1.Grapes
She had become accustomed to the slight burning of the blush across her cheeks, she hoped that they weren't as pink and flushed as they felt. She often found herself gnawing on her lower lip, she got butterflies in her stomach and felt them spread to her throat and chest. She felt as though her heart would be permanently beating at a mile-a-minute, she didn't mind.
Jinora kept the book held high in front of her face, trying to focus on the delicate calligraphy that told the story of the Oma and Shu. Trying to hide that her lips were still slightly swollen, she didn't want anyone to see, or anyone to ask. She wanted to keep it private, their little secret.
She heard Korra enter the room, knowing that Kai would be with her. Tenzin had sternly ordered Kai to get healed before dinner, to avoid infection and possible scaring, depending on the wounds. Jinora peaked over her book and looked at Kai, he was already looking at her, blush stained his cheeks as he returned her smile.
His lips were also slightly swollen.
Dinner was finally served after Korra and Kai settled down with everyone, there were many different meals, all vegetarian, much to the Beifong brothers' and Bolin's dismay. Wei, Wing and Bolin were challenged to an eating competition by Meelo and Ikki, though a stern look from Tenzin, Pema and Suyin made they postpone it until dessert. Opal sat with Korra and Asami, whispering about the previous night she had spent with Bolin, the girls 'aww'd and 'ooh'd in the appropriate places, while trying to keep quiet, not wanting the whole table to know.
Bumi and Lin sauntered into the dining hall almost ten minutes after the course was served, everyone paused and looked up as they entered, Tenzin cleared his throat softly as they sat, only getting a few people's attention. "Where were you two today?"
"Hungover," Bumi grumbled, "If you must know, Master Nosey." He smiled lightly, letting Tenzin know that he was not being overly rude, more, light-heartedly teasing than insulting his younger brother.
"You slept all day?" Suyin asked, looking across at Lin, "You have never done that."
"I seem to have picked up your bad habits from when we were young." Lin grumbled, stuffing a great amount of food into her mouth, chewing quickly, she hadn't realized how hungry she was.
"Were you two sleeping together?" Pema asked innocently. The whole table looked at Pema, Lin and Bumi glanced quickly at each other, Tenzin almost choked on his chopsticks and Suyin snorted. "Oh! I only asked because you both walked in together. I assumed you must have been sleeping in the same room or nearby." She smiled, realizing how it must have sounded and hoping she hadn't offended anyone.
"No. I would have continued sleeping," Lin started, "If Bumi hadn't stampeded directly past my room…" she added with a grumble. Suyin suddenly raised an eyebrow and smiled sneakily, Lin made eye-contact with her as she mouthed, 'Liar'. Forgetting that there was someone else who can tell when somebody is lying, Lin resisted the urge to poke her tongue out.
"What can I say?" Bumi chuckled, "I heard the clinking of plates. I was starving, staying in bed all day can be gruelling, I think I pulled a muscl-ow!" he suddenly yelled, looking at Lin with a pained, yet amused smile.
"Well, I suppose you will have to make up for the punishment you missed…" Tenzin said, placing half a dumpling in his mouth and chewing slowly.
"What punishment is that?" Bumi asked, swallowing a mouthful of food.
"Jinora will give you one tomorrow, she seemed to have worked Kai into an apology." Tenzin smiled at the memory of Kai approaching him, with repentance for being rude and breaking the rules. It made Tenzin like him a tad more. Bumi and Lin glanced across to Jinora, she had let her guard down and was eating. Bumi suddenly started laughing, he glanced across at Kai and started laughing harder, Lin fought to keep a smile off her face. "W-what is funny, Bumi?" Tenzin asked suddenly, annoyed that he thought punishment was humorous.
"I can tell how hard Jinora must have pushed him, judging by how swollen their lip-" there was a loud smack, as Kai's bowl of soup smashed into Bumi's face. The bowl slid down the surprised man's face and landed in his lap, food covering his face and chest. Everyone looked at Kai, his hands were stretched out in front of him, he had an expression that was both apologetic and terrified.
"I... I-er… I sneezed… Bless me." Kai said hopelessly, trying to sound convincing, though it just came across as nervous. "I guess I wasn't quick enough to catch my plate… Heh. Heh… I am going to go meditate!" Kai stood quickly and walked from the dining room, Jinora wiped her face and also stood.
"I… Me too." She ran after Kai. She ran out into the grand hallway and he caught her wrist, knowing she would follow, they ran together, trying not to laugh too loudly.
…
"I may just be worrying, Pema." Tenzin said, rocking Rohan, they had to leave during dinner to put him in bed. For a four year old, he was still quite the sleeper, especially with a full stomach, "I mean, I trust Jinora with the world. With an entire Nation even! But Kai… Less so."
"She is almost sixteen, Tenzin." Pema smiled, "If I remember the story correctly, your father and mother knew that they were meant to be together when they were their age, younger even! I also remember your uncle Sokka telling me how he walked out and saw them kissing sometime after Lord Zuko's coronation!" She giggled the last part.
"These are different times!" he said loudly. "And! He also mentioned that it gave him a terrible case of the 'oogies'!"
