I just finished this one, so i hope it's okay. I've been writing a couple lately, but for some reason this just wanted to be finished first. So, i have a couple others to work on at least. Thay can only get better, so that's a plus, sort of. Anyways...
This chapter is called Meetings.
Duh Duh Duh! Yeah, i have the same reaction to the name. Sounds boring to me, but hey. It actually fits.
Summary: Sokka is babysitting and has to take Bumi and Tenzin to a council meeting. That's pretty much it without me telling you anything important. I guess i tend to do that. You just gotta deal with it for now.
Sokka had two problems. Well, one was worse than the other with stuff like this, but still. Two was two. And those two problems just happened to be his nephews. Don't get him wrong, he absolutely loved them, but not right now, when he was busy.
Really, he should have just said no. He technically didn't have to babysit them, but he opened his big mouth and he was stuck with them. He should have guessed that the council would be called together and he would have to drag them along because no one could help. He even checked twice.
The whole reason he was babysitting in the first place was because Katara and Kya went to the South Pole for a visit, while Bumi and Tenzin decided to stay home with Aang, but of course, the Avatar just so happened to be needed in Ba Sing Se, for something so important that he couldn't take his kids, a day after his wife and daughter had left. With Toph too busy to keep an eye, er...foot, on them, and the Acolytes at their wits end with the kids' shenanigans, Sokka said he would handle it. Oh he really shouldn't have said that.
Tenzin would just sit on the couch or stay in the guest room meditating, but Bumi was bouncing off the walls of the small house with unbridled energy. No wonder they kept him on an island most of the time. Sokka was almost sure Bumi was an airbender, at least at heart, because the kid zipped around faster that Tenzin on an airscooter. Trying to get him to sit still was like trying to get Tenzin to really laugh or get Aang to eat meat.
So, when the council was called to deal with some important matters, he couldn't just leave the two of them at his house alone, for more than one reason. It wasn't just that the kids were unpredictable, well mostly Bumi, but simply because Katara would kill him if she found out, and he had just gotten groceries, which he would like to have later.
That was why he was making his way down the street, a short eight year old boy in air nomad clothes following close behind with a pensive expression on his face and a book in his hand, and a taller ten year old with dark hair puffed out in every direction, grinning at something only he knew, in the lead.
"Uncle Sokka?" Bumi said, turning around and grinning up at him, walking backwards slowly. Sokka looked down curiously at the boy, waiting for his question, "What do you do at the meetings?"
"Well, that's easy squirt. We talk about a bunch of things and try to come up with solutions to problems," he said, simplifying it a bit for the kid's sake. Bumi just scrunched up his nose and turned around, walking a few steps before grabbing a lamp post and swinging around on it a few times.
"That sounds really boring. So all you do is fix other people's problems? Why can't they take care of things themselves?"
Sokka shrugged, "I guess people just like knowing others will help if they ask. Talk to your father about it when he gets back. I'm sure he'd tell you how it all works."
"But, I don't want to know," Bumi pursed his lips and hopped away from the pole. "Sounds like something Tenzin might want to do, being Mr. Goody-Goody." He grinned and wrapped his arms around his younger brother, who was sporting an irritated expression. "Wouldn't you Tenzy?" Tenzin opened his mouth to reply, but thought better of it and just shrugged.
Sokka shook his head and smiled, never more glad to finally be at city hall. "I need you two to be on your best behavior in here. Some of these people don't appreciate jokes, even if you are the Avatar's kids. Okay?"
Tenzin nodded, and Bumi pouted, rolling his eyes and echoing what his mother would say, "So, mouth shut and no touching anything?"
"Exactly," Sokka smiled, patting Bumi on the shoulder. "I think you're old enough to stay, but don't expect a warm welcome from the others. Lately, most of these meetings have been closed to the public."
Tenzin furrowed his brows, "But dad comes to meetings all the time. Why does he if the meetings are closed?"
