"So, I invited Raavi over for dinner tomorrow, he didn't say no, but he didn't say yes either." Jinora told Kita as she joined her in the commons just off the courtyard. She sat under the table, looking across at her master.
"At least he didn't say no. Maybe it would be better if I wasn't there?"
"Actually at the mention of you being here he sounded more willing. Besides it might help Kai and myself if you were there too."
"I would help?" She asked, blinking under raised eyebrows.
"You have a calming effect on people."
"I do…?" Her confusion softened into a warm smile.
A telephone rang in the next room, an obnoxious clanging that drove Jinora crazy.
"I can't stand to have these things on the island," she huffed, standing to retrieve it. Once she returned from her short conversation, Jinora was grinning triumphantly.
"Raavi?" Kita assumed.
"He's wondering if we could pick him up since the train has gotten so expensive."
"I'm on it!" Kita shouted.
"She seems excited," Kai smirked as he approached his wife.
"Doesn't she?" Jinora chuckled.
A hoard of people cleared from below Kotya's massive wings as they prepared to land. Raavi looked out of his window, shaking his head at the Avatar's entrance. Kita slid off and gracefully stepped onto the sidewalk, throwing her arm into an enthusiastic wave in his direction.
"I, uh, thought my Mother would be coming," he said, stiff as he tugged on his jacket.
"Oh I offered, I hope that's alright." She answered sweetly, motioning for him to climb on first. He did, and Kita settled behind him before reaching for the reins.
"Do you mind? I have lots of experience." He asked.
"With winged cats?"
"With bison," he said innocently, shrugging.
"My Kotya is a little more...particular, but you're welcome to give it a try."
He nodded and took hold of the leather straps while Kita hesitantly clasped her hands around his torso. Raavi cleared his throat and snapped the reins, but Kotya just stretched her front legs and yawned.
"Uhm..yip yip?"
Kotya whipped her head back to stare Raavi dead in the eyes and hissed.
"Okay help me."
"Kotya, ready to go home?" Kita chirped. She faced forward again and flapped her wings, swiftly taking off.
"No yip!?" He shouted against the wind.
"No just talk to her, she's perfectly capable of reading your tone!" Kita laughed as they leveled out. Raavi grinned softly as he felt her grip tighten around him and the side of her face rest against his shoulder blade.
Kita was under the impression that the awkwardness between them all had mostly subsided, yet when everyone sat around the table while Raavi ravenously tore at a hunk of meat clinging to wooden stick, the unsettling tension hung in the air again.
"I thought you were a vegetarian like the nomads?" Kita whispered to him as he slurped a tendon through his lips.
"Acschually I am a meat eater thank you very musch!" He defended, wiping the juices from his overfilled mouth.
"You don't even look like you're enjoying it," She countered, wincing as he nearly gagged when trying to swallow.
"Raavi just spit it out, son," Kai urged.
"Exschuse me, I have to use the bathroom," he ignored and stood, rushing out of the room where a retching sound filled the silence.
Kita sighed and followed after him, knocking on the thin door.
"Raavi?" She asked quietly.
"Are you eating meat just to disturb your parents? You realize that's childish right?"
"I actually like it!" He threw open the screen, his face a disturbing shade of green.
"You're just freaking everyone out!"
"I can't get the taste out of my mouth," he whined, turning back to the sink to continue gargling. Kita waved a mint leaf in front of his face and he snatched it.
"Thanks…"
"Now can we go have a nice dinner where you don't try to disprove your childhood trauma?"
"Yeah yeah," he chuckled sheepishly, ruffling his nearly black waves.
"You know you only make it more obvious right?" She teased as they left the enclosed bathroom.
"Shut up," he snorted, elbowing her.
Jinora watched fondly as her husband and son argued over Pro Bending stats, Kita butting in and informing everyone about a news report on coaches using inhumane methods. Personally, she shared her father's opinion on the sport and considered the whole thing a waste of money and talent, especially since teams had just been upgraded to include airbenders. Seeing people who were supposed to be living a simplistic and mostly non violent way of life thrashing about every night was blasphemy to her. She was glad her father wasn't here to see that progression.
"I am actually kind of curious, I wouldn't mind seeing a match." Kita said.
"I'll take you. How about tomorrow night? I've got an in with a scalper. As long as you don't embarrass me." Raavi chuckled.
"Really tomorrow? Wait, how would I embarrass you?!"
"I can already hear you deciphering the body language or something of every bender."
"Sounds like her," Jinora laughed.
"I would deny it but...that is a little accurate. Okay, I promise I won't ruin the fighting for you."
"I don't actually mind it that much," He shrugged, then smiling warmly down at her.
"Then be prepared for me to pinpoint which player is a classic narcissist because I guarantee there's one in at least half the teams."
Raavi shook his head and chuckled, and Jinora observed her son.
"You two seem to get along well." She noticed.
They both perked up and blinked with wide eyes at her. Before Jinora could continue, Ari swaggered into the room in a tight navy blue halter top with a white silk robe over it.
"Hi, how was your nap?" Kita asked.
