Obligatory legal disclaimer: Avatar: The Last Airbender is copyrightMichael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko, and Nickelodeon. I do not make money from this story; it is written purely out of love for the series.

Author's notes:

05/25/2012:

I only recently discovered Avatar: The Last Airbender. I haven't been driven to write fanfiction in almost eight years. The character Iroh inspired in me an irresistible urge to create a self-insert (read: Mary-Sue) character and begin this story.

I just want to know if this is worth continuing. I've had a very difficult time finding fics where Iroh gets the girl. The best one I've found, The Walls of June by JimisLittleWing, is explicit PWP and, while certainly worth a read for those of legal age, is not for everyone.

While I'm not 100% sure where this story is going, I'm having fun writing it. I would appreciate a review hugely; tell me what you liked, what you hated...heck, just be blunt! Tell me if it's boring you to death! Be brutal! I promise I won't get mad. I want to write a good story, even if I have to scrap this thing altogether. (And yes, the horrible pun-title is subject to revision.)

Please note, this story is written with me having only watched the Avatar: The Last Airbender series; I have not read The Promise or watched Legend of Korra. This makes it slightly AU.

Thank you very much.

The Dragon's Flame

One year after his brother's defeat at the hands of Avatar Aang, Iroh stood proudly in his beloved tea shop. The Jasmine Dragon was at full operating capacity once again, as if Ba Sing Se had never been occupied by Fire Nation forces. Customers spilled out onto the terrace, some forced to drink their tea while standing.

"I will have to mention my idea for a second shop to Quon the next time I see him," Iroh thought, stroking his beard contentedly.

"Master Mushi, table seven wanted to speak with you," reported one of Iroh's young servers.

"Ah, thank you, Jang," Iroh replied, setting his eyes on the four well-dressed patrons who sought his company. The two women smiled and waved him over, their male companions nodding at some unheard previous agreement. He smiled genially and made his way to them.

Iroh had sent his staff home for the night; all that was left to do was to sweep. He found he enjoyed the chore—it was monotonous and repetitive and allowed him time to think clearly. His thoughts drifted to the wealthy patrons from earlier that night. They had offered him twice the money he was earning now to leave the Jasmine Dragon and take over their utterly mediocre establishment, Pearl Tea House. It was really no contest, though. Pearl Tea House was the pet project of the women and they wouldn't allow him to change the name, décor, or...anything, really. It wouldn't be his tea shop; he'd just be working there. Not exactly a dream come true, like this place had been.

Iroh smiled. This really was where he was meant to be.

"Hello?" a hesitant voice called. "Are you still open? I saw your lights were still lit and I was hoping..."

Iroh straightened up and set his broom to the side. One last customer to satisfy before he could turn in for the night. He turned, pulling the kitchen divider curtain aside, and strode into the dining area. Standing halfway through the front entrance, seemingly afraid to set both feet inside, stood a dark-skinned young woman. Her eyes darted to him as he spoke.

"Please, please, come in! I have a kettle on to boil for my own bedtime tea; won't you join me for a cup and a chat?"

The young woman visibly relaxed, relieved that she was welcome so late at night. "Oh, thank you, that would be wonderful," she said, stepping inside and bowing with respect.

Iroh returned the gesture and motioned for her to follow. "What brings you out so late, young stranger?"

"Well, I won't go into too many details, but suffice it to say, my last job left me nauseous and wired. I could really use a cup of my mother's crowberry tea to sleep...I know that it doesn't grow here, but I was hoping you might have a suggestion...," she pleaded, her eyes weary but wide.

"Ah, I have just the thing!" Iroh clapped his hands together. "Mint tea. Excellent for stress and upset stomachs. Come, please sit." He motioned to a cozy table near the kitchen entrance. The young woman gratefully obliged.

"Thank you. I'm sorry, where are my manners? My name is Luka. What may I call you, kind tea master?" She looked directly into her host's amber eyes. It was an accident; the imagined confrontation made her blush and avert her gaze.

Iroh noticed her unsure look and smiled, blinking slowly. "I am Mushi, owner of the Jasmine Dragon. Though I quite like 'tea master,' I must say." He chuckled. "It is a pleasure to have your company tonight, Luka. Excuse me."

He disappeared behind the white curtains, leaving Luka to shift in her chair. What a kind man, she thought. He's comforting, like he would accept you no matter who you were. Handsome, too, for a man his age. He really reminds me of...

She stopped herself. No, not tonight. No blubbering to strangers about the past. No need to test this man's patience any further. She picked a pink flower out of the bud vase decorating the table, sniffing eagerly.

In the kitchen, Iroh covertly heated a kettle with his bending; he had lied about having a kettle on to boil. This way allowed him to quickly heat the water and proceed to steeping the mint leaves. This would not take too long. He heard a sneeze, and decided to investigate.

When he pulled back the curtain, an embarrassed-looking Luka held what was left of the pink flower—only two petals remained, and the rest were still in the process of floating to the floor.

"Um, I'm sorry, I'll pay for that," she said, scrambling to pick up each petal and to clean up her mess.

