CHAPTER TEN: Captain

The sun was still just beginning to rise when Kai woke up, the sky still a deep blue through the cracks in the window blinds. It took a second for him to remember where he was, when he saw a pink poster on the wall—and why he felt so sore, despite having something warm and soft nestled against his side. Jinora, the tips of her dark hair curling around her mouth, small and pink, and he flushed when he remembered too, how warm her lips had been against his.

He gently brushed a loose strand of hair from her forehead, careful not to wake her. It was almost impossible to believe that they'd been fighting just hours ago, when she was so close now.

She'd kissed him. She had kissed him.

His heart pounded a little faster as he replayed the kiss in his head, the hesitant but urgent movement of her lips. Somehow, it had been one of the most terrifying and happiest moments of his life.

And when she woke up...what would change, now that she had kissed him? Now that he had all but confessed to...to loving her.

I think I'm a little past like, actually.

God he was an idiot, an emotionally impulsive idiot. He most likely had a duel with Zaheer in a week, when they went back to Air Temple Island on Friday. This wasn't the time to be kissing girls, much less his best friend… Maybe that was exactly why he'd let himself get close enough so she could.

"K-Kai?"

He froze at the sound of her voice, glancing down carefully as she looked up at him with those big brown eyes. His heart melted a little. "Yeah?"

"How are you feeling?" She reached out, gently running her fingers over a bruise on his cheek.

He couldn't help leaning into her touch. "I'm fine," he said softly, his breath catching in his throat when she slowly took her hand away. She glanced away, pink dusting her cheeks, and the tips of his ears turned red despite himself, knowing they were both thinking about the same thing.

He opened his mouth to speak the same time she did—although what he was going to say, he had no idea—and they both hastily closed their mouths, stammering.

"So, um—" he managed eloquently.

Jinora tucked her hair behind her ears, still blushing. "Yeah—do you—do you want to—get breakfast?"

He blinked. "Oh. Um, sure. Are you hungry?"

"A little. I think they're serving chocolate chip pancakes today."

Kai smiled slightly, finding that he wasn't really that hungry, even for chocolate chip pancakes. Not when she was so close. "Jin?"

"Hmm?"

"I won't bite unless you want me to."

Her blush deepened, but he saw some of the tenseness seep out of her shoulders. "Oh." She was silent for a moment, before she said, "Kai?"

"Hmm?"

"I want you to."

A smile played along his lips as he leaned over, and gently brushed his lips across hers. Her lips slipped against his, and she pressed her mouth more firmly to his, her fingers tangling in his hair. He nipped gently at her bottom lip and she let out a soft sigh, drawing closer to him as he reached up and cupped the side of her face.

It was almost a little hard to kiss her, with how much she was threatening to smile and how much he wanted to grin right back at her, against her soft warm lips.

At least one good thing had come out of last night's disaster, and this time when he did pull away from her lips, he let his nose bump into hers as he grinned at her.

"Now we can go to breakfast?" he asked.

"Alright," she said, a little giggle escaping her lips. She was opening her bedroom door when she paused, her smile faltering. "Kai. What are we going to tell the others?"

"You mean the girls and Lee?"

"And our families. I mean, not that my family will mind, but—"

"I know what you mean." His brow furrowed. "I don't know. Maybe we don't tell anyone, until we figure out what we… what this is?" He rubbed the back of his neck. "And I still have to challenge Zaheer…"

"Then...we'll figure it out after you come back. Okay?"

He gave her a small smile. "Okay."

If only everything could be this simple.

###

The week leading up to March Break went by far too quickly and far too slowly. On one hand, he just wanted to have the challenge over with; to know if he'd live or die, to know the fate of his crew, to know if he'd be strong enough to survive and come back to what—or rather, who—would be waiting for him, as his bruises from the fighting ring faded. On the other, he never wanted the week to end, to be able to live in this small window of possibility for forever. To spend an eternity of nights sitting in the library with Jinora, studying, and stealing kisses in between textbook pages.

But Friday came anyway.

"You're going to be okay," Jinora told him, as their carriage back home trundled away from the school.

He tapped his fingers over his knee. He'd been so shaken up he'd even hugged Lee goodbye on the doorstep of the school. "I know."

"And we'll have a lot to look forward to, when you come back." She squeezed his hand gently, laying his fingers flat and still over his knee.

His voice steadied. "I know that too, Jin."

She placed her free hand on the far side of his face, and turned him towards her. "Good." He smiled slightly, leaning in to give her a soft kiss. They pulled away just as quickly, sharing a soft smile before Jinora laid her head back on his shoulder.

