Author Notes: Thank you for editing TheToasterMarketing Board!
Jinora touched down in the courtyard of Air Temple Island to find that her father had already returned from his meeting with Raiko. She was about to run over to greet him when she noticed he was not alone. Tenzin was walking in stride with Kai towards a small group of airbenders.
Jinora knew that Kai was planning to go back to the Earth Kingdom, but the sight of all the other airbenders around his age eager to go with him made it feel like there was a pro-bending rock-disc in her stomach. Part of her wanted to go with him. When she and her siblings were on their own searching for Korra, there was something very freeing about being away from her parents. On the other hand, the feeling inside her that said that Republic City was where she belonged was so strong, it crushed all other desires within her.
Jinora watched the grin spread on Kai's face as he presented his gang of five to her father. Her eyes moved down the line of young men. Yung, Mu, but everyone pronounced it "Moo" because of how much he ate, and the brothers Cheng and Chang, all young men they rescued from the Earth Queen's dungeon. The fifth was the eldest of the five; Yaten, a former Triple Threat. Kai had mentioned how the two had recently connected over being little punks before getting air bending. Yaten hadn't joined their community right away; a chance encounter between him and and a spirit was what prompted the former gang member to seek out his people.
Jinora must have spaced out looking at Yaten and not realised it, because all of a sudden she noticed Meelo was at the end of the line-up. His arms were forcefully down at his side, his chest puffed and a stern expression on his face that broke as soon as their father noticed. Tenzin reached out and pinched Meelo by the ear, guiding the young boy to his side.
"C'mon Tenzin, let me go too! I'm old enough!" Meelo cried, loud enough for Jinora to hear. She could see the large vein in her father's forehead start to appear, which she knew meant he was trying really hard not to lose his temper. Tenzin bent down to his son's eye level. Jinora couldn't hear what her father was saying, but she got the gist; Meelo was not going.
Meelo pulled away from his father, stomped his feet a few steps then shot into the sky. Dirt swelled up into a cloud in his wake. At her brother's departure, Jinora finally decided to move closer to the group to hear her father speak.
"Remember, this isn't about joy riding around the Earth Kingdom. You are going to serve those in need. You will be representing the Air Nation, what you do and how you act reflects upon all of us. I expect you to be humble, patient, respectful and most importantly of all, gentlemen. Kai's in charge. Opal will be meeting up with you all in a few weeks to check in. Please call me as soon as you are in a place with a phone."
Kai started to bow, and the other five followed his lead.
"Yes sir!" Kai barked, and the others echoed him.
"You should leave tomorrow. Kai and Yung can bring their bison. Two should be enough for your needs."
Jinora stopped beside Tenzin and looked up at her father. He felt her presence and looked down at his side. "What do you think?"
Jinora looked over at the boys; they had loosened up and were talking amongst themselves. "I wish Opal was going with them."
Tenzin reached up to pull at his beard. "Me too, but I've learned children can really surprise you when you give them a chance."
"You gave Meelo a chance then too."
"His sisters were with him. Siblings take care of each other in a way that a pack of teenage boys won't. Meelo must learn patience and discipline before he goes out into the world on his own."
Jinora cracked a smile. "Dad, that might never happen, and you can't hold him here forever."
"As long has he still wants his tattoos, I've got some leverage."
That night Air Temple Island was bustling with activity. Korra, Opal, Bolin and Mako had returned from the spirit portal and caught up with Tenzin earlier in the afternoon. During their conversation Opal had made an offhand comment that they should send off Kai and his group with a party, and the acolytes took it to heart. Soon the whole temple was swept up in prepping for the festivities.
"Another party, that's just what we need right now," Tenzin muttered as he ducked under a slacking strand of paper lanterns Bolin and Opal were hanging.
"I'm sorry Tenzin, I was just so happy that I wasn't going. I didn't think anyone would take it to heart!" Opal called down to Tenzin from her ladder.
Bolin grinned as he held up another lantern for Opal to hang. "I'm always happy to have a reason to party."
His girlfriend accepted the big paper ball. "I think everyone else around here is too."
"Well, near annihilation will do that. Kinda makes you think, ya know…" Bolin muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Think of what?" Opal asked, holding her hands out expectantly for another lantern.
Bolin obediently passed her the next ball. "You know... making every day count and like the future... and stuff," he said, as his eyes darted everywhere but his girlfriend's.