"Must say, that's not the most comfortable bed," he answered, stretching his toned arms high above his head.
"Do you sleep walk? I'm pretty sure you got my robe."
"You're the sleepwalker darling," Ari countered.
"Me?"
"Oh yes you didn't know? Anyway, I did go through your wardrobe."
"That's okay I don't mind. I never wear that actually, it was a gift from one of Hiro's advisors while I was training in the South Pole."
"Hiro?! As in the inspirational and dreamy Hiro Sato, Leader of the Southern Water Tribe?!"
"Yes, you can keep it, just take good care of it," Kita giggled as Ari buried his face in the fabric.
"It wasn't actually his you know," she teased.
"Close enough. I adore him. Our Chief is so boring, it's like she's a dead woman walking."
"I haven't seen Hiro in ages, did he train you personally?" Kai asked.
"Yes sometimes, but…well the first time we sparred so that he could test my skill level...I kind of knocked him on his-"
"Language Kita!" Jinora warned.
"I was gonna say tushy!"
"You beat him?" Raavi asked in disbelief.
"Hah! Oh I gotta give him a call and taunt him mercilessly for that!" Kai laughed, slapping his hand on the table.
"The White Lotus wasn't kidding. What about your firebending training?" Jinora asked.
"I loved the Fire Nation, it was amazing! I didn't train with the Fire Lord, but my master actually asked me to help teach a class of his top students after my first week there," she chirped.
"Interesting." Jinora answered, placing her chin between her index finger and thumb as she withdrew into her own thoughts.
"You must be even better with Earth Bending right?" Ari asked.
"Uhhhh…" Kita said quietly, looking down and twiddling her thumbs, "I may be from the Earth Kingdom but my personality doesn't exactly align with the rigidity and brute force of earthbenders...In other words, I can barely move a pebble."
"Hn...it feels like I'm having dinner with my grandfather. It's really an honor," Jinora smiled.
"Oh I'm not Aang, he was so... I mean I'm not, I just, I-"
"Kitala really," she assured.
Kita smiled softly and wiped a tear from her eye before looking up at her master.
"I hope to become even half the Avatar he was...thank you," she said, sniffling and grinning wider. Jinora reached across the table and gently rested her hand on top of Kita's.
"So, Ari, are you a student here or..?" Raavi asked.
"Oh no, I could never wear those scratchy yellow things...Not that they don't look wonderful on you!" He laughed, touching a hand to Jinora's shoulder, who just rolled her eyes.
"I'm a waterbender actually." He smiled, setting his elbow on the table with his chin in his palm, his incredibly long pale blonde locks draping over his shoulders and falling in his bright emerald eyes.
"You're awfully handsome, and such a brilliant red in your eyes." Ari said.
"Thanks, I've always liked it too," Raavi nodded with a polite grin. Kita couldn't help but be impressed; most men are too insecure with their masculinity to accept compliments like that for fear of being labeled soft or 'girly'. Despite his familial scars, Raavi was fairly well put together and mature. Compared to men she'd dealt with on the streets of Ba Sing Se, he was...refreshing. I like his eyes too…
Kita suddenly cleared her throat and straightened her back, alarming everyone else slightly, but no one asked. By now, they had all figured it was best not to pry about what goes through her head.
During her subconscious rambling, Kita had missed Raavi inviting Ari to join them tomorrow night for Pro Bending.
"I'm sure the muscles on those players are something to behold," Ari smirked, then winking at Kita and telling her, "I like thighs."
"Me too," she agreed with bright red cheeks and a nervous giggle.
"So you're in, I'm guessing?" Raavi laughed.
"Oh yes," Ari purred.
"Is everyone ready for the top showdown?! The conclusion of the World Wide Pro Bending Tournameeennnnnt! The best of the best are here tonight! The underdogs you all know and love, The Laogai Lion Vultures versus...the toughest, the meanest, the reigning champions...THE CAPITAL CITY CATGATORS!"
At the mention of the last team, the entire arena erupted into hellacious applause and rabid screams.
"Clearly the crowd favorite," Kita noticed with wide eyes.
"The team captain of the Lion Vultures, the earth bender of the team known only as Master Mayhem approaches the center mark to meet the captain of the Catgators, the firebender who's as ferocious as she is beautiful, Shiori 'The Demon'!"
A slender woman with raven black hair tied into a high ponytail waved a strong arm to the crowd while her other cradled a red helmet. Kita gasped, audibly enough to catch the attention of Ari and Raavi, before shuffling to the stairs and bounding down them to press herself against the guardrail.
"Kita?" Ari called after her.
"Shiori!" Kita hollered, flailing her arms to get her attention. However, the rest of the audience seemed as enthusiastic as she was, so her antics were drowned out and Kita returned to her seat.
"Explain?" Ari raised an eyebrow.
"I met her years ago. We ended up going on kind of a crazy adventure," She paused to laugh at a fond memory, "Anyway, we had to go our separate ways afterwards but I always knew I'd see her again. I can't believe she's some hot shot pro bender in the city!"
