Maintaining the Balance

Situated at a convergence point between the four nations, specifically within Yue Bay, Republic City was the heart and capital of the United Republic.
Despite being founded by Avatar Aang and Fire Lord Zuko mere decades prior, Republic City had an ever-growing population that numbered in the millions. It accepted immigrants from all Four Nations, and, as a result, it had quickly risen to become one of the largest and most modern cities in the entire world.
Before the creation of Republic City, the Four Nations had always been divided. Technology advanced at a snail's pace, and depending on the circumstances of your birth, most people were forced into specific jobs and duties from which they had no hope of escaping.
With Republic City promising peace, prosperity, and, most importantly, opportunities for all, countless people migrated to what was once a Fire Nation Colony known as Cranefish Town. There, they worked together to build what many hoped to become a Utopia, a place where everyone was given fair and equal treatment regardless of whether they were a Bender.
Though Republic City ultimately failed to become a Utopia, it did manage to secure its place as the center of urban industrialization, technological advancement, and capitalism.
While many nations still used carriages to get around, Republic City's streets were filled with vehicles ranging from the ever-popular Satomobile to the recently developed Satocycle. If you turned your eyes skyward, it was possible to find airships flying about while the ports were filled with cargo ships whose size dwarfed common sense.
For a time, it seemed like nothing could stop the United Republic's rise as the most modern and powerful nation in the entire world. Unfortunately, as was often the case when opportunities were aplenty, they were quickly seized by the most opportunistic, often despotic individuals. Republic City started as a city where anyone could succeed if they were willing to work hard. Now, in just a few short decades, it had become yet another place where the rich and powerful gamed the system at the expense of virtually everyone else.
Despite having numerous specialized police forces, Republic City was overrun with criminal enterprises, violent gangs, and burgeoning political factions that often had ties with both. It was just a single city yet had a crime rate that exceeded the combined crime rate of every other city in the world.
Though Republic City had been founded as a place where cultures could coexist alongside one another, it had now become a place where people were looked down upon for having lingering attachments to their cultural heritage. In more modern times, there was even a push to outlaw all non-professional Bending within the city. Some of the more extremist groups even believed that Benders should be imprisoned or outright executed so that they could no longer endanger others. Bending was seen as a relic of the past, so, as Republic City continued to blaze a path towards a future it had no sight of, some groups wanted to do everything they could to erase it from existence...
...
..
.
Located near the mouth of Yue Bay, far from the hustle and bustle of the city, was the comparably peaceful Air Temple Island.
During the Hundred-Years War, nearly every Air Nomad had been hunted down and killed by the Fire Nation. By the time Avatar Aang was released from his ice prison, he was, as far as most people knew, the last surviving Airbender.
Shortly after the birth of Tenzin, Aang's only Airbending child, Air Temple Island was founded as a bastion to protect and train future Airbenders. To that end, it was structured in much the same way as a fortress. A single path led up to the Air Nomad Compound, while the rest of the island, sans a small beach leading to a large shipping dock, was surrounded by steep, nearly insurmountable cliffs.
Unless they were an abnormally skilled Air or Earthbender, sneaking into Air Temple Island was remarkably difficult. Even if you did, you would find yourself beset and detained by White Lotus Sentries. Tenzin was an Elder within the organization, so, for the sake of his family and protecting Korra, he had allowed them to build a barracks, a safe house, and several sentry towers around the island.
When Kahn first saw Air Temple Island from above, two thoughts entered his mind. The first was that it was incredibly stunning, almost like a sacred holy ground or religious sanctuary. The second was that, despite its outer beauty, it gave off the impression of a military outpost or prison.
"What do you think, Kahn? For the next couple of years, this will be your home."
Shaking his head, Kahn's expression remained his usual mask of calm as he said, "No, this is your home. I'm just a guest."
"Hmm...I see..."
Not sure what else to say, Tenzin just stroked his beard as a group of Air Acolytes, Avatar Aang's former Fanclub, rushed over to greet him and his family. They also welcomed Kahn, but only because Tenzin presented him as a Master and an important guest.
Representing the group of Air Acolytes was a skinny man in his late sixties named Shung. He was dressed in the traditional, monk-like robes of an Air Nomad, and, though it wasn't strictly necessary, he preferred to keep his head cleanly shaven, a common trend amongst male Acolytes.
