Jinora sat with her eyes closed, trying to meditate. It was not easy with her three younger brothers all squirming around and probably throwing spitballs at each other. Even at twenty, Meelo was still very much like a child. Fifteen year old Rohan was a very angsty teenager, but he was also a boy and had spent lots of time with Uncle Bumi, a fact that his manners made painfully obvious. Ten year old Gyatso really was a child. He was the most serious of all the boys, but with brothers like Meelo and Rohan, how serious could he be? Rohan was the only non bender out of Tenzin and Pema's five children. It was hard on him. Though the airbending race was increasing by leaps and bounds, there was still a lot of pressure for Tenzin's children to have airbenders of their own. Rohan would never be able to fulfill that obligation. As a non bender, Uncle Bumi understood that better than Rohan's parents or siblings ever could. Gyatso was the final addition to Pema and Tenzin's family. Jinora tdecided they had run out of names, and so they named their youngest son for Aang's beloved mentor. It was a good name and Gyatso was a good kid, but Jinora's brothers still managed to get on her nerves.
Yet another giggle disrupted Jinora's attempt at meditation. Letting out a sigh, she opened her eyes. She turned around and looked at her brothers, who were all heaped on top of one another. Jinora looked at them with disdain. "If you three aren't going to meditate, go find something else to do. Don't you have a wedding to plan for Meelo? And Rohan, Dad said you need to go visit your bison. Gyatso... just go find something to do." Jinora spoke quietly. She could be bossy, but she wasn't as obnoxious about it as Ikki usually was. The boys disentangled themselves from each other before scampering off. Jinora stood, rolling her shoulders back.
It was weird to think that Meelo was getting married. Meelo, her snot nosed, burp bending little brother, had actually found someone to settle down and have little snot nosed, burp bending babies with. Ikki was married too, and already seven months pregnant. And then there was Jinora. She'd had boyfriends before, but never for long. Her parents were anxious for her to settle down and get to work on a family of her own. Jinora hadn't worried too much about it until recently. Her younger siblings were starting families . Jinora couldn't argue that she didn't have time; Korra was the avatar and she had a healthy relationship with Mako plus kids. The more she thought about it, the more Jinora realized that she did want those things. She wanted a husband and babies who had snotty noses and burp bended. Jinora sighed, going towards the kitchen. Maybe some tea and a good book would help clear her head.
As she walked towards the kitchen, Jinora was stopped in her tracks by the sound of complete and utter pandemonium. She groaned. Jinora had forgotten that Korra, Mako, their kids, Ikki, Ikki's husband, Uncle Bumi, Aunt Kya, Bolin and the rest of the airbender family were all going to be spending a long and fun filled day together. Jinora wasn't sure what she needed to get out of her funk, but it certainly wasn't more time surrounded by happy familys. She could already feel the jealousy springing to life in her gut. Jinora continued on her way to the kitchen. If she hurried, she could at least get her tea before anyone else made it in there.
Jinora had underestimated the speed of a hungry Bolin and his equally hungry fire ferret. He was already rummaging for food when Jinora entered the kitchen, his ferret, Pabu III, scampering along the shelves. At thirty one, Bolin was still as happy go lucky and accident prone as always. Jinora laughed when he ate a raw sea prune and immediately made odd hacking noises, his movements eliciting a squeak of concern from his pet.
"You know you're supposed to eat those stewed, right? Didn't you take a water tribe girl?" Jinora asked Bolin teasingly.
Bolin whipped around, the disgust on his face turning to a grin. His teeth were stained purple with sea prune juice. Jinora laughed again. Bolin looked hurt. "You could have told me that before I ate it. And don't remind me about that girl. She was nuts."
"I'm not laughing at you. No, that's a lie. I am laughing at you, but not all of you. Just your teeth." Jinora stopped before her foot went any further into her mouth. Bolin had always had that affect on her. She figured that his ditziness was catching. "Anyways, I was about to make some tea. Would you like some? It will, ah, cleanse your pallet." Jinora offered.
"That would be fantastic. Thanks Jinora." Bolin said, leaning back against the wall. Pabu scampered onto his shoulder. Jinora could still see the sixteen year old boy Bolin had been when she first met him, even though he was plainly older and had been through the the wringer a few times.
Jinora moved about the kitchen, gathering what she needed and boiling water. She did not find the silence uncomfortable, but Bolin, being Bolin, felt the need to fill it. "So, you ready to spend the day with the extended sort-of family? We can be third weels, or thirteenth wheels, or babysitters, together, just like always."
Jinora tensed, Bolin's words hitting a sensitive nerve. She didn't want to be an extra wheel. Jinora hated feeling like a nonessential part. She finished making the tea in silence, shoving a cup at Bolin with more force than was necessary. She pursed herself some tea before stalking off, throwing words over her shoulder at Bolin. "There's your tea. If anyone asks, I'm meditating. If they want to bother me I'm sick or busy or something."
Perplexed, Bolin tightened his grip around his cup of tea and looked at Pabu. "Was it something I said?" he asked the fire ferret. The only answer he got was a squeak.