I Don't Own Avatar the Last Airbender
Bahi was running around with Buo around the caravan we were protecting at the moment. Thankfully the men and women we were protecting didn't mind, in fact I think they saw the two was endearing. Though I have to say, that's probably because I made them promise not to steal anything from the group as we were in charge of protecting them, not robbing them.
"Those two have so much energy. Were we like that when we were kids?" I just had to shrug, I didn't remember many times in my childhood were I was allowed to play with other kids, most of my energy was put into training so I wouldn't know. But I didn't mind, I was just glad that they were able to have so much energy to just use on something as harmless and healthy as playing around with their sibling. Honestly I had no idea if the two were even related to each other by blood but it's hardly like those things are a requirement in this family.
"I have no idea, either way I feel super old" Inaru laughed at that harder than she should have, but it's true. I feel like I've lived over full two lives at this point, both so different from the other. And yet I'm so young, I knew I was, in amount two or so months time I'll only just be turning twenty. In about three months Bahi will be turning ten, a month after that Buo will be ten. I think Inaru was already twenty-three, the days for her birth passing by earlier in the year before we had meet each other again. What I'm getting at is none of us were exactly old, especially me and Inaru in this case, but it sure felt it some times.
"You're a dad you should be old" The words were a bit awkward on her tongue, it was clear she still wasn't use to me being a father, but I didn't mind. I wasn't sure how I would be able to react if I ran into her after about four years and she suddenly had two nine year olds calling her mom. The thought sure was amusing though. Inar's a sweet woman, but she's often lost on the smaller things, so was I to be honest. It's been a learning process.
"Yeah yeah, you say that like you haven't already been assigned Aunt" Her face instantly turned red a she looked to the side with a blush on her face. I just smirked at that. The kids started up with their teasing after a few weeks, this time going for our new companion. I'm not really sure if she's actually 'join' the family but the kids seemed to enjoy teasing her about it. Probably all that build up from me not being to embarrassed by their teasing and just dropped into the role of their Dad. Inaru, however, is fighting a losing battle, and it was so funny to watch.
"Oh don't say that, those two can be little nightmares. How did you manage with being called dad by them for so long?" I chuckled at how put out she looked as I smiled to myself as I thought about her question for a moment before saying.
"My only goal was to protect them, I was kind of hoping to be an older brother but I was almost three times their age when we met and I think they didn't really understand what dad meant what it entailed, in the beginning at least, after I blushed and tried to convince them to call me brother or just Sho, they started teasing me like hell about it, after a while I just accepted the role and took it to heart. I can't say I mind" She hummed at that before saying.
"So what you're saying is that they aren't going to stop until I get use to it?" I just turned and gave her a smile to which she groaned but it was clear she didn't seem to upset. After a moment I leaned a bit before saying happily.
"I mean, we basically spent a lot of our childhood together already so you have no choice but to be my sister" She turned to glare at me with a huff, I just laughed to myself at that. At least she had finally broke out of the calling me captain thing. She still did it on occasion but now it was clear it was more teasing than force of habit built up from two years of working under my command outweighing the almost ten years of friendship. The military was a strict place with lasting effects on it's soldiers.
"Mhh, nah, you're to clingy for me to want you as an younger brother" Clingy? I just blinked at that, not really sure they that was what she brought up. I mean I wasn't that clingy.
"Come on Bahi, you need to learn this" She was pouting but nodded as she finally sat down next to her brother and looked over the parchment I had laid in front of her. Their education was a bit spotty, I'll admit I'm not the best teacher for stuff like this. I've always been better at the physical stuff. I still knew the basics of history, maths, English, etc. but I've always been better at fighting. There was a reason I was know as a firebending prodigy instead of a scholar.
Still, even if I wasn't the best teacher, I didn't want my kids to have no education, even if it wasn't formal, it was better than nothing. I just wanted what was best for them, for them to have as many options before them as possible when they're all grown up. The thought messed with me a bit, they would be adults in a few years, I remember when they barely came up to my waist.
"Daaad! Come on, help me, I don't know how to do this!" I blinked as I was brought back to reality as I looked over at Bahi who was glaring like she was annoyed at what was on the page in front of her. I then looked over towards Buo and noticed he was pouting a bit at whatever problem was in front of him. I just smiled at the two before sitting down next to them and looked over the parts they were having problems with before starting to explain it to them.
It took a little while, Buo had problems with reading, he seemed to get certain letters mixed up when he was trying to read and it was a constant frustration of his. So I just gave him a side hug and told him to not try to rush it, to take his time and after a while it still took him a while longer to read the longer portioned sentences, he did seem to be doing better with me there to relax him and remind him to take his time and that he didn't have to rush.
Bahi had a different problem to contend with. While Buo's main problem was just reading and not the answers. Bahi just couldn't seem to focus on the words long enough to come up with an answer. Math was not her strong point, she just couldn't seem to focus on it long enough to do the mental calculations to get the answer. She was a decently fast reader and was better at writing than Buo, but he was much better at maths and the like. It was a weird sort of balance between the two. When one had a problem the other could help them out if I wasn't there to help guide them. It made me feel so much pride.
I remember when I was there age, I barely could think of anyone other than myself. It's a wonder that I didn't drive away the few friends I had. Back to reflecting it would seem, I spend to much thinking about my past, but it's because I spend so much time comparing just how pure my kids are compared to the kid I use to be. I'm so glad that they aren't going to turn out like I did. It took a long time and more wake ups calls than I would like to admit before I figured out that I was the one that was in the wrong. Once again my thoughts were broken as I felt a tug on my sleeve as I turned and gave a questioning look at Buo as he pointed down at one of the words.