Upon hearing Tenzin refer to Kahn as a Master, Shung's eyes widened in surprise as he remarked, "How fascinating. Except for the Avatar, I don't think I've ever met such a young Master. You must be a truly exceptional young man, Master Kahn. Welcome to Air Temple Island."
Cupping his hands together in the manner reserved for greeting Masters, Shung led the other Air Acolytes in bowing towards Kahn. Regardless of their age, a Master, at least within polite society, was always treated with respect.
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Kahn returned the group's gesture but ultimately chose to remain silent. He wasn't particularly fond of talking to new people, not because he was an introvert, but because he didn't want even more people pestering him for answers. He would rather be viewed as an aloof, indifferent individual than someone who could be approached and questioned at the convenience of others.
While continuing to caress his beard, Tenzin said, "Please have someone show Master Kahn to the Men's Dormitory. He will be stay-"
Before Tenzin could finish speaking, his wife, Pema, elbowed him in the ribs, declaring, "Kahn will be staying with us. He's Jinora's teacher, and I could use his help around the house."
"But, sweetheart..."
Though he had come to recognize and appreciate Kahn's vast knowledge, Tenzin wasn't comfortable with the thought of having the mysterious boy stay with his family. He was still coming to terms with the fact Kahn would be teaching his daughter. The idea of Kahn helping around the house and helping to raise his future children left Tenzin feeling...unsettled.
Fortunately for Tenzin, Kahn wasn't particularly enthused by the notion of becoming someone's babysitter/gopher. He assumed that living within the Men's Dormitory would afford him more time to himself, so, in response to Pema's proposal, he said, "I am in agreement with Master Tenzin on this matter. I don't mind rendering my assistance if it's necessary, but I would prefer to have a place where I can collect my thoughts without having to worry about possible interruptions."
Hearing Kahn's reasonable response, Pema puffed out her cheeks to form a slightly pouty expression. She had thought that Kahn would just go with the flow and accept living with her family. Now that he had made his case, there was little she could say or do without making it seem like she was forcing the matter.
"Kahn...?"
Thinking that Kahn was going someplace far away, Jinora began to tear up as she grabbed the hem of his shirt. Her father was rarely around due to his duties and responsibilities as a Councilman, so Kahn was one of the first people she had conversed with actively outside her family. She didn't want him to go away.
Seeing her daughter pull out the puppy eyes, Pema had to suppress the urge to give her a thumbs up. Unfortunately, even this wasn't enough to sway the stalwart Kahn, who, without any hesitation, explained, "We will have lessons between five and six days a week. You don't have to worry about me disappearing somewhere."
Exhaling a sigh of relief, Jinora promptly released her hold on Kahn's shirt. Even if Kahn only visited every other day, she would be happy. Due to her status as one of the only two Airbenders in the entire world, Jinora lived a very, very sheltered lifestyle. As a result, Kahn was her first and, until her siblings were born, only friend.
...
..
.
With her daughter giving up, Pema no longer had any leverage to try and convince Kahn to live with them. Instead, he ended up being given one of the larger rooms in the Men's Dormitory.
Though his room was pretty much empty, Kahn didn't mind. He had very few attachments to the world, and none of them were material. So long as he had a mat to sit on, clean water, and access to a stove, he could live an even more ascetic lifestyle than the Air Nomads.
Fortunately for Pema, Kahn didn't just hole himself up in his room when he wasn't teaching Jinora. Since she had mentioned needing his help around the house, he would periodically stop by to lend a hand. More often than not, this involved cleaning, babysitting Jinora, and preparing meals. Pema was between six and seven months pregnant by the time Kahn arrived on Air Temple Island, so the latter took it upon himself to handle most of the chores around the house so that she could rest.
One of the traits hardcoded into each of the Templated Avatars, not just Kahn, was an earnest desire to protect children and their mothers. Kahn had no particular attachment to Pema and her family, but that didn't stop him from helping out around the house. Over time, he even grew to enjoy the time they spent together, particularly during meals.
Though he had yet to win a single match against Rindo, Kahn had learned a lot just by competing against and observing her. Hardly a night went by where he didn't challenge her to a Shokugeki, and, as a result, his passion for cooking quickly blossomed into something more than a simple hobby.
By the time Pema was nearing the end of her pregnancy, Kahn was taking care of most of the cooking. This led to an amusing incident where Tenzin praised his wife's skill only to learn that Kahn had been the one preparing dinner. The look on the middle-aged Airbender's face when his wife was staring at him with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes quickly became one of Kahn's fonder memories.
