"The Ship of Dreams, they called it. And it was. It really was…" Over five days, the lives of Kai Wen and Jinora Gyatso became irreversibly entwined. But their adventure was not the typical love story, for the ship they met on was the RMS Titanic. From the moment the ship set sail from the Earth Kingdom in 177 AG, it was destined for disaster. [Kai/Jinora] Titanic!AU.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Legend of Korra, or any of its trademarked characters. I also do not own the plot of the movie Titanic: that belongs to James Cameron and his associates. I only own the story that you see written, and hope that you enjoy my spin on things.
Those in Peril on the Sea by boasamishipper
Chapter Four
177 AG
Immediately after issuing the order for the men to get the Master-at-Arms, the officer that had found Kai lying on top of Jinora had forcefully picked him up and had nearly thrown him away from her. Jinora didn't make a move to help—rather, she seemed practically catatonic. He couldn't find it in him to blame her: if he'd gone through what she had, he suspected he wouldn't be so willing to say or do anything.
Either or, he didn't appreciate being treated like vermin. He'd dealt with that enough from the police and other people back in the Earth Kingdom.
After what seemed like an infinite amount of time, with the officer breathing down his neck, the Master-at-Arms appeared, along with a man that looked in his late twenties or early thirties who wore a clean, freshly pressed suit. First class, for sure, for why else would he have come? He was tall, with dark hair, and rather thin as well—although Kai could tell that even though the man didn't look particularly threatening, he could go from docile to dangerous at the drop of a hat.
"For the love of Tue and La." Kai sighed in exasperation as the Master-at-Arms frowned at him and advanced, wound his arms behind his back and placed a pair of handcuffs on his wrists. "Look, this is all just a big—"
"What is your name, boy?" the Master-at-Arms grumbled before ordering one of his men to assist Jinora to a bench, where she was wrapped in a blanket and offered some brandy, which she refused.
"My name's Kai," he answered, frowning upon being called boy. Although to be fair, the Master-at-Arms looked to be at least fifty years old, and to him, a man of eighteen was a boy. "Kai Wen, sir. Like I was saying, this is all just a big misunderstanding. I didn't do anything."
"Uh huh." The officer that had reported him snorted derisively. "Right. We found him on top of her with her dress ripped and his jacket off. If that ain't a bad sign, I don't know what is."
"For the love of—I did nothing!" Kai wanted to throw a fit but knew that it wouldn't look very well on his possibly expanding criminal record. "I. Did. Nothing. You have got to believe me."
Judging by the way that the other man suddenly grabbed Kai by the lapels, he wasn't being believed. "I'll believe you did nothing when they shovel snow in hell. What possessed you to put your hands on my fiancée?!" She's his fiancée? Hot damn. Why didn't she say anything, for Raava's sake?
Kai glanced at Jinora, looking for help to come up with a possible story, and he was turned back around forcefully. "Look at me, you filth, not at her! What the hell did you think you were doing?!"
This managed to provoke a reaction from Jinora, who stood up and tried to grab the man's arm. "LingShi," she said, clasping his arm, "LingShi, please stop! Mr. Wen didn't do anything wrong. He isn't guilty of anything except saving my life."
"Saving your life?!" repeated the man—LingShi. It was plain that they held no affection for one another, soon to be engaged or not. "How was it—how did this happen, Jinora?"
"Yes, how did it happen?"
With a look at Kai, pleading for him to play along, Jinora rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly and wrapped herself in her shawl. "Well…It was...It was very stupid of me, really. I was leaning over the railing and I slipped." Their eyes met, and Kai felt a rush of heat go up his neck. "I was leaning way over, to see the...um, the…propellers. And I slipped, see, and I would have gone overboard. I was fearful for my life, but thank the Spirits Mr. Wen here saved me—he almost went over himself, risking his life for me, LingShi."
LingShi didn't look like he believed her. "You wanted to see the propellers? You know that women and machinery don't mix, darling."
"I do know, LingShi, but…I was curious, and I couldn't help myself." A flush rose in Jinora's cheeks.
"Was that the way of it, Mr. Wen?" the Master-at-Arms inquired of Kai, crossing his arms over his chest.