"Shhhh!" Pema smiled, pointing at Rohan, finally dozing-off in Tenzin's arms. Tenzin smiled softly and placed him into the cradle, tucking him in and placing a small, cuddly toy next to him, "If you are really that worried," Pema whispered, as they walked towards the door, "Perhaps set a boundary. Just a small one, like…" she thought for a moment, hand resting under her chin.
"No kissing or hand holding until she gets married?" Tenzin suggested, taking Pema's hand in his and walking down the stairs towards the dining hall.
Pema laughed, "Perhaps, until she turns eighteen, no public displays of affection, and no sleeping in each other's chambers?" not that it will stop them… She thought with a smile, "Perhaps to set an example to others. But Tenzin, we know our daughter, she is responsible."
"Eighteen?! I was thinking twenty-one… But, perhaps, we should give her a… Talk. Just in case." Tenzin said.
"Dad! Mum! Dad! Mum!" Meelo chanted as he ran up to his parents, "The new chef is about to bring out dessert and Ikki bet me two silver pieces that I can't swallow whatever it is whole… Whilst I won two pieces earlier, I lost them to Bolin, that cheater, sooooooo… Can I borrow two silver pieces, just in case?" There was a large bowl of coins that Katara had given the children from her years of travelling with Aang and her friends, the children used this for bets so they did not actually financially disadvantage themselves, however Meelo had almost lost all of his to his other siblings.
"Go find Jinora and Kai for dessert…" Tenzin said, "Then maybe."
"Just be thankful at least one of our children is classified as responsible…" Pema smiled as Meelo raced to find his sister. "I would be willing to wager that the gambling comes from uncle Sokka…"
Tenzin smiled at the irony, "I would see that bet, and raise you Bumi."
…
They sat out on the balcony, looking out over the landscape as the sun was setting slowly behind the mountains, "What was it like?" Jinora asked with a smile, "Being intoxicated?" she had a massive bunch of grapes in her hand, they were a delicious burgundy in colour and were almost bursting. Kai sat next to her, his own bunch of grapes in his hands, his were a soft green, he popped a few into his mouth and began chewing as he spoke.
"It was strange. Like my head was almost separate from the rest of me." He smiled, "Well, until I woke up…" he shrugged. He reclined back, using one arm to support his torso, while the other held the stalk high above his head as sucked a couple of grapes into his mouth with airbending, "What is it like being a master?"
He had asked this question of Jinora before, she usually assumed because he was excited to become one himself, eventually. But now, she wasn't sure why he asked. "It is great." Jinora's usual answer, "It is hard work though." Kai glanced over at her, drinking deeply from a cup of homemade plum-juice. "Kai, why do you always ask me that?"
"It is incredible that you are a master. I guess I hope one day, you will say 'it is easy-peasy'." Kai mumbled, sucking more grapes into a tiny wind-vortex and chewing them slowly.
"Why do you hope that?" she asked again, placing a grape between her teeth. He compared the colour of the grape between her lips to the colour of her eyes, almost a match, how beautiful.
He bit his lower lip gently, lowering the grapes from above his head so they rested in his lap, his fingers fiddled with the loose berries, he spoke softly, "Because, I will never even compare to you, perhaps, if it is easy for you… It might just be doable for me." He smiled sincerely.
She watched him rolling the grapes in his fingers, lifting on and slowly placing it in his mouth as his eyes met hers. She compared the colour of the grapes to the colour of his iris', the colour was perfect, she smiled slowly, "I don't believe it will or has ever been easy, for anyone, even Grandpa Aang. But, I do believe in you. I know you will make a great master someday, and I will be right there with you." Jinora whispered, blush heating her cheeks.
They sat there for a moment, looking at each other. They both picked a new grape and held it to their mouths, their thoughts were in sync, both travelling back to earlier in the day. Jinora bit her lip, lowering the grape, Kai's eyes flickered to the action, his cheeks also reddened. Ask him… Just do it… Jinora's thoughts were cooing at her, what is the worst thing that can happen? "K-Kai. I wanted to ask you, if… Um…" she was blushing and had broken eye-contact.
"Y-yeah?" he whispered, she was making him nervous, he dropped his hand.
"Could we, um, k-kiss… Again?" she thought her face was on fire, she had butterflies in her stomach and finally glanced up at him. He straightened himself up and moved closer to her, he realized that he didn't really know how to behave. Earlier, he had acted to ensure that he didn't lose her, now, he was acting solely on memory. Her eyes followed his movements, she was worried about his hesitation, like she might be pressuring him. "O-only if you want too."
"Well, I kind of… Forced you earlier." He mumbled, smiling nervously and scratching the back of his neck. "I think I owe you a proper kiss." He leant in towards her, slowly, in case she wanted to change her mind. Her breathing was getting quicker, as was his, they closed their eyes.
When Kai's lips made contact with Jinora's skin, she giggled.
He opened his eyes, he suddenly realized that he had missed her mouth and had his lips pushing against the indentation between her chin and lower lip. He pulled back with a nervous laugh and blush travelling down his neck, as it had already consumed his face. As her giggles faded she smiled lightly, he leant back in, but didn't close his eyes until their lips met.
