"I think he's kinda cute."
Jordan scoffs in disbelief when Molly first voices that the Nourasian prince might possibly be cute. Nothing about being a kiss-up to the most violent and hated race in the galaxy is cute. When he thinks about it later, he considers that perhaps the girl was trying to get a rise out of him. It would fit in with their relationship so far (not that Jordan has said or done anything to make things less...hostile between them).
But then he remembers the slight blush on her face, and frowns. Maybe there was some truth to the statement? Maybe Molly does think the prince is cute. Which is dumb. Maybe it's just the exoticness. He isn't human, and he doubts Molly has met any aliens before today (not that he has either, but that's not the point). It must be that.
After the prince swoops in and sends Grooor packing, Jordan thinks that maybe it's the idea of the knight in shining armor. A literal, chivalrous hero who saves the damsel in distress and rides off with her into the sunset on a white horse… or in this case, a giant beetle. Maybe she just likes his bug? Or maybe it's the confidence that borders on cockiness, the theatrical performance he put on while dancing around Grooor, talking about picking fights with "lesser beings" and using his pocket knife to cut through the larger alien's tubing. Jordan rolled his eyes, because he totally could have gotten them out of this mess and didn't need some Nourasian to come to his rescue while backhandedly insulting them. Molly's anger with him lasts until he reminds her that they have a race to compete in, and then they're running back to the pit to prepare.
Maybe it's the prince's build. After Jordan tries to fight him, he guesses he can see the appeal. Aikka is smaller, just a little shorter than Jordan is and not nearly as muscular, but the prince definitely isn't weak, and the bruise to his pride will serve as a reminder of that long after the bruise on his cheek heals. Jordan stares at his own reflection and huffs. He's never been small, his relatives calling him "big boned" or "husky" when he would express insecurity over his chubby face or round middle, which he had never worried about until the kids at school started making rude jokes and comments. He worked hard to make his body look the way it does now, and he's not about to change it to make some girl happy. Not that he needs Molly's approval, nope.
But it could also be his eyes, Jordan muses. They're a startling shade of blue, reminding him of the sky and the ocean and home. They contrast nicely with the prince's coppery hair, which Molly could also think is cute. Or even the way the prince wears his hair. The style has grown popular among some people back on Earth who are into Nourasian culture in a way that borders on appropriative (no, it probably is just straight up appropriation). Jordan wonders if Aikka knows about it, and how he feels about it, if he's frustrated or disgusted or not. He thinks about how his own culture has been simplified to grass skirts and leis and aloha! and feels his face twist in disgust. And then he feels disgust over empathizing with a Nourasian and realizes he needs to think about something different.
Perhaps it's the prince's laugh that Molly thinks is so cute. It's soft and melodic, which Jordan supposes makes sense because Aikka is pretty soft-spoken to begin with. And the firm set of his jaw relaxes when he does it, smiling genuinely, without reservation, and Jordan can maybe understand why Molly would think that's attractive. He could maybe agree with her. Maybe.
Finally, there's the bravery, the loyalty, and the ability to do what's right that Aikka demonstrates after the final race on Oban, when he flies through a dust storm and pledges to help Molly reach the Temple of Heart. Certainly, he didn't have to do that, Jordan doesn't think anyone expected him to just show up and then follow them to what could very well be a gruesome end in the bowels of a temple where no one would ever find them. But he did, the only heir to the Nourasian throne throwing himself in harm's way to protect the galaxy's only hope because it was right. And after everything is said and done, and all the competitors have returned to their home planets and Jordan is left to pick up the pieces and figure out exactly what being the Avatar means, he thinks that maybe, if Molly and Aikka did end up together, it would be alright.
Jordan visits Nourasia after the race ends, mostly because it's closer than other planets and he's so lonely, but also because he feels like he should maybe apologize to Aikka for how he treated him during the race and thank him for his help at the end. And those blue eyes widen with disbelief upon seeing Jordan standing there, and then the face softens and that unreserved smile appears, small but still present, and Jordan realizes that he missed this, he missed Aikka. And then he shakes his head because that's ridiculous, and he's gone crazier and more desperate for conversation than he previously thought.
Over the next few months, Jordan regularly visits the prince, who tells him quietly, while they sit on the balcony outside Aikka's room overlooking the royal gardens, that he's grateful to have someone to talk to about the race. He tells him about the red-eyed, beaked faces that lurk behind closed eyelids and keep him up at night, and Jordan notices the shadows under the prince's eyes, the hard set of his jaw, and realizes that neither of them are unaffected by what they went through on Oban. And there is some comfort in finding someone who can relate to that. Jordan wonders how Molly is dealing with the pain, and makes a note to try to reach out to her soon.
After a year of getting to know Prince Aikka, Jordan thinks he has Molly's attraction to him figured out. Aikka is genuinely a kind individual. Age and experience are mellowing the cockiness, turning it into cool, collected confidence. He's charismatic, too, able to communicate effectively with advisors and politicians, and with minimal interference from the Avatar, Nourasia is able to quietly secure alliances with neighboring planets and push the Crogs back, if only temporarily. Aikka confides in Jordan that he is certain they'll return, but his planet will be ready for them. He is insightful and observant, and very little slips past his awareness. Including the way Jordan has been looking at him, apparently.
"You are looking at me like I have, oh, what's your expression, grown another head?" his smile is easy, his posture relaxed as he jokes.
"No I wasn't," Jordan splutters.
Aikka's laugh reminds Jordan of the bamboo-like wind chimes in the pavilion in the royal garden, rich and mellow. "Then what have you been staring at?" And he leans in, his hand coming up to cup Jordan's face, and Jordan unconsciously leans into the touch. It's been so long since he's been touched by anyone in any capacity. The prince's hands are warm, and calloused from years of archery.
"I said I wasn't staring at you like you'd grown another head, not that I wasn't staring at you," Jordan says with a grin, and the prince rolls his eyes and presses their foreheads together. The metal of his crown is cool against Jordan's skin.
Jordan takes Aikka's free hand and twines their fingers together nervously. "You know, if 17-year-old me knew that I would be spending a lot of time with a Nourasian and not fighting him, I think he would have told me not to be stupid."
"But here you are," Aikka murmurs.
"Here we are," Jordan corrects him.
And he knows that this can't happen either, not really, but right now, this is enough. And he realizes, belatedly, that the things he spent so long looking for to try to justify his teammate's interest are the things that Jordan likes about the prince, and wonders if he would even be here if Molly hadn't said anything before that first race on Alwas.
Perhaps he'll have to thank her when he finally makes it back to Earth.
AN: Even though I've been sitting on this a week, I still don't feel super great about it but as the kids said two years ago, "yolo." There's also an exchange between Jordan and Molly that I wrote up that happened after this if anyone would like to read it? But for now I've decided to just post this. I will single-handedly pioneer this ship if I must.
I would also like everyone to know that the working title for this was "Can I get uhhhh... bi Jordan" so. Happy pride, y'all.