I woke with a start first thing in the morning when I heard the cart covering our sleeping area moved off, up and alert as I quickly looked around then yawned. My ice bed was surprisingly still there, so I figured I'd naturally been water bending it even whilst sleeping to keep it frozen. Bolin was in the process of waking up and Mako was rubbing his eyes, yawning with a banana peel on his head so I picked up his scarf and jacket before going over to him, smiling with laughter as I brushed off the peel then gave him back his things, even kissing his cheek lightly with a word of thanks before standing up, not seeing his ears and cheeks turn red as Bolin yawned with a wide open mouth.
"Man. Oh, I think I slipped a disc sleeping here. It's been a while since we spent the night on a trash pile." Bolin said as he rolled his shoulder as I returned the ice to water and put most of it back into my pouch but brought some over to him in order to heal his shoulder and make it feel better. "It's about how I remembered. Ah…that's the stuff." He groaned contentedly as I found the sweet spot on his stiff shoulder and soothed it for him. "Thanks Kanna. Oh wait, is this yours?"
"You were shivering so I let you use it as a blanket." I told him as he held up my skirt wrap.
"What? No way! That's so nice, thank you, but weren't you cold?"
"I'm used to the cold so it didn't bother me, but Mako lent me his jacket and scarf anyway. You guys are such gentleman, your parents definitely raised you right." I said to them both with a grin, finishing up with Bolin's shoulder before putting the water away then reached into my shirt in order to put my necklace back on, my neck having felt extremely bare without it.
"I bet everyone's freaking out that we've been gone all night." Mako said as he stood up, dusting himself down and wiping drool from his chin.
"I'm worried about Kai. He's just a little kid out there on his own. He's probably really scared." I just looked at Bolin incredulously, not believing he was still worried about Kai of all people right now.
"He's probably living the dream with all the gold he stole yesterday and he definitely doesn't care about us, so why should we worry about him?" I reasoned bluntly with a shrug. "Just forget about him. Ugh, I wish I had a bison whistle right about now. Maybe I should ask Uncle Tenzin for one when we get back, then I could just call Oogie here." Hindsight sure was a wonderful thing. At least next time I'll be prepared. The three of us all headed out onto the street to look around and also try and figure out what to do, though Bolin soon had to rub his growling stomach as it audibly told us just how hungry he was.
"Whew, I'm getting hungry." He said before eyeing up a fruit stall and I saw that light go off in his head as an idea came to mind. "We might have to hustle up a little breakfast with the old fruit stand scam. Come on." Grabbing his brother by the arm, I quirked an eyebrow at them before following as Bolin dragged Mako over to check out the fruit, which was rotten, squishy and had flies already feasting on it all. There's no way I'm eating that. "You remember how it goes. I push you into the stand, you scream, I pretend to faint." Bolin explained as I leaned over and sniffed at some apples but they were way past the point of no return.
"I don't want any part of this. Besides, look at this fruit. It's disgusting. We don't want to steal this." Mako reasoned but then, the stall vendor stood up from behind where he'd been rummaging around below out of sight, making me squeak and tense up as he glared at us.
"Hey, you trying to steal my fruit?"
"No, I just said I don't want any of this rotten fruit." This just seemed to upset the guy more, making him lean on his fruits which only sunk into them with a repulsive squelching sound. Ew, gross. I am definitely not eating any of that. I'll go hungry.
"Oh, you too good for my fruit? This is the best fruit on the block."
"So you want me to steal it?"
"Just try it, buddy. Go ahead." Flexing his arms to show off his mediocre muscles, the stall vendor then kissed his bicep to show off as Bolin frowned in confusion, asking whether we were going to steal the fruit or not, which was probably not the brightest thing to say as the guy then yelled at us. "I knew it, thieves!" The boys knew to try and escape right there and then whilst I just stood there dumbly, leaning back as the guy leaped over his stall and launched himself at Bolin and Mako, tackling them to the ground. Should I…help? I feel like I should help.
Reaching down I grabbed a fistful of the back of the guy's shirt then all at once, lifted him off Bolin and Mako in order to lift him up in the air, making him blink before starting to struggle, kicking and fighting weakly as I just continued to hold him a foot off the ground like it was nothing. "Let me go you monster woman! How the hell are you so strong? Put me down!" Well first off, the guy hardly weighed a thing, and second off, I'd trained all my life with Korra. This was nothing.
