Chapter 21: 14 Days Part I

Mr. Meho Yisoroh had dealt with a lot of strange things over his years as the lawyer for the Governors of Republic City, but he had never heard something as ridiculous as having a trial for a pirate. He stared at the Governor, raising his bushy eyebrows. "Tenzin, you cannot be serious."

"I am completely serious, Mr. Yisoroh," said Tenzin gravely.

"A pirate has never gotten a trial, much less one already on death row," said Yisoroh, worriedly stroking his thick mustache. "Don't you realize what such a thing will do to your career? Your family's reputation? It was bad enough when your daughter was kidnapped and there were rumours they were sleeping together―to stand by her and the bastard child now―"

"My unborn grandchild is not a bastard," said Tenzin sharply. "It is a Gyatso, regardless of who the father is. And you will defend the Captain of the Waterbender in court if you want to keep your job, and you will treat his crew with respect."

Yisoroh gaped. "B-but Governor, see reason now―"

"Have I made myself clear?"

Yisoroh sighed, raking a hand over his bald head. His glasses were askew over his flat nose. "Yes, sir."

He and Tenzin sat in the back of a carriage as they rode to the Republic City Jail, a squat, long building made of brick, housing petty criminals and others awaiting trial. Yisoroh nervously shuffled his papers as the horses gently trotted to a halt, and the driver helped them out.

An Officer with a name tag reading BROHU on the breast pocket of his green and gold uniform led them from the front desk and into the prison. Most of the criminals stayed curled up in the corners of their cells, others leered and grinned as the politician, officer, and lawyer passed, cackling when Yisoroh yelped in fear when one lunged.

The pirate's cell was at the end of the hall―a place for high-security prisoners, Brohu said. "He can kill a man in three moves," the officer said, as they approached the cell.

"Actually, it's two," the pirate corrected him. He looked tired, but unharmed, surprisingly young. Another pirate, shorter and pudgy, was already there, looking distraught. "Hypothetically, of course."

"Kai, this is my lawyer Meho Yisoroh," Tenzin introduced. "Mr. Yisoroh, this is the Captain of the Waterbender, and his first mate, Yung."

The pirate's green eyes flickered up to his face. "Nice to meet you, sir."

Yisoroh couldn't tell if he was being genuine or not. "Likewise, I'm sure. Now, let's get down to business. A charge of piracy is compromised of multiple crimes, such as breaking and entering, theft, murder, participation in the slave trade, rape―so acting under the assumption those claims are accurate―"

"I don't participate in the slave trade," the pirate said sharply. "Nor would I ever―ever―submit anyone to something as terrible as rape."

Yisoroh raised his brows. "Theft and murder, then. How long have you been a pirate?"

"Nearly 15 years." The pirate glanced at his first mate, and they shared a single look, but it felt like an entire conversation had passed silently between them. "I've been Captain for almost 6."

"And you're―?"

"I'm 23."

Yisoroh pulled out the file Tenzin had given him. Exceptionally young, then. "As I'm sure Captain Sono and Miss Gyatso have already told you, your best bet is the Raava Principle. Collecting enough evidence, especially since the Chows will likely have an easier time finding evidence of your crimes, to win over the verdict, will definitely be a challenge. If you were willing to incriminate your crew, or a few members, you could easily be removed from death row―"

"Not happening," said the pirate firmly.

"Mr―Captain, sometimes sacrifices must be made in court, in order for the trial to continue down the desired path, this is one such sacrifice and―"

"I am not throwing my crew overboard because of my mess," he hissed.

The first mate placed a hand on his shoulder. "Kai―"

"Drop it, Yung." The young man's green eyes softened. "Please."

Yung squeezed his shoulder and let go. "Alright kiddo. So," he turned to Yisoroh, "the Raava Principle. What exactly do we need to do? Sono and Jinora did a decent explanation, but how would we actually go about collecting the evidence?"

"Your...navigator, Otaku Akun, is digging up resources as we speak. Contacting old friends, such as the Captain of the Avatar―although how much another pirate's opinion will actually help," said Yisoroh airily, waving his hand. The pirate frowned. "They're also trying to find a man named Charo Zhang, although Otaku wouldn't tell me the importance of it. Why would you have a connection with the son of a nobleman?"

Kai turned to Yung. "You told him?" he demanded. He hadn't wanted anyone who didn't already know about his sacrifice at the orphanage, giving up his place for another boy. No one else needed to know, and that included Otaku. Or at least, it should have.

"Only Otaku," his first mate replied. "And it was necessary, Kai. It's one of the best things we have on our side."

