Interlude: Taking off
He had packed his belonging, not much - just very personal things. His Boomerang, a present from his uncle, some spares, the gloves Kya had stitched him up a felt twothousand times and a little Nanuk carved from ivory. His mother had give it to him as he was child. He felt bitter about the tiny figurine and was tempted to throw it out of the window. They had lied to him – all those years they had played a family they never were! That was true, no it was not Bumi son of Aang had to admit to himself. It just hurt to find out your family was not better than so many others!
Of course he did not hate his father but the words he had spoken an angur cut deeply. In fact his Dad was hovering around him all the time. He even overcame his pacifistic mindset and sparred with him. Bumi was surprised that Avatar Aang could handle a spear quite well, he never had pictured his father as a warrior. Of course he had heard a lot of stories of the youth of his parents but they all – except the few earnest ones told by his uncle Sokka – were exaggerated somehow. While Aunt Toph always did bragg about her greatness and delved into gory details of battles, while leaving the touchy feely things out – his parents did the exact oposite and focussed on the feels – if they did tell anything at all. He was finished, the ship would go today, he still grinned at the scarlet uniform he was wearing. Private Bumi – that was something wasnt it?
Of course he could have used his fathers name to start up as Lieutenant, but he did not want this. He wanted to forge a path on his own, and not have daddy clear it for him. He was different from little TenTen and that was the reason why the got along so well. He had not met Lee since the day Suyin was hurt, at first he was cowering in his room while her woke up every night countless times shivering and drenched in sweat. When the bad dreams had reduced themselves into one or two at night – he got told that Lee was his brother. Half brother, he reminded himself. He did not understand how Lee could cope with this, how he even could be a friend of him? Was the guy not jealous? Bumi sure es hell would be in his shoes, he was sure of that one. He still felt a stinging anger in his chest when he thougt about Lee not telling him the truth.
It hurt but nevertheless he did knew that Lee had had his reasons – the most grave being the fact that he himself would not have believed the thruth. In fact he had tried even to not believe his father – he had asked his mother who just took him in her arms an cried along with him. He also did say quite uggly things to her and signed up in the united forces the next day. His parents tried to talk him out of it – they even bought the steamcar he had wished for since he was fifteen. But of course that could not change his mind and he had told them so while watching the both of them sniffle in a mixture of fear, sadness and pride. He just felt he owed Lee an apology, for the guy was the one who was really fucked with the situation being as it was. „Bumi, are you ready? You know you do not have to do this." his mother called him. The young man shouldered his backpack and trampled down the stairs with heavy boots, he sighed and tried to smile for he was not fully content with leaving his home for five years – at least.
He had to crack a joke, he fucking had to – otherwise the bawling would begin right now and that he supposed would be a bit to much for him ,too. „I am finished – so hurry up or the „prawling tiger" is leaving without me." He spoke content. His mother stood in the hallway, forcefully blinking away tears – Bumi feared she was just saving them for their final farewell. Tenzin looked serious like always, but even Bumi could notice a small frown. It was a triumph, for Tenzin did frown on very rare occasions. Lin of course had joined her boyfriend and cuddled the Kiddo red as a strawtato. Bumi still wanted to shake his head about this. How could a hot girl like Lin fuck his little brother – well if he watched their behaviour the fucking part was yet to come. he wanted to slap his brother for being such an idiot for definitely too long – what kind of man could let a girl like Lin wait – it was almost dishonorable. And there he had his joke – even if his mother would scold him for it!
„Aww come on TenTen give that girl what she needs. I knew you have quite the rod ol wanker." he chuckled making a very peculiar motion. Tenzin dropped his jaw. Lin froze her fingers on Tenzins bald head. „Bu-" Lin stared at him wideyed. Much to Bumis distrubance his mother started giggling uncontrollably while his father looked as queasy as Tenzin did. „Bumi...You..." Tenzing could not get any straigt words out of his throath. „Eh - one has to speak things out in here!" Bumi stated huffing triumphantly while the Lady Katara chlutchted her husbands shoulder in which she buried her face. „Bumi – why are you always so embarrassing." Tenzin hissed. „I would never threat Lin like a – flozy." he spit out griping, while Bumi laughed a cackling laugh and walked outside, noticing that Lin was staring at Tenzin with a much hungrier expression then the younger boy noticed.
