GENERAL DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE LEGEND OF KORRA, OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS HEREIN (aside from Zanda. He is an original creation). THIS IS A FANFIC MADE FOR PERSONAL ENJOYMENT THAT I WISH TO SHARE WITH THE WORLD. IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE CONTENT, DEAL WITH IT.
Zanda's Glade
It is a year after Zaheer's defeat and Korra's departure to recover. Life on Air Temple Island has settled into a routine of meditation and training. Kai has recently been sneaking around, acting suspicious, volunteering for chores where before he would go out of his way to avoid them. On a lazy summer day, the sun shining down oppressively on the island, he puts his plan into motion.
"Jinora!"
Startled, Jinora looks up from the book she was reading to see Kai crouched on the window sill, sweat dotting his brow. It ishot today, she thinks, wiping her own. "What is it?"
"Come with me. There's something I want to show you."
"Come on, Kai. It's so hot today," she says. "I just want to stay inside and read."
"Come on. Trust me, it'll be worth it," he says, a gleam in his eyes. "Besides, the feeling of the wind flowing through your hair ought to help cool you down."
Jinora sighs, seeing his point. Especially now that I finally have hair again, she thinks, remembering when she got her tattoos and became a master. "Fine. But this better not get us into trouble like last time," she chides.
"What are you talking about?" Kai asks, acting innocent with a smug grin barely suppressed. Laughing, he dives out the window, his glider popping open and a wind surging up to give him lift. Sighing but smiling, Jinora follows suit, leveling out beside him.
"So, what's this thing you want to show me?" Jinora asks over the wind. Kai responds by shaking his head, his grin flashing.
"Trust me, Jinora, it'll be worth the surprise."
Rolling her eyes, Jinora looks ahead, wondering what it could be.
She looks bored, Kai thinks to himself, watching Jinora side-long, trying to not look as if he's staring. Maybe I should mix things up a bit. In a flash, Kai barrel rolls over Jinora, drawing her attention to him, ending up flying upside-down below her, looking up into her face. Smiling, he stays there, struck by her beauty, her face framed in a halo of sunlight, her hair flying about her. Awestruck, Kai could only stare as Jinora, caught in a similar trance, slowly descends. Somehow, she lands on his chest, lying there as Kai supports them both on his glider, still floating along on its back. Their eyes locked, their faces drift closer and closer…
With a rustle of leaves, the two are startled as a large bird erupts from the forest, now not far beneath them, and they quickly right themselves, each right-side up on their gliders, blushing furiously. After a small awkward silence, Kai speaks up over the wind.
"This is close enough. We go the rest of the way on foot." Without a word and without acknowledging Jinora's confusion, Kai descends to the forest, lightly landing and folding his glider. Following suit, Jinora lands, the shade beneath the canopy a welcome relief from the harsh sun.
"At least it's nice and cool down here," she remarks. Looking around, she notices an obvious path, her instinct proven correct as Kai makes his way towards it. Walking along, Jinora takes in her surroundings, noting the lush plant life and vibrant flowers everywhere. If nothing else, this place is beautiful, she thinks to herself.
After a few more minutes of walking in silence, Kai glances back for the umpteenth time, trying to think of a way to break the ice. That stunt of mine didn't work out quite the way I wanted. At least we're almost there. Deciding it was time, Kai stopped in the path.
"What is it?" Jinora asks, worried.
"It's nothing," he says, calming her. "I just want it to be a surprise," he states as he brings a blindfold out of his pocket. "You trust me?"
Without a pause she nods and turns around so he can put the blindfold on her. From there, he takes her hand, slowly leading her along the final stretch. After a couple minutes, he stops her, taking up a position behind her. "Are you ready?" At her nod, Kai undoes the blindfold, letting it fall away. Blinking, Jinora gives her eyes a couple seconds to readjust to the sunlight, and what she sees takes her breath away.