Jinora was practically begging him with her eyes not to say what really happened. Tue and La on a broomstick, what did my evening turn into? Maybe I should have gone drinking with Skoochy and Tahno and them. "Uh, yeah. Yes, that was pretty much it," Kai said, locking eyes with her. There, now we have a secret, you and me. I hope you're happy, Miss Gyatso.
"Well!" the Master-at-Arms exclaimed jovially. "The boy's a hero then. Good for you, son, well done!" The cuffs on Kai's wrist were unlocked, and he flexed them, thinking how grateful he was that he wasn't going to spend the evening—and the rest of the time on the ship—in a prison cell. Dear Spirits, wait until Skoochy hears about this...
"Let's get you inside, dear," LingShi said, rubbing his hand over Jinora's arm. "Why, you're freezing."
"One thing, though, darling," Jinora said, stopping in her tracks. "Do you not think that Mr. Wen deserves some compensation for his actions?"
"Perhaps you should give something to the boy," the Master-at-Arms reasoned. "He did save Ms. Gyatso's life, after all, Mr. Zhang."
"Oh, right." LingShi didn't look particularly happy as he reached into his wallet and pulled out a handful of yuans, waving it in Kai's face. "A twenty should do it, shouldn't it?"
"No, sir, that's okay. I don't need your money," he lied through his teeth. The truth was he needed the money more than anything if he and Skoochy were going to survive in Republic City, but he wasn't about to accept a pity gift from a pompous windbag like LingShi Zhang.
Jinora looked as though she'd eaten something disgusting—reminding Kai of what he and Skoochy had looked after their first hangovers. "Well, LingShi, is twenty yuans the going rate for saving your wife-to-be?"
LingShi looked like he'd sucked on a lemon. Kai exchanged a quick grin with Jinora before he realized that the other man had noticed. "What would you like me to do, love?" LingShi inquired, placing his hands on his hips. "I don't have a suggestion—short of money, what can we offer this…gentleman?"
"I have an idea." Jinora took a step closer to Kai, her head tilted to the side. "Have you ever experienced a ten course meal, Mr. Wen?"
Why the hell is she asking me this? Bemused, Kai shook his head. "Um, no. Ma'am."
"Would you like to?"
"Do you think that would be proper, Jinora?" LingShi snickered, but with a stern look from Jinora, relented. "Well, then, I suppose my lovely fiancée has invited you to dinner tomorrow. You can regale our group with your heroic tale, Mr. Wen. Please accept this; it'd be quite rude of you if you didn't. I insist."
"Sure," Kai finally said, making direct eye contact with LingShi. "I suppose it'd be rude of me if I didn't. Count me in."
"Lovely." LingShi's expression looked as though he thought it were anything but lovely. "Glad that's settled, then. Come along, dear; let's get you back to your room." He put a protective arm around her shoulders and the two walked away.
Kai let out a sigh of relief, and the adrenaline still coursing through his system gave him the courage to whistle at the officer who'd arrested him. "Hey," he said, taking his hands out of the pockets of his coat. "Mind if I bum a cigarette?"
The officer loaned him a box from the folds of his coat, which Kai took three cigarettes from, lighting one and sticking the other two behind his ears. "Thanks," he said, making his way to leave.
"You know," said the officer conversationally, "I'm very impressed with your actions this evening, Mr. Wen."
Kai tilted his head to the side, wondering what the man was up to.
"I'm particularly impressed with the way that you managed to get your jacket off and still save Ms. Gyatso from falling." The officer's eyes were cold and hard. "It all happened so suddenly, according to the young lady."
A bead of sweat formed over Kai's upper lip, but he didn't say anything. He refused to, because after all, he'd promised Jinora that he wouldn't say anything. He wouldn't have anyways, especially not to the man that had nearly arrested him.
"Have a nice night."
Kai walked away, thanking the Spirits that he wasn't spending the rest of his in a prison cell.
Back in her room, after her mother had left and finished berating her for her actions, Jinora couldn't help but think of the events that had led to her near fall, and every time she thought of what might have happened if Kai Wen hadn't been there, she kept going cold inside. What had she been thinking, trying to commit suicide? That was a fool's way out. Whether she liked it or not, she had to sweat things out.
So she thought about her rescuer. Kai Wen, with his shaggy undercut, crooked smile and rumpled clothing. His dark skin and piercing green eyes. Kai Wen, her savior. He cared about me enough to save my life. The thought still unnerved her. How could that have been?