Iroh laughed a deep belly laugh. "It is quite all right." He bent over to assist the cleaning effort, but as he lifted his head, he found himself face-to-face with Luka. They were so close, he could smell the light perfume of her hair. He met her deep blue eyes, inducing her blush reflex. He pulled away and stood. "I must go check on our tea." A tinge of regret in his voice, he disappeared again.

Such a lovely young woman, so full of life, he thought. To be young again...

He fought back the heavy feeling in his chest and strained the mint tea into two porcelain cups, placing them upon a small decorative tray. He pulled the curtain aside and joined his guest at the table.

"It smells amazing," Luka said approvingly, breathing in deeply.

Iroh placed a cup in front of her. "I assure you, it tastes even better." Holding his cup with both hands, he lifted it to his mouth and sipped gently. Luka followed his lead, peering at him. She looked away when he noticed her curious glance.

"So what brings you to Ba Sing Se, Luka? If I am not mistaken, you are very far from home." Iroh motioned to her fur-lined animal skin bag adorned with a Water Tribe insignia.

Luka lowered her cup and looked at the floor. "Yes. I come from the Northern Water Tribe. I heard Ba Sing Se was running short on doctors...I came to offer my services as a healer. It's been very steady work. Not always fun, but...plentiful." She took another sip. "I was tending a family's young son tonight. Horrible arm fracture...bone sticking through the skin...lots of blood..."

It appeared to Iroh that Luka had turned a bit green as she paused for another sip, this one bigger than her last.

"I have heard of the Water Tribe's excellent healing abilities," he said, "but I did not know you could reset bone with them!"

"Oh, I can't." She shuddered gravely. "That takes good, old-fashioned elbow grease—the doctor's, that is. Dr. Lin pushed the bones back into place, and I healed the tissue damage. That poor little boy. He's much better now, but his father had to hold him down while Dr. Lin worked her magic. It's as if she can see through flesh. His arm healed perfectly." Luka smiled and raised her cup to her lips.

Iroh nodded. "That is excellent news. I witnessed a great many open fractures during my days in the army. Our doctors could reset the bone, but the wounds had to heal on their own. Without a healer, many of the men succumbed to infection and blood loss. Those were dark days."

Luka went silent, and was staring into the teacup resting in her lap. When Iroh realized he'd misspoken, he placed a warm, gentle hand on hers. "I am sorry to bring up bad memories."

"It's okay," she said softly, grasping his hand firmly, appreciating the comfort. "It's more anger than anything. The damn Fire Nation..."

A wave of guilt washed over Iroh. He squeezed Luka's hand and pulled away. "The Fire Nation took much from so many people."

"Yeah. I know the new Fire Lord is supposed to be a 'good guy' and all, but how can we ever trust him? You know what they say, like father, like son. I never met a Knotter I liked." Luka spat out the word 'Knotter' as if it had tasted bad, and Iroh recognized it as a pejorative term for people of the Fire Nation, referring to their traditional hairstyles.

He looked sad and averted his eyes from hers. "The new Fire Lord will have to mend many fences to make up for the lives his father shattered."

"Damn right," Luka muttered darkly. She forced a smile and took a breath. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't ruin this pleasant evening with talk of Fire Nation trash."

Iroh coughed involuntarily.

"How long have you owned the Jasmine Dragon, Master Mushi? It's a beautiful place. And the tea! If my mother heard me say this, she'd kill me, but...it's the best I've ever had." Luka smiled at the old man, raised her cup to her lips, and peered at him over its rim.

"Oh, about a year, I would say," he answered, meeting her eyes. "But please, just 'Mushi' is fine."

Luka's courage gave out and she looked away, nodding and smiling. "Well, Mushi, what leads an army man to open a tea house?"

He smiled, scratched his chin, and looked thoughtful. "So few have experienced the joy of properly steeped jasmine blossoms. Tea is an art which is very difficult to master, but I have found that it...is my one true love. I want to share my love with all of Ba Sing Se!"

Luka grinned. "Well, I'm glad you decided to share your love with me tonight." She gave him a meaningful look and immediately regretted it. She chided herself—did I just flirt with him?!

He laughed deeply. "Anytime, my lovely little stranger." He winked at her and finished his cup.

Did he just flirt back?! Luka blushed, still bearing a stupid, shy grin.

"May I refill your cup?" Iroh stood and put out his hand.

Flustered, Luka shook her head and stood. "I wish I could stay, but I really must be going." She reached for her coin purse, but Iroh held up his hand.

"Your company tonight was worth more than any coin. Please, come back sometime, won't you?" His kind eyes met hers again.

"Count on it," she promised, picking up her bag. "Goodnight, Mushi."

"Goodnight, Luka."

She turned and walked to the door, opening it slowly. She hesitated, wishing she hadn't just freaked out. She was enjoying talking to this man. Why did she make herself leave so soon?

"Oh, Luka, you dropped something," Iroh called, bending over to pick up a small hand-carved piece of jewelry. He recognized it as a Water Tribe betrothal necklace, and suddenly, inexplicably, felt very disappointed. "Your necklace."

A frown streaked across her face momentarily. She walked to him and closed her palm on the necklace, letting her fist linger in his hand. "Thank you." She put the necklace in her pocket and looked at her feet. She resisted the urge to fall onto his chest like a damsel in distress, and then raised her head. "Goodnight."

She opened the door and walked through it, letting it close behind her.