Despite all his time at sea, Kai wasn't sure he'd ever fully appreciated the calm before the storm.

If only he'd known it was about to hit.

###

Kai knew the minute he set foot on Air Temple Island that something was wrong, as he and Jinora disembarked from the carriage, with the Gyatso family waiting and servants unloading their luggage. It wasn't just that none of the crew were there, the way they should have been, or Yung at the very least, even though he'd seen the Waterbender moored at the south dockings of the Island. Something was twisted inside him, making the hair on the back of his neck stand on end, and he'd never ignored his instincts before.

Still, he tried to smile when Pema swept him up into a warm hug. "Unbelievable," she said, "the way you two keep growing." Did she know what he was expected to do now that he was home?

"It's good to see you," Kai said, trying for a smile. "When did the Waterbender dock?"

"A few days ago. They're still settling in, I believe. Rohan's getting out of school in few hours, and Ikki and Meelo are arriving tomorrow morning."

Kai swallowed. "I see."

"Kai," Tenzin said, once he had released his daughter, and looked at him carefully, "is everything alright?"

"Yeah," Kai said quickly. He forced his smile to be something genuine, to probably anyone but Yung and Jinora. "I just need to see Yung, about something, that's all. School forms, I think, since he's my guardian," he lied easily.

"If you'd like, I can sign—"

"I'd rather he do it, since I'm listed under his name, but thank you." Kai glanced back at the ship. "Is it alright if I go? I'll…" He looked at Jinora, his heart sinking, as if trying to root him to the spot, safe at the Gyatso estate. "I'll try to be back before dinner."

"Nonsense, there's no reason we can't walk you down," said Pema. "We haven't seen Yung since winter break, and I still need Daw's fudge-cookie recipe."

Kai couldn't think of any reason why they shouldn't walk down, and swallowed again. "Alright."

Maybe the Challenge wouldn't have to take place now, and maybe the Gyatsos wouldn't have to know about it until after Kai had long sailed off with the rest of the crew, either from a letter informing them of his death or his return, in time for the last stretch of school if he was lucky.

Hell, he'd be lucky to come back at all.

Lefty and Yung were waiting for him on the dock, before the ramp, and Yung reached Kai first, his pudgy face torn up in worry. "Kai, you don't have to do this—" He placed his hands on his boy's shoulders, as though to keep him shielded and in place.

"I'm not going to, if I don't have to," Kai said, but Yung didn't let go.

"Lefty never should have asked you," he said, shooting a furious glare over his shoulder at the larger men. "The crew didn't want to put this on your shoulders—"

"If he felt the need to write me, it was for a reason," Kai said. He managed a small, tight smile. "We'll be okay, Yung."

Yung looked at him for a long time, then hugged him again.

"Kai, what is going on?" Pema said, looking between them and Lefty.

"Pirate law," the boy replied, pulling away. "Let's go find out if we have to use it after all."

"Pirate law?" Tenzin asked, following quickly as Kai, Yung, and Lefty strode towards the center of the deck. "What does that—"

"If anything happens, run back to the estate," Kai said. "Lock the doors, either the ship will leave or you'll see me coming back through the window."

"I don't understand—"

"Kid, if this goes south, we're not just gonna leave," said Lefty. "We'll mutiny too—this is just a way to try and minimize the bloodshed—"

"What bloodshed?" Pema demanded, growing stern and anxious with every passing second.

"You have my sword?" Kai checked, even if his stomach squirmed at the thought of using what had technically been a gift from Zaheer to strike him down.

"I brought it up this morning, when he wasn't looking, it's in my sheath now," Yung said, drawing it out and passing it to Kai. They switched swords, the golden hilt gleaming against the brown leather of Kai's sheath.

"Kai—" Pema took his shoulder, and the only reason he didn't push her away was because she was Pema. "Kai, what's happening? Just tell us—"

"Go back to the mansion, please," Kai pleaded. "Jinora—"

"They can stay if they want to," Lefty said gruffly. "You know the law. They won't get hurt."

"Kai has to challenge Zaheer for captainship," Jinora said, and Kai shot her a look as Pema gasped and Tenzin whitened.

"Kai," Pema said softly, "you don't have to—"

"Yes I do," he said, more sharply than he meant to. "If—if Zaheer isn't willing to work this out peacefully, anyway." He looked at Jinora for a long time, every line and curve of her features leaving him breathless. He wondered if he really hadn't noticed, or fully appreciated, how beautiful she really was until now. "You don't have to stay for this."

