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

Romance as it is in books is a dream, but a dream that some people do indeed live.

The Romance

Finally. Finally, Jinora felt at peace in her own home.

That week flew on by, each morning being as normal and incident free as the last. School was well enough under control and Kai could actually come by her house to give her a ride to school if he felt like it. Of course, he always walked up to the door and knocked like a polite boyfriend. Her father even bade them both, albeit an equally polite, "have a good day at school" send off as he went out to fetch the morning paper.

Still, there were things that weighed on Jinora's mind. Chief of them being that she thoroughly missed the physical intimacy with Kai the way they used to. She didn't even really know what was stopping them, but it was like neither of them really had the time or the convenience for it. However, another thing was weighing on her mind: the upcoming winter formal.

She wasn't sure if Kai was thinking about it, but she sure was. This would be their first dance as a couple and, Raava, she really wanted to go. Problem was, she wasn't sure if Kai would want to go. Surely, he would go if she asked, but she didn't want him to go to somewhere he didn't want to be. It wasn't like he was anti-social or anything, but he wasn't the biggest crowd person.

"Honestly, I thought we were already going," he said, leaning on his bike and munching on a candy bar.

Jinora blinked.

"You did?"

"Well, yeah, you've been dropping hints all week so I figured you were just going to eventually ask if we could go to mall so we could shop for your dress or something," he said, shrugging with a smile. "Besides, you weren't very subtle."

She raised an eyebrow, frowning mock-sternly at him.

"And why didn't you just ask me, hmm? How dare you keep me waiting."

Kai grinned and leaned down to plant a kiss on her nose.

"Because I figured that my queen would just call on me whenever she needed me."

Jinora cracked a smile now.

"Well then her majesty is asking you if you'll go with her. Formally."

He chuckled, stuck the candy bar wrapper in his pocket and put his hands on her waist, pulling her toward him.

"I thought that was my job."

"You were too slow," she teased.

"Oh, fine," he sighed dramatically, then looked back at her with a sincere smile. "Yes, of course we can go. I don't mind at all."

She let out an audible squeal and wrapped her arms around his neck. Perhaps it was silly, but spirits this gave her something to look so forward to. She'd been to the winter formal before, but only once. When she was a first year with a group of friends and, quite frankly, she felt intimidated by all the older, much more mature patrons. Now, here she was able to go and go with someone she loved. This time she'd enjoy herself.

And who knew? Perhaps this would make her even more excited for when prom season came around.

-:-:-:-

"No, no no," Jinora frowned at the long, red dress in the three way mirror "I feel like a tube of lipstick."

Asami walked up behind her and put her hands on Jinora's shoulder.

"Jinora you look lovely. You have in the last ten dresses too. Remember now, nobody's getting married here. What is it about this that you don't like?"

"Yeah, Asami's right. This looks great on you," agreed Korra, sitting on a nearby chair next to Opal. She grinned, wagging her eyebrows."And it's easy to take off too."

Jinora cracked a smile, but she could see Asami turn and scowl a little at Korra.

"Don't encourage that," scolded Asami.

"It's not exactly encouraging if it's a fact, is it?" shrugged Opal with a small innocent smile.

"Not you too," sighed Asami and turned back to Jinora.

"Well, I do like that, uh, fact," said Jinora, looking sheepish under Asami's exasperated face. "But the color is also not very me. I mean, it's too bold maybe? I don't know. I just want it to be perfect."

"Well, I thought there were a couple perfect dresses to be honest. But that's just me..." trailed off Korra.

"Yeah, I thought that blue one a few dresses ago was really, really nice," said Opal. "What are you looking for?"

"Oh, I don't even know," sighed Jinora. "I just want something that gets me. Catches my eye. I mean, I know I'm not looking for a wedding dress here, but I want to love it. I've never really been to a dance like this... at least not in a long time."

"Okay, well, let's try a different one," said Asami soothingly, "Why don't you go inside and change out of that? We'll bring you something else. I saw something over there I wanted to check out..."

Nodding Jinora went back inside and slipped out of the red dress. It was a little embarrassing, but... she just wanted to feel like a princess. Waiting for her friends to come back, Jinora noticed a text from Kai on her phone.

"How's it going?" read the text.

After a moment, Jinora replied back saying she just wanted to find her princess dress. It was a little embarrassing but she knew he'd understand just like Korra, Opal and Asami did.

He replied a few minutes later saying "You're already a princess to me, but I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for."

Grinning, she was about to text him how corny he was, but a knock at her door made her look up.

