Korra eagerly ran into the back room of the compound, a huge grin across her lips. She had finally built up enough nerves to ask the White Lotus Guards for a favor. After working on her bending nonstop for weeks again, she had really gotten the hands of her Firebending.

Maybe now she could finally have some fun.

"Korra, what are you doing here?" The head of the guards asked. He never liked it when excitedly interrupted meetings.

The teenager rocked back on her heels, clasping her hands behind her back. "I just have a question."

None of the blank expressions on the guard's faces changed, but the head nodded. "Go on."

"Can I go outside the compound walls with Fire Prince Iroh?" she asked quickly.

"No."

Korra's grin quickly fell into a pout. "Why not?" She was whining.

Another one of the guards sighed. "It's too dangerous out there for you, Korra." She said.

That was always their excuse. It was the reason why the Avatar could only go home to her parents once every month, why she wasn't allowed to leave the compound without at least four guards surrounding her.

Safety.

She was fourteen! She had mastered two elements, and was well on the way to mastering her third. Plus, Korra had Naga, and the Polarbear Dog had known to protect her master ever since they were little girls.

"Come on!" Korra begged, her pout only deepening.

"Korra," one of the women sighed, pinching at her nose. "We've already told you that it is much too-"

"Dangerous for me to leave the compound unsupervised. I know," she drawled. "Please let me go! Prince Iroh isn't stupid, and I can take care of myself! Please!"

Korra continued to beg, even going so far as to clasp her hands in front of her and break out her Polarbear Puppy eyes. She pushed her lower lip out farther, whining without speaking instead of reusing her same reasons.

Finally, after what felt like hours, the head of the White Lotus sighed, dropping his head. "Fine, Korra. You may leave the compound with Fire Prince Iroh."

"Yes! Finally!"

Ignoring the shouts from the guards, Korra bolted from the room, running excitedly out towards the stables. She had left Iroh and Naga there when she went to ask the Order for permission.

She quickly pushed the door open, grinning happily as she hugged Naga's neck. Iroh lifted his head, looking up at her from where he sat near the wall. His hair was messy, something that usually didn't happen with royal groomers everywhere, and his golden eyes were bright in the dark.

"Well?" Iroh raised an eyebrow.

Korra started to saddle up her Polarbear Dog, smiling at the boy over her shoulder. "They said yes, now let's go!"

She reached eagerly for his hand, which he grabbed while swinging a leg up over the saddle.

The ride out of the compound was swift, the guards begrudgingly opening the gate without any arguments. Korra encouraged Naga to run as fast as she wanted, and as far as she wanted, because there was no one to give them a destination.

Eventually, the Polarbear Dog began to slow down near a cliff, far away from the compound. Before Naga stopped running, Korra launched herself from the animal's back, rolling in the snow happily.

Iroh followed suit, choosing instead to stay on his feet.

Hours must have passed while the two teens played in the snow, throwing snowballs and using their bending to get ahead in the fights. Naga joined in occasionally, barking loudly and wagging her tail. Sometimes she would jump up, catching one of the snowballs in her mouth, pausing the game and causing the Avatar and the Fire Prince to nearly break down with laughter.

When they were both exhausted, they collapsed on the snow, sitting next to each other against Naga's side.

Iroh broke the silence first, resting his head back against Naga's fur, "I can't believe I'm leaving in two days."

Korra shoved at his shoulder, her content grin slipping from her lips. "Why'd you have to bring that up?"

He shrugged. "It's just strange to think that it's already been three months." He turned to look at her, shifting his body so he could face her completely. "I'm really gonna miss you, Korra."

"Stop," she groaned, planting her face in her hands.

The teenagers had avoided this topic for as long as they could, ignoring it even when a guard or Iroh's grandfather Zuko brought it up.

Iroh had been living at the compound for almost three months, staying while Zuko taught Korra her Firebending.

"We're going to have to talk about it sooner or later." Iroh put an arm around her shoulders, and Korra instinctively rested her head against his shoulder. "I leave in a couple days, and there's no telling when we'll see each other again." He let out a sad chuckle, "It was hard enough convincing my mom to let me come with Grandfather."

Korra laughed lightly, "Your mom is pretty strict."

"I hate how we're leaving before your Firebending test, though."

She snorted. "The White Lotus probably wont test me for a few years. They didn't test my Earthbending until I was eleven." She rolled her eyes, glaring at her boots, which were covered in snow. "I had it mastered for two years before they finally passed me."

The two of them fell into silence, staring in front of them, at the sun over the horizon that was now beginning to set.

"Korra." Iroh murmured after a few minutes.

"Ye-"

The sudden feeling of Iroh's lips against hers cut her off as his arm tightened around her neck, pulling her body close to his.

Korra didn't react, her eyes snapping open and her lips staying still.

Iroh quickly realized that she wasn't responding, and he pulled away. He dropped his arm, scooting a few feet away from her.

"Kor-"

"I don't like you like that!" She cried, backing away.

She reached up, latching her hand onto Naga's saddle and swinging up so she was sitting on the animal's back. "Let's go girl," Korra said, and the Polarbear Dog quickly started in a run.

Iroh stood up, jogging beside the animal while she picked up speed. "Korra, wait, please!"

She ignored him, focusing instead on getting Naga to run as fast as she could. It wouldn't take long to get back to the compound, and Korra hoped that none of the guards would question why she returned alone.

Iroh couldn't like her, not in a romantic kind of way, that wasn't supposed to happen! She was supposed to focus only on her training. She had to master Firebending, and then meet with Master Tenzin to learn Airbending.

There was no room for boys, or love, or any other kind of distractions.

Avatar Korra needed to train, or she wouldn't be prepared when her world needed her.

Korra and Iroh didn't speak for the next three days, ignoring each other and turning the other direction when they saw each other.

Eventually on the third day, Korra was called to see her Firebending Master and his Grandson off for safe travels on their way home. She had tried to get out of it by feigning sick, and whining to her guards, but they were relentless. She had to go.

"Be well, Korra. And good luck with your Firebending test." Zuko told her, flashing a grin as he slowly made his way into the airship.

Korra figured Fire Lord Ursa was on the ship as well, but the Avatar was glad she decided to stay on board. She had scared her since she was little.

Iroh turned to face her, shrugging. "I guess I'll see you around. Sometime."

"Good luck at the Palace."

He looked as if he wanted to say something else, as if there was something he needed to tell her before leaving, but he dropped it. Instead he lifted a hand in a meager wave, and Korra mirrored his action.

He was slow boarding the airship, taking one last look at her over his shoulder before disappearing behind the walls of the ship. The door closed, and the craft slowly rose into the air.

"Avatar Korra," she turned to face the voice, a young guard she had nicknamed Howl, despite his hatred for the name. "Dinner is being served insi-"

"No." Korra turned on her heel, making her way to the Firebending grounds. "I have training to do."

She wouldn't let a boy get in the way of her responsibilities.

A/N: I am so sorry about the lack of updates you guys! School's been a mess right now, and some stuff's been going on in my family, and I feel awful for leaving you guys without any news for so long.

I know this chapter isn't very long, but I really wanted to just give you guys a glimpse into what happened between Korra and Iroh in the Southern Water Tribe.

Now, I think I'm going to take a break from my Zutara fic for a little while, mostly because I've lost my muse for that one, and three chaptered stories is kind of a lot. I will continue with this one and Unknowing, but I don't know how often I can update. I promise to make it more often than it has been, though!

Thank you all for staying, and I hope you like this installment!