The Good and the Bad: Kainora

Before Blooming: Part I

    Kai fiddled with his thumbs as he sat anxiously on a bench outside of Tenzin's office.

    Hope he says yes.

    He made a mental checklist of everything he could've possibly done wrong.

    Scared the living daylights out of the winged lemurs? Nope.

    Threw flying bison dung at his fellow airbenders as a prank? Nope.

    Stole anything? Um...nope.

    Kai couldn't believe he was at this point in his life. A mere four years ago, he was slipping valuables, pickpocketing others, evading the law, and essentially causing general mayhem. Today, he was an honest, law abiding airbender, well on his way to earning his tattoos as an airbending master.

    It didn't mean that the skills he'd acquired weren't useful anymore; in fact, there were more than a few occasions when he helped his fellow airbenders get back into their quarters when they were locked out in the middle of the night. And not to mention the times when he pickpocketed pickpockets and returned possessions to their rightful owner.

    But the best part about the past four years was Jinora.

    Mother figure, best friend, and love all rolled in to one. She was there for him when he reconciled with his foster family and finally made peace with his past, and there when he finally mastered his first form. She could be firm and authoritative when the occasion arose, and that was a good thing for him. Her perseverance and faith in him had helped Kai break free from his dodgy past.

    In short, Jinora was perfect.

    So what in the name of Yang Chen did I do to deserve her? Just then, the airbender that was there before him walked out of the office, a shaky expression on her face.

    "You okay?" She nodded wordlessly and shuffled out of the room.

    He swallowed his nervousness down and entered Tenzin's office.

    Tenzin's face remained emotionless as Kai entered. Pema sat to his right, smiling reassuringly at him.

    He's probably going to roast me.

    "You requested my presence, sir?" Kai bowed respectfully.

    "Yes, I did," Tenzin responded, bowing as well. "Please, have a seat." They both sat down.

    "Let's see..." He fished a file out from a desk drawer and opened the folder.

    "How are you doing?" The master airbender asked his student.

    "I'm doing well, sir," Kai replied professionally. "I'm starting to get a hang of the airbending gates, and the air scooter is way too much fun to play with."

    Tenzin gave a crinkled smile. "Amazing what my father came up with."

    Kai was about to ask who Tenzin's father was when his brain slapped itself.

    Avatar Aang, dang it!

    "Yes sir," Kai commented. "Do you think there're any other forms that can be created?"

    "Perhaps not in my lifetime, Kai. Who knows? You might come up with something new." He scanned the documents in front him.

    "Very good. You are definitely improving beyond all measure. Granted, the airbending gates still need a little refinement and efficiency, but I dare say other than my children, you are the best pupil by far."