"Jinora? I think we found something. It's pretty gorgeous," said Asami through the door. She opened it slightly to hand her an all lime green taffeta ball gown. At first, Jinora actually raised her eyebrow at the dress. Green? After a second of looking at it she supposed that she might as well try it on. It was kind of pretty to look at.

Slipping it on, however, Jinora found that she liked it more and more. The body fit perfectly, going down to her hips and gradually opening into a just large enough skirt. Even the way the skirt layered and folded around itself was lovely. Turning around in the mirror, she adored the thick matching green straps of the corset back and how it made the dress feel classy. It made the dress feel... her. Or rather, it made her feel like herself while still feeling something entirely different. Continuing to turn in the mirror and watching the way the large skirt moved and swayed just the right way, she could barely explain how lovely she felt. Lovely in a way she never had. She was so enamored with the dress that she must have taken too long staring at it before Korra was the one who knocked on the door.

"Do you need help getting it on or something?"

"N-no, it's not that," she stammered. "I'll be right out."

After another minute of just admiring the dress and taking it in privately, she opened the door and she swore Asami was tearing up.

"Asami?" she asked, concerned. "Are you okay?"

Opal came up beside Asami and put her hands on her shoulders consolingly.

"She's just getting all emotional because you look so grown up," smiled Opal, still patting Asami in comfort.

Jinora made a face, amused.

"I've been grown up for a while."

"I know, but," sniffed Asami, dabbing her eyes with her sleeve and fanning her face with her other hand. "You really, really look it. I can't believe it's you're last year then you're off to college."

"Aww, Asami. It's okay. I mean, if it helps I can't really believe it either," she said softly. "After everything lately... it's really finally starting to sink in."

"We've all been there. Believe me, you'll be glad to get out of high school though " laughed Korra, sidling up next to Opal and Asami. "But for now I think we've found your perfect dress. Don't you think?"

Jinora felt her cheeks go hot and she turned tail to the three way mirror, looking at the corset back again.

"I really love the back," she said. "It just kind of pulls the dress together all snug. And the color is actually really pretty and the skirt moves the right way... I just... I love it so much."

Feeling her face completely warm now, Jinora bit her lip and moved around again so the skirt would swish around just the way she liked. The tag flashed in the mirror, however, and her face suddenly faltered.

"What?" blinked Opal. "What is it?"

Jinora stopped and took the tag in her hand to look it over again. Frowning, she looked up at the three and could almost feel her dejectedness spreading to them.

"This dress would eat up a lot of my money," she said, her shoulder slumped. "I really want it, but I don't know if I could spend all that. I mean, I have the money, but Kai's birthday's coming up soon and the solstice and I've got to get gifts and I just can't spend all that right now... I..."

Asami blinked, then smiled sympathetically.

"Jinora, I can buy the dress. You know that's not a problem," she said.

Jinora's shook her head immediately, suddenly distressed.

"No! No, you can't do that! I can just find another dress. Honestly, it's fine and its' not a big deal at all. I can just find one in my price range," she insisted.

Opal frowned, concerned.

"One that you like as much as this one? Jinora this is the dress."

"Yeah," said Asami, patting Jinora's shoulder. "I'll pay for the dress. It made me cry happy tears. That means we have to get it."

"But-"

"Jinora," Korra put a hand on her hip. "Asami could buy the store. A dress costing a few hundred yuans is like change in you might find in her couch."

Smiling, Asami nodded sheepishly. Jinora knew that she didn't like to exactly go around shoving her wealth in everyone's face, but there were times that it was just fair to say that Asami Sato was filthy stinking rich. This dress wouldn't even tickle her pocket.

Jinora turned back to the mirror again.

It was such a perfect dress too...

She turned back to the three, Asami specifically.

"...you really don't mind? It's okay? I don't want to make it seem like I'm, y'know, using you or anything terrible like that," she said, feeling a strange mix of anticipation and slight embarrassment.

"Of course I don't mind. It's like Korra said," Asami shrugged awkwardly. "I'm not really going to notice the money being gone... either way. I'm more than happy to buy your dream dress. In fact, I'd be honored. My father sat through me trying on at least thirty dresses before I finally found the one I really, really wanted. When I did, that's what he told me. It's nice to do the same for someone else."

Smiling and even feeling her own self tear up, Jinora walked forward and threw her arms around Asami. Hiroshi Sato may have died in prison several years ago, but it was good to see Asami holding on to what her father taught her growing up and even after they made up when he was still incarcerated. It told Jinora that Asami was moving along with her life nicely. Healthily. Even after all these years and Jinora found that somewhat comforting.

"Thank you," said Jinora, pulling back. "Thank you so much. If you ever need anything you know you can count on me."

