Read and then let me know what you think. BTW: The Legend of Korra and Avatar: The Last Airbender do not belong to me, nor does anything stated in the canon universe.
Lin remembered clearly the first thing out of Aunt Katara's mouth when they returned to Air Temple Island. She and Bumi had been laughing together over her father's latest mishap when they'd pulled up to shore.
"What did you two do to them?" The exclamation had come before Aunt Katara had even realized what she was saying. Her father snorted and her mother grinned slyly before leaning forward conspiratorially.
"I buried them alive until I thought they learned their lesson and they were so traumatized when they got out that their personalities had switched." Her mother mock-whispered. Lin hadn't been able to stop from snickering and Bumi had laughed his wild laugh. Lin saw Tenzin glance at her curiously, but any inclination she may have felt to join him was dashed when her father had announced that they were going to have a practice now, since they had been in the boat all day. Her mother had snorted but followed when her father led them to the flat pavilion on the cliffside. Aunt Katara was questioning what type of practice they were going to do, since neither Bumi nor her father could bend, but no one answered her until they were on the pavilion, and her father had pulled out the two swords.
"Sokka! What were you thinking!" Aunt Katara demands, beginning to yell about being too young and getting hurt. She and Bumi exchanged a worried look, wondering if they would be told they couldn't learn to use swords anymore. There was a loud argument, but eventually Aunt Katara was persuaded to watch while they sparred. Bumi glanced at Lin, and they both acknowledged that they had to do their absolute best.
They both performed at their absolute best and then turned, panting and hopeful, to Aunt Katara. She was staring at them, an undecipherable emotion in her eyes. Lin saw her father's soft pride in his eyes, and Tenzin and Kya's awe.
"Please let us keep practicing, Mom!" Bumi pleaded. Lin nodded emphatically.
"Please! Swords aren't so bad! They're safer than learning to earthbend!" She ignored Bumi's suddenly pale expression of horror. "We almost got squashed during the cave-ins!"
"Toph!" Aunt Katara shouted furiously. Her father looked to the sky as though pleading for help.
"Katara…" he began.
"What was my son doing, participating in Lin's earthbending training!" Aunt Katara demanded. Lin shot a confused look at Bumi.
"Mom's gonna kill Uncle Sokka and Aunt Toph." He mumbled to her. Her eyes widened and she glanced back to where Aunt Katara was shouting. Her father was trying to calm his sister, while her mother rolled her unseeing eyes.
"Enough, Sugar Queen!" Her mother finally said. "I was with them the whole time; they weren't in any danger."
"You were?" Lin and Bumi chorused. They received an amused look from her as a result.
"Of course I was. You think I was going to leave a six and ten year old by themselves in endless caves filled with who-knows-what?" This was addressed to Aunt Katara, who looked sheepish.
"We know what." Bumi muttered to her with a snicker and she grinned faintly. It was true. They had encountered all types of things in those caves.
"Fine! Fine, you can keep training Bumi in using a sword. But I'd better not catch one scratch on him Sokka, or so help me…" Aunt Katara warned. Bumi and Lin breathed out relieved sighs and exchanged grins.
And life continued on as normal for Lin, with the addition of the ever-cheerful Bumi. When she started earthbending school, he was the one she went to when she grew frustrated with a move or when the other kids scorned her because her mother had arrested someone close to them.
"They're just jealous that your mom's so awesome." Bumi would tell say, or "Your mom's proud of you, even if you can't do every earthbending move." And then he would act silly or prank someone and she would laugh and everything would be alright again.
Their sword training with her Dad continued, growing more advanced the longer it went on. By two years in, she and Bumi could hold their own when they fought against her father together. When they were alone, however, he beat them every time, even if there were close calls. Then, one day, Bumi managed to beat him. It might have been that her dad was distracted by the upcoming important trial concerning the triads, or it could be that he was getting tired after fighting her previously, but Bumi managed it with one lucky move. All three of them stood in shock for a moment before her father grinned broadly.
"Well done, Bumi." He said firmly. Bumi was still staring in shock and Lin couldn't help but giggle at his face. He turned to her, and then grinned at seeing confirmation of his victory on her face. "We'll have to make your lessons more challenging from now on." He told them with a grin. They groaned theatrically, but exchanged bigger grins.
"Snoozles!" Her mother's voice rang from the doorway to the house. Uncle Aang waited with her mother, both ready to go.
"Looks like that's it for today. Make sure you clean your swords and then put them up like we practiced." Dad told them firmly.
"Aren't you going to help?" Bumi asked. Dad grinned wryly.
"I've got to go. We're already running low on time to get there." Lin frowned in confusion.
"Don't worry, Lin, I'll take care of your sword for you." Bumi offered.
"Actually, Lin's going to spend the night here so there's no need for that." Her dad interrupted uncomfortably. Both turned to him in surprise.
"I am?" Lin asked. He shifted slightly.
"Yeah, your mom and I thought you might like it." She frowned.
"You're lying." She accused uncertainly, her seismic sense barely acceptable.
"Don't you want to?" He asked pointedly. She sighed and nodded, accepting that she was wrong again.
"Don't worry, Lin. You'll get the hang of it." Bumi comforted. Her dad dropped a kiss on her head.
