I do not own any of the original Legend of Korra characters.
Recruiting
Sado sighed, resting his face in his hand. They had struck out repeatedly. The second had been going well, as Tenzin was negotiating, with Sado's help, with the new airbending child's mother. Then Tenzin had told the mother that once the boy mastered airbending he'd get tattoos as proof, and she slammed the door in their face. The next was a fat man that met them while eating a chicken leg, and closed the door as soon as Tenzin reached the part about the Air Nomads being vegetarian. The next was a wealthy, high-society woman who refused purely on the ground of not wanting to wear airbender robes. Another was a horder, who refused to give up his worldly possessions. Then one who clearly hadn't had a haircut in a while refused in favor of keeping their hair. Another was afraid of animals and slammed the door on "have a pet sky bison."
Sado stared at the map, Bolin marking off the most recent location with an "X" and looking around. "Tenzin, you suck at recruiting."
"It's not recruiting," Tenzin said. "I'm trying to get them to leave their current lives behind and spend years as an Air Nomad...Okay maybe it is recruiting. But I really thought I had that last guy. Who doesn't want a sky bison as their best friend?"
"Obviously the guy that opened the door and asked, 'are there any animals out there? I'm afraid of animals,'" Sado said. "Maybe let me try to get the next one."
"You're not an Air Nomad," Tenzin said.
"No, but I was in the military," Sado said. "Bullshit is basically a second language to anyone in the military. Right Bumi?"
"Absolutely," Bumi nodded.
"Alright then it's settled," Korra smiled. "Me and Sado will handle this one."
About thirty minutes later, a woman opened the door and smiled widely.
"Are you the Avatar?" the woman asked.
"I am," Korra nodded.
"Please come in," the woman said, leading them into the house. "When my son got airbending, my husband and I were so happy! We thought, this could open up a lot of doors for him." She leaned close to be able to talk quieter, nudging Korra with her elbow. "And maybe he could finally move out of the basement."
Sado inwardly grimaced. This wasn't going to be what they were hoping.
Korra faked a laugh as the woman chuckled at her apparent joke. "How old is he?"
"He's twenty two," the woman said. "And, you know, still just figuring his life out."
"Well, I have a great opportunity for him," Korra said, smiling. "We're looking for airbenders to join us at the Northern Air Temple."
The woman squealed excitedly. "That sounds wonderful! I'll get him!" Her voice took on a harsh, angry tone as she leaned around the corner to yell down the stairs. "Ryu! Get up here!"
Sado glanced at Korra, who exchanged a knowing look, then turned back to the woman as she smiled sweetly at them. After a moment, a guy about two feet talker than Sado who hadn't shaved his face in a few days and who looked like he needed to eat something desperately walked into view wearing a green jacket with stains on the front, faded greenish-white pants, thick-rimmed black glasses, and a pair of pink slippers. His hands were in his pockets and a bored, uncaring expression was on his face.
"Hi, I'm Korra," Korra said, holding her hand out.
"So you're like the Avatar or somethin," Ryu said. "Big deal."
"Uuhh..." Korra glanced at Sado before trying again, making herself sound excited. "I just wanted to talk to you about an opportunity."
"Yeah, I heard you talking to my mom, and I'm not interested," he said, turning to walk away.
"There are girls there," Sado said. "But, I guess that wouldn't matter. Like you said, you're not really interested. Shame. Anyway, we should go."
"Wait," Ryu said, Korra and Sado stopping, Sado grinning knowingly before schooling his features and turning back around. "Are they hot?"
"Hot, single, and desperately in need for new guys to date," Sado said. "I had a friend come over to train in martial arts for the day and he ended up spending the night with three then married a fourth. But hey, like you said, you're not interested." Sado shrugged, turning to leave again and a tornado suddenly spun him back around, Sado unable to help the amused smirk this time.
"Give me like ten minutes to pack a bag," Ryu said.
"You've got five," Sado said, Ryu disappearing downstairs instantly.
"You lied," Korra whispered.
"And by the time he figures it out, he'll have no way to leave," Sado said. "Military one-O-one. Never tell the truth."
Korra gave him a look somewhere between scolding and exasperated and he sighed, raising his hands in defeat.
"Won't happen again," Sado said.
After about four minutes, Ryu was back upstairs.
"Ready," he said.
"Right this way," Sado said. "By the way, there are several rules you'll have to follow, but we can fill you in on the airship."
"Sure sure," Ryu said. "Whatever gets me those girls fastest."
Sado raised a hand, rolling his eyes, then walked onto the airship, the other two following. Once they were safely in the air, Sado led Ryu to Tenzin to tell him what he'd be doing. Ryu was not pleased. He sat in the corner within three minutes of Tenzin's speech starting and began to sulk.
"I suppose an unhappy Air Nomad is still a nomad," Tenzin said. "Well done. Though, I'm wondering where he got the notion of there being a lot of single, sexually deprived virgin females at the Air Temples."
"I didn't say anything about them being virgins," Sado said.
Tenzin sighed. "Well, at least we got one, whatever the circumstances."
"I have an idea for the next one," Bolin said.
"Let's hear it," Sado said.
"I think we should put on an airbending street performance," Bolin said.
"Couldn't be any worse a result than what we tried originally," Korra shrugged.
"And if all else fails, I can still recruit them after," Sado said. "I'm game."
"At this point, I'd try anything to get them to join," Tenzin said.
"Alright!" Bolin cheered. "Okay, here's my idea."
