I Don't Own Avatar the Last Airbender
My tea was cold, I sighed to myself as I looked down at the barely lukewarm cup in my hand for a moment before bringing it up to my lips and took a drink all the same. I miss the tea from my old town, the way it was always warm, comforting, sweet. Not the kind you'd find in a slightly run down tea shop in some random village in the Earth Kingdom... I'm complaining again, heh, it's always the tea that gets me reminiscing isn't it?
"Are you ok there deary?" I blinked to myself before looking over at the old lady that had walked back up to the counter that I was sitting at with my drink. Her graying hair tied up in a bun to keep it out of her face, unlike my own black locks that freely dipped lightly passed my ears before curling in which ever way they wanted. I gave her a smile at her question, before saying.
"I'm fine miss, just reflecting" She let out something I assumed to be a cackle before saying with a swipe of her hand in my direction.
"You young-ins, you're not old enough to have things to reflect upon!" I laughed lightly at that as she turned and walked back to the back where I could only assume the cookware was. She didn't get it, or maybe I was the one that didn't understand, either way, we had different perspectives and that was fine... I wish I learned that lesson a long time ago...Heh, cold tea huh?
I glanced down at the cup for a moment before smiling before shaking my head. Such a strange thing isn't it. Perhaps I should start to try and stray away from old habits, that might just be for the best. I'm already trying to break tradition aren't I? Why not take a break from tea? With that I placed the cold cup of tea on the counter for a moment before reaching into my pocket and set a couple coins on the counter before heading out of the small shop.
I smiled to myself as I felt the sunlight beat down on me a bit, it was mid summer at the moment and I found it nice and pleasant weather out here. Of course my time basking lightly in the sunlight was interrupted as my smile turned to a frown as I listened to the sound of discord around me. Darn it those two... Honestly, looking around for a moment, blinking to myself as I did, it took a moment before I saw the two of them.
Two kids, both around the age of nine a boy and a girl, one with short faded blond hair, and the other with long murky brown hair in a braid, both in similar worn Earth Kingdom styled clothing that I also wore nowadays, were running in my direction. Frankly those two were a common sight for me to see really, and usually the sight of them would calm me, but of course instead of that, all I was feeling was exasperation at the sight before me.
The two were currently being chased by what looked like an older men. Absently I looked up at the sky for a moment, just staring at the the light from the sun for a moment before shaking my head as, almost against my will, a small fond smile pulled onto my face. Those trouble makers. I guess I better save them before they do something dumb, well, even more dumb, as clearly they did something to get into this situation in the this place. Those brats. Moving so I was standing in front of the path that those two would be heading in, I noted that they noticed me before rushing forwards even faster. I gave them a raised eyebrow as the two dived behind me
"Oi, get out of the way! Let me at em'!" The man that was chasing them didn't seem to threatening, then again bender's don't have to be. Still, most earthbender's have strong bodies, it's from the way they train, I would know since the two children behind me were both benders after all. Still, they could be firebenders, we are in fire nation territory at the moment, recently 'acquired' Earth Kingdom land or not. So I gave the man a smile as he rushed up to me as I stood my ground. I've faced way worse than some random middle-aged man in a mall village.
"What seems to be the problem sir? Did my kids do something?" His reaction was predictable, honest the raised eyebrow, the clear looking over my body, trying to see if I was messing with him or not. It was all expected, I didn't bother to assume he would understand, so I kept smiling, it was a hard ask to believe after all. Doesn't make me incorrect however.
"Stop lying, and move out the way boy, this doesn't concern you. Those two sewer brats deserve wants coming to them!" I felt a faint frown drag down my smile a bit. They get into a lot of trouble, way more than I would like to be honest, but I've come to accept it as who they were, but I really don't like this guy's tone. He was talking down to them because of the clearly second hand clothing they were wearing.
"No, now leave or tell me what they did" The two of us stared at each other for a long moment, even with my focus on his eyes I could still see the slight twitch of his fingers, he was building energy, a bender. Not good. I don't want to have a fight in the middle of the town, especially with. Focusing more on his facial features, it made it a bit easier to notice the more clear Earth Kingdom traits. An earth bender, also not ideal in this situation, but expected.
"What's teaching one more brat a lesson! Hiyaah!" And now this is happening, I leaned back to avoid the swiping punch as I turned, reached down, and grabbed both of the kids hands before pulling them into a run as we, well, ran. I could fight but I'm sure the guards would show up and then I'd have to spend a few hours explaining and paying for damages and to be honest. I'm already hurting on money already.
They were laughing, I was dragging, the man behind me was yelling, but I had a plan, turning into a corner, I pulled the two into a near by open doorway and held them close as I listened to the man as he yelled out, wondering where we were. Earthbender's can be hard headed, but I doubt he was stupid enough to start busting into random people's homes or buildings, not to mention even if he does find us, he won't bend anything or else he'll be the one in trouble for the damages he'd cause.
