Chapter 4: Heat

As day's passed, Jinora returned to teaching her classes, and Kai started training with Tenzin. She barely saw him, the rest of the airbenders saying he stayed behind after class to practice. The rest of her family , Korra and the Beifongs decided to stick around for a while on vaication. Eexcep Lin, who didn't take vaications.

Jinora loved haved everyone around, but it was throwing her off balance. She hadn't been able to focus on her meditation or enter the spirit world since the ceremony, and it was driving her crazy. Finally she'd had enough, before dawn she left with some food in her rucksack, and went down to the stables. Pepper greeted her happily as always, and she smiled when she recognized Lefty next to her.

"C'mon Pepper, ready to go for a ride?" She smiled and hopped on. Pepper groaned, still not fully awake, but as soon as they were in the sky, it was smooth sailing.

Jinora cherished the flight, the wind in her hair, the feeling of freedom. Seeing the sun rise from the sky was absolutely beautiful, and exactly what she needed.

All she needed was to get away for while, and she'd be able to focus.

…

Kai groaned as he came into the dining hall for dinner. He'd just walked over the courtyard but he was soaking wet, the weather was getting worse by the minute. His body was sore from only a weeks training with Tenzin, who was working the airbenders tiredlessly. Especially him. Kai knew Tenzin was waiting for him to give up but that wasn't going to happen.

"Kai!" Pema came up the moment he entered, Ikki and Opal closely on her trail. "Is Jinora with you?"

"No why? I haven't seen her since yesterday?" Kai saw by the worried look in Pema's eyes something was wrong.

"She said she was planning to go somewhere to focus on her meditation last night, Pepper is gone and she hasn't come back yet. And the storm is getting worse!" Opal said, Kai's stomach knotting together.

"Korra and Tenzin just went out looking for her, but I was hoping she was with you." Pema said, as Opal put her arm around Pema.

"I'm sure she's fine, she probably just found shelter somewhere."

"Should we send out another search party?" Kya joined the group with Bumi.

"I'll go!" Ikki and Opal echoed.

"No Ikki, it's too dangerous, me and Bumi will go." Kya said determintely. Kai was already moving towards the door, but was stopped by Bolin.

"Hey bro, you can't go after her alone. It's too dangerous out there" Bolin clasped a warm hand over his shoulder. Mako showed up by his side.

"Bolin's right, we'll go with you"

"There's no use in all of us getting hurt, and I might know where she is." Kai wriggled free, but turned around for a short second. "But thanks"

"No worries, little brother." Bolin smiled, as Kai shot out the door.

The wind was howling around him as he made his way down to the stables, he had to go slower then usual, if he left the ground he'd probably be flown away with the wind. Worry made his stomach hurt, he knew Jinora could handle herself, she was smart and recourseful. But the thought of her beeling alone out there in this storm..

He reached the stables, and Lefty greeted him wirh a brawl, the Bison were nervous by the weather.

"I'm sorry Lefty, I know you don't want to fly in this weather, but we have to find Jinora and Pepper" he patted the bison who reluctantly followed him out. Kai almost fell of from a strong wind the first time he tried to jump up, the second time he made it. Practicly lying on Lefty to keep from falling off.

"Yip yip" he yelled across the wind, and Lefty took off with great effort.

…

Jinora sighed as she patted Pepper on the head. "I'm sorry you got stuck here with me, you shoudn't be suffering just because I can't get my mind in order."

The bison groaned, they were stuck in the cave by the hillside, the rain and the wind howling outside. Jinora had made up a small fire, more for light and comfort than warmth. She was glad she'd brought some food, but she wished she had book or something. She'd given up on meditating when the wind got too loud, and by then it had already been to late to fly back. She'd figured she'd wait out the storm in the cave.

Suddenly Pepper sniffed in the air, Jinora narrowed her eyes, a shadow emerged outside in the rain, and a large thud rocked the ground.

