Disclaimer: Bryke owns Korra
A.N.: Here's an update for you all. It's mostly some background info on Agni and his dad. Next chapter will be better, I promise. And as always, if you find any spelling errors please let me know. I can't stand them in my stories.
Kai vs. Agni
Chapter Two: An Interesting Dinner
Jinora led the two boys down to the dining hall and let go of both of their hands right before they reached the doorway. She wasn't dumb enough to let the other airbenders, especially her dad see her holding hands with not just one, but with two boys. Especially when the one had just arrived a few hours ago and the other one didn't really make her dad leap for joy.
"You two go in first, I have to make sure you don't run off again." She flashed them a smile. Both boys flushed red at her, and then abruptly turned around as quick as they could to avoid her seeing them. They did not account for their proximity to each other, as they crashed into each other when they tried pass through the door.
"Watch where you're going!"
"Why don't you!?"
Jinora laughed silently laughed at the two boys. They were way too obvious. But hey, boys will be boys. Plus, it's not like Jinora never thought about two cute boys fighting over her. Boys could keep their catfights, she was going to have herself a bender fight. She paused before walking into the dining room, maybe Kai was a bad influence on her...or Korra's stories about Mako with her and Asami. It's not like the reason mattered, she was going to enjoy it.
"Jinora, over here", Tenzin motioned for Jinora to come sit at his table which he was sharing with Professor Lee, Agni, and an air acolyte. Jinora walked over to sit down next to Agni, whose face was taken over by a slight blush and accompanying goofy smile.
Jinora searched the room for Kai. She found him towards the corner with a few of the younger airbenders. Instead of joining his tablemates in their lively conversation, he was occupying himself by glaring at Agni.
Oblivious to the death glare he was getting by the young airbender, Agni turned to face Jinora.
"So, Jinora, what do you do for fun?"
Jinora flashed him a smile, causing the boy to blush. She was going to have to ask her mom, Korra and Asami if all guys were this easy.
"Read mostly. Practice my airbending. More airbending. And using my glider."
"Are you any good with it?"
Jinora put her nose up at the question. "I'm very good with my glider. In fact, I'm the best in the world when it comes to glider techniques."
"Jinora don't be so arrogant. It is unbecoming of an airbender."
"But dad, I'm not wrong. Only four airbenders in the last century have been trained with gliders and you're not in your prime anymore."
Tenzin's face went red as his guests started laughing. Jinora looked over at Kai's table. He wasn't there anymore. She hopped up in surprise when she heard a bowl hit the table in front of her.
"Sorry," Kai looked at Tenzin and smiled, "I was just curious about our new guests. I mean, Professor Lee, you said you want your son to implement all types of bending into his bending style. So have you traveled to other countries?"
Professor Lee's golden eyes sparkled with interest.
"Yeah yes, our last visit was actually a trip to the sand benders' village in the desert, where we stayed for four months." Kai inwardly groaned, he might have to deal with Agni for four months.
"Before that, we were at the South Pole for three months of their summer. If I recall correctly, Agni met a girl there."
"Dad!"
Kai's face broke out into a smug smirk at Agni's blushing and Jinora's small gasp of surprise. He propped his head up on his hand as he leaned towards Agni, smirk still plastered on his face despite his efforts to hide it.
"Was she "helping" you with your firebending training?"
Agni's blush vanished, only to be replaced with red anger.
"Yes, she was," he spat back at Kai, "it's not my fault if she liked me."
"But didn't you kiss her?"
"DAD!" Kai's grin only grew wider.
At this point the entire population of the temple were looking at the table where their master and his guests were sitting. They also made no attempt to hide their snickering.
Jinora looked over at Agni, "You have a girlfriend?" Kai leaned back, triumphantly, before he remembered that they were sitting on a bench.
"Gah!" A loud thunk resounded through the dining hall.
"Kai, are you all right?" The air acolyte who was sitting next to him, reached his hand out to help Kai up.
"Yeah." Kai grabbed the acolyte's hand and hoisted himself up. He dusted off his clothes.
Agni smiled a bit. "You sure you're good? That sounded pretty bad."
Kai's gaze lowered into a glare. "I'm fine." He seated himself back down at the bench. "Now what was that about you kissing a water tribe girl?"
"Yes, I'd also like to hear that story."
Agni blushed at Jinora's comment to Kai's question.
"Are you sure you don't want to hear a different story? Like when we went to learn how to do chi blocking? Or when I got to train with the Kyoshi warriors?"
Jinora smiled and shook her head. "Not really. I've always been a sucker for love stories."
"Me too." Agni glared at Kai. He might be cool to hang with if he weren't so hung up on trying to make him look bad in front of Jinora. Fine then, he would wipe that smile off his face. He turned to face Jinora and put his arm up on the table and leaned over the table a bit, as if to say "this is a private conversation, butt out."
"Fine, I'll tell you about it. Like my dad told you, we were there for three months during their Summer. She was a waterbender around my age named, Katya. She wanted to learn some basic firebending stances, saying she was inspired by my learning other bending styles. She offered to give me some extra waterbending lessons in exchange for it. That was after two weeks of being there. So, naturally we got to being friends. Our last day there was the last day of the sun shining until the next Summer. She told me it was Southern Water tribe custom to kiss someone when the last sunshine is in the sky with the first moonlight of the Winter in order to bring luck to both people for the rest of the year. So, I kissed her. I didn't want to offend her by ignoring her culture's traditions."
Jinora smiled a bit, "Well, that was...nice of you."
Kai let out a big laugh, "You're that easy? Did you know back in my original village it's traditional for a boy and girl to kiss every time they see a lamp. Would you like to visit it next?"
Agni glared at Kai, "I'm being serious."
"Sure you are."
"Kai," Kai clammed up when Tenzin uttered his name, "stop being rude. Although I must say that I have never heard of that custom and I am technically part Southern Water tribe. She probably tricked you into kissing her, or it's new amongst the kids."
"Or he's just lying."
"Kai!"
"Sorry...," Kai looked down while uttering his half-hearted apology. He didn't expect Jinora to react like that. He would have to apologize to her later.
Tenzin shook his head in disappointment, "Of all things to call someone Kai, a liar. You of all people should know better."
Kai continued looking down. He pushed himself up from the table and turned around, "I'll be in my room. Sorry..." Jinora looked at Kai as he walked dejectedly from the hall.
"Dad, that was uncalled for."
"Jinora, he was being rude to our guest and calling him names that he himself knows are extremely hurtful. He had no right-"
"No, you had no right. You said you would give him a chance and you still treat him the same way as when we first met him. It's not right. Now if you'll excuse me." Jinora stood up to walk away. Agni pulled her back down by the back of her robe.
"It's partially my fault he's upset," he blushed at Jinora's reaction to his comment. Her eyes literally sparkled. He didn't even know that was possible. "I'll go talk to him and sort this out.
"Agni?"
"Yeah?"
Jinora smiled at the young firebender, "Thank you."
Agni blushed as he raced out of the dining hall and towards the direction Kai had left.