"If he remembers," Kai grumbled, "and is willing to step forward despite my reputation."

Yung tsked at him, and was ignored.

Yisoroh adjusted his glasses. "In the meantime, Captain, you need to draw sympathy from the public. If they're on your side, they might be able to sway the jury, and even the judge. The judge will not sentence a man to death if he thinks it will make him unpopular, especially with those who make generous donations to the legal system."

Kai didn't bother pointing out that if it was money they were after to win this game, LingShi Chow outnumbered him a hundred to one, easy.

"People know of your professional reputation," Yisoroh continued, "which is quite frankly―" he eyed the pirate in disdain, "―terrifying. So, for starters, let's delve into your childhood. Did your parents―"

"My parents have been dead since I was a toddler," said Kai sharply. "I don't see how this is relevant."

"We can't focus on your career as a pirate, we have to go before that, so people can see you as something more than a criminal." Yisoroh looked like he doubted it himself, but didn't dare say anything with Yung and Tenzin (especially the latter) right there. "Now, then, after your parents died?"

"I was in an orphanage that made the streets of the slums of Geishou look like paradise. I ran off, got involved with the Triple Threat Triads. I was nine and they wanted to kill me, when I ran...when I ran into Yung." Kai's eyes softened. "He saved me. The crew showed me what it was like to have a home. A family. Yung did his best to protect me...the Captain, Zaheer, was determined to make sure I earned my keep and I started learning swordfighting when I was ten. Once he thought I was skilled enough he―he taught me himself, but then things...changed and―I never wanted to kill him."

Kai's throat tightened, and Yung laid a hand on his shoulder; he barely felt the light pressure. "I'm sure you can find whatever else you need in the papers," he said shortly. "I'm done."

Yisoroh pursed his lips. "Let's go back to your family for a minute; were you dropped off at the orphanage because your surviving family didn't want you?" He flicked through his notes, as Kai stiffened. "And everyone knows about the Quil Massacre, after Mr. Chow has publicized it―"

The papers had come out that day, revealing official information from APA files. Now the public thought he was a monster, of some sort, a man of uncontrollable rage. Even if they didn't like Quil, Kai knew some of their distaste was coming from the different class's own hands in the slave trade: for the rich, it was a service provided, and for the most desperately poor, a source of income.

"What was it that made you snap?" Yisoroh pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Eager bloodlust? Mental instability?"

Those had been two of the most popular theories, and Kai scowled. "Mr. Yisoroh," he said, struggling to keep his temper; like the papers had any idea of the real reason why. Like any of them even deserved to know the reason why. "I said I'm done―"

"And with such violent tendencies, one has to wonder if during Miss Gyatso's stay, were you ever violent towards her, during or after her time of a hostage―"

Kai leapt to his feet, slamming his hands down on the bars so hard they rattled. "That's enough!" He gripped the bars so tightly his knuckles turned white, pale against the gold of his wedding band, as he tried to regain control of his breathing, of his temper. "I have never―and I will never, ever raise a hand to her," he seethed. "I would never hit my wife."

Yisoroh blinked. "Well, technically, she's not your wife, according to law―" Kai threw him such a fierce glare the words died in his throat.

If the Captain could have pointed, he would have, his handcuffs prohibiting it. Still, he gave Yisoroh the finger as he snarled, "Get. Out."

Yisoroh wasn't stupid enough to argue, nor to look back, not even when Tenzin called after him. The Governor whirled around to face Kai, fuming.

"Do you know how many lawyers will defend a pirate on trial!" He started turning red in the face, a vein bulging in his forehead. "None, that's who! I am trying to help you, and Mr. Yisoroh may have his flaws, or overstepped a line, but he was simply asking questions the judge and jury and press will want the answers to!"

"I want to trust whoever's trying to save my life," Kai snapped. "And I've had enough disrespect for a lifetime! I have two weeks left to live, two! I'm not going to spend them getting spat on by people who can't get their heads out of their asses―do you think I want to die?!" His voice broke on the last word, and his shoulders slumped forwards; all the fight had left him. "But this way," he managed, "this way no one else has to. That's enough for me." He swallowed hard. "You can hear about this sort of life all you want Governor, but you'll never understand it."

Tenzin's expression slowly softened. "Jaya Jun is arriving here this afternoon. She and Otaku will come by as soon as they are able, to discuss our next move."

Kai inclined his head. "Thank you, Governor."

Tenzin stared at him for a moment longer, and then nearly smiled. "I..." he hesitated. "I may have been wrong about you, Kai."

