Alright, got this one out much faster than last time. Still not as quickly as I'd hoped, but oh, well. I'm ready to get these two together, so I'm going to try to move this along. Ugh, I'm kind of struggling with this, so sorry if it kind of sucks. As always, any feedback is greatly appreciated!
Bumi and Elsa didn't see much of each other the rest of the week, between her duties as Queen and him helping prepare the ship. But being apart also gave them time to think about that afternoon and each of their conversations with Anna.
Though they were a little hesitant to spend time together after that embarrassing occasion, they each decided it couldn't hurt to spend one more afternoon together before Bumi had to leave. Anna suddenly had something very important come up so she couldn't come with them (they both saw right through her), and Olaf stayed to "help", so they would be alone. Since Elsa was at her wit's end with people in the castle, she decided to take Bumi to a pond a bit out of Arendelle, where her and Anna used to go with their parents. They journeyed on horseback, talking some but mostly just enjoying the scenery. When they arrived, Bumi looked around appreciatively. It was beautiful, tucked away against the mountain, with big willow trees casting shade over the water and grass. "Wow," he murmured.
Elsa smiled wistfully. "Beautiful, isn't it? Our parents used to bring us here all the time before the accident. We spent hours here, having a picnic and swimming, or ice skating and having snowball fights."
Bumi smiled thoughtfully and looked at her. "What were they like, your parents?"
Elsa sat in the grass by the water and Bumi followed suite. "My father was a stern, serious man, but he was a kind and fair king, and a good father. He never looked down on me or underestimated me because I was a girl, and had no problems passing the throne to me." She sighed wistfully. "He was the one that decided Anna and I would be separated. I know it was a mistake, but he was just trying to do his best to keep us safe, and he didn't know any better. I can't hate him for that.
"My mother was very quiet and soft-spoken, but was the kindest, gentlest soul I've ever met. She never once feared me or my powers, and she would read to me nearly every night up until the day they left, even if it was outside my door." She chuckled. "She also sometimes had to remind my father that, yes, while I was in no way inferior to a boy, he couldn't treat me exactly like he would a son." She looked up at him. "My parents weren't bad people. They may have made mistakes, but they tried their best."
He nodded in understanding. "You miss them, don't you?"
"So much. I wish so badly that I could have my father here to give me advice, or my mother to give her encouragement."
He was tempted to take her hand, but wasn't quite brave enough, so he just shifted closer so his shoulder brushed against hers, hoping that she would get his message. "I think I saw a painting of them in the hallway by the portrait gallery."
"I believe that's correct, yes."
"You look a lot like your mother."
She smiled. "Thank you."
They sat in silence for a moment until he decided to speak. "I had a...rough relationship with my dad growing up. Before Tenzin was born, when he wasn't off doing Avatar stuff, we did all kinds of stuff together, since we liked doing a lot of the same things. But after they learned Tenzin was an Airbender, he put what felt like all of his extra time training him. And I understand better now, it was hard on him, being the only Airbender for so long."
Elsa nodded; she could understand that. He swallowed and continued. "He began to take him places with him to train, most of the time leaving Kya and me behind. He didn't mean to leave us out, but it still hurt. My relationship with him and Tenzin became strained after that." He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "To be honest, that's the main reason I joined the United Forces. I wanted to prove that I wasn't just the Avatar's useless nonbending son, that I could be useful, too. But...I also wanted to save the world, be a hero, like him." He chuckled bitterly. "It's silly."
"I don't think so," Elsa said. "I think it's really brave, actually."
He smiled at her gratefully. "So, I guess we both ended up with good fathers who made some not-so-good choices for the sake of their children and people."
"Apparently so." It was nice, to her, to have somebody to talk to about this with that understood a lot of it. Usually, it's black or white. Either her father was perfect or terrible. No inbetween. It was refreshing to have someone see it as she did.
She jumped a little when her hand brushed his. He just smiled at her and carefully held her hand. She didn't feel ice crawling under her skin or the tingling that signaled frost was escaping, so she left it. It felt nice. His hand was warm, a little rough from manual labor, but gentle. And it was surprisingly easy and natural for her to let him hold it.
After a little while of talking, they decided to head back. When they were about halfway there, it began to rain. Bumi shrugged out of his jacket and handed it to her. "Here."
She looked at him in surprise. "The cold doesn't bother me."
"Maybe not, but I'm sure being wet does. Come on, take it."
She hesitated. "What about you?"