Fortunately for Pema, Kahn didn't stop helping out once she had given birth to her second daughter, an adorable, potato-like infant named Ikki. Helping out around the house had already become a habit by then, and he had learned to enjoy cooking to the point that he would sometimes travel to the White Lotus Outpost to help prepare meals.
Over time, Kahn gradually became an extended member of the Airbending family. Even Tenzin had come to sincerely appreciate him after seeing the incredible progress of his daughter. Jinora had always been a prodigy, but Tenzin hadn't been able to nurture her talent due to his commitments as a Councilman of the United Republic.
Under Kahn's tutelage, Jinora was able to master an Airbending technique that hadn't been seen in more than four thousand years, flight. He taught her how to sense Chi, infuse it into her eyes, and perceive the air currents produced by Flying Bison calves. By training alongside newborn bison as they learned from their parents, it wasn't long before Jinora was able to glide and eventually fly short distances. Once she matured, built up a bit of stamina, and increased her overall Chi reserves, she would be able to fly much, much further.

*knock* *knock* *knock*
Hearing a knock at his door, Kahn, now appearing as a young boy with an athletic frame and wild, nearly pitch-black, opened his eyes and said, "It's open." in his usual, monotonous tone. He immediately came to regret this as the person who opened his door was none other than Jinora.
"Kahn? Are you-"
Seeing a shirtless Kahn supporting himself upside down on nothing but his fingertips, Jinora's brain briefly short-circuited. Physical training was an essential component of Chi development, so, ever since he was eight years old, Kahn had been training and refining his body every day, and it showed.
Though she had just turned seven a few months prior, Jinora had always been a curious, borderline precocious girl. She spent a lot of time reading historical dramas and romance stories, so, even though she shouldn't, she couldn't help gawking until Kahn flipped to his feet, back turned to her as he asked, "Do your parents know you're visiting the Men's Dormitory?"
"Uhh...."
Averting her eyes from the muscles of Kahn's back, Jinora replied, "Mom was the one who gave me permission. Dad wanted to speak with you, so I volunteered to fly over..."
Noticing Jinora avert her eyes, Kahn quickly donned a form-fitting black t-shirt and the fur-collard vest Korra had sent to him for his tenth birthday. It barely covered half of his torso ever since his growth spurt, but he still wore it whenever he went out.
"Understood. Let's go."
Without giving Jinora time to respond, Kahn practically ushered her out of his room. He didn't want her to develop the idea he was comfortable with her trespassing the Men's Dormitory, much less his room. Unless it was an emergency, she could have called out to him or asked one of the Acolytes loitering around outside to inform him of her arrival. There was no need to enter the Men's Dormitory directly.
Realizing she had erred, Jinora meekly inquired, "Did I mess up? Are...are you mad?"
Inhaling through his nose, Kahn made a show of exhaling a sincere yet feigned sigh of exasperation. He still struggled with emoting whenever he was genuinely angry or upset, but he had gotten a lot better at emulating the reactions others expected from him.
"It's fine so long as you don't make a habit of it. Next time, just call out to me. My ears are sensitive enough that I could probably hear you shouting from the Temple."
Misunderstanding Kahn's words, a faint blush colored Jinora's cheeks as she muttered, "I'm not that loud..."
With Jinora looking away from him with a pout, Kahn just shook his head before asking, "Do you know what your father wants to discuss? The only thing that comes to mind is Korra's coming of age ceremony, but that isn't for another five months."
Hearing Kahn mention Korra, Jinora's brows creased as she ignored his question and asked, "Do you miss her? Korra, I mean. You wear the jacket she made for you everywhere you go..."
Raising his brows, a faint smile developed across Kahn's face as he asked, "Didn't you say this jacket looked cool on me? You really change your tone whenever I mention Korra..."
"..."
Feeling annoyed, a burst of wind pulsed away from Jinora's feet as she said, "We should hurry..." before ascending into the sky as if gravity had suddenly stopped affecting her. She had improved significantly over the past three and a half years, so much so that she could easily cover more than a hundred kilometers before needing to rest. If she had a glider with her, she could easily quadruple that.