"We're not leaving you," Jinora said firmly.

Kai barely resisted the urge to hold her tight and kiss her, instead giving her a nod. "If it all goes wrong, run."

"But it won't."

He smiled slightly. "Good to know you're carrying enough hope for the both of us." He turned back, his stomach dropping when he saw Zaheer only a few feet away, as though waiting for him. The rest of the crew wasn't far behind, apprehension written all over their faces.

"I was wondering if you'd be stupid enough to show your face around here," Zaheer sneered, scarred arms crossed over his barrel chest.

"Captain," Kai said, coming up the ramp. "I don't—I don't want to fight you."

"Of course you don't," he snorted. "You're not stupid enough to think you'll win this fight, unlike the rest of the crew."

"But I will if I have to," Kai said, injecting a little confidence into his voice. "This doesn't have to end badly, Zaheer. Not unless you make it."

"I made you what you are!"

"You've lost the crew's trust! They're terrified of you, and for good reason! Either step down and make this easier on all of us, or…" Kai gripped the hilt of his sword. "Or I'll make you."

Zaheer narrowed his eyes. "Is that a Challenge, boy?"

Kai swallowed, and drew his sword properly. "I guess it is."

Zaheer pulled out his sword, the reflection dulled from wear and bloodstains. "As the law states, you have three minutes to say your final words, to anyone who needs to hear them."

Yung was there before Kai could even blink. "Kid you can still back down," he whispered furiously, eyes bright with unshed tears, as he took Kai's shoulders in his hands. "It doesn't have to be just you. All of us can mutiny—"

"Then all of you would get hurt," Kai said stiffly. "I know what I'm doing, Yung."

"Kai—"

"I love you, Yung," he managed in a small croak. "Now let me go." Yung slowly released him.

Lefty was next, and Kai held his arm out for a handshake when the much larger pirate pulled him into a bone-crushing hug. "I know you can do this," Lefty told him. "I wouldn't have sent that letter if I didn't know that."

He squeezed Kai's shoulders, and the boy managed to smile up at him. "I know, Akash." He swallowed. "If—if I don't—"

"You're gonna make it, kid. Just make sure you've kicked his ass well enough when you do."

Kai almost smiled, and then lowered his voice. "Just take care of Yung, okay? Promise me."

Lefty's expression fell, but he nodded. "I promise."

Kai was making his way over to Jinora, and her parents, when he caught sight of Zaheer, standing on his own and scowling, the crew shrinking away from him, and a pang of sadness hit him. The law stated that both fighters had three minutes to say goodbye to their loved ones—except Zaheer didn't have anyone to say goodbye to. Not anymore. He'd lived and fought on this ship for almost twenty years and slowly but surely his men had all turned their backs on him. It was hardly the end he deserved.

All those thoughts fell away when he looked at Jinora, however. "Jin," he started, and then licked his lips, because his throat was unbearably dry and there was so much he wanted to say but he didn't know how to say any of it.

Worst of all, she was crying.

"Just don't do anything stupid," she managed, wiping at her eyes. "More than you already have, okay?"

"Too late," Kai said, trying to manage a smile.

"You better win."

"If I don't get to tell you what to do, how come you get to tell me?" he teased.

"Because I'm always right."

"Oh yeah?" He tilted his head. "Because—"

She kissed him, for a few moments, long enough for him to close his eyes and savour the feeling of her lips against his, and he didn't even care that this was in front of everyone, before she slowly pulled away. "You're going to win," she said, far more steadily than her shaking lips had felt, "okay?"

His lips twitched upwards. "Okay." A blush crept up the back of his neck as he tore his gaze away from her, and turned to her parents. "I, um…"

"I don't understand how any law can justify a duel with a child," Tenzin said, stroking his beard.

It was so ridiculous that Kai almost grinned. "Pirates are considered of age when we turn sixteen, sir."

"That's still too young to…" Tenzin took a breath, and Pema pulled Kai into a tight embrace.

"I'll have all your favourite dishes made when you get back," she whispered into his ear, and Kai wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.

"Thanks, Pema," he mumbled, looking back at Tenzin when Pema pulled away.

"Good luck, son," Tenzin said, giving Kai's shoulder a gentle squeeze.

For a terrible moment, Kai felt his eyes sting, and then wiped under his nose in an effort to compose himself. "Thank you, sir."

"Your three minutes is up, boy."