Sado shook his head. He felt ridiculous. And sick. Ridiculous because the street show had been popular, but humiliating. Especially his part. He had played an escaped firebender convict. Then Korra had used airbending to stop him. Which was also why he felt sick, since she had had him hovering upside down in a tornado for half the show, spinning round and round.
As the crowd began to disperse, a young boy, about Jinora's age, ran over in a short-sleeved green shirt over a white shirt with sleeves reaching just past his elbows, messy brown hair shaved on the sides, brown pants, black shows with white sleeves around his lower legs, and a bag hanging from his back with the leather strap across his chest ran over. "Hey! Hello. If you're looking for airbenders, you just found one." He spun, sending an arc of wind one way, then a small blast of it in the other. "I wanna join you guys."
"Get outa town," Bolin grinned.
"I guess the street show worked," Korra said.
"Glad I didn't almost lose my lunch for nothing," Sado said.
"Just to be totally clear, we're going to be heading to Ba Sing Se then the Northern Air Temple to live as Nomads and rebuild the Air Nation," Korra told the boy. "All that sound good to you?"
"Yeah," the boy smiled. "Ba Sing Se, rebuild the temple, Air-Nomad-what-do-you-do. I'm in. Let's go right now."
"Close enough, I guess," Sado shrugged.
"This is gonna be so great!" Bolin said excitedly. "You're gonna love it...uh...uh...real quick, what's your name?"
"Kai," the boy said. "So, when do we hit the road?"
"Hang on a second Kai," Tenzin said. "Where are your parents? We can't have you come with us without their permission."
"My parents are...gone," Kai said, staring at the ground.
"You're an orphan?" Bolin asked.
"It happened about a year ago," Kai said. "My home town was raided by outlaws, but my parents fought back against them. I was so scared, but they told me not to worry. They would protect me. And they did. My parents saved me, and the entire village, but they died in the fight. Mom and Pop meant everything to me. They were my whole life. Ever since then, I've been on my own and on the run. Those same outlaws are still after me."
"Well you don't have to be on the run anymore," Bolin said. "Right guys? Tell him!"
"Kai," Sado said, kneeling. "I may not have been there, but I can promise you, those aren't outlaws." He ignored everyone's confused stares. "Those are the cops. And this..." he reached into Kai's bag and pulled out his own wallet, "is mine. You've got skills, kid. You almost pulled it off. Fortunately for me, the dragon bird in my head showed me my grandfather's memories of life as a thief and taught me to be one too, including how to recognize others, and pay attention to my wallet."
"You're a little con artist!" Korra said, then smirked. "Impressive skill, though."
"Listen, kid," Sado said, kneeling. "I also know how to recognize a lie when I see one. Even before I got my grandfather's memories. And what you said about your family was true. I'm truly sorry about your family. I know how it feels to lose them. I know we're not the family you had, but you're welcome to join our family. Everyone here, even though we're not related by blood, we're all family. Family isn't defined by blood ties. It's defined by the bond you share. And as long as you stop taking these," he pulled out Korra and Asami's wallets and tossed them back to them, "you'll be welcome in our family."
Kai stared at the ground before sighing. "Okay. Here. You missed one."
He pulled a wallet out of his green shirt and Sado raised an eyebrow. He handed it to Bolin, since it had Bolin's name on it, then grinned.
"Not bad," Sado said. "I didn't even notice that one. You're good."
"Thanks," Kai smiled.
Kai moved to walk around Sado and Sado slipped the bag off of him just as several motorcycles rounded a corner and slowed to a stop in front of them. Sado tossed the bag to them and it landed on the ground, gold, jewels, and fancy, expensive jewelry spilling out of it.
"I assume that's what you guys are after right now, Sherif," Sado said. "Unfortunately, we'll have to take Kai with us."
"He's a thief," the sherif said.
"We're well aware," Sado said. "But he's an airbender, and he's agreed to help us rebuild the Air Nation. Granted, it was to escape all of you, but still."
"Do you really want to bring a liar and a thief into the Air Nation?" Tenzin asked.
"Truthfully, no," Sado said. "Which is why I'm adding a condition For Kai, in exchange for keeping him out of jail. Steal anything from us, or lie to us, and you'll wish we had let them arrest you."
"He just needs some guidance," Korra said. "And who better to give it to him than us?"
"Do you want this kid or not?" the sherif asked.
"Well Kai?" Sado asked. "What do you say?"
"Yes," Kai said. "I agree."
"Very well then," Tenzin sighed. "We'll take the boy with us."
The sherif nodded, turning and walking away. Kai turned, hugging Sado and Korra, who smiled, each wrapping an arm around him.
"Thank you," Kai said.
"Don't make us regret it," Korra said.
"Welcome to the family, little bro!" Bolin grinned, hugging him around Korra, Jinora hugging him directly.
After a moment, they all separated and headed back onto the airship, Sado making sure he still had his wallet, impressed when he found he actually did. Sado glanced back as he reached the top, seeing Jinora waiting for Kai on the ramp, Mako catching Kai by the head, turning him around.
"I just want you to know that I'll be watching you," Mako warned. "I know what you're all about because I've been there. You don't have me fooled."
"Whoa," Kai said, backing away, hands raised innocently. "Hey, lighten up. I'm turning over a new leaf. Making a change." He turned, starting up the ramp. "Don't you worry about me."
"Hi, I'm...Jinora," Jinora said, blushing slightly, Sado grinning widely. "I-If you need any help with airbending I could show you what I know."
"Thanks," Kai smiled. "That's real nice of you."
"Jinora!" Tenzin called from the door beside Sado. "We're leaving now."
Jinora smiled at Kai one last time before hurrying up the ramp, Kai and Mako following.
Leave a review.