her friends, they fled the scene. Korra explained to Iroh that their group had taken shelter in the sewers beneath the city. Although he was skeptical of how safe the sewers could be, Iroh’s grandfather always told him to trust the Avatar’s instinct, so he went with them. As they ran to safety, Iroh turned around to sadly survey his fleet, which burned on the water.

In the sewers, Iroh conversed with a kind, slightly eccentric man named Gommu. He learned that Gommu had previously been a telegraph operator for the United Forces, and he was thrilled to hear that Gommu had some equipment that they could use to send a message to the United Forces. With the approval of the Avatar and her team, Iroh instructed Gommu to send an urgent telegram to Commander Bumi. They desperately needed reinforcements, seeing that Iroh’s fleet was lost.

After the telegram was sent, Iroh examined the camp. He saw countless tents, cots, and bedrolls scattered about. People sat around fires and ate food from cans, and no one looked particularly clean. Iroh learned that they were a community of benders and non-benders living in harmony, and although their lifestyle was very different from his own, he admired the peace that they had found together.

Iroh picked a corner and began to lightly socialize with one of Korra’s friends, a muscular boy with green eyes. He was grateful to be alive and safe for the time being, but even in the company of all these people, Iroh had only one person on his mind.

Chapter Text

After a few days on the sea, Tahla arrived in Republic City. The sight of the city skyline was so beautiful that it made her tear up, and when she stepped onto land, she felt as though she had never left at all. Her feet instinctively guided her through the streets, and she tried to take in as many details as she could while she walked. Tahla breathed in deeply, and the smell of the city air was profoundly comforting. She admired the sounds of bustling shopkeepers and zooming cable cars as she hustled through the downtown area. Tahla had been away from this place for nearly three years, but after just a few moments of walking, she felt right at home again.

Before she knew it, Tahla’s feet were planted squarely in front of a familiar door. She looked down at the woven doormat, which was matted down and faded. Tahla smiled, remembering when she and Esine had bought the mat from a shopkeeper down the street. Her stomach bubbled with nerves, and for a second, she could not bring her hand up to the doorknob. What if I can’t help? she wondered to herself. For her entire journey there, she was riddled with worries that her healing experience would be useless against the Equalists. She shook these thoughts away and reminded herself that she was a strong and capable healer. Tahla touched the gemstone of her necklace for reassurance, then opened the door.

When she entered the healing shop, Tahla nearly cried. The recognizable scents of sage and lavender drifted down the hallway and flooded her senses. In the lobby, she noticed the same comfortable couches that had always been there, the army of plants that adorned the shelves and coffee table, and the pale green ornamental rug that covered the sleek wood floor. The room was filled with natural light that poured in through the large windows, which made the shop feel comfortable and bright. When Tahla swung the door open, a pleasant bell chimed above her head, and it reminded her of the exciting feeling of welcoming a new client into the shop. Every time she heard that bell, she felt like an 18-year-old healer again.

After the initial wave of emotion, Tahla’s eyes focused on the people in the lobby. She had to hold back an excited squeal at the sight of her best friends, and she was glad that she did; with the healers stood a young man who looked like he was weakened through to his very bones. His undereye bags were dark and deeply set, and he carried an air of sadness about him. Tahla could instantly tell that the man was a victim of Amon, and her heart sank. She made eye contact with her friends, who were gathered around the man. Their faces were somber, but they perked up considerably when Tahla entered the room.

Zaila could not contain her excitement. “Tahla!” she screeched before sprinting forward and throwing herself onto the water bender. Tahla dropped her duffel bag and wrapped her arms tightly around her friend. Zaila pulled away and put her hands on Tahla’s shoulders. “Oh, Bug! I can’t believe you’re here!” she laughed, and Tahla admired the fire bender’s appearance. Her long, dark hair was tied in a high ponytail and her deep brown eyes sparkled like they always did. Zaila wore a red jacket that was as fiery as her personality, and Tahla was delighted to see that her friend was as charmingly beautiful as ever.

Tahla looked over Zaila’s shoulder at Esine, who was clearly having trouble maintaining her composure. She was practically shaking, and a wide, toothy grin occupied her face. Tahla turned to see Ruma and Ki, who were both still comforting the client. They offered polite smiles to Tahla, but they were clearly trying to stay calm for the young man’s sake. Finally, Tahla turned her attention to Yune, who stood behind the reception counter. The older woman smiled sweetly, and Tahla could tell that the whole group was grateful to have her there.

Based on the appearance of the young man before her, Tahla could tell that Amon’s powers were dangerous. During a short consultation, the women learned that their new client was a pro earth bender named Chen. He was attacked on the street by a group of Equalists, and they had brought him to Amon. No matter how much Chen struggled, he was no match for their strength. He told the women that when his bending was taken from him, he felt hollow, as if he had lost a piece of his soul. Tahla shivered at the story. The women led Chen to Esine’s room, which was at the end of the hallway. The room was exactly as Tahla remembered, and she almost stopped to admire its details, but she decided that the time to reminisce would be later.

They lowered the tired-looking Chen into the large, circular tub that sat within the floor in the center of the room. Esine quickly explained the technique that she wanted to try, and Tahla nodded along. While Esine talked, Tahla adored her best friend’s pale cheeks, cute button nose, and sandy brown hair. She was outwardly gorgeous, but her appearance did not compare to the beauty of her soul. Together, the two women dipped their hands into the water, and it began to glow. Tahla felt the calming sensation of Esine’s healing powers, and she smiled at the familiarity. The young man sighed as the healers directed the water’s energy around every part of his body. Tahla felt the other women leave the room, but she was too focused to look up at them.

After thirty minutes of water healing, Chen was moved into Zaila’s room for a fire massage that would hopefully make his limbs feel less heavy. Then, Ki gave him some herbal remedies that were meant to brighten his mood and help with the tiredness. While Chen was with the other healers, Tahla entered her own healing room. It was exactly how she left it; a cushy massage table sat in the center of the room, and small trinkets lined the slightly dusty shelves and countertops. Tahla sighed dreamily. She was happy to be back where she started, doing what she loved, even if it was in such dangerous circumstances.

After three hours of different healing services, Chen returned to the lobby. He looked significantly more energized than he did when Tahla first saw him, but when Ruma shook her head solemnly, Tahla knew that his bending had not been restored. She could tell that the other healers were just as disappointed as she was. While Chen looked much less broken down and tired than before, it was still a defeat in the healers’ eyes. Yune gave Chen his bill, and when Tahla looked over the older woman’s shoulder, she noticed that he was given a discount for the services. It made sense to Tahla, and she figured that the shop had been so busy recently that a few discounts would not matter in the long run. Chen thanked them profusely for making him feel better, and before he left, he asked them to call him if they had a breakthrough.

As soon as the young man was out the door, Tahla found herself in the center of a group hug. Esine, Ruma, Zaila, and Ki huddled around her and squeezed tightly, as if they never planned on letting go of her again. She tried to look around at her friends, but she could only see a web of tangled arms. She giggled at the overwhelming affection, and since it had grown dark outside, Yune suggested that they close the shop for the evening. With a chatter of excitement, the women agreed, and they scurried to their rooms to clean up. Yune went outside to hail a taxi to take her home, and Tahla joined her. Before she departed, Yune gave Tahla a kiss on the cheek and said softly, “It’s good to have you back, dear.” The young healer beamed as the cab took off into the night.

Just after Yune left, the other women excitedly shuffled out of the shop. Esine locked the door to the Jade Flower, then opened the door to the apartment that was located above the shop. They rushed up the stairs together, giggling like children the whole way. Tahla gasped at the sight of the apartment; it had not changed at all. The walls were adorned with group photos of the healers, and the worn-out brown couch that sat in the center of the room still looked as comfortable as ever. Tahla laughed with delight as she pranced across the wood floor to reclaim her bedroom.

She shook with anticipation as she opened her the door to her room. Although the room smelled stale after being unoccupied for so long, the space was tidy and comforting. When she first accepted her job as the royal healer, her friends had used a mail boat to send most of her belongings to the Fire Nation, so only a few personal items remained in the room. Tahla ran a hand softly over the pale blue bedspread, and she sighed with contentment. The small bedroom was nowhere near as lavish as her Fire Nation Palace living quarters, but it was comfortable and charming. Tahla unzipped her duffel bag and began to unpack her clothes, moving them into her dresser. She did not have some of these clothes the last time she was home; many pieces of her new wardrobe had been purchased in the Fire Nation.

Tahla exhaled heavily, thinking about the other half of her life, where she lived in another city with a beautiful man and an entirely different social circle. She wished that Iroh could be there with her, but she knew that his military duties were important to him. She always admired his dedication, and although she missed him terribly, she respected his commitments. Still, Tahla wished that she did not have to choose between her two halves; she did not want to be apart from her beloved healers any longer, but she could not bear the thought of never seeing her loved ones in the Fire Nation again.

To expel the sad thoughts from her mind, Tahla put on her softest pajamas and returned to the living room. Her friends, who had also changed into their comfiest clothes, lifted her spirits immediately. Ruma was making soup on the stove, and it smelled heavenly. As she passed through the small kitchen, Tahla admired the metal bender’s beautiful deep skin tone and silky, dark brown hair, which rested elegantly on her shoulders. Zaila and Ki sat at the coffee table while they played what looked like a very intense game of Pai Sho. Ki’s beige-colored cheeks were dusted with a pink blush, and she tucked a piece of her short, raven black hair behind her ear as she focused on her next move. Esine grabbed Tahla by the hands and pulled her toward the couch. Ruma brought bowls of soup over to the roommates and joined them in their cozy spot, while Zaila and Ki sat cross-legged on the floor.

The healers talked the night away. Tahla knew that she hated being hundreds of miles away from her friends, but she did not truly realize how much she had missed them until they were reunited, and she felt whole again. They spent the evening telling stories, sharing laughs, reminiscing about their childhoods, and enjoying each other’s company. Not a word was spoken about Amon and the Equalists, and Tahla was grateful for that. It was a problem for another day. For now, she wanted to enjoy her time with her best friends.

Tahla learned that Zaila was still happily dating the earth bender of the Mount Saon Moose Cats. Zaila was completely smitten with him, and Tahla loved watching her fierce friend melt into a puddle as she talked about her romantic life. Tahla also found out that Ruma was considering adopting a fire ferret as a tribute to her favorite pro bending team. The women giggled at the thought of a furry friend running around in their healing shop.

Finally, Tahla decided to make an announcement of her own. Since Iroh proposed to her the night before she set sail for Republic City, she did not have time to share the news with her friends through a letter. She did not stress over this, though, because she wanted to tell them in person anyway. When she found the right moment in the conversation, Tahla dropped her bombshell. “I’m going to be a princess,” she said with a cheeky grin. Her friends took a minute to understand what she meant, but when they did, their reactions were priceless. Esine’s eyes grew wide and Zaila jumped up with an excited shriek. “No way!” Ki shouted while clapping her hands together. Ruma grabbed Tahla’s hands and squeezed tightly while she asked, “He proposed?! When?!”

Tahla was overjoyed by how supportive they were. She felt lucky to be with such wonderful, stong women, and they gave her hope for the future. She made a mental note to write to Iroh and Izumi to alert them of her safe arrival, but that would have to wait a while, since any thoughts of going to bed had been abandoned. Now, Tahla had to answer a bombardment of questions from the healers, and she was more than happy to do so.

Chapter Text

The day after she arrived in Republic City, Tahla woke up at sunrise. She wrote a few short letters to send to Iroh and Izumi, and she left some time for herself to take a long walk before the Jade Flower opened for the day. She journeyed to the nearest post office and sent her letters with a messenger hawk, then took a stroll through the park. The weather was cool, and dew still clung to the grass. Tahla breathed in the sweet scent of the morning air, and she finally felt ready to pour herself into her healing work.

Tahla spent her first week home getting reacquainted with her old life. She quickly built up a busy schedule of appointments and spent all day healing, making sure to care meticulously for each client. She reunited with some of her old clients, who stuck around the Jade Flower after she left, and it was nice to see that business still boomed at the healing shop. Tahla worked long, exhausting hours, but it was worth it, knowing that she was helping others.

The difficult part of the job, as expected, was trying to find the best ways to heal the people who had been stripped of their bending at the hands of Amon and the Equalists. The women worked together to design intense healing regimens that significantly improved their clients’ physical health, but they were consistently disappointed by their inability to restore anyone’s lostbending.

