It wasn't hard to find the tailor Lin had mentioned; Jin even made sure Tenzin wasn't there specifically so as not to spoil anyone's day. While his measurements were being taken to make the clothes from scratch, he started reflecting.
If Jin's dates weren't off, and judging by the tournament rankings, tonight would be the night Korra would join the Fire Ferrets as a waterbending master.
"I hope Gommu did his part."
The fact that Katara hadn't been the mastermind behind his confinement, and that Aang had swallowed the truth, made things much easier if he wanted to deal with Korra. At least there was no way she could have a negative or preformed first impression of him—but there was still the possibility that Korra didn't know who he was.
Gommu would only have time to exchange a few words with Korra during the fish-roasting event in the park, so it was enough to spark the teenager's curiosity.
"You don't know who Jin Beifong is?" (incredulous voice, eyes wide) "Impossible! How can you call yourself the Avatar without knowing about him?! Everyone in Republic City grows up knowing who he is!"
That was more or less the essence of what Gommu had to do: plant that seed in Korra's mind. For her, wanting to fit into the new environment however she could, she would start asking questions. And when Tenzin forbade her from asking, like any teenager, she would investigate on her own even more determinedly.
"I just have to deal with those two before she reaches her spiritual awakening."
He had already sent a scroll to Wan Shi Tong through one of the Truth Seekers with part of his plan; he had no doubt the owl could confirm the information he needed.
"That would be all, sir," said the tailor, finishing the measurements.
"Good. I need one ready for this afternoon; I'll pick up the other sets in the coming days," Jin said, placing the total cost on the counter.
"Naturally!" The tailor's eyes lit up. "Don't worry! My family has been in the business for three hundred years!" He patted his chest confidently. "Even Councilman Tenzin buys his clothes here."
Yes, once again showing the Air Nomads' earthly detachment from possessions.
"I'll come back later then."
He was just about to leave the shop when he noticed someone entering on the other side of the door. Since the door opened outward, he could only step aside to let the person in, unless he wanted to hit them with the door.
"Mom, you should've asked someone to come get the bolts of fabric," complained a young girl, giving a worried glance to the woman with a large belly.
Jin could guess who she was, and yet he couldn't help but remember nostalgically…
How had Esperanza's life gone after everything that happened?
"Jinora, don't act like your father; I'm pregnant, not disabled!" The woman laughed as she rubbed her belly with maternal affection. "Walking a bit is good for the baby. Besides, we won't take long. I want to sew a little more clothes for the baby—oh, excuse me, I didn't realize we were blocking the entrance."
"Don't worry, I'm not in a hurry," Jin said politely, smiling.
Jinora noticed his dull, lifeless eyes.
"Mom," Jinora whispered unconsciously, "is he…?"
"Jinora!" Pemma warned sternly. "I'm very sorry."
"Sorry," Jinora also apologized upon realizing she had spoken rudely.
Ah, so it was them. Unexpected to find them here.
"It's fine," Jin didn't take Jinora's words the wrong way. "Being observant is a good trait; only those with talent can notice what others don't—like, say, the slippery dragonfly rabbits."
Pema smiled—what mother didn't like seeing her children praised?
Jinora, on the other hand, widened her eyes when she heard Jin specifically mention the dragonfly rabbits. Was it a coincidence or…?
Jin said his goodbyes and left the shop, but barely three streets away, he stopped.
"You've got to be kidding…"
He turned around and returned to the tailor's quickly.
"I said give me all the cash, old man!" A man held a fireball in one hand while grabbing the tailor by the collar with the other. "Otherwise, your business will have an accident!"
Mmm, a member of the Triple Threat?
Wow, he hadn't even recognized Pema or Jinora's clothes. Was he really extorting money in front of them?
"Hey, Lee!" Jin shouted, his voice rising. "Don't you have the money yet?"
"Give me a damn moment! I'm working on it, damn it!" the firebender responded unconsciously.
…
Uh?
Wait, today he was supposed to be working alone.
Who was pulling his leg?
"Who—?" He turned to face the caller, but in a blink, he was pinned to the wall by hundreds of metal needles in his clothing.
By the time he processed the situation, all he could see was someone landing a barrage of punches over his body before he could use fire in retaliation.