"What in the name of-" Jinora ran out of the cave and onto the natural stone platform outside, the only way to get through the cave was through flying, there would be no trees or branches to fall here. The wind was strong and she almost lost her footing, especially when she realized the dark shape was a giant bison.

"Jinora!" She recognized the voice faintly through the wind, and saw Kai jumping down from Lefty.

"Kai? What are you doing out in this storm?" She screamed as he reached her, hands grasping her arms.

"Are you okay?" He screamed back.

"I'm fine! Let's get inside!" There's was no use staying outside unless they both wanted to be blown off the cliff. She helped Lefty inside the cave, now suddenly very crowded with two bisons. The smell of wet fur made her nose wrinkle.

"Kai what are you doing here?" She repeated again, yelling even though she did't have to. Kai was soaking wet, dripping from top til toe and his unruly hair plastered to his face and the shaved sides.

"Everyone was worried about you not coming back when the storm started, I thought I'd find you here."

"You should have just stayed home!I'm fine I was just waiting the storm out! Oh I hope nobody else comes looking for me." She exclaimed, the look on Kai's face told her that wasn't the case.

"Korra and Tenzin are out looking for you. But you don't need to worry about them it's the avatar and your father" Kai's voice broke, she could see him shivering from across the fire.

"I hope your right." It made her calmer to know that her father was with Korra, she'd faced far worse threaths than a storm.

"You should have stayed inside." She said to Kai, who had kneeled down by the fire.

"W-why? So you could spend the entire night in this cold cave alone?" His lips were turning blue.

"I'm not the one that's cold" she pointed out. "Why don't you warm yourself?"

"I am!" Kai gestured towards the fire, and she rolled her eyes.

"I mean with airbending!"

Kai didn't answer, and she walked closer.

"Kai? Your lips are turning blue you're going to get sick if you don't get warm."

"I don't know how okay?" He finally exclaimed "I never learnt it."

"Why?" Jinora fell to her knees beside him, he was such a skilled airbender, it didn't make sense.

"Don't you remember trying t-to teach me?" Kai stuttered, and Jinora blushed.

"Yeah but- didn't you try again?"

"No" Kai groaned, hugging his arms around himself and staring into the fire.

"Why didn't you ask me to try it again?" Jinora asked.

"I don't think that would've helped" Kai managed to roll his eyes, and Jinora narrowed hers.

"Why?"

"It didn't exactly help with my concentration having you put your hands all over me." He said, and then his eyes widened. Jinora realized he hadn't meant to say that.

"I didn't put my hands all over you, I was just trying to show you how-" she defended herself, feeling blush creeping up.

"I'm sorry that's now how I meant it" Kai scooted around, facing her "I just, it was really kind of distracting for me."

Jinora didn't know what to say, what he was saying, but his shivering got her mind on track again. "Well you'll have to get warm now if you don't want to freeze to death." She reached out and put her hands on Kai's chest, his shirt was completely soaked.

"You'll have to take your shirt off"

"U- uh now?" Kai wasn't looking good, Jinora decided this was no time to be gentle. She tugged at his wet shirt, pulling it over his head.

"Do you want to get warm or not?" She said, pacing her hands back on his chest. His skin cold under her warm hands. Kai sucked in a deep breath at her touch, but she refused to let that face her. His heart was speeding again.

"Focus on my hands and their warmth, let it flow into you with every deep breath." She guided him, simountaniously raising her own body temperature, trying to send as much of it into him as she could. She kept her eyes closed, but heard him take a few shaky breaths, she kept her hands on him, sending heat through her hands. She didn't know for how long they sat there, but finally Kai's breathing came him even deep sighs, and his skin started warming her fingers.

Jinora didn't feel like opening her eyes and break the moment, but curioosity got the better of her as she blinked. Kai's smooth chest was lean but muscled, just like his arms. Her eyes finally traveled past his sharp jawline and up to his face, embarrased to find that his eyes were open and looking at her.

