Chapter Text
Kya looked out the window of her room. Their garden looked so peaceful in summer and she loved the way; she could just wander off to the beach when she wanted to. She had planned on traveling as soon as she was old enough ever since the first time Sokka had told her about her parents’ and uncle’s trip around the four nations while simultaneously ending the 100-year-war. Yes, it was dangerous to travel, but she was older than they had been when they had started out, her training was mostly over, and she could pick up different techniques while traveling. Her parents really had no arguments against it. She had already brought up the idea to Uncle Sokka a few times in their conversations and today he had sent her a letter, telling her that she should do it and a few ways to strategically get her parents to agree with her. Her mother didn’t like how he seemed to conspire with her children, but Kya loved the way he always gave her secret insight. She never doubted that he was on her side, no matter how disturbing she thought her thoughts or feelings to be, when coming to him for advice.
This is so awesome, she thought running down the stairs. It was time for lunch and therefore the best time to tell everyone.
Her mother poured the noodle soup she had made into a few bowls and watched the door. Her daughter came rushing in as usual, seemingly more impatient than ever.
“What’s got you so excited?”
Kya smiled. “I’ll wait till everyone’s seated,” she said, taking her chopsticks in anticipation of the delicious meal. She noticed that there was one bowl missing. “Is dad not hungry?”
Her mother shook her head. “No, sweetheart, he had to go to a council meeting. He’ll be back this evening.”
Kya’s expression darkened instantly. “Of course he will.”
After that disappointing news she had to wait until her mother had called her brothers to the table. Then she had to wait until everyone had been served or served themselves and just when she thought she had caught the right moment to tell them, Bumi started telling everyone about his last excursion to Republic City.
“And that was when they told me I should be a commander. I mean, can’t you just see how amazing I would look on top of those huge ships?”
Tenzin’s stoic expression didn’t budge. “You always rush into things. Dad told me yesterday that--“
Kya interrupted him, “Well at least he talks to you.” She wasn’t in the mood to hear about the last bonding time their dad had with the precious airbender. Ignoring her mother’s warning glance, she turned to Bumi. “I think you’d look great on that ship. I guess you’ll have to apply to the United Forces before you can become a commander though.”
Bumi smiled at his younger sister. “Thank you, Kya.”
“And I guess you’ll have to wait for Dad’s permission. He’ll be back this evening. Or at least that’s what mom said.” She’d wanted to hold back. She had made the promise not to be as snappy when it came to her father just a few days ago, but she couldn’t contain her disappointment sometimes.
Their mother, who had been listening to the conversation so far, finally chimed in. “Don’t be so hard on your father, he’s trying his best to balance things.”
“Yeah…I know.” She sighed and tried to remind herself that this was just how things were. She knew her dad loved her and he didn’t have it all that easy. People expected him to be all-knowing and to give himself up for their sake without questioning how that might affect him – or his family. It couldn’t be easy. She knew that. Nonetheless, it sometimes still got to her that he seemed to spend more time with her little brother than with Bumi and her combined. And it wasn’t just because he was younger than them. That’s what she used to tell herself until she realized that it probably had less to do with their age and more with the bending-abilities they had been born with – or, rather, the one they hadn’t been born with.
“Well, how about you tell us what had you running around the house today?”
Kya smiled at her mom, glad for the change of topic. “I’m going to travel the world,” she burst out, not wanting to keep it to herself any longer.
“With whom?” Tenzin asked.
“No one. Just me.” Kya answered, not surprised, but slightly disappointed in his mild reaction.
Bumi wrapped an arm around his sister, pressing her against his side. “I knew you’d make the right choice!” he said, ruffling her hair a little. She had talked to him about her wish to travel and how badly she wanted to get out of the city. He had understood her drive and the thirst for experience. It would do her good to get a little distance to her life here, and the people.
Their mother chose her words wisely. “I’m happy for you. It’s an amazing idea, but--“
Her children turned to look at her.
“But should you not wait a few more years? Continue your water-bending-training with me? You are so agile and inventive in combat and your healing powers are even stronger. It would be a waste of talent if you didn’t continue training.”
Kya crossed her arms. She knew her mother would say something like this, and she was well prepared. “Well, you were younger than me when you left with dad, and on top of that your bending wasn’t at its best either.” They had talked about it just a few days ago when Kya sought out the conversation. She knew her mother would need a little convincing.
The older waterbender smiled, remembering the past. “Yes, you are right, but times were different then.”
“Yes, they were, but that won’t change my mind,” Kya said softly, “I’m not planning on stopping my training. On the contrary. I want to try and find different waterbending techniques. Don’t you think it’s a good idea to travel to all the different people? Learning waterbending with the tribe in the swamp or visiting the north pole. You said they had the best healers there.”
Bumi and Tenzin listened closely to the conversation.
“Oh Kya, you know I can’t argue that experience will teach you more than I can at this point. You’ll just have to let me worry a little. It’s my job as your mother, after all.” She sighed, placing her hand on her chest, “I’m just so proud of all of you.”
The children smiled as they knew how emotional their mother could get when it came to the love she had for them. “Thanks mom,” they said in unison, causing all of them to laugh.
