Work Text:
“Have you seen Kai?”
Jinora hated how many times she failed to get an answer to her question but given that her boyfriend vanished into thin air and she had gotten no closer to finding him, she had little choice but try.
The first person she asked, of course, was her father. As a fellow airbending master he was in charge of the daily training exercises of all the airbenders and liked to keep a close eye on Kai. For no particular reason of course, certainly not because Kai currently in a relationship with his daughter.
Normally his iron grip was an inconvenience at best but for once in her life it was going to be helpful and she couldn’t be more grateful for....
“I haven’t seen him Jinora.” Tenzin answered with a terse edge to his voice.
Or not.
Jinora raised a questioning eyebrow “You haven’t seen him?”
“That’s right.” he replied dully.
She did not believe him.
“I don’t believe you.” Jinora admitted, unable to keep the suspicion out of her voice.
Tenzin let out a tired sigh “Despite what you may think Jinora I don’t actually keep track of every students every movement.”
“You don’t?” Jinora repeated quizzically.
“You don’t?!” Ikki let out a dramatic gasp as she popped from the large planter she had snuck into.
Meelo slid into view, eyes narrowed with disbelief “That’s exactly what you would say if you were watching us!”
“No Meelo.”
“Oh.” he looked taken aback, clearly not expecting that response “Okay!”
Tenzin rubbed his goatee thoughtfully “While I do keep an occasional eye out for the less….inattentive among us.”
In unison the family turned their heads towards Bumi who was currently shoving an absurd amount of food into his maw while several air nomads cheered him on.
“I do try to respect the boundaries and privacy of everyone under my tutelage.” Tenzin continued, doing his best to ignore his older brother “For better or worse."
Jinora threw one last raised eyebrow for good measure but her father did not budge. Either he truly did not know where Kai was or he wasn’t telling.
“Okay dad. If you say so.”
Tenzin gave a polite bow “Now if you excuse I need to stop your uncle’s antics before he hurts himself”
“Toooooo late.” Meelo gestured to to the table where a once triumphant Bumi was now madly grasping the air as he struggled to breath.
“Bumi! What did mother tell you about playing with your food?!”
Jinora frowned unhappily as her father hurried to his brother’s side.
Well her dad was no help, maybe Ikki …
“No.” Ikki’s simple answer cut off Jinora’s train of thought.
Jinora stared blankly at her sister, unsure what she meant “No?”
Ikki shook her head “I don’t know where Kai is. Like mom said he was up suuuuuper early today and I was going to spy on him because that’s not normal but then I noticed my tunic had this loose thread and I kept thinking when did that happen because it wasn’t there yesterday so I kinda kept trying to pull it out but it kept getting longer and longer and then I saw you walking over to dad with your determined face, you know the one where your eyes get all scrunched and you take really big steps, so I climbed into this pot and now we’re here. So no. Haven’t seen Kai.”
Jinora opened her mouth when Meelo chimed in with a “I haven’t seen him either.”
She turned to him.
“What?” Meelo pouted, crossing his arms “I might’ve have seen him!”
“But you just said you didn’t.”
“True but I could’ve!” Meeloe nodded as if he had said something profound.
So both her siblings were utterly useless but Ikki mentioned mom saw him. Maybe she could have the answers.
“Sorry sweetie.” Pema gave an apologetic smile as she hurriedly raced back and forth with an arm full of clothes “I did see him leave but then Ronin started crying and Ikki kept pulling at her clothes and Meelo tried to hold his breath for a long time. By the time I got everyone sorted out Kai was gone.”
“Oh.” Jinora sighed as she felt a heavy weight tug at her heartstrings.
“Is everything okay? You don’t usually mind when he pulls one of his disappearing acts. He’s been doing it more often these last few weeks.”
Jinora frowned, unsure if she could really tell her mother why this was bothering her so much “You promise not to tell dad?”
Pema nodded, realizing at once what today was “It’s your first anniversary isn’t it?”
“How did you know?!” Jinora could feel her ears burning at her mother’s Chesire grin.
“I am more than your mom.” Pema beamed proudly “Besides the fact you don’t want your father to know is all the answer I need. I won’t say anything to him.” she quickly added.
“It’s just we promised to do something special today.” Jinora admitted with a hushed whisper “And I was expecting to spend the whole day with him but he’s gone and no one seems to know where he went. Not even dad!”
Pema couldn’t keep the surprise off her face “Really?”
Jinora gave a quick nod “You don’t think he forget?”
“Well.” Her mother pursed her lips thoughtfully “Kai may not have been the most straight and narrow boy but I doubt he’d forget something as important as your anniversary. I’m sure he has a good reason.”
Jinora was not convinced “Thanks mom. I’m sure you’re right.”
Pema gave her little girl a knowing glance but remained silent.
