This fic is also on my tumblr blog where my username is Kuno-chan and my blog name is Dragoness Ramblings.

Disclaimer: Legend of Korra belongs to Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko

Everybody has a story to tell. Everybody. Even the people who don't want to tell theirs. Especially the people who can't tell theirs.

The Story

If things at home weren't sad enough for Jinora then they were now.

The fight with Ikki had gotten back to her father as she knew it would and he hadn't been the least bit happy about it. Of course, he blamed Kai. In his mind, "that boy was making a mess of things" as "he knew he would". Her mother was able to reign him in before another argument started, but things were getting tense with her father. It wasn't in the same way it had been with Ikki where things were just awkward, but instead, it was as if she always felt like something was about to break. He was more critical of her now, wanted to know exactly when and what homework she was supposed to be working on, looking over the mistakes on already graded assignments with an extra scrutinizing eye and seemed to think she spent far too much time outside of the house and not enough time studying. Thank the spirits for her mother, otherwise, Jinora might have forgotten what it was like to have a life.

School was certainly no better. Neither she nor Kai had been able to really decide what to do in the past few days. It hadn't even been a week yet since the secret got out, but Jinora was suddenly being approached by guys who had never spoken to her before. It all made Kai very grumpy when she mentioned it to him. As he explained it, some guys seemed to think that she'd somehow "lowered her standards" and was now, therefore, fair game.

"Well, nobody really knows that we're dating. I think a lot of people have assumed we're just, y'know... body buddies," he said bitterly, his back against the trunk of the tree and forearms draped over his knees.

"I figured," muttered Jinora. "I get girls trying to stop me to ask questions about you. Very, erm, personal questions."

"Believe me. I'm getting those too," he said, closing his eyes as if praying for patience. "I hate it."

She grabbed his hand and smiled. "Just ignore them. You know how nosy people can get."

"We can't ignore them forever," he said, raising an eyebrow at her. "When are we going to tell everyone?"

Her smile faltered and she must of blanched because he let out a grunt of annoyance and slipped his hand out of hers, looking away. Of course he was upset that she didn't want to say anything yet. Or even when she wanted to say anything... if she did. She'd already explained to him that everything going on at home was making it hard for her to deal with anything but how to handle Ikki and her father at the moment. He could and did accept that. That did not mean he was happy about it.

She felt selfish for doing this to him. He'd accepted it for so long and now she was asking him to just hang out for a while longer until she could figure out when the time was right. The only problem was that they both knew that "when" was a very big "if"as it had always been.

But he just had to understand.

"Love..." she put a finger under his chin to gently bring his face back around. "It's just not the right time. It will be though."

"When?" he asked, his eyes on hers now.

"I... when... Sweetheart-"

"You don't know," he said, standing up and running a hand through his hair impatiently.

"Kai, I can't deal with everybody at home and at school at the same time! I'm sorry!" she stood up with him now.

He turned around, frowning. "Then what are we going to do? We can't deflect questions forever. I know I can't. I'm going to get arrested before then."

"What are you talking about?"

"What am I-? Jinora, I don't know about you, but it burns the living chi out of me not to be able to just tell some of these guys 'It's none of your damn business she's my girlfriend.'"

She turned away from him, her face in her hands. "Ugh, Kai, now is not the time for you to get possessive!"

"It's not being possessive!" he cried, exasperated. "That's what people in relationships do when other people ask you filthy questions they know they shouldn't! But, then again, they probably don't know they shouldn't because a lot of people think we're just sleeping together! Jinora, that's really telling about how the world sees us right now!"

"Why do you care so much about what they say!? You never did before!" she said, still turned away from him.

"I'm the one who should be asking you that!"

Sighing restlessly, she pushed her hands up into her hair.

"It doesn't bother you that people will harass us night and day? That doesn't bother you at all?"

"Jinora, if I had a yuan for every time someone called me a street rat I'd be richer than you are. I'm just old enough now that it's not fun for most people anymore. So, no. It doesn't. But it obviously bothers you a lot. In fact, you act as if your life depends on it!"