Exhaling yet another sigh, Kahn slipped his hands into his pockets as tiny bands of vibrant, bluish-white lightning began to crackle across his body, further accenting his already untamed hair. He could also fly if he wanted to, but his preferred method of travel, at least across short distances, was a technique he had coined the 'flash step'.
While the knowledge of numerous Flash Steps existed in Kahn's mind, the version he used was effectively just a superpowered leap. He had gotten much better at infusing lightning into his body, so much so that he could now target specific muscle groups. Fire Elemental Enhancement also had the curious effect of reducing the user's weight, so Kahn could now cover as much as 130m in a single step. The downside was that executing more than a dozen or so steps in quick succession would make his thighs and calves feel as though they were going to explode.
Unfortunately for Jinora, her maximum speed without her specialized equipment was only around 60km/h. Kahn's 'effective' speed was close to 400km/h, so he was already there waiting for her by the time she reached the Temple.
Landing a few meters away from Kahn, Jinora's expression was now a full-on glower as she said, "I hate when you do that..."
Scratching the back of his head, Kahn elected to remain silent as Jinora walked past him. He had learned to stay quiet whenever a woman, even a girl as young as Jinora, was behaving irrationally. Asking why they were upset or trying to reason with them would just further upset them. Thus, unless he had done something meriting an apology, he would just remain silent until they invariably apologized or explained why they were upset.
Demonstrating the value of this wisdom, Jinora and Kahn only made it a few steps into the Temple when the former lowered her head and softly muttered, "Sorry...I don't actually hate you or anything..."
Nodding his head in affirmation, Kahn stated, "I know." before extending his hand to ruffle Jinora's hair. She shook her head away in response, but, after checking to make sure her buns hadn't come undone, a faint smile developed across her face as she revealed, "I heard Dad say something about Fire Lord Zuko stepping down. I'm not sure what it has to do with you, but that's what they were talking about earlier."
Imagining several possibilities, none of them good, Kahn's expression morphed into a genuine frown. Tenzin had attempted, quite a number of times, to get him involved with the sociopolitical affairs of Republic City. He had also tried to arrange a meeting between him and Akua, but, as he had no desire to 'trigger' anything before Korra's arrival, Kahn had split his focus between training and educating Tenzin's two daughters, the seven-year-old Jinora and four-year-old Ikki.
Though Ikki was less talented than Jinora, she had the distinct advantage of having Kahn around her entire life. He had watched over her since she was an infant, and, during Pema's third pregnancy, he was the one taking care of her and Jinora while their mother battled a severe illness.
Kahn had refused Tenzin's and Pema's offer to become their adopted son, but he still viewed Jinora, Ikki, and the two-year-old Meelo as his siblings. He still had the duty of protecting Korra, but if anyone ever tried to harm Tenzin and his family, Kahn would show them the rather ironic reason he was the Avatar of Fire and Absolution. He would burn them until there was nothing left to forgive...
...
..
.
Despite seeing Kahn enter the room alongside his daughter, a fatherly smile developed across Tenzin's face as he said, "Ah, Kahn, thank you for coming on such short notice. I know today is your day off, so I appreciate you coming over."
Shaking his head, Kahn said, "It's not a problem." before shifting his gaze to Pema, smiling as he said, "Good afternoon, Pema."
Squinting her eyes in gratification, Pema returned a heartwarming smile of her own as she replied, "Good afternoon, Kahn. I see you used that little stepping technique of yours to get here. Your hair looks like a bird's nest."
Reaching up, Kahn attempted in vain to comb down his hair as he asked, "Tenzin, you wanted to see me? Is there something I can help with...?"
Understanding that Kahn wasn't one for small talk, Tenzin got straight to the point, explaining, "Fire Lord Zuko will soon be ceding his throne to his eldest daughter, Izumi. They have sent you an invitation and even have an airship waiting for you in port."
Rolling his eyes, Kahn asked, "And? I may be the Avatar of Fire, but I have no direct relation to the Fire Nation. I've also met Fire Lord Zuko a total of seven times. What purpose could he have in inviting me to his daughter's coronation?"
Shaking his head, Tenzin clarified, "It wasn't Lord Zuko who invited you, but the soon-to-be coronated Fire Lord Izumi. As for her reason...I don't think I need to explain that to you..."
--flashback to seven months prior---
Though it varied from region to region, most citizens of the Four Nations were considered adults by the age of fourteen, marriageable by the age of sixteen, and old enough to consume alcohol at eighteen.