"What's this mean?" I gave him a patient smile and leaned a bit closer to look at the word that was giving him some trouble. It wasn't a hard word but it didn't come up often in most sentences since there were easier to spell alternatives. So I just leaned down and sounded the word out to him and gave him the definition before explaining when it would be used. He gave me a happy smile and nodded as he repeated the word back to me, letting me know he understood it.
Giving him a ruffle on the head for being so cute, I then stood up and told the two to call me over if they needed anything. I got to thumbs up, and a smile as I walked tot he back of the cart we had been sitting in and took a moment to just look out at the landscape around us. while noting the other carts, and the one at the far back where Inaru was staying, while we were at the front. So both sides were covered in case of an attack.
But so far nothing has happened. Apparently that was a common thing here as bandits were rare but not unheard of, since why we were in fact protecting the cargo in the first place. I can't say I minded that nothing was happening, though there was a clause in the contract I signed for this gig that if nothing happened then we wouldn't be paid as much, so that was a thing. Sure it was less pay which was a tad bit annoying but it also meant no attacks that I would have to worry about, and it's not like the pay we would receive was minimal, it was still enough for us to get by a bit longer which was all I needed.
For me at least, but this wasn't proper for growing children, one of my bigger guilt's is anytime we stop at a village and most of the time having to turn down my kids when they brought me a toy they wanted. In the start they just stole the things they wanted but I managed to get them to stop that mostly so now it's all on me for feeling bad about not having the coin to get them the things they wanted. I wish I could spoil them but living from job to job just didn't allow that.
Maybe we should head to one of the Earth Kingdoms factions, like Ba Sing Se, it was pretty well protected and it might allow me to get an actual stable job for once. Perhaps I could open a tea shop and finally show this kingdom how tea is suppose to be made. The thought tugged a smile to my lips as I thought about me just having a tea shop of all things. It sounded so peaceful...
We were months away from the capital of the Earth Kingdom, and while I'm not sure exactly on it's status, I'm sure getting a house or some form of homing there would cost more money then I currently had, not mentioning the travel... But the idea was so appealing to be honest that my mind kept going back to it. I was already trying to save money, why not put those savings towards something? It might take a while but hope never hurts.
"Hey Dad why don't you ever spar with us for Miss Inaru?" I looked up a bit to look up at Buo who was currently sitting on my shoulders, he was getting a bit big to keep doing this but he seemed to like being so high up that I couldn't seem to find it in me to say no, though I will soon be bringing up the idea of piggyback rides instead. Focusing back on the question, I thought about it for a second before answering honestly.
"I don't want to scare you two any" I could feel him frown above me as I continued to look over at Inaru and Bahi, who were having a chat with some of the people we were protecting. They seemed to get along well enough, Inaru was patient enough to put up with Bahi's high energy and recklessness and it seemed the two seemed to bond over something they called girl talk, I didn't get it but I was both a guy and not very social adept in the other gender.
"You don't scare us Dad" I hummed as I felt Buo begin to play with my longish black locks of hair. I really did need a haircut but I didn't trust people with scissors around my head. I've stayed to long on the battle field with weapons being thrown at me to be comfortable with sharp objects around my vital points. So I had just let it grow and when ti was to long I would cut it myself, it hardly ever turned out even but it was better than nothing.
"I might, but fire does. Even if you say you don't mind, I don't want you two to be uncomfortable around me for any reason" He's rough and slightly callous hands dug into my hair a bit harder as he tugged on it a bit hard. It wasn't comfortable but it was easy enough to ignore as I continued to look around as some of the men seemed to be playing cards, probably gambling.
"Can you put me down?" I looked back up at Buo for a moment before finally nodding as I wasn't sure what was wrong. Setting him down on the ground, I gave him a head pat as I absently reached up and ruffled my own hair a bit to try and counteract the tugging that it had endured.
"Dad could you show me?" I blinked as I looked down at my kid for a moment, wondering what he was asking for for a moment before I figured it out. My answer was already on the tip of my tongue and I was about to say no, when I saw his face. He looked so serious, and his hands were already shaking a bit, but he still asked. I felt my mouth open as I tried to say something only for nothing to come out. After a moment I tried again only to get the same result, this time because Buo had spoken up again.
"Please?" I closed my mouth at that and looked down at him for a moment before looking away as I debated it long and hard in my head for a while before finally dropping down onto one knee and held out my open palm face up towards the sky as a small ball of orange-ish yellow flames danced across my hand. I was rusty, they use to be fully golden yellow, the hottest state a firebender's flames could naturally reach. But I wasn't focusing on that, instead I looked closely at my son's reaction.
I instantly wanted to put the fire out, he always had the most problems seeing firebending in action, Bahi had problems while she slept, but Buo had problems when he was awake mostly. I was fully ready to drag him into a comforting hug if he began to panic, but surprisingly he didn't. He looked at the fire in the palm of my hand for a moment before reaching a hand out and cupped his own hands around the flame before looking up at me with a half smiling, half hesitant face.
"You don't scare me Dad"
To clear some confusion Buo is pronounced Bo, Bahi is Bah-E, Sho is Shh-O, and Inaru is In-Are-U. I'm not use to writing normal/highly emotional characters, it's a flaw on me as a writer that I'm not use to it. The only grace is I think I'm doing this pretty well so far just from emulating what I think is normal interactions. I was planning on writing a few more chapters of this before posting it but yesterday as of writing this something happened, I'm sure at least a few of you know what I'm talking about so. Memento Mori. I'm going to be posting for the next week a chapter of this story everyday. At least that's the plan. See ya.