Kai shook his head and smiled faintly. "Most people usually are, sir."

Tenzin's brow furrowed, and he left without another word, off to fire Yisoroh as their family's lawyer, and to update everyone else on the situation. (A particular bad bout of motion sickness had kept Jinora at home this morning, between the Waterbender and the mansion).

Jaya Jun pulled up in a carriage outside the Republic City Holding Prison, flipping her long braid of dark hair off her shoulder. She was a tad shorter than Otaku, but had the same sparkling intelligence in her bright blue eyes, her skin the colour of the Water Tribes. Having attended university in Ba Sing Se, and lived in the Earth Kingdom her whole life to a Southern Water Tribe mother and an Earth Kingdom school teacher she didn't have much ties to either culture. The law didn't allow for bias―even if as a female lawyer she knew all too well the bias that could be held against her.

She squinted at the shoddy prison in desperate need of a paint job. "Huh. Well, this will be interesting." She grasped the handle of her suitcase tightly and scanned the crowd for Otaku; reporters and flashing cameras were gathered outside the prison. Never before had a pirate gone to have a real trial, nor one so high profile or caught up in scandals.

Jaya had met Kai a few times. She had always liked him, even if she hadn't gotten to know him very well, but he was friendly and charming and Otaku talked about him with such admiration, she couldn't help but like him.

"Jaya!"

Otaku swept her up in a hug, his glasses nearly knocked off his nose as he spun her around. She laughed despite herself, beaming at him and kissing him briefly. His love letters, always long in length, were things she'd always treasure―but nothing compared to seeing him in person.

"I missed you," she said happily, resting her chin on his shoulder. His hands rested on the small of her back, pulling her close to him.

"I missed you too. It's so good to see you," he said brightly, pulling away with a smile that quickly faltered. "I just wish it was under better circumstances, however."

She started rummaging in her suitcase, undoing the zipper and searching for a book. She had taken one out from her personal library before leaving, entitled The Ravva Principle and all about said subject. "Let's get to work then."

By the time she and Otaku arrived at the visitor's room, it was occupied, a guard standing at attention in the corner, and Jinora wrapped up in Kai's arms, his wrists unbound for the first time since being brought to the prison. Their foreheads were touching, a lovers' embrace, one of his hands resting on the growing swell of her stomach. Feeling the baby kick, maybe?

Jaya had never met Jinora before, but had seen the papers, and Otaku spoke fondly of her, especially of her intelligence and their common interests, so she already liked the girl. She couldn't imagine what she was going through. A baby on the way, its father in prison on trial for his life. It seemed to interrupt this tender stolen moment―but they didn't have any time to waste.

Jaya cleared her throat quietly, and the pair broke apart. "Hello, Kai, Jinora, it's good to meet you." She stuck out one hand, the other still holding her suitcase.

Jinora shook her hand with a surprisingly firm grip. "It's nice to meet you as well, Jaya. Thank you for coming all this way, and for your help. I know we haven't agreed on a price..."

"Don't be silly," said Jaya brightly. "I don't need any payment."

Jinora grinned at her, but Kai frowned worriedly. "But―" he started.

"You saved Otaku's life. We won't forget that," said Jaya firmly, and he shut his mouth. She gestured for them all to take a seat in the spindly wooden chairs set up along a white table made of cheap wood. "Now, to get started. We're working on the basis of the Raava Principle, but first things first, we need at least two pieces of solid evidence before the judge will even take the trial seriously. I trust that can be provided by your crew, Otaku among them."

Jaya cracked her suitcase open, pulling out some files and looking at the notes she had made on the ride over. "Once that is properly settled, working on your public image is important. Some people, of course, will never change their minds, most likely along the richer crowds. However, we may luck out with the jury pool, and some will be more like Jinora." The two woman shared a brief smile. "The poor and middle classes will be far easier to convince. You're an underdog. People like that. The baby can also be used to paint both of you, and your relationship, as a soon-to-be-tragic love affair. More people than you think will root for you, even if LingShi tries to throw his weight around. His uncle, running for Governor, will have the best lawyer possible. I like to think I'm an even match," she said with a hint of pride.

"As for LingShi," Jaya continued, "he have cash, but you have charisma. If we can expose and exploit his ugly side, not only can we prove the case is built on nothing more than the petty jealousy of a sore loser, we can ruin his career, period."

Kai smiled. "I do like the sound of that."