Sokka opened the door for them and lead them inside, "He's the Avatar. He has the right to be heard as much as anyone else, but he comes anytime because he, as the Avatar, has the right to know what is going on in his city and how it affects the rest of the world." Tenzin nodded at the answer, but Bumi ignored it, gazing at the large council room. He walked quickly down the long isle to the front row, moving his hand along the edges of the tables as he passed and grinning at the four people already sitting at the table in front as he sat down.
Sokka scoffed, whispering to Tenzin, "What happened to no touching anything?"
Tenzin shrugged, "I don't think he knows what that means." He joined his brother, sitting in one of the chairs in the front row, nose already in his book, leaving Sokka with a few confused council members.
"Councilman Sokka, what are two children doing here? This is a closed meeting," the other Water Tribe councilman asked.
"Avatar Aang and Master Katara are out of town at the moment, so I am taking care of their sons until either return. I am aware that children aren't usually allowed, but I did not know of the meeting before I agreed, no one else is available, and I am sure they are mature enough to sit still and not be any trouble," Sokka replied, glancing at the boys and making sure Bumi knew that last part was just for him, as he was making his way to his seat on the council, looking for any opposition from his fellow council members.
The other council members looked at each other for a moment before the Fire Nation councilman nodded, "Very well. If they can behave, they can stay. Let's begin."
Bumi grinned at the news he could stay, and looked at his brother before squinting his eyes, "What are you reading?"
Tenzin shrugged, "I don't really know. I just found it at Uncle's house and he said I could read it. It's actually interesting," he replied before returning to his book.
Bumi leaned back in his seat, arms crossed. Tenzin couldn't hold a conversation for the life of him. He tapped his fingers on his knee as Tenzin turned the page of the book, completely engulfed in what he was reading. How long did these meetings take?
The council members seemed to be in an animated discussion over…the park? What the heck was going on at the park that they needed to fix? It was perfectly fine last he saw. This really was boring. How did Sokka do it? How did any of them do it? And how did Tenzin sit completely still, barely moving a muscle except to turn the page of his book, as Bumi had to resort to reading over his shoulder?
When Tenzin noticed, he scooted to the next seat, not liking prying eyes, but Bumi followed. Tenzin sighed and snapped the book shut before extending it to him, "If you're that bored, just take the stupid book."
"I hate books," Bumi complained.
"Then don't read over my shoulder," Tenzin whispered harshly back. He was casting glances at the council members, but they were still discussing solutions to something neither boy really cared to figure out.
"But-," Bumi began.
"I don't care," Tenzin snapped, thoroughly annoyed now. "Just be quiet."
Bumi and Tenzin started bickering back and forth, the volume of their voices slowly rising, much to the annoyance of Sokka, who had been keeping an eye on them without getting distracted from the conversation. All of the council members were glaring at him now, waiting for him to take care of this.
"Boys," Sokka said, a sheepish smile on his face from his embarrassment, but when the two boys completely ignored him, he sighed and raised his voice, "Bumi! Tenzin!" When both looked at him, Tenzin with an irritated but apologetic expression, and Bumi with a bored glare, he cleared his throat. Bumi crossed his arms over his chest and Tenzin set his book on the table.
"I would like you two to go to my office for a few minutes while we discuss important matters," both of the boys stood and Tenzin grabbed his book again before they began walking to the stairs. "First door on your right," Sokka said, rubbing his temples. How did his sister do it?
He watched his nephews walk up the stairs and out of sight. Bumi opened the door, waiting for Tenzin to get closer before he closed it, just loud enough for the councilmen to hear. He put his hand over Tenzin's mouth before he could protest and moved slowly towards the pillars, hiding behind one and poking his head out just enough to see what was going on. Tenzin kept his mouth shut, also a bit curious as to what had really gotten them sent away, and leaned against the pillar, just listening.
"Let's continue," Sokka said, clearing his throat.