Opal snorted. "Yeah, part of me is still reeling over the fact that we still have one. Speaking of, where'd our savior run off to?"
"She said something about helping Asami unload the food she brought from the docks," Bolin replied, rubbing his belly.
"Don't get too excited, I'm sure it's still vegetarian."
"Well at least they'll be fancy vegetables…" Bolin sighed.
Down at the Air Temple's dock, Korra patiently held her arms out as Asami loaded boxes of food onto them.
"So Min, my head of public relations, is bursting at the seams to meet you," Asami said as she stacked a third box into the Avatar's open arms. The boxes now covered Korra's face, so Asami could not see the awkward expression her girlfriend made at the remark.
"Right back at her…"
Asami snorted. "You don't have pretend with me."
Korra's body visibly relaxed. "I take it that means we're going to be having that meeting soon…"
"You nervous?"
"Kinda," Korra murmured, adjusting the boxes in her arms. She was about to explain when the sound of a struggling speedboat grabbed her attention. Asami also turned to see who was pulling in.
They were just able to make out a police speedboat through the grey and black cloud that engulfed it. The speedboat made a deep warbling sound as it coasted into a spot at the dock, and then gave a loud clank and a gasping sound before shutting off. Lin emerged from the cloud, one arm over her face, the other swatting at the murky air.
"Geez Lin, what'd you do to your boat?" Korra asked, backing away from the encroaching cloud. She lifted her arms and shot a blast of air at the smoke, pushing it out towards the water.
Lin staggered closer to the pair, and uncovered her face. She was about to answer but had a coughing fit instead. Asami brushed past her and towards the boat, covering her face as she got closer.
"When was the last time you changed the oil on this?" Asami called out as she swung a leg into the boat.
"Do what?" Lin barked back between coughs.
Asami shook her head as she tentatively touched the motor. It was scalding hot and she quickly retracted her fingers.
"Why don't you two go ahead! Don't want the food to get all smokey. I'll take care of this!"
Korra nodded and motioned to Lin. "Grab those two boxes in Asami's boat."
Lin coughed a few more times and then collected the remaining boxes.
After dropping off the food Korra made her way back to the docks, since Asami still hadn't caught up with them. She reached the point where the steps down began and she could see the dock below. Asami's boat had a few compartments open and her blouse and Future Industries jacket laid out on the steering wheel. Asami herself was bent over the back of Lin's boat, tinkering.
When Korra reached the bottom of the steps she stopped to watch Asami rise up from her bent-over position to stretch her arms over her head. Asami was only wearing a tank top, so Korra could see her shoulder muscles flex as her girlfriend worked out the stiffness.
Asami felt eyes on her, and she turned around. A smile spread as she looked at Korra. The Avatar blushed, as she noticed her mouth had gone slack. She quickly returned her bottom jaw to the rest of her face and waited for Asami to throw a tease her way, but she didn't. Asami flicked her hair over her shoulders and went back to working on the motor.
"Can you grab me a few extra nuts from the tool box on my boat?" Asami called out, breaking the silence.
"I could go get you a more filling snack from the temple too, if you're hungry. I think the party's ready to start."
Asami swifty turned her head to check the seriousness of Korra's statement. The Avatar blinked a few times but did not crack a smile, so Asami did instead.
"Oh you're so cute."
Korra tried to fight the blush that was returning to her face. She cleared her throat and moved towards her girlfriend's boat. She puffed out her chest and put on a serious face in an attempt to recover some dignity. "What do they look like?"
"Kind of like nuts, actually," Asami called back.
Korra was now in the boat, looking down at the tools and boxes strewn about on the deck. She squatted down on her knees and picked up a few small metal pieces.
'They all look kinda like nuts,' she thought to herself. After a few moments of picking around she noticed a shadow over her. Korra turned her head back to see Asami's smiling face hovering above her.
Korra held out the bits she had picked out up towards Asami for inspection. Asami reach out a hand and picked the pieces she was looking for. "These are 'nuts'. See how they look like acorns? That's what my father told me."
"Yeah, I guess they kinda do."
Asami put the nuts in her pocket and used her free hand to grab Korra's chin. She bent down farther over the rim of the boat to press their lips together. Korra earnestly kissed back, putting her hands on the deck to keep her crouched position stable.
