A/N: Hello everyone! Here's a little background to the fic spiritypowers and I (co-writing once more) are about to present. An AUception, a term that I coined, is like an AU within an AU. If say, the Anchor fanfic is what's canon for the Anchor AU, than this is like a canon divergence, of exactly what is said in the summary. Having read Anchor, I don't think, is absolutely necessary, but I do think it will make this fic A) far more easy to understand as you'll already be familiar in the AU world its taking place in, the relationships, and the multitude of mainly OCs that make up the crew/supporting cast, and B) will make it far more enjoyable, as you'll catch all the hints the two of us have left along the way. Expect regular updates of very long chapters.

The title is taken from the song "Falling Slowly," and without further ado, here is what spiritypowers and I affectionately refer to as the Banchorverse.

TAKE THIS SINKING BOAT (AND POINT IT HOME)

CHAPTER ONE: The Bank

The bank was by far the fanciest place Kai had ever been. With marble pillars and golden furnishings, chairs that cost more than he would ever make in his life, people who seemed to wear money as clothes. He was used to sticking out like a sore, broken thumb—but this was a new kind of uncomfortable. Or at least, he had to put up with more dirty looks than usual.

Hopefully their buyer would get here soon, as Yung elbowed him in the side to keep him grounded.

"Don't you dare go wandering off, kid," Yung warned.

He snorted. "Like I have anywhere to go here."

"I'm serious. These people are quick to judge people who, well… look like us." Yung looked at the watch on his fat wrist. "And you've had plenty of lessons from Tyyo, anyway."

Kai purposefully stuck his hands in his pockets, lean and lanky at fifteen years old with a rumpled shirt collar, a hidden dagger strapped to his hip, and messy hair. "Not that many lessons." Their resident pickpocket, after all, was still much better at swiping people's wallets than he was, but Kai quickly sobered up when when Yung gave him a dry stare. "When's our buyer getting here, again?"

"Quarter to eleven." Yung held up his watch, one of the only things Kai had ever learned how to read. "It's almost time now. Another ten minutes or so."

"Good."

Gods above, he wanted to get out of this blasted bank as quickly as possible. He hated all of it, all the jangling coins and people in fine clothes, with their noses in the air. One thin, bald and bearded man was giving him a particularly dirty look, and Kai met his eyes evenly, until the man's daughter—pretty, brunette—tugged on his sleeve and he looked away.

Kai's expression soured. Stupid old man. He got enough of those dirty looks from Zaheer nowadays.

He caught the girl's eye as she glanced back at him, quickly looking away. Another nudge in the ribs from Yung brought him back to the present. "The buyer's here?" he asked absentmindedly, but Yung's face was grave.

"Worse. I think we should get out of here."

Kai craned his neck around the pillars and saw men with thick coats and bulges at the pockets, and quickly understood. In the next few minutes, if not seconds, this was going to be a robbery.

He followed Yung towards the doors, but one of the men stood in front of it, and then there was a gunshot followed by a chorus of screams.

"Everyone on the floor now," one of them barked, wearing a mask like the rest. He saw Kai's face with blazing eyes, and smirked as the pirate didn't sit down like everyone else - even with Yung tugging on the teenager's sleeve. "You got something to say, boy?" There was a creak of the gun as the man rested it with the tip pointing towards the ceiling.

"Just wondering how much of a coward you have to be to hide behind a mask."

The man laughed, and took off his mask. He had a crude, harsh face, weathered and white, but young, leering as he looked back at Kai. The boy's expression hadn't changed from a stony, blazing look, and the man struck him so hard across the face it made him stumble into what was almost a sitting position.

"I like you, kid. I'll kill you last." The man turned his gaze to everyone else. "The name is Canto. We're robbing this here bank, and well, you're all pretty expendable. And valuable. So, if everyone cooperates, unlike this kid, maybe me and my boys won't have to use our guns on any one of you, understand?"

Yung grabbed Kai's shoulders before he could stand up again, while some of the men held open large, empty cloth sacks for everyone to deposit any money or valuables into. At the very least, the robbers had enough sense to know not to ask Kai or Yung for anything, as they had nothing to give.

"Please, that was my grandmother's," came a voice in the distance, and Kai glanced up to see that it was the same girl he'd seen earlier. She had a hand clutching a blue necklace, and he only vaguely recognized that it was Water Tribe because of Nukko's stories from his childhood. "It doesn't have any value—"

She quieted when Canto put the tip of his gun at her throat, lifting up her chin with it. "I guess not. But you do, pretty thing like you. Young. Wealthy. Your father would pay a handsome ransom. And slave traders would too."

Her father bristled. "I am the Governor of this city, you are not—"

"I can do whatever I want, old man." Canto's wolfish smile had vanished. "Don't test me." He grabbed the girl's arm, keeping his gun pointed at her side.

Yung kept his hand on Kai's shoulder. "Kid, don't," he hissed.

Canto took the gun away and pointed it towards them. "No talking, fat man. If your boy has something to say then let him say it."

Kai looked up, his eyes meeting the girl's, her brown eyes trembling with fear though her mouth was drawn in a straight line, as she tried to train her expression into one of calm.