Either or, she'd have to thank Kai. It'd be improper if she didn't.
Not to mention that she really wanted to see him again.
Alright, she decided. Tomorrow morning I'll go find him in steerage. That shouldn't be too hard, right? And if I can't find him, then I'll just ask him tomorrow night at dinner. I think that'll be alright.
She couldn't help but wonder why he'd done it. She was no one to him; they'd never met before then. He didn't owe her anything. So why had he done it? Why had he also refused payment for his services? Had it just been because it was from LingShi? Or had his actions genuinely been out of the goodness of his heart?
As she pulled her nightgown over her head, still ruminating over Kai, she nearly startled out of her skin when she saw LingShi standing in her doorway, reflected in the mirror on top of her vanity. "LingShi!" she said in surprise, putting a hand over her heart. "Goodness, you scared me. What's the matter?"
"I'm not stupid, Jinora." Oh, no, this can't be good. "That being said, I know that you've been feeling down as of late, and I have a good guess as to why." He handed her a large black velvet jewelry case. "Take it, Jinora."
Numbly, she took it. "What is it?" she asked.
"I intended to save this until the engagement gala next week. But I thought tonight you needed it more, perhaps a reminder of my feelings for you. I hoped it might lift your spirits a little."
She opened the box and couldn't help but release a sharp inhale of shock. "LingShi, this is…this is too much. This is a diamond!" she said, in absolute awe. The blue of the diamond hanging from the chain was dark—so dark that it became very nearly black in the center. It was an oval shape, and it made her heart speed up. "LingShi…is it—"
"Yes, it is. The Eye of the Sea. It can be traced back to the first Fire Lady, my love, as you well know. She wore it on her wedding day, as a symbol of her fiancé's love." He took the necklace and placed it around her throat, tying it in the back for her. "It's for royalty, Jinora. And we are royalty."
"It's heavy, dear. Very heavy."
"I know. But I want you to always wear it. Soon, it'll feel like a part of you...it will be the item that anchors you to me." His fingers caressed her neck and throat, and she nearly shuddered at how cold his fingers were. "Open your heart to me, Jinora," he whispered in her ear, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up straight. "Your mother won't let us now, but after our wedding…you'll open your heart to me, one way or another."
Even after he left, it took a long time for her hands to stop shaking.
I remember the next morning like the back of my hand. I'd eaten breakfast with my family…and LingShi had refused to leave my side. He was trying to act sweet, I knew, trying to make me do what he most wanted, but I'd long since grown impervious to his charms. I managed to convince my mother that I wanted to take a stroll around the deck for the day, and after a copious amount of begging, she agreed. Why, I didn't know, but I didn't care.
So I went up on the deck and took a stroll all the way to the staircase that led down to the steerage dining room. And as I was there, I felt so nervous…even more than I had on the railing with LingShi, Kai, and the Master-at-Arms.
After convincing myself of my actions, I ducked under the barrier and went downstairs.
Kai knew that their dining hall was stark and dirty by comparison to the clean opulence of first class, but he liked the crowded, raucous place nonetheless. There were mothers with babies, kids running between the benches yelling in several languages and being scolded in several more. Old women yelled, men played chess, and some girls were doing needlepoint and reading dime novels. Tahno and a few others had managed to get a piano upright and were playing and singing along to a country tune that Kai vaguely recognized.
Skoochy had wandered off around the same time that three boys had scrambled around chasing a huge ratroach under the benches, trying to whack it with a shoe. The boys had sufficiently entertained most of third class with their antics before their parents took them away.
On Kai's lap sat Qin Xi, the little girl from the deck that he'd drawn yesterday. He had acquainted himself with her parents, and Qin had taken a liking to him once she caught sight of her own portrait, hardly believing it was her. Considering herself a wonderful artist, she helped him draw funny faces in his sketchbook.
"What do you think, Mister Kai?"
Kai had to smile at the childish imitation of him, Qin, Skoochy and Tahno. "Well, I'll be darned." He ruffled her charcoal-colored hair. "That's good, sweetheart, that's really good."
She beamed at him. "Thank you, Mister Kai!"
Qin's father, Zhixin, strolled up to them not long after, followed by Qin's mother, Kumi. "Come along, Qin," Kumi said, smiling, "it's time to be going. Let's say goodbye to Mister Kai, now."