The Equalist problem continued to plague the city. More people lost their bending each day, and many benders and non-benders were openly displeased with the inaction of the United Republic Council. It seemed like Amon was winning, and the healers became more worried by the day. Several of their neighbors, who were known benders that owned shops and lived in the apartments on their street, told the healers that they planned on going into hiding. The women had to protect themselves, so within the first week of Tahla being home, they crafted an emergency plan in case the Equalists arrived at their doorstep.

The healers did some brainstorming and eventually settled on a plan that they hoped would protect them from an Equalist raid. First, they created aliases for themselves, which they recorded in a fake employee log. The log stated that each of their real identities were no longer employed at the shop, and their aliases were documented as non-bending employees. Ki was the only one who continued to go by her real name, since she was a non-bender already. To Tahla, the idea was genius. An outsider would read the log and see the women as specialists in traditional healing, and Ki, as a long-time employee, could vouch for them.

The most nerve-wracking part of their plan was the need to keep their identities a secret, despite the fact that their shop had been well-established in the downtown area for over a decade. Luckily, they knew most of their clients well, so they began to slowly explain their situation to people who came in for appointments. Their clients depended on the healers’ services, so each one agreed to keep their secret. Even the Jade Flower’s non-bending clients were willing to protect the healers, since the women were so well-loved by the community.

In the event that Equalists came to their shop in search of benders, the women decided that they needed an emergency code word to alert each other of incoming danger. After brainstorming, they agreed that their emergency word would be “sharp.” It was common enough to not arouse suspicion from the Equalists, but the women would be sensitive to its use in conversations. With their protections in place, Tahla felt mostly at ease, but it was impossible to be completely calm knowing that the threat of the Equalists was ever-present.

When she was not working, Tahla spent her time visiting her favorite restaurants and exploring the city’s shops and markets. She would often drag at least one of her friends along for these errands, but when she went out on her own, Tahla picked apples from the trees in the park. As she filled her basket with fruit, she was reminded of the mangos that she often gathered in the Fire Nation.

Whenever she picked apples, Tahla brought most of them to the sewers. The other healers found this behavior odd at first, but they came to understand that sharing things with others was one of Tahla’s most beloved passions. Many residents of Republic City knew about the people who lived in the sewers, but most of the city chose to ignore them. Tahla admired the way the free-spirited sewer-dwellers lived peacefully with each other, and she felt that they deserved to eat better food than what they could dig from the garbage.

When she delivered the first basket of apples to the sewers, many of the people who lived there were skeptical of her intentions, but they quickly learned that Tahla acted out of pure kindness. Even though she knew about the sewer community when she lived in the city almost three years earlier, Tahla had never brought them fruit before. She had grown tremendously since then; her experiences in the Fire Nation, evolving as a healer and learning to love with Iroh, had changed her. Her heart was softer, but her soul was strong, and she had become more confident and empathetic.

Tahla made it a habit to bring fruit to the sewers twice per week. She became fast friends with many of the people who lived there, and they were always very kind to her. Tahla grew especially fond of an older, non-bending woman named Kyera. She was calm and sweet, but she had a playful sense of humor that kept Tahla on her toes. When she found some particularly big apples, Tahla always set them aside for Kyera, because the small act of kindness always made the old woman smile.

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Tahla had been back in the city for five weeks when she received an important letter from Iroh. It revealed that he had been sent out to sea on new orders from the United Forces. In the letter, Iroh explained that he would likely see combat in the near future. The knowledge that her beloved fiancée could face danger made Tahla nauseous, but her nerves were calmed when she read the last sentence on the page:

"Stay safe for me, my love. I’ll do the same for you."

Tahla’s heart melted at his sweet words. If she could not be closer to Iroh, she could at least be content with knowing that he was level-headed, strong, and good in a crisis. As she stored the letter in her dresser, Tahla thought about the bright side of Iroh’s new orders; his fleet might eventually be sent to Republic City, where she had the chance of seeing him.

For five weeks, on top of their regular schedules of healing appointments, Tahla and her friends worked tirelessly to help the people who had lost their bending. These clients usually reported feeling broken, exhausted, and empty. With a combination of herbal remedies and bending-related healing, the women were able to help their clients feel almost completely normal again. After a few hours at the Jade Flower, Amon’s victims left in better physical condition and higher spirits than when they arrived. With Tahla’s contributions, the healers had more time and energy to dedicate to their clients, and they relieved more suffering than they ever could have without her. With all of their efforts, though, they still fell short of being able to restore a person’s bending.

Tahla made conversation with Yune as she leaned against the reception desk. She looked through the shop’s large glass window at the sky, which was full of dark gray clouds. A client, who had been the healers’ focus for several hours, was receiving a fire massage from Zaila. Her name was Sima, and she was a fire bender who worked at the city’s power plant. Sima was ambushed by Equalists when she left her shift the night before, and she came into the Jade Flower looking horribly fatigued. It was clear that Sima put up a fight against her attackers, because before they started her major healing sessions, Tahla first needed to heal the cuts and bruises that covered the young woman’s body.

When Sima exited Zaila’s healing room, she looked considerably stronger than when she had first entered the shop. Zaila apologized quietly, which signaled to Tahla that the woman’s bending was not restored. “You’ve done more than enough, really,” Sima said kindly, implying that an apology was unnecessary. “I feel so much better already. It’s like I'm almost whole again.” Sima seemed to understand that the healers had tried everything they could to recover her bending, and that if they had to power to help her further, they would have done so.

“We have your name on file, so we’ll be sure to call you if we figure out a way to help your bending,” said Esine with a twinge of sorrow in her voice. “Please do,” replied Sima with a grateful smile. The young woman turned to leave the shop, but Ruma called after her.

“Wait!” Ruma whisper-shouted. Sima froze as a quizzical look graced her features. “We have to ask that you keep your knowledge of our bending to yourself,” Ruma continued in a desperate, pleading tone. Tahla watched as Sima’s expression of confusion turned to one of understanding. “As far as the public goes, none of us are benders. We just can’t risk it,” Ki added.

To Tahla’s relief, Sima nodded firmly. “I understand,” she said. “Your secret is safe with me.” Tahla sighed with relief, and she heard her friends do the same. Sima continued, “You’ve all been so helpful, so it’s the least I could do. I don’t want you to end up like me.” With a bleak smile, Sima exited the Jade Flower, leaving behind a group of healers who felt simultaneously relieved and helpless. The sky was still filled with gloomy clouds, and with an deep feeling of anxiety in her chest, Tahla watched through the window as small droplets of water began to fall from the sky.

Chapter Text

For a whole week, Tahla could not forget the sight of Sima’s forced, heartbroken smile. Her mind was still plagued with memories of the woman’s tired voice and dejected body language. It seemed like sadness and fear had overtaken the Republic City, and Tahla had started to feel worn down as a result. The Jade Flower was her usual place of solace in times of trouble, but even the pleasant healing shop could not shelter her from the instability of the city.

Tahla took a deep breath to refocus her mind. She stood at her healing table and worked with a young client named Shaoli. He was a metal bender and a rookie police officer, and he had endured a nasty shoulder injury while he was on the job. As Shaoli laid on his back, Tahla held cool water to his bare shoulder. She focused intensely on redirecting the energy paths around his torn muscles and agitated joints.

Between her breaths, Tahla noticed the familiar sound of a jingling bell, meaning that someone had just opened the shop’s front door. She thought nothing of it at first, until she heard Zaila’s voice calling from down the hallway in a more high-pitched tone than usual. “Look sharp, girls! We have visitors!” the fire bender yelled.

Tahla gasped, recognizing the emergency code word. Their nightmare had finally come true; Equalists were in their shop, and they were on the hunt for benders. By unfortunate chance, Yune had taken the day off, so the young women were on their own against the unwelcome guests. Tahla heard a muffled conversation coming from the lobby, but she could not make out the words that were being exchanged. As she panicked, the water that engulfed Shaoli’s shoulder lost its magical glow and fell from her control, splashing messily onto the wood floor. Through the wall, she heard a soft tinkling noise, followed by Ruma softly muttering curses. Tahla guessed that the sound was the result of acupuncture needles hitting the ground, and she assumed that Ruma had also been frightened enough to drop her bending in the middle of a healing session.

Shaoli noticed the loss of the healing sensation and opened his eyes, which shook Tahla from her trance and propelled her into action. She bent the water off of the floor and into a small bowl, which she placed swiftly on the nearest countertop. Tahla whipped around and pulled several hot towels from her steamer. She roughly pushed the fabric of Shaoli’s trousers up to his knees and placed the towels hastily over his bare shins, biceps, and face. She leaned in closely to his ear and whispered harshly, “Shaoli, I need you to stay calm. Equalists are here, right now. Don’t make a sound or move a muscle unless I say so. Please.” Tahla heard his breath stutter, but he was able to whisper a quick “okay” in response.

Tahla heard footsteps coming down the hallway, so she turned away from Shaoli and faced the counter. She busied her hands by folding a few loose towels, and within seconds, three unfamiliar men entered the room. Their domineering presence set Tahla on edge. They wore hooded Equalist shawls and dark masks that covered the lower halves of their faces. “Do you mind?” she asked in an agitated tone, urging her voice not to shake. “He’s trying to relax.” She gestured to Shaoli, who was still laying completely still on the massage table. The Equalist who stood closest to Tahla, a tall and intimidating beast of a man, scoffed at her before swiveling on his heel and turning down the hall.

The three men turned to the left from Tahla’s room, then loudly opened the closest door. Tahla poked her head into the hallway to see them exiting Ruma’s room, their eyes carrying even more bitterness than they had a few moments earlier. When the Equalists returned to the lobby, Tahla rushed into Ruma’s room herself to find the metal bender hovering above her client’s face, holding an acupuncture needle between her fingers. To a stranger, it would have looked like she was placing the needles by hand, rather than with her bending. Ruma turned her head to glance at Tahla, and her eyes were filled with terror. She quietly told her client to stay calm and continue to lie still before she and Tahla rushed toward the lobby together.

The first thing that Tahla noticed as she entered the lobby was Esine’s voice, and the twinge of anxiety that it carried. “Like I told you, there aren’t any benders here,” said the usually well-composed water bender. The beastly Equalist in front, who seemed to be in charge of this particular bender-hunting crusade, moved closer to Esine. “Prove it,” he sneered. His eyes were the only uncovered part of his face, and they were dark and cruel. Esine let out a disgruntled sigh, then bent down behind the reception counter to pull out their employee log. She handed the log to the tall, evil-looking man, who read it with intensity.

“See?” Zaila asked bitterly. “The last bender to work here left six months ago.” Tahla silently urged her friend to refrain from making any comments that could be interpreted as suspiciously well-prepared. The dark-eyed man looked the fire bender up and down, and although most of his face was hidden by his mask, Tahla could sense that he wore a disgusted, contemptuous expression. “Give it up,” he barked at Zaila, his tone forcing Tahla to discreetly clench her fists in anger. “Benders have worked here for at least ten years. Everyone knows it.”

“Yeah, and they don’t work here anymore. You scared them all away,” Tahla growled. The man eyed her, his eyebrows furrowing with resentment. He huffed and slammed the employee log onto the reception counter. Tahla held back a gratified smirk; the Equalists had no proof that they were benders, so they had no reason to harass the women any further. The horrible, hateful man took a step toward Tahla, and he leaned down to bring their faces closer together. “If I find out you're hiding benders here, we’re coming back,” he growled. “And you’ll be very sorry you lied to us.”

Tahla crossed her arms defiantly, not intending to take the man’s bait. She was terrified, but she did not want to reveal that to the Equalists. To do so would be an admission of guilt, and Tahla could not risk the safety of her friends by succumbing to her fear. Without another word, the three men turned abruptly and left through the front door, and the bell jingled behind them.

The air was dense and eerily quiet for a moment, until Ruma whispered, “Oh, spirits.” Esine shook uncontrollably, so Tahla wrapped a comforting arm around her best friend’s shoulders. Zaila held her arms tightly to the center of her chest, desperately trying to feel secure. Ki wiped a nervous tear from her eye, which had luckily not appeared until after the men had gone.

The healers had never experienced such a close call with the Equalists before, and it was even more terrifying that they had anticipated. The Equalists moved with a sense of unstoppable anger that made Tahla feel frighteningly unsafe. She knew that the men were still highly suspicious of the Jade Flower, and they would be back eventually. Her friends clearly thought the same thing, because as Tahla looked around, she noticed that every face in the room was pale with fear.

