Anchor
chapter 12
Jinora would never, ever say it out loud, but watching Kai teach Kida how to use her knife better was absolutely adorable. He was extraordinarily patient, far more than he had ever been with her, which had its own sweetness to it. Kai had never had a younger sibling, although she supposed he rather thought of Momo as a clumsy, overeager but kind younger brother, having someone he so easily related to must have been nice.
Kida was also a fast learner, picking up moves more or less with ease. She was still quiet, but Jinora supposed it made sense; the girl had been plunged headfirst into what was likely the very last thing she ever expected. Jinora also couldn't help but notice how different Kai's teaching technique was with Kida. Using a knife was very different than hand-to-hand combat or sword fighting, but Kai certainly didn't correct or guide Kida the way he did with her. There was almost no physical contact between them.
"You're doing well Kida," Kai grinned, as he took a swig of his beer, the two of them plopping down on the deck. Kida took a long sip of water from her glass (they weren't about to let a child get drunk, after all). "I'm afraid that's all I can teach you for today, though, I have other things I need to do, but Gyatso can look after you," he glanced up at Jinora, "isn't that right?"
Jinora rolled her eyes and smiled. "Of course, Captain," she sighed.
Kai walked over to speak with Otaku about something, carefully stepping over the area of the deck Pabu and Momo were mopping (Skoochy was supposed to be, but he had taken a break for a smoke). Jinora watched him for a moment longer before glancing at Kida, who had joined her side.
"So have long have you been with the crew?" Kida asked, catching her off guard. Jinora raised her eyebrows in surprise. "What? I heard you and Kai talking, and besides, you… you don't seem like a pirate, no offence."
"None taken," she replied. "No, you're right, I'm not really a pirate, and I've only been on the ship for," she stopped to think. "Nearly three months now, give or take a few days. I - I'm a woman of high-society actually. You may have heard of the Gyatsos?"
"Heard they're stinking rich."
"Well, I'm their eldest daughter," Jinora said, growing a little self-conscious. Here she was, talking about how rich her family was, with a girl who had nothing, but Kida didn't seem bothered or envious. Or maybe, like Kai (most of the time anyway), she was just good at hiding her emotions.
"Then how…?"
"A ransom deal," Jinora bit her lip. It was strange, to think a supposedly simple ransom deal had been the start of all of this. To have to explain it, how much things had changed. Had they truly changed? She certainly wasn't a prisoner. She wasn't even sure if she wanted to leave, and she knew she didn't want the life waiting for her back home, especially after having a taste of what a pirate's life - a life with freedom, and choices - was like. The crew treated her like one of their own, teaching and learning from her.
And Kai…she stole a look at him, as he talked to Otaku, leaning on the railing and staring off into the open sea. Well, what hadn't changed between them? Gone were the days of being at each other's throats and raging arguments. He still grated on her nerves, and there was still plenty of snark and bickering, but…They cared about each other. More than Jinora ever thought she could care for someone outside of her family, sometimes. Granted, he could still be an infuriating ass, and a cocky bastard with that stupid, attractive lopsided grin of his…and he was kind, so incredibly caring, even if she had to break down his walls first, and he was brave, and pretty darn selfless and…
He was the best friend she'd ever had. And the best man she'd ever met.
Even if she'd never, ever admit it out loud.
"Obviously things have changed," she continued.
"You aren't treated like a hostage at all," Kida remarked, following Jinora's gaze. "If anything… Kai seems pretty protective over you."
Jinora's face felt warm, but she brushed it off. "He's protective over all of us."
"That much I can already tell," Kida said. "I'm good at reading people, something you learn on the streets. But what I meant is, he's extra protective over you. Like how he made sure you were safe when I attacked you two, before taking care of himself. Like how you're his first priority, even over himself."
Jinora flushed. "Well, er-"
"You may be 'just friends', but he sure as hell isn't." Kida smiled as Jinora spluttered, and then managed to regain her composure, clearing her throat.