"What's going on here?" Hearing someone else coming on scene, I dropped the guy I was holding so that he fell on his butt at my feet, making him yelp and rub the offended area before he then pointed at Bolin and Mako who were still recovering from being tackled.
"Dad, these fruit thieves are insulting our fruit."
"It's just a misunderstanding." I quickly tried to explain, hoping we could get away with it so long as I pleaded with all the charm I possessed. "We're not thieves, we were just taking a look." Looking at me, the older man then looked down at Mako and Bolin, studying them for a moment until suddenly his expression softened and he even looked a little emotional.
"Bolin? Mako?" Wait, did this guy know them? I looked around quickly, but the guys seemed just as confused as I was, frowning up at the stranger.
"How do you know our names?"
"Yeah, I mean, I'm famous, so I get that, but how do you know his name?" Bolin asked with a jab of his thumb over at Mako.
"You look just like San." Having no idea who San was, I was about to ask but then I saw the look on Mako and Bolin's face. "Tu, you'll never believe who these guys are. They're your cousins, my brother San's kids." Oh…so that's who San was. Wait! Mako and Bolin had family in Ba Sing Se? I knew they said their dad came from here, but to actually run into them here? That's just crazy.
"You mean you're Mako and Boli's uncle?" I asked him in disbelief as they both just gaped at him. Whimpering with guilt at having almost stolen fruit from the guy, I quickly kicked at Bolin in order to get the both of them up, smiling uneasily as I bowed. "We're very sorry for the disturbance, we didn't mean any harm." Their uncle just smiled and hugged them both once they were up on their feet. Mako looked unsure of what to do but Bolin of course readily returned the embrace as I stood to the side.
"It's fine! It's fine! You guys can call me Uncle Chow. Come, you boys should come home and meet the rest of the family. Your friend is welcome too of course, follow me." The guys looked at each other, still a little shell shocked so I pushed them both forwards so that we didn't get left behind, ushering them to follow their uncle until he led us up the stairs of what looked like an apartment building as Chow talked. "Your father sent us a letter years ago with your names, but that was the last we heard from him. Then we saw your pictures in the sports pages with your bending team, and Bolin, we love those Nuktuk movers. They're hilarious."
"Yeah, they're not really comedies, but, uh…" I elbowed him in the gut, warning him not to nit-pick over such a small detail when he was about to meet his family.
"Yeah, I could probably be a pro-bender, or an actor, or something if I lived in a mansion in Republic City like you guys." Their cousin Tu informed us all as he rolled his shoulders, bragging carelessly like it would be the easiest thing in the world. "You don't know what it's like here on the streets. You gotta be tough."
"Oh, Mako and I grew up on the streets. We were homeless, then we were kind of in a gang, then we lived in a gym." Bolin listed off but then Chow grabbed them both by the shoulders in order to open a door and lead them inside where he called out to a whole group of people who looked up to see who'd come in, making Mako, Bolin and I all stop when we were faced with so many people all at once.
"Hey, everybody! Look who's here! San's kids, Mako and Bolin!" Immediately people began to gasp but smile, welcoming them both inside as Chow ushered them in. I lingered a moment, thinking it might be best if I go and come back later so that they could have some family time but Chow then grabbed me by the arm and pulled me in through the door, making me yell in surprise before it swung shut behind me.
"Is it true?" A sweet old lady with whitish grey hair breathed as she walked towards the boys, clasping her hands together with a teary eyed expression. "After all these years?"
"Boys, this is your grandmother, Yin." Wow, Mako and Bolin's grandmother, this was just amazing! I can't believe I'm witnessing all this, a family reunion after being estranged from each other for so many years. I guess we actually have something to than that kid Kai for.
"Oh, it is so wonderful to finally meet my long lost grandchildren." Opening her arms, Granny Yin hugged both Mako and Bolin who returned the gesture, hugging her gently before she drew back with a smile. "Where is San and your mother?" All three of us felt the happiness of meeting the family quickly vanish and I looked with worry at the guys.
"Wait, you mean, you don't know?" Granny Yin's face fell as Mako broke the news to her and the rest of the family.
"I'm sorry. They were killed when we were little." Tears started to flow from Granny Yin's eyes at the news of the loss of her son and his wife. For a while no one knew what to say, all sharing in the sadness until Granny Yin sniffed and dabbed at her eyes, taking a deep breath before looking at her grandsons once more.