He dove for the gun. For a moment they wrestled with it, hands grappling at hard silver and trying to wrench it out of each other's grasps. He slammed his elbow into Canto's jaw, tried to get a free hand out so he could grab his dagger. The other masked men didn't know what to do, too scared to fire a shot and hit their leader.

The girl managed to get out of Canto's grasp in the struggle, dropping to the floor beside her father, who did his best to shield her. For a moment, Kai's hands were on the gun, as he tried to stay as close to Canto as possible to keep his cohorts from shooting him, when Kai was shoved aside and the gun was pointed at the old bald man.

There was no reason for Kai to get in front of him, other than that he didn't want to think about that girl losing her father and being forced into something awful—okay, so he had a lot of reasons, and knew that Yung had been expecting something like this as soon as the masked men had walked into the building.

In the split second before the gunshot, Kai took out his dagger, stepped in the way, and shoved the blade into Canto's armpit at the same time the trigger was pulled. It was an explosion of pain, luckily only in his shoulder, while Canto howled and staggered backwards. Kai wrenched the gun from his hand—he had never held one before—and figured his aim couldn't be that bad as he fired a shot into Canto's chest. He took out his knife—now this was familiar—and threw it into the chest of another masked man, not even needing to look, the smoking gun in his other hand.

"Does anyone else have any bright ideas?" he said, his voice far steadier than his feet. His weight was starting to multiply, somehow, or at least his head was fuzzy. There was blood on the floor. His blood? He couldn't feel his shoulder anymore.

###

The doors were suddenly opened, and several men and women in green poured in, and someone yelled, "Drop your weapons, it's the APA," before everything went black.

Whatever he was lying on was the softest thing he had ever felt. There were loud voices, but weren't any he recognized. For a moment of panic, he thought he was on the streets again somehow—that the last seven years had been a lie, a dream—and then remembered the way stone or grass had felt on his back was nothing like this. This was cottony, expensive. Probably more expensive than his whole damn life put together.

"Kid?"

Yung. Yeah, if there was a good reason to stick around and wake up, it was Yung. Kai strained against the fatigue resting heavily over his eyes, slowly opening them. His vision was blurry as Yung's worried face swam into view.

"Hey." His throat was dry. "Does this mean I'm grounded again?"

Yung let out a choked laugh, his eyes watering as he nodded. "You really scared me back there, kid, so yeah, you're grounded for awhile. How're you feeling?

"I'm fine. Never…" He yawned, snuggling into the soft mattress. "Never felt better. Hey, where are we?"

"Is he awake?" came a new voice, soft and light like air.

Yung looked back over his shoulder, and it hit Kai that he was in a hospital. A real hospital. For maybe the first time in his entire life. There had been no checkups or doctors at the orphanage, and he didn't know if he had been born in one. He'd probably been born in a gutter, literally. But Longshot was skilled enough they never needed more than a sea witch potion every once in awhile.

"Yeah," said Yung. "You can come in, if you want."

Kai looked up, his throat going dry when he saw the same girl from the bank, her brown eyes wide in concern. "Hello," she said softly, approaching his bedside. "How are you feeling?"

"Great," he managed, which was untrue, even if he was laying in the most comfortable bed he'd ever been in.

"My father and I are very grateful for what you did back there, for us," the girl said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Everyone got their belongings back, and, more importantly, everyone's safe. And...I don't know where I would be if you hadn't stepped in. So...thank you."

"No problem, Miss," he managed.

"Jinora," said the girl, glancing down shyly at her hands. "Jinora Gyatso, but just Jinora's fine."

Kai swallowed. "So, uh, are you and your dad okay?" He mentally smacked himself. Of course they were okay. He was in a hospital because he'd made sure they were okay.

"Yes," Jinora said quickly. "Still a bit rattled, but we're fine. The rest of my family's here, as well. I'm sure they'll all want to be in to thank you."

"That's really not necessary," he said, remembering only at the last minute to not reach up and rub the back of his neck, and glanced down at his shoulder, and then at Yung. "Shit—shoot, it got my dominant shoulder?"

"'Fraid so," said Yung, frowning. "You're lucky it wasn't your neck."

Kai puffed out a laugh. "Captain will be happy at least. He's always saying how weak my left side is."

"Still better than most people's dominant side, kid."

Jinora fidgeted with her hands, and quickly stopped. "Your Captain? You're merchants?"

Kai's smile vanished. "Something like that, uh—"

"Oh good. You're awake."

The doctor was a squat, dark haired woman with a round face and a crisp white uniform, flanked by the older man from the bank, the Governor of Republic City. He didn't look as old up close as he did in newspaper photographs, oddly enough. He had sharp eyes and a lined face, with a pointy, neatly trimmed beard, and a high collar around his throat. Maybe he just didn't look so old because he wasn't glaring at Kai anymore—either way, it was strange, making eye contact with the Governor.

The doctor moved forward whereas the Governor stood still, and wasted no time in peeling back some of the sheets and checking the bandages wrapped around his upper chest and shoulder. Having people he didn't know touch him had always been uncomfortable, and this was no exception, but Yung gave him a stern look so he sat as still as he could.

"You're a very lucky young man," the doctor said.

"That's what our medic tells me too," Kai said with a thin smile.