Kai stiffened, then turned back to Zaheer, walking towards him slowly as he drew his sword. It felt heavier, now, almost as heavy as his heart. "We fight according to the law?" he checked.

Zaheer drew his own sword, and the crew made sure to form a wide ring around them, to give them space. "According to the law," he confirmed.

There was a wordless countdown in their head, and then Kai lunged forward, mostly because he couldn't bear the waiting game in something like this, and if there was anything good about this duel, it was that there was no more room for waiting, as he blocked strike after strike, his sword clashing with Zaheer's. Duelling someone that you had spent hours with was proving to be as much of a challenge as Kai expected, as adrenaline and nerves made a tight, anxious bundle in his chest, because he knew that he had learned everything he knew from Zaheer, but Zaheer also hadn't taught him everything he knew. And Kai was fairly certain that was the fact that was going to get him killed, even if he grit his teeth, squared his shoulders, and seized a half successful feint to try and land a blow.

Try being the operative word. He missed by a few centimeters, which would have been pretty good in a spar but was awful in an actual fight—because he should have been better than this, and he could almost hear Zaheer's voice in his head telling him the exact same thing, even as the man across from him remained perfectly silent, features drawn up in rage and something else that Kai didn't have time to identify.

He let out a cry of pain as Zaheer's sword slashed against his upper arm, his blood hot against his skin and sticking to his sleeve as it spilled out. But then he swallowed it back with a hiss. It would be a new scar, that was all. It was nothing. He kept the hand that wanted to clamp over the wound steady at his side, shifting out of the way of Zaheer's next strike.

He needed to draw blood, and he needed to do it soon. Maybe that would be enough for them to call a truce. It was a rare occurrence in duels, but it happened. There was nothing wrong in hoping for it, was there?

Kai nearly lost his balance, avoiding a hard swing of Zaheer's sword, and realized that it was wrong, because he was losing focus over it. There was no room for hope, it seemed; only desperation, to live, to survive, to come out standing. If not for himself, then for the people who would mourn him. Jinora would cry, and Yung—he couldn't even stand the thought of what his death would do to Yung.

So Kai tucked in his elbows, slipped out his dagger, and shoved it into Zaheer's side when the captain was more distracted with his sword, in and out and slick with blood. Red dripped down the blade, onto the hilt and over his fingers. Zaheer faltered for a very short moment, but it was just enough of an opening for Kai to slash at his leg.

Long enough for his gaze to falter, and not notice the way Zaheer's sword was coming back around. Kai swerved to avoid it, putting his back to Zaheer for a moment—and then Zaheer's blade ripped his back open, up his spine, between his shoulder blades, and it felt like he couldn't breathe as he staggered forwards, legs weak. The only consolation was that he had hardly screamed.

"And that," Zaheer spit, leering, "is why you'll never be anything but a worthless street rat. You would be nothing without me, and everyone here knows it."

There was something warm and wet dripping down his back, and as he tried to straighten up, Zaheer smacked him across the back of his head, sending him down to the deck this time. A hard kick to the ribs made his hand slip around his sword hilt.

If he died, he just hoped Jinora would look away. That she wouldn't have to watch him bleed out on the deck.

He was able to regain his grip on his sword, although his footing was still unbalanced. He slashed blindly, trying to stay light on his feet enough to avoid any more blows, but he knew he wasn't going to win. He was bleeding and unfocused, and if anything, Zaheer was just toying with him now.

But… that did make the captain cocky, and Kai refused to go down without a bit more of a fight. He'd use his smaller size against him. He rolled out of the way as Zaheer's sword came down on him, and almost smiled. Zaheer was slower, less precise.

Even if Kai had to lose, at least he could make sure Zaheer came down with him. Yung could take captainship. The crew could be okay.

He twisted his wrist, and his sword dug into Zaheer's side, and Kai pushed it in further, even as his own legs wavered. Zaheer's cry was distant in Kai's ears, as if he was listening through a wall. He wrenched his sword out, and then set it against Zaheer's throat when the larger man fell to his knees.

For a long, sickening moment, his eyes leveled with Zaheer's, wild and angry and a little sad. "Finish it," Zaheer said, a thin line of blood lining his throat as he swallowed.

Kai slowly tilted his sword away, breathing hard through his nose. There was blood in his mouth. "I'm letting you live," he managed, "so my debt is repaid. But this is no longer your ship, and this is no longer your crew. Get out. Leave. And if you ever come back, I won't be as merciful."

