And without a final glance back, he got into the Satomobile and left. Taking her heart with him. She knew he could not see the tears that fell silently down her face, as she stared out the window and watched Mako leave. Korra closed into herself, feeling everything but not wanting to feel anything at all. She shuddered softly and wept.
Iroh watched from a distance. The whole ordeal. He seen the pain shoot across Korra's face when Mako told her that he loved Asami. He seen the hurt in her eyes as she watched Mako go and felt her pain as he watched her cry. He walked over silently and placed a hand on her shoulder. Korra stared up at him, face riddled with pain, breathing hitched and forced, and eyes, that used to be full of life and happiness, were overflowing with tears.
Korra had put her heart into him, she shared all her secrets and given herself up. Mako tore her apart, brick by brick. She wanted nothing more than for Agni to strike her with a dragon's wrath, to fall off the world. And as she cuddled into Iroh's warm embrace, she wished that she never had gone to Republic City.
Iroh helped her to her room, her body was easily moved as she gave no resistance to anything, and sat her down on her bed. He knelt on the floor in front of her and lifted her face so that she would look at him, his golden eyes burning into her sapphire ones. Korra sniffed, as she wiped the tears from her face.
"Korra, what happened?" Iroh's voice was soft and gentle, different to the one that he used to command his crew. Her lips quivered as she tried to regain her senses.
"I-I told hi-him how I felt. Af-after everything I-I thought we would have-have been closer, b-but he said his feelings for-for me were nothing more than a-than a sister." She threw her head into her hands once more and a slight pang struck Iroh's heart.
Iroh helped her into bed and told her she needed to get some sleep. She curled up and Iroh wrapped the blanket around her, giving her a kiss on the forehead before leaving her for the night. Before he walked out the door, he stopped and turned his head towards Korra.
"Goodnight Korra. I will have the cook send up some Jasmine tea for you in the morning. Until then try to get some sleep and don't worry about that firebender. He is not worth your tears." Iroh closed the door and Korra just continued to cry in the darkness.
All sorts of thoughts were going through her head. Is there something wrong with me? Am I only worthy of this pain? How come no guy has ever stuck around to love me? Am I meant to be alone?
She settled on that thought. It was easier to be alone than to trust someone with the power to destroy you. And with that, she finally dozed off into a tear filled, sniffled, dreamless slumber.
Iroh sighed as he settled in his own bed. How could he do that to her? Knowing how much she cared for him and he tossed her aside like that? His hands burned as his temper flared, nearly burning the sheets. Korra is a beautiful, loving young woman. What gives him the right to send signals like that?
Everyone had seen how close Korra and Mako had gotten after Korra had been kidnapped by Tarrlok, even if Miss. Sato despised the connection. But for him to show her that he seemed to care for her then do that...it went against everything Iroh had been taught.
"I must find a way to cheer Korra up. If the Avatar stays like this for too long, she won't be much help to anyone and it would be horrible for her well-being." Iroh turned off his lamp and tried to keep Korra out of his head, so he could get some sort of rest.
Korra woke to the smell of Jasmine tea filling the room, a shade of blue catching her eye and a note by her bed. She sat up, grabbed a cup and poured herself a cup of Jasmine tea. She grabbed the note.
Morning Korra,
I hope you slept well enough to be ready for today's events. I have made arrangements for us to help take your mind of recent events as it is not good for someone as young and beautiful as yourself to be stressed about such things so unpredictable, like love.
The outfit that you see is a Water Tribe dress, it is to be worn for dinner tonight.
Drink up and meet me in my room when you finish.
General Iroh
Korra's nose flared as she finished reading. Typical, thinks he can just summon her like one of his crew members. She finished her cup of tea and walked over to the dress. Her heart jumped at the sight of it, the fabric was so soft; it looked like water flowing through her fingertips and the blue was so beautiful that it put the ocean herself to shame. Korra sighed as she thought of home. The Southern Water Tribe was boring but it was her home, and she missed it a lot. She was hoping that when her and her friends save Republic City that she would be able to go back for a visit.
She walked over to the wardrobe and threw on her singlet and pants over top of her bindings, putting on her socks and shoes and then sitting at the vanity. A pale, red-eyed monster stared back at her and she frowned, her parents would be shocked to see her this way and Sifu Katara would whip her into shape. But she didn't have them, so as she tied her hair up and put on her pelt and arm bands she walked over to a bowl of water and splashed her face before making her way to Iroh's room.
Iroh was dressed and ready, his hair slicked back and his suit was impeccable. He was waiting for Korra to arrive so he could begin the day. Tenzin had advise them to go get some lunch at a cafe who specialized in Water Tribe food and Pema asked them to get her a few things for the kids tonight. So he planned a day out for them both, even with Amon at large and waiting to strike, they needed to get their mind off things and let loose for once. He knew the Avatar's reputation for silly childish things and how she would always get in trouble back in the South Pole for them. He needed to get that side out of her again.
"Hi Iroh."
He spun around towards his door and straightened himself up. She was the Avatar after all.
"Morning Korra. Get much rest last night?" He frowned as she shook her head. "Well, I hope you're ready for today." Her eyebrow raised in curiosity.
"What exactly are we doing today? Oh, and thank you for the dress, it's beautiful." A faint smile emerged on her lips.
"Well, that is for tonight we are going out for dinner and a dance. Today, however, we are going to go get some things for Pema and the kids then head out for lunch. After that, it's a surprise." Iroh grinned at the shock on Korra's face.
"Fine, we should probably get going before things get too busy. We'll take Naga." Korra crossed her arms and pouted while leading the way to the animal den, followed by a laughing Iroh.
The market was buzzing with activity, stalls of all different kinds, people moving from here to there and the noise; voices coming from all different sides, noises from odd contraptions and the one that caught Korra's attention was the sizzling from the closest food stand. She realised she hadn't eaten much since last night.
"We'll grab what Pema wants and then have some lunch before you start hallucinating." Iroh laughed as he lead them towards a vege stand and gave the lady the list. "I don't want to go down as the General who got mistaken for a piece of Lion-Moose steak by the hungry Avatar." Korra rolled her eyes and huffed as Iroh laughed at his own joke.
"Obviously one of the things they forgot to teach you back at military camp was how to make a joke. I feel sorry for your crew, even Uncle Sokka had better jokes then you do and that's saying something." Korra snorted as Iroh's face dropped and she slapped him on the arm. "Oh, cheer up General Grump."
"Me? I did all of this so you would stop moping around like the world ended." Iroh grabbed the bag and list from the lady behind him and paid. He seen Korra's vein pulse and grinned to himself. He would never admit it but he loved to annoy her because ever since he arrived in Republic City, she has made it her everyday duty to tease or annoy him. Before he even knew what hit him, he felt a warm, wet tongue slid up the back of his neck. He froze and nearly dropped the bag of veges for Pema, he could feel the saliva on his head, smell the hot Polar bear-Dog breath and hear Korra failing to stop herself from laughing like his insane Aunty Azula. His hair, normally perfectly slicked back in the traditional army way, was now a mess and lathered in Polar bear-Dog spit. Well, at least she's laughing and enjoying herself. Was all he thought as he made his way to the Water Tribe Cafe, with Naga and Korra following behind.
At the end of lunch, on the way back to the Air Temple, Korra's mood had improved. Her smile was back and she resembled more of her old self instead of a shell. Iroh, on the other hand, had become the butt to every joke but he quite enjoyed the kind-hearted banter compared to the seriousness of his duties. Losing most of his childhood to training and military school, Iroh had never got to enjoy the fun side of life, except when Commander Bumi was around. No matter how old that man gets, he is never going to grow up.