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

They say that persons are fine, but people as a whole are bad news. However, on occasion, you'll find that one individual who is a glaring exception to that rule.

The Drop

"So, you hear about Jinora and Kai?"

"Jinora and Kai? Haven't they been hopping around in bed for like a year?"

"No, no! They've been together! You know, in secret!"

"Like forbidden lovers? Oh, that is so romantic."

For once, Jinora had to admit that she loved being the talk of the town. So to speak. Normally when people were spouting on about her it made her want to go hide in a corner for one reason or another, but not right now. Right now she was more than happy to tell people that, yes, she was indeed dating Kai Fong.

The whole school seemed to know by now or had at least mostly figured it out. She was still being approached by boys whose interest in her had peaked once everybody found out that she and Kai were dating, but now she could confidently tell them that she had a boyfriend. That in and of itself was extremely refreshing.

However, all of this seemed to have had the greater impact on Kai. She swore he was the happiest person in the world now. He swept her up in the sweetest kisses and when he embraced her it was like being held by pure love. It must have been the most satisfying feeling in the world knowing that if he wanted to just hold her hand anywhere, he could. If he wanted to press his forehead against hers, he could. If he felt like holding her body up against his and kissing her for dear life, he could.

They could do all of these things and not give a damn who was around.

His happiness was her happiness and for the next two weeks it was like falling in love with him all over again.

That Sunday found her alongside her mother pushing a shopping cart. Her mother was most relieved when her father had caught up on grading his student's assignments and could watch the kids, namely Meelo and Rohan, while she and Jinora went grocery shopping. Grocery shopping had always been easiest when it was just the two of them. They could actually get in and get out without a thousand unplanned items being thrown into the cart.

"Okay, honey..." said her mother as she crossed off another item on her list. "I'm going to go to the produce section. You mind going to get the cereal?"

Jinora shook her head. "That's fine. Anything different this time?"

"No, just the usual. Make sure you get the cinnamon flavored one for Rohan though, okay?"

Jinora nodded and went off to find the cereal aisle. Like many families, the Gyatso's went through cereal like crazy. Her family being especially large meant that each person had their own particular one and, just to save them all a little time and money, they got the big boxes.

She was juggling with four large boxes of cereal, trying not to let any tumble to the ground and, spirits forbid, dent the corners. It wouldn't be the first time Meelo had grumbled about a faulty cereal box before. All of them seemed to be ready to fall from under her as she made her way back down the aisle when she felt two boxes being snatched out of her arms.

"Hey!" she twirled around. "Excuse me, but those are-"

Eyebrows raised, it was Kai smiling at her. "What are you doing?"

Jinora blinked. "Sweetheart... you startled me," she sighed, smiling. "What are you doing here?"

"Obviously trying to keep you from breaking your neck," he chuckled, putting the two boxes plus his own smaller one under an arm.

"Well, my mom took the cart and I figured I'd just carry them over there like this, but that probably would have failed before I even got there..." she said, examining what she had. "Then I would have had to get all new ones so that Meelo wouldn't have a fit."

"Yeah, well not to worry," he said, grinning. "I'll always be here to save the day. Or are least your day. Hero shtick and whatnot."

"You're so silly," she said with a matching grin, turning her face up for his kiss when he leaned down to peck her on the lips. "But thank you for saving me and my breakfast. I don't know what I'd do without you."

He came back in for another peck or two before she pulled back.

"So, is it just you and your mom?" he asked.

She nodded. "Mm-hmm. Is it just you?"

"Nope. I'm here with Momko."

"Momko," she giggled. "I can't believe he still lets you call him that."

He shrugged. "I'm pretty sure he's embraced it by now. Honestly, I don't think he ever had that much of a problem with it in the first place."

"It's still really cute."

"Describes him pretty perfectly I think," he said blithely. "But hey, you know what else is pretty perfect?"

She raised an eyebrow with a knowing smile. "What?"

"You gotta guess," he laughed.

"Hmmm, let me think..." she shifted her eyes down and over in mock thought. Raising her face again, she lightly puckered up. "Maybe these kisses down here waiting for you?"

"I think so," he said, closing in on her again. "Shall we see?"

"We shall..." she said, accepting his lips as warmly as he was giving them. Nearly dropping the boxes she had left, she almost jumped when someone loudly cleared their throat. They pulled apart.