"The more evidence we collect, the better. Any loopholes in the legal system are already being looked at. That, and Lefty found a newspaper run by an old friend of his, Mr. Ranshaw, who's willing to print your side of things, if the larger papers are too biased to do so. If you're willing, an interview may even be helpful."

"How personal would it need to get?" he asked nervously. Jinora took his hand and gave it a squeeze.

"A little bit about your childhood, but mostly, humanize your current lifestyle, your crew. Make them realize that a pirate is a person, and vice versa. That you're―" she looked to Otaku. "Dear, what's that phrase Yung always says?"

"Pirates with morales," Otaku said with a slight smile.

"Yes, that," Jaya said distractedly, rummaging through her files. She took out an important looking document with a few blank spaces. "And this is just a legal form to ensure that whatever is said, whether of legal business or not during the trial, cannot incriminate any of your crew members, Jinora, or the Gyatso family." Jaya tapped two blank lines. "Signature here, and there, and Jinora you better sign too, in regards to the baby, since Kai is the father. We want to keep this as clean as possible."

Kai wrote his name as carefully as possible, and Jinora signed hers with a neat flourish. They passed the paper back to Jaya, who tucked it back in the top of her file.

"I'll send this to the judge, Your Honour Carro, I believe. I've never dealt with a case with him before, but I've heard of him. He's one of the better judges." Jaya hesitated. "It should be a somewhat fair trial."

Jinora frowned. "Somewhat?"

"You know what pirates are thought of as," said Jaya quietly. "It may take some work to convince him, but I'll do everything in my power to get him on our side. The one good thing is, he won't take a bribe from LingShi. That's not to say none of the jury will, but the judge does hold the final decision." She shut her file and stowed it away in her suitcase. "I'll come back tomorrow morning with something more substantial, I'm sorry I can't do more today."

"You've done more than enough already," said Jinora gratefully. She hadn't let go of her husband's hand.

Jaya nodded and rose from the table, grasping Otaku's hand. "Jinora, should I walk you home?" the navigator asked. In light of everything, it wasn't smart for Jinora to go anywhere alone (especially in a shadier part of town) if they could help it.

She shook her head. "No, I'll stay until the visiting hours are over."

Kai kissed her cheek. "Give Miss Jun and I a moment?" he requested. "I want to ask her something."

Jinora's brow furrowed. "You can't ask her with me here?" She caught the look in his eyes, and knew she wouldn't like it. "Captain," she said warningly.

Kai sighed, and laced their fingers together, raising his eyes to Jaya's. "How would I go about making a will?"

Jinora tugged sharply on his hand. "Kai―"

"I'm sorry, love. But we have to be prepared." He brushed her hair from her eyes, and she softened. "Please try to understand. Miss Jun?"

"I'm afraid, as a pirate, an actually valid legal will is impossible." Jaya frowned sadly. "However, if you were to write something down, and divide your belongings between your men and family according to your wishes, I'm sure they would follow it. And please, call me Jaya."

Kai nodded; it had been the answer he'd been expecting. "Thank you, Jaya. I'll see you tomorrow."

She and Otaku took it as their leave to go.

Jinora pulled him into another hug. "Don't think like that," she said softly. "You're going to make it. You have to." He buried his face in her neck, holding her close. "I can't lose you. Not again."

"I don't want to lose you either," he mumbled. Her body was warm and soft against his. He remembered all the nights and mornings they had spent wrapped up in each other, her face the first and last thing he saw when he fell asleep and woke up. He wanted it to be that way for years and years, not months. "But we don't always get what we want, do we? I never should have wanted you."

Jinora took his face in her hands and kissed him. "Thank God that you did," she murmured against his mouth. She pulled away slightly, when she felt the baby kick. Kai knew the look on her face by now, and placed a hand on her stomach as the baby kicked again.

"Don't name it after me," he said quietly. "If it's a boy."

Tears welled in her eyes. "Love―"

"Please, Jinora. Promise you won't."

"Middle name, then. I'm as stubborn as you are," she reminded him, smiling tearfully. He kissed her chastely.

"I know," he said fondly. He tried to believe he'd get out of here, that one day he'd hold her again, and fall asleep side by side, one day to only be woken up far too early by their child's cries. "Thank you, for never giving up on me."

She stroked her fingers over his cheeks. "Well, you've never given up on us, remember?"

"And I don't plan to," he said, placing a hand over the one with her wedding ring. "For better or for worse. You're not getting rid of me that easy."

She laughed weakly. "Good."

"Can I ask you something?" said Kai flatly.