Her lips were soft and warm, the sweet, stickiness of the grapes was present within both their mouths, and coating their lips. They were both nervous that the presence of the juice would deter the other, Kai was very cautious as he slowly parted her lips. He could taste the sweet essence of the fruit and knew she could too, she sighed softly and followed his lead, the sound caused Kai's body to almost physically jolt. He couldn't remember her sighing earlier, and if she had, he hadn't heard her. Their lips moved slowly, gently, they didn't want to break the moment but doing something wrong. Kai pulled back gently, and tilted his head the other way, Jinora was worried he was stopping, she internally squealed with delight when his lips reconnected with hers.
After a moment he pulled back slowly, wanting to see if everything was okay, when there was a shadow in the corner of his eye, he turned his head and his heart hit the bottom of his stomach.
Jinora noticed his expression and turned around properly, uh-oh.
Meelo stood in the doorway with Poki on one shoulder and Pabu on the other, his mouth was hanging open and his eyes wide. He took a step backwards, watching both Kai and Jinora, then another, "Get." Jinora whispered as softly as she could, "Ready."
Meelo saw her whispering and turned and bolted, Poki and Pabu, barely hanging on to his shirt as he air-scootered down the flight of stairs in the one isolated turret in the whole Air Temple. He knew that if he wasn't quick, he would be caught, and possibly tortured… Meelo thought. "DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!" Meelo looked quickly back over his shoulder, he couldn't see Kai or Jinora, there was suddenly an alarmed squeak as both Pabu and Poki saw Jinora's spiritual projection standing with her arms crossed in the middle of the staircase. Meelo panicked and swerved running into the wall, Kai was there in a second, having been trying to catch up, he grabbed Meelo and held him.
"Unhand me, you despicable creatures of love! I wish not to have your germs of kissing on me!"
The projection disappeared and Jinora was there in an instant, she rolled her eyes at her younger brother, "Stop being dramatic."
"Make me!" Meelo pouted, thrashing his legs, "You are going to be in so much trouble when Dad finds out!" he smiled as evilly as he could manage.
Kai smirked, "Tenzin won't find out anything…"
"You can't silence me!" Meelo said loudly, he drew in a deep breath, "DAAAAAAAA-"
Jinora's hand was clamped over his mouth, "As you were saying, Kai?" she smiled.
"If you tell Tenzin, that you saw anything…" Kai looked up at Jinora, "We will both be forced, to give you…" he puckered his lips, "A. Big. Sloppy. Kiss." Jinora smiled cunningly, under her hand, Meelo was yelling for help. "So, if you don't want big, disgusting kisses from Jinora and myself…" He lifted his index finger to his lips, "Shhh, okay Meelo?" Under Jinora's hand, Meelo nodded.
They slowly pulled their hand back, Meelo cleared his throat, "Dessert is downstairs, we are waiting just for you two..." He said slowly, turning and walking leisurely down the stairs and into the hall, Jinora and Kai followed him, watching his behaviour, prepared to pounce in a moment's notice.
…
"Jinora, may we have a word?" Tenzin asked her softly, gesturing into his office as a few people walked from the hall.
"We?" Pema laughed, "Uh-uh, you are the one who came to the decision."
"You helped…" Tenzin grumbled, Jinora looked between her parents and raised an eyebrow. Dessert had been slightly tense when Tenzin had noticed Meelo being uncharacteristically silence as he sat at the table, slowly eating his cookies and cream, watching Jinora and Kai. Tenzin saw Kai and Jinora making kissy-faces at Meelo, and Meelo being physically repulsed by them. I wonder why they are- oh dear… He hoped that he hadn't just accidentally stumbled upon them threatening Meelo to keep quiet, I don't think so… They haven't had hardly any time alone together… I wonder what Bumi was going to say earlier… "Jinora, I wanted to talk to you."
"Sure Dad. Is everything okay?" Jinora asked, noticing that Pema was sliding the paper doors closed, she had the tiniest of inkling, that she knew what this was about. But how could Meelo have told? No… He wouldn't risk a kiss…
"Now, Jinora, your mother and I, we trust you. And love you…" Tenzin looked up at Pema, she nodded with encouragement, "I have called you in here for a quick chat… About boys…"
"What?" Jinora said, almost horrified.
"O-or girls! It is really up to you… I-" Tenzin cleared his throat and stood tall, "Jinora, we love you, and it is for this reason we have decided to set a few boundaries…"
"What?" she repeated in a higher, just as horrified voice.
"Now, we need to acknowledge that you are getting older, and while you might hear about some things… Especially if your uncle insists on getting people drunk… Especial-"
"Err, Dad?"
"Err, Tenzin?" Pema and Jinora said at the same time.
"I know that your mother recently gave you a brief talk about… Your, umm, well… Lady things…" Tenzin hesitated, then cleared his throat, suddenly speaking sternly, "Jinora, I don't think you and Kai should be spending too much time together."
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Have a fantastic New Years Eve, everyone!