She had no answer to that.

"... what are we going to do...?" he asked. "You know I won't do anything without your okay on this."

There was a moment of silence between them. She brushed her hair out of her face, looking at the ground, desperately thinking of an answer. The main problem in all of this was that she didn't want to say anything to anybody yet. How could she get out of this without hurting him? It made her feel so selfish, but damn it all she could not handle trying to please everyone. Her father, her sister, her mother, her boyfriend... if everybody else knew would she be adding the entire school on her shoulders as well? That was something she didn't want to find out.

"We can just deny it," she said hopefully, turning back around and bracing her hands on his torso.

He looked at her for a second with a stunned expression that slowly morphed into something like disbelief and almost annoyance.

"...are you serious?" he asked her so quietly that it was nearly a whisper.

She could feel her eyes stinging and hear the croaking in her voice. "Kai...I don't kn... I..."

Unable to get the words out, she bit her lip and looked down. Was this all she could muster up? Was this the only answer she could give him?

"It's fine."

She looked up at him just in time to feel his kiss on her forehead.

"W-what?" she blinked.

"It's fine. Don't worry about it," he pulled back. The look in his eyes wasn't the same tender one he always had when he said that to her. Instead, he looked very tired and even a little bit sad.

"No, it's not fine! I'm sorry. I just don't know what to do."

"Don't do anything," he said, taking her by the hand. "C'mon. It's late. Let's go home."

"Kai-"

"Really, it's fine. Let's just go home, okay?" he smiled at her, but it had to be the fakest smile she'd ever seen on him.

He was most certainly not fine.

The next day, it was as if nothing was wrong with him. At least that was how he was acting anyway although she knew him far better than that. To everyone else, he was just in a really good mood, but she could see the way he was forcing himself to be happy. Kai was by no means a grumpy individual, but his mood was fairly even tempered with most people and he only let loose around those he considered friends or closer. This version of him, who seemed to be happy with whoever came by to talk to him, wasn't genuine at all.

It almost made her upset to talk to him like that. Why was he being like this? Was he mocking her or was he just trying to make a point? Deep down she knew he'd never do anything like that to hurt her for the sake of it, but she just couldn't figure out where he was getting at with this fake demeanor of his. When she tried to talk to him about it at lunch in the library, he easily evaded her and changed subjects. She didn't try to push it and start an argument, however, by the end of the day she was not only fed up, but worried. That evening, they didn't hang out like they usually did. Instead, she went home with the excuse that she had homework, but by the look on his face they both seemed to know that she was just saying that.

What worried her most wasn't the fake happiness though, but the sad look he had in his eyes all day. Behind the smiling and the laughing she could see it. It was a type of sadness she'd only seen in him a few times before, but whatever the case, it made her feel sick inside.

It was as if she was feeling what he was probably feeling and that, in turn, only made it worse.

It made her feel all the more guilty.

-:-:-:-

"I just don't get it, Mom" said Jinora, frustrated. She ended her slicing of one cucumber with a bit more vigor than she probably should have and moved on to the next. "I just don't understand why he's so stuck on it. I mean, I do get it, but I don't. He knows everyone is just going to be in our business. He was fine with everything six months ago. Why does he want to change things so badly now?"

Her mother came around the kitchen island with another plate of vegetables for her to chop, but put a hand on her daughter's wrist first. "We don't want your blood with our food, dear. Slow down. I like you with all your fingers on."

Jinora almost cracked a smile. "Sorry, I'm just... I don't know-"

"Frustrated?" suggested her mother, turning around to pour vegetables into a steaming pot.

"Very. You should have seen him today," said Jinora, making a quick wave with her knife before going back to slicing. "He's acting like he's just fine. Happy even. It's not like he's not a grouch or anything, but it was weird how happy he was today. Of course, I know he's not happy, but that's what makes it weird and I don't know what he's getting at."

She sighed heavily.

Her mother came back beside her, taking already sliced vegetables and putting them onto plate. "So, he's not happy?"

"Not at all. I know that he's upset that I told him we could just deny everything when people ask questions and he's been weird about it ever since."