It was the following afternoon (day three of fourteen, Kai mentally kept track) and visiting hours were finished. Jaya was at the mansion collaborating with the crew, drawing up witness statements with his men, and Jinora was resting―the pregnancy had left her feeling far more tired as of late. Yung had brought a paper in the morning, bearing headlines LINGSHI'S LUCK: PIRATE'S PERIL? and had spent the rest of the morning ignoring the subject. Kai wished he was better at reading, even if he had been able to read most of it. Daw and Pema had sent homemade muffins, which were far better than the gray mush that was prison food, once it had gone through a security check.

And somehow all of it had led to Lee Sono being his babysitter for the rest of the day. Something about Sono not trusting Kai's guards to ward off bribes, or to keeping out bad visitors like LingShi, or anyone else who would want to provoke Kai. He suspected Jinora had asked him to, and while some part of Kai appreciated the sentiment, somehow, he also detested it. He didn't need to be looked after, let alone by an APA Officer; he was more than capable of taking care of himself.

Not to mention, spending hours in dead silence with something he just about detested wasn't fun either, although Kai wasn't sure what had made him break it.

Lee didn't look up from his paperwork, holding the papers in one hand. "I have a feeling you're going to no matter what I say."

Kai didn't smile, squinting as he studied the other man intently. Lee's hair was slightly unkempt, some wavy strands falling in front of his eyes; this case couldn't have been stressing him out that much...could it? "Why're you doing this?" Kai asked. "Why're you helping me? God knows you hate me―you hate all pirates on principle. Wouldn't it be just great for you with me out of the picture, and then you can start winning Gyatso back?"

Lee threw him an annoyed look. "Because I'm not an asshole," he said tartly. "And I don't want Jinora to get hurt more than she already has by you." Lee glanced down at his paperwork one last time, not seeing the way Kai flinched, his brow furrowing, and Lee snapped the file shut. "Why do you call her that anyway?" the Officer asked, finally raising his gaze.

Kai raised his eyebrows, smoothing over his features. "Gyatso?" Lee nodded. "Well, at first it was because she pissed me off," he shrugged. "She was a spoiled little brat, or at least I thought she was. And a pain in my ass―that much was true, and she'd say the same thing about me. At first." He rubbed his jaw. The stubble lining it was growing thicker, being unable to shave at all for even a few days. "And then later... It was a good reminder of all the reasons why she wouldn't want to be with someone like me. Why she shouldn't be. Not good enough, apparently."

Kai dropped his hands and sighed, staring at the chains that bound his wrists. "Sometimes I wish she had picked you," he said very quietly.

Lee stared at him. "What?"

"You're the better choice," he said, without missing a beat. "The safer choice. You would've treated her right, not like those other suitors. Not like LingShi. You would've provided for her in a way I never can...especially now, I guess." Kai's eyes hardened. "Be straight with me, Sono: what are the chances I'm getting off death row? That I'll actually got off scot free and won't get sent to the South Stairs and shanked by one of Quil's cronies?"

Lee winced slightly. "Captain―"

"Cut the bullshit, Sono. I get enough from Yung and Gyatso and my men already. I don't want reassurance. I want the truth."

"Three out of a hundred," Lee answered. "Or less. Most likely less."

Kai loosed a long breath and squared his shoulders, trying to resign himself to his fate. "Alright then, Sono, do me a favour?"

"Because I'm not already doing enough," Lee muttered under his breath, and Kai caught snippets of the words, corrupt guards, and clearances, and paperwork, a few times.

Kai glared at him. "It's real simple, trust me."

"I don't trust you."

"I know, Sono, now don't waste my time," he said sharply, his patience running thin. "I don't have much of it left. Now," he raised his brow, "I can continue?" Reluctantly, Lee nodded. "Get a stack of paper, as much as you can find. And something to write with too." Kai cleared his throat. "And, uh... take care of her, alright?" He knew Yung would have enough on his plate, with his own grieving, without him asking for him to specifically look after Jinora and the baby too. Lee was the only one who didn't really have anything to lose if he died; Sono was only here for Jinora, after all, and her family that didn't include Kai.

Lee nodded slowly. "Alright." He turned to leave, to go get the parchment (whatever the hell the pirate wanted it for? Did they even write wills?) when he looked back at Kai. "You're not what I expected a pirate to be like," he admitted.

Kai half-smiled. "What, because I'm a person?"

Lee didn't know what to say to that―Kai watched the struggle pinch his face as he fought to find something to say―so he left.

As soon as Kai was alone, he wiped furiously at his eyes, green rimmed with red.