Maintaining the Balance

Expecting Korra to come in like a meteor, Kahn was a little surprised when she remained atop Oogi until he landed. Then, instead of jumping down or running over, she helped Pema and Meelo get down while Ikki glided over, exclaiming, "Kahn! We're back~!" as she practically tackled him.
Reciprocating Ikki's hug, Kahn was about to greet her in turn when Korra looked over, confusion and disbelief on her face as she asked, "Kahn? Is that really you?"
Since she had already helped Pema get down, Korra, standing 165cm tall and with a physique comparable to a warrior Goddess, walked over with a bit of trepidation in her stride. She still had a bit of growing to do, but she could easily give professional models a run for their money.
Setting Ikki down, a practiced yet sincere smile developed across Kahn's face as he answered, "I've been waiting for you."
Pausing mid-step, Korra's body seemed to inflate slightly as she inhaled a deep breath. A layer of moisture began to build across her subtly glowing eyes, but before any tears could form, she blinked them away, adopted a serious expression, and asked, "Did you know?"
Though he was tempted to ask what she was talking about, Kahn could easily guess based on her facial and audio cues. Thus, his smile promptly faded into an equally serious expression as he answered, "Yes."
Bobbing her head as though she were nodding and trying to reconcile her thoughts, Korra remained silent for several seconds before asking, "And...? Did it mean something, or were you just going with the flow?"
Catching Korra by surprise, Kahn didn't even hesitate to answer, "A bit of both. I didn't want you to feel even worse about our parting, so I couldn't simply refuse. It suits you, by the way."
"..."
Unsure if she should feel relieved or disappointed by Kahn's candidness, Korra decided to focus on something else, specifically the jacket he was wearing and the chiseled body beneath it. Kahn was a lot taller than she had expected, so much so that, even though he was wearing the fur-lined jacket made for him, Korra hadn't immediately recognized him.
"You've...uh, really grown? Lookin' good, hahaha..."
Unused to the bashful version of Korra, Kahn scratched the back of his head, a wry smile briefly flashing across his face as he countered, "Well, you look amazing. You've kept up with your training the past five years, and it really shows. I'm proud of you."
Adopting a slightly skeptical look, Korra parroted, "Proud of me...?" in a hushed tone. Then, after shaking her head, she forced a smile before punching her fist into her palm and answering, "Yeah, I really busted my tail off. If we were to fight seriously, I'm pretty confident I could wipe the floor with you."
Seeing traces of Korra's true self shining through, Kahn's smile became notably more sincere as he remarked, "We'll see. I haven't exactly been resting on my laurels these past five years."
"Oh? Is that a challenge...?"
Before Kahn could answer, Tenzin stepped in, saying, "Now, now, no need to rush. We just completed a long journey, and I am looking forward to a hearty meal and plenty of rest for one. Speaking of which..."
Though he briefly focused his attention on his daughter, Tenzin's gaze ultimately came to rest on Kahn as he appended, "Please tell me you've prepared something."
Nodding his head in affirmation, Kahn answered, "I'll need to warm it up, but I prepared an entire feast to welcome Korra and celebrate your return. It's waiting back at the Temple."
Enthused by Kahn's response, Tenzin chimed, "Splendid!" before placing his hand on his wife's shoulder and suggesting, "Then let us continue this discussion there. You and Korra will have plenty of time to catch up when you are showing her around the island."
Since he had already anticipated that Tenzin would be loading Korra off onto him, Kahn simply nodded his head, answering, "I'm looking forward to it." before making an 'after you' gesture in the direction of the nearby tunnel, the only passageway connecting the landing platform to the rest of the island-compound.
Readily accepting Kahn's suggestion, Tenzin cheerfully remarked, "Come along, children." before escorting his wife and son towards the passage. A few Air Acolytes took that as an opportunity to greet him, but for the most part, their departure was unobstructed as he attempted to give Kahn and Korra a bit of space.
Fortunately, even Ethuza seemed to understand it probably wasn't the best time to introduce herself. After observing Korra in silence for several seconds, she departed alongside the majority of the Air Acolytes. She had a lot to think about and even more to prepare so introductions could wait until much, much later...
...
..
.