"So, what your saying is that he's unhappy," said her mother, turning back to the pot.

"Well, yeah, that's what I mean. He's unhappy and he's acting like he's the opposite."

Her mother turned back and was next to her again. "Dear, it sounds like he's just acting like he's happy because he wants to make you happy. Sacrificing his wants and needs for yours."

"I know," groaned Jinora, still slicing. "And I know he's just selfless like that and I love him for it, but I hate it at the same time. At least in this context. He was fine with the secrecy for at least six months into our relationship. Now that you guys know, why does he care about everyone else? He's never been one to care about other people's opinions. I just wish I knew why it's such a big deal to him now when it wasn't before..."

For a minute, only the sound of the boiling pot and the knife slicing through to meet wood could be heard. Then, her mother came up beside her, but didn't take any vegetables this time.

"Sweetie, I'm going to ask you a question..." she began quietly. "And I promise that what you tell me will stay between us and only us. Not even your father will know."

"Um... uh... okay."

Where was her mother going with this exactly?

"Sweetie, has... has Kai ever been abandoned?"

Jinora froze, the sounds of her slicing silenced.

Her mother grimaced. "I know that he lives with Korra's boyfriend and his brother," she spoke slowly. "Knowing that, I can assume that he probably doesn't have parents. And by the way you stopped slicing those cucumbers, I'm right, aren't I?"

Damn, why did her mother have to be so intuitive? Jinora could swear she started sweating a little. Besides Mako and Bolin, she was the only person Kai had ever spoken to about that. It didn't seem to be something he exactly made forbidden information. People knew he didn't have parents. It just wasn't something he really cared to talk about and she tried not to bring it up when she didn't have to.

On the other hand... she could trust her mother and her mother wouldn't judge him for it. If there was anybody Kai would be okay with her telling it would be her mother. He seemed to think highly of her.

"I won't push it. If you don't want to tell me it's okay."

Jinora bit down on the inside of her cheek as she thought about it. This information would never leave the house or even her mother's lips for that matter. Plus, they were bound to find out sooner or later the more Kai spent time around her family.

"K-kai likes you a lot. And... as long as it definitely stays between us then I'll tell you."

"Of course."

Jinora took a deep breath.

"His," she swallowed hard, looking down. "His mom. His mom, uh... his mom left him in the park when he was four and never came back."

"...that's terrible," her mother whispered. "I take it he's never known his father?"

Jinora shook her head.

Silence sat between them for a moment as if her mother was trying to figure out how to get the words out of her mouth.

"I'm no psychologist, but this..." her mother began, pursing her lips in thought. "This seems like it has everything to do with you, but nothing to do with you at all."

Jinora frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Everybody has their own insecurities," replied her mother.

"I'm still not really following..." said Jinora, both nervous and unsure of where this was going.

"Sweetie... people who have been abandoned often times have other issues... like feeling unwanted," her mother said carefully, moving her hands around in an awkward manner. "I don't think it's the secrecy that's the problem for him. You've both proven that it's kind of fun for you. What it is, I think, is that you telling the world about the two of you is like the ultimate reassurance for him."

"Reassurance of what?"

Her mother grimaced again. "That you won't leave him."

It took a second for that one to register in her brain. Jinora stood there, now slightly stunned. Leave him?

"Wait, so this it why he was acting so weird today? That's never even crossed my mind though! I would never-"

"But honey, you have to understand... he's scared and this is how he's dealing with it. For a four year old child with only one parent, can you imagine what it must be like for that parent to just dump you somewhere?" asked her mother. "I can see that he loves you. He loves you a lot... if you were him, wouldn't you do anything to keep your world from falling apart twice as well?"

Jinora looked down. She had never even thought of that. Or, at least, she had tried not to think about it too much. It was such an unpleasant topic for him, she never wanted to risk bringing it up. "So... he thinks that I'm going to do what she did to him?"

