𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐓𝐒 • [ general iroh II x oc ]

suprise

Aria spent almost three days crying after that fight.

She had lost her best friend. She couldn't even talk to Bolin anymore, because he was always with Mako.

The two of them had fought before, they always seemed to come back together eventually. There was always an understanding that after that period of cooling off, they'd be fine again.

But the understanding didn't apply this time.
Mako knew it. Aria knew it.

Aria was sitting at her desk, trying to focus on the multiple files in front of her. But she couldn't.

How could she focus when Mako dropped this huge bomb on her?

He kissed her, and for a slip second, she didn't pull away. Did she tell Iroh about this? It's not like she cheated.

Did she?

Aria didn't have any clue what to do at this point. All she knew was that she couldn't talk about it to anyone.

If she told Iroh, he would probably go crazy. It's not like she had a best friend to tell anymore either.

The girl ran her hand over her forehead and sighed.

"Aria." Chief Beifong's strong words were all she needed to regain adequate attention. The woman stood above her desk with her hands behind her back. "You have a visitor."

Aria felt her eyebrow raise. She wasn't expecting anyone. Maybe it was Bolin, trying to talk to her without Mako.

Maybe it was Mako.

"Thank you, Chief." Aria nodded and got up from her desk, she walked to the main entrance and looked for Mako.

She didn't see him.

But Aria did see a familiar red military jacket.

The sight of Iroh standing there, waiting for her, filled Aria's heart with a storm of emotions. She had missed him dearly, and seeing him again after what felt like an eternity brought tears to her eyes. Without a word, she stepped out of her office and walked towards him, her gaze locked on his figure.

"Iroh!"

Iroh's eyes widened as he saw Aria running towards him. He opened his arms wide, ready to catch her. As she leaped into his embrace, he enveloped her with a tight, passionate hug. He buried his face into the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent.

He thought she looked beautiful. Even more beautiful than when he'd last seen her.

"Aria," he whispered, his voice filled with emotion. "Hey smartass."

He felt a burst of love flood his heart as he held her close. He gently caressed her dark hair, his fingers tangling in her silken strands. "I missed you," he murmured softly, pressing a kiss against her temple.

Aria pulled back from him with a huge smile on her face, she hit his shoulder lovingly, like it was intended to be gentle. "I thought you were doing training exercises in the South Pole, what are you doing here?"

"Spirits, I've been back two seconds your already hitting me." He laughed and held her elbows, pulling her against him.

Iroh's eyes locked onto hers, a hint of amusement dancing in his gaze. "I was able to finish my duties early," he admitted, his lips twisting into a wry smile. "Figured I'd surprise you."

"That you did."

"And you said I was a bad at letting lose."

"You are. But you're surprisingly very good at surprises." Aria laughed and smiled up at him. It was a smile he had yearned to see for months now.

Iroh returned her smile with an equally smitten one of his own. He couldn't help but stare into her eyes, marveling at her beauty. His hand rose to cup her cheek, his thumb gently grazing her soft skin. He leaned down, unable to resist the urge to capture her lips in a long-awaited kiss.

She melted into him. Aria felt his arms wrap around her waist, pulling her flush against his body.

The passion and longing they had felt for each other over the past few months poured into that kiss. There was an insatiable hunger beneath his touch, as if he were trying to make up for every moment he had been apart from her.

They pulled away for air and she traced his face. "Well, I think that was long overdue."

"I'd have to agree with you."

She bit her lip and nodded, a small giggled leaving her lips. "That's what I like to hear."

Iroh couldn't help but smile down at her and he leaned down to touch his lips to her ear. "Have dinner with me tonight. Just you and me."

Her spine shivered and she looked up at him, nodding. "Ok. Where?"

Iroh nodded in agreement, a hint of excitement in his expression. "I know a great place. I'll make a reservation for 8." He reached out and gently took her hand in his, his fingers intertwining with hers. "Dress nice," he added.

Aria playfully scoffed and pulled away. "I always dress nice."

"You know what I meant. Nice nice."

"I don't have anything nice nice. I'm poor poor."

"What about that money I sent over?"

"Yeah, about that. I donated it all to charity." She hummed and patted him on the shoulder rubbing it as a confused expression came over him,

"What?"

"Well I didn't need it. Some people need it a lot more than I do. Besides, I don't like handouts."

"I told you it wasn't a handout."

She rolled her eyes and chuckled, out her hands up on his broad shoulders and shaking his slightly. "Will you relax? It went to a good cause. It's how I wanted to spend it."

"How about this, you finish up work here, and in the meantime, I'll get you something nice nice to wear."

The corners of her lip rose slightly and she nodded. "Alright, but I'm trusting you. No ruffles; or sequins, or glitter, or pretty much anything that would make me look like I'm in a juniors beauty pageant."

He clicked his tongue and ran his hands up and down her arms gently. "I will see what I can do."

Aria wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply, before pulling away and pecking his nose. "I've got to get back to work."

"I'll pick you up at 8:30."

"Deal. I'll see you later General."

She went to walk away before he grabbed her wrists softly and pulled her lips back onto his. The two laughed and pulled away from one another.

Aria walked back to her desk and received a few whistles in good fun from her coworkers.

She couldn't remember the last time she was this happy.

...