"You two must have been so lonely, come. Join us for something to eat, but who is this?" She suddenly asked, seeing me hiding slightly as an attempt to not interrupt the heart warming reunion. "My, aren't you a pretty one? A Water Tribe girl, welcome, welcome. You must be one of my grandsons' girlfriend, it's very nice to meet you. Is it Bolin or Mako you're seeing?"
"Oh I'm just a friend, ma'am, only a friend." I quickly rushed to correct her as Mako spluttered and Bolin winced awkwardly at the misunderstanding. "My name is Kanna, it's an honour to meet you. Sorry for intruding into your home at such a time." She smiled to me and came over, putting her hands around my arm in order to draw me further into the house as she chuckled.
"Nonsense, any friend of my grandsons is welcome here. Are you sure you are not interested in one of them? I have many grandsons for you to choose from, perhaps we can set you up with someone." Unsure of how to respond, I ended up being brought into the fold and before I knew it, I was sitting with Bolin and Mako as food was shared out, Granny Yin introducing me to her grandchildren and soon I was overwhelmed with names and faces.
"This is so great. We've never had a family before. Now we've got…one, two, five, eleven…a big family! Yeah!" Bolin was completely at home here already, eating without restraint though I elbowed him and reminded him to show some respect and mind his manners so he slowed down.
"So why did Dad leave Ba Sing Se?" Mako asked his uncle who thought back to his brother leaving the city.
"Oh, he always had big dreams. He couldn't wait to get out and see the world. Your grandfather thought it was ridiculous. He wanted San to stay home and work the fruit stand, but San was determined to leave and they had a huge fight, and that was the last time they ever spoke." Chow explained to them both before he looked at his mother's sad expression and grimaced. "Oh, um, sorry, mom." Taking a moment, Granny Yin then looked at Mako and Bolin and invited them to follow her. I stayed put as one of the great grandchildren leaped at my back and another pulled on my arm, making me pull to once side as they laughed and started asking me questions.
"Why is your hair funny like that?"
"The braids and beads are part of my tribe's culture." I explained to them, giving my hair a shake so that the beads clicked and they giggled.
"Are you a water bender?"
"Uh…yes." Deciding that it was too much effort to explain to young kids that my bending wasn't exactly normal, I just went with it. They started piling on top of me with questions after questions but I just smiled and lifted my arms, holding a few of them aloft as they crawled over me. Although there were more of them, this was no different than Ikki and Meelo, in fact this was a lot tamer in comparison to my cousins.
"If you're a water bender, did you grow up in one of the tribes? Which one?"
"The south."
"Do you know Master Katara? The lady from the stories who helped Avatar Aang save the world?"
"Yes, she's my grandmother." When I admitted this fact, there were several gasps and now even the adults were asking me questions.
"You're the granddaughter of Avatar Aang and Master Katara?! That's amazing! What is she like? Wait, do you know the new Avatar?"
"Korra? Yeah she's my best friend. We grew up together and my grandmother taught us both water bending. Mako and Bolin helped us save Republic City from an equalist called Amon who used blood bending to take people's bending away, and then we also saved the world from a giant evil spirit who wanted to plunge the world into ten thousand years of darkness." I listed off as the kids settled in order to hear me tell the entire story in full. I was pretty much done by the time Mako and Bolin came back with their grandmother who was now wearing Mako's scarf, all of them seeming rather happy and glad to be together.
"My, it's like you're part of the family already." Granny Yin said to me as I had one of the kids climbing on my head, making me duck with a yelp as they almost fell off and I tried to keep all the rest from getting too rambunctious until adults began to pull them off me. "Are you sure you don't fancy one of my grandsons? Mako and Bolin are both fine young men."
"Thank you, ma'am, but I…"
"Please, call me Granny Yin."
"Uh, thank you Granny Yin, but I'm not ready to settle down with anyone yet. I really want to see the world first." I excused as politely as I could as Mako put his head in his hand with a sigh. Oh boy, I can't wait to tell Korra about this, she'll definitely have a laugh when I tell her Mako's grandmother kept on trying to set me up with one of them. We spent the entire day with the family, Bolin and Mako taking the time to get to know everyone as I entertained the kids with ice figurines, making them dance and move.