With everyone else spontaneously departing, Kahn and Korra were left relatively alone atop the stone landing. Oogi and his family were lingering around the nearby stables, but, excluding them, Kahn and Korra were the only two people present.
Breaking the silence before things could become too uncomfortable, Kahn remarked, "You really have grown a lot. Even with advanced knowledge of the future, I was genuinely surprised by your growth. You-"
Interrupting before Kahn could finish speaking, Korra blurted out, "Holy crap, thanks for reminding me! How come you never told me you could predict the future!?"
Jabbing Kahn in the chest with her index finger, Korra's expression made it clear she was upset. When she first learned about Kahn's knowledge of the future, she had been depressed and frustrated for months on end. For a while, she even thought that each of her interactions with Kahn was him carefully manipulating her. It had been one of the most stressful moments in her entire life.
Rubbing the spot where Korra had poked him, Kahn forced a smile as he answered, "To be perfectly honest, it never even crossed my mind. Back-"
"Are you freaking kidding me!?"
Unamused by Kahn's response, Korra was seriously tempted to slug him in the face. As silly as it sounded, the only thing that stopped her was his looks. She felt like it would be a travesty to ruin such a handsome face, so, after a moment of hesitation, she slugged him in the shoulder.
Though he had an inhuman pain tolerance, Kahn still frowned as Korra's punch nearly knocked him off balance. She was almost a full head shorter than him, but she packed a punch whose force was several times his own. He didn't know exactly how strong she had become, but it wasn't difficult to imagine her lifting a few thousand kilos without breaking a sweat.
Rolling his shoulder, Kahn remarked, "I see your temper hasn't improved." in a curt tone.
Snorting defiantly, Korra suppressed the urge to give Kahn another punch by crossing her arms over her breasts and saying, "Seriously though, a bit of a heads up would have been nice. That little tidbit of information really messed me up, you know?"
Revealing some of the hurt she felt back then, Korra averted her eyes as she went from crossing her arms to essentially hugging herself. Thinking that her best friend and the boy she liked had been using her hadn't been pleasant.
Exhaling a sigh, Kahn was tempted to try and explain himself a second time but ultimately decided against it. He knew Korra looking for excuses right now, so, after a moment of hesitation, he tentatively approached her and said, "Sorry, I-"
Before Kahn could finish his apology, Korra covered the remaining distance, her arms wrapping around him like metal bindings as she buried her face into his chest and said, "Just shut up..." in a firm yet paradoxically vulnerable-sounding tone.
Ignoring the second paradox pressing against him, Kahn reciprocated Korra's embrace in silence. He had been planning to hug her the moment he started his approach, so he wasn't too bothered by the fact that Korra had seized the initiative. If anything, it made things a little easier for him as he wasn't all that accustomed to initiating physical contact outside of a spar.
"Your body is so warm..."
Hearing Korra's unexpected remark, Kahn briefly tensed before issuing a dry laugh and remarking, "Well, I am a Firebender..."
Rolling her eyes, Korra loosened her hold on Kahn's body but didn't let him go as she looked up at him and asked, "What are we? I mean, as far as relationships go..."
Shaking his head, Kahn put a bit of strength in his arms as he answered, "I honestly don't have a clue. My head is filled with knowledge, but I'm still figuring things out on the emotional side of things. I'm willing to try, but I don't think either of us is ready for a committed relationship...I just want to watch over and protect you without anything more complicated getting in the way..."
Adopting an 'are you for real' type of expression, Korra could be seen visibly containing a sigh as she offhandedly remarked, "You really are honest to a fault, aren't you? I honestly don't know whether to be angry or relieved..."
Shaking her head, Korra tightened her hold on Kahn as she appended, "Whatever. I've spent the last five years thinking about all sorts of crap. Now that I finally have you in arm's reach, I'm not letting go of you that easily. I don't care if things do become complicated...we'll figure out how to make things work..."
As if the matter was settled, Korra rested her head against Kahn's chest and closed her eyes. She actually agreed with Kahn's words, but, seeing him standing between two girls when she first disembarked Oogi, she felt compelled to take action. She wasn't just going to let someone steal Kahn away from her while she sorted through her feelings.
"..."
Though he had initially planned to take things much slower, Kahn felt like he would be stepping on a landmine if he voiced a complaint. Instead, he decided that he would simply dictate the progress of their relationship. It was very difficult for him to put his foot down when Korra was concerned, but he was confident he could prevent her from taking things too far.