I could feel the two kid's chests shake as they tried to contain their snickering as the yelling voice trailed off after a while as I looked around the place I had barraged my way into. It looked abandoned which was lucky, at least I'd think to think it was luck. This village recently was captured by the fire nation,about two months back, and during that time, a number of people tried to fight back...They were all killed as an example. This house must have been the home of one of those families that died. The thoughts that came to mind were unwanted, images of burning houses, people crying and yelling in terror...Two shaking six year olds in the back of an alley way looking up at me in fear.
My mind came back to reality as I pulled the two children away from my chest, I needed some space. Walking over to the empty table, I sat down in one of the chairs, and let my breathing even out. Breathing was important and I knew how to manage it well so it didn't take long, besides I had something more important to do right now so of course I couldn't spend much time on myself. With that I waved the two kids over to sit down in front of me. Once they had sat down, I noted they seemed to be a lot more quiet, they knew what was about to happen and was already dreading it. They were smart enough to know the consequences but not smart enough to stop themselves.
"So, what did you two do?...Buo? Bahi? Answer me" The boy's head perked up a bit at his name, quickly followed by the girl's as I said her name right after. After a long moment, I sighed and rubbed my eyes for moment before saying.
"Come on, I'm not going to be mad, I'll never be mad at you two" That seemed to break their composure a bit as after a moment Buo, honestly the more reasonable of the two, spoke up and said.
"We kind of, maybe, stole that guy's necklace" I blinked at that before sighing and decided I didn't want to hear the reason why. I knew what it was going to be but I didn't want to know for certain, and yet I still asked. My personal comfort wasn't relevant when it came to these two.
"Alright, why?" This time it was the girl, Bahi, who's hands had balled up a bit into fists said a tad bit angrily.
"Because we need coins" Yeah, those two were more observation than they should be... I'm the one that's suppose to be taking care of them, and yet. Damn it. After a moment of gathering my thoughts, in which time Bahi seemed to realize she shouldn't be yelling, something that took forever for me to break them into, having manner's.
"I'm... I'm not angry, but I am disappointed. We aren't hurting enough on money for you two to go out and steal stuff, you shouldn't be going around stealing stuff period. I don't know what I'd do if you two just run off and something happens" The two kids looked away from me at that, they had the same looks on their faces, regret. I frowned as my instant instinct was to comfort them, but it wouldn't teach them anything if I didn't stick to my word. They deserve a role model, one much better than me, but I was the only one here to do it, so I just continued to do my best.
"Sorry" That was Bahi who looked more angry than Buo but I knew it was more likely she was angry at herself more than anything, she's the more head strong of the two, and usually the one to start the trouble, and since she was the older, I'm sure she also thinks that this scolding was because of her actions. It hurt my heart a little bit but that reasoning wasn't wrong, and maybe the faster she comes to know that the more responsible she'll be in the future.
"Sorry dad" That was Buo, who was looking a lot more rejected, out of the two, he was the emotionally felt one. He got upset easy, and mostly only seemed to be comfortable around me or his 'sister', it's why he got into these troubles with Bahi, because he doesn't want to be left out. I try my best but I'm just not sure about how to help his confidence, it's never been something I've had a problem with. Thankfully, Bahi seems to support him enough to make up for my lacking parenting skills. To be fair, I didn't know I would be the dad of two nine year olds at the age of nineteen but here I am.
I still remember trying and failing at getting them to call me their older brother instead, but the word seemed to stick around, I think at first they did it to mock me, a defense mechanism from Bahi, but over time Buo started calling it as well, in a much more serious way and then Bahi followed suit, and at some point I stopped arguing. It felt like it was decades ago now, how time just seems to fly...
"Good, now come here you two" Before I knew it, the two rushed forwards and threw themselves at me in an attack. I just smiled as I wrapped my arms around them for a moment. I couldn't be angry at them, I've tried, it just doesn't seem to work. I just hope that I'm doing this right, at the very least, I just hope I'm helping. To make up for all the things I've done... The images started to flash before my eyes again. The fires.
Soon, before I knew it, the hug was no longer just me comforting them, I needed it. Damn it, I remember being so unflinching and in control, I wonder what ever happened to that me? Heh, like that's an actual question, the answers are in my arms after all. Even if they are just a pair of mischief makers... I wonder if the nearby village that would have a trade spot for the necklace they pinched. We did need money after all, and that guy insulting my kids, I wouldn't be feeling bad about it.
Would you look at that, another story that I'm probably no going to touch after X number of chapters, isn't that neat. My adhd is off the charts and my interest in writing has been crushed over the last few months for one reason or another but I figured it wouldn't hurt to at least post this thing. I have like three other stories that have yet to see the light of day however and yet this one is up freest, why? I have no idea, I'm just doing what I feel like at the moment. Anyway, this is an interesting main character and main cast is also interesting as well, though this is mostly a slice of life story, I'm still having a good time with it. So I hope this will keep my interest for a while. Anyway, See ya.