Chapter fifteen: discussions
It was a long evening we spent with Lin. She and Yumi actually came along spledidly, much to my surprise. We went into some taverns and I had to admire how much sake and rootbeer Lin could handle without getting more than a bit tipsy. In the end the two girls were in high moods an went arm in arm - singing sailor songs all the way home while Yumi almost tore my clothes off in the middle of the street – not litterally of course. We brought Lin back home and than returned home, Yumi slowly getting silent and less touchy. It seemed I would get my cuddly night today. When We arrived in the bunks nobody was to be seen and the son was already down. „Let´s tug us in stormy." Yumi mumbled sleepy. She had drunken a bit too much to keep up with Lin. It was me who noticed the silhouette hunched in front of my door. „Shh." I hissed and pointed at the person. I sneaked up while Yumi lit a bright orange flame in her palm. „What are you doing in front of my room." I stated snarking until I recognized the giant blue eyes that stared at me in the flickering light of the flame. „Lady Katara?" I asked startled. I had thought about Ping- some hobo or even the Chief – but not about the avatars wife.
„Hello Lee." she began nervously blinking in the light of the flame. Yumi just looked at the scene and even though Katara had greeted her with a short bow she did not do anything. „Ahm – I want to talk with you Lee. You know – we can´t go on like nothing happened and we – ahm – me and my husband really want to have a relationship with you." she spoke. I snorted at that. It was hilarious to pretend we were a family. It also was hilarious to assume that Avatar Aang and me could have father son talks – so why for Kohs sake even try to build something up? In the end just everybody would get hurt! Kataras eyes were brimming with tears. „Please Lee – at least speak with me." she begged while I turned away, my chest was tight as if contricted by iron ropes. Why did this woman need to play with things one best locked away and forgot? I could not stand this nagging what if voice she had kicked loose again!
I just walked away as I felt a stern grip on my upper arm. It was Yumi. She leaned close to my ear. Her voice was pleading. „Please Lee – just talk with this woman. It is your choice what to answer. You know – I would give a lot to have a talk with my parents." her voice was soft, almost pleading. Yumis mother had died when she was a toddler, her father was unknown. Maybe for the better. Nevertheless I did not want to talk. Everything was settled, I had spared the Avatars life – so I owed him nothing anymore and neither did he. „Fuck no. The score is settled." I grumbled, still trying to shake Yumi off. But my girl never was one to be shaken off. She was somewhere between sad and agered. „Please Lee – just do it for my sake – will you?" I paused. She was asking a lot. „Do you want to make me beg Lee?" she added sounding rather croaking.
I just sighed deeply. „If it´s that important for you." I rumbled shrugging and turned back feeling far from comfortable. I felt a soft patting on my shoulders as I stepped forward. Lady Katara stood there wiping her eyes descisive. „Lets go somewhere private." I muttered and walked away. If she wanted not to follow me I would be quite satisified. I heard Yumi disappearing in my room, I loved her for caring that much but nevertheless I was pissed about letting her talk me into this. I led the way out onto the streets. They were almost empty. „So – say what you have to say Lady Katara. I am just here to do Yumi the favor – I think the scores between me and my father are settled." I spoke with a harsh voice. She caught up to me, somebody was greeting her politely. „What scores Lee? And why do you think this has to be? Why – why do you not want to give us a chance?" she asked me almost yelling.
„I know your childhood was a mess. I understand that you are hurt – and that you maybe fear to have a family. But your father loves you – he had years ago if he had known. And do not say I am lying for you know I am not." she spoke, her voice trembling along with her hands. I felt miserably. She was right – maybe even about the loving part, which actually hurt the most. I balled my fist. „Tell me." I growled eying her sharply. „Why – why do you even care Katara? You have nothing to do with this – from your point of view I ´m just a nuisance. The annoying little bastard that reminds you on your husbands betrayal every day. Why the fuck are you here – and not he himself, if I am that important." I snarked. She rocked back as if I had slapped her in the face. I did not care if I hurt her feelings, not for a shim.