"Look, Kida, Captain is protective over everyone, but the reason he may be more so over me is because in the time I've been here, I've nearly died twice." Both from saving his life, but Jinora figured Kida didn't need to know that. "And then, back home, I have suitors waiting for me, and Captain knows that some of them aren't…very nice. That's why. We're friends, good friends, but that's all."
"If you say so," Kida smiled, and Jinora knew she didn't believe her. "So, tell me, what's it like being the only girl on a ship with just men?"
Jinora snorted. "Kind of gross. I've never had to clean the bathroom, thankfully, but it certainly was an adjustment, going from high-society etiquette, to well…no etiquette at all. But I've managed it. And uh, when it's that time of the month, Longshot, our medic, he has some special pills for it, so it's never too bad. Although it freaked Captain out when I mentioned it once."
Kida laughed. "I heard he was pretty ruthless you know. When he found me I thought he was gonna slit my throat or something."
"No, he's a… he's a kind man, really," Jinora said, smiling fondly. "I suppose he gained that reputation because of his duel with the old Captain, although he didn't even kill him. Besides, he saw himself in you. He was on the streets until Yung found him and recruited him for the crew."
"I've been on them since I was seven. My parents got sick…and just never got better." Kida closed her eyes for a moment, and then reopened them.
Jinora frowned, tentatively laying a hand on the younger girl's shoulder. "I'm sorry Kida."
Kida cracked a weak smile. "It's alright, really. I've gotten over it, more or less. It was five years ago."
"Just because something happened a while ago doesn't mean it can't hurt anymore," Jinora said quietly. "I know this is really different, of course, but when I was eight or nine I climbed a tree in my family's orchard, and I fell and broke my wrist. I've been scared of heights ever since."
"I know what you're getting at," Kida said quietly. "Thank you."
Jinora smiled slightly. "Anytime."
Kai was blowing out the last of the lights in the dining hall when Yung approached him that evening. He gave his first mate a questioning look. "I thought you had already gone to bed," he said.
"Momo begged me to let him do lookout again," Yung said tiredly. "I said yes, but only since Pabu offered to keep him company. Those two can never shut up when they're together, after all."
Kai half-smiled. "Think they're sweet on each other?"
Yung chuckled. "Maybe, but I don't think Appa's caught on yet, which is probably a good thing. You know what he's like with Momo."
"We're all like that with Mo," Kai replied. "Honestly, the kid's almost more trouble than he's worth." Yung grinned, raising an eyebrow at Kai. "What? I said almost. Nah, it wouldn't be the same without him. But I take it that's not why you came to talk to me?"
Yung shook his head. "Perceptive as always." Kai lightly bumped his shoulder. "No, Cap, I…I know why you took Kida in, it was good of you. I was just wondering how you're feeling. You know we can't have her as a member of the crew."
"No, I know, we can't afford it. Besides, a pirate ship full of men isn't a place for a young girl," Kai said quickly. "No, hopefully I can guilt-trip Mako and Bolin into giving her a job and a place to stay with them, or if that doesn't work out we can find Korra-" The Captain of The Avatar, an all-female crew, "-and have her take Kida in, I'm sure she would. I… she's not going back on the streets though, not on my watch."
Yung smiled sadly at him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Well, you avoided the actual question, like usual, so I'll repeat it: how're you feeling Cap?"
"Fine," Kai said a little too quickly.
Yung stared at him. "Really?"
He rolled his eyes. "Okay, well maybe not completely fine, I just…it's dragged up some memories, of course. Can you believe it's been almost 13 years?" Kai smiled weakly. He could still picture the day perfectly: an alleyway cloaked in shadows, a terrified nine year old waiting in the dark with a knife clutched tightly in his hand, not knowing how the man he was about to attack would repay him with so much kindness he didn't at all deserve.
"Sometimes I can still see you as that scared little boy," Yung said softly. "Nearly took my eye out."
Kai laughed slightly. "Thank God I didn't, you probably wouldn't have warmed up to me if I had."