He removed his sword from Zaheer's throat, gripping his sword tightly as he watched him get up, staggered to his feet, and something Kai couldn't describe—sadness? Anger?—flickered across his face, before he boarded the nearest lifeboat attached to the ship's railings. Appa and Lefty went to go handle the ropes at the same time Kai felt his legs give out on him.

The world seemed to blur around him, and voices swirled like a thick cream, smooth and distant and lovely. He looked up, and saw Jinora's eyes, brown and bright and rimmed with red, and he couldn't help but smile.

If this was the last thing he had to see, someone so beautiful and good, then maybe dying wouldn't be all that bad.

###

"I need to see him—"

"Jinora, Longshot's with him now, and doing everything he can—the wound shouldn't be too deep—"

"But—"

"You'd only be a distraction," Yung said firmly, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Don't you think I want to be in there too?"

Fresh tears burned in Jinora's eyes, but she didn't push it any further. "Fine," she mumbled.

"Daw's preparing some tea in the kitchens. You should go there, spend some time with your parents, and the rest of the crew."

"Then you should come too."

"I will." He gave her shoulders a reassuring squeeze, and then released her. "C'mon. It's gonna be a long day."

They both walked down to the mess hall, where a few pots of tea and several plates of cookies were waiting for them, though the cookies were barely touched. Jinora understood why, as she sat down next to Yung and took a cookie, only able to nibble at it before taking a small sip of tea. It was hard to be hungry, when waiting to hear if someone you loved had lived or died.

The way he'd smiled at her before collapsing in her arms, drenched in his own blood, replayed in her head over and over, and she shut her eyes tightly, trying not to let the image grow any more clear.

Her father kept muttering about barbaric laws under his breath, and her mother looked like she didn't quite know what to do. The crew was far more relaxed—Jinora supposed they were more used to having their loved ones sustain life threatening injuries—but they were all still nervous, which didn't really help her own pit of nerves, tight in her chest.

She took another sip of tea, the hot liquid singing her tongue and throat as it went down. At least she could still feel something other than numb dread.

It felt far longer than a few hours to begin with when Longshot finally emerged in the doorway, weary but grinning. "Our boy is going to be just fine," he announced, and Jinora very nearly burst into tears as relief washed over her.

"Can we see him?"

"He's still out of it," Longshot said, "resting, to sleep off pain, and I need to go triple check his wound for infection—"

"So, soon?" Yung inferred.

"Soon," the medic confirmed. "Just not right now."

"That's okay," Jinora said, her cheeks heating up. Maybe she'd been a little too obviously eager. "I can wait." She folded her hands in her lap.

"I'll start on dinner, then," Daw said, beaming. "Should I make our new captain's favourite?"

"Might as well," Yung clapped him on the shoulder. He reached down and raised his teacup. "To our new captain."

The rest of the crew raised their cups and tankards, and for a moment Jinora wondered if she should do the same, before they echoed Yung's sentiment. "To Captain Kai." Quiet but happy conversation broke out, now that it was sinking in that Zaheer was gone and Kai was okay, as Longshot made his way over to Yung.

"There is something odd, though," the medic said in a hushed voice, and Jinora wouldn't have been able to hear it if she hadn't been sitting right beside him. "It seems that there are bruises over his ribs that weren't sustained in his fight with Zaheer, but instead a week ago or so."

Yung's brow furrowed, and Jinora busied herself with her tea. "That doesn't make any sense," Yung said slowly, and she silently cursed when he looked at her. "Jinora, do you know of any reasons why Kai might have gotten into a fight this past week?"

"No," she lied. "I know he was upset when he got the letter about Zaheer, but…" she shrugged.

Yung narrowed his eyes. "Jinora."

"He… may have snuck out to the nearest fighting ring to blow off steam. And I may have followed him."

"You did what?" Tenzin turned around to look at her, arching his eyebrows.

"I didn't get involved, I just...wanted to make sure he was okay, none of us knew where he was. And I wasn't alone, I had Lee and the girls and Pfannee's big brother with us."

"Jinora, you all could have gotten seriously hurt."

"He could have, too. If we hadn't been there…" Jinora stared into her half-empty mug.

Yung crossed his arms over his chest. "Well he is getting a talking to when he wakes up. And after a meal. I've told him to stay away from those fighting rings. He used to go to them all the time when he was younger… but usually he'd have Appa or Imaru with him, to make sure his opponents couldn't gang up on him after he won all their gold."

Lefty clapped Yung on the shoulder, as Longshot left to go back to the ship's small infirmary. "Relax, Yung. Kai's fine, and well, you can't exactly ground him once he's captain, now can you?"