A wolf whistle eventually interrupted their kiss. The couple looked up to the top of the dock steps to see Opal and Bolin waving down at them.
"Stop being such clichés and come get some food!" Opal teased through cupped hands.
Asami snuck in another kiss before pulling herself upright. "You go ahead. After I throw these nuts on, I'll need to put my face back on."
"What did you mean by cliché?" Korra asked, catching up with Bolin and Opal.
Opal flashed a grin as she patted the Avatar's shoulder. "C'mon Korra, you two down there in your sleeveless shirts, making out in a pile of tools."
"Yeah," Korra said, deadpan.
Opal turned to Bolin. "Help me out here."
Bolin shrugged, darting his eyes between the two girls.
"I guess you haven't been around a lot of queer people. You guys even live in the city." Opal sighed. "We had this all-girl satobike gang. Take that term lightly, it was more like a club. I'd see them hanging around the downtown area of Zaofu."
Korra and Bolin exchanged looks, causing Opal to sigh again.
"Forget I said anything."
Jinora silently watched as the whole temple congregated on the island's training grounds. The paper lanterns were lit and strewn about the courtyard, casting small pools of yellow light on the ground. All the temple's moveable tables were lined up in a row, covered in food: bowls of different kinds of rice, beans on one end, veggie platters provided by Asami on the other. On a table set a few feet away were the dessert options; macaroons made by her mother and red bean cakes, again from Asami.
People had broken up into small groups, and were sitting and eating around the courtyard. So many conversations were happening that she could only pick up tid-bits from each group. Mako looked miserable, seated between her father and Lin. The two elders appeared to be having a conversation with each other, and Mako had somehow got stuck in the middle, too polite to leave. Korra, Asami, Opal and Ikki were laughing at the antics of Bolin. He was standing a few steps above the ones the rest of the group were seated at, making it look like he was performing on a small stage.
Jinora's eyes and interest were trying to wander everywhere but to Kai and his gang of five. Since she couldn't find anything captivating in the crowd, she looked to her mother who she was seated next to. Pema was feeding her youngest brother Rohan, as she did every mealtime. The thought had recently crossed Jinora's mind that her mother must be relieved that she no longer had to be the mother of an entire nation, thanks to harmonic convergence. Would Rohan be her last sibling or did her parents still plan on having more children, despite the pressure to repopulate the Air Nation being gone? That pressure was now also off her and her siblings as well, not that they were probably ever aware of it.
The thought of her brothers and sister being married with children was just too weird. Jinora shook her head, and her mother finally seemed to take notice of her presence.
Pema shifted Rohan from one leg to the other in her lap and turned to face her daughter more. "You haven't stayed this close to me at a party since you were Meelo's age. Don't you want to sit with Kai, or at least Korra and the others?"
Jinora looked down at her plate of food. It was mostly untouched. "I don't really feel very social tonight…"
"Your father told me that President Raiko has given you a special appointment."
"Yeah, we'll see if he remembers. He didn't know me from Ikki…" Jinora murmured as her eyes moved to the final part of the courtyard she hadn't looked at. Her eyes finally fixed on Kai. He was sitting, a plate of food in his lap. The five boys who were also going were with him, and some of the other airbenders close in age gathered around them. They all seemed to be fixed on a heated discussion between Riyu and Otaku. Well, it looked more heated on Otaku's end; nothing ever seemed to get a rise out of Riyu. Otaku was likely correcting some misinformation.
"Still, I'm proud of you," Pema continued.
Jinora almost flinched, forgetting her mother in that moment. "Thanks Mom… I'm gonna go get some fresh air… or fresher air…" She set aside her plate, rose from her seat and quickly walked away from her mother and the party.
Korra laughed as Bolin cartoonishly reenacted their encounter with the tigerpillar spirit from the morning. The exchange was a lot more amusing now that everyone was out of harm's way.
Ikki was on the edge of her seat in Asami's lap, which the gangly preteen was spilling out of. Her eyes were as big as the plates they were eating from.
Asami turned to Korra, shaking her head slightly. "I can't believe those two went back into the Spirit World."
"Guess he really didn't have a choice. No one in the south wanted to give him a lift back to Republic City."
"That I can believe. Maybe he'll ship off to the Fire Nation next. As far as I know it's the only country he hasn't screwed over."
