31_days | [12 April] [ALTLA] Dragons in the sunset

Title: Dragons in the sunset

Day/theme: 12 April/It will be short. It will take all your breath.

Series: ATLA

Character: Iroh.

Rating: G

Comments: Set post series. Implied death.

The sun's final rays paint the horizon a brilliant gold as it sinks slowly beneath the waves. A steaming cup of jasmine tea at his hand, Iroh leans back, enjoying the peace.

His mind drifts back to another sunset, one where twin dragons cast long shadows over him. Dancing in a storm of wind and flame.

Good days. Well. One good day at least. Not much more a man could ask for at this age. A cup of tea, a game of pai sho. A little relief from creaking joints.

Gold shades slowly to flame red. Out of the blaze of color he sees a flicker of movement. But it might just be his imagination.

He sips a little tea and bends a little more heat into it. There's a twinge of tightness in his chest these days which he puts down to getting old.

'Too much good food eh?' Iroh murmurs to himself rubbing his belly ruefully. 'Lu Ten should have lived to see this.'

'Ah. Talking to myself again. I must be getting maudlin in my age.'

The shadow approaches, winding sinuously towards him across the sky. It's approaching faster now. He scarcely has time to register the speed when with a thunder of flame the dragons arrive.

They look exactly the way he remembers. Scales gilded with the dying sun, bright sparks flickering from their jaws. Glorious and graceful.

Iroh smiles and looks serenely up at them.

'Is it time then?'

The dragons nod assent.

He downs the rest of his tea. Smooths down his robe. Looks down, breathes in deeply and then exhales.

When he looks up again, the years seem almost to have fallen from his face and the glory of the dragons in the sunset is reflected in his eyes.

'Maybe I'll tell him myself when we meet.'