So none of her family knew and unless Ronin’s first words were “Gah gah Kai is over there!” she was out of leads. She could ask the other air nomads but she doubt Kai shared any of details for whatever he had plan. All she could do now was wait for him to show up and hopefully had a good enough reason to pacify her rage.
It was about midday when Kai mysteriously reappeared from his mysterious endeavor. Despite how overjoyed she was to see him, she still mange to throw him the dirtiest glare she could muster.
“Hi!” Kai grinned his cocky grin she hated (loved) “Been waiting long?”
Jinora remained silent as she tried to will her blush away.
“I know.” He went on, well aware how much trouble he possibly was in “It’s our first anniversary and I promised to spend all day with you.”
Jinora raised an eyebrow.
“Buuuut if I did, I couldn’t have gotten you this!”
Jinora’s eyes softened as Kai produced a tiny sculpted figure of a familiar face hidden behind his back.
“Grandpa Aang?!” she could feel the tears began to form as she gingerly took the gift from his hands. It was made of wood and expertly crafted to form the spitting image of her grandfather. Each detail of the figure was perfect: His arrows were straight and perfectly aligned, his face serious with the barest hint of a smile forming as a curved lip. Mini Aang clasped his hands in a polite manner while the wood that formed his robes rippled with life-like creases.
Kai smiled with barely contained pride “I found it a few months ago when I was looking an anniversary gift for you. I remember you said you always wished you had something of your grandpa so I figured what could be better than your grandpa!”
“Kai.” Jinora whispered softly before a thought suddenly occurred to her “Wait. How could you afford this? Something like this must’ve costed an arm and a leg.”
“Well…” Kai twiddled his fingers guiltily “You know what they say about old habits?”
“Kai!” Jinora was not proud how pitchy her voice got when she yelled but she couldn’t help it “tell me you didn’t steal this! Wait, have you been pick pocketing again!? Kai if my dad finds out…”
Jinora was utterly confused when her boyfriend chuckled like a madman, clutching his stomach tightly while he wiped the tears from his eyes.
“Jinora please!” Kai grinned widely “I might’ve come up with some poor choices in my life but even I’m not stupid enough to make your dad angry. Or worse, you.”
She let out a tense sigh “You are the literal worst.”
Kai clutched his chest as if she struck him “I’m the worst? Fine! Give grandpappy Aang back!”
He reached for the figure but Jinora childishly held it close “No! This is my gift!”
“No no no.” Kai tugged at her playfully “You said I’m the worst so I’m going to be the worst. Grandpappy Aang wants to come with me. Right Grandpappy?”
“Right!” Kai’s mock Aang voice replied.
“See? He likes me better!”
“Liar! He loves me the most!”
“Then take it back!”
“Never!”
Kai gave a sinister smirk as he flexed his hands threateningly.
Jinora let out a gasp, gesturing at her boyfriend with a finger “Don’t you dare!”
Kai crept closer “You’re being a brat.”
“Kai I’m warning you!”
“and you know what happens to brats.”
“Kaaaaai!”
“They. Get.” he paused dramatically before throwing himself ontop of his girlfriend, wrapping her in a tight hug and kissing her cheek lovingly “kissed!”
Jinora could feel her heart thundering in her chest, her cheeks burning brighter than the sun as people began to slow down and take notice of the couple “Kai stop! Stop! I surrender! KAI!”
Kai smirked mischievously as he carefully put his girlfriend down but didn’t break his hold on her “What was that? You’re the best boyfriend ever Kai? Why thank you Jinora! I try.”
Jinora buried her face into his shoulder and began sobbing loudly.
“Oh no!” panic set in as guilt began to tug at Kai’s resolve “Jinora I’m sorry! I was just joking I didn’t think…”
He pulled away to the sight of his girlfriend smiling victoriously.
“And now.” her smile widened “We’re even.”
Kai tried to muster the angriest glare he could muster but the closest he got was a dumbfounded stare “Oh you’re the worst.”
“Even?” Jinora smiled innocently.
“Even.” Kai crumbled at once, his hand slipping into hers “Ready to be stuck with me for the rest of the day?”
Jinora nodded excitedly “Of course! But honestly, how did you afford this?”
Kai cleared his throat, his ears burning a bright pink “It’s not important.”
Jinora shot him a pointed stare.
“Well.” He rubbed the back of his neck nervously “You know how I’ve been off island once in a while these last few weeks.”
“Yeah. What about it?”
Kai cleared his throat “I made a deal with the woodcarver. I’d help him around his shop and he’d give me the figure. Today was the last day and I went early so I could spend the rest of today with you.”
“Kai.” Jinora beamed with joy and so overwhelmed by happiness she couldn’t help but lean in and give him the biggest kiss.
“Whoa.” Kai muttered, unsteadily swaying on his feet as Jinora pulled away “I guess you liked your gift.”
“Loved it.” Jinora corrected “Thank you Kai.”
“Anything for you Jinora.”
And hand in hand, the two set off to enjoy the rest of their day together.