After residing on Air Temple Island for the better part of four and a half years, Kahn, standing a commendable 168cm in height, was preparing to celebrate his fourteenth birthday.
Since turning fourteen was a special occasion, quite a number of people, several of which Kahn had never even met, came by to congratulate him. The majority belonged to the Order of the White Lotus, but the group that stood out most was Fire Lord Zuko and his extended family.
As the Avatar of Fire, Kahn was of special interest to the Fire Nation and, more specifically, the members of the Royal Family. They had invited him to come and tour the Fire Nation Capital several times and even extended him an offer to become the Royal Instructor of Izumi's daughter, Princess Ethuza.
Though Princess Izumi's eldest son, Crown Prince Iroh was thirty-three, her daughter, Princess Ethuza, was much younger at fourteen years old. She was considered something of a miracle child, as, before her sudden and unexpected pregnancy, Izumi had been showing signs of beginning menopause. This resulted in numerous complications and a complicated delivery, so, after much deliberation, Izumi decided to name her daughter Ethuza, meaning Precious Gift.
Since her daughter happened to be around the same age as Kahn, Izumi decided to accompany her father to Air Temple Island. She didn't believe anything would come of it, but, at the very least, she wanted to introduce her daughter to Kahn.
What Izumi had failed to take into consideration was just how exotic and handsome Kahn was. Her daughter was a bit of a recluse, often choosing to spend her time in the Palace Library, but even she couldn't help ogling the remarkably fit, untamed-looking youth.
After a considerable amount of hesitation, Ethuza managed to muster up the courage to speak with Kahn. Since she wasn't very sociable, she tried breaking the ice by quoting a passage she had stumbled across in one of her books. To her surprise, Kahn responded with a quote from the same book before confidently giving its title with a deadpan expression on his face.
Believing Kahn was one of her kin, meaning a bibliophile, all of the fear and anxiety Ethuza had felt approaching him vanished. Their conversation didn't last very long, but by the end of it, she was one reciprocative quote away from pouncing on him. He seemed to have encyclopedia knowledge of every book she had ever read, even the more obscure titles. Thus, after a mere seven minutes, Ethuza surprised virtually everyone at the party by spontaneously asking Kahn to marry her...
---back to the present---
"I have no intention of marrying Princess Ethuza. Please inform Lord Zuko and Fire Lord Izumi that I appreciate the efforts they made to provide an airship, but I won't be attending the coronation."
Without waiting for Tenzin's response, Kahn cupped his hands together before promptly turning around to leave. To his confusion, Tenzin didn't even try to stop him. Instead, the middle-aged Airbender began stroking his beard with an amused smile on his face...

"Kaaaaaaaaahn-!"
Without waiting for a response, Korra used her Waterbending to create a large, circular hole in Kahn's wall. The latter immediately awakened, but upon seeing Korra with glowing eyes, he was too taken aback to avoid the prison of frozen earth that spontaneously formed around him.
"Don't even think about running...!"
"..."
Instead of responding to Korra's words, Kahn closed his mouth and just stared back at her with a patient, unperturbed expression on his face.
Seeing Kahn sitting calmly despite his circumstances, the vibrant blue glow gradually faded from Korra's eyes. Her anger was still present, but it took a back seat to other, far more complicated emotions as she inquired, "Why...?"
Inhaling a deep breath, Kahn paused for a brief moment before closing his eyes and answering, "It's because there are still things I don't know. If I'm going to protect you, I need to see and experience more of the world."
Ignoring the majority of what Kahn said, Korra demanded, "How are you planning to protect me if you're not even around?"
Under normal circumstances, Korra would have insisted she didn't need the protection of anyone. Her young mind hadn't reconciled the fact that Kahn wouldn't be disappearing off the face of the earth. All she knew was that he was going away, and as far as she was concerned, that was pretty much the same thing.
Exhaling a sigh, Kahn was about to answer Korra's question when Katara suddenly entered his room, asking, "What's going on in here? Korra...?"
Tensing due to the sudden presence of an adult, Korra habitually looked toward the hole behind her. To her surprise, Katara didn't seem to notice it, her elderly face softening into an understanding smile as she remarked, "I see...I take it your mother informed you of Kahn's departure?"
Nodding her head, Korra's expression formed into a pout as she directed a 'hateful' glare towards Kahn. He had spent the last three and a half, nearly four years reiterating that he would always be around to protect her. Now that he was suddenly leaving, she felt betrayed.