"I'll be fine, really. Please?"
Seeing there was no way she could convince him otherwise, she took his jacket and put it on. It was too big for her, but it was cozy and warm, and while the cold didn't bother her and was actually refreshing to her, she did like warmth; Olaf had to get his love of summer from somewhere. "Thank you," she said softly and quickly noticed the smell of pine and sea water that clung to the jacket. It was an odd combination, but pleasant, and she liked it.
He smiled at her and they continued on their way. By the time they got back, he was completely soaked, and Elsa pretended not to notice the way his wet shirt clung to his skin, or how some of his wet hair hung down over his eyes...
Nope, didn't notice.
Before Bumi headed back to the boat to finish packing, Kristoff caught up to him. "Hey, wait!"
Bumi paused while the ice harvester caught up. "Hey, Kristoff, right?"
"Yeah, uh," he cleared his throat. "Anna made me come over and apologize, and I realized she was right. Look, I wasn't fair. Sorry."
Bumi smiled back easily. "It's alright. I'm assuming a lot of guys flirt with her, so I don't blame you."
He rolled his eyes. "Oh, yeah. She's way too friendly." They both laughed. "Besides, I heard that it's the sister you like."
His smile dropped. "She told you?!"
"No. Her and Olaf both did."
He rolled his eyes. "Of course they did."
"So, it's true?"
Bumi sighed and chuckled once. "Yeah, I guess it is."
"Hmm. You seem like a good guy, so I'm glad. Elsa deserves to have somebody."
"You two get along, then?"
Kristoff laughed. "Yeah. Most of the time. She gets irritated, but she's like a sister to me."
Bumi nodded. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Kristoff, but I've got to go."
"Are you coming back soon?"
"Yeah, in a few weeks. We're stopping by on the way back from the North Pole."
"Oh, cool. I guess I'll see you then."
Bumi nodded and smiled. "Yeah, I'll see you then."
Later that night, Bumi returned to the castle, both to say goodbyes since he would be leaving early and to turn some paperwork into the Queen.
He joined the two sisters in Elsa's study. After the "boring stuff" was done, Anna knocked into him and gave him a hug. "You're coming back soon, right?"
"In a few weeks. We're heading to the North Pole, but we'll stop here on our way back to Republic City. Then I'll be on leave for a few weeks."
A mischievous gleam sparked in her eyes. "On leave, huh? You know...you can stay here if you want. Your family wouldn't mind, right? Oh, even better, they can come stay with us! Right, Elsa?" She shot her a wicked smile.
Elsa, completely left behind by Anna's plans, just stuttered. "Uh...um...yes?"
Bumi cleared his throat. "I don't want to impose. I mean, I'd like that, but you've got to be sick of me."
Before she could reply, Anna cut in. "Oh, please, of course not. We love having you around!" She hugged him again. "I've got some...things I've got to take care of. Bye!" And with that she was off.
"Um...bye?" He turned his attention back to Elsa. "It's really okay if I don't stay, I get it."
Elsa smiled. "No, it's alright. And if your family wants to come, that's fine." She rolled her eyes. "Though it sounds like between Anna and Kya, we might not have a choice."
They both laughed, then it fell quiet. Bumi came closer and cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck. "Look, Elsa...about what Olaf said the other day. He, uh, he was right. I just want to get that out in the open. I like you, a lot. I'm sure you know that, but I just want you to know...if you don't feel the same way, it's okay. I don't want you to feel like I'm pressuring you to go along with it."
Elsa looked at the ground. "No, it's alright. I would be lying if I said I'm not feeling anything like that. I like you, I do." She finally looked up. "I just don't know if I'm quite ready to move so quickly."
He quickly raised his hands up. "No, no, we won't. I mean, we don't have to. To be honest, I wouldn't mind taking it slower."
A small smile appeared on her face. "I...I'd like that."
He couldn't help but smile back. His eyes moved to the clock. "I'd better go. See you in a few weeks?" She nodded. He held his hand out but hesitated. "I, uh, don't really know what I should do. Shake hands? Bow? Hug? Wait, you probably don't want a hug..."
She smiled at his rambling. "A hug's fine. We're alone, no one will see us."
And so they did. He was lean and strong as she wrapped her arms around him. He wasn't that much taller than she was, so she was able to rest her chin on his shoulder. A small smile spread across her face. It felt nice, being held by him.
"Bye, Elsa."
"Goodbye, Bumi."