After exchanging a few hugs and words of comfort, the women quietly returned to their tasks, and Esine left the shop to inform her aunt of the situation. Tahla had forgotten about poor Shaoli, who had not moved from his spot on the healing table. She apologized to him weakly and removed the damp, cold towels from his body, then continued to heal his shoulder. Tahla noticed the fear in his eyes, and she recognized its cause; unlike many of her recent clients, Shaoli still had his bending, and he understood that a visit from Equalists could end in devastation. “It’s okay,” Tahla whispered to him as she finished her healing. “They’re gone.”

After Shaoli paid and went on his way, Tahla took a piece of paper from the reception desk and frantically wrote a letter to Iroh, informing him that she was no longer safe from the Equalists’ harassment. Between clients, she ran to the post office to mail her letter, and she spent the rest of the day fighting a spell of anxious nausea.

Chapter Text

When they closed the shop for the evening, the five healers trudged upstairs and squeezed onto their living room couch together. After facing the Equalists, none of them felt safe enough to sleep. The room was quiet for a while, until Zaila’s voice cut through the silence.

“We need to get out,” she said softly. The other women turned their heads to look at her, but they were not surprised by her words. Tahla knew that Zaila was right; if the Equalists still had suspicions, they would return, and the healers needed an escape plan. The question was not whether they would have to flee; it was when. Although she was heartbroken over the thought of abandoning their shop, Tahla suggested an idea that she had been silently considering for hours.

“We should pack,” she said, her voice straining. When she noticed the hopelessness in her friends’ expressions, she continued. She explained that since the Equalists were already suspicious of them, they would be in constant danger. She suggested that they close up the shop for a while and find a new place to stay until the Equalist problem blew over. Her friends were devastated by these ideas, but they agreed that leaving immediately was their best option. With a new and urgent sense of purpose, the five healers jumped up from the couch to begin packing their belongings.

In her room, Tahla frantically threw her clothes into her large duffel bag. Luckily for her, she did not have much to pack, since almost all of her possessions were in the Fire Nation. She only needed to pack the things that she had brought home six weeks earlier, and by the time she filled her duffel bag and a large backpack with clothes and trinkets, her space was practically cleared of all personal items. Her heart shattered at the emptiness of the bedroom.

When she had nothing else to pack, Tahla went to help Esine. Her best friend was desperately trying to pack as many things as she could, as if they would never return to the apartment again, but it was clear that she did not have enough bags to hold all her possessions. Esine breathed rapidly as she spun back and forth around her room, trying to pack anything she could get her hands on. Tahla grabbed Esine by the arm and pulled her into a hug, and they sank to the floor. As they held each other tightly, the water benders cried. They had been overwhelmed for weeks, and they finally released their built-up emotions.

Through sniffles, Tahla assured her best friend that they would be okay. Esine nodded, still wiping tears from her face. Tahla rose from the floor and left the room, but returned moments later with several spare pillowcases that had been stored in her closet. She helped Esine fill the pillowcases with anything that did not fit into her bags. When Esine’s room looked just as empty as Tahla’s, the two water benders floated down the hall to help their other roommates pack.

When they felt content with what they had gathered from their bedrooms, the healers worked together to pack items from the living room. The walls, which were usually covered with framed pictures of their best memories, were stripped bare. They threw the photos, along with a few blankets and pillows, into a large cardboard box. The sight of the gloomy, barren living room was almost too much for Tahla to bear. Only when Ruma pointed out that it was after midnight did the healers feel the need to go to bed, so they retreated to their rooms to try to get some sleep. They planned on taking a short rest and leaving in the early hours of the morning, when they would still be covered by darkness.

Tahla was awoken later by a loud smashing sound. She was unsure where the noise had come from, and she did not know how long she had been sleeping for. She groggily turned to look out her window. The sky was still dark, so she could not have been asleep for very long. When she heard another massive crash, accompanied by voices from the street below, she jumped from her bed and threw the window open.

To her horror, the street was scattered with shadowy figures. Some of them wore hooded shawls and dark masks, and a few others wore Equalist fighter uniforms. Upon closer inspection, Tahla recognized the person who stood closest to the front of the shop; it was the terrible, dark-eyed man who had been in their shop that day, and he was looking right up at her.

Tahla did not have time to dwell on her fear. Her eyes glanced further downward, and they were met with an awful sight. The Jade Flower’s large glass windows had been shattered, and a quickly-growing fire raged in the lobby. Tahla took a split second to look at the man again, and although she could not see most of his face, he looked infuriatingly smug. With no time to lose, Tahla screamed to alert her roommates of the danger.

“FIRE!” she screeched, as loudly as possible. She bolted from her room and ran down the hallway, pounding her fists against her friends’ doors. She continued to scream, “THE BUILDING’S ON FIRE! GET UP!” It appeared that her friends had also been woken up by the loud crashes, though, because they each yanked their doors open forcefully and signaled that they were awake.

Tahla stopped into Zaila’s room. The fire bender was busy throwing suitcases out her window, and they made soft thudding sounds as they hit the ground in the alley next to the building. “They’re out there, Z,” Tahla said, the panic in her voice rising. Zaila whipped around to face the water bender, and her eyes bulged with fear. “You have to let it burn.” Zaila’s face twisted in anguish, but she nodded in understanding. The Equalists were all over the street, and Tahla knew that they were seeking proof that the healers could bend. If Zaila used her bending to put out the fire, they would all be taken to Amon.

Tahla returned to her room and pulled on the only pair of shoes that she had not packed away. Growing tired of her sleep-tousled curls hanging in her face, she tied her hair up in a tight bun with one of her silk ribbons. She heaved her backpack and duffel bag out the window, making sure to throw them as far as possible. Since her bedroom window faced the street, a weak toss could land her belongings directly in the fire. As soon as her room was cleared, Tahla rushed between her friends’ rooms and assisted them in throwing things from their own windows. She furiously grabbed at bags, boxes, and suitcases and launched them as far from the apartment as she could. Despite the pit of dread in her stomach and the adrenaline that coursed through her veins, Tahla was surprisingly level-headed. In fact, all the healers were. They had prepared themselves to leave in a hurry, so they did not need to think much about their next moves.

With the fire burning downstairs, the apartment became too hot and smoky for the women to stay any longer. Esine grabbed the large box of photographs while Ki opened the window that led to the fire escape. Tahla clutched at her necklace, making sure that it was still there. She held the smooth gemstone in her hand, and with a final glance at the apartment, she hurried down the fire escape ladder with the four other women.

When they reached the pavement, they circled the building to stand in front of the shop. Massive flames poured from the Jade Flower’s broken windows. Although the sky was dark, Tahla could see that thick, black smoke accompanied the flames. Esine dropped the cardboard box in shock and Ruma let out a devastated sob. Tahla heard shouts from behind her, and the healers turned to see a crowd forming in the street.

As subtly as possible, Tahla pulled her friends into a huddle. As quietly as she could over the sound of the raging flames, she warned them, “They’re watching us.” The healers looked around to confirm her statement, and their faces contorted with worry. Tahla turned her head to survey the crowd, and she saw the Equalists standing in the shadows of the other buildings on the street. They watched from the alleyways, waiting for evidence to prove that the women could bend.

At first, the healers did nothing; they had lost all hope of putting the fire out. They were quickly surprised by two men, who ran up from behind them and hurled buckets of water onto the flames. Tahla recognized them as the couple who owned the dumpling shop across the street. They were regulars at the Jade Flower, and they often traded their dumplings for free healing services.

Tahla watched as members of the crowd scurried into the many shops that lined the street. They reemerged moments later, sprinting back toward the Jade Flower and carrying their own buckets of water. Tahla had known many of these people for years; they were the women’s neighbors, and most of them patronized the healing shop at one time or another. She was touched as each person splashed their water onto the fire, but the flames had already started to engulf the healers’ apartment. The water stopped coming when the crowd, just like the healers, realized that their cause was hopeless.

The Equalists must have used an accelerant, because it was the fastest-burning fire that Tahla had ever seen. After a few minutes, the top of the building was consumed by flames. Tahla could hear Zaila crying, and she understood why; she had the power to extinguish the blaze within seconds, but she was being forced to do nothing. Tahla held Esine’s hand and wrapped an arm around Ki’s back. The five healers stood in a row and clung to each other like that, as they watched their home burn.

Tahla looked around once again, and she noticed that the crowd was still there, standing with them. No one questioned why the women did not put out the fire, and by the consoling looks on her neighbors’ faces, Tahla was certain that they understood the healers’ position. She was thankful that they lived in such a strong community; the knowledge that they had their neighbors’ support made her feel slightly safer. She sighed heavily as she watched the Equalists silently slip away into the night. Tahla wondered if they felt guilty about burning down the shop of five women who appeared to be innocent non-benders, or if they were angry because they would never have the proof that they sought.

In just a few more minutes, the building collapsed. The healers took several steps backward, but they did not let go of each other. Tahla decided that the shop did not have to burn to dust; if the Equalists returned to the scene, they would see the evidence of the collapsed building, and that should be enough to curb their suspicions. She closely checked each face in the crowd, and when she was sure that no Equalists remained, she tapped on Zaila’s shoulder and gave her a nod. Zaila raised her hand, and with just a slight movement of her wrist, the flames began to die down. Soon, the Jade Flower was a smoldering heap of concrete, rubble, and ash.

When the fire was completely dead, the crowd slowly dissipated. Many of the healers' neighbors approached them to give their condolences, and they were offered food, clothing, and shelter until they could recover. After a few minutes, the five healers were the only ones who remained in the street. They approached the ruins of their shop and began to search for their possessions. Tahla found her backpack and duffel bag on the ground a few feet into the road, and they looked unharmed. She helped her friends circle the area, and they each recovered what they had previously thrown from their windows.

They retrieved what they could from the wreckage, and before they had the chance to discuss their next move, a voice called to them from nearby. It was Jyamin, the kind tailor who lived next door to what was once the Jade Flower. “You can leave your things in here, if you like,” she offered with a kind smile. The healers gratefully accepted her offer, and they piled their belongings into one of the fitting rooms at the back of Jyamin’s tailor shop. Esine thanked her and promised that they would return later to collect their things. With a sympathetic smile, Jyamin told them to take all the time they needed.

The healers decided to walk to the police headquarters. It was unlikely that the police would be able to help them much, but they still wanted to assess their damages and make an official report of the fire. They began their walk toward the station, and they talked about where they were going to live until they could rebuild their shop, knowing that it would still be best for them to go into hiding. Esine mentioned that her aunt could probably take them in. Yune owned the Jade Flower, after all, and she loved the healers like they were her own daughters.

As they walked, the sun rose. Tahla looked at her friends, and she saw that their faces were dusted with ash. She was devastated by the loss of their shop, but she thanked the spirits that her friends were unharmed. After the fire, it was possible that the Equalists would not bother them again, so Tahla allowed herself to breathe a tentative sigh of relief. She interlocked her arm with Esine’s and gave her best friend a comforting smile as they strolled down the sidewalk. She traced the stone of her necklace with her fingers, and for the first time in weeks, Tahla was not afraid.

Chapter Text

Two weeks after the fire, Tahla sat at Yune’s kitchen counter while she watched Ki sort through her herbs. After the Jade Flower was destroyed, the healers moved in with Yune. Her apartment only had one bedroom, but the living room was large enough for all five women to share. They slept on couches, pull-out beds, and piles of blankets, and the room was cluttered with their possessions. The situation lacked privacy, but Tahla was glad that they were together; they had each other to lean on while they grieved the loss of their home.

A few days after they settled into Yune’s apartment, Tahla and her friends made plans to rebuild their shop. Thanks to the Jade Flower’s years of success, Yune had saved up a large emergency fund that would cover the cost of rebuilding. With the help of a long-time client of Ruma’s who owned a construction company, they quickly drew up the plans for their new shop, and development started immediately.

The healers still took appointments, but they had to be more discreet than ever. Since they could not afford another confrontation with the Equalists, they only shared their location with their most trustworthy clients. They lacked the Jade Flower’s tools and facilities, so they could only perform small jobs, but they still welcomed their long-time clients into Yune’s living room. Ki was tending to one of those clients now; Tahla watched as her raven-haired friend mixed an herbal tea for a man who had been coming to their shop since it first opened.

Tahla was starting to experience cabin fever. Yune had begged the five healers to stay in hiding in case the Equalists were still watching them, and they had agreed. She went for groceries, ran errands, delivered messages to clients, and met with the construction company, and the younger healers stayed at home. Since moving in, Tahla had only left the apartment one time. She was grateful that Yune wanted to keep them safe, but she insisted on picking apples like always, so she agreed to limit her sewer deliveries to once per week.

