"Uh, Pema, maybe you overdid it a little with the dishes?" Korra remarked as she reached the table after freshening up and changing, noticing at least three times the usual amount of food. "You said one guest was coming, not a whole regiment…"
"I have a feeling our savior is quite the eater," Pema dismissed with a wave of her hand, smiling proudly at the result of a day spent in the kitchen. "Besides, I may have gotten a little carried away while cooking, but I don't think anyone will complain."
Even if they couldn't finish the food, they could save it and eat it tomorrow—nothing went to waste in this house!
"Mom, do you mind if I sit next to the guest?" Jinora asked politely, turning to Pema.
"Alright, but remember, just light conversation during the meal," Pema said as she took a seat to rest. Although she had help from the White Lotus women stationed here, she insisted on exercising a bit. "Save your questions for after dessert."
Ikki's eyes lit up at the word "dessert."
"Oh, Meelo~" Pema noticed her son trying to sneak food from one of the dishes and called him in a sweet voice. "You can grab something before our guest arrives if you want."
"Really?!" Meelo looked at his mother in surprise.
"Of course, but after that, it's only seaweed dishes for the next month," Pema said with a smile that sent shivers down everyone's spine.
Never make an angry, pregnant woman mad!
"I think I'll wait, thanks," Meelo slowly pulled back and sat down, dejected.
He hated seaweed dishes in every form!
"By the way, hasn't Tenzin arrived yet?" Korra asked, noticing the Airbender master's absence.
"It's possible today's Council meeting ran a little long," Pema explained, already informed of the situation by her husband. "We should head to the dock; it's almost time for him to arrive," she said, getting up and checking the time.
Ikki, Meelo, Jinora, and Korra hurried to follow her.
"Have you seen any boats coming to the island?" Pema asked one of the White Lotus lookouts assigned to the dock.
"No, ma'am, everything's calm tonight."
The sun had just set, and stars were starting to shine in the sky, with the distant but nearby city casting its glow in the background.
"Maybe we should have sent someone to guide him," Jinora said a bit worried, recalling the condition of their guest and savior.
Pema wasn't too concerned. If their guest's perception was even a little like Toph Beifong's, he might only be a little delayed in finding a boat.
"Mom! Mom!" Ikki grabbed Pema's clothes and tugged at her excitedly while pointing at the sky. "Look, a shooting star!"
Everyone looked up and saw it—a streak of light crossing the starry night sky, leaving a trail behind it.
"You all know what that means," Pema lowered her gaze to her children. "Make a wish, quickly!"
Korra laughed at the family and glanced back at the shooting star with a bit of nostalgia. She could often see them at home, but this was the first time she had seen one here.
"Mmm?" Korra squinted a few moments later. "Uh, Pema?"
"Yes, Korra?" Pema turned to look at her.
"Am I imagining it, or is the star getting bigger?"
"Now that you mention it…"
"Wow, a super shooting star!" Ikki exclaimed, raising her hands to the sky.
Does that count for two wishes?
The White Lotus members looked at the shooting star, confused.
In fact, it didn't just seem to be getting bigger, but…
"Why does it look like the star is coming this way?" Meelo asked, pointing at the light speeding toward Air Temple Island.
Everyone's expressions changed at the child's casual comment.
A meteorite was going to crash—precisely on the island?!
"Wait, it's not a shooting star!" Jinora's voice cut in just in time to prevent panic, turning to look at Pema. "Mom, it's him!"
Earlier, he had been too far away to notice anything, but now she could sense that light emanating the same chi as the man who had saved them at the tailor shop.
Indeed, just seconds after her declaration, everyone saw Jin arriving at the dock, surrounded by visible chi, slowing in the last meters to land softly on the pier.
As soon as he touched down, the chi vanished silently like a gentle breeze, in sync with the sound of the waves.
"I hope I'm not late, Pema. I was preparing a few courtesy gifts," Jin said, wearing the same kind of elegant suit he had worn on his date with Asami and holding a small package in his hand.
Since he was making a first impression, naturally, he wanted it to be memorable.
Judging by the dropped jaws of everyone present, it seemed he had succeeded admirably.
"Did you just fly here?!" Ikki was the first to ask.
"Yes, I did," Jin nodded, as if confirming he hadn't just walked. "I could have walked on the water, but I didn't want to get my clothes wet. The tailor did a fantastic job, and salt wouldn't do it any favors, you know?" he said, adjusting the cufflinks on his sleeves and collar. "How do I look?"
A moment of silence on the dock followed his casual question—inevitable.
"You look very sharp," Pema recovered from her surprise and quickly assumed her hostess role, answering honestly. "Come on, I just served the dishes. It's best to eat while they're still hot."
"Thank you, I'll appreciate your efforts," Jin nodded, starting to walk following her.
Pema smiled happily at the comment. What a polite man!
Only now, closer up, Meelo noticed his dull eyes and almost opened his mouth without thinking, but Ikki clamped his jaw with her hand, giving him a warning look that seemed to say: Remember what Mom said! Do you want seaweed for a month?
Even Ikki knew pointing out someone's blindness was crossing the line!
The White Lotus members exchanged glances. Who was this guy?
Meelo thought it over and decided his food happiness took priority over possibly offending his male pride, so he quickly changed the subject.
"Did you say you had gifts?"
Pema secretly sighed at her son's question. Well, that was better than what she was about to say originally. She'd buy Ikki a nice hair accessory later for her good behavior.
"Excuse me, are you…?" Jin still had to pretend he didn't know them.
"They're my siblings," Jinora smoothly inserted herself into the conversation. "This is my brother Meelo, and my sister is Ikki. That girl over there is Korra, she lives here."
She avoided mentioning that she was the Avatar, giving Korra a chance to make another friend.
"Hi?" Korra was still a bit shy after Jin's entrance, trying to figure out how he had done it. She had learned from many masters, but no one seemed capable of flying!
"Ah, I'll have to apologize. I didn't know you had siblings, Jinora," Jin said, raising the package in his hand with a concerned look. "I only prepared gifts for you and your mother, but I can improvise something else after dinner," he turned his head toward Korra. "A pleasure to meet you, Korra. I've heard a few things about you."
"Have you?" she asked, surprised.
"Well, a relative was involved in your arrest," Jin said vaguely and deliberately ambiguously. "I apologize on her behalf; I hope she wasn't too harsh."
"That's fine. She was just doing her job," Korra said, a little embarrassed that her first impression had been that way.
She had assumed the relative Jin referred to was a police officer, but never guessed it was Lin.
"Let's save the gifts for later, although we appreciate the gesture," Pema said as they entered the main building, where the table was set and the dishes were still hot. "Take a seat; we'll start shortly."
Jin used his perception to scan the dishes on the table and sat where he could take the ones that suited his tastes. Jinora sat beside him, and Korra on the other side.
"It smells wonderful," Jin commented sincerely.
Pema clearly had culinary talent. Once again, Tenzin was lucky to have a lady like her.
"Just a little effort," Pema smiled, feeling her ego satisfied as everyone sat down. "Oh, excuse me, I haven't asked your name yet."
"You can call me Jin."