the thief and the airbender

time is an illusion

{for RollingUpHigh}

[kai and jinora travel back in time to the Gaang's era; pre-Book 4 but maybe two years after book 3?]

Kai didn't have any idea where they were, or how they had gotten there. All he knew was that one second he had been falling asleep in his room on Air Temple Island and the next he was standing in a teashop with Jinora, seemingly in Ba Sing Se. And being stared at by a bunch of kids and an old man who had spit out his tea all over the rug.

The boy with the arrows - airbending arrows, Kai realized, his brow furrowing - was the first to break the tense silence. "You're - you're an airbender?!" the boy said excitedly, his voice cracking slightly, pointing at Jinora. The girl had gotten her tattoos a few weeks ago, her hair had not yet grown back; she had a shocked look on her face, as if she knew something Kai didn't.

"We both are..." Jinora said slowly, still with wide eyes. "Aang?"

No way. Kai's head was spinning. How could it be Aang, he was dead! Not thirteen and alive! But the boy with the tattoos simply gave them an elated, yet confused look. "Should I know you?"

"No, no," Jinora said hurriedly, still shell-shocked. "I, uh... okay as crazy as this sounds, we're from the future. 80 years from now, actually. I'm friends with the Avatar after you, her name is Korra... and I'm your granddaughter?" It felt so strange saying that to a kid maybe a year older than herself.

"Granddaughter?" Aang repeated faintly, floored.

"How do we know you're telling the truth?" a teenage boy with a ponytail demanded. Kai wracked his brain to remember the guy's name, he was one of Avatar Aang's friends... Sokka, that was it. There were some other teenagers, too, one who was obviously Firelord Zuko and his future wife Mai, along with Sokka's future wife Suki.

"Unless I am mistaken," the old man said, "I have heard it said that time is an illusion, and so is death. Stranger things have happened. Besides, Toph, are they telling the truth?" The blind girl nodded.

"Sure are," the earthbender confirmed. "So twinkletoes junior and friend, what're your names?"

"I'm Jinora, and this is Kai. He's one of the new airbenders." The airbending Master launched into an explanation of how Harmonic Convergence had brought airbenders back to the world, and about Republic City and the current state of the world from their timeline.

Aang reached up to wipe his eyes. "I-I never thought it would be possible..." A Water Tribe girl - Katara, reached down and put a hand on his shoulder, smiling warmly at her friend.

"So, you're Aang's granddaughter right?" Katara asked, giving the two young airbenders the same welcoming smile.

"I am," Jinora said, her eyes flickering to Katara nervously. "And you're my Gran-Gan."

Katara went a deep shade of red, but seemed pleased. Her brother let out a loud retch that sounded like "Oogies! Gross!" Katara shot a glare his way, still pink in the face.

"How many kids did we, uh, have?" Aang inquired, and he was blushing as well.

"Three," Jinora answered. "My father Tenzin, an airbender. A former-nonbender who got airbending, my Uncle Bumi. And Aunt Kya."

"She's a waterbender," Kai added. "And then Jinora has a younger sister and two younger brothers. They play airball with me sometimes. Jinora likes reading too much. Like her dad - Tenzin's a bit of a stick in the mud." Jinora rolled her eyes.

"Glad to see your boyfriend's bringing some fun back into the family," Aang said happily to Jinora. She went pink; she and Kai weren't together. Kai blushed furiously.

"We're uh, not together," Jinora said.

"Yet," Toph grinned. She could feel how their heartbeats got faster around each other, and how nervous they were around each other. "Listen kiddos, if you wanna good place to kiss according to Twinkletoes and Sugar Queen that balcony's the ideal place."

"Toph!"

Gaang meets Kainora. Toph and Aang both ship Kainora. (Lbh who doesn't they're too adorable). This is set during the finale of Avatar, Soizon's Comet: Part 4 Avatar Aang right after the end scene. If any of you want more of these scenes feel free to request them. RollingUpHigh, I hope this is what you wanted; if you want me to take another shot at it I'd be more than happy to do so.

I've never really written any of the Gaang before so let me know if anything seemed OOC. :)

(Only 3 more days until Book 4!)

Thanks for all of your reviews, favourites and follows, I love you guys! :D