When she felt restless, Tahla liked to reread letters from Iroh. Luckily, before the fire, she remembered to pack all the letters he had written to her. She found comfort in reading his words and imagining what his voice would sound like if he was speaking them to her instead. She had sent him a letter right after the shop burned down, telling him what had happened and where she would be living, but she did not receive a response. Since Iroh mentioned that he might face combat in the near future, Tahla assumed that his fleet was travelling fast, and there was a chance that the messenger hawk was unable to find him. In that case, Iroh would have no idea that she no longer lived at the healing shop, and any letters that he sent there would go unopened.

Tahla absentmindedly touched her necklace. As she thought about her fiancée and her life in the Fire Nation, she found herself clinging to the gemstone several times that day. She had been apart from Iroh for two whole months, and she missed him more than ever. The city had become more dangerous in the two weeks after the fire; Amon and the Equalists had weapons, boats, airships, and thousands of supporters. Tahla felt helpless, and she desperately wanted Iroh to be there with her.

When Ki’s client left the apartment, Tahla wrote a new letter to Iroh. She had patiently waited for a response to her last letter, but nothing ever came. With any luck, he would receive this one. It was Friday, which meant that Tahla was due in the sewers with a basket of apples, so she planned to stop by the post office after she picked and delivered the fruit. She needed to hurry if she wanted to make it there before closing time.

Tahla pulled a dark blue shawl around her shoulders and tied her hair into a loose, low ponytail with one of her signature ribbons. Although she had washed all her clothes since the fire, the shawl still smelled faintly of smoke. Underneath the baggy blue fabric, she wore her water pouch, which usually sat proudly on her hip. She had concealed her water supply to keep a low profile, and she only planned to use it in an emergency. She tucked the letter for Iroh into her back pocket and grabbed her large wicker fruit basket from the table next to Yune’s front door. “I’m off to the park, then the post office,” she announced to her friends, who lounged in various places around the living room. “Be safe, Bug,” Ruma said cautiously, and the other healers gave their well wishes. Before drifting out the door, Tahla promised them that she would be careful.

The sky was dark and cloudy, and the cool air sent goosebumps up Tahla’s arms. Noticing a strange tension in the air, she pulled the hood of her shawl over her head. Although her face was hidden, she could see the pro bending arena in the distance, and her heart sank when she registered that several large Equalist banners had been plastered to the building that normally symbolized bending pride. Feeling unsafe, Tahla decided to forget the park. Instead, she traveled to the produce market, which was just one block over. The market was usually busy, but now, only a few people other than the vendors occupied the sidewalks. While avoiding eye contact with other marketgoers, she approached a fruit stand and bought as many apples as she could carry. She set aside the largest, brightest red apple for Kyera, her favorite sewer dweller.

Tahla hustled to Yue Bay, where she typically used the access tunnels to enter the sewer system. By the time she reached the bay, the late afternoon was approaching. Curiously, the harbor was free of Equalist ships, but she noticed some large, unidentifiable metal debris floating in the water. The bay, which had been darkened by the cloudy sky, laid relatively still. Tahla picked up her pace; the silence was unsettling, and she felt the sudden urge to get back to Yune’s apartment.

After checking her surroundings for witnesses, Tahla drew some water from the bay and wrapped it around her waist. She carried herself over the water and into one of the sewer access tunnels. With at least a 15-minute walk ahead of her before she reached the camp, Tahla rested the basket of fruit comfortably in the crook of her elbow. While shining a few apples against her shawl, she trudged through the murky sewer water and into the darkness.

Chapter Text

Iroh sat on a wooden crate and shivered as the cold sewer air brushed over his bare skin. When his fleet was destroyed, he suffered a blast to his left arm that had shredded the sleeve of his jacket. The Avatar healed his injury enough to stifle the pain, but he was stuck with a bandaged bicep, an exposed arm, and a tingly, scorched burn mark.

Iroh’s fleet had been destroyed only a few hours earlier, and sitting idly by as Amon wreaked havoc on the city made him feel horribly broken. He, Korra, and her team had discussed their plan of action, and while Iroh initially disagreed with Korra’s insistence on staying in the city to fight, he ultimately gave in to her wishes. His grandfather taught him to trust the instinct of the Avatar, so he was willing to support her plan. The next day, Korra would face Amon, and Iroh, along with a few others, would attack the Equalist airstrips to protect Commander Bumi’s incoming fleet from an ambush. They did not want to attack without sufficient sunlight, however, so they had no choice but to wait until the morning to put their plan into motion.

Iroh scooted his crate closer to the fire that crackled near his feet. He sat in a circle with Korra’s friends and a few sewer dwellers, and they talked with each other to pass the time. Iroh swapped military stories with Gommu and listened intently as a pair of young brothers detailed their experiences as pro benders. The boys, whose names were Mako and Bolin, were friends of the Avatar. They reminded Iroh of his naval men, with their brotherly charm, abundant energy, and clear bravery.

He could not remember why he had started talking about Tahla, but soon, Iroh was sharing their love story with the group. He missed her terribly, but recalling his memories of her helped to soothe his aching heart. He could not help but ramble about his fiancée as the bright fire painted shadows across the sewer walls. Iroh had never been so open about his personal life with near strangers, but Tahla had a way of captivating him, even in his own mind.

Iroh barely had to think about the words that flowed from his lips. As he thought fondly about his and Tahla’s library dates, peaceful afternoon naps, and late-night tai chi sessions, the story of their love practically told itself. He described Tahla’s passion for helping others, as well as her bending talent, which rivaled the world’s greatest masters. Iroh dreamily recounted the first time he saw her, and how he was instantly transfixed. He thought about the summer rainstorm when he first told her that he loved her, and he remembered the way it felt to lay beside her under their favorite garden tree.

He could have talked for hours, and his audience would have held on to his every word. When Iroh snapped out of his storytelling stupor, he noticed that a small crowd had formed around the fire. He blushed, suddenly aware of the attention that he had brought upon himself. Iroh explained why he had not seen his fiancée in two months, and he felt the crowd’s mood dampen. Almost at a whisper, he finished, “I don’t know when I’ll be with her again, but I hope it’s soon. She’s…my everything.”

Iroh heard a few people swoon at this. “Aww,” Bolin cooed dreamily, making the General chuckle. He adored Tahla’s ability to bring happiness to others, even through memories alone. The atmosphere in the sewer seemed lighter after Iroh’s story, as if the romance made the group forget about the dreary city above. The crowd soon dissipated, and the area quietly hummed with pleasant chatter.

Iroh heard Bolin’s voice cut above the crowd when he asked, “Gommu, not that I don’t love your gruel, but do you have anything to eat that isn’t garbage?” Iroh smiled at the boy’s attempt to politely avoid eating another bowl of rotting food. Gommu laughed at Bolin and replied, “Sure, kid! Lucky for you, we’re gettin’ a fruit delivery any minute now!” Iroh’s curiosity rose at this statement, and Bolin quickly took the question right from the General’s mouth. “What? Who brings you fruit?” the young earth bender asked curiously.

Gommu smiled widely as he explained. “A pretty healer has been bringing us apples for weeks. She picks ‘em herself, the sweetheart,” he said joyously. At the sound of this, Iroh’s breath caught in his throat. A healer? he thought, now focusing intensely on Gommu’s every word. He immediately wondered if this apple-toting woman was his Tahla, but he did not have enough information to be sure. Still, his heart swelled as he recognized her habit of picking and sharing fruit.

“She sure is brave, too,” Gommu continued, his answer to Bolin’s question turning more into a rambling monologue. “She used to come twice a week, but her healing shop burned down.” Iroh jumped from his seat, his heartbeat increasing in speed. Although he still did not have a firm confirmation that this woman was his fiancée, the thought of Tahla being in danger made his stomach turn. Gommu appeared to notice Iroh’s sudden movement, so he spoke directly toward the General. “Yeah. Equalists hit the shop lookin’ for benders, but she made it out okay. Still, poor thing’s been in hiding for two weeks. Sweet of her to keep bringin’ us those apples.”

Iroh felt dizzy at this information. This would explain the lack of letters from Tahla; he had been sending mail to a healing shop that no longer existed. Even worse, Tahla had no idea that Iroh was in the city, and he did not know where to even start looking for her if she was in hiding. Before Iroh could open his mouth to speak, he heard a few excited voices calling from down the tunnel. “That must be her now!” Gommu smiled, and he and Bolin started to move toward the noise, hoping to get their hands on some fruit.

Before they could make it far, though, Iroh reached out and grabbed Gommu by the shoulder. In a pleading tone, he whispered, “The shop. What was the name of her shop?” Gommu looked confused for a moment, then his faced twisted in concentration, as if he was racking his brain for the memory. “Hmmm…” he hummed, and Iroh could barely stand the anticipation. “Oh!” Gommu exclaimed, finally remembering. “The Jade Flower!”

Iroh let go of Gommu’s shoulder, and the older man jogged down the tunnel toward the promise of apples. Iroh stood, frozen in place, unable to breathe. It was Tahla. She was there, only a few hundred feet from his reach, but it somehow felt too good to be true. That is, until a heavenly voice rang above the echoey sounds of the sewer. “Kyera!” the familiar voice called, and Iroh’s heart pounded in his ears.

A feminine figure in a dark blue shawl emerged from a distant side tunnel. She stopped in front of a small green tent and removed the hood that covered her face, revealing a headful of dark curls that were tied back with a silk ribbon.

Tahla.
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As Tahla neared the sewer camp, she smiled at the soothing glow of firelight and the sound of calm chatter. She was on edge after sneaking her way through the city, but her nervousness subsided as she approached her sewer-dwelling friends. When she passed the first few tents, she was met with grateful smiles and excited exclamations. To alert the camp of her arrival, Tahla happily called out, “Apples!” and began handing out the fruit.

Tahla neared her last turn before she reached the main hub of the sewer community. At the corner, she approached a simple green tent and took down her hood. “Kyera!” she sang as she neared the tent, and the kind old woman popped her head out from inside. “Tahla, dear!” Kyera’s gray hair was tied into a bun, and the corners of her kind eyes wrinkled as she smiled. She rose from the ground and gave Tahla a warm hug, which brightened the healer’s spirits after her nerve-wracking journey.

“I saved you the best one,” Tahla smiled, and she picked the largest apple from the basket. She cherished Kyera’s appreciative expression when the apple exchanged hands, and she gave the old woman a few more pieces of fruit from the basket while they made conversation. Tahla turned her head toward the main amassment of tents as she searched for more opportunities to share the apples. When her eyes focused on the end of the tunnel, however, she found herself instantly breathless.

Past the horde of people who had approached her for apples, Tahla spotted a tall, dark-haired, broad-shouldered man in a red uniform jacket. One of the sleeves of the jacket was missing, and his bare, muscular arm was visible. He stood completely still, just as she did. Even from across the tunnel, she could see his amber eyes sparkling in the warm light of the oil lamps and campfires.

Iroh.

Tahla’s view was quickly obstructed by the small crowd that had formed in front of her, hoping for apples. A few kind sewer folks attempted to interact with her, but she could not speak. She turned her head to Kyera and handed her the still-heavy basket of fruit before quietly asking the older woman to pass the rest of the apples around. The group of people followed the basket, and when they cleared away, Tahla resumed her eye contact with Iroh.

She could barely breathe as she scanned his distant figure, searching for an indication that he was not just a figment of her imagination. Without warning, she felt tears streaming down her cheeks; she was overwhelmed by surprise, relief, and joy. “Are you okay, miss?” asked a kind voice to her right. Tahla turned her head to see a teenage boy staring at her, his bright green eyes laced with concern over her tears. “Yes! Yes, thank you,” she whispered shakily as she snapped back to reality, and with a smile, the boy returned his attention to the basket of apples.

Tahla looked back at the General and took a step forward. They moved slowly toward each other, both still questioning whether they were dreaming. Before long though, they were sprinting through the tunnel. It took only seconds for them to meet in the middle, but Tahla felt as though the distance between them could not close fast enough.

She squealed as she slammed into him and flung her arms around his back. She held fistfuls of his jacket in her hands, still trying to make sure that he was real. Iroh held her more tightly than she thought was possible, and Tahla never wanted him to let go. As Iroh’s heavy breaths echoed in her ears, his muscular arms enveloped her shoulders. One of his hands snaked its way into her hair and cradled the back of her head. Tahla pressed her ear against his chest and listened to his strong, resilient heartbeat.
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Iroh felt Tahla’s whole body shake as she sobbed into his chest. He leaned down, trying to get as close to her as he possibly could, and his face was met with an abundance of curly hair. He breathed in, and while he recognized the sweet scent of her shampoo, he also smelled a hint of smoke. His eyes watered at the relief of holding her in his arms. When they finally pulled apart, Tahla’s cheeks were red and blotchy, but Iroh thought that she was still astoundingly beautiful.