"You weren't exactly a charmer even after you didn't take my eye out," Yung reminded him. Kai's smile grew. "But after that, yeah, you grew on me Cap. And you've grown up, and just because you've taller than me for quite some time now. You're not that scared little boy anymore."
Kai's smile turned sad. "Sometimes I am."
Yung squeezed his shoulder. "True. But you're also a very brave Captain. You're more than that, Kai, you know that don't you? You're a good man, and I'm proud to say that I may have had a hand in that. You're the closest thing I've ever had to a son, you know, and I am…I am very proud of you Kai."
Kai looked up at him. "You're the closest thing I've ever had to a father, Yung, and I know I've said it before but just…thank you. Thank you. For giving me a chance I didn't deserve, more times than just once. For thinking that I was worth something."
"It's about time you started thinking that about yourself too," Yung said gently. Kai half-laughed. "So, since I'm your father figure, how about giving me some grandchildren one of these days?"
This time Kai did laugh, pushing Yung away. "Yeah, no thanks. Beyond the fact I'd probably be a terrible dad - although Gyatso seems to think otherwise for some reason - you know I've always made sure not to father any kids, and there's no girl to give you those grandchildren, I'm afraid."
"What about Gyatso?"
Kai shot him a surprised look. "What about her?"
Yung rolled his eyes. "She's a girl. That you're head over heels for."
Kai scoffed. He was still trying to sort out his feelings, and maybe, just maybe, he was falling just the teeniest, tiniest bit for Jinora, but he certainly wasn't head over heels for her. He shouldn't be, by any rate, because she was a woman of high-society, of wealth and status, and he was just a street-rat turned pirate.
"You've got it all wrong Yung," Kai told him firmly.
"Why don't I believe you?"
"Because people see what they want to see," Kai crossed his arms over his chest.
"Kai, you know I can tell when you're lying," Yung said sternly. Kai narrowed his eyes.
"Whatever Yung, I'm too tired to argue," he sighed. "G'night…" He went to leave, when he turned around and pulled Yung into a hug. "Still," he said softly. "Thank you."
Yung hugged him back, smiling. "I should be thanking you as well."
Kai pulled away first, clapping him on the shoulder. "See you tomorrow Yung."
"See you tomorrow, Cap."
"Kai?" Kida's voice was unusually small - not quiet, but timid, and it reminded him of the way it sounded when he'd first saw her a little over three days ago. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. They were sitting by the steering wheel up on deck, having finished practice for today. Jinora was sitting on his other side, reading, but she looked up at both of them curiously.
"What's up kiddo?" Kai asked, giving her a reassuring smile.
"When we reach Jeitou, what's going to happen to me?"
Kai ruffled her hair. "Ah Kida, that's what's worrying you? Well, to be honest we're still trying to figure it out exactly." He knew there was no point in sugarcoating it; a kid on the streets appreciated honesty almost more than anything, the exception being food and somewhere safe to sleep. "But you're not going back to the streets, you're going to be taken care of by some of my friends, okay? They'll take good care of you, give you a better shot at life. Promise."
"And Captain always keeps his promises," Jinora added in.
"And Gyatso can never keep her mouth shut," he teased and Kida giggled.
Jinora rolled her eyes, trying not to smile. "Oh shut it you." She looked away from Kida and Kai's grins and found Yung looking in their direction.
The man looked away and turned to Appa. "Like a little family, aren't they?" Appa grinned and nodded.
"It's almost too bad we're reaching Jeitou tomorrow, but it'll be fun seeing Mako and Bolin again," Appa said. "Especially since I heard Bo's with Opal BeiFong now, but-"
"You know Imaru will be mad if you start gossiping without him," Yung reminded him. "Tell him over dinner, Daw should be coming any moment."
Indeed, Daw's head popped up from the door below decks, "DINNER!"
Kida grinned at both Kai and Jinora. "Race you!" An unspoken agreement passed between the two of them to let her win.