"If you two are done..." said Mako, eyebrows raised and drumming his fingers on the rail of his shopping cart. "Kai when I send you to go get food can you actually go get it before you run off to kiss your girlfriend? Not that I really mind, but I'd like you to actually remember what I need you to get before you go and get your memory wiped."

Kai rolled his eyes and straightened out. "Oh, c'mon, I got the cereal. See?"

He showed Mako the smaller box under his arm.

"Where's the milk and eggs?"

"...oh... we need those, don't we?"

Mako blinked at him, expression deadpanned. "I just did a twelve hour shift down at the station. Go get my groceries, damn it."

"Okay, I'm going, I'm going. C'mon, babe."

"Bye Mako," said Jinora, biting down on her lip to suppress a laugh.

Mako turned to go down the next aisle. "See you later, Jinora. Mind making sure he gets eggs and not actual possum chickens while he's at it?"

She hunched her shoulders as a bit of laughter sputtered out. Kai made a face at her, half-pouting. "You shush down there."

"I'm sorry, baby, but..." she peeked up at him with a crooked mouth that was trying not to smile. "You did forget, so, it was kind of true... and funny."

"He's being a nag," he grumbled.

"Oh, don't be like that," she laughed. "He's just being Momko."

Kai's mouth twitched into a smile. "Well, after I get his groceries, do you want to go down to this little coffee shop down the street? They've got-"

"Really good pumpkin flavored drinks?"

"Exactly. You want to?"

"Sure," she said, bumping her head against his shoulder affectionately. "You know I can't say no to you and coffee. Even if it is pumpkin."

"Hey, pumpkin is a perfectly good flavor. I'll make you see the light one of these days."

"Mm-hm, sure. Let's go get the food first and drop all of this off. Then, we'll go."

After filling their arms with milk, eggs and cereal, they ran into Jinora's mother near the chilled vegetables.

Her mother smiled warmly as they dropped the boxes of cereal into the cart. "Oh, hello, Kai! What a pleasant surprise."

Kai smiled back sheepishly. "Hi, Mrs. Gyatso."

"Are you here by yourself?"

"No, I'm with Momk- I mean, Mako. I, uh, ran into Jinora in the breakfast aisle," he said, red rising in his cheeks.

Her mother giggled. "Well, tell him and Bolin I said hi, okay?"

He nodded. "I will."

"Hey, mom?" Jinora began, tugging lightly at Kai's jacket in one hand and a carton of eggs in the other."Is it okay if Kai and I head to to the coffee shop down the street?"

"Hrmmm," hummed her mother thoughtfully. "Sure, I don't see why not. Did you want me to wait around and I can give Kai a ride home as well? If Mako just wants to go straight home?"

"Uh..." Kai started, sounding not entirely sure with that plan.

"No, it's fine," said Jinora, shaking her head. "Can we just take a cab?"

"You're father's not going to like that, but... I suppose if you're with Kai it's alright with me. You two just be careful, okay?"

"Okay," said Jinora, her and Kai turning to walk away. "Thanks mom!"

"No problem, sweetie. Good to see you, Kai."

"Oh, uh, you too, Mrs. Gyatso!" called Kai. He then turned to Jinora. "Your mom is way too nice to me."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I don't know... I mean, what did I do? You know. To deserve that? It's like she completely trusts me."

"Oh, that. She's just really good at reading people. I guess she just likes you and thinks we're good for each other?"

"Oh..." he said, his blush not totally subsiding. "That's nice."

They found a disgruntled Mako cruising the juice aisle and dropped off the rest of the groceries. Kai grabbed Jinora's hand and turned to leave. "Hey, Jinora and I are going to that coffee shop down the street. That okay?"

"It's fine." said Mako, glancing up briefly from his shopping list. "Just be careful. It's getting late."

"You worry too much."

"I'm serious, Kai. Just do me a favor and don't take the bus? Call me if you need me to pi-"

"It's fine, Momko." said Kai, smiling. "We're taking a cab."

"Alright," grunted Mako. "Go ahead then."

"We won't be out too late. Promise."

When they were out of earshot, Jinora took Kai by the arm and beamed up at him.

"You two are adorable."

He grinned. "He's also a worrywart."

When they made it outside, he shivered and pulled her in closer by the arm she was hanging onto. She took his arm and placed it around her shoulders, putting her own other free one around his waist so she could snuggle into his side as they walked down the street. "You cold?"