"Will we get to go backstage afterwards?!" Ari asked, already fluffing his silky hair.
"I hope so!" Kita shouted, nudging Raavi.
"Eh," he shrugged.
"What?"
"I'm just not all that into sports."
"You're the one who got us these tickets, and what was all that talk with Kai over the scores?"
"I indulge him. He has no one else to talk pro bending with on that island, especially not my Mother."
"You keep up with the matches and have a connection for tickets just for your Dad? Why didn't he come with?"
"Something about date night, I really didn't want to know any more than that," he chuckled.
"That's so sweet, they have date night!" Kita squealed.
Before Raavi could quip some thinly veiled clever line about a date night of their own, a loud crash brought their attention back to the fight.
"And Shiori takes out the Lion Vulture's airbender and firebender AT ONCE! She is on top of her game tonight folks!"
A beep sounded and the Catgators stepped into the next zone. Shiori's grin was wide enough to see from the stands as she swiped her leg across with a stripe of fire following, only to distract the waterbender before throwing two quick punches, the blasts throwing the girl off balance. She dropped her stream and stumbled backward, giving the Catgator's earth bender the advantage he needed to hit her in the midsection with a rock disc. The waterbender went tumbling into the pool below.
Before they knew it, the Catgators had won with no losses of their own, a perfect clean sweep. As the players made their way off the zones, Kita snatched both her companions and zipped back down the stairs and out of the main arena.
"I just need to talk to Shiori, if you could just-"
"Yeah you and a thousand other fangirls, no can do," the security guard told her, dismissing her entirely.
"But, sir, I know her!"
"Heard it before,"
"Do you not recognize the Avatar? I think you should step aside before we call the President!" Ari snapped, his voice noticeably deeper.
"The Avatar? Haven't heard that excuse yet. How 'bout some proof?"
Ari was about to fire back with an insult before Kita hushed him.
"Did someone say Avatar?"
"Shiori!" Kita shouted, stepping past the guard and throwing her arms around the girl's neck.
"I probably smell pretty bad after that match, I'm warning you," she chuckled, raising her arms and sniffing.
"Not worse than we smelled in that garbage heap," Kita laughed.
"Hah! I'll never forget that!"
"You are something in that arena, very impressive, can I just admire your biceps?" Ari asked, his usual tone regained.
"Uh…"
"This is Ari and that guy sulking away from the crowd is Raavi," Kita introduced.
"Nice to m-" Shiori was cut off by crash echoing throughout the massive building, causing an immediate frenzy. People began to trample over one another as they frantically scurried towards the exit.
"What was that?!" Ari gasped.
Another boom sounded and Kita darted back towards the main arena.
"Kita!" Raavi called, following closely.
The metal ceiling had been blown clean through, and beams stretching across the structure were beginning to fall and crash into the pool, one of them taking out a chunk of the playing zones.
"A bomb?!" Shiori shouted over the cacophony of panic. Kita scanned the arena, looking for anyone out of place. A quick moving black streak caught her attention. They stopped, adjusted their mask, and almost kept moving through the rows of empty seats before noticing Kita and the others staring. The figure hurried even more now, leaping down over the backs of seats until reaching the main landing.
"Split up, you two go around that side," Shiori ordered, she and Kita branching off and giving chase.
Raavi and Ari ran the opposite direction, looking the assailant head on, who stopped in his tracks and surveyed his options. By the time he thought to turn around, Shiori and Kita had reached him.
"Why did you set off that bomb?!" Kita asked, taking a step closer. She kept a close eye on the rail, knowing if this person was a water bender that would be their escape route. Sure enough, they hitched a foot on the metal bar and leapt forward, but Kita acted faster and brought a stream up to trap their ankles, hanging them upside down. They formed a blade from water and cut Kita's stream, but before they fell to the pool, she used a gust of wind to keep them suspended. Their brown eyes widened in shock at the introduction of a second element, and before anyone could react, whipped out a small box with a red button and pressed it hard. Another blast shook them as more of the ceiling caved in, and Kita released the bomber to bend a wave over them and freeze it, shielding them from the impact of debris.
Shiori nearly bounded over the rail to catch the escaping assailant, but Kita grabbed her arm and yanked her back.
"We have to get out of here! Shiori let them go!" Kita told her.
"Better to help the police find them then die here, come on!" Raavi insisted.
Shiori let out a sort of growl and relented, and the four of them sped out of the arena.
Jinora was furiously fighting against policeman, trying to break through the line of men to get to the main entrance of the arena.
"My son and the Avatar are in there! You let me through this instant!"
"Mom!" Raavi shouted as they emerged from the stadium, plumes of smoke behind them.
"Raavi! Raavi!"
He bounded down the stairs, having grabbed Kita's hand at some point without realizing it, and they both collided with Jinora and Kai, Raavi's arms closing around them.
"Are you injured?" Tila asked as she approached them all.
"No, no we're okay," Ari told her.
"Let's get you all out of here, I'll bring you to the station for now," she said, letting Jinora and Kai through and leading them to a police mobile.