"Well, you're being confined to bed rest for now, but you're allowed to go home in a couple of days, as long as someone's able to take care of you, and make sure you don't strain yourself for the next few days. Have someone change your bandages twice every day for the next two weeks. You should be back on your feet soon, though I don't want you doing anything too strenuous for the next month or so."

Kai frowned; Zaheer had been on his ass to train longer and harder these days, and wouldn't be happy to hear that he would be unable to train at all for over a month. "Can I use my left arm for anything?"

"He's not one to take it easy, is he?" the doctor said, glancing at Yung.

"Not when he's supposed to, no."

"I don't really have a lifestyle that lets me take it easy," said Kai, trying not to get exasperated. "Besides, everyone I live with is going to be busy anyway, maybe our medic can look after me but—"

"Everyone you live with won't mind pulling a little extra weight, kid," said Yung, sighing. "I'll make sure he follows your instructions, Dr. Li."

"Yung—"

"Maybe you could stay at our house?" Jinora piped up, flushing when attention was drawn to her. "We have several extra rooms, it's no trouble at all…" She glanced at her father. "And the least we can do after everything he's done, right?"

"Of course," Tenzin said. "My daughter and I, as well as the rest of our family, owe you a great debt."

"No, it's fine," Kai said quickly. "I don't—I don't need any thanks, really—"

"Your medic can stay with us as well," Jinora said, "and your father, and we have other physicians that can help, and our guest beds are much more comfortable than hospital beds, and you'll always have food brought up to you, and someone to keep your company, if your crew doesn't mind staying here for a little while."

Kai looked to Yung, and then swallowed hard. "Miss, we're pirates. Our Captain is Zaheer of the Waterbender. We're not—I'm not someone you want to be associated with, believe me."

He waited for her expression to change—the disdain that would come into her eyes, and she'd look at him like scum, like something dirty on the edge of her shoe—but the look never came, even if her brow furrowed a little. Her father paled, and frowned, and was suddenly awkward, like he wasn't sure where to go from here.

Then, after clearing his throat, Tenzin said, "Well, we'll...cover any medical expenses, and make sure you're covered on your way out, then."

"Father," Jinora said reproachfully. She looked back at Kai, a sort of fiery determination in her eyes. "Pirate or not, you saved our lives. And you shouldn't be going out there doing… whatever it is pirates do while you're injured. Besides, you—you seem nice enough."

"Aren't you worried that we'll rob you blind?" Kai asked.

"No."

"Then you don't know what you're getting yourself into, Miss. We're a bunch of murderers and thieves and liars—myself included."

Jinora studied him. "Then how do I know you're not lying about that as well?" A soft smile played on her lips, and Kai almost smiled back.

"Nothing has to be set in stone for today," Yung said. "For today, you rest, and I'll go tell the crew what happened. Longshot will come by to take a look at ya, and I'll be back later too." He turned to the doctor. "Dr. Li, if there's any paperwork that needs to be signed, I can do it now."

"Yes, come with me, we can get all the documents in order," she said, leading him out of the room.

To say that it was awkward to be left alone with the Governor and his daughter was an understatement. Kai did his best not to squirm in his seat, even if he scratched idly at the newest tattoo on his arm, one of a ship on rolling waves, inked into his skin about three months ago.

He took a deep breath, keeping his head down. "Look, sir, you honestly don't owe me anything. If I hadn't grabbed Canto's gun in the first place none of this would have happened. I don't even need to be in this hospital, my medic back home has patched me up from worse wounds before. I'll be out of your hair in no time. I don't want any trouble."

"If you hadn't done something, I might be on a ship somewhere getting sold to the highest bidder," Jinora said. She looked at her father. "Please, we can start in a couple days. And it's not like anyone has to know that he's a… a pirate. He's not well known."

Tenzin's brow furrowed. "I'll speak with your mother about this, in the meantime… we'll have to see what action is the best one forward. For all those involved."

Jinora pouted slightly. "Fine. But we'll be back tomorrow."

"Very well." Tenzin smoothed down his beard. "Jinora, I have an associate here that I need to speak with before we leave. I'll come collect you in a moment."

Jinora rubbed her arm as her father left, and then looked at Kai. "I've um, never met a pirate before."

"I've never met someone as rich as you," he replied, feeling a little lightheaded as she turned those big brown eyes on him. "Or as pretty."

She bit back a smile, her cheeks turning a lovely shade of pink. "I'd figured pirates would be running into pretty girls all the time."

"None like you, Miss," he said, his voice soft, and her smile brightened.

"I really do wish you'd stay," she said.

"We're not the type of people to stay in one place for very long."

"Then just stay long enough to fully recover. If you think about it, taking time to rest in the best conditions for recovery might help you heal more quickly than getting onto the ship right away, and might actually save you time in the long run."

"I don't think I'm going to have a very long life. Just ask Yung. I'm turning him grey all the time."

Jinora frowned, but tilted her head at him. "Is that why you jumped in front of the gun?"

He nodded. "Figured if I ended up saving a couple lives that were more worthwhile, it wouldn't be such a bad way to go."

Her frown deepened. "Is—why do you call your father by his first name?"

