A/N: I absolutely LOVE Jinoochy! It's become my newest favorite ship of Legend of Korra, and it's not even real XD But that doesn't stop me! I feel like I know these two characters so well though, and I especially love Skoochy in my headcanon... He's just so freaking awesome. Also, in my mind, he's a huge fan of pro-bending.
Anyway, there is a little Masami in here, even though I don't support that ship, because there has to be for the timing to work (there'll be some jealous!Korra). This is before everyone gets captured and stuff, and in my mind the pro-bending arena is fixed and not burned, but it isn't really used either. Enjoy my dreamy pairing story! (it IS pretty AU)
"But Jinora, you just HAVE to come!" Ikki whined, pulling on her big sister's hand.
"I said no, Ikki!" The oldest airbending child jerked her arm out of the quick-talking seven-year-old's reach. "I don't want to go into the city! I'm perfectly happy reading my romantic adventure books. Now, go awa- HEY! Give that back!" Ikki giggled loudly as she snatched the thick tome from her sister, jumping around the room before skipping out the door and leading the furious ten-year-old to the ferry where Korra, Mako, Asami, Bolin, and Meelo were currently boarding. She leaped onto the boat, followed quickly by her sister.
"Oh, hi Jinora!" Korra sounded surprised. "I thought you were planning on reading all day."
"I WAS," she hissed through gritted teeth, glaring at Ikki, who squeaked and hid behind Bolin. "But now I guess I'm coming with you guys."
"You could always sit in Central City Park and read," Asami suggested, nestling closer to Mako as he placed an arm around her shoulders. Jinora noticed Korra stiffening slightly and turning away from the couple to look across the water, frowning. Jinora raised an eyebrow. She may not have much experience with relationships, but she knew there was something there.
"So, what do you say, Jin?" Bolin asked, interrupting her scrutinizing. "Want to hang in the park while we go sightseeing? We can meet back at the docks at the end of the day." She sighed, grabbing her book from where it'd fallen on the deck. Might as well read in a quiet place instead of being dragged around by her kid sister.
"Sure. You guys have fun."
...and the earthbender twitched his hands, causing the ground to rise and Kumiko to lose her footing on the dirt. "I told you I could sweep you off your feet," he smirked, holding out a calloused hand to help her up. She ignored it, clambering to her feet looking disgruntled. "That was cheating," she sniffed, turning up her nose. Haruto grinned, opening his mouth to begin a retort...
"Hey, you there!" a young male voice interrupted Jinora's reading. She clenched her fist, annoyed. Was everyone determined to keep her from finishing her book today? She raised her head, poised to send an air blast into the boy's face, when he plopped down next to her, surprising her enough to let go of the air. A harsh gust whipped his patched cap off his shaggy head, flipping over itself only to be stopped by a tree next to the bench on which they sat.
"Well, I guess that answers my question," the scruffy boy chuckled, jumping over to his hat and placing it back on his dirty black hair. To Jinora's suspicious and questioning look, he laughed again. "I was wondering if you were one of the airbending kids. I figured, because of the red and yellow getup, that you were, but I wasn't totally sure. There certainly are some crazies here in Central City Park." Jinora nodded slowly, thinking that maybe she'd met a "crazy" now herself... "Anyway," he started again, "I'm Skoochy. What's your name, dollface?" A dirty, calloused hand was held out to her, and she suddenly thought of her romance-adventure story. No, she thought, scoffing inwardly. This is nothing like that. Blinking a bit to clear her over-imaginative head, she offered her own, cleaner, daintier hand, gripping his tanned one and shaking it firmly.
"I'm Jinora. And don't call me dollface, mister. That's not proper. I'm only ten, and you barely look eleven!" She shook her finger at him, secretly smiling as he looked vaguely affronted.
"Well, I'm sorry, Miss Jinora. I'll be more like a gentleman next time. And I'll have you know, I'm twelve and a half; NOT eleven." He crossed his skinny arms, his glances seeming teasingly offended. She giggled slightly, responding to part of his statement.
"Next time? What makes you think we'll be seeing each other again?"
"Well, we have to!" he exclaimed, jumping up and waving his arms about comically. "I have to practice being a gentleman, don't I?" Jinora nodded, snickering as passersby stared at him like he was a rabaroo doing a circus performance.
"Here, let me practice now," he held out his hand, helping the airbender up from the wooden bench. "I'll take you on a tour of Republic City. We'll go everywhere no one else can." Jinora smiled, following Skoochy across the alabaster bridge and out of Central City Park.
Maybe today wouldn't be so bad after all.
Skoochy thought he could lead Jinora around all day. She was constantly amazed at seeing things in person that she'd read about, and kept spouting off facts that even he didn't know, and he'd lived in Republic City all his life.