With that in mind, Kahn continued to hold Korra as he whispered, "Hey..." in a soft yet resonating tone. In response, the tall yet comparably petite Water Tribeswoman looked up at him, her eyes turning round as saucers when he suddenly planted a chaste kiss on her lips.
Contrasting Kahn's expectations, Korra used a combination of physical strength and Airbending to send in crashing backward several tens of meters. He managed to right himself after flipping over a few times, but it was still an incredibly unexpected occurrence that left Kahn not knowing whether he should laugh or apologize.
Realizing what she had done, Korra rushed over with a fretful expression on her face, asking, "Are you okay!?" in a concerned, clearly anxious tone.
Forcing a smile, Kahn accepted Korra's support as he remarked, "I guess I've grown a little complacent. On the plus side, you're a lot stronger than when we were children. I'll have to keep my guard up..."
Though it was nearly indiscernibly due to her healthy brown complexion, a faint blush colored Korra's cheeks as she, very weakly, struck Kahn in the arm. He probably wouldn't believe her if she said it, but she usually wasn't this violent around other people. In fact, due to the innumerable warnings she had received before being allowed to interact with other children, she had done her best to avoid physical confrontations outside of training and spars. There was just something about Kahn that made Korra want to hit him...
Fortunately for Korra, Kahn had anticipated this kind of behavior from her ever since their separation. He was actually a little relieved that, despite her rather drastic change in appearance, she was still the same brat that had nagged him incessantly during their childhood. She now had a punch like a Saber-toothed Moose Lion's kick, but she was still the same Korra...

"Kahn and I are dating."
Not expecting Korra's announcement, at least not so soon, everyone gathered around the large, rectangular dining table momentarily froze.
Recovering a little faster than the rest, Pema offered a supportive yet noticeably wry smile as she said, "Congratulations, you two. Just make sure to take things slow, okay? While it can be a lot of fun to experience new things, it's easy to get caught up in the moment and make mistakes."
Focusing her attention on Kahn, Pema's expression softened slightly as she added, "You might not be able to keep her out of trouble, but I trust you to keep Korra safe."
Nodding his head in affirmation, Kahn was about to respond when Korra poutily replied, "Hey! Why do you make it sound like I can't take care of myself? I am the Avatar, you know."
Speaking in place of his wife, Tenzin explained, "We are well aware of your status, Korra. In fact, it's one of the reasons we're so concerned about you. A lot has changed since my father's time, and, based on what Kahn has revealed, they are bound to change even more over the next couple of years. I managed to push the Avatar Act through the Council, but you're only a few incidents away from having your privileges within the city revoked. You'll have to keep that in mind as you explore around the city and attempt to perform your duties as Avatar."
Though her expression had soured the more she listened to Tenzin's explanation, Korra perked up when she heard him mention the Avatar Act, asking, "What's the Avatar Act? I've never heard of it before now."
Reaching up to caress his beard, Tenzin seemed proud of himself as he adopted a somewhat cheeky smile and explained, "The Avatar Act is a special law that grants the Avatar situational impunity within the United Republic. So long as you have reasonable grounds of suspicion, it allows you to stop, question, and even search the property of others. There are also clauses regarding insurance and fraud, but I won't bore you with the details. Just make sure you don't go around destroying public or private property without a good reason."
Surprised by the revelation, an excited smile developed across Korra's face as she remarked, "Wow. The way everyone put it during my training, trying to do anything as the Avatar was going to be a nightmare. Let me guess..."
Shifting her attention to Kahn, Korra asked, "Did you have something to do with this?"
Though Kahn shook his head, Tenzin supplied an affirmative nod as he said, "While Kahn had no personal involvement with the legislation we set in motion, his comments about the Avatar's duties superseding laws were what compelled us to act. Historically, nations and rulers that have tried to limit the actions of the Avatar have either been corrupt or the cause of their people's suffering. By granting you situational impunity, we're hoping to limit public backlash in the event of a scandal."
After directing an accusatory glower towards Tenzin, Kahn turned to meet Korra's piercing blue eyes. He expected her to be a little angry due to his inadvertent meddling. Instead, she had an 'as expected' kind of smile on her face as she squinted her eyes and playfully remarked, "Why am I not surprised?"