"I can try," Yung grumbled. It almost got a smile out of Jinora.

"When he's feeling better, are… Where will he stay?" Pema asked, and Jinora knew she was asking if he could stay at the estate a little longer. "Will he have to take captainship so soon?"

"We can stay here for a few days," Yung said. "And then we might need to sail for a bit, since spring is a very busy trading time for us. I expect Kai will want to assert his new captainship, continue a fearsome enough reputation to keep his safe—new captains are typically seen as weaker, after all, and he's young to boot—but we'll come back maybe in July. See if he can take the exams he's gonna miss. I know Longshot will want to go down to Whale Tail Island—there's some sea witches there that can ensure Kai doesn't get anything infected—but that'll only be two weeks, one there and back."

"Will he continue his education?" Pema pressed, and Yung sighed.

"I'd like him to continue, but… I suppose it's up to him. I know he'll want to visit Air Temple Island, at the very least." Yung glanced at Jinora. "But I wouldn't be surprised if he decides to go back to school, too."

Her cheeks warmed again. "Well, there's plenty of time to decide," she said quietly.

"Speaking of decisions," said Pema gently, laying a hand lightly on her daughter's arm. There was a smile playing across her lips. "You and Kai?"

"Oh, um…" Her blush deepened, and Yung grinned.

"Well I can hardly say I'm surprised. He's been smitten for months." Jinora buried her face in her hands, and Pema laughed lightly.

"So, how long have you two—?"

"Only a week," she mumbled, re emerging from behind her hands. "After he ran off and we brought him back, we just sort of…"

"You sort of…?" Tenzin looked at her carefully, and Jinora's flush deepened.

"Have done nothing you haven't already seen," she said sharply. "We just kissed, that's all. Kai's a gentleman, daddy, you know that."

"I know," he said gruffly. "Still. You're both growing up so fast."

Jinora smiled softly. "Not too fast." She glanced back towards the hall, to the infirmary. "I'm just glad he's alright."

"And I will expect you both to behave appropriately since I won't be forcing you both to have a chaperone when alone together—"

"Daddy," Jinora whined.

"At least he's not enforcing the chaperone rule," said Pema, smiling softly. "That's a lot of trust to the both of you."

"I know," Jinora admitted, with how rigid the rules of high society usually were. She just wished it could be different. "I just—" She stopped short when Longshot came back, and shot up from her chair. "He's up?"

"He's up. Everyone will get a chance to visit," he reassured the crew, holding up his hands when they went to stand up as well, "just in small groups of four. Any more than that will probably overwhelm him—he's still pretty disorientated. Mr. and Mrs. Gyatso, Jinora, Yung, you four first, I'm guessing?"

Jinora looked at Yung for the okay, and when he nodded, she got up and followed him to the infirmary, her parents trailing close behind.

The infirmary was a little cramped, but they all filed in as best as they could. Jinora's eyes watered when she saw Kai, wrapped in bandages, his eyes weary and his body bent awkwardly, as he could barely sit up on the infirmary cot. The rest of the room was taken up by shelves of bottles, potions and clumps of herbs tied together with twine. Jinora sat down at his bedside, wanting to take his hand, but unsure whether or not she could. "Kai?" she said quietly, afraid to speak too loudly.

He cracked a weak smile. "Hey Jin." His voice was little more than a quiet croak. "Thanks for catching me."

"Kai…" Jinora's eyes stung, and she reached for his hand, relieved when he took it, however weak his grip was.

"'M okay. Came back like I said I would."

"You did an honourable thing, kid," Yung said, taking up the stool beside him. "Sparing Zaheer's life like that."

Kai's slight smile melted off his face, and he rested his head back against his pillows. "Killing him wouldn't have been right," he mumbled. "After everything…"

"It's one of the things that'll make you a great captain," Yung said, beaming with a soft pride. "But you're still my boy, no matter how notorious you get."

Kai's mouth twitched slightly. "I know."

"I'd figure we could dock here for a few days, and then visit some of Longshot's medical friends down south? If that's alright with you?"

"Sure." Kai looked at him curiously. "Why would you need my permission?"

Yung's smile grew. "You're kind of the Captain now, kid."

Kai snorted softly. "Okay, well, you have my permission, then. Go do whatever you want."

Yung reached over and ruffled his hair, before getting to his feet. "Alright then." He paused in the doorway on his way out. "Oh and Kai?"

"Hmm?"

"You're grounded for sneaking out to that fighting ring."

"I—" But Yung had closed the door behind him before Kai could say anything else, and he sighed. "Guess I deserve that."