Wasting no time, he cradled her face with both of his hands and kissed her passionately. Tahla clutched at the front of his jacket, and he smiled into the kiss. Although a few stray tears still escaped from their eyes, they broke into a fit of laughter. They giggled between kisses, losing themselves in the moment. Iroh had longed for her presence for so long, and now that he finally had her in his arms again, he felt lighter than air. When they parted, he leaned down to press his forehead against hers, just like he had done when they said goodbye on the docks of the Fire Nation.

“Hi,” Tahla whispered up to him, and his heart fluttered at the gentle sound of her voice. “Hello, love,” he sighed happily. Iroh could have lived in that moment forever, but the sound of someone clearing their throat brought him back to the musty sewer. A few feet away, Korra and her friends stood together, looking at the couple with obvious curiosity. Iroh laughed; since he had just shared the story of his life’s greatest love, the sight of him kissing a random person in the sewer was probably a shock to them.

Iroh chuckled as he looked back and forth between the confused teenagers and the woman in his arms. It seemed like Bolin had caught on to the situation, because he gasped excitedly and jumped so energetically that he nearly dropped his half-eaten apple. With a grin, Iroh spoke to the group, “Everyone, it's my honor to introduce you to my fiancée, Tahla.”

Chapter Text

Tahla held Iroh’s hand tightly as they crept through the silent, foggy streets. She pulled Iroh along, and she admired the feeling of his rough skin under her fingers. If the circumstances had been different, she would have wanted to give him a tour of her neighborhood or take him for a walk in the park, but those plans would have to wait for brighter days.

An hour earlier, Tahla had been introduced to the Avatar and her friends. With them was Korra's faithful polar bear dog, Naga, who took an instant liking to Tahla. The healer was impressed by Korra’s strength and determination, especially since Amon and the Equalists threatened everything that the Avatar stood for. The group explained their plan to Tahla, who began to agonize over Iroh’s scheduled attack on the Equalist airfield. She understood the dangerous nature of his job as a high-ranking military General, and she knew that if the incoming United Forces fleet was to be spared from another ambush, the airships needed to be destroyed. Nonetheless, she worried about his safety.

Tahla could not stay long after her arrival in the sewers. Her friends would grow concerned if she was gone for too long, and the city was too dangerous for them to all come looking for her. Luckily, it took very little effort to convince Iroh to stay the evening with Tahla in the apartment with the promise that he would return for his mission in the morning. Although Yune’s living room was cramped, it would be more comfortable than the sewer floor. Tahla was thankful that she would have a few more hours with her fiancée; she could not bear to part from him so soon.

She pulled Iroh up the stairs of the apartment building, giggling at the nervous expression on his face. He clearly wanted to make a good impression with her dearest friends, but his nerves were unconquerable. When the pair neared Yune’s door, she squeezed Iroh’s hand reassuringly. He pressed his lips sweetly to her cheek, then planted his hand gently on her waist while moving to stand behind her.

When Tahla entered the apartment, she was met with a chorus of relieved sighs and exclamations. Esine immediately scolded her. “Bug! We were starting to get worried! Where have you-“ she stopped mid-sentence as she saw Iroh’s tall figure appear in the doorway behind Tahla. Esine’s eyes flashed with uncertainty, and the other healers gathered near the entryway to inspect the visitor. But, when they noticed his United Forces jacket and the hand around Tahla’s waist, they began fanatically introducing themselves to him. For the next thirty minutes, Tahla’s friends overwhelmed Iroh with their hospitality, vigorously offering him food, beverages, and rapid conversations. Eventually, Tahla took pity on her poor fiancée and suggested that they turn in for the evening.

If Iroh was going to lead an attack on the Equalist airships, he needed to get some sleep. Tahla usually slept on an old mattress that she had pushed into the corner of the room. Unfortunately, while the bed was big enough for her and Iroh to share, it was not very private. Yune must have considered this as well, because she retrieved a faded bedsheet from her linen closet, and the healers worked together to hang it from the ceiling. The sheet circled Tahla’s bed like a curtain, effectively creating a secluded area for the couple to sleep. Before ducking behind the bedsheet for the night, Tahla smiled at her friends to wordlessly thank them for the privacy.
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Iroh removed his jacket as he waited for Tahla to join him in their new shelter, leaving only his undershirt on. He breathed a tired sigh at his one-armed jacket, and he wondered when he would be able to replace it. Borrowing outerwear from Tahla or one of her roommates was out of the question; his long, muscular arms would never fit into any of their clothing. He flopped onto his back on the mattress, and when Tahla closed their makeshift curtain, she plastered her body on top of his. Iroh giggled at the pressure and wrapped his arms around her lower back, but he soon inhaled sharply as the burnt skin on his arm stretched a bit too far. Tahla must have noticed his wincing, because she sounded concerned when she asked, “What’s wrong, love?”

Still holding his fiancée with his unburned arm as she laid on his chest, Iroh explained his injury. He told Tahla that the Avatar had healed the worst parts of his burn, but it was still painful underneath the bandage. Tahla raised her head to look him in the eye. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?” she asked with a kind smile. She lifted herself off of Iroh and crawled to the corner of the mattress. Iroh craned his neck to see that she had stuck her arm through the curtain, and when she pulled it back into their little fort, she was holding her water pouch.

He smiled, knowing what was to come. Iroh propped himself up on his right elbow while Tahla unraveled the bandage from around his arm. “Oh…” she whispered softly when the bandage was fully removed. Iroh turned his head to see, and he understood Tahla’s reaction. Etched into his skin was a deep red burn mark that brought back memories of being blasted into the harbor. Iroh sighed, remembering his lost fleet, regretting every decision that had put his men in harm’s way. Before he could spiral in self-pity, though, Tahla placed her hand softly under his chin and raised his eyes to meet her own.

“Deep breaths, love,” she whispered, her lips only inches from his. “This will sting at first,” she warned. Iroh quickly discovered that she was correct. When the water that Tahla had wrapped around his bicep began to glow, he felt as if his skin was being scorched all over again. He groaned and his eyebrows furrowed deeply as the pain rapidly intensified, and Tahla was quick to apologize. “I’m so sorry, Iroh. It’s been sitting a bit too long. Just one more second, baby.”

Once again, she was right. Just as quickly as it had arrived, the fiery pain morphed into an overwhelming feeling of comfort. The wave of relief that washed over Iroh’s whole body was so familiar, so sweet and uniquely blissful, that his eyes pooled with sentimental tears. His mind immediately returned to memories of when Tahla had first healed him. When she had nursed his injured ankle on the garden steps of the Fire Nation Royal Palace, Iroh had experienced the same breathtaking comfort. In its essence, the sensation reminded him of everything that made Tahla so perfect; her calming nature, her peaceful soul, her outstanding beauty. Tears openly fell from Iroh’s eyes as the healing energy continued to sweep his body. Until, all too soon, it was over.
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Tahla drew her water back into her pouch before setting it to the side. She returned her gaze to Iroh’s face, which was shining with tears in the pale light of their curtained shelter. She sighed dreamily as she beheld Iroh’s sentimental side, which the world rarely witnessed. Looking down at his arm to inspect her work, she was met with a sight that she had fully expected.

“Well,” she started weakly, unsure of how Iroh would react to her next few statements. “It was left for a little too long, but I got most of it. There’s still a decent scar, though.” She cringed when Iroh looked down at his bicep to see a visible, yet significantly lighter, scar that stretched across his skin. Unable to read Iroh’s expression, Tahla continued cautiously. “You know,” she nearly whispered, “It reminds me of your grandfather’s scar.”

Finally, Iroh’s lips formed a soft, grateful smile. Tahla was so proud of her General. He had been through some major challenges, from being torn away from his home to losing his fleet, and the whisper of a battle scar that now decorated his bicep was a reminder of his strength and courage. Not only that, but Tahla hoped that the scar would also remind Iroh of how she would always be there to heal and protect him.

Without another word, Iroh leaned forward and swept Tahla into a bone-crushing hug. One of his strong hands cradled her neck while the other found its way around her lower back. Tahla returned his affection, squeezing his torso with all her strength. When Iroh started to attach his lips to every exposed area of Tahla’s skin, they quickly devolved into quiet fits of blissful laughter before settling down for the evening. Between slow, tender kisses and lovingly whispered promises, the pair fell asleep, tangled together, protected from the world by a curtain of faded fabric.

Chapter Text

In the morning, Tahla and Iroh clung to each other once again, but much more desperately than they had the night before. The General was once again wearing his one-armed jacket, and Tahla clutched at the fabric as if she never planned on letting go. They stood in the arched doorway of Yune’s apartment building, where they would part after what seemed like only a moment of togetherness. Soon, Iroh would creep through the foggy morning streets and reconvene with the Avatar’s team in the sewers. Based on how nervous she felt, Tahla could swear that her stomach was doing backflips.

“Please let me come with,” she mumbled into Iroh’s chest, his arms still wrapped firmly around her. Both parties knew that Tahla was more than capable of helping the cause, and she wanted to ensure that Iroh was protected throughout his mission. And, although she did not tell him this, Tahla craved action after weeks of living a calm healer’s lifestyle, and she would jump at the opportunity to beat up a few Equalists.

“Your safety is the most important thing to me, my love,” Iroh whispered back, knowing that Tahla would still object to his logic. “You don't have to fight today.” Tahla pulled away from him now, looking into his eyes with stubborn conviction. “But I can help,” she pouted. Iroh chuckled at her insistence and continued in his attempt to persuade her. “I know you can, darling,” he smiled, his thumb gently tracing her angrily furrowed eyebrow. “But I couldn’t live with myself if I brought you into harm’s way.”

Tahla sighed, finally accepting defeat. “Fine,” she huffed. “If that’s an order, I’ll wait for you right here, General.” Iroh laughed at her military joke before planting a soft kiss on his fiancée’s lips. “It is,” he replied, his eyes gleaming with admiration and love. In a more serious tone, Tahla whispered to Iroh once again. “Be safe,” she pleaded. The request was slightly redundant for several reasons; the mission was unsafe in its very essence, but she knew that Iroh was not a reckless man, and that he would do everything in his power to come back to her. Iroh silently agreed to this request, nodding his head before kissing Tahla again, more passionately this time. Breathlessly, she clung to his jacket.

All too soon, Iroh had disappeared into the dark morning, leaving Tahla alone in the doorway. She slowly climbed the stairs to Yune’s unit, and a familiar dread returned to the pit of her stomach. For the next ninety minutes, she paced around the crowded living room, trying desperately to calm her rising nerves. Her friends tried fruitlessly to console her. The dreadful, achy feeling her abdomen only grew until she could no longer bear it. She had promised Iroh that she would stay in the apartment, but her intuition would not allow her a moment of peace. Before her roommates could talk her down, Tahla had secured her water pouch around her waist, wrapped her blue shawl around her shoulders, and bolted out the door.

Without a moment to lose, she formulated a plan. She frantically turned in every direction, looking for a means of transportation that could get her to the airstrips. She found one almost immediately; a moped, clearly abandoned in a haste, laid on its side in the middle of an empty sidewalk with its keys still in the starter. Tahla started the quiet engine and silently thanked the poor soul who had left their bike behind, wasting no time in taking off toward the edge of the city. She had a general idea of the airstrips’ location; they were definitely beyond the forest of trees leading out of the city, and she hoped that her intuition would guide her the rest of the way.

It was not a perfect plan, but it was her only option with such little time. She pushed the moped as fast as it could possibly take her. The wind whipped at her cheeks as she drove, and while her nerves built steadily by the second, she reflected on the tension in the air. At one point in her life, Tahla had sworn to never use her bending to harm another person. She had agonized over the destructive potential of her abilities, and she had struggled to come to terms with her own strength. However, after seeing her home burn to the ground at the hands of hateful bigots, she was forced to consider a new outlook on life; when she got to the airstrips, she would do anything she could to protect Republic City from the Equalists. In fact, she felt as if the entire Equalist conflict had been building to reach this peak. With the knowledge that the Avatar would confront Amon later that day, Tahla allowed herself to hope that the horrors brought on by Amon would soon diminish indefinitely.