Not sure how to respond to such a remark, Kahn adopted a noticeably awkward smile as he replied, "Because you're very intelligent...?"
Blinking in surprise, Korra opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. It was almost impossible to tell when Kahn was joking, so she didn't know if he was being serious or just messing with her.
Coming to both of the awkward teens' aid, Pema asked, "Have you put any thought into what you want to do once you reach the city? Kahn has saved up a bit, but his funds aren't unlimited. If you're going to travel the world, you'll need a source of income."
Meeting Pema's gaze, Korra tilted her head to the side, asking, "What do you mean? I thought the Order of the White Lotus was supposed to pay for everything. I mean, aren't they supposed to be like the most powerful and influential organization in the entire world?"
Shaking his head, Tenzin explained, "It's a little more complicated than that, Korra. While it is true that the Order has considerable funding and ample human resources, they cannot act as agents or in direct support of the Avatar. If they did, it wouldn't be long before the public began viewing them as the Avatar's private army. That would cause a number of social and political issues, so it's up to each respective Avatar to recruit people and secure the funds necessary for their journey."
Opening her mouth, Korra paused for a moment before asking, "Don't I at least get like an allowance or something? I mean, no one even hinted that I would need to purchase things on my own, and I don't even know where to start when it comes to making money."
Alleviating some of Korra's concerns, Tenzin adopted a smile and said, "It won't be as difficult as you're thinking. You're the daughter of one of the most powerful men in the Water Tribes, and you're more than welcome to stay on the island for as long as you like. The only things you will need to pay for are personal effects, external goods, and luxury items. If I'm not mistaken, I believe securing funds was one of the underlying reasons for Kahn's decision to accompany my family and me to Air Temple Island?"
Returning her attention to Kahn, Korra's eyes widened as she asked, "Is that true? Did you...did you really do all of this just to earn money for our travels...?"
Though his actual reasons were quite a bit more complicated, Kahn knew he wouldn't be doing himself any favors by denying Tenzin's accusations. Instead, he adopted an awkward smile and allowed the misunderstanding to speak for itself.
Interpreting Kahn's silence as confirmation, Korra's emotions began to run rampant. Over the last five years, there were several instances where she had blamed or resented Kahn for leaving her in the South. She thought he abandoned her, but, just as he had always done, Kahn had been doing his best to support her while she wallowed in selfishness and self-pity...
Hanging her head and shoulder, Korra became uncharacteristically meek as she muttered, "Kahn...I..."
Interrupting before Korra could say whatever she wanted to say, Kahn stated, "You shouldn't feel guilty about actions I took of my own accord, Korra. Just continue doing your best and become the best Avatar you can be. That's all I've ever wanted."
Though Kahn hadn't intended for his declaration to sound even remotely passionate, nearly everyone at the table looked at him with a mixture of shock and admiration in their gazes. Korra and Meelo were the only two exceptions. The former was covering her mouth and holding back a few burgeoning tears while the latter simply had no idea what was going on.
Feeling a little uncomfortable, Kahn seriously considered excusing himself and returning to his room for the rest of the evening. Instead, he offered a wry smile before picking up his bowl and slurping down a few mushroom noodles.
Thinking Kahn was embarrassed, a laugh emanated from Korra's throat as she wiped away her tears. Her laughter triggered a chain reaction around the table, and, as a result, Kahn felt genuinely embarrassed as he lowered his head and muttered, "The food's getting cold..."
...
..
.
After refusing Tenzin's offer to stay the night and agreeing to meet up with Korra first thing in the morning, Kahn meandered his way over to the Men's Dormitory in a slight daze. A lot had changed in a very short period of time, and while he had always expected Korra's arrival to shake things up, he felt overwhelmed for the first time in his life.
Unfortunately for Kahn, life had a way of further complicating things when you were at your lowest point. He wanted little more than to return to his room and organize his thoughts, but there was one more important issue on his itinerary, dealing with Ethuza.
As he had anticipated, Kahn found Ethuza waiting for him in their usual spot. He wasn't sure how long she had been there, but sensing the flow of fire elemental chi in and around her body, it was at least long enough that she felt the need to warm herself up.