"Don't mention it," smiled Asami. "Now, why don't you get in there and change back into your own clothes? We still have some shoes to shop for you know."

-:-:-:-

A week later, Jinora felt totally in control yet entirely nervous at the same time.

Kai had been poking her up and down since she told him she'd found her dress. Every time he asked to see it on her she'd only giggle a little and go back to doing what she was doing. She'd tease him that he only wanted to make sure she looked good and he'd insist that he knew she would look nothing short of beautiful in it. Then, he'd kiss her and tell her how he could barely stand waiting to see her happy face in the perfect dress she loved so much.

He was purposefully corny and silly and genuine.

This dress was for her, but she also wanted to see the look on his face when she walked downstairs. She nearly planned to take a picture of it, but she didn't want a camera flash to ruin the moment.

"You ready?" she called, standing at the top stairs.

"I've been ready for a week," he called back, whining. "Come on, you're killing me!"

Biting back a wide grin, Jinora walked down the stairs slowly and carefully, her knees nearly giving out with every step. As she got closer and closer, the bottom stair came into view and there was Kai, his face splitting into a grin more with her every step. She felt her face flush and her entire body light on fire. It was just a look, but it was the look of someone who was staring at the one thing they loved most in the world. It was one thing to know that was true, but another to watch it be true in it's very own moment owned by no one but themselves.

Near the bottom of the stairs, she swore a spirit must have wanted her to speed things up and her left knee gave out. She didn't exactly trip, but Kai caught her anyway. They'd tousled and turned in bed numerous times, but it was still a dream to be right in his arms as he smiled down at her lovingly.

His eye flicked downward even more for a moment.

"That's pretty," he said quietly.

She blinked, turning down at the crystal chain hanging around her neck.

"Oh," she said, putting her arms around him. "Yeah, it's gorgeous..."

"So are you, but I don't think I have to tell you that," he said, kissing her sweetly.

"Mm," she made a noise into his kiss and pulled back. "No, but it's nice to hear you say it."

He laughed a little at her and went back to kiss her, but the sound of someone clearing their throat brought them back to reality.

"Are you ready, dear?" asked her father, eyebrow raised. Beside him was her mother, dabbing her eyes just like Asami had been, and her curious siblings.

"You two are so beautiful together," sniffed her mother. "Okay, now stand over there so I can get a picture."

As instructed, she and Kai got into position in front of a nice antique for a background and her mother took at least ten pictures Jinora swore. All that time, she could hear Ikki talking about how she would make it a point to go to the winter formal next year and Rohan asking why was the dress so poofy.

"Mom, I think we should go," said Jinora when her mother was done with another picture. "We'll be late."

Her mother smiled and put the camera down.

"Oh, of course," she said as she ushered them both to the door. "You two be careful on the road with the car. The traffic's probably going to be kind of heavy. Make sure you're safe out there and don't talk to strangers-"

"Mom, we know," sighed Jinora.

"I know, I know. I'm just saying."

Her parents followed them to the door. Her father leaned down to kiss her on top of the head and her mother both of them to Kai's slight surprise. Glancing at him, Jinora suppressed a giggle at the look on his face.

"Are you sure you don't want us to drive you?" asked her father, fidgeting slightly. "We could very well do that."

"Dad," said Jinora, making a face.

Her father sighed.

"Fine, but you know the rules. No excessive kissing, no unnecessary embrac-"

"Go have fun, you two," said her mother. "Don't listen to the general over here."

Tenzin scowled.

"There has to be rules Pema," he countered.

"You need to relax," she replied in kind.

"Okay, I think we'll be going," said Jinora, pulling Kai out the door. "Bye!"

"Remember the rules!" called her father as her mother promptly shut the door.

When they got into the car, Kai sighed with a grin on his face.

"I'm just about positive we're going to break all those rules," he said as he started up the engine.

"I'd be insulted if you didn't," said Jinora, leaning over to kiss him. "By the way, you look good in green too. I'm glad. We look good together if I do say so myself."

"Nah, that's just you," he laughed, tugging at his matching green tie."I'm not really a suit kind of guy. You know that."

Jinora made a face, amused.

"Doesn't mean you don't still look good. I like your chest in that shirt and I like your shoulders in the jacket,"she said, running a hand over his chest and under his blazer. "Love, you look hot."

Kai looked over at her, an eyebrow raised.

"You're going to make us skip the dance," he joked.

She laughed.

"Yeah, I don't think so," she said, retracting her hand. "I fully intend to wear this dress out. I spent a lot of time looking for this thing and all that effort isn't going to waste. Plus, Asami bought it for me."

