Kai's arm is roughly grabbed as he is pulled from his seat in the back of the school library. He's about to protest to whoever it is that has his arm in a vice when he is finally pulled upright and looking at Jinora's panicked face. She looks like she's on the verge of tears, or maybe anger? He can't tell exactly, her body is rigid but her eyes fly around as they scan their surroundings. Kai gently pulls her into a hug, he feels her body limp against his, "Hey, what's wrong?" he asks her, pulling himself back and sweeping her fallen hair behind her ear, "What happened?"
Jinora takes a shaky breath, it looks like she is calming down in his presence, but her eyes are still darting around. Kai is about to hug her again when she stops him and simply asks, "Do you know somewhere we can talk in private?" He's confused because there is, quite literally, no one else in the library except the librarian who sits idly behind her desk on the other side of the room. Jinora can see the confusion on his face as she clarifies, "somewhere more private? Not in public," she trails off.
Kai's mind goes immediately where any teenage boy's would. He looks at Jinora, never thinking she would be one to rendezvous so deliberately. He smirks at her and wraps his arms around her just a little tighter, his voice is confident but still curious, "Are you sure, Jin?" His voice is seductive, which immediately makes Jinora jump away. Jinora berates him, something about teenage boys and hormones. Kai quickly realizes his mistake and apologizes, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable I thought you meant..." he goes off. Jinora laughs at him. Good, Kai thinks, he didn't ruin it completely. Jinora tilts her head, asking for an answer to her previous question. Kai takes her hand as he leads her towards the athletic fields.
It's a silent walk. Jinora had dropped his hand at the first sight of other people, just quietly following his path. Kai wishes she would let him hold her hand but she is obviously freaked out by something. He just keeps walking, listening to her soft footsteps trail his. He leads them past the locker rooms and up a set of stairs. She's never been here before, she realizes it's because only the athletes ever walk around this part of school. Kai keeps walking until they reach the top where there's three doors, he opens the one on the right and lets her walk through. Jinora quickly recognizes that they are in the broadcasting booth above the main field. It is private, but there are big windows that people could see in so she decides to seat herself in the back where onlookers wouldn't be able to see them, no need to fuel the rumors Jinora thought.
Kai closes the door softly and checks down to the field. It's still early, so practices haven't started yet but they would soon. He turns to join Jinora on the floor, "What's wrong?" he asks as he pulls her hand into his. Kai rubs circles on the back of her hand with his thumb as he watches her pull her phone out with her other hand.
Jinora unlocks her phone and opens the photo, "this," she pointedly says. Kai takes the phone with his free hand and examines the picture. It's blurry, but he can tell it's a picture of two people kissing at the park. His mind makes the connection seconds later, a resounding 'oh' falling from his mouth as his eyes go wide. "Yeah," Jinora says, "oh." Jinora takes her phone back and glares up at Kai, "Have you heard the rumors going around today?" she asks, because it really seems like Kai is surprised right now.
Kai is really surprised right now. He's processing this new information as fast as he can. He knows Jinora wanted to keep their relationship private, for now. She told him specifically that she wanted the chance for them to grow as a couple before they went public, so that they were confident in themselves before allowing public pressure to hit them. It was a genuine desire from her, and he didn't mind it at all. He actually thought it was a good idea since he had past relationships shatter because of public pressure too soon. Kai then realizes that Jinora had said something about rumors going around, "What rumors?" he says. "I haven't heard anything, I'm not much of a gossip," he says with a giggle, hoping that would calm her down.
Kai is successful, Jinora smiles just a little as she sighs and falls into his side. She seems much more comfortable now as she groans, "There's rumors going around that you and I are seeing each other," she states.
Kai is confused again, he knows she wanted to keep them private but he doesn't really see the harm in a rumor that is technically true. "Um," he coughs, "we are… aren't we?" he asks. He definitely wants this confirmation from Jinora.
Jinora sighs again, she leans in and gives his check a kiss, "we are," she clarifies, "that's not the rumor I'm worried about." She can see Kai's face light up at the confirmation of their relationship status, but this next part is going to be awkward and she is not excited to tell him the rest of the rumors.
"What other rumors are there?" he asks with concern, still rubbing soothing circles on her hand. He can tell she is physically uncomfortable, but she isn't pulling away from him. "Is it bad?" he chuckles.