Though they would typically greet each other, Kahn and Ethuza remained silent even after the former sat in his usual position, a mere 5 centimeters separating them.
Understanding that Kahn probably didn't know what to say, it was Ethuza who broke the silence, stating, "I sent a transmission to my mother. I'll be returning home around noon tomorrow..."
Furrowing his brows, Kahn felt a feeling of discomfort despite Ethuza's calm and composed revelation. He didn't know why or how to describe it, but he felt as though he had wronged the petite Firebender in some way.
With Kahn turning towards her, clearly intending to ask for an explanation, Ethuza seized the opportunity to pounce on him, her lips overlapping with his as they tumbled to the ground. She knew Kahn was probably going to tell her he was now in a relationship with Korra, so, before he could make things even more painful for her, she decided to shut him up with a kiss.
Though he could have easily thrown Ethuza off of him, Kahn's mind briefly stalled until her tongue spontaneously invaded his mouth. That was more than enough to bring him back to his senses, his hands moving to grasp her shoulders as he turned his face away and muttered, "We shouldn't be doing this..." in a tone that was equal parts confused and apologetic.
Surprised by Kahn's reaction, the realization she may have just stolen his first kiss entered Ethuza's mind. In reality, she had missed the timing by a few hours, but that didn't stop Ethuza from believing she had secured a small victory over Korra.
Adopting an ostensibly wry smile, Ethuza gently caressed the side of Kahn's face before combing through the hair on the side of his head as she said, "I love you, Kahn...one day, even if it's in the far future, I hope you remember that and feel the same way. Just as you waited for Korra, know that I will always be awaiting your arrival back in the Fire Nation..."
To punctuate her words, Ethuza planted a chaste kiss on Kahn's cheek before reluctantly rising to a seated position. She was a little upset that Kahn's body hadn't 'reacted' to her, but that didn't stop her from focusing on the sensation for a few moments before rising to her feet, turning her back, and saying, "Farewell, my beloved Dragon of the South..."
Without waiting for Kahn's response, Ethuza generated plumes of flame from her feet as she propelled herself high into the sky. She wasn't nearly as skilled as Kahn when it came to Flame Propulsion, but it was one of the techniques her mother had compelled her to learn as a form of protection. Very few people could fly, so even if she could only keep it up for a short while, it was more than enough to escape a precarious or uncomfortable situation...
Despite Ethuza alighting his body and flying off, Kahn didn't immediately rise from the cold, hard ground. Instead, he followed her departure with his eyes before staring blankly at the veritable ocean of stars above. The light pollution of Republic City reduced visibility quite a bit, but it was still a breathtakingly beautiful sight to behold...

Feeling partially responsible for Ethuza's decline in health, Kahn told her about the extra ingredients and spices he kept in his room before writing down a few easy-to-follow recipes. He knew she would have preferred it if he prepared it directly, but Kahn wasn't willing to ruin Jinora's mood just to fix Ethuza's mistake.
As cold as it sounded, Ethuza was singularly responsible for her decision to study and live as a prospective Air Acolyte. If she wanted to secure a place to stay on the mainland, her mother would assuredly fork over the funds for a small mansion. Instead, Ethuza was determined to remain on the island to prove her resolve. Kahn didn't really agree with this decision, but it was ultimately Ethuza's to make.
Fortunately, Ethuza's health and nutrition had been excellent before her departure from the Fire Nation. She may have spent much of her free time in the royal library, but her youth had revolved around Bending, etiquette, and other forms of training. A few of these included lessons the Order of the White Lotus had emulated by observing Kahn, so her foundation was much more stable than the average person's.
With a proper diet and a bit of exercise, Ethuza would quickly recover to her optimal condition. Kahn even incentivized her by promising he would help out once Tenzin and his family returned. Korra's arrival was bound to derail things, but Ethuza had known about her existence and impending arrival for months. She chose to remain despite this, so Kahn was willing to lend a hand so long as helping her didn't interfere with his other duties and responsibilities.
First and foremost, Kahn began to prepare an additional serving whenever he cooked for himself and Jinora. Rindo had shown a bit of compassion after his 100th consecutive defeat, so Kahn could now store and preserve up to 100 dishes and ingredients in his Inventory. While 100 slots may not sound that impressive, it was substantial since 999 of the same dish could be stacked in the same slot. As for ingredients, they stacked by volume or weight depending on whether they were liquid or solid.