"Oh, he's not my father." Kai picked at the sheets of his bed. "He's the first mate, and...well, he's the closest thing I've ever had to a dad."

"Oh." She glanced away from him. "A-and your...family?"

"Gone. Unless you count the crew."

"I see."

Kai frowned when he caught the look on her face. "I don't want your pity, Miss."

Jinora's mouth went ajar. "I'm not—"

"Yes, you are." Kai sighed, leaning back into his pillows. "I'm fine with my lot in life, Miss. You don't need to change it."

"At least let me make it easier on you when you go back to it." She frowned. "And I told you, just Jinora is fine."

"Force of habit, ma'am."

A smile tugged at her mouth, as she wrinkled her nose at him. He looked far too pleased with himself. "What's your name, anyhow?"

"Kai."

"Well then, Kai, I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

###

Dinner was mostly over, with her younger siblings already excused and some of the maids collecting the dishes and leftover piles of food scraps, when Pema saw her daughter and husband in a kind of silent stare off for one tense, almost trembling, moment, before it broke.

"Dad—"

"He's a pirate, Jinora."

"The young man from the bank?" Pema asked, and they both softened as she came into the room.

"Mom, please, tell him. He saved our lives, the least we can do is let him stay for a little bit!"

"And have him and his crew rob us blind?"

"Why would someone who was willing to throw himself in front of a loaded gun for us rob us afterwards? He's my age and he doesn't have any family or money—this is the least we can do after he took a bullet for us and nearly died."

"He's nice?" Pema asked her, almost smiling, and Tenzin groaned.

"Very nice," Jinora confirmed. "Almost...sweet, in his own way. Not at all how I thought a pirate would be. The first mate is nice too—I thought he was Kai's father at first."

"Kai?" Tenzin repeated.

"His name."

"Goodness, dear," said Pema, "you didn't even ask for his name?"

"It slipped my mind when he revealed himself as a murderer and a thief—"

"Dad!"

"He killed two men without so much as flinching right there in the bank, Jinora. Clearly he's used to it."

"Two men who would've killed far more people or done even worse! A real murderer or thief wouldn't have alerted us to the fact as soon as we'd opened our doors to them."

Tenzin soured. "He has tattoos," he said despairingly.

Jinora crossed her arms. "And?"

"It doesn't seem like he'll accept our offer, if we decide to give one, anyway."

"That doesn't mean we shouldn't offer it." Jinora looked to Pema. "Mother, please."

"Give us a moment?" Pema asked. Jinora sighed, then left the dining room, her head bowed slightly. "Tenzin, dear, I don't think you're thinking rationally."

"Neither is she," Tenzin said grumpily. "She's spoken two words to the boy and it's like she's smitten, or—"

Pema smiled. "And maybe that's the real reason you don't want him in our home?"

"What?"

"You think he's dangerous for more than one reason, dear, but he's just a boy, and our daughter is very smart. Besides, if we give this boy a chance...maybe he'll make something of himself beyond a pirate. Maybe he's just never been given the chance to be anything else. We could make a real difference. And politically, this would be good publicity for you. They're already calling him a hero in the papers, I don't think the public will accept that he's a pirate even if he's a terrible one, until he proves it."

"And if he robs us?"

"Even an entire crew couldn't carry away all our belongings. And isn't helping a boy in need worth the risk? He's only a year older than our daughter. He's still young, Tenzin."

Tenzin sighed. His wife was right, like usual. "I'll have some of the maids get some rooms ready, and see if they'll agree to moving in within the next two days."

Pema smiled, seemingly satisfied, before pecking him on his bony cheek and leaving the dining room, calling out, "Jinora!"

Tenzin sank back down into one of the chair and buried his head in his hands. What were they getting themselves into?

###

A short, square faced man with a bald head and alert eyes was already at the hospital when Jinora and Tenzin arrived. Yangchen Hospital was one of the best ones in the city, and was flocked with reporters when they managed to elbow their way in, and Dr. Li and Nurse Chang led them up to the boy's small room. Yung was sitting by the bed, but the new man was standing, frowning, while Kai was attentive, his cheeks more coloured than they had been.

"A month," the man said tartly, sounding unhappy about it.

"I'm not any happier than you are about it," said Kai. "But those are the doctor's orders, if I don't want to reopen the wound."

"Longshot was already in and agrees with the doctor," Yung said. "If there was any other way around it—"

"There's always a sea witch potion to speed things along," the man said. "But we know the kid loves sitting on his lazy ass all day."

"Not fucking true," Kai grumbled. "You really want to go to the trouble of finding a sea witch potion and getting us in debt again?"

The man frowned. "We wouldn't be in debt if you hadn't—"

"Look, the Governor's here," said Yung suddenly, a tad too brightly, and they stopped glaring at each other.

"...Kai, is it?" the governor asked, and Kai nodded. "How...how are you feeling?"

"As well as I can, sir," Kai said. He glanced over at Jinora, who seemed to be bouncing on the balls of her feet. "Um, this is my Captain, sir. Captain Zaheer."

Zaheer turned to the Governor. "So you're the one the boy got shot for."