"Oh, it's Narook's Noodlery! Y'know, Bolin and Korra say it's the best place around." Jinora suddenly blushed, turning to her tour guide. "Uhm, would you want to stop and get some lunch?" The scruffy rag-a-muffin grinned brightly, taking the girl's hand and leading her into the restaurant.
"Welcome!" the owner boomed. "Oh, hello Skoochy! Hmm, who's the dame?" Narook winked at the two young people, making them both flush and Skoochy send him a glare.
"We'd like a table please," Jinora requested, her face still a vibrant pink.
"Of course," he winked again, ushering them over to a small table near a window with an excellent view of Central City Station.
"Oh, this city is wonderful," the airbender sighed, gazing out at the brilliant, late-afternoon glow that lit the peaceful train station. Skoochy nodded absently.
"Yeah, you are," he murmured under his breath, just low enough so his "date" couldn't hear him. "If you think that's good," he started louder, "you should come with me to see the attic of the pro-bending arena when we're done eating. I just know you've never seen a better view, even from Air Temple Island, and since they fixed up the burned bits, Toza- the owner- lets me use the gym to practice sometimes." Jinora turned to him in surprise.
"You're a bender?" She raised her thin eyebrows.
"But of course," Skoochy grinned, flicking his nimble fingers and raising up a stray pebble off the floor. "Earthbender since I could crawl. I wish I could join a pro-bending team for it, but I'm not old enough; and that's regardless of the fact they shut the tournaments down." His downcast look transferred to Jinora, and she caught his eyes in a sympathetic look.
"I bet you'd be amazing," she smiled shyly, unconsciously improving his mood on multiple levels. He beamed as he noticed their bowls were cleaned of any traditional watertribe chow.
"Want to go to the arena now?" he asked, uncharacteristically eager, fishing his last yuans out of his tattered pockets. "I can pay, and then we can-"
"No sir!" The two heard Narook protest, interrupting the preteen's sentence by bounding over from his observing perch and shoving the money back in his grimy hand. "This time, it's on the house. You take that pretty little lady out for a good time. Besides, it's almost sunset, and you got to hurry if you want to make it to the arena before dark." Skoochy grinned broadly, thanking the large man profusely as they exited the restaurant.
Pro-bending arena, here they come.
"Oh, wow!" Jinora gasped, clutching her book to her chest as she looked out from the attic window of the huge, domed golden building.
"Right? It's the catowl's pajamas, I tell ya. I wish the tournaments were still going on, you know that. Mako and Bolin, they used to let me stay here sometimes when it rained real bad or the triads were in my usual joint near the Station. They were good to vagabonds, being former ones themselves. I always wondered where they went after this place got turned inside out. I never saw them on the street. I'm glad they found a place to stay with you." Skoochy blushed slightly. "I'd bet that any place would be fine with you there." Jinora flushed pink, sliding her fingers subconsciously along the cover of the book she'd nearly forgotten about. He was so like the Earthbender from her story...
"Hey, Jinora?" Skoochy broke her train of thought, and she noted that he sounded vaguely nervous. "Today was totally aces. Can... Can I see you tomorrow?" The airbender beamed at him, easing his tightening heartstrings.
"Probably," she glanced worriedly out of the large window toward her home. "I might have to convince my father to let me out though. He's rather... protective." She grinned sheepishly. He nodded understandingly.
"Well, just in case, I don't want to get you home late so he has an excuse to not let you back tomorrow. We should get you to the docks." She nodded, following him out of the arena and across streets to where the ferry was about to land. The two young people sat on a bench similar to the one they were on that morning, talking and laughing about their day until a shout that sounded like Korra's called from behind them, attracting the airbender's attention.
"Jinora, there you are! It's time to go!"
"Promise I'll see you tomorrow?" Skoochy questioned, taking off his cap and running his nimble fingers through his shaggy black hair.
"I will make no such promises," Jinora smiled mysteriously, blushing slightly and collecting her book from beside her as she got up to leave. Waving airily, she departed on the ferry, winking back at the cute street urchin. When she turned around to speak to Avatar Korra, Skoochy whistled through his teeth.
What a girl...
"So, who was the boy?" Korra nudged her sort-of-little-sister, a twinkle in her cerulean blue eyes.
"Oh, just a new friend," Jinora grinned, slightly smug. The Avatar rolled her eyes in amusement. She knew that look, and he would be more than "just a friend."
She knew it.
A/N: SQUEAL! I love them *hearts* and there will be one more part, maybe two more if I get an idea or someone gives one to me. Review please! It's the only way I can improve ^_^