"Sorry" she muttered, withdrawing her hands. To her surprise Kai's larger hands wrapped around her wrists keeping them on him.

"Don't be. But next time you want to see me topless you don't need to go running off in a storm." He grinned wickedly, apparantly back to his normal self. Jinora groaned.

"I wasn't running off I was completely fine here by myself!"

Pepper growled offendedly.

"Except for Pepper of course" she added, but Kai was just grinning. "You can probably put your shirt back on now."

"It's still wet, and now I'm perfectly warm." Kai grinned, Jinora tried not to look down at his body again.

"I thought you didn't like me having my hands all over you." She said, remembering she was a bit put off and wondering when he'd let go.

"I never said I didn't like it, I said it was distracting. Still is, but in a good way." He looked down, but let go of her wrists, she let her hands fall to her lap, missing his touch.

"Oh" she was confused, but didn't know if she should approach the subject further. They fell silent.

"So why did you come here?" He asked, and once again she blushed. She hoped it wasn't visible in the dim light of the fire. Because I find you too distracting, especially shirtless.

"I needed some time to myself to focus on my meditation." She said instead.

"Something bothering you?" Kai asked "I know you only have problems with that when something is bothering you."

"No of course not, what would that be?!" She went on the defense.

"I'm sorry, I was just... curious." Kai said quickly. Jinora sighed.

"Well actually, it's something that has been bothering me." She glanced up at Kai, but he was waiting for her to continue. "I don't know, lately I've been kind of feeling like I've missed so many things. You know, normal teenage things."

"You're still a teenager, it's not to late" Kai said, turning his head to the side slightly. "And what would that even be? You've done amazing things."

"I don't regret what I've done, but all I ever do is study or teach, and there's still so many things I know nothing about!" She exclaimed, Kai's eyes narrowing.

"Like what?"

"You know" she muttered, blushing again.

"No what?" He kept asking.

"You know!"

"Noo"

"You know, stuff" she said, and Kai's eyes widened slightly as he finally seemed to understand.

"Oh stuff" he cleared his troath, scratching the back of his neck. Something he used to do when he was nervous. "So uh- you haven't done stuff with anyone?"

"Who would I have done it with?" She said darkly, already regretting opening up. Kai was the last person who would understand.

"So not that Ronin guy? No stuff?" Kai asked, and she wondered what that tone was, hopeful?

"No stuff! No stuff at all okay?!" She yelled "Forget it I don't want to talk about this, especially not with you."

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to probe, I was just curius... again. And we used to be best friends."

"Well I'm ending this conversation now."

"Okay."

She refused to look at Kai as she turned to rearrange the fire.

"No stuff at all?" Kai asked carefully.

"I said I didn't want to talk about it!" She answered angrily.

"I just find that really hard to believe" Kai said "I mean have you seen yourself?"

"I have a mirror Kai, and I still don't want to talk about this with you."

"But it's bothering you?"

"You're bothering me now." She growled, noticing that he'd moved closer as she turned to face him. "And you're not one to talk, it's not like you didn't have the chance to do... stuff." She immidately regretted the words as they left her mouth. Shit.

"Hey it wasn't that easy, I was just a kid and your dad was everywhere!" Kai flared up. Jinora just crossed her arms, and kept her eyes on the flames.

"Let's just drop it okay, forget I said anything."

"If that's what you want"

"Of course that's what I want."

"So you're just going to let it go, and then be able to focus on your meditation again?" Kai said.

"Yes, exactly!" Jinora snapped.

"Because that's been working out so well until know."

"I'm really starting to regret not letting you freeze to death" Jinora wipped around, finding herself face to face with Kai's emerald eyes. Something in his voice and eyes had changed in the flickering light as he spoke.

"I could help you, if you want to. I do owe you one since you saved me from freezing to death."

"How?" Jinora's breath quickened, she could feel the heat from his body.

"With stuff... if you want me to" Kai's voice was low, and and she could feel his breath on her lips. His eyes scanned her face, waiting for her answer. Her heart was beating so hard she was sure he could hear it, and suddenly she coudn't make a sound.

