the thief and the airbender
thank you
"Can I come in?"
Kai turned to see Tenzin standing the doorway. Kai offered him a half-smile, feeling nervous. Part of him wished that Mako and Bolin hadn't left and gone down to make sure everything was in order, the other part wishing Tenzin would leave too. He usually dealt with nerves best on his own – and who wouldn't be nervous? It was his wedding day. His heart gave a great leap at the thought, and involuntary smile spreading across his face.
Jinora was going to be his wife.
"Um, sure," Kai said finally, and the airbending master entered the room. They stood for a few moments in awkward silence; Tenzin seemed to be struggling internally, but Kai had no idea what he was going to say. Kai had asked for his permission to marry Jinora, Tenzin had helped plan the wedding, and even though their relationship had started out rocky, Kai liked and respected the man. Tenzin was the closest thing Kai to a father Kai had ever had.
"Kai," Tenzin said quietly. "I just wanted to say…" His eyes crinkled. "Thank you."
Kai looked at him in confusion, but it was clear Tenzin wasn't done talking.
"I've seen all you've done for my daughter. I know how much you love her. When she came into the world, I thought that no one could ever love her as much as I did; now I know that I was wrong. All a father wants is for his little girl is for her to be happy. You make her so happy Kai."
Tenzin put a hand on Kai's shoulder and pulled him into a brief, rather stiff hug, but a hug all the same.
Kai beamed at Tenzin once they broke apart, willing to not get teary-eyed. "I think I'm the one who should be thanking you, Tenzin."
Tenzin smiled at him. "One more thing Kai: call me dad."
And after Kai had watched Jinora glide towards them, after their I dos (the sweetest sound he had ever heard) and their kiss, and their speech, he thanked his dad, because he had so, so much to be grateful for.
Because the Zhurrick wedding got me thinking about a Kainora one and FEELS so you know you can't argue with that logic.