Her mother nodded sadly. "I doubt he exactly knows, but somewhere deep down he probably has this idea that you not telling everyone means that your just biding your time until you get tired of him and don't want him anymore. Of course, and I know it sounds like something you'd read about in a novel, but he's only feeling this way because you mean so much to him."

Jinora put her knife down and hung her head with yet another sigh. She put face in her hands, groaning miserably. How could she not have seen that?

"I can't believe I needed that spelled out for me," she said, tired at this point. "It was so obvious. I know all these things about him and I couldn't see that."

"It's not your fault, honey," her mother said consolingly. "I'm sure it's not something he's out there broadcasting or anything."

"No, but still," said Jinora. She turned to her mother. "How do you know these things, Mom? I mean, I'm his girlfriend and I didn't even think about that."

Her mother smiled. "You know how I used to work at the university daycare, right? As my first job when I moved to Republic City?"

Jinora nodded.

"Well, a lot of those kids I looked after had single parents, parents that were divorced, parents that always left them there for an hour or two longer than they should have, parents that left them there all day long... some of those kids even had, three, four, sometimes five other siblings who didn't get left behind the same way they did for one reason or another. The thing is, you start seeing how all of that, well, shapes the children. How it makes them and what it does to them. You see, it doesn't take much make someone feel less than they really are. After a while, you start seeing it in people who are older as well. You can read a person's story just by looking at what they do now. Kai's not exactly an open book, but in my eyes he's telling his story pretty well."

"That's... that's kind of amazing. A little sad, but still amazing."

"It's useful," said her mother. "Helps with social problem solving."

Jinora smiled. "Well, maybe one day I'll learn how to be like that," she wrapped her arms around her mother. "Thanks, Mom. For everything. I've really needed you lately."

Her mother returned the hug. "You know I'm always here when you need me, dear."

-:-:-:-

Where was he?

It was still the busiest time after school. The buses hadn't left yet and people were still swarming out the building. He was usually already headed off to meet her at the tree or something by now.

Jinora stood by where her boyfriend's motorcycle was parked. She fidgeted, looking around, partially impatient, but mostly anxious. She hoped the crowd wouldn't thin out too much before he got outside.

Then she saw him. He was yawning, walking to where she was without realizing she was there. When he spotted her, he frowned and strode over to her, trying to pull her into a more secluded corner, but she stayed rooted to the spot.

"What's wrong?" asked Kai, eyebrows knitted together in worry. "Are you okay?"

All Jinora could manage was a quick nod before grabbing him by the collar of his jacket and bringing his lips down on hers. After a moment, he seemed to realize what was happening and pulled back.

"What are you doing?" he asked, eyes wide.

Getting closer to him, she put a hand on the side of his face then let it down to rest on his chest. She smiled up at him and said quietly, "I don't care if you don't."

He stared at her for a second, blinking, before a grin slowly crept onto his face. He wrapped his arms wholly around her as she did the same and kissed her with all his might. Putting one arm around his neck, she rested the other on one of his that held her.

They ignored every single cry and whistle that called out to them.

Another chapter down and Pema to the rescue one more time! :D

Pema honestly doesn't get that much screen time and for some reason she just naturally fits into a lot of the problem solving Jinora goes through in the beginning here. So, I hope you guys don't mind so much of her.

I was going to put in a quick dialogue where Jinora told Kai that she told her mother about his mom and everything, but it didn't quite fit so I guess I'll try to plug it into next chapter.

I don't have much to say after this chapter to be honest. Kai's past has been something I've been wanting to introduce for a while because it says a lot about him and how his personal consequences are going to affect him.

Kai and Jinora both have their own issues and this chapter hopefully shed a little light on them. Jinora's were put in a tad more subtle than Kai's since I literally spelled it out, but I thought it was important because this is not the last you'll hear of them. Not my a long shot ;)

On side note, someone asked about Kai's tattoos and if you go to my tumblr blog (Kuno-chan) then you can see my character design for him (tattoos included) under "My Art"!

As always, I really love it when you guys drop those reviews in as they keep me motivated to write (even if you're just pointing out something or asking a question)! Thank you for reading! Tune in for next chapter!