Although she was not entirely certain, Tahla estimated that she had been driving at full speed for about thirty minutes when her racing thoughts were interrupted. She was in the middle of the forest, and nothing more than a gut feeling told her that she was getting close to the airstrips. Her attention had turned to her left, where the forest of trees had begun to shake and buckle. Expecting a horde of Equalists, she slowed the bike to a halt with the intent of hiding herself among the roadside greenery, but she never got that far.

The source of the rustling trees was revealed when a giant white creature bounded into the road. Tahla’s fear melted into relief as she recognized the animal; it was Naga, the Avatar’s polar bear dog. Tahla and Naga had met just the day before, in the sewers. The dog must have remembered the encounter, because she bounded over to Tahla and whipped her tail around. Their reunion was short-lived, however, because Tahla’s dread returned. She remembered that Iroh, along with two of the Avatar’s friends, were supposed to take Naga with them to the airstrips. Seeing the polar bear dog without riders gave her the horrible feeling that something had gone wrong.

Making haste, Tahla abandoned the moped on the side of the road and jumped onto Naga’s back. She leaned forward and gently commanded, “Take me to him, girl,” and the dog took off. Tahla no longer worried about losing her way; she knew that Naga would lead her to the right place. Only a few minutes’ travel brought the pair to a snowy clearing surrounded by an invisible electric fence, beyond which the airstrips were visible. Normally, Tahla would have stopped to admire the technology, but her mind was too focused on Iroh to care much about anything else.

After a bit of investigation, Tahla realized that her fiancée and his teenage accomplices had fallen victim to the electric fence. Irregularities in the smooth snow made it clear that three bodies had been dragged toward a collection of buildings surrounding the airstrips. Tahla had no time to dwell on her worries, which probably should have been debilitating. Questions of whether Iroh and the others had been taken to Amon were wiped from her brain as quickly as they appeared, to protect her sanity. Naga leapt over the electric fence with ease and took off sprinting as she followed the snowy drag marks to their end.

The pair soon reached a building that gave Tahla another horrible, dreadful feeling. The structure was small and made of brick, and only a few tiny windows were visible from the outside. She knew that it was some type of detention building, and she prayed to the spirits that Iroh and the others were still inside. Naga shook her passenger from her back, and before Tahla could comprehend it, the polar bear dog had smashed through the wall and into the building. Hearing a chorus of shouts from inside, Tahla moved as fast as her legs would take her toward the new gaping hole in the wall.

When she entered the wreckage, she was flooded with joy at the sound of multiple familiar voices calling her name. When her eyes adjusted to the new lighting in the small prison cell, she saw her fiancée and his two young companions sitting on the floor, bound with rope. Tahla jumped into action, working quickly to undo their bindings.

When he was free, Iroh nearly tackled Tahla to the ground with the force of his embrace. Beyond the overwhelming relief that she felt, she barely noticed the air being pressed from her lungs. She rubbed her hands up and down on Iroh’s back, trying to calm his persistent shaking. She had never seen him this unnerved, but she was glad to comfort him after what was certainly a painful ordeal.

“I’m so glad that you came,” he whispered into her ear, his arms still caging her in to his body. Tahla laughed happily, wriggling out from his embrace to look at him. Before she could make a joking comment, though, he continued. “I was a fool to be so overprotective,” he laughed, his eyes swelling with relief and pride. Tahla felt a wide grin spread across her cheeks. Happy to be part of the cause, she grabbed his hands and squeezed to signal her forgiveness.

“Let’s go,” she giggled, certain that guards and Equalist soldiers would descend on them at any moment. Tahla turned her head to nod to the cell’s teenage occupants, Asami and Bolin, who she had met the day before. Together, on the back of Naga the polar bear dog, the group bounded toward the airstrips.

Chapter Text

Iroh was amazed, both by his fiancée for being so powerful and strong, and by himself for being so blind to her capabilities. He had sparred with her before; how could he have doubted how valuable she would be to their cause? He ran next to her now, almost unable to match her pace, after they had gotten too close to the airstrips to continue riding on Naga's back without being spotted. Luckily, Tahla was too focused on the goal ahead to notice Iroh continuously gazing at her with pure admiration.

The group reached a large structure that housed the airships, which were meant to destroy Commander Bumi’s incoming fleet. Iroh heard the loud buzzing of propellers, which made his blood burn with a new urgency. The four rebels crept alongside the building, but before Iroh could ensure that his groupmates knew the plan, several airships sped down the runway. Iroh cursed under his breath before jumping into action. Tahla followed closely behind him, while Asami and Bolin focused their attention on Asami’s father, who was fighting them from the Equalists’ side with an army of robot soldiers.

With enough force to move mountains, Iroh sent multiple blasts of fire into the sky, aiming for the airships that now zoomed above their heads. His fire made successful contact, causing several pilots to eject while abandoning their damaged airships mid-air. As a low-flying aircraft approached him, Iroh took a running start and grabbed its wing, holding on for dear life when his feet parted from the solid ground.

When he gained his footing on the wing of the plane, Iroh whipped his head around to see Tahla, the daredevil, jumping into the seat of a downed airship. Iroh had no control over Tahla’s actions in that moment, and although he had briefly discussed his attack plan with her the night before, his only choice now was to trust her. He turned his attention to the pilot of the airship that he had just stowed away upon and wasted no time in throwing the Equalist from the cockpit. He felt slightly guilty until he saw the pilot’s parachute deploy. Only seconds passed before Iroh noticed the steadily growing sound of an unusually loud engine. A damaged airship appeared in the sky next to him, and in the pilot’s seat was Tahla, wearing an expression of intense concentration.

Her next moves happened in a flash, and Iroh could not have stopped her if he wanted to. Tahla stood from her seat on the smoking plane and dashed to the edge of the wing closest to Iroh. She pulled water from her pouch and threw her hand forward, and as if it were a solid rope, she wrapped the element around a structural metal pole of Iroh’s airship. The General watched in awe as Tahla fearlessly leapt from her plane and into the open air. He held his breath until her feet landed safely on the wing of his own airship. Iroh watched the damaged aircraft, which Tahla had been piloting only seconds before, fall to the ground and land with a fiery crash.

“Switch with me!” Tahla yelled, barely audible over the competing sounds of the roaring wind and rumbling engine. As quickly as his body could move, Iroh scrambled from the pilot’s seat, and Tahla replaced him. He knew why immediately; while Tahla could fight, she had a limited amount of water with her, and Iroh’s fire blasts could cause more damage from their current position.

“We need to stop them!” Iroh shouted, referring to the half-dozen Equalist airships that scattered the sky before them. If those airships reached the harbor in time to meet Commander Bumi’s fleet, the Avatar’s cause was done for. Iroh’s knuckles turned white from the force of his grip as he clutched a metal pole on the plane’s wing. He felt Tahla accelerate to the plane’s maximum speed, and although she had never flown before, she was a rather confident pilot. This did not surprise Iroh, though; he had learned to not underestimate her.

They had begun to fly over the sea as they quickly approached the other Equalist airships, and Iroh readied himself to attack. As soon as a clear shot was available, he blasted a fireball at the nearest plane, aiming for the wings. While grasping firmly at his pole, Iroh knocked several pilots from the sky in a few short minutes. Their airships, smoking and flaming, fell to the open water. Sensing that the higher-flying aircrafts would soon evade him, Iroh abandoned his position and used his fire to propel himself into the sky.

He landed swiftly on the wing of another airship and watched Tahla chase yet another enemy below. Iroh’s muscles strained as he grabbed the pilot of his airship by the collar and heaved him out of the cockpit. From his spot in the pilot’s seat, Iroh counted three remaining Equalists. He was exhausted and his fire was losing its strength, but he still sent a massive blast at the closest airship, knocking it from the sky. Their battle had reached the city’s harbor now, which meant that they were nearly out of time. Iroh recognized the quickly-approaching mountainous cliffs at the end of the harbor, just beyond the statue of Avatar Aang. The statue wore a replica of Amon’s mask, which filled the General with unbridled rage. He had not noticed it when he first arrived in the harbor just a few days prior.

Iroh’s attention turned downward again, and his heart pounded at the sight of his beloved fiancée standing on the wing of her wobbly airship. Unable to do anything helpful, Iroh watched helplessly from above. Using the same water rope technique as before, Tahla swiftly landed on the wing of the second-to-last plane, her own airship quickly falling toward the sea. The disgruntled pilot raised his arm to fight her off, but Tahla landed a tough-looking punch to his jaw. In an impressive display of upper body strength for someone of her smaller stature, Tahla grabbed the Equalist by the jacket and threw him toward the sea. With bated breath, Iroh watched as Tahla took a running start from the wing and threw herself from the plane. Mere seconds later, the airship crashed into the large wall of jagged rocks.

Iroh breathed a relieved sigh when Tahla landed in the water unharmed. With one more carefully-aimed fire blast, Iroh sent the last enemy airship smashing into the same rocks. In a last-minute act of defiance against the Equalists, Iroh turned his airship toward the Avatar Aang statue and made a daring jump from the wing. The airship crashed directly into the statue’s horrendous Amon mask. Iroh grabbed ahold of one of the Equalist flags that hung from the statue, and the fabric tore from his sudden weight. Luckily, it held on enough to support him, and he dangled from the torn flag at eye-level with Aang.

Iroh watched the statue’s mask, broken into pieces, tumble into the water of the bay. “Thanks for looking out for us, Aang,” Iroh said with a proud smile. As he looked into the large, stone eyes of Avatar Aang, Iroh was reminded of his grandfather. He silently hoped that both Zuko and Aang would be proud of him for upholding the values that they had envisioned when they founded Republic City together.

Before he could get too sentimental, Iroh was alerted of a certain water bender’s presence. Tahla had used the water of the harbor to lift herself up by the waist, and she now floated daintily next to her dangling fiancée. Her bright smile was all the assurance that Iroh needed to know that they had done everything right. He reached out for Tahla’s hand and joined her in the frigid water. He promptly wrapped his arms around her as they floated, high above the rest of the world. Slowly, the healer lowered them down to sea level. She used the water to gently push their bodies to shore, where they collapsed from exhaustion.
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For the next few hours, Iroh and Tahla took shelter in Yune’s apartment, uncertain if they would be pursued by angry Equalists. They had both suffered a few minor injuries from their mission, which were promptly addressed by Tahla’s worrisome roommates. Esine scolded the pair for their reckless battle tactics, but Zaila commended them for their bravery.

Tahla was glued to Iroh's side all afternoon. His heroism had her falling in love all over again; while his actions were dangerous, they were smart and calculated, which made her swoon for him all the more. They sat on her old mattress in the corner of the room as they relished in the warmth of thick blankets and Ki’s freshly-made herbal tea, their makeshift curtain discarded long ago.

They waited in agony, hoping to hear good news about Korra’s encounter with Amon. After enough time had passed for them to take a nap, wake up, and eat the steaming bowls of soup that Ruma had prepared, a knock on the door sent Tahla and Iroh flying from their seats. On the other side of the door was green-eyed Bolin, who gave them the news.

Although most of her bending abilities were lost, the Avatar had exposed Amon as a fraud. The Equalists had been defeated.

Chapter Text

When the Avatar’s bending was restored, Tahla and Iroh decided to stay in Republic City for another month. After recovering all the men from his captured naval fleet, the General offered his assistance to Korra as the city adopted a new form of presidential government, while Tahla continued to heal a handful of clients in Yune’s living room. In their spare moments, Iroh and Tahla explored the city together, watching it come back to life.

Near the end of the couple’s stay in the city, the new Jade Flower finally opened for business. The construction project went off without a hitch, and the building was as beautiful as the healers could have hoped. They reopened their healing shop and welcomed clients new and old, and as if the whole city rallied around their comeback, their business boomed once again. The pace was manageable, though, because more benders had their gifts restored by Korra every day. The healers’ new apartment sat above the shop, just as the old one had, and it brought Tahla great joy to see her closest friends back in a place that they could call their own.

When the newly-opened shop was operating smoothly, Tahla felt ready to return to the Fire Nation. It pained her to leave the city and the friends that she loved so dearly, but it would hurt just as much to be apart from the other half of her life for much longer. As if he could sense her inner conflict, Iroh approached Tahla with a brilliant idea; every few months for as long as they lived in the Fire Nation, the couple would take a trip to visit Republic City.

Izumi was at the docks to greet Iroh and Tahla when they arrived. Tahla nearly cried at the sight of the Fire Lord, her silver hair glinting in the sunlight. The healer could barely recall how long it had been since she had felt the warmth of the Fire Nation, but it did not matter anymore; she was home. She reflected on the strangeness of feeling at home in both the Fire Nation and Republic City, and she realized how incredibly lucky she was to feel so loved, so welcomed in both places.