Kai frowned. "Captain—"

"Shut up, boy. Now, Governor, this boy here is one of my best sword fighters. I don't like the idea of him being out of commission for a month, out on the high seas. He's never had to stay out of raids before."

"And I'm sorry about that inconvenience, Captain," said Tenzin. "But, if you let me speak, I think we could find an alternative that suits both of us."

Zaheer crossed his arms, the scars on his forearms protruding. "I'm listening."

"Kai will stay at my home with Air Temple Island, along with some of your crew, if you wish. He'll spend his month in recovery...learning, I suppose, and then attend a boarding school this coming September. He can have a new life, if he so chooses."

"What?" both Zaheer and Kai burst.

"Sir," Kai began, a hitch in his voice, "I've never been to school before. I don't know anything, I can't—"

"We'd help you learn, if you want, and could hire the best tutors to get you up to speed."

"And what about the crimes held against him?" said Zaheer impatiently. "Murder, theft. Arson."

Kai managed an annoyed look with Yung. "One time," he mumbled.

"As he's a minor, and not well known, those charges can be dropped."

"You expect me to give up one of my best sword fighters so he can, what, go to school?" said Zaheer.

"He's not your weapon, Zaheer," said Yung tersely. "And he deserves to have options. A chance at different, probably better, life."

"He wouldn't have this life if it wasn't for me—"

"After I took him in," Yung said firmly. "And if he wants something different, we shouldn't stop him." He glanced at the teen. "Kid?"

Kai had his head in his hands. "Just...let me think. Okay? I don't…" He sighed. "Just let my arm heal, and...we'll see?" He looked desperately at Yung. "Just stay with me?"

"Of course, kid." Yung squeezed his uninjured arm. "Just give me a moment. Captain, I'd like a word with you. Privately."

Zaheer frowned, but nodded, walking out of the hospital room with Yung. Once again, Kai was left alone with the Governor and his daughter.

Jinora sat down next to Kai. "You know, boarding school is actually kind of fun," she said. "You don't have to go, but...it'd be nice to have a friend around. I have friends at boarding school, and I could introduce you to them, too. And I could help you with your homework, and there's a really good bakery just five minutes away from campus, and we could walk there every day, and…" She flushed.

"I'm not good at school," Kai said quietly. "I can't read or, or anything. I kind of know numbers. And I've never gotten along well with kids my age anyway."

"You get along well with me," she said. "And I can help you learn to read, and my father knows the best tutors. And besides, you won't have to go right away. Home will be fun too, and I can teach you how to read a bunch of different books, and—"

"Why are you doing all of this?" Kai asked, but he looked at the Governor when he said it. "Press got word of what happened? I don't want to be used as a publicity stunt."

"You're not," the Governor said. "It was...actually my wife and daughter's idea."

Kai looked at Jinora. "What—?"

"When my father decided to let you stay over, my mother and I started talking about how it might be nice to give you some options, if you wanted, with how nice you are, and you seem smart enough, and…"

"I'm sorry, I'm very thankful, it's just a lot to take in."

"Well, at least stay for the month?" Jinora asked. "We already have some rooms prepared for you and your fath—I mean, Yung, and whoever else you want to stay with you."

"I still have to talk it over with my crew and Captain," he said glumly, not looking forward to that conversation.

"Well, I hope you can stay," Jinora said, her cheeks tinged a soft pink as she smiled slightly.

Tenzin frowned deeply. "Jinora, your mother will be coming to visit, so once she's here I'll be leaving to attend to other business. In the meantime, I'm going down to the cafe to get some food. Is there anything either of you want?"

"Maybe some tea," said Jinora.

"And Kai?"

He looked startled at being spoken to. "Nothing for me sir, but thank you."

"If you're sure," Tenzin said. He glanced at them both cautiously before leaving. He had only taken a few steps when he heard the shouting.

"Look, you've always been overprotective, and he's not a little boy anymore—he needs to pull his own weight—"

"He's been more than pulling his own weight with all the shit you put him through in the name of your godforsaken training! He's a boy, not your weapon—"

"And he would do well to remember his place on my ship!"

"As what, a decision you were willing to call a mistake first chance you got?!"

"You're lucky I let you keep him on at all—"

"It's his decision if he wants to go. And if he decides to go then I'll go with him. You've never given a shit about his wellbeing and it's no wonder you think he's being so 'disrespectful' all the time!"

"If you go, there's no place back on the ship for you."

"Fine. I don't care. I won't let you make him throw this opportunity away."

"We both know I won't be the one he throws it away for."

Yung quieted, and then noticed Tenzin lurking in the doorway. "Governor," he greeted curtly. "How uh—how much of that did you hear?"

"Not much," Tenzin lied. "I'm getting some food from the cafe nearby, would either of you like anything?"

"No," said Yung quickly. "I should uh, be getting back to my boy. 'Scuse me." And he pushed past Tenzin and down the hallway opposite the way he had come.

Zaheer muttered, "Blasted old man," fishing a cigarette out of his pocket. "Some first mate."

Tenzin frowned slightly, but walked on past him, headed for the cafe. Maybe putting this boy into school wouldn't be such a bad idea.