He voice was thick with tears, for reasons I could not understand – reasons that caused a stinging behind my eyes too. Why was this woman not hating my guts? I most definitely would in her shoes. „B-because I love him. And – it was not his fault alone – I was very selfish in my youth. Petty if you insist. I thought Aang was mine – you know Lee? I took away his freedom and so he left." she sniffed. I was not getting the whole picture – what had I to do with this? „He came back – as I would´ve gone back to Ba Sing Se if Yumi had decided to stay there." I answered dryly. „This is something between the two of you – no fucking way I have to do something with it!" I insisted. „Please stop the cursing." Katara added snidely giving me the look. „You don´t want to understand Lee, do you? If we had done things differently you would not have had to suffer. Sokka has told me about your mother. I ..." her voice broke. My pride kept my head up. I just shrugged. „Things are as they are – we all should move on Lady Katara." I spoke. „To be frank – I will never be acknowledged as Avatar Aangs son. That is a fact, it would destroy a saint and I do not deem myself important enough for something like this. Not any more." I stated, clasping my hands behind my back.
Katara touched my shoulder and looked down on me, her eyes sad. „I know Lee – I know you can´t forgive us. But – can´t you just forget?" she pleaded, obviously fighting against hugging me. I looked away, a part of me wishing she would lose the fight – could I? I honestly did not know – but more important was another question. Did I want to? I was not sure anymore if I wanted to make the Avatar suffer, as I finally figured out that there were no deep feelings for him in my chest anymore. „Lee – please, answer me." she whimpered. I sighed. „ Katara – I don´t know. I just know that Avatar Aang will never be a father for me. I don´t think that he will be anything for me. But I have to correct myself. I don´t hate him. I never did. Funny right?" I answered calmly. Obviously this did make her snap. She just hugged the shit out of me babbling some things that went down beyond sniffling noises. I just stood in the street feeling rather awkward, I supposed every passant would stare at the two of us. „Please – get a hold on yourself." I whined while I stood stiff like a statue.
It took a short time until she let me out. She whiped her face, forcing a smile on her lips. „You have made me a happy woman for today Lee." she awarded me with an aprooving pat on the cheek. „Always at your service. Ma am" I answered sligthly disturbed. She actually giggled at that one. „You know our door is always open for you Lee – whenever you feel ready we will be waiting." she answered with a soft voice. She looked so earnest. I felt like vomitting, or bawling my eyes out. But I just nodded, my brain blank of any words. She turned on her heels. „Aang will be worrying if I take too long to return home. Lee – give that girl of yours a kiss from me – and make sure it´s a wet one." she giggled again. I just crooked an eyebrow at this. „uh – yeah." I answered managing a short bow. But the Lady Katara was already striding off, humming some strange tune.
„Either way I`ve gotta work tomorrow." I shook my head and trotted off. I still was moved – more than I was willing to show. I was no little kiddo that had no principles after all. I would keep my distance – even though the lone thought of an open door was heartwarming. I had to admit it was Lady Katara who warmed my heart, not my father, but that was not important at the moment. As I returned into my room Yumi was waiting for me, sitting around topless. She was meditating, sitting in Lotus position, her forearms lazily resting on her knees. She heard the sliding sound of the brass bolt. I smiled at the Oni twitching his face on her shoulderblade.
„You`re back Lee?" she asked without turning around. „I am back – and now I need to get some sleep girl." I started getting ready for bed. „How was it. Lee?" she asked concerned. I snorted in response. „I did you the favor girl." I snapped I was not comfortable speaking about Kataras offer and rested myself in bed. Yumi would push me to go there and I did not feel ready for this – most definitely I never would. „Oww come on Lee pweasee." she wrapped herself around me her breasts sqeezing against my back – she pweased on. I just turned from annoyed to pissed.
