8: Before

I don't own The Legend Of Korra

When Jinora arrived at the breakfast table the next day she found her siblings, and Mako. He had bags under his eyes, and was looking at his paperwork with contempt as he drank a cup of coffee. He explained that some new security issues needed to be discussed between the RCPD and Air Temple Island, but because of everyone's' already full schedules, he had to deal with it first thing in the morning.

He didn't look pleased.

Her mum entered and explained that as Tenzin had already left for the mainland, Jinora would need to attend a short notice security meeting...

Jinora and Mako shared an awkward look. Despite being around each other often over the years, little one-to-one interaction had taken place.

Deciding that getting down to business was the best course of action, she took a seat across from Mako.

"Shall we get started, or do we need to wait for the others to leave"?

"It's fine, let's get this done".

The "issues" had middle-management written all over them. Not making or enacting decisions, just making sure the higher-ups could be told that those on the front line were doing their jobs properly. It was hard to believe that such a discussion could take an entire hour!

At some point the others had left, and with the meeting concluded with time to spare, Jinora wanted to get some answers.

"I'm hoping you can help me with something".

"Ok..."

"It's Kai" Makos' eyes narrow as he interrupts "why are you asking me for help with your boyfriend?"

"Because you're a guy, and the two of you aren't friends, so you won't cover for him".

Mako sighed "Go on".

Jinora explained how Kai froze went she mentioned women being together romantically, and how he's refusing to explain himself. By the end, Mako looked somewhere between embarrassed, sympathetic and annoyed. Not to mention he's blushing more than she's ever seen him.

"Jinora, don't worry about it. Its guy stuff and you won't thank him for telling you".

Huff "Fine, if this is some kind of man secret, so be it. So, should I expect you here on business again?"

"Hopefully not".

Jinora arched an eyebrow and Mako quickly backtracked.

"Its' nothing personal, I'm bad at this, and the Chief knows it. Besides, Wu wants me back on bodyguard duty when he heads to the Earth Kingdom, and I'm told it's as good as approved".

"You sound strangely happy about that".

"He's allot easier to handle these days, plus I think his ideas' worth it."

"Will you be sad to be away from the city for so long again?"

"Nah, probably for the best".

Jinora narrowed her eyes' questioningly.

"I got enough flack for being the Avatars' boyfriend and Asamis' ex when I joined the force, it got worse after me and Korra broke up. When their relationship goes public, my professional life's going to look like a highway pileup."

Just as Jinora was offering him a sympathetic look, something clicked in her mind. Makos' personal history, his reaction to her question, his reaction being so similar Kais...

Jinora should have known better than to talk without thinking, but such was her surprise...

"Mako, did you ever think about Korra and Asami..."

She stops at the look of panic on his face, eyes looking at her like she's about to set HIM on fire.

"I promise I won't say anything, we're on the same team remember" she says at a speed to rival Ikki.

After a long moment, Mako visibly relaxes.

"Yeah, we are, we'll have to get you a Team Avatar jacket".

"You have jackets?"

"Bolin brought it up a few times back in the day, but Asami always said no."

Jinora smiles at the thought.

Mako said his goodbyes and departed, and Jinora readied herself for (the rest of) her second day of meetings.

Said meetings were at least less traumatising than yesterdays', and she got to spend more time with Korra and Asami, as her dad was still talking with President Riko. While the matters under discussion were certainly easier for Jinora to deal with (details of plans decided on the previous day), and the presence of her friends very welcome, it meant she had to witness the couple hide their feelings firsthand the entire day. Like the others before her, she tried to get them as much time alone as possible, but it wasn't enough. Today however, it was Asami who needed help. As Varric wasn't trusted in most of the Earth Kingdom due to his work for Kuvira, Future Industries would need to take the lead with many important projects. While Jinora was sure this would be good business, soon a logistical monster was growing in front of her. By the end of the day, just thinking about the scale of the work needed made her head ache.