Jinora decides that it is going to be infinitely easier to say it if she isn't looking at him. So she looks down at their hands as she speaks, "There's rumors going around that you and I are sneaking off during school to have fun," she puts it, emphasising the last two words with long drawn-out syllables.
The realization hits Kai much quicker this time, "oh," he lets go of her hand, "um," he fumbles. Kai isn't really sure what he should say. He looks back at Jinora who is very clearly embarrassed at the moment. He decides that honesty is the best option here, "I'm not sure what to say."
Jinora takes his hand again, "You really didn't hear?" she quizzes him. To be fair, she didn't start picking up on the rumors until Ikki had told her, which made her pay attention. Jinora really isn't sure what to do, she really thought Kai would have heard the rumors too. "What should we do?" she asks him.
"I-" Kai starts, "I- I don't know," he blurts out. Kai decides they need to focus on one thing at a time, "Do you know who started the rumors? Where did that picture come from?" he asks, not really expecting an answer but asking anyways. Jinora shakes her head in defeat, no answers from her end. Kai takes the initiative, people talk, they will simply have to deal with it. "Hey," Kai says, taking her hand again, "it's just rumors, we can deal with it." He kisses her temple softly and lets Jinora lean into him more. "We can deal with it."
…
They really did have book club. Which they just barely made it to on time. It didn't help that as soon as they entered, Kai following Jinora and sitting next to her, that some girls started giggling and whispering across from them. Jinora glared at them, challenging them to continue. She won that fight. She's feisty Kai thought, silently chuckling as he pulled out his own book.
Mako appeared moments later in the doorway, a silence fell across the room as the leader of the club entered. The meeting was surprisingly uneventful, or normal, whichever way you want to put it. It ended blissfully quick, allowing Jinora to drag Kai away once Mako dismissed them. She heard Kai tell Mako something about being home later as she hauled him out the room.
"What did you mean when you told Mako you would be home later?" Jinora asked him. She was curious, but not prying.
Kai answered easily, "I've been staying with him and Bolin for the last few weeks." Jinora turned the car down her road, he noticed, Kai liked that he was getting used to these new surroundings with Jinora. "I was just telling him I'd be home later," he states as Jinora pulls into her own driveway. The first thing he notices is that her car is the only one there. "Are your parents home?" he asked.
Jinora checks her phone, it had gone off many times during the drive, she reads her messages in silence. "Perfect," she finally says, "come one, we only have 30 minutes." Jinora gets out of her car, waiting for Kai to follow her into the house. She walks straight upstairs and announces in a plain voice, "Ikki, I'm back," as she walks Kai into her own bedroom.
Kai is setting his bag on a chair when a younger girl, Ikki he guesses, walks into the room. "It really is true," she says, "I kinda thought you were lying to me," she laughs, the statement clearly pointed at her sister.
"Ikki," Jinora sighs, "get out," she hesitates before adding a 'please' to the end of her sentence. Jinora knows that Ikki is doing her a big favor by not telling her parents about the boy in her room, again. "Don't waste my 30 minutes," she tells her sister with a laugh.
Ikki's face lights up, "Oh," she exclaims, "so the rumors and true true," she drabbles off.
At that, Kai starts to blush. He looks at Jinora who is equally as flustered and thinks she could probably use his help. Kai starts, "Hey, Ikki," he says in a voice that is just lower than usual, "me and Jin really need to talk in private. Think you could give us some space?" He is so soft, Jinora just falls deeper into the thought of him. Kai's words seem to affect Ikki, she says something about both of them owing her and exits the room, very purposefully closing the door behind them.
"Well," Kai said, "that can't be good for the rumors," he laughs as he approaches Jinora. He doesn't want to force anything physical right now, he can tell Jinora is still a bit rough from the whole day. "We really can just talk," he tells her, offering the seat next to him on the bed.
Jinora takes the seat graciously, winding her fingers into Kai's as she leans against him. "She won't say anything," she giggles and kisses his check, "she's too invested in my love life and telling anyone would only hurt her own entertainment." Kai seems content with her answer and lets her shuffle closer to him.
Jinora experimentally puts a hand on his knee, Kai's reaction is immediate. He covers her hand with his, "I don't think your parents would be happy if they came home to this," he teases, but still lets her fingers squeeze his leg.
