the thief and the airbender

in another life

{for KorraKatniss4Ever}

[AU - Jinora is the street rat and Kai is Tenzin's son]

The boy was talented with the glider, Jinora had to admit. And, he and the others with him were airbenders like her. "Ladies and gentlemen, if you, or anyone you know is an airbender, please, send them our way! Master Tenzin and Avatar Korra would love to teach them all they know!" a guy with a goofy mustache announced.

Jinora looked over her shoulder; she still had some time before the Sheriff and his deputies arrived. Maybe if she left some of the money she had stole, they would leave her alone. Then, she could make up some sort of lie and hopefully the Avatar would buy it, and she could leave her past behind her. Jinora knew that Harmonic Convergence was what had given her airbending, and she refused to leave the gift unused. It had made surviving on the streets a lot easier, anyway.

Casting one last glance over her shoulder, Jinora ran up to Avatar Korra and Master Tenzin and the boy with the glider. "I heard you're looking for airbenders," she said cheerfully, smiling. "Well, you just found one."

Now it was time to impress them. She showed off some of the trickier moves she had managed to teach herself, sending off blasts of air, all the while concocting a lie in her mind to fool them. She prattled off her 'sob story' and she was almost home free when the police on their motorcycles pulled up. The Avatar refused to go - "If you want Jinora you'll have to go through me!"

It made Jinora feel bad as she slunk away from the airship, her old adoptive family's life savings bag clutched in her hand. Then that stupid firebender caught her.

Jinora swallowed nervously as the Sheriff explained the truth, and her future, to the Avatar and their friends. The cute boy with the glider looked especially shocked. "No," the sheriff said sharply when the man with the goofy mustache asked about her fate, "we're taking her to jail."

"Wait!" the Avatar and the boy cried at once, giving each other a quick, surprised look.

"Stop," the boy continued. "You," he seemed uncomfortable now that everyone's eyes were on him, "you got the family's life savings back, right?" The Sheriff nodded. "Then... everything's okay now right?"

"Kai," Master Tenzin said quietly. Kai. Jinora looked back to the boy- Kai, taking him in for a second time. He was pretty cute, in a scruffy sort of way.

"He's right, Tenzin," the Avatar said. "I think Jinora just needs some guidance." She shared a smile with Kai, and Jinora realized that he had a really nice smile, actually. "And who better to give it then us?"

"Do you want the girl or not?" the Sheriff demanded. Sharing one last look with each other, the Avatar and Kai nodded as one.

"Yes," the Avatar said firmly. The Sheriff let go of Jinora's arm; before she was even thinking about what she was doing she flung her arms around the older girl, and Kai, pulling them into a hug.

"Thank you," Jinora murmured.

"Just don't make me regret it," the Avatar requested, both her and Kai pulling away out of the hug. The Avatar headed up to the Airship, everyone else doing the same, except for Kai and firebender. After Jinora managed to shake off the firebender, she found herself face to face with Kai.

A blush rose to her cheeks, and she firmly looked anywhere but at him. "Thanks for helping me out back there," she managed out. She wasn't used to thanking people; she had become well accustomed to taking care of herself.

Kai grinned at her, and her stomach did a somersault. "You're welcome Jinora," he said cheerfully. "I'm Kai by the way." He stuck out his hand.

She shook it, nervously returning his smile, finally meeting his eyes. They were a really beautiful emerald. "It's nice to meet you Kai."

"Kai!" Both kids jumped as Tenzin's voice rang out; their heads snapped to the threshold of the airship. "We're leaving now!" They shared one last smile before heading into the airship, together.

Only one more request to do, Angelic915, your request is up next! Feel free to leave me more in the box below. And I cannot believe we're at 290 reviews... a little present for me for this fic to hit 300 by/with chapter 50?

For all the Canadians out there, I hope you're having a safe & happy Thanksgiving with your friends and family.

I love you guys. :3 I hope you all have a fantastic day!

-Also, some notifications- You guys remember that poll I put up a little while ago, for Kainora oneshots? Well, the winner, "20 Questions" is up as a oneshot. The longest one, I've ever written. I hope you guys like it! I'm pretty proud of it, actually. Also, I just put up another Kainora oneshot called "day and night" and I'd appreciate it if you'd bother checking it out (it's fluffy).

My Kainora-shipper bestie in real life also started a 99% Kainora blog: thethiefandtheairbender. I help out with it a little. Feel free to follow us! My bestie runs it though - I know diddly squat about running a blog - and my bestie is awesome.

-That is all.-