But then she'd see the strain on Asamis' face as she agreed to oversee another project that would transform the lives of people worst affected by the conflicts in the Earth Kingdom/Empire, and Korras' as she tried to support her girlfriend without revealing their secret. Jinora decided she had it pretty good.

Luckily for all three of them, their meetings finished earlier than yesterday. The couple headed back to Asamis' home and Jinora quickly met her dad. He'd given her a sealed envelope, with instructions to fly straight home and give said envelope to her mother, who accepted it gravely without comment.

#

True to her word, Jinora made sure Kai had his favourite treat waiting for him. She could have bought it, but she had a little extra time today, so to the kitchen she went. She was practiced enough at this recipe that her mind started to wonder. She had her answer, and another question.

Opal alone (as far as she knew) had suspected their friends' secret relationship. Jinora knew Opals' upbringing had been very different to anyone else's she knew, growing up in the most important family in one of the most forward thinking cities in the world. Had she come across such relationships in a book (one with a more positive view than the one she'd found), maybe someone she knew had such feeling, had she had them herself?

Jinora had to stop her curiosity from spiralling. She valued Opals' friendship greatly, as did Kai, and questioning her on these matters could damage that. But she still wanted to know what had tipped her friend off. Her dad had warned her of the dangers of blind spots around the time he'd reconciled with his siblings, and Jinora didn't want this to be one of hers.

Soon her culinary objective was complete; and Jinora was pleased to see a familiar Sky Bison flying towards the island.

She met the duo with hugs (and a kiss for Kai). As her boyfriend left for his usual post mission routine, she asked Opal if she could speak to her.

"Ok, what's going on"? Her friend asked, clearly perplexed.

"What made you think they might be something romantic between Korra and Asami"?

Opal paused for a second before answering. "Well, I saw how much time they spent together when they were fighting the Red Lotus and the Earth Queen, and then Korra was poisoned. There was the amount of support Asami gave Korra, and then word got around that Korra had only written to Asami while she was in the southern Water Tribe. Then they disappeared together as soon as they had some breathing room. That's not something you do with just anyone.

Jinora was struck by how obvious it sounded, and decided to go all in.

"I'd never heard of such a relationship before, and I only found one reference to them in the entire Republic City Library, and that was mainly about how the idea was suppressed. I understand if you don't want to explain, but I'd really like to know how you learned about them".

Opal seemed surprised by her question, her eyebrows rising. She looked at the sky and Jinora got the sense she was about to get a partial truth.

"When I was growing up, I was told that love was something that happened between people, genders were never mentioned. When I left Zaofu, no one directly said anything different; to be honest I was surprised when it turned out it was such a big deal."

"You certainly kept that quite" Jinora deadpanned.

Opal raised a single eyebrow . "I don't think calling your dad and everyone else those two are hiding their relationship from closed minded idiots would have helped".

"Touché. So I guess it's safe to say they won't get any trouble in Zaofu when it goes public".

Opal smiled and nodded before asking "how are they doing"?

"I think their coping" Jinora sighed.

#

A short time later, Jinora and Kai met at their spot. They exchange their gifts, Kai smiling widely at the sight of his.

"Always tastes better when you make it" he said, just on the tolerable side of eating with his mouth full.

"Charmer".

He leans in to embrace her, and she excepts.

"You know I meant it".

"I do, and don't worry about that little question, I figured it out".

He freezes.

"Don't worry, I'm not angry. But just you know, it's never going to happen".

He nods stiffly.

"You know I love you right?"

She raises a teasing eyebrow "You have your treat don't you".

They catch up like they have so many times before, well almost. She tells him about the envelope, and how she thinks something big is coming. He listens to her worries without interruption; only at the end reassuring her that whatever happens, they can handle it.

She thinks of how much the world has changed since Korra took on her role as the Avatar. She wants to enjoy the time left before it changes again. She's sure it'll be for the best in the long term, but her and her friends will have to deal with the mess made in the process.