Since Ethuza was going to come around regardless, Kahn began providing food for her in the evenings. He denied her request to dine inside, so Kahn would typically sit with his back to her while Ethuza practically engorged herself on the food he had prepared for her. Then, once she was finished, they would sit and chat for a few minutes before Kahn would send her on her way. She had asked him to escort her, but even if there was less than a 1% chance of something happening, Kahn wasn't the type to neglect his duties. He was tasked with watching over the Airbending family residence and keeping Jinora safe, so, for the seventeen days the family was gone, that is precisely what he did.
...
..
.
With only a few hours remaining in their journey, Pema, seeing the brown-skinned teen fidgetting a short distance away, asked, "Are you nervous?" with a knowing smile on her face.
Hearing Pema's question, the visibly agitated teen snorted through her nose, brows creased as she asked, "Why would I be nervous? If anything, I'm excited. Once Naga arrives, I can finally set out on my journey as the Avatar."
"Oh? And here I thought you were gripping your pendant because you were anxious about your reunion with Kahn. Silly me, it must have been my imagination."
Realizing she was gripping her pendant tight enough to exhibit the whites of her knuckles, the young Water Tribeswoman, Korra, promptly released it from her grasp. Then, in an attempt to change the subject, she hurriedly inquired, "So, what's Republic City like? I hear it's like the most advanced city in the whole world."
Shaking her head, Pema maintained a motherly smile as she explained, "I can't really say. I spend most of my time on Air Temple Island. When you live an ascetic lifestyle, the hustle and bustle of city life can be incredibly stressful."
Though Pema had answered with a similar response every other time she asked, Korra exhaled an annoyed trill before remarking, "I could never live like that. Now that I'm finally free from the South Pole, I intend to explore the city before traveling the entire world. The quiet life just isn't for me."
Shifting the conversation back to the original topic, Pema teased, "That sounds like a lot of fun. If you take Kahn along with you, I imagine it will be pretty romantic as well..."
With her left eye twitching, Korra looked away from Pema, muttering, "It's none of your business..." in an audibly huffy tone.
Amused by Korra's reaction, a soft chuckle emanated from Pema's throat. Before she could continue teasing her, however, Ikki asked, "Does Korra like Kahn? Then what about Jinora...?"
Interrupting before Pema could answer, Korra asked, "What do you mean, Ikki? What does Jinora have to do with Kahn?"
Without any hesitation whatsoever, Ikki revealed, "Jinora likes Kahn." with a massive smile on her face.
Though common sense told her she shouldn't be worried about a seven or eight-year-old girl, Korra's brows creased into a glower. It didn't help that Ikki immediately added, "There's also this girl named Ethuza. She's a Princess from the Fire Nation. During Kahn's birthday, she even asked him to marry her!"
Covering her daughter's mouth, Pema's smile appeared visibly strained as she said, "Don't let Ikki's words bother you. While it is true that Jinora and Ethuza have a crush on Kahn, he hasn't really shown any interest in things like dating. He views Jinora as a little sister and has continuously rejected Ethuza's attempts to court him."
Calming down a bit, Korra asked, "What's she like, this Princess Ethuza? Is she pretty?"
Breaking free from her mother's hand, Ikki answered, "She smells really good and has super huge-"
"Ikki!"
After shouting her name, Pema silenced Ikki with a warning look before returning her attention to Korra and explaining, "While appearances are important, they aren't the deciding factor when it comes to love. Ethuza may not be the most attractive girl in the world, but she certainly has her charms."
Preempting Korra's follow-up questions, Ikki nodded her head, willfully ignoring her mother's previous warning as she said, "I'll say. Her boobs are super huge."
Though he was doing his best to ignore the conversation taking place a few meters behind him, Tenzin shouted, "Ikki! That's quite enough, young lady!"
Laughing like a child that had just succeeded in a prank, Ikki was about to say more when she noticed the rather grim expression on Korra's face.
Fortunately, while Korra wasn't particularly enthused by Ikki's words, she wasn't too upset. She had overcome her body dysmorphia a few months ago after learning that she was ranked number one among all the girls her former classmates wanted to date. The only reason no one asked her out was because of her betrothal necklace.