Fortunately for Kahn, Katara and the other adults had already discussed what they would say when, not if, Korra threw a tantrum.
"You've misunderstood the situation, Korra. Kahn isn't leaving of his own accord. We asked him to go."
Directing her glare towards Katara, Korra's eyes began to emanate a faint yet noticeable glow as she exclaimed, "You did what!?"
As she hadn't seen Korra tap into the Avatar State previously, Katara was more than a little surprised to see the tell-tale glow in her young protege's eyes.
"Korra!!"
Hearing Kahn raise his voice for the first time in her life, Korra startled before turning towards him with a confused expression on her face and asking, "Kahn...?"
Though he was trapped up to his neck in an earthy prison, Kahn managed to appear serious as he said, "I'll be waiting for you in Republic City. Once you've mastered the elements of Earth, Water, and Fire, come and find me on Air Temple Island. Show me how strong you'll have become..."
Furrowing her brows, Korra balled her hands into fists as she asked, "Are you saying this is a part of my training? Is that why you're leaving?"
Closing his eyes, Kahn answered, "Think what you will. I just wanted you to know that I'll be waiting..."
Inhaling a deep breath, Korra looked as though she was moments away from blowing her top. Instead, her expression became progressively more severe until she finally asserted, "Fine. Go to Republic City and wait. Just know that when I find you, I'm going to beat you until your face looks like a rooster pig's."
Squinting his eyes, Kahn further aggravated Korra's competitiveness by calmly stating, "I'm certain you'll try. Whether or not you can is another matter entirely."
"Why, you...!"
Angered by Kahn's words, Korra threw a right hook that sent the wat
er in one of the nearby vases snaking towards him. Before it could smack him in the face, however, Katara waved her hand, redirecting the attack as she said, "Attacking a 'defenseless' opponent isn't something an Avatar ought to do. Remove the earth prison and apologize for breaking through Kahn's wall. After that, he can walk you home. Given how early it is, I'm guessing you ran out in the middle of breakfast."
Puffing out her cheeks, Korra was seriously tempted to tell Katara to mind her own business. Instead, she slumped her shoulders, grumbling, "Okay, Gran Gran..." in a defeated tone.
Nodding her head in approval, Katara turned to leave, saying, "Tenzin and his family will depart in three days. You have free time until then."
Though she was a little slow at times, Korra understood what Katara was trying to say. She had three more days to spend with Kahn, so, while she was still more than a little annoyed by his coming departure, she promptly lowered the earth prison, pulled Kahn to his feet, and asserted, "Let's go! I'm going to convince my mom to let you stay over. You can't say no. Got it!?"
Rolling his eyes, Kahn was about to refuse when Korra used her ultimate weapon against him. Tears began to build in the corners of her pale-blue eyes as she pursed her lips into an adorable yet aggressive-looking pout.
"Fine. But no matter what you say, I'm not going into the steam bath with you. I don't care how curious you are..."
Clicking her tongue, Korra used her immense strength to drag Kahn out of the hole she created earlier. Then, with a stomp of her foot, a slab roughly the size and shape of the hole popped up to close it like a cork. It was far from perfect, but it was a good starting point for future repairs...
...
..
.
After a borderline traumatizing three days, Kahn practically collapsed after the takeoff of Oogi, the Flying Bison used by Tenzin and his family.
"You okay, Can?"
Seeing Kahn fall over, the three-year-old Jinora, a young girl with dark light skin, brown eyes, and brown hair that framed her face, crawled over to check and see if he was okay. It was possible to stand on the back of a Flying Bison while they were moving, but it was ill-advised unless you had impeccable balance.
"..."
Ignoring the toddler's attempts to stir him, Kahn remained face-down as memories of the preceding three days washed over him like hot, cold, and sometimes lukewarm water.
Though Southern Water Tribe tradition stated they needed to be fourteen to make such a promise, Korra had forced Kahn to carve a pendant for her from a material known as Ice Jade. She lied to him, saying it was meant to be a keepsake, but Kahn was well aware of what it actually signified. The question was, did Korra?
Using a rudimentary Airbending technique, Jinora made a warm swirl that blew through Kahn's dark-brown, nearly black hair in an effort to comfort him. Her mother, a gentle-looking woman with fair, naturally kind features and asparagus-green eyes, noticed this and couldn't help smiling.
