the thief and the airbender
sleepyhead
Based off this tumblr post: Okay but imagine person A of your otp picking up sleepy person B and carrying them to bed and person B just snuggles their face into person A's shoulder you know on second thought don't imagine that
[pre-Book 4]
Jinora's known Kai for three years, so she knows him pretty well. And she knows that Kai has a habit of falling asleep in the strangest places. She attributes it with the fact he must have gotten used to sleeping in uncomfortable positions on the streets. She has no idea how he falls asleep sitting up straight, or even, once, standing up. Kai refuses to change though, so Jinora puts up with it. Besides, he's absolutelyadorable when he's asleep, and every few seconds, he let out the cutest, softest snore she's ever heard.
She's not really surprised when they're relaxing after a long day in the empty courtyard, stargazing, when his head droops onto his shoulder. An involuntary grin spreads across her face. Kai lets out a little snuffle. "Okay sleepyhead," Jinora murmurs, "let's get you to bed."
She knows her way to the boy's dormitories well enough, as she and Kai have spent many nights staying up late talking. Without hesitation, she scoops up her boyfriend, bridal style. He's heavier than he used to be, but he's also gotten taller; it's been a while since she's had to carry him like this. Certainly, she hasn't done this since before they started to date, and that was at least six months ago.
Jinora doesn't expect to see her father walking down the hall. Usually no one is up this late, even Tenzin. He raises his eyebrows and Jinora offers him a tiny smile, stopping short in the hallway.
"Figured I should get him to bed," Jinora says, and knows that Tenzin can't say that's it's "funny business" because Kai's completely passed out, he respects Jinora, and there's a little bit of drool collecting on her shoulder.
Tenzin almost smiles. "Alright then, carry on. Don't stay up too much longer though."
"I won't," Jinora promises. "Good night Dad, I love you too."
"I love you too sweetheart," Tenzin says, now truly smiling. He leans over and kisses the top of her head. "Good night."
Kai's starting to feel a little heavy in her arms, and Jinora's a little worried that if he squirms more than he is right now, she'll lose her grip on him. Instead of moving out of her grasp, however, Kai snuggles into her, rubbing his face into the crook of her neck. Jinora flushes.
Her face is still warm when she lowers him onto his bed - everyone got separate bedrooms due to the extension of Air Temple Island - and she presses a soft kiss to his forehead. "Good night, sleepyhead," she says fondly, hanging back in the doorway. "I love you."
She swears she hears a mumbled, "I love you" back, and falls asleep with a smile on her face.