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After lunch, she went and helped her mother in the kitchen. “Do you think Dad will be happy about it?”
“Of course he will,” the older woman said, while scrubbing one bowl at a time, reaching them over to her daughter. “Why wouldn’t he?”
Kya shrugged her shoulders, “I don’t know…I just want him to be proud like you are.”
“He is. We often talk about the three of you and he just recently pointed out how much progress you’ve made over the past months. Not just spiritually, but also in regard to your bending. I know it can sometimes seem like he doesn’t have that much time for the four of us, but he notices every little change. Especially in you since your aura is so clear.”
Kya smiled broadly. “Thank you, mom. This means a lot to me. I know I can be a little on edge sometimes. Quick to say some things I regret later on.”
“Don’t worry too much about it. You deserve to let your feelings out. Just always remember how your actions affect others.”
“Yeah, yeah. I know. Can you finish this alone? I want to talk to Bumi before Dad gets here.”
Her mother hesitated for a moment but then nodded in permission. “Tell Tenzin to come and help me instead,” she said loudly, making sure her daughter heard her as she was already halfway out the door.
Kya went outside looking for her older brother to find both her siblings standing next to Lin who had apparently just got here. “Hey, Beifong. What are you doing here?” she asked, pulling her into side-hug and leaving a kiss on her cheek.
“I just came to see Tenzin,” the younger girl said, blushing slightly.
Kya and Bumi exchanged a knowing look. “Well, mom said she wants you to help her in the kitchen,” Kya informed her brother before turning to Lin, “So you can either go inside with him to do the dishes, or you can come with Bumi and me. We’re going down to the beach for a while.”
Bumi looked at her. “We are?” he questioned, excitement in his voice.
“Yeah. I wanted to talk to you before Dad came home. But if Lin’s here maybe we can do something else instead.”
Lin looked at Kya, then diverted her gaze to Tenzin again. “I don’t have any sunscreen. Besides, I wanted to spend some time with Tenzin.”
“Your loss,” Kya shrugged, “Come on, Bumi. See you around, Beifong.”
As the two older siblings set out to leave, Kya could hear Lin asking her brother, “Why does she always have to call me that?” and she couldn’t help but giggle to herself a little.
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Bumi smiled at his younger sister. “So where d’you wanna go first on your journey?”
Kya let herself fall down onto the ground, feeling the warm sand beneath her. “I want to visit Izumi for a while…she said she wanted me to see a little bit of the Fire Nation and who better to spend time there with than her?”
“The two of you have been writing an awful lot of letters to each other in the past few months, huh?”
Kya blushed and looked away from her brother. “What, you jealous?”
“No,” he teased, “I just noticed how you turn red as a tomato when you get yet another letter from her.”
“Well we’re good friends. Why wouldn’t I be excited?”
Bumi poked her in the side. “Just friends?”
Kya made a swift motion and Bumi was greeted by a swish of water to his face. “Fair enough. But seriously Kya,” he tried once more, “Do you want to be just friends with her?”
Kya had to smile at the thought of Izumi. Her brother was right, they had been writing each other a lot lately. “I don’t know. I guess we’ll have to see, what becomes of it when I meet her again in person.”
Bumi grinned at his confirmed suspicion. “Well, keep me updated on that one,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows.
“Ha! You wish! She’d be all mine if that wasn’t clear.”
Bumi clapped his hands together. “I knew it,” he exclaimed before Kya turned serious again.
“I just feel so close to her. She seems to get me, somehow. She’s different enough to be intriguing and yet, familiar enough to just…know me. And there is the perk of her being part of the child-of-a-legend-club. I don’t think people understand what it’s like… ever, really.”
“You’re right about that, but I’ve found that the ones who don’t know what it’s like really dig it when you tell them you’re the avatar’s kid.”
Kya rolled her eyes. “You never cease to tell me about your escapades. How could I forget about it?”
Bumi shrugged. “I’m sure gonna miss you when you leave.”
“I know. I’ll miss you, too. But I’ll write you and maybe you can find it in you to actually reply.”
Bumi laughed. “You always mock me for my handwriting, so don’t even wonder if I don’t answer your letters.”
“Well that’s because the figures you put down on paper can barely be called handwriting.”
“Maybe Izumi can help you…relax a little…you know…address your issues…or…undress them…or you…”
“Bumi!” Kya cringed, “That doesn’t even make any sense. Your effort to make inappropriate jokes out of everything is really starting to make me wonder if that soldier career of yours is going to last very long.”
“First of all there’s no effort in my jokes if you’re actually planning on doing – well – the undressing. And second of all, I will have you know, that the application is already through. I just didn’t want to tell everyone about it, before I actually sent it in. Didn’t want to be talked out of doing it.”
Kya smiled, remembering how many of his plans had been abandoned because either their parents or she herself had talked him out of them. “I’m happy for you. You’ll have to at least write to me about that.”
“Fine. I promise. Let’s get back to the house now, before the two lovebirds do something mom won’t be happy about.”
Kya chuckled, “Like what? A kiss on the lips? They’re both way too shy.”
“Who knows. We both know that shyness won’t last all that long.”
“Yeah. That we do know.”