###

Pema came to the hospital the day before Dr. Li had said Kai could be released. She was warm and pleasant, Kai found, introducing herself while offering him a plate of homemade cookies, and rather weepy, too, grateful that her husband and daughter were alive and well. He kept trying to play it off, a little embarrassed that someone so nice was already giving him so much positive attention, but she was grateful nonetheless, asking him about his favourite foods and what he liked to do for fun.

It was a hard question to answer because most of the things he did for fun—pickpocketing, drinking, sometimes gambling with Zedd—were all illegal and probably not what she wanted to hear.

"I dunno," he said finally. "I guess I like stargazing. I mean, I'm good at it. Not as good as our navigator, Otaku, or Lefty, but…" he shrugged.

"Speaking of Lefty," Yung interjected, "him and Longshot are coming by today to see you."

Kai's face brightened. "When?"

"Later this evening. Lefty said he'd bring you beer to numb the pain, but," they shared a grin, "he'll probably end up drinking it on the way over."

Pema smiled uncertainly. "Lefty is…?"

"One of our crew," said Kai. "He uh, drinks a lot, but he can hold his liquor really well, honest."

Pema glanced down. "And when exactly did you start drinking, Kai?" she asked carefully, not sounding angry, or disdainful, but… her tone was teetering on the edge of something.

He glanced nervously at Yung. If Pema had been able to convince her husband, along with Jinora, to pay for his bills and send him to school, would she also be able to convince him otherwise if she decided she disapproved after all?

"Beer is much cheaper than water," said Yung with a reassuring smile. "And isn't nearly as useful for chores. He's been drinking responsibly since he was about thirteen."

"You supervise his drinking?" Pema asked Yung carefully.

"Of course. There's not a lot of places to hide that sort of thing on the ship, and we're all of drinking age ourselves. He's the baby."

"Am not."

"Relative to us, yes you are," Yung said, failing to hide the affection in his tone. Pema's features eased.

"Well, as long as he does it responsibly," said Pema. She glanced at Kai. "Though you know, if you take our offer to go to boarding school, absolutely no drinking is allowed?"

"Yes, ma'am," Kai said quickly. "I prefer water anyway."

Pema's smile returned. "Well, then, you should be able to adjust perfectly fine over there. And it's not to start for another month or so, so we'll have plenty of time to get you up to speed."

Kai went to rub the back of his neck, before remembering that it required using his injured shoulder. "That's very kind of you, ma'am, but I uh, I haven't actually decided what I'm doing yet," he said, trying not to mumble.

"Don't you want to go to school?"

He was mumbling now, as he shrugged. "I dunno. I've never been before."

"The boarding school we'd send you to, if you decide to go, is one of the best in the world," Pema said. "And there are lots of extracurriculars, pai sho, fencing-"

He perked up. "Fencing? That's like sword fighting, right?"

"I suppose it is," said Pema. "You enjoy it?"

"Yeah. I mean, I'm good at it. About the only thing I'm good at."

Yung frowned at him. "He's being modest," the first mate said, turning to Pema. "He's the best I've ever seen, besides our Captain who's three times his age. Cap is still teaching him, but it won't be long now before Kai overtakes him in skill level."

"Yung," Kai mumbled quietly, his ears glowing red. Yung chuckled, gently ruffling Kai's hair.

"Do you have any more questions, Mrs. Gyatso?" Yung asked.

"Yes, actually," Pema said slowly. "Although it might be better if I spoke to you privately outside?"

"Oh, um…" Yung glanced at Kai. "You'll be okay here, kid?"

"Yeah. Lefty and Longshot are coming soon?"

"In a few hours, but I should be back before then."

"Okay." He laid back against the soft mattress. "I can nap a bit, then. I've been getting better sleep than I thought was possible for anyone."

Yung smiled softly. "Just rest, kid."

Kai closed his eyes. "No problem," he mumbled, and Yung stole one last glance at him, before following Pema out of the room.

"He's a good kid, once he gets used to you," said Yung, as they let the door swing shut. "He's skittish at first, I know, but—"

"I actually wanted to ask about his family," said Pema softly.

Yung's trying smile faded. "Oh. Well, there's not much to talk about on that front. His parents are dead."

"Oh…" Pema glanced at the hospital room's doorway. "That poor boy."

"I don't know what happened, or how much he remembers, just that...his parents died when he was really young, most likely. If he remembers anything, I suspect he tries not to. I know he was on his own until I found him, when he was nine."

"Jinora told me that he doesn't know how to read," Pema said softly.

"None of us really get the chance to teach him, the Captain's so hard on him. And, to be honest, most of us can't read much more than a few words ourselves. Our navigator's tried in the past, but Kai hasn't really had the patience for it. He's great with numbers though, and stars, map reading."

Pema smiled. "Our youngest likes stars as well, although he's only four."

"Oh, Kai's great with younger kids. He'll never admit to it, though. Our of crew, Appa, has a little nephew named Momo who dotes on his every move, and Kai always makes time to see him whenever we stop by and visit, even if there are probably a lot of things that are far more interesting to a teenager there. Like pretty girls." Yung chuckled.

Pema's smile grew. "That reminds me, it… seems like my daughter is nursing a crush on him?"

Yung grinned. "Seems it's mutual, then. My boy won't admit it, but I know him." His smile faltered. "Will that, er, effect your decision to send him to school?"

