Tenzin awoke; the sun was breaking the horizon when he sat upright, scratching his head.
"Everyone will be in the city; I better take advantage of this time before I start training…" Tenzin thought. His older brother Bumi proposed to Jiao, Firelord Zuko's daughter, both sides of the family has been busy for months with preparations; the wedding shall be the event of the decade in Republic City. Tenzin was never keen on weddings so he kept his distance during the last 4 months, only showing up to events where the best man had to be there. The last couple weeks had been stressful on Air Temple Island. Katara , Mai and Jiao had been staying here, discussing, arguing and crying about the flowers, the performance and other things that were very trivial in Tenzin's opinion. For the last week and a half they have been going to Republic City at the crack of dawn and coming back at sunset. Tenzin's has had more than enough time to practice the new airbending techniques his father, Avatar Aang has been showing him with the temple being wedding free during the day.
Tenzin walked down the stairs leisurely, appreciating the peace and quiet he never had growing up with this siblings Kya and Bumi. He was walking into the dining hall with the lychee juice he grabbed when he stopped in the door. His father, the Avatar that stopped the 100-year-war, Aaang, was sitting at the table, looking over important documents from the Earth Kingdom.
"Ah, Tenzin come, sit down with your old man." Aang said as he grinned, gesturing to the seat across from him. Tenzin sat down, a little hesitant. He didn't expect his father to be home, he was particularly close to Jiao so he would expect him to be tagging along with them in the city, or at least taking care of important business within the city.
"Hello father, I was just going to finish my lychee juice and then go do my warm ups." Tenzin said while bowing slightly.
"Ah, no need, no need. You should relax today Tenzin. Not many days where we get this much quiet eh?" his father said with a chuckle which turned into a slight cough.
Tenzin looked on his father with concern. He always did this when he showed any sign of sickness. A couple years ago Aang gravely ill and was close to death. Tenzin has always been cautious with his father's health ever since.
"Father, are you alright? Do you need anything?"
"No, no Tenzin I'm fine it was nothing."
"Alright… Well I finished my juice, so I shall go practice my warm-ups." Tenzin said, standing up.
"No, son. I need to speak with you." Aang told him as he pushed aside the documents.
"Yes father?"
Tenzin was confused. His father never acted so seriously towards him, his mother always joked that Tenzin was so serious that his father never needed to be. He was genuinely curious about what his father need to say.
"Tenzin, you're 34, am I right?"
"Yes father."
"And during your 34 years of life how many times have I told you the story of our people, the Air Nomads?"
"Countless times father"
"Then you must know that we are the only ones left, the only airbenders in the entire world."
"Yes father, you've told me many times.." Tenzin stated irritably, losing patience with his father's obvious questions.
"Then you know that my time is coming to an end an-"
"Father! Don't talk like that! You have many years ahead of you! Don't even think about the Spirit World yet!" yelled Tenzin, he hated when his father, or anyone in that matter talked about death.
Aang smiled reassuringly " Yes of course son, but in slight chance I do-"
His son stood up angrily "FATHER! I won't stand you talking like that!"
"yes I know Tenzin," Aang sighed "but we need to discuss what I want to you to do before my death-"
"FATHER! ENOUGH!"
"Tenzin! Listen! Before I die I-"
"I WON'T HEAR ANOTHER WORD OF THIS SUBJECT"
"Tenzin-" his father said, his patience wearing thin.
"NO FATHER."
"TENZIN-"
"NO"
"TENZIN!" Aang stood up, his eyes filled with fury. "I WANT YOU TO GET MARRIED."