Jinora laughed softly. "Yes you do." She ran her thumb over his knuckles. "How are you feeling?"

"Better, now." His smile faded when he glanced at Tenzin. "So, uh, sir…" He swallowed hard. "You don't have to say yes even though I almost died, even if that would be well, nice, but, about Jinora and I—"

"I already know, son," Tenzin told him, his beard twitching. "I just hope that in the future you'll be a more safe, and stable part of my daughter's life."

"I'll do my best, sir." Kai looked back at Jinora, his eyes so tender she nearly started crying again. "She's very important to me."

Pema smiled, and then nudged her husband in the stomach. "Perhaps we should give them a chance to talk, dear?"

"I—But—" Tenzin spluttered, before he took a deep breath, then said, "Yes, I...suppose we could give them a moment."

They both filed out of the room, along with a rather amused looking Longshot, shutting the door gently behind them, and a pleasant nervousness buzzed in Jinora's stomach as she looked back at Kai. "Hey, so…" she cleared her throat. "About kissing you, up on deck."

"Mm?"

She pouted. "You're laughing at me."

"Well you are adorable when you're nervous."

Jinora smiled, rolling her eyes, before looking at him fondly. "I'm glad you're okay."

"Jin?"

"Mm?"

He leaned up to kiss her softly, briefly. "I'm really glad I'm alive."

Her eyes watered, and she gave him a soft smile. "I'm really glad you're alive, too." She kissed him again, careful not to apply too much pressure to his split lip. Her heart fluttered when she felt him smile against her mouth, and she very reluctantly pulled away, her hand still in his. "Don't forget about me when you're out there becoming some big-shot pirate captain," she teased. He gave her hand a weak squeeze.

"I could never forget about you."

She smirked at him, once her heart had finished melting. "Yung said you've been smitten for months." Kai groaned, grinning. "Is that true?"

"Yes." He touched her cheek gently with his fingertips. "Didn't you realize I was flirting with you in the hospital?"

"I did," she grinned back at him slyly, "but I thought you said those sort of things to all the girls."

"No, just some of those things," Kai said with a cheeky grin, and Jinora wrinkled her nose at him. "But I've never cared about any of them like this. Never felt so at peace, with anyone but you."

Jinora's smile softened. "I think you need a little peace in your life."

"Well I certainly need you."

"You'll always have me." She pressed a kiss to the back of his hand. "Besides, I need you too."

"Jin," he croaked. "Next time… If I get hurt like that again, look away, would you?"

Her bottom lip trembled. "If you don't want me seeing it, then don't get hurt like that again."

"I'll try not to, but you know piracy is dangerous. And I don't want you to see that, if...if something happens. It's not the first time I've been ripped open like that, and it probably won't be the last."

Jinora rested her forehead against his. "Then stop being a pirate."

He frowned at her. "Jinora—"

"My father has merchant ships that work for him. I bet he could get you and the rest of the crew honest work. You could leave piracy behind with Zaheer."

"There are already too many charges against us—"

"My father can clear them for all of you, you're all good men, you don't have to keep putting yourselves in so much danger." Jinora gently squeezed his hand. "You could come back to me."

"I'll come back to you no matter what," he said softly. "But we can't just stop being who we are, Jin. And...there are things I want to do, as captain. Maybe still illegal, but they're good things. I want to free the slave ships we used to pass by all the time, that Zaheer always ignored, for starters. I… I can go back to where I think I was born, and see if I can steal my birth records, or something." He smiled at her sadly. "I've always been a thief, Jin. I can't change that."

"You never stole from us, you're not a—"

"Nothing of material value, anyway," he said with a soft, crooked grin. Jinora flushed. "I try to be the best person I can, but I'm still a pirate. No matter how educated I become, or how much favour your family shows, I'm always a pirate."

Jinora swallowed, but nodded. "I know."

"Then accept it," he said gently. "Once someone falls down the ladder they can't climb back up."

"You know I love that you're a pirate," she murmured. "I just wish…" Her eyes skimmed over his bandages and bruises.

"It'll take a lot more than someone tearing me open to get rid of me," he said, running his thumb over hers. "And it'll take more than anything anyone could do to me to keep me away from you."

"I love you," she said quietly, a pleasant pink colouring her cheeks.

He gave her a weak smile. "Jin, I—"

"It's okay if you can't say it back." She kissed his forehead. "You should rest. Everyone else is going to be coming in small groups to see you, now, okay?"

"Okay. You'll come back soon?"