"Very," he said, teeth almost chattering.

"That's what I'm here for," she chuckled. "Although, I keep telling you to get a warmer jacket. Leather is not going to cut it and you know you don't handle cold weather all that well. Of course, if you'd just try those breathing exercises with me then you could be as warm as I am right now."

He raised a brow at her, eying her in nothing but a light jacket, skirt and fleece leggings. "I don't know how you do it, but breathing more is not going to help me keep warmer."

"They're breathing exercises! My father says that our people are good with cold weather because of our breathing. Didn't you say you were part Air Nomad too? If you'd just try them I know you'd catch on quickly!"

"I took a blood test and, yes, it did say I was part Air Nomad."

"You said a significant amount."

He sighed restlessly. "Okay, yeah. It did say that. And?"

She blinked, then, twisted her mouth guiltily. "Sorry, I didn't mean to bring that up..."

"No, it's fine," he said and kissed her temple. "I didn't mean to snap at you. You're right. I probably should at least try it. Maybe then I won't feel like an icicle when I have to get around."

"It's just that you ride your bike even in the winter and I don't want you to get sick.

Mako isn't the only one who worries about you," she said, smiling.

"I know. I promise I'll try them next time we get a chance. But... on a completely unrelated note," he said, changing the subject. "You, uh, you and your sister talking yet?"

At that, she turned her eyes downcast. "Yes? No? Kind of, I guess. I mean, we're actually speaking now, but it's only when we have to and it's super politely. Completely awkward and stiff. We are, but we aren't."

"Why don't you just go and talk to her? Now that things have calmed down a bit?" he asked.

"Well, my mom says that I shouldn't force it. Y'know, take it slow? It's just that I really caused a rift between us and I don't want to make it any worse if she gets upset at me."

"But you aren't the only one at fault here. She kind of had a good hand in it too."

"Yeah, but I'm older and I handled it completely wrong. That day, it was totally unintentional what she did and now all these other feelings and issues have come up between us and... and it's just a bit of a mess. We'll get to talking again. Don't worry. But I think we both just need to let each other be until we're ready."

"Alright, if you say so. Anyway, we're here. You sure you don't want one of those pumpkin drinks?"

-:-:-:-

"Jinora, can you come in here, please?"

Jinora didn't like this at all. Her father had that "we need to talk" voice and Raava knew that this was going to either make or break her night. She'd just had a very pleasant coffee date with Kai and, of course, he hadn't been too terribly pleased about that when she returned home, but he'd been silent about it. Was this about that?

"Yes?" she asked, stepping into his study.

Her father was frowning at a sheet of paper on his desk, at a first glance she thought it was just one of his student's grade sheets until she realized, to her great dismay, it was her own.

"You've been... slipping," he said quietly. She wasn't sure whether or not he wanted her to hear the disapproval in his voice.

"W-what do you mean?" she said, her own voice trembling slightly. She gulped, all of a sudden feeling the strangest sensation of a tightened hollow space in her chest as if something was imploding her heart right into nothing.

"Your grades," he said, handing her the sheet.

Jinora took it with an unsteady hand and examined it. They were average. Satisfactory really.

She felt that hollow space in her chest fully now.

Therein lied the problem.

"T-t-they're fine," she said, gulping again. "Satisfactory, it says."

"Exactly," said her father matter of factually. "Can you tell me a time when you've ever been merely a satisfactory student?"

She didn't have an answer to that.

"Jinora, I asked you a question."

"...No," she whispered.

"In fact, you haven't made a single A this entire year. Most unlike you."

"The year just started!" she blurted out. "And almost my classes are honor classes! They're really hard!"

"That's never stopped you before. Why now?"

"...I-I-"

"In fact, last year I saw your grades slipping as well. They were lower than usual, but still fairly good and above average. However, I've never seen your grades this low before. Now, I wonder why that is?"

"Daddy-"

"I wonder what happened in your life a year ago that might have made this change in you?"

"Dad, please. It's not-"

"Jinora, we discussed about what would happen if he interfered in what's best for you. Did we not?"

She felt her eyes stinging, her mouth was starting to feel dry and she didn't seem to possess the gall she did like the first time she confronted her father. He seemed to have cut all that by the clear and stern way he was approaching this matter.

"I-I just need a bit more time. It's only been a little over three months since school started! My classes have been brutal this year, but I promise I'll get them up. I really will. Just... Kai and I... please..."