„You have got a lot to learn about women TenTen, but I will not spoil the expierience." he laughed. „I have the feeling we missed something about Bumi." Katara sighed eying her suddenly rather adult looking son. „Pai Cho evenings – I never believed in them." Aang stated with a sly grin playing around the corners of his mouth. Katara eyed him blinking. „You look adorable dear but that does not change the fact that Bumi is a grown man. We are getting old Katara." he sighed deeply, leaning on his walking cane. His knee had gotten better thanks to the non stop treatment from his wife and his daughter but nevertheless he felt a stinging pain when he tried to walk without the cane. „You are a fucking old geezer dad – 149 thats an age!" Bumi yelped from outside. „Bumi – language." Katara hissed, while her son just shrugged.
„Why had I let him spend so much time with my Brother." she sighed pinching her nose. The Avatar laid an arm around his wifes shoulders and started leading his family towards the boats. Bumi enjoyed the view of his family. Everybody was putting on a happy face and allowed him to crack as many dobious jokes as he wanted. He appreciated that very much though he did hide his emotions. He would not turn into a hysteric sobbing baby – spirits no! They arrived in the harbour, the mighty prawling tiger lazily sitting on the waves that slapped againt the steel titaness. It was one of the biggest ships Bumi had ever seen, which meant it was one of the biggest in the world. He recounted the facts about the ship. He knew them by heart. Weight over 200 thousand tonns, lengt onehundret and fifty feet, broadth thirtyseven feet. Thrice armoured reinforced steel rump. Finfty cannons calibre three thumbs five.
On turnable Long range mortar, able to shood blasting gelly granades fifty miles away. Eight Earthbending platforms containing fifteen tons of broken granite each. Two mannable water cannons, able to spout over seventhousand gallons per second if driven by ten waterbenders.. Six masts each fortyseven feet tall, sails combined with steamengines providing over twothousand horsepowers. „Mom – dad – could you do me a favor?" he asked in his best pleading son voice. „Of course Bumi." his mother smiled tearyeyed while she ruffled his hair. He inhaled her flowery smell. It would be a long time – and he feared he would not make it without his family, why he did not know. But he had his resolve, so he just grinned his usual crooked grin. „Let me board alone, I do not want everybody to know whose son I am." he spoke. His fathers face fell as did his mothers. „Bumi – I am very sorry..." the avatar begun with an earnest voice he had used far too often in the last days.
„Shut the fuck up – this has nothing to do with that stuff." he snapped. His parents looked startled. „It has not even to do with you dad. You know that I do love you. You are my fucking family." he griped, not noticing that his mother broke into tears at that. It was the first time since the day – that Bumi had said he loved his parents. Something that was very stange and frightening for the three of them. His father also was on the brinks of tears. Bumi looked out into the sea. „How shall I cast my own shadow if I am always in yours dad? Even if mine will never be that big - I want it to be mine, and mine alone." he spoke serious, something he very seldom did. The avatar nearly fell out of the tiny boat as he hugged his startled son. „I – I am so proud of you my son." he choked out while Bumi just patted his fathers back, not even caring about the moisture on his cheeks.
He almost wished the ride would never end but it did and so Bumi Son of Aang hugged his family a farewell, his mother crying like a little girl giving him advices he would never need, and stepped on the quay. It was hard to turn his back on them and walk away straight, his heart bruning in pain. It would soon get better – in the end there were a lot of cool things awaiting him in the forces, he was sure of that. And furthermore he had heard of the firenation, of fiery girls, strong plumwine and many other things that would be worth his wile. It would be much different from everything he had expierienced and that was something that thrilled the young man, a pleasing prickling in his vains. He walked to the gangway of the prawling tiger where al lot of young men were waiting. The most looked not much older then himself. He looked back on the city for one last time. He prayed to all spirits that his family would be well – also his halfbrother, for Bumi was not sure how to feel about him. Then he pushed himself though and stood before the officer. „Private Bumi reports to duty Sir." he stated. The man just nodded after finding his name. „Onboard Private." he snapped. Bumi saluted quickly and followed the other guys. Private Bumi – hah these guys thought that was his surname!
Note:
And such Bumi has left the story for good. Some other things, I indeed view Bumi as being rather wise for his age, he is just the kind of guy who wants happyfaces everywhere, which leads to him playing the clown for everyone. And of course he is a Ladiesman to his core – why should he not? And I also could figure Aang tolerating this because the airnomads were the „free people" so of course they do not even KNOW the concept of marriage. Which leads to many children growing up in temples like Aang did. And so I simply can not picture him as being that prude – to the joke, well men do not like talking about wanking – anyone objects me?