Mention of the Fire Nation caused an anxious feeling to wash over Korra's body. Asami had turned her attention to Ikki, so she didn't notice. It took Korra a minute to think of why it felt like she had forgotten something she was supposed to do. Then it came it her.
That's where Kuvira is.
After their parting in the desert she had given the former dictator little thought. It dawned on her just how much faith they were putting on Kuvira's willingness to live a quiet civilian life. She was in a strange land; it'd be unlikely for her to find any sympathizers, and if she was discovered the Fire Nation wouldn't hesitate to turn her in.
Kuvira should know this and wouldn't willingly out herself. They would just have to cross their fingers for the rest of their lives and hope she was never accidentally caught. For a few seconds Korra considered saying something to Varrick if he did go that way, but she quickly thought better of it.
I'm just going to have to leave this one alone.
"Thinking about Kuvira?"
Korra slumped her shoulders close to Asami's head "Yeah... you mentioned the Fire Nation… and-"
"It got me wondering how she's faring myself."
"You don't need to care about her, I'd understand if-"
Asami shrugged and cut her girlfriend off. "It's more just curiosity. What's it like to go from being one of the most recognized faces to total anonymity? Is it possible?"
Ikki's ears perked up and she pulled herself out of Asami's lap to sit properly next to her. She looked between the older girls. "Dad once told us a story about Lord Zuko, grandpa Aang's friend. He hid in the Earth Kingdom with his uncle in a tea shop. They became pretty famous! No one even realized he was the fire prince, despite having a huge burn scar on his face. Dad said something about how it shows that people often see what they want to see, or was it that when you are lost on the inside it shows on the outside... I just like to imagine Kuvira's working at a tea shop now."
Korra grinned. "You never know, it's a good cover, probably one of the last places I'd look for her at."
"All this talk of tea makes me want a cup," Asami said offhandedly.
"Me too, let's go make some!" Ikki said, leaping up from her seat. "Korra, you want any?"
Korra waved the young girl off and watched the pair leave. She looked down to her plate for a moment before noticing Asami's empty spot had been filled.
"Having a good time, Avatar Korra?" Zhou Rhen asked tentatively.
The Avatar forced herself not to roll her eyes. "Yeah, fine time."
Bolin's story had finished and he and Opal were eyeing Zhou Rhen curiously.
Opal stretched out a hand. "Hi, I'm Opal."
Graciously the counselor took her hand. "Zhou Rhen."
Bolin took the cue and also extended a hand. "Bolin. So what is it you do?"
Zhou Rhen glanced to Korra, but her eyes were fixed to her plate.
"I'm with the White Lotus. I'm here to counsel Avatar Korra through her uh, 'coming out' with Miss Sato."
"Oh, cool," Opal responded hesitantly.
Bolin nodded enthusiastically. "Oh yeah, that's really nice. What do you think of these crazy kids, getting together, against the odds, braving their love against the big world?"
"Bolin!" Korra barked.
He cowered and grimaced. "What?"
The Avatar shot up in her seat, tossing her plate on the steps. "I'm gonna go get some tea too!"
The three silently watched Korra storm off. Bolin sunk down in his seat and anxiously looked between the remaining two. "What'd I say?"
Opal shook her head and turned to Zhou Rhen. "Lemme guess, she doesn't want your counsel?"
Zhou Rhen glumly shook his head.
"Why not? It's good to talk through your problems, and even better with a professional, right?" Bolin asked. "Right?"
"Of course, but I don't think Korra sees it as a problem."
"What's not a problem?"
Opal rolled her eyes. "Her and Asami."
"Me neither! I think it's great, still kinda unexpected, but great," Bolin replied scrunching his shoulder and waving his hands.
"Yes, we all think it's great, but those of us around Korra who are a little more in tune with the world know this is not going to be easy. Once it's out there, everyone's going to put in their two yuans about it. Some might even denounce her as Avatar."
"That's terrible!" Bolin whined.
Opal shot Zhou Rhen a look. "I'm not wrong."
The counselor shook his head.
"I'm sure it's all slowly sinking in for Korra, too. She needs to know you're on her side in this. Are you on her side?"
Zhou Rhen broke away from Opal's piercing gaze.
Opal shook her head, and crossed her arms.
"I know what you must be thinking, but I'm not against Avatar Korra. I'm just…"
"You're just here to talk her out of it," Opal said confidently, leaning back in her seat. "It would be a real headache for the White Lotus if people started denouncing the Avatar."