"You know, San would have been so proud of you guys. Traveling the world with the Avatar, he would have loved that." Chow said to the guys as I created several ice flowers and made them bloom, making all the young girls gasp in awe and admire them happily.
"We actually need to get back to the Avatar in the upper ring." Mako informed everyone. "We're supposed to be helping her find air benders in Ba Sing Se." All of a sudden it went very quiet, even the kids looking up with worry so I stopped with the ice bending and looked around as Bolin asked what happened.
"One of our neighbours started air bending about a week ago. A couple days later, two Dai Li agents come out of nowhere and snatch him up. No one's seen him since."
"What?" I quickly stood up, alarmed by the news. "But that can't be right. Why would the Dai Li take air benders like that?"
"They say the Earth Queen's locking all the air benders up somewhere and using them for experiments." Tu said bluntly however Granny Yin scolded him sharply as she got up and walked over to the framed portrait of a rather distasteful looking woman.
"Tu! Don't talk like that about Her Majesty." She blew a kiss towards it, making me tilt my head at her in confusion. People actually liked the monarchy around here? Even though they live in such terrible conditions? "Long may she reign." Looks like Mako and Bolin were just as wigged out as I was.
"We have to get back to the upper ring and tell Korra." Mako quickly recovered, looking to Bolin and me as I frowned.
"If air benders are disappearing and the Dai Li are the ones taking them, I doubt the queen is unaware of what's going on. I bet she's even the one giving the orders, which means it's unlikely she'll allow us to just fly off with any of them." I reasoned as Mako nodded, Bolin looking worried.
"I hope Kai is okay." Oh shoot, with that kid on the loose air bending as he goes, it's only a matter of time before he gets spotted. Damn it, now I feel bad for not keeping a better eye on him.
"Ugh, that damn kid. If I get my hands on him again, I'm going to turn him into a human ice popsicle!" I rubbed my head before thinking. "Air benders going missing is a huge deal and we have to get back to my uncle and Korra, but how do we get there? We don't have any money, shall we just fight our way onto the carriage and hope they'll understand when we explain?"
"No, if you make any kind of disturbance, the Dai Li will arrest you." Chow said before turning to his son. "Tu, go see if you can get three passports to the upper ring. Use the money from the stand to pay, be as quick as you can."
"You got it." Thanking them all for their help, I bowed to Granny Yin and Chow who both smiled at me and assured me that it was nothing and that it was important to always help your family when they were in need.
"Aw, our family is the best!" Bolin sniffed before hugging some of his cousins. This was…so nice. So normal. Why can't my family all get along like this? Honestly, seeing Bolin and Mako so easily merging into their family even having never met them before, it made my family seem like a complete joke. "So, why do you think the air benders are being taken?"
"My guess for military purposes." Mako frowned, figuring it out in his head as he rubbed his chin with his detective thinking cap on. "It makes sense, air benders suddenly returning is a huge opportunity to make use of them without the rest of the world knowing."
"I'm starting to not like this city at all." I pouted, rather fed up with everything here. "Too much underhanded scheming and rules for my liking." Tu came back with three passports in hand, much to my relief. Although I liked the family, I wanted to get back to the safety blanket of my own as fast as possible, so after thanking everyone and saying goodbye, I waited outside for Mako and Bolin to finish with their own farewells before we all ran back to the train station.
"Wasn't that just the greatest day ever? See? I told you we'd meet grandma here Mako!" Bolin said gleefully as we all rushed.
"Yeah, yeah, you were right Bolin, now let's hurry and get back to the upper ring." We managed to catch the train carriage in time, labouring for breath due to how fast we ran until finally we all slumped together into a seat, the guys sitting either side of me as we all slouched wearily. What a long day.
"We should come back and visit. Oh! Next time, we should bring grandma some flowers, I bet she'll like that. I should have asked her what ones were her favourite, do you think she'll prefer roses or lilies?"
"I'm sure she'll like any flower so long as it's from you Bolin." I said to him, lifting my hand up to pat his face as the guys leaned their heads against mine, all of us feeling tired. "I envy you guys. Not two seconds you walked into that house and everyone was so glad to see you. My family reunions involve a lot more arguing, tension and awkwardness."
"Well, we were just there for one day. I'm sure our family argues just as much as yours does." Mako so I hummed acceptingly, guessing it was true.