The next four months of late winter and early spring were a complete whirlwind. Tahla returned to her duties as the royal healer, as well as her tea dates with Izumi, while Iroh took to training a new batch of United Forces recruits. In the evenings, they sat in the Royal Palace library and planned their wedding. Of course, the royal advisors would take care of the traditional aspects of the ceremony, but the happy couple insisted on arranging guest lists, decorations, and everything else that the advisors would allow.

In the early summer, Tahla stood on the docks, bouncing with excitement. Screeches of unbridled joy danced through the hot Fire Nation air when a boatload of healers arrived from Republic City. Tahla could not imagine getting married without Esine, Zaila, Ruma, Ki, and Yune there to see it. She gave the women a tour of the Capital City with enthusiasm, making a mental note that she would make an excellent tour guide. The women had never been to the Fire Nation before, and Tahla was thrilled to share this side of her life with them.

On her wedding day, Tahla’s stomach swam with nerves, although she could not necessarily pinpoint why; she had never been more certain in her entire life that she was making the right decision. The royal handmaidens helped Tahla put on her traditional Fire Nation wedding attire. The robes were white, deep red, and gold, and Tahla’s hair and wrists were adorned with shiny gold details. She wore one non-traditional pop of color: the swirls of red and blue in her engagement necklace. The water bender stood in front of her bedroom mirror as the handmaidens fixed her hair and makeup, and her anxiety grew steadily more intense by the minute.

Her nerves melted away instantly when her eyes locked with Iroh’s. Tahla barely felt the presence of her wedding guests as she traversed the Palace Garden; her attention was entirely focused on her fiancée. He looked incredibly handsome in his robes, the traditional style accentuating his broad shoulders and the deep red color making his golden eyes sparkle. Iroh’s hand briefly rose to his cheek to wipe away a few stray tears.

The wedding was officiated by Fire Lord Zuko himself. Despite having met the man on several occasions and being close friends with his daughter, Tahla was still consistently starstruck by Zuko. Iroh did not share her nerves around the older Fire Lord, though; Zuko was just his kindhearted grandfather. Tahla’s heart normally would have exploded in her chest as she stood before two of the most important men she had ever known, but she only felt a wave of peace. Zuko spoke kindly about the couple, citing the pride he felt in his grandson and the immense joy of welcoming Tahla into their family. The water bender’s ears burned at such high praise.

When Zuko pronounced the couple as married, Tahla barely heard the applause of their guests. All she could comprehend was the feeling of Iroh’s hands on her cheeks, his lips against her own, the blissful tears that they both shed.

The reception went by in a flash. Tahla tried to remember every detail, but her brain was overwhelmed by a joyful haze. It was not a raucous party, like it may have been if the wedding had taken place in Republic City, but it was as wonderful as Tahla could have imagined. Between small talk with royal guests, gleeful hugs from her childhood friends, and heartfelt conversations with Izumi, Zuko and Iroh’s sister, Tahla danced the night away in her husband’s arms.

As she and Iroh swayed to a slow, romantic melody, Tahla felt as if they were the only people in the world, despite the gardenful of guests to prove otherwise. She reflected on the quick-moving nature of her and Iroh’s relationship, and for a moment, she wondered if the gossipy characters of the royal circles might think that they had rushed into their marriage. As quickly as this notion appeared in her brain, however, Tahla banished it from existence. She was certain within her very soul that she had found her other half.
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Iroh’s chest swelled with unbridled happiness at the sound of his wife’s laughter. As they stepped from their small boat and onto the dock, he quickly swept her into his arms, bridal-style, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Without royal aides, servants, or advisors trailing behind them, as they had been for the entire day of the wedding, the couple was finally alone in each other’s company. Their joy overflowed from every seam. Abandoning their luggage in the boat, Iroh sauntered down the wooden dock, kicking off his shoes along the way. He walked across the sandy beach of Ember Island with bare feet.

Iroh lowered himself down onto his knees and placed his bride gently onto the cool ground. Tahla's fingers explored the grainy sand as she laid on her back. Iroh breathed a dreamy sigh. She was so beautiful. Her soft skin glowed under the pale moonlight, and Iroh wondered if the stars above were envious of the twinkle in her eyes. The General, propped up with one elbow, leaned down to press his lips gently to his wife’s cheek. His intentions in this gesture were innocent enough, but Tahla’s wandering hands quickly escalated the situation and effectively took Iroh’s breath away.

The light breeze in the air carried the sounds of heavy breathing and loving laughter across the beach. Iroh laid heavy kisses along Tahla’s neck, their clothes discarded in the sand. His hand fumbled around until it found hers, and their fingers tangled together like they had done countless times before. This time, though, Iroh felt more connected to her than ever. Now, officially, they had titles that conveyed their love to the world: husband and wife.

Chapter Text

Iroh's silk robe fluttered gently behind him as he walked across the hardwood floor, delicately carrying two steaming cups of tea. He let his eyes wander along the walls of the hallway that led to the master bedroom, noticing portraits of Zuko as a young adult, accompanied by Avatar Aang and their other friends. Iroh reflected on the location that he had chosen for his honeymoon; Ember Island had once been a place of emotional turmoil for Fire Lord Zuko, but it became much more than that near the end of the Hundred Year War. With companionship and love, the royal estate on Ember Island evolved into a location of true importance for the Royal Family.

With a sentimental smile on his face, Iroh entered the master bedroom and placed the cups of tea on the nightstand. He shuffled over to the window before pulling the dark red curtains open, flooding the room with bright sunlight. Tahla, who had been sound asleep on the large bed, stirred in protest. Iroh giggled at the image of his wife’s tousled hair and faux-grumpy expression. He handed her a cup of tea and she sat up with a long stretch of her arms and a dreamy smile.

The newlyweds had spent one month on Ember Island, exploring the local sights and enjoying each other’s company. They had waded in the cool ocean water, sunbathed on the beach, and lounged around the royal estate for four blissful weeks, and it was finally time to return to the Fire Nation Capital City.

Tahla stretched upward to give Iroh a gentle kiss on the nose. Unlike Iroh, she was not wearing her silk robe. In fact, their clothes from the previous night were scattered about the floor- a common occurrence during their month-long trip. Just to hear the glorious sound of her laughter, Iroh leaned forward to nuzzle his face into the crook of Tahla’s neck, his overgrown stubble tickling her sensitive skin. Tahla squealed with delight, and Iroh could have lived in that moment for the rest of his life.

Sadly, though, their trip had to end eventually. They returned to the Capital City with enough romantic memories to last a lifetime. Six months after their final encounter with the Equalists, the couple felt more capable to take on the world than ever.
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Tahla once again resumed her royal healing duties and spent more time with her now-mother-in-law, Izumi. For the week after returning from her honeymoon, Tahla felt more at home in the Fire Nation than she thought to be possible; her life felt entirely complete.

Unfortunately, Iroh’s United Forces commitments eventually, inevitably, pulled him away. Tahla could not be too upset, though; she knew that she could not keep the General to herself forever. Iroh’s newest assignment required him to leave for about one month to assist the new President Raiko of Republic City with some growing political tensions. Tahla did not have the whole story, but Iroh had mentioned something about the Avatar and the Northern Water Tribe. He was not excited to be the president’s muscle in a diplomatic dispute, but he was even less enthusiastic about leaving his new bride for so long. Knowing that she would feel guilty for being away from her healing work for so long if she tagged along to the city, Tahla decided to stay behind in the Fire Nation. She tried not to reveal her disappointment to Iroh, but she had grown accustomed to seeing him every day, and she would miss him terribly.

“We’ve been apart for longer, honey,” Tahla reminded her husband as they stood on the familiar Fire Nation docks. “It’ll feel like a breeze this time.”

“I hope you’re right,” Iroh laughed, though Tahla could hear the sadness in his voice.

“I’ll be right here waiting for you,” Tahla smiled, her hands drifting up Iroh’s chest and around the back of his neck. Iroh grinned back at her before kissing her deeply, lifting her into the air with his strong embrace. After planting a few more soft kisses to Tahla’s cheeks, Iroh boarded his ship.

When her husband disappeared into the horizon, Tahla finally left the docks. As she walked slowly back to the palace, she made afternoon plans to lay under her favorite tree in the garden.

Chapter Text

Tahla awoke in the middle of the night. Sitting up in bed, she was unsure of what had shaken her from her sleep. She was sitting in the middle of the lavish bed that had once been occupied solely by the Fire Nation Prince. Since they were married, she officially moved into the room that they now shared. That night, she had been dreaming about her honeymoon. She and Iroh were prancing in the warm ocean water, and she was unhappy that the memory was ripped away from her without warning.

The healer’s eyes wandered around the room, which was slightly illuminated by the soft moonlight that slipped through the cracks between the curtains. Before she could consider laying back down and attempting to resume her slumber, though, Tahla became suddenly and unfortunately aware of why she was awake in the first place. Overcome by a wave of intense nausea, she immediately scrambled from the silk sheets and darted for the bedroom door. A short run across the hallway landed her in the bathroom, which she just barely reached in time. After she lost the contents of her stomach, Tahla was trembling and felt physically exhausted.

Feeling defeated, she washed her hands, brushed her teeth, and filled a paper cup with water to sip on. Too shaken up and confused to return to bed, Tahla left the bathroom only to sink to the floor in the hallway, her back leaning against the wall. She contemplated the cause of her suddenly unsettled stomach while taking delicate sips of water and letting her fingers roam over the details in the carpet. She had not been sitting there for long when a heavy realization began to weigh upon her shoulders.

Tahla considered the timeline of her life’s most recent events. Iroh had been gone for three weeks already, but the honeymoon had started nearly two months ago. Tahla’s mouth became dry as she mentally connected the dots. Looking down at her paper cup, she decided to settle her suspicions before her racing thoughts spiraled too far out of control.

After lifting her loose-fitting shirt up until her skin was sufficiently exposed, Tahla bent the water from her cup and placed it over her abdomen. With a deep, yet shaky breath, she closed her eyes and began to concentrate on the energy surrounding the water. She imagined it flowing rhythmically as it enveloped her mid-section, and she breathed a heavy sigh when the relieving sensation forced her heavy eyelids closed. She sat there for several minutes, holding that position, willing the water’s energy to sink deep into her abdomen as she performed the difficult technique on herself.

Tahla was so concentrated on her task that she barely noticed Izumi appear beside her.
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The Fire Lord had heard a few muffled noises from down the hallway and decided to investigate. An unknown force had prevented her from sleeping anyway, and a late-night walk through the palace halls always cleared her mind. She knew quite well that her son, and her new daughter-in-law, shared this habit.

Izumi found Tahla sitting against the wall outside the prince’s private bathroom, pressing a glowing ball of water against her stomach. Wondering if Tahla was experiencing stomach cramps but not wanting to disturb the healing process long enough to ask, Izumi moved slowly to sit beside her friend. As they sat in silence, Izumi leaned her back against the wall and tapped the carpeted floor gently with her fingertips, waiting until Tahla was unoccupied. When the silence stretched beyond ten minutes, however, a strange feeling began to overtake Izumi, causing goosebumps to sprout on her arms. I wonder…., she thought curiously. The Fire Lord pulled her nightrobe tighter against her body, shivering from both the cold and her growing anticipation.

Suddenly, Tahla’s eyes popped open and a soft gasp escaped her lips. She dropped the water she had been bending, and the element splashed messily onto her legs and bare stomach. Tahla turned her head slowly towards Izumi, who noticed tears forming in the corners of the young woman’s eyes.

“Tahla?” Izumi breathed, not sure how to properly ask the question that threatened to claw its way from her throat at any moment. Luckily, she did not have to wait long, because the teary, deliriously happy smile that overtook Tahla’s face was enough to confirm all of Izumi’s suspicions. The laughs that Tahla released into the air were filled with pure happiness and disbelief, and Izumi could not help but let out a joyful laugh herself.

The Fire Lord leaned over to wrap Tahla in the tightest hug she could muster from that position. They sat on the floor in the hallway for an amount of time that neither woman cared to keep track of while they laughed happily, shared excited whispers, and cried sweet tears that rolled from their cheeks and dripped onto the carpet.

Chapter Text

One week after her midnight sickness, Tahla welcomed her husband home from Republic City. They sat together in the dining room after a joyful reunion on the docks, but Tahla could hardly touch her dinner. For one, the introduction of any food to her system had the potential to induce yet another fit of nausea, which she had already dealt with for an entire week. On top of that, her stomach churned with nerves over how to deliver her important news to Iroh.