"Of course not. There are far worse boys for my daughter to become smitten with, surely. And they have separate, locked dorms, anyway."

Yung decided not to tell her that Kai had been adept at picking locks for years (he blamed Tyyo). "That said, let's keep this between us? I'm sure your husband wouldn't be as pleased to find out about it."

"Oh, he already knows, and is happy to live in denial for as long as possible."

Yung smiled slightly. "Alright then. Is there anything else, Mrs. Gyatso?"

Pema thought for a moment. "If he stays, will you stay with him?"

"Am I allowed?"

"Well, you have been his main guardian for this long… It wouldn't do to separate you, now would it?" Pema smiled. "And you can stay as long as you like even when he's off at boarding school, if he decides to go."

"Thank you." Yung hesitated. "I don't want to be the reason he stays behind. It's been just me and him, and everyone else, of course, but… just us for so long, and I know he worries about me, especially with Zaheer, but… I've given him the best life I could with what I was given. I just don't think it's been enough."

"You gave him all you could. That's everything. And now…. we can help you give him even more. You've raised a good boy, Mister…?"

"Yung is fine, but my last name is Tashi, for future reference." His eyes crinkled. "Thank you, Mrs. Gyatso."

"Call me Pema."

Yung inclined his head. "Thank you, Pema. I...I really hope he decides to take you up on your offer. I'll do everything I can to convince him." He smiled softly. "My boy, well-educated with the world at his fingertips. He'll do great things. He has a kind heart, you know."

"He jumped in front of strangers to protect them from a bullet. I already know."

###

It almost felt like Yung was exchanging one parent for another, as when Pema left her husband came to replace her. The Governor had only been there for a few minutes, getting through mandatory small talk—"How are you feeling?"—and an update from the doctors before Lefty and Longshot barged in. Or rather, Lefty dragged the medic along with him.

"How's the hero doing?" Lefty said loudly, ruffling Kai's hair and pushing a half-empty beer bottle and a box of cigarettes into his hands. Yung almost smiled—clearly, Lefty had actually shown some restraint with the beer. "Thought the cigarettes might loosen up the pain a bit."

"He shouldn't be smoking at all," Longshot tutted, striding forward to inspect the way the bandages were wrapped around his shoulder. Lefty tossed him a lighter when Longshot wasn't looking.

Tenzin's eyebrows shot up. "You smoke?"

Kai froze, looking very much like a little boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "Um...sometimes?"

"You—if you are to stay in my home, you understand you're not to bring those things anywhere near the house? And—"

"I'm sorry, sir, I'll—" Kai quickly gave the cigarette box back to Lefty.

"Please, it's not like he'd share 'em," said Lefty with a shrug. "These things are expensive, but there's nothing wrong with a lil' smoke now and again. Takes the edge off when we're waiting to be attacked."

Tenzin took a deep breath. "Kai, I'm not in charge of you, but you should know that there are certain rules you will be expected to follow while staying in my home."

"I understand, sir. Captain has lots of rules."

"And clearly not smoking isn't one of them," Tenzin muttered under his breath. "I'm just...concerned about my family breathing in the smoke, especially—"

"Don't worry about it, sir, it won't come within even a mile of the place. But um… can I keep my dagger with me?"

Tenzin narrowed his eyes. "Why would you need to bring a dagger with you?"

"Um...I can't sleep without knowing it's near. I won't take it out unless I absolutely have to, I swear. I just, I've had it for a long time, and it… I don't like going anywhere unarmed."

Tenzin caught Yung's eyes, then sighed. "Alright, you may keep your dagger, as long as it's stowed away at all times. I have a four year old and I don't want him finding anything he can hurt himself with, and my other son is… not the best at thinking things like that through, with all his pride."

"Don't worry sir. It'll stay under my pillow in the house. I won't take it out unless I'm going into town."

"And…" Tenzin eyed the beer. "There will be more restrictions on your drinking. However, considering that we do allow Jinora wine at dinner...you are allowed one bottle, when we all eat together. Is that a fair compromise?"

Kai nodded. "Yes. Thank you sir."

Longshot finished inspecting him. "Well, you've been actually following the doctor's instructions, for once. How come you never listen to me like that?"

"Because Zaheer won't let me?" Kai suggested.

"Kai," said Yung warningly.

"He's not here, Yung, relax."

"He's already angry that he's losing the labour you do whenever we dock, and that he can't put you in street fights anymore, the last thing you need is to make him angrier. Remember why we were at the bank in the first place?" Kai pouted, but stayed silent, and Yung sighed, ruffling his hair. "Chin up. You get to come home tomorrow."

"And when we stay at the Gyatsos'...you're staying with me, right?" Kai asked.

Yung poked him in the chest. "Of course, kid. Wherever you go, I go, remember?"

Kai looked thoroughly relieved. "Okay. Good."

"And this means we'll be giving you a bit of a goodbye party, kid," said Lefty. "Daw's got moon peach pie ready to go, and well, it's not goodbye goodbye until you leave for school, you little shit, but you know what I mean."

Kai smiled. "I know you'll get drunk off your ass, you fat bastard."

Lefty laughed heartily. "Still got that mouth on you. Don't lose it, kid."

