breathless

He made her feel breathless. [Kai/Jinora]


He made her feel breathless.

She can't exactly pinpoint what it is. Maybe it's because his eyes are green. Because she didn't grow up around green eyes. She grew up among brown and gray and they're beautiful colours - the soil after a rain, the sky during winter - but there's something special about green. Green is life, change, growth, all things she knows she will cherish. And that includes these memories.

Maybe it's because of his hair. Brown, wild, unkempt and curly. So unlike her father's rigid beard, her brother's shaved head, her mother and sister's neat hair. So unlike her own. She knows, that hopefully someday, his hair will have to be cut in order for him to get tattoos. And she hopes that before that happens, she will be able to reach up and run her fingers through his hair.

Maybe it's because he's so willing to listen. He values her advice; listens to her with rapt attention. Having someone's undivided attention was nerve wracking, but in the best way possible. Her siblings talked over her, but he... He was so eager to listen. To be taught. Whether it was an airbending move, or something about the culture, or something about her (even if it was a tiny insignificant detail like how her favourite colour used to be blue, but now it's green).

Maybe it's because he always has the sweetest things to say. He always takes time to say thank you, as if unused to kindness (the thought breaks her heart). If she compliments him, he compliments her right back. And she knows he means it. He isn't like her dad, who has to praise her because he's her dad. He's sincere. And it just makes her blush even harder.

Maybe it's because of the way he makes her heart pound. Quick, stolen touches that make her skin burn and her heart hammer against her ribcage when she helps guide him through Aarbending moves. Gentle arm brushes at the dinner table that happen by accident. Fleeting hand bumping when they reach for the same thing at the same time.

Maybe it's because she believes in him. She knows he's a good person. He lies, steals, cheats. But he's brave, kind, smart and stands up for others. And she believes he will be better - a better person, a better airbender - than he is now. One day, he will no longer lie, or cheat, but she's pretty sure he'll always be a thief.

After all, he had a habit of stealing her breath away. And, she had a feeling he was quickly capturing her heart as well.


New OTP anyone? I haven't felt this passionate about a pairing (especially one between - technically - an eleven and twelve year old) in a long, long time, so expect lots of Kainora fics from me!