When the needles returned to their place, the firebender collapsed to the ground, not only with his chi blocked but with enough muscle pain to not want to move for a month.
It hurt so much he wanted to cry!
No, he really started crying!
The only reason he didn't make a sound was that his jaw was locked.
"Is everyone okay?" Jin asked, wiping his knuckles with a cloth.
Jinora, Pema, and the tailor looked at him, mouths agape.
Not because he was a metalbender—they could understand that (weird, but not impossible)—but because of how he controlled all the needles with precision and struck the chi points with his fists without missing despite his… condition.
"Can I suggest you call the police?" Seeing they weren't reacting, Jin couldn't help but laugh, feeling he had shown off a little unintentionally. "Dragging this guy to the station would be too much hassle."
"O-Oh, yes…" The tailor shook his head to snap out of his daze. "Thank you for your help! I'll give you a ten percent discount on the order as a thank you!"
Well, that was saved money; why would he refuse?
"I'll take it, thanks," Jin nodded as the tailor rushed to his phone, wanting to remove the thug from his business as quickly as possible. "Are either of you hurt?" he said, shifting his gaze to Jinora and Pema.
He was secretly a bit anxious—he worried that the scare or tension of the robbery could induce labor in Pema prematurely!
"We're fine, thank you," Pema sighed, relieved that no one was hurt.
Firebender: Excuse me?!
Jin let out a sigh of relief seeing that Pema was only slightly startled, but she wasn't going into labor.
"How did you know we were in trouble?" Jinora asked, genuinely curious.
"Jinora!"
"Alright," Jin calmed Pema with a wave, not wanting her to get worked up, and moved a metal stool for the pregnant woman to sit on. "You see, I might be blind, but as an earthbender, I have my own ways of seeing," he pointed to his bare feet while wiggling his toes.
"Mmm, how did the former police chief Toph do it?" Jinora considered.
Damn, that was a quick deduction.
"That's a surprisingly accurate observation," Jin raised an impressed eyebrow. "It seems you're not only a good observer, but you also have a strong analytical mind."
"My little one has always liked books," Pema laughed proudly. "She must have read hundreds of books by now."
"Hundreds at her age? Not bad," Jin nodded.
Maybe it didn't compare to him, who had created ink control and could read dozens of books at once, but she certainly demonstrated great intellect. Jinora didn't just read the books—she internalized the knowledge quite well.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Jin asked Pema again. "Do you want a glass of water or something?"
"I'm fine. Rather, I'm in your debt," Pema shook her head. "Would you like to come have dinner at our house so I can repay you? I assure you I'm quite a decent cook."
Pema's instinct told her the man in front of her was not a bad person nor had any ulterior motives in saving them, and she knew to trust her instinct; after all, that's how she found Tenzin.
Besides, she really wanted to properly thank him—it would have been terrible if the baby or they had been hurt by that firebender. Oh, and the old tailor too.
"My mom makes the best tofu in the world!" Jinora declared, clearly in favor of Jin visiting.
She had questions, and she wanted answers!
"Tofu?"
Right, vegetarian Air Nomad diet.
Well, it couldn't be worse than the Water Tribe dishes.
"Although that sounds tasty and Jinora's opinion seems completely unbiased…" Pema laughed out loud, to Jinora's embarrassment. "…I'm afraid I must decline, I already have a commitment with someone tonight," Jin made sure to show an appropriately regretful expression. "However, maybe we could postpone to tomorrow's dinner?"
If Korra and Mako were going to pick up Bolin, he could easily join and attend the Amon meeting. He was very interested to see how she used bloodbending to block chi pathways—he was quite sure it must be a completely different method than his own.
"Of course!" Pema agreed enthusiastically when she saw him accept. "I'll ask my husband to pick you up, if that's alright."
There wasn't time to prepare anything special if he came tonight with the ingredients they had in the kitchen, but if she had a whole day to prepare and stock up, she could make something truly delicious.
"No need," Jin declined. He didn't want Tenzin to miss the "surprise" of his arrival. "Just tell me what time you'd like me to come, and I'll be there."
Jinora and Pema exchanged glances. Did he perhaps prefer to take the boat instead of the flying bison?
Wait, they hadn't even told him where to go!