"Around you? Never." Kai glanced up when he heard Tenzin clear his throat. "Though of course I'll make sure not to use such crass language around the kids or at school," he added immediately.

"Nice save," said Lefty, and Kai resisted the urge to give him the finger.

"Yes, I will hold you to that," Tenzin said, a little stiff, but not unkind or as distrusting as before. "And...you've decided, that you'll go to school?"

Kai glanced at Yung, then turned back to Tenzin. "Um...I'm seriously considering it. It'd be nice to learn how to read a little better, help out the rest of the crew too. And Mrs. Gyatso told me there'd be fencing."

"Yes, there is. Jinora took fencing at her middle school, in fact. Once you've adjusted to living on the estate, we can begin your lessons, to get you up to speed as much as we can before the school year begins."

"Thank you, sir."

"Zaheer gave us a message, though," said Lefty sourly. Maybe the use of 'sir' had made him remember. "Yung, in the hall?"

"Why can't I hear it?" asked Kai.

"Because I say so. Longshot, make sure he doesn't do anything dumb." Lefty's brown eyes flickered between Yung and Tenzin. "Governor, you might want to come along for this."

Tenzin hesitated, but followed them out anyway. Lefty made sure the door was shut, before leading the other two a little ways down the hallway. "Cap wanted me to ask about what the security is like at the boarding school. How often the kids get to leave, stuff like that."

A crease formed in Tenzin's brow. "It's quite secure. The children are rarely allowed to leave completely unsupervised. There's a town near the school that they're allowed go to on the last weekend of every month, so long as they behave."

Yung frowned, gears turning in his head as he crossed his arms over his chest. "And why exactly does Zaheer want to know that? It's not like he'll miss Kai all that much."

"He's heard that there's a street gang that runs fights there," said Lefty.

Yung cursed under his breath. "He can't be serious."

"Serious as day."

"Will one of you fill me in on what you're talking about?" Tenzin said impatiently.

Yung sighed. "Captain wants Kai to go compete in the street fights in his free time. To earn cash."

Tenzin's brows shot up to his bald forehead. "He encourages that behavior?"

"Unfortunately."

"Well, it certainly won't be tolerated when he's off at school. There's only so much I can do to keep him from getting expelled if he participates in such behavior."

"It's not like Kai wants to," Yung said sharply. "Even if he does win most of the time. Cap's out of his mind. It's one thing to do fights when one of us is also there if he wins badly, because we're there to make sure he gets home okay, but if he's going out all by himself…"

"I asked Appa and Imaru and they said they've heard the rings mostly seem to be knife fights," added Lefty.

"Well God knows that's Kai's specialty," Yung snapped. "We'll just tell Captain no. We'll just say there is no way in hell that Kai is getting involved in those sorts of things when none of us are there to bail him out."

"Because Captain responds so well to hearing the word no," Lefty said dryly.

"Do I look like I care? I'll deal with him, however he responds. Kai's not fighting out there."

"Alright. I'll pray for you, buddy."

"Very helpful, Akash. Truly. Now get back in there, and don't let anything slip, okay?"

"Alright." Lefty clapped him on the shoulder, and headed back down the hallway as Yung dragged a hand down his face.

"God I really hate Zaheer sometimes," he muttered under his breath. He suddenly looked much older, even if he couldn't have been more than in his mid thirties.

"Your Captain...really isn't good to any of you, is he?"

"We're adults, we can take it," Yung said. "It's just Kai… Zaheer didn't even want him, and now he's using him to make quick cash with no regard for his wellbeing, and… Zaheer cares for him in his own way, he does. But he also doesn't see Kai as a little boy, and I know he's not a little boy but he's still a kid, and…" Yung shook his head. "That's why I want him to take the chance you've offered him. So that he can have a better, safer life that ends with him somewhere other than dead or in jail. So he can worry about kids things should worry about, like homework or his next fencing match or what he and his friends are going to do over the weekend. Not fighting for scraps someone else is going to take."

"You really care for him," Tenzin said softly. He tried to imagine being in Yung's place, worrying about someone else using Meelo or Rohan, and found he both couldn't, and that it made him ill to even try.

"The worst part is Kai will just take it. If Zaheer tells him to do it… he'll do it until he can't anymore. I still remember the first time he got sick, but he didn't want any of us to know. He...he worked himself until he passed out right there on the deck." Yung sighed. "He was asleep for half a day, Longshot and I had to keep him pinned down when he woke up to keep him from working. It's not even to please Zaheer. It's to make it easier on all of us. He doesn't know how to, to not worry about earning his keep."

"Would Zaheer ever kick him off?"

"He's threatened it, mostly in the first year he was with us. It's an empty threat now, but… before now it wasn't like Kai had anywhere else to go. Not that I'd let him go on his own."

"Well...he'll always have a place with us," Tenzin said, not quite sure why he was saying so, "even if he doesn't decide to go to the boarding school."

"Thank you," Yung said. "But I really hope he goes to that boarding school. He's a smart kid. He's a good leader."

"Resilient, hopefully. I don't think the adjustment will be easy for him."

Yung smiled grimly. "Don't worry, Governor. Almost nothing has been."