"I'm sorry I-" Kai started to withdraw, her hand shot out and she finally found her voice.

"No!" She realised she'd almost shouted, Kai's lips turned upward, her hand still hon his chest. He raised his eyebrow just slightly, all she could to was nod. Kai leaned forward again, slowly, he paused inches from her face, like he was giving her time to back out. Jinora swallowed.

He pressed his lips softly against hers, and Jinora was astounded by her body's reaction. Suddenly she was humming from top til toe. Instintively she moved her lips against his, and a small sigh escaped Kai. She didn't know why but that sound was amazing, and she let her hand travel to his neck, pulling him closer. Kai's suddenly moved with a new determination as he parted her lips slightly, while his hand moved to her face, the other digging into her hip. The sensation was amazing, and Jinora let out a surprised moan.

Kai moved closer at the sound, his lips and tounge working against hers. Jinora wrapped her other arm around him as well, pulling herself flush against his chest. Kai's fingers gripped her hip tighter, as his lips kept crashing down on hers. Jinora had no idea her body could feel this way, so alive, do desperately craving his touch. She pulled him even closer, and he made a small noice at the base of his throat as he leanded forward, flipping her backwards onto the ground. Jinora gasped in surprise, and his lips suddenly left hers.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to- I got carried away-" He breathed deeply.

"Don't stop" Jinora said as she pulled his face towards her again. Kai closed the space and captured her lips again with a sigh. His body pressed against hers but he was holding most of his weight up himself, her hands moved to his arms, tracing the lean muscles with her hands. She let out a sound of dissapointment as Kai's lips left hers, but then he kissed her cheek, her jaw and down to her neck Jinora shivered with pleasure and closed her eyes, turning her head to give him better acess.

She coudn't believe the bliss she was in, her body was acting instictively as she moved slightly against him, he rewarded her with that lovely sound in the base of his throat, and she did it again. Kai's hand had moved underneath her shirt, hot against the skin on her stomach, traveling up. She moved her hips against his body once more and Kai moaned.

"Jinora" his voice was dark and hoarse, like she'd never heard it before, and his hand had stopped, she blinked in susprise, suddenly brought out of her daze and not happy about it.

"What?" She asked, looking up at Kai's face, he looked dazed too.

"You're making me crazy when you move like that." He said, voice still hoarse, his breath warm on her lips.

"Was that wrong?" She blushed.

"It was uh-" he cleared his throat "Amazing, but maybe we shoudn't do all the stuff tonight..."

"Oh... OH!" Jinora was regaining her senses, Kai was right, she hadn't been ready to go that far. "Sorry" she added. "I didn't meant to uhm... put my hands all over you."She attempted to joke. Kai grinned, pushing himself up as she followed, his arm still on her other side.

"No I'm sorry... I wasn't exactly expecting that." He seemed to blush.

"Was that not right?" She exclaimed, confused. It felt right.

"Well I was just expecting to kiss you... but I... ah I kind of lost control." Kai was definitely blushing, but he looked away. "So that was stuff!"

"Yeah" Jinora was still slightly dazed, and her eyes had locked on Kai's lips again. Stuff.

"So you'll be able to focus now, not thinking about stuff." Kai kept talking, his lips moving. Jinora noddded slowly.

"Yeah."

"Jinora?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you okay?" Kai narrowed his eyes.

"Yeah" Jinora pushed herself up further, inches away from Kai's face, she heard him take a sharp breath. "Did I do well?"

"What do you mean?" He swallowed as she gazed up at him under her lashes.

"Was it a good kiss? I really need feedback if I am going to work on it." Jinora smiled slightly. Kai's lips turned up too.

"I told you it drove me crazy" he said, eyes flickering down to her lips. Jinora leaned forward, brushing his lips slightly.

"Could we do it again?"

"Oh raava" Kai sighed as she captured his lips.