"B-but…why, Tenzin? What does she have that I don't?"
"Lin, we've been growing apart. We have different goals in life. I want a family. You do not. It would be selfish of me. I have to repopulate the air nomads. You know that."
"But why her? That—that floozy! You—you cradle robber!"
"Lin! Don't talk about Pema like that! I still love you. But not in the way you love me. I'm sorry, Lin. It's over. Remember, I will always care about you."
"Bullshit, Ten. Bull-fucking-shit."
The hardest part, was that she knew Pema wasn't just some floozy. She knew that the young girl, although she couldn't bend, was adverse in several styles of martial arts, using a variety of weapons, and was a great strategist who could hold her own against any bender.
The raven haired young woman ran down, eyes blurred with tears, and she didn't even realize that she was going the wrong way, until she bumped into a tall, tan man. Chiseled, with a mess of chocolate hair and a stubble, he was very attractive.
"Lin, darling, what's wrong?"
"I—Tenzin, he…he…" but fresh tears were springing up out of her eyes.
She didn't have to finish. Bumi already knew what was wrong. He sighed. It was only a matter of time. Inevitable. He wrapped the earthbender up in an enormous bear hug.
"If there's one thing I know about Tenny, he did it for a reason. He had the weight of the air nomads on his shoulders. Tenzin isn't selfish enough to risk the future of our people on the slim chance that Kya or I might have an airbending kid."
He could feel Lin nodding against his shoulder. "I know. But I can't help but feel hurt." She sobbed some more. "I'm sorry, Bumi."
"Hey! Don't be Linny! It's okay. You're always so tough, and everyone, even you, needs a good cry sometimes. We both know that Tenzin still cares about you." He paused, and decided to add. "And I care about you too."
It was like Lin was having an epiphany. When Yakone's gang roamed the city and made attempts on the lives of team Avatar and their children, it was Bumi who made her laugh, and kept her safe. When she was a kid, she had a crush on Tenzin even then, but whenever she fell down or scarped her elbows or knees, It was Bumi who would react first, he would carry her and take her to his mom or sister to be healed.
She was blind to not realize it sooner.
"B-Bumi!" She started blubbering. "I'm so, so, so sorry! All these years, and you never told me? Why?"
"Lin, you were dating my brother. I like to tease him, but taking his girlfriend is—"
She cut him off with a kiss. He was frozen at first. This was Lin! She'd been dating his brother, the forbidden fruit, the one girl that he wanted but couldn't have. But she kissed him. And he didn't care if he was being used as a released. He's take it, and he'd take it gladly. So he kissed back.
Meanwhile, Tenzin was still standing there, waiting. He was supposed to spar with Bumi, he should have been here ten minutes ago. The airbender sighed. His older brother was probably admiring his reflection is the mirror. He really took after his Uncle Sokka. So when the tattooed young man walked down the corridor and saw his older brother and his ex-girlfriend passionately making out and groping eachother in the middle of the hallway, he was…surprised.
He always knew Bumi fancied Lin. And he was grateful that Bumi stayed loyal to his brother and never acted on those affections. But Lin wasn't off-limits anymore. Plus, he knew that it was probably Lin that had initiated it.
He cleared his throat.
The two jumped apart. Lin scratched her neck nervously, but Bumi didn't look nervous at all.
There were so many things that Tenzin could say. But anger wasn't his thing.
"I know you'll take care of her, brother."
A nimble young waterbender jumped from treetop to treetop, watching the situation unfold. She thanked her lucky stars for how easy her love life had been.
Years Later
"Be right back Korra, let me get a shirt from my room."
"Sure thing, city boy!"
The firebender walked down the corridor to the boys dormitories where a heartbroken ex-girlfriend and a comforting brother were in a tight embrace, kissing eachother.
A cough.
An uncomfortable silence.
"I know you'll take care of her, bro."
A waterbender, not as young but just as nimble, jumped from treetop to treetop, watching the situation unfold. Kya could only watch as history repeated itself, yet again.