Obediently, Qin placed a quick kiss on Kai's cheek and gave him a bashful smile before standing up to follow her mother and father. "Goodbye, Mister Kai!"
"Bye, Qin." Kai grinned, giving the little girl a quick wave before leaning back on the bench.
With the new space available, Tahno slouched next to him, peering over Kai's shoulder at his sketchbook. "Those are pretty damn good drawings, man," Tahno said, actually sounding sincere for the first time. "Seriously, sell them! You could make a fortune!"
Kai snorted. "Who would I sell them to? Half the people here can barely afford their own tickets, let alone a second-class portrait. And the first class would shoot me before I could offer."
Tahno rolled his eyes. "You can't tell me that you never thought of selling them before."
"Skoochy has. He kept pestering me to do that when we were in the Earth Kingdom." Kai rolled his eyes fondly. "Says I'd make a fortune too."
"Hate to say it, but he isn't wrong."
"Hey, look, speak of the devil."
Skoochy had come over to Kai and Tahno holding the hand of a young woman with short brown hair and pale skin. "Kai, Tahno, meet Jaya Li," he introduced. "Jaya, this is who I was telling you about—my best friend, Kai, and we met Tahno yesterday."
Jaya nodded, smiling at them, and said something in an indecipherable accent.
Kai grabbed Skoochy's arm and pulled his friend close to him so he could whisper into his ear. "Skooch," he said, still smiling so Jaya wouldn't think anything was wrong, "does she speak...y'know—"
"Uh, no." Skoochy shrugged. "Nope. Does it matter?"
Kai opened his mouth to say something and then closed it, deciding against it. Skoochy must be serious about this girl if he's introducing her to me and Tahno. He's never done that before. He let go of Skoochy and made room on the bench for him and Jaya, smiling at both of them. "Nice to meet you," he said.
Tahno rolled his eyes and slouched back on the bench. "Yeah, yeah, nice to meet you too," he said, tossing his bangs out of his face.
Skoochy elbowed Kai in the ribs, and Kai was about to swear at him when his mind suddenly went blank. He blinked, sure that he had to be hallucinating, because there was no way in hell that the girl from last night was in the third class dining hall with all of them. Hadn't she been pulled away by her fiancé?
He found himself standing as she made her way closer to them. Skoochy looked discombobulated. Jaya looked frightened and a bit awed. Tahno, from his spot on the bench, looked like he'd witnessed the second coming of Raava and Vaatu.
Whatever look Kai had on his face, he assumed it wasn't much better than his friends'.
The girl—Jinora, he remembered her name was—wore a yellow sundress with a shawl wrapped around her shoulders, and looked more out of place than ever among the woman there that were wearing ragged skirts and hand-me-down shirts. Her light brown hair flowed down to the small of her back, and Kai ran a hand through his own awkwardly, not even remembering the last time he'd washed it.
"Hello, Mr. Wen," she said, giving him a quick smile.
Kai nearly fainted on the spot. It felt like all of third class was holding their breath and waiting on him to say something. "Hello, again," he croaked.
The piano music started playing up again, and it seemed as though everything had gone back to normal. Except she was still there. Spirits, it wasn't a hallucination.
"May I speak with you?" Jinora asked, prim and proper, her voice a thousand times more cultured-sounding than the entirety of third class.
Kai snorted. "Uh, yeah." He gave a quick nod toward Tahno, Skoochy and Jaya, who nodded politely, back at him and Jinora. He tried to convey to her that the gossip would no doubt be all over the ship by the next morning if they talked down here.
Jinora looked like she was fighting the urge to roll her eyes. "May I speak with you in private, Mr. Wen?" she enunciated.
"Yes, of course," Kai said with a smirk, reaching down to grab his sketchbook. Tahno, from his position, looked like he was trying to look up Jinora's dress, like she was some cheap floozy who'd actually give him the time of day. He'd better let his own train of thought derail, if he knows what's good for him. LingShi would kill him without trying. "After you, Miss Gyatso."
Jinora smiled at him and turned around, beginning to walk toward the staircase. The second her back was turned Kai playfully punched Tahno's shoulder, grinned at Skoochy, saluted the rest of the stunned third-class passengers and followed Jinora up the stairs.
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