"Of course." She kissed him one more time, before reluctantly letting go of his hand and getting up from her chair.

Before she could fully open the door, Kai said, "Jin?"

"Yes?"

"I'll say it back, someday."

Warmth bloomed in her chest. "You really don't have to."

"I know."

She smiled at him, almost a little shyly, before shutting the door behind her. She had three or four more days before he'd leave, and well, she was going to make the most of them.

###

Kai's recovery, it turned out, didn't leave much room for many things. He had to rest for most of the day, drifting in and out of consciousness, and when he was awake he blinked too much, his head fuzzy from pain medication. Longshot had to switch his bandages two times a day, a lengthy, semi-painful process that no one else could sit in for. And Kai wouldn't have wanted any of them to, even if all Jinora wanted was to hold his hand through it all; she didn't deserve to see him like that.

The few things he could do, though, was be helped up the stairs onto the deck, eat meals with the rest of the crew, and on one particularly fine afternoon, Jinora was allowed to take him up to the gardens to walk around for a bit, as there were plenty of benches to take a break on when he got too tired.

But most of the time, like this evening, they stayed on the ship, watching the sunset. Jinora leaned on the railing beside him, their elbows touching.

"So," she said with a wry smile—he'd been able to put on a shirt today, although not without help, and she could still see the bandages poking up underneath his rumpled collar, "how goes the captainship?"

"It's good," Kai said, sounding a little surprised. "I haven't been able to do much, but… it's weird, to actually be shown Otaku's financial planning rather than having to sneak looks at it. I mean, I always disagreed with Zaheer on a bunch of things, but I never thought I'd end up being the one to make the new choices, y'know? I always thought Yung would be captain."

"He's really proud of you," Jinora said softly. "He always talks about how good of a captain you'll be."

"I hope I can live up to it," Kai rubbed the back of his neck.

She laid her hand on his arm. "I know you will."

"And I'll come back to school, once things are more stable. Yung and Lefty can fill in for me, while I'm gone. I probably won't graduate at the same time as you—"

"Yes you will. You're one of the smartest people I know, you'll catch up quickly. Even if you don't, I can always stay in one of the tutor's dorms after graduation and help you get caught up."

He shook his head, frowning. "No. You are not waiting for me. You'll go to University, wherever you want, and I'll come visit. Even if it's not by the sea. But you're not putting your life on hold for me."

Jinora nodded solemnly, giving him a soft smile. "Okay."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

He smiled. "Good. Because you're going to do amazing things, Jinora. And I can't wait to see them happen…" The tips of his ears turned red, and it hit her again that he was leaving tomorrow morning. "Jin… can I—can I write you? Write letters to you, I mean, I—"

She chuckled softly, taking his hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "Of course you can. I'd love that, actually."

He gave her a lopsided grin. "Yeah?"

Her eyes crinkled as she leaned in to kiss him. "Yeah."

"Kai, Jinora—"

She stopped short of his lips, cursing her father for a moment as she turned back to look at him. "Yes, father?"

"I just thought," he stammered, and at least he seemed as embarrassed as Kai was. Tenzin hastily cleared his throat. "Dinner is ready."

"Oh, okay. We'll be there in a few minutes."

Tenzin cleared his throat again, still awkward, and then turned on his heel and left, as quickly and stiffly as possible. Jinora tucked her hair behind her ears once he was gone.

"Sorry about that," she mumbled, "he—"

Kai kissed her. She relaxed against him as he wrapped his arms loosely around her waist, and she cupped his face gently, aware of his bruises as their mouths moved slowly together. She started a little when she felt his tongue poke her bottom lip, but eased her mouth open when he ran it along the seam of her lips. Warmth tingled beneath her skin as his tongue slid into her mouth, slowly tasting her, and she sighed, tangling her fingers in his hair. Another sigh built in her chest as he sucked on her bottom lip, before finally pulling away, his eyes blown open and his breath short and warm against her mouth.

She nuzzled her nose against his cheek, bringing him back for another kiss, and another. God, she'd miss him so much. He held her a little closer, a soft smile on his lips as he shaped them over hers.

"We should probably go down to dinner," she mumbled, giggling as he chased her mouth again. He hummed against her mouth, very reluctantly pulling away.

"Okay." He took her hand and wound their fingers together. "Jin?" She looked at him. "You may not have been my first kiss, but… you're the first kiss that mattered."

She flushed, drawing closer to him. "I know. You're both, for me."

They went down to dinner still holding hands, and for a moment, everything was perfect.