Unlike Senna, Pema, the presently pregnant mother of Jinora and wife of Tenzin, felt no discomfort around Kahn. There were times when he could be remarkably aloof, but he was ultimately a very polite and adorable little boy.
"Jinora, sweetheart, don't bother Kahn if he tells you to leave him alone, okay?"
Hearing his wife's words, Tenzin briefly stopped paying attention to the skies, his expression turning solemn as he spotted his daughter leaning over Kahn with a concerned expression on her face.
Without shifting her attention from Kahn, Jinora responded with a curt, "Okay, mom." before reducing the intensity of her heated swirl.
"Pema..."
Turning to her husband, a knowing smile that didn't quite reach her eyes developed across Pema's face as she asked, "Yes, honey? What is it...?"
"..."
Deciding not to ask if it was such a good idea to let Kahn stay with them, Tenzin returned his gaze to the front. He wasn't exactly in favor of it, but he decided to take solace in the fact that Korra, very clearly, had a crush on Kahn. There was also a six-year age gap between them, so even if his eldest daughter did start crushing on Kahn, Tenzin didn't think it would be an issue.
Willfully ignoring the fact he was fifteen, nearly sixteen years older than his wife, Tenzin deflected, asking, "How are you feeling? Do you need an extra blanket?"
Rolling her eyes, Pema's response was to lean against Tenzin with a smile on her face. She knew exactly what Tenzin was concerned about, but, as a serious adherent of the Air Nomad way of life, she chose not to concern herself with the matters of another's heart. If two people genuinely fell in love, the only people that should have any stake in their relationship were themselves. If she had listened to the words others used to deter her, she wouldn't be married to Tenzin right now.
Unaware of what his wife was thinking, Tenzin created a swirl of warm air to keep her warm as he gently flicked Oogi's reins and said, "Yip yip, Oogi. Let's speed things along."
"Uwaaaaaaaaaaah~"
As one of the few Flying Bisons that enjoyed racing, Oogi issued a loud roar before kicking his six, three-toed paws in a manner that resembled swimming.
As their name implied, Flying Bisons were six-legged bison that could freely swim through and manipulate the air. Their bodies were covered in shaggy white fur except for an arrow-like strip of brown that ran along the entire length of their body.
While most people believed the Air Nomads had domesticated the Flying Bison, it was more accurate to say the Flying Bison had domesticated the Air Nomads. Humans may have received Airbending from the Lion Turtles, but the Flying Bison were the ones who taught them to utilize it properly. It was for this reason that Master Air Nomads had arrow-shaped tattoos etched onto their bodies. It was to pay homage to the original Masters of the art, the magnificent creatures that had inspired their entire culture...
...
..
.
Though Flying Bison were one of the fastest methods of transport, their top speed was around 120km/h. They could also only fly around ten hours a day with ample food and water, so, with Republic City being just under 4,000km away, the trip took four days.
After recovering from his slump, Kahn figured he might as well get a jump start on Jinora's training. Sitting in Oogi's carrier for ten hours a day could be incredibly dull, so, as the only other kid present, Jinora hadn't stopped pestering Kahn since the outset of their journey.
Fortunately, Jinora wasn't your average three-year-old. She exhibited the signs of a remarkable intellect and was already well into her training as an Air Nomad. She was intimately familiar with the concept of meditation and demonstrated an appetite for knowledge comparable to Korra's interest in Bending.
Due to his ability to answer virtually any of her questions, Jinora began viewing Kahn as a veritable fountain of knowledge. He even knew things about the Air Nomads that her father was completely unaware of, so, for the duration of their journey, she could be seen following him around like a Turtle Duckling trying to keep up with its mother.
Near the start of their journey, Tenzin couldn't help worrying about his daughter. As a result, he would use an advanced Airbending technique to listen to what Kahn was teaching her. To his surprise, Kahn was a lot more patient and insightful than he expected. Whenever he lectured Jinora, he never raised his voice, and, even when she interrupted him in the middle of an explanation, he never lost his calm. Instead, he would wait for her to finish expressing her concerns or explaining what she knew before doing his best to clear up any confusion.
Simply put, Kahn was a much better teacher than Tenzin initially gave him credit. It was no wonder Korra was on the verge of mastering three of the four elements by the age of nine. She had a walking, talking encyclopedia of ancient knowledge to support her...

Chapter 16: Chapter 16