Zhou Rhen shakily pushed his glasses back up his nose. "It's just such an unknown. We cannot predict how this will all play out. The Avatar is more than her… the Avatar's life is…"
"Her own," Bolin said sternly. "And she deserves to be happy and not be afraid to share who she is with the world. I've never given two thoughts about President Raiko's personal life. And maybe people will be a little surprised at first, but they'll get over it. I think there are very few people worrying about who the Avatar's dating, and more about if she's doing her job. So I don't want to hear any more negative talk from either of you. We must all unite around our friend and show the rest of the world that it. Does. Not. Matter!"
Bolin released a big breath of air he was holding in during his speech when he noticed the courtyard had gone quiet. "Uh, go back to your partying, people! Big day tomorrow for our brave young airbenders!" He started to clap nervously. Opal and Zhou Rhen started too, getting the rest of the group to applause.
"Yeah, let's hear it for these guys!" Bolin cheered.
Jinora sat alone on a rock overlooking the water, and beyond that, Republic City. Bright towers were dispersed amongst big dark pockets. She still thought it was a beautiful view.
"So this is where you've been hiding. I thought my girlfriend would want to hang out with me on my last night in the city?" Kai asked as he walked out from a dark shadow.
"I just needed a little fresh air…" Jinora replied, turning her body to face his.
Kai crossed his arms across his chest and stopped a few feet before the shore. "For an hour?"
"Maybe I was hoping you'd come looking for me."
"Aren't we past that stage in the relationship?"
"Ikki's woman's magazine I found under her bunk says "the chase" is important for keeping a long term relationship exciting," Jinora replied, trying to sound confident in her position, though her words kept catching in her throat. She could see Kai wasn't buying it.
"I didn't think you were the kind of girl who read those stupid things."
Jinora mirrored her boyfriend's stance and crossed her own arms. "I'm not, I said it was Ikki's."
"So what are you doing out here? Are you upset I'm leaving? We talked about this."
"Yes I'm upset, I'm going to miss you!"
"Then why would you avoid me all night?" Kai asked, holding out his arms to her.
Jinora reflectively turned away. "I don't know, it's easier? You all seem so excited, I don't want to be a downer."
"So don't be. C'mon let's go back," Kai said, gesturing to the soft glow of the party in the distance.
"Can't we stay out here instead? Spend some time alone together before you're gone for months on end?"
Kai's body slumped. His nose and mouth twitched like he was going to respond, but he stayed silent.
"You want to go back to the party?"
"With you!" Kai urged.
"I'm staying here."
Kai let out a sigh. "Okay, we can stay here."
He started to shuffle closer.
"Not if you're going to be like that. Just go back to your party. I don't want you here if you're just going to sit and wish you were somewhere else."
"Jinora, it's not like that."
"Maybe, but it's still true. Just go!"
Kai scrunched up his face, turned on his heels and headed back towards the party.
Jinora wasn't sure how much time had passed when she heard the sound of crunching sand and rock encroaching on her quiet viewpoint. She had been lost in thought, replaying her exchange with Kai over and over.
"Hi Jinora."
The young airbender turned her head around to see Zhou Rhen coming towards her.
"May I join you?" Zhou Rhen continued. Jinora didn't reply, so he decided to settle for a nearby rock. He lifted the bottom of his robes and sat down facing the same direction as Jinora.
The two silently listened to the steady white noise that came off the ocean. It was interrupted every so often by the splashing of a wave on the rocks, or a loud party goer at the temple.
Zhou Rhen could hear Jinora shifting a bit before breaking her silence. "What are you still even doing here? Korra doesn't want to talk to you."
"Until she formally dismisses me, I will stay."
"She might just not know that's what she needs to do to get rid of you. I'll tell her tomorrow. You can start packing tonight."
Zhou Rhen winced at Jinora's harsh tone. He clenched his fists into his robes and pushed through his nervousness. "I had an eye-opening conversation with Miss Opal. She helped me realize that I was coming from the wrong place to help Avatar Korra."
"Yeah, I told you that too."
"I want to see this situation from the Avatar's perspective so I truly can help her. I accept that she is going to go through with this no matter what me or the rest of the White Lotus says."
Jinora turned to look at Zhou Rhen. "You're serious?"
"Yes. Master Jinora, I ask you for your help. Teach me about the Avatar."
To be continued...