"Don't worry," he said, as they began driving off. "Everybody's going to know you're the most gorgeous thing this side of Republic City. Any side actually."

Jinora sat back in her seat, smirking a little.

"I knew you were the right choice."

She looked over and saw him smile the same way.

"Right back at you, babe."

-:-:-:-

They arrived at a lovely country club on the outskirts of the city and everything went uphill from there. She found that she actually didn't mind the loud music. She didn't mind the absolute zero space on the dance floor and having her feet stepped on once in a while because the entire time she had Kai pressed up right at her back. Though they were jostled around the dance floor like everyone else, she felt safe, but moreover, she felt alive.

She learned a few things about Kai at the formal that day too.

One, he was not a bad dancer. No, not at all.

Two, he looked great in suspenders and his shoulders filled his shirt very nicely. Admittedly, she wasn't exactly unhappy that others got to see how attractive her beloved was. She knew with the way he had her on her waist that he felt the same.

Three, Raava, he could make love to her with just his voice alone the way he had his mouth glued to her ear as they rocked back and forth.

"Nothing's more beautiful than you," he would whisper. "You are beauty."

And she'd lean into him just a little more.

Raava save her.

This was almost unfair. People weren't supposed to be good at pickup lines. Then again, she'd hardly call what he whispered to her pick up lines. It was more like poetry. There were times when he'd compare her to the wind under the stars and the blue of the ocean. There were days he'd compare her to the rare panda lily or a lotus in bloom. Then, he'd tell her that what all those things had in common was that none of them could ever make him feel the way she did.

In turn, she'd ask him what cards, flowers and candy all had in common. Then, she'd tell him that none of those things could make her feel loved the way he did. None of those things could make her keep falling in love with them again and again and again for what felt like an eternity.

When they left the dance floor, the first thing she did was kiss him. Sweetly and slowly. He almost seemed to get lost in her and wound his arms around her body as he returned it with just as much love and care.

They were so sappy. So corny and so incredibly silly.

But they did it together and it was all in the name of love. What else did either of them ever have to ask for?

-:-:-:-

The first thing Kai did when they got back into the car was kiss her neck for dear life. Her hands flew to his hair and she pulled him back to her face. Damn it all, why didn't she listen to Korra? Should have gotten the one that was easy to take off, but no. She had to fall in love with the poofy. Now, she was hard pressed to remember how you got the blasted dress off.

She was busy pulling his shirt out of from being tucked and he had his hands running around her hips when the worst sound in the world went off.

The phone.

Not the phone.

Anything but the damned phone.

She froze. He froze. He realized that the phone was going off and they looked at each other for a split second, sharing the greatest annoyance in the world. Kai sat back now as she reached for the phone with a frown. Even as she answered the call, she could hear him swearing the air blue under his breath.

"Hey, Dad," she said, trying to keep herself from making the grumpiest sigh.

"Just seeing if you're on your way home now," he said, sounding like he was clearing his throat again. "The dance ends at midnight right?"

She bit back a scream.

"Dad, it's twelve o' one."

"Ah, so you should be on your way home, right? Alright then, we'll see you in less than half an hour," he said hurriedly.

"Yeah," she replied, but figured that he had already hung up.

Sticking her bottom lip out, she looked over at Kai and he let out a huge sigh.

"We better get outta here," he grumbled, but still took her hand and kissed it in reassurance.

She half-smiled at him and reached out to caress his cheek. When he drove off, she looked over at him again. This time more specifically at the state of his clothes.

"We better stop somewhere and fix you up real quick," she said, reaching over to smooth out his shirt. "He's going to make sure to inspect you too."

Okay, I'll be the first to admit that this chapter was not originally planned. In fact, it was more of a headcanon I had for this au world that I figured I'd rp, but see I made a booboo in my timeline (that I can't really explain right now), but yeah. The booboo though would have kind of messed with the pace of the story so I decided to use this chapter was more transitionary and a "here we are now" kind of display. Showing more character development and the relationship between Jinora, Korra, Opal and Asami and even a little bit between Kai and Jinora's family.

Not to mention seed planting.

Next chapter though I will explain the little booboo more!

Also, the dress that I describe is a real life dress I found and you can find it on my blog under "art" and "wditd reference."

As always, I really love it when you guys drop those reviews. It lets me know what people are still reading this story even after 17 chapters and it really keeps me going and keeps me writing. I appreciate every word and you guys are really a big reason as to why this story has gotten to where it's gotten. Those reviews keep me on the ball.

Thank you for reading! Tune in for next chapter!