While her mind raced rapidly, Tahla tried to pay attention to her conversation with her husband. Over dinner, he described to her the past month of his life. He had written to her one time in that month, but he explained that the complexity of the situation in Republic City would have been too difficult to recount on paper. He reported on the tension between the Avatar and the chief of the Northern Water Tribe, who had released the dark spirit Vaatu and became the Dark Avatar during Harmonic Convergence. Iroh detailed the epic battle between Korra and the Dark Avatar, and before Tahla could worry about his involvement, he assured her that his troops barely saw any action during the conflict. Tahla began to mentally draft a letter to send home, and she hoped that her friends had remained safe and out of harm's way. She detested the idea that her beautiful city could have been destroyed by a combination of global politics and spiritual greed.

Tahla was glad that she learned about these events after the fact; she had other, more personal concerns that she needed to focus on, and another issue would have driven her mad with concern. She was certain that Izumi, as an international diplomat, would have known about the conflict in Republic City but chose to spare Tahla of the knowledge to keep her from worrying herself sick. The healer made another mental note to thank the Fire Lord for her discretion.

As she balanced her internal monologue with her attempts to follow Iroh’s story, Tahla took small bites of her dinner. She was thrilled to have her husband back safely, but her head continued to swim. She had spent the past week trying to build up enough courage to tell him the news, but she was still nervous.

Just say it, she commanded to herself. Just say, “I’m pregnant.”

She felt as though she had finally built up the nerve to speak, but just as she went to open her mouth, a familiar feeling returned to her stomach. She felt her skin grow clammy, causing her to whisper “Oh, spirits,” in a deep tone. This earned a quizzical look from Iroh, but if she wanted to avoid a giant mess, Tahla had no time to explain. With a hurried “Sorry!” shouted over her shoulder, Tahla dashed from the dining room, one hand over her mouth.
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Iroh continued to stare in confusion as his wife sprinted away, looking unwell. He wondered where her sudden sickness could have come from. Looking down at his dinner plate, Iroh hoped that food poisoning was not the culprit.

Chapter Text

The closest place for Tahla to go was Izumi’s private bathroom. Knowing that the Fire Lord would not mind her intrusion, Tahla flung the door open and promptly lost her dinner into the sink. With a heavy sigh, she flipped the faucet on and used her bending to ensure that the water washed every inch of the sink’s bowl. Still bracing herself on the countertop with her hands, Tahla hung her head in exhaustion.

The healer heard the bathroom door open once again, and she did not have to look to know who had entered; the particular cadence of the visitor’s soft footsteps had become very familiar to her over the past several years. When she felt a gentle hand on her upper back, Tahla lifted her head to make eye contact with Izumi in the mirror.

“Did you tell him, dear?” Izumi asked, her voice soft and comforting as she rubbed small circles on Tahla’s back. Tahla shook her head slowly in answer, and she was relieved when Izumi gave her a reassuring smile that did not contain even a hint of disappointment. Attempting to rid herself of her remaining fatigue, Tahla turned the faucet back on to splash cool water on her face.

“What’s wrong with me?” Tahla asked, hoping that Izumi could explain her feelings of apprehension.

“You’re pregnant, darling,” Izumi smiled knowingly. “Nausea is part of the deal.” Tahla laughed quietly at the Fire Lord’s comment, although it did not really answer her question. Izumi always knew how to make her feel better. Straightening up, Tahla turned around to face her friend.

“No, I mean, why am I so nervous about telling him?” the healer questioned. “He’s my husband, for spirits’ sake! I should be more excited, but I’m worried that he’ll be upset. We haven't even talked about having kids yet.”

“There’s nothing to worry about, Tahla,” Izumi stated with certainty in her voice. “It’s just like you said, he’s your husband! He loves you. I know my son, and I’m certain that he’ll be thrilled.”

While Tahla’s stomach still felt uneasy, she knew that Izumi was right. Iroh loved her as much as she loved him, and he would be just as excited as she was to welcome their child into the world. “Thank you, Izumi,” Tahla spoke quietly, in a sheepish, yet grateful tone.

“Any time, dear,” Izumi replied with a kind smile.

Later that evening, Tahla helped Iroh unpack his bags and settle back into their bedroom. They joked and laughed together while changing into their pajamas, and Tahla relished in the warmth of his presence. As she was about to join her husband among the silk sheets of their plush bed, however, a knock at the door pulled her away from her nighttime routine.

She opened the door to reveal the Fire Lord, dressed in her nightrobe, standing in the dark palace hallway. Before Tahla could question her, however, Izumi held a finger up to her lips, which were curved into a playful smile. Very slowly, she pulled a delicate object from the inside pocket of her robe, which she placed gently into Tahla’s palm. The healer immediately recognized it; a dried fire lily.

Tahla’s eyes began to water as she realized that the flower must have been preserved from one of the bouquets that she had previously gifted to Izumi. Fire lilies had always been important to the Fire Nation, but they held a special significance to Tahla. The flowers only bloomed for a short time each year, and they were one of her favorite things about the Fire Nation when she had first arrived. As she continued to live and grow there with the Fire Lord by her side, however, Tahla began to see the fire lilies as more than just a plant; they became a symbol of her and Izumi’s friendship, their partnership as powerful benders and women, and their love and support for one another. Each time she saw an image of a fire lily, she was immediately reminded of one of the best friendships she had ever known.

Tahla turned the flower delicately between her fingers before wiping a stray tear from her cheek. She quietly stepped into the hallway to give Izumi a tight hug, which was returned with equal enthusiasm. Tahla could feel the love and support radiating from the Fire Lord’s embrace. When they parted, Izumi gave her a sweet smile and a knowing nod, as if to say, “Good luck.”

Chapter Text

“Who was that?” Iroh inquired. Tahla closed their bedroom door softly behind her. “It was your mom,” she replied dreamily, placing the dried flower gently on her desk. She shuffled across the floor and finally joined her husband in bed.

The couple laid on their sides to face each other, their noses almost touching. Tahla snuggled closer to her husband, enjoying his warmth. One of her hands snaked its way up his back while the other played lovingly with his hair. “What was she here for?” Iroh asked, and Tahla giggled at his curiosity.

“She was just giving me a gift,” she laughed, and Iroh smiled sweetly. Tahla always wondered what Iroh thought of her relationship with his mother, but she suspected that he enjoyed how well they got along. Without warning, Iroh wrapped his arms tightly around Tahla’s waist and pulled her close to his chest, which sent her into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. He began to place playful kisses on her neck, and his flirtatious hands revealed his intentions.

“Hey, Iroh?” Tahla squeaked, breathless from his sudden affection. He pulled his head back to look into her eyes. “Yes, love?” he asked, his honey eyes sparkling with an adoration that nearly made Tahla swoon.

“I have something to tell you.”
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Confused, Iroh furrowed his eyebrows. Immediately, from the way she worded her last statement, he began to worry that Tahla was about to deliver some bad news. In an attempt to mask his concern, Iroh managed a soft smile as he tucked a piece of stray hair behind his wife’s ear. Spirits, she looked so beautiful.

“Let’s hear it,” he encouraged her, and his worries over bad news disappeared at the obvious excitement in his wife’s features. Her eyes glinted with happiness and her wide smile revealed a pair of adorable dimples. Tahla glided her hands along Iroh’s shoulders until they came to rest soundly on his chest. She leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on the tip of his nose, and Iroh felt his cheeks begin to burn from the attention.

“I love you,” Tahla whispered, her voice deeper than Iroh had expected. He smiled. “I love you too, darling,” he spoke at the same volume. He moved to kiss her, a real, proper kiss this time, but she pressed her hand softly to his lips. Iroh felt his face wrinkle in confusion once again.

“Let me finish,” Tahla laughed, her voice still soft and comforting. “I love you, Iroh, and I’m so happy that we’re finally starting our life together.” Iroh nodded as she spoke, their heads still laying on the plush pillows. “Being married to you has been the biggest joy of my life,” she continued. Iroh agreed with this sentiment wholeheartedly; although he had no major complaints about the course of his young life, he had never experienced a happiness that could compare to what he felt with Tahla. He was nearly swept away by his own sentimental thoughts when he heard Tahla finish her sentence:

“…so far.”

Iroh watched another look of eagerness cross his wife’s face. Something in her tone led him to wonder what she was building up to. He agreed that their lives would only get better as they grew older together, but Tahla’s giddiness was making him suspicious. He opened his mouth to tell her to spit it out already, but he could not get far enough to speak before she continued.

“I know you’ll be a wonderful father, Iroh,” she beamed, looking into her husband’s eyes. Iroh’s breath caught in his throat as he felt the weight of her statement. Slowly, yet more rapidly than he could comprehend, he connected the dots between Tahla’s recent behavior. How could he have not realized before? She had gotten sick at dinner, for spirits’ sake!

With shaky breath and wide eyes, Iroh asked a question that he could barely force from his windpipe. “Are you really?” he breathed. His vision began to blur with tears of pure joy. Was she really pregnant? Was he going to be a father, going to start a family with the love of his life?

“Yes!” Tahla laughed happily, her own tears pouring from her cheeks and plopping onto the silk pillowcase beneath her. With this confirmation, Iroh lunged forward and wrapped her in a bone-crushing hug. He sobbed into her shoulder, pure happiness overtaking him. He could feel Tahla shaking with laughter as she clutched at the back of his shirt.

When Iroh pulled away, he pushed Tahla’s stray hairs from her face and held his hands to her tear-stained cheeks. With all the passion that he felt for her, the love that he held in his heart and the joy that he felt over their future, he kissed her. It was slow and sweet, and Iroh only pulled away so he could look at his wife’s face again. She was still smiling widely, but her cheeks had grown rosy, and her dampened lashes fluttered over her sparkling eyes.

Iroh moved one of his hands away from Tahla’s face to press it gently over her stomach. He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before resting his chin on the top of her head. She snuggled into his chest like she had many times before, and he breathed a blissful sigh. He could not wait for their future.

Chapter Text

- 174 AG: Three Years Later -

Tahla held the sleeping baby to her chest as she sat at the circular table, which was scattered with shiny silverware, sparkly decorations, and plates that had been cleaned of their cake. She looked down at her newborn daughter, whose tiny nose twitched as she slept. Tahla giggled to herself as she wondered how anyone could sleep with all the noise in the room.

The healer lifted her head and scanned the dance floor. Among the wedding guests, she noticed her husband, who had crouched down to meet the height of two bubbly toddlers- both boys. He held one of each child’s miniature hands in his own and swung their arms gently to the beat of the music. The older boy, who was tall for his age of nearly three years old, giggled uncontrollably as his father tried to get him to dance. Tahla chuckled along with her son, whose laughter could be heard across the room.

The younger boy, who stood on shaky legs that he had just learned to use, was a music lover from his earliest days, and he was much more enthusiastic than his brother about dancing. Although he wobbled, he bounced up and down to the catchy tune until he lost his balance and fell forward into Iroh’s waiting arms. Sensing that her older son would soon take his chance to run, since his hand was now free from Iroh’s grasp, Tahla rose from her seat and drifted toward her family.

On her way, she passed by the newlyweds, who were dancing together in the middle of the blue-toned floor. Varrick and Zhu Li were friends of Iroh’s and had helped greatly in saving Republic City from complete destruction. Tahla had not known the couple for long, but she was glad to celebrate their love. She congratulated them as she walked by, still carrying her sleeping newborn in her arms.

When Iroh saw his wife approaching, his face lit up with joy. He stood up to meet his daughter, whom Tahla handed over to him gently. He wasted no time in placing a soft kiss on her tiny forehead. Tahla bent down to lift her younger son up onto her hip, and her older son giggled as he clung to her leg. She laughed and leaned over to playfully tousle the boy’s dark, curly hair.

“Having fun, cutie pie?” Tahla asked the boy, who looked up at her with bright, honey-colored eyes. “Yes!” he chirped happily, the sugar from the wedding cake surely the source of his energy. Tahla smiled at him and gave his cheek a loving pinch before turning back to her husband. Her heart melted to see Iroh looking down at their daughter with an expression of pure love. With a yawn, the couple’s younger son, who still sat on Tahla’s hip, rested his head on his mother’s shoulder. His deep blue eyes hid behind tiny, droopy eyelids. Iroh laughed lightly at his son’s clear exhaustion; a wedding is not an easy event for someone so small.

Despite the three little bodies that filled the space between them, Iroh managed to lean forward and place a soft, sweet kiss on his wife’s lips.

They were blissfully happy.