Since her admirers even included girls that Korra thought were more attractive than herself, her confidence had received quite a substantial boost. She had come to learn that pretty much everyone was jealous of her physique, so instead of feeling concerned about the size of Ethuza's bust, Korra was feeling competitive as she grumbled, "You think you can take what's mine? Just you wait, Princess..."
Though Korra had whispered her words, discretion had never been one of her strong suits. Pema was easily able to make out her words, a wry smile developing across her face as she internally mused, ("You really have your work cut out for you with this one, Kahn...")
...
..
.
Since Tenzin had sent a transmission informing the Air Acolytes of their return the previous day, Kahn, Jinora, Ethuza, and more than a dozen monks had gathered atop the large, overhanging platform that served as a landing station for Flying Bison and small Airships.
Sensing Korra even before he had spotted Oogi on the horizon, Kahn's expression became serious as he stated, "It looks like my free time just flew out the window..."
Understanding the meaning of Kahn's words, Ethuza's exhaled a sigh while Jinora, worrying that he wasn't going to be teaching her anymore, asked, "What about Ikki and Meelo? You can't just-"
Before Jinora could finish, Kahn explained, "We've been over this. Now that Korra has arrived, I have a responsibility to look after and keep her safe. I will still offer advice and spiritual guidance, but, from this moment onward, it is your duty as the eldest to help guide your younger siblings."
Turning towards the young Airbender, Kahn's expression softened as he softly appended, "I believe in you, Jinora. Ever since you first exhibited your tremendous potential, I have always thought you would, one day, become a great Airbending Master. Now is your chance to prove it. After all, it is only when we are capable of passing on our teachings to others that we can refer to ourselves as True Masters..."
Though she really wanted to cry, Jinora forced a serious expression on her face as she nodded her head and answered, "I understand...I won't let you down..."
Adopting a far more sincere smile, Kahn extended his right hand to gently caress Jinora's head as he whispered, "You never have...not even once..."
Feeling an even stronger urge to cry, Jinora's eyes began to water while Ethuza, seeing the rather intimate and heartwarming scene, couldn't help feeling a little envious. She felt like writing a strongly worded letter to her mother and grandfather complaining about their failure to introduce her to Kahn earlier.
If she had gotten to Kahn sooner, Ethuza was confident she could have claimed his heart for herself. Now, she had to compete against one of the most powerful beings in the entire world and one of Kahn's most precious proteges.
It was incredibly frustrating.
Interrupting the tender moment between Teacher and Student, Ethuza adopted a slight pout as she questioned, "Don't I get a few inspirational remarks? My heart is breaking..."
Annoyed by Ethuza's interruption, Jinora was half-tempted to tell her to leave. Before she could, however, Kahn retracted his hand from her head, stating, "Unless you antagonize Korra, our relationship shouldn't change all that much. I've been watching over Jinora since she was a toddler, so Korra's arrival is bound to have a greater impact on her than you. Besides, you're a lot stronger emotionally. If you were the type that needed to hear such things, you wouldn't be here right now."
Adopting a far more sincere, slightly hurt expression, Ethuza stated, "That may be, Kahn. However, sometimes we say nice things, not to make other people feel better, but to prevent them from feeling worse..."
Though she was tempted to just walk away, Ethuza had resolved herself to meet with Korra. The way Kahn had described her left Ethuza feeling as though Korra was a beautiful and proud young girl.
If she determined that victory was impossible, Ethuza was prepared to move back home. She wasn't going to give up, but there was no way she was going to sit around and pretend to care about being an Air Acolyte as Kahn and Korra slowly fell in love with one another.
Fortunately, Kahn had revealed quite a bit of juicy bits of information to Ethuza during their discussion. He had never revealed anything explicit, but Ethuza had managed to piece together enough consequential details to form a roadmap of the next couple of years. She also knew that Kahn didn't understand things like love and romance, so even if he did end up with Korra, there was a fairly high probability they would break up. When they did, Ethuza intended to be in a prime position to strike.
No matter how long it took, Ethuza was determined to be the ultimate victor in the battle for Kahn's heart. It didn't matter if who her opponent was. Unless they made a concerted effort to try and understand him, she was confident that no one would be able to comprehend Kahn as well as herself. They were, after all, soulmates...

Chapter 26: Chapter 26