"It's okay," Jinora says boldly, "they won't be home for," she looks at the clock on her bedside, "24 more minutes," she confirms. Jinora offers him a kiss, waiting for Kai to take it. He does. "Let's not waste it," she says with a sly smile.
Regardless of Jinora's dedication to her studies and personality in general, she does enjoy the dangerous idea of making out with her boyfriend in her room with her parents not home. Kai makes a gentle counter, telling Jinora that they don't have to do anything. Such a gentleman, Jinora thought. She cups his face in her hand and looks at him happily, "I want to kiss my boyfriend," she says proudly, "do you want to kiss your girlfriend?" she asks playfully. Kai's reaction is quick and smooth, leaning into her kiss and wrapping his arms around her waist tightly. Jinora squeaks just a bit into his mouth as Kai pulls her onto his lap. Jinora straddles him happily, the kiss is much deeper now. They haven't had a chance to do something so blatantly physical. And although the rumors may be a problem for tomorrow, it certainly is not a problem for now.
Kai backs himself onto the bed, pulling Jinora with him as he slowly leans back. He keeps his hands on her waist, he doesn't feel the need to ventured them anywhere else for the time being. He simply enjoys this version of Jinora he has not seen yet, a more wanting and needy Jinora. Jinora takes her cardigan off, but that is all as they continue to kiss. They both know they don't want to move too fast, there really is no need. They both enjoy this moment and take it. Their mouths move harmoniously together, exploring the new territory they haven't discovered yet. Kai grunts in surprise when Jinora moves from his mouth to his neck, not expecting her to do anything but kiss his lips. But she latches her mouth to the soft curve of his jaw and sucks lightly, enticing another grunt from Kai. "Don't leave a mark," he warns her, "they'll see it."
Jinora pulls a little harder but stops, she pulls back enough to look, "no mark," she announces, "now you try." Kai doesn't hesitate as he leans into the crook of her neck, pulling the skin into his mouth lightly as he kisses it. He releases her and choses to go back to her mouth, letting his tongue slide across her lips joyfully. Jinora separates them again, only for a moment before she comes crashing back down again, "We-" kiss "have-" kiss "10 minutes," she finishes, going back to him now that she's finished her sentence. Kai smiles just a little too much, she feels his hands shift on her body. Suddenly, she feels herself going up for just a moment but comes crashing back down, her back being pushed into her bed as Kai falls on top of her, never breaking the kiss. Jinora huffs in surprise but she really does enjoy this moment of danger, of bliss. Their tongues have been dancing for awhile now, the taste of each other becoming intoxicating.
The only thing that brings them out of the trance of each other is the loud knock that comes behind her door. Kai quickly jumps off of Jinora, fear in his eyes. Jinora gets off the bed and ruffles his hair, "Don't worry, it's just Ikki giving us a warning," she teases him. She flattens her hair and straightens her shirt before opening the door.
Ikki is standing there, a smug look on her face, he tone was forcefully trying not to care about what was happening in the room just earlier, "Mom and dad will be home soon, you've got about," she looks at her phone, "four minutes." She huffs happily as she turns on her heel and disappears into her own room.
Jinora is calm while Kai is freaking out. She laughs at him again, he's so cute when flustered. She grabs his bag and skateboard, handing them to him as she walks to her window. She opens it and looks at him questionably. "Kai," she says, "go out the window." Kai has that confused look on his face again. She giggles and explains, "Go out the window, hide down the street for a few minutes and then go to the front door. My mom thinks you're coming over later," she gives him one last kiss before pushing him towards the window.
Kai runs for it. He was almost stupid enough to run down the sidewalk but decides to take the alleyway on his board, bringing him out on the other side of the block. He even sees the white minivan go past him as he hides behind a tree. A few minutes later and he rides his board down the block, tuning into Jinora's house. He knocks on the door cautiously. He can hear Jinora from the other side claiming the responsibility to open the door. "Hey, Kai," she says smoothly. She takes his hand and drags him back up the stairs, "We're gonna work on our English project," she tells her mom while still pulling Kai. He hears Pema say something about the door which Jinora only says, "we know the rules!"
Just like that, Kai is back in Jinora's bedroom, not even 15 minutes have gone by. "You're wicked," Kai says with amazement, stealing a quick kiss before settling back on the bed. "Absolutely wicked."