"Very well," the Earth Kingdom council member replied. "The next issue that needs to be addressed is with Yakone." Bumi furrowed his brows at the name. He had heard it somewhere before, but couldn't place it. "There have been several curious cases in which the victims were said to have been controlled against their will by some unknown force."
"They say it is Yakone who is controlling them. It would make sense seeing as he is a waterbender. He could be using bloodbending against his victims," another council member said.
"What's bloodbending?" Tenzin asked quietly as Bumi shrugged.
"I don't know, but this Yakone guy sounds serious," Bumi was looking back and forth at the expressions of the councilmen, which ranged from nervous to terrified to annoyed to just plain bored.
"But bloodbending can only be done on the night of the full moon," yet another councilman said. "None of the cases have occurred during a full moon."
"As of yet," finished Sokka. "Nevertheless, I would much rather wait to discuss this when Avatar Aang is available. He has told me that Yakone is a serious threat to Republic City and he wishes to be told of any new information before we take action. For now, meeting adjourned."
Bumi looked over at Tenzin, who had wide eyes at what he was hearing, "What's so bad that father has to get involved? Is everything going to be okay?"
"I don't know," Bumi said, shaking his head, "but it looks like their finishing up, so we better go." They quietly stood and crept back to the door. Bumi opened it slowly, glad it didn't creak, and closed it after Tenzin as quietly as possible. "Quick. Act natural!"
Tenzin threw up his arms in exasperation as his brother ran over to the desk and took a seat, folding his hands on the desk. "Bumi, you are not acting natural." He sat in one of the chairs and opened his book again.
"Fine," Bumi said, standing again and walking behind his brother. He put his hands on the back of the chair and leaned over Tenzin's shoulder, "What do I normally do?"
Tenzin's jaw dropped and he stared at his brother for a second, "You seriously have to ask me? Do you realize how many times you have annoyed me today? Why is it that you can't leave me alone?" His voice was slowly rising and Bumi pouted as Sokka opened the door.
"Boys, the meeting's over. Bumi, stop tormenting your brother, and let's go get some ice cream or something."
Sokka had already turned around and Bumi grinned before winking at his brother, "That, is how I act natural." He chuckled a bit at the boy's expression, and followed his uncle out of the room.
Tenzin snapped the book shut once again and shook his head, standing to follow them, "Well played, Bumi."
When they had gotten their ice cream and were sitting in the park, Bumi asked, "So what were you guys talking about while we were in your office? Anything interesting?"
Sokka turned to face the boys, a sad smile on his lips, "Nah. Some fisherman just had some concerns about the docks that he shared with us last week."
Tenzin stopped mid-lick when he heard his uncle's obvious lie. Bumi stared at his ice cream for a second, watching the chocolate melt down the cone. "Did you guys get the problem fixed?" he asked, casting a glance at his uncle, who had finished nearly half of the ice cream.
"Not quite, but we're working on it. Don't worry about it Kiddo," he said with a wave of hand. Bumi shared a glance with Tenzin, but just continued eating his ice cream, his mind buzzing with hundreds of questions about this Yakone guy. Tenzin had apparently decided that it was none of his business and resumed making sure his ice cream didn't melt onto his fingers. Bumi hated when patience was needed, but he knew he would eventually be let into the loop, or at least figure things out on his own.
It seemed these meetings weren't as boring as he originally thought.
I know it sucks, but adults lie to kids all the time, so why not. I dont always agree, but sometimes it's to keep them safe and not worried, which is what Sokka lied for. Just clearing that up in case you were wondering. I doubt Sokka would lie if he thought they could handle the truth. I'll admit, i would be terified. I'm 16, but every time i see bloodbending on avatar or korra, it creeps me out, and i know it's not real. Imagine being an 8-10 year old where it does exist. Yeah, i would want to stay as ignorant as possible for as long as possible.
Anyways, i'll try to finish the next chapter and have it uploaded soon, but ya never know. Please, review if you can, or want to. If you don't okay, but you have no chance to make me smile. Anyways, ciao.