Her father fixed her with a stern, almost cold eye. "Fix it."

She nodded and rushed upstairs to start studying immediately, wiping a few leaking tears on her way up.

The next day was no better. She told Kai briefly about her conversation, sparing him as many details as she could so he wouldn't worry. In retrospect, she probably just made it sound as if her father was being grumpy again and was venting about it a little. To comfort her, he offered her his sweet words that everything would be okay and they helped her make the day bearable until lunch.

That day, Jinora sat with Kumi, Padma and Meng Meng. When they got into it, Jinora told them the story about her father the same way she told it to Kai.

"You'll be fine, Jinora," said Padma sweetly. "You've always been ahead of everyone academically. Don't worry."

"Everybody likes to say that. Not to worry..." mumbled Jinora.

"Well, you really shouldn't. Your dad's probably just stressed because it's your last year. You know, "getting my kid into university" stress," said Kumi. "My mom's getting like that."

"I really wish he wouldn't though," said Jinora simply.

"Well, look at the bright side of things going for you. You have Kai. I'm kind of jealous, really. You two are so sweet together," said Padma.

That made Jinora smile. "Thanks."

Meng Meng sighed. "That's nice and all, but you know there are all sorts of rumors going on about him now? I mean, for a guy, a whole year is pretty impressive to keep a secret. Maybe he's, you know, had practice."

Jinora made a face. "There's always been rumors about him. And me. And... well everyone actually at one point I'm sure."

"But a lot of these probably aren't rumors. I hear he was always hitting up the library with some girl. I'd think it was you, but like you would ever do that in the library. You're too... Jinora. "

How badly Jinora wanted to tell Meng Meng – just to throw it in her face at least a little – that girl had indeed been herself. Contrary to popular belief, she didn't designate the library as a sanctified spot. The library was just one of the most private places in the school to get away from people when she, or Kai for that matter, needed it. Besides, it had books. Where else would they really think she'd be at? For anything?

She and Kai had done their deeds in the hidden corners of the library as quietly as possible during lunch and after school many times. She found it adventurous. He found it endearing. Simply put, it was fun. Although now she knew exactly just how many times they'd gotten way too close to being caught. It actually surprised her that their secret hadn't been ousted earlier.

"I doubt that," said Jinora, going back to her food. "I just really wish I knew who had spread our business all over school."

Meng Meng snorted. "Well, I did, of course."

Jinora froze, blinking.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Your sister said something about it in the bathroom and I told-"

Jinora put her chopsticks down forcefully, trying to control the boiling in her blood. "You did what!?"

Kumi and Padma started with mixed expressions, mouths agape.

"Meng Meng!" cried Kumi.

Padma only shook her head.

"What?" asked Meng Meng, shrugging indignantly.

"What do you mean 'what?'" cried Jinora. "That wasn't yours to tell! How- How dare you!"

Did people nowadays simply lack the ability to keep their mouths shut or what? If Jinora hadn't been so busy trying to keep what little patience she had left she might have stood up and knocked her chair over in the process. First, her sister? And now her, well, she hardly called Meng Meng a friend as she did an associated acquaintance of Kumi and Padma.

"Look. I'm trying to help you here. All I am saying is that you kept this secret for a year, right?" Meng Meng stood up, taking her tray with her. "So did he. And he was good at it since I, nor anyone else for that matter, ever suspected that he had an actual girlfriend. Again, for an entire year. Besides that, what else does anyone know about Kai to begin with? He's so shady. What makes you think your his only secret?"

Jinora looked on as she walked away, absolutely disgusted... but also highly disturbed.

Damn it.

That storm is so not over.

On a funnier note, I had fun writing Kai and Mako in this one. I'm sorry, Momko.

I know that I'm really dragging out Ikki and Jinora's problem out (in the fic it's been like almost two months), but like Jinora said here, there's a rift now. It's become more than just about what Ikki did and more about deeper family issues. Also, I hope you guys also don't feel like Tenzin is ooc here or being too cold to Jinora. I promise that is going to get addressed in the future. All of Ikki, Jinora's and Tenzin's issues with each other will come to head I promise. That time just hasn't come yet.

Other than that I don't have too much to say here except that storm is still a brewin'.

As always, I love it when you guys drop those reviews as they really helps keep the story going and keeps me motivated to write (even if it's just you wanting to point something out). Thank you for reading! Tune in for next chapter!