„No Yumi -no fucking pweases!" I hissed angrily. Yumi let me go. „Oh sorry Mr shithead! Sorry for giving a measly shit about your feelings." she answered snidely. „What the fuck do you want girl. This is my family not yours – for fucks sake." I answered growling. „Just because you ´ve no parents I do not need some – got that?" I fumed realizing that I had gone too far at once. She was out of the bed in the blink of an eye. Yumi Adachi was crying." Sorry – sorry Yumi I did not mean." I stammered as her fist hit my jaw. My head rocked back - there was blood on my teeth. „The fuck." I yelped. „You self centered jackass do not even know how it feels to have no parents – to fend for yourself. How could I ever fall for you. You little son of a bitch!" she yelled while she lashed out again. „My mother was no fucking whore!" I answered furious while I shoved her away with all force I could muster. Yumi tubled against the wall and came at me time I was prepared.
„Think you can beat me bitch!" I growled while I kicked her into the stomach. Shortly afterwarts I thundered onto the floor. Somebody yelled an pounded against the wall. „Shut your shittholy little sissy. Go fuck yourself – bloody bastard!" Yumi raged while she headbutted my face, our foreheads clashing with a loud thud. I jabbed her in the ribs, the rage slowly fading as the pain started to kick in. My jaw hurt and trobbed, as did my head which Yumi smashed on the floor repeatedly. We both were snarling like wild animals, finally I got hold of one of her fingers an pulled. She screamed – and let go of my troath. I released her finger because her pained voice cut though my dizzy head. Yumi simply collapsed on top of me, her breath hitching. „Yumi? You´re ok?" asked while sudden concern flooded my chest. „Hey – please say something." I tried to lock eyes with her and realized one of hers was turning black.
„I´m sorry." I responded feeling miserable. „Should not have started it." my girlfriend wheezed cursing in Nidhongo. „You are a mean asshole Lee." she griped. „Yes – I´m sorry. It was not fair to bring your parents into this." my voice was slightly slurry while my vision still was dizzy. Yumi hissed in pain some bones popped back in their proper place. „Damn – why do you always wet your pants when stuff is about you." she rambled on and got up. I tried to follow her as the world started spinning. I staggered. She steadied myself. „Slow there boy. Take it slow." she led me back onto the bed and helped me to lie down. „Um – err... sorry." she stated while she groaned as she plopped herself down besides me. If I had not felt that beaten up I would have laughed my ass off by now. We were some pathetic misfits! „Cause I was afraid." I answered with a small voice.
„Huh?" we still were panting a bit and I almost giggled like a little girl. „I do not know what to make of em Yumi. I feel nothing for my father anymore. I´m not even angry anymore." I admitted feeling strangely relieved. „That´s cool Lee. So what did Lady Katara say?" she hissed as she shifted her body slightly. „Well uhm... that their door is open and such stuff." I mumbled slightly embarrassed. „And – what did you answer. Come on Lee that´s a chance. I knew they would love you." Yumi piped up. „It´s not a fairytail Yumi. I don´t feel like going there, I can´t. I simply can´t." I explained raising my head. A searing pain forced it back onto the pillow. I groaned. „Geez, why had it to be the floor." I wheezed and searched for Yumis hand. I found her after some time and squeezed her gently, her knuckles were sticky.
„We re a bunch of idiots." I sighed. „Heck Yeah Lee. But – do you really think I would make you go there?" she asked me. It was frightening somethimes how easy Yumi could read me. I just grumbled a bit. „I think I would have tried Lee." Yumi admitted silent, her voice mumbling. „It´s just that I am so jealous at you... I would´ve loved to get to know them." she admitted. I chuckled at that. „It´s natural for an orphan Yumi. Believe me I would rather be one than have to deal with this crap." I told her. We just lay there in silence until an unsteady sleep took over.
Note:
I know that was rather short. But I found no fitting extension and somehow I had to patch thing up partially for otherwise the family topic simply would have been dead. And yeah some couples beat the shit out of each others occasionally at least a nurse told me so.. but no direct personal expierience about that.