"Be good." He teased, heading off. Lin saw Uncle Aang blow his bison whistle.
"C'mon, let's get these cleaned." Bumi encouraged, and she nodded. As they passed closer to where her parents were standing, they heard low murmurs that they could just make out.
"…overreacting…perfectly fine…handle it…Twinkletoes." her mother was saying.
"…blood…This…precaution…" Uncle Aang responded tiredly. She and Bumi exchanged a curious look but kept going. Her mother would know if they tried to eavesdrop.
They easily cleaned and put away their swords before going in for lunch. Aunt Katara had made a fruit salad that they both inhaled. Aunt Katara, who still disapproved of their use of swords though she had grown to mostly accept it, clucked over their hunger while Lin and Bumi exchanged hidden grins when she refilled their bowls. Kya rolled her eyes and finished her lunch hurriedly before telling her mother she was going into the city. Bumi made kissing noises which earned him a dirty look and blushing cheeks from Kya. Aunt Katara opened her mouth but Kya was already out the door. Lin could see the worry on her Aunt's face, and her suspicion grew.
Lin tried asking Aunt Katara to take the three of them into the city to get some treats, but Aunt Katara dodged the attempt and insisted that she'd make fruit pies, Uncle Aang's recipe, instead. Then she insisted that the kids go for a swim. This caused Bumi's suspicion to rise; his head snapped to Lin incredulously. Aunt Katara knew that Lin did not like to go swimming, even though she, unlike her mother, could. Lin took the excuse and rose, leaving her bowl. Bumi and Tenzin followed her easily. Unfortunately for any plans the trio might have thought of, Aunt Katara sent a few Air Acolytes with them. So, grudgingly, Lin changed into the swimming clothes that Aunt Katara kept for her and went out to meet the boys.
They only spent an hour or so in the water; Kya liked to swim more than either of the other three. Then the three played Seek and Find, Tenzin and Lin had a mock-bending battle while Bumi was judge, and Bumi teased Tenzin mercilessly. They all teased Kya when she returned and headed straight for her room with a roll of her eyes and a sappy grin still on her face.
It wasn't until just after dusk, the lanterns outside allowing them to see and the dark helping make their game of Seek and Find even more challenging, that they realized something was wrong. Aunt Katara came outside with a chair, her eyes scanning the horizon worriedly every few minutes. It was Bumi who first realized what was wrong.
"Dad should've been back by now." He murmured lowly to Lin and Tenzin. The two exchanged worried looks and the three headed over to sit on the ground at Aunt Katara's feet. She glanced down at them in surprise before her eyes softened in understanding.
"I'm sure they're fine." She told them softly, her eyes betraying her.
"Liar." Lin whispered quietly, worry in her voice. Aunt Katara huffed a laugh, and they all fell silent. Lin leaned against Bumi, feeling his arm wrap around her comfortingly. His other arm held Tenzin close on his other side, their rivalry and teasing forgotten for the moment. After about ten minutes, Tenzin pulled away and began trying to meditate like his father always showed him. It was Lin who saw it first, the bison rising from the city. "There!" She cried. "Look!"
"They're okay." Aunt Katara breathed in relief. She rose and headed inside to begin dinner, while the three children, Tenzin having been roughly shaken from his meditation by Bumi, raced for the cliffs to better watch their parents' approach. As they moved ever closer, Lin noticed something strange.
"Where's my mom and dad?" She asked worriedly, seeing only Uncle Aang in the saddle on Appa's back. They exchanged looks.
"Run for Mom, T." Bumi instructed firmly. Tenzin nodded and bolted, using an air-scooter to move faster.
Aunt Katara and Tenzin reached the door just as Uncle Aang was landing. Aunt Katara ushered Tenzin out while Uncle Aang and Aunt Katara headed inside briefly. Bumi, Lin, and Tenzin snuck back inside and pressed their ears to the door, confident in the fact that Uncle Aang's seismic sense was not as good as Lin's mother's.
"…bended them. I was able to catch up to him and take his bending away, but Sokka, Toph, her officers and the other Councilmen are still unconscious. Harold is in charge temporarily and he's getting the uniforms off Toph and the rest of the police force who were present."
"I'll need to bring Kya along. She's far enough know that she'll be able to help. I'd have to tell her about it anyway. What about the other children? If we leave them here without someone to watch them, they'll just sneak off anyway. You know Lin is going to be worried about Sokka and Toph."
"I know. We'll have one of the Acolytes watch them. They should eat and go to bed soon anyway."
"I suppose so. I'll go grab Kya, you grab the others. We need to hurry." There was a deep worry in Aunt Katara's voice.
"Sokka and Toph are going to be just fine, Katara. He just wanted them unconscious long enough to get away."
"I know." She agreed, but some of the worry had lessened. Bumi and Lin exchanged a look before grabbing Tenzin and dragging him away from the door. They stood outside the main door, knowing Uncle Aang would find it suspicious if they were not waiting anxiously for news. Lin forced herself to look worried, which wasn't really that hard, as the door opened.
"Where's Mom and Dad? Are they okay? Why didn't they come back with you?" She demanded.
"Your parents are fine, Lin. There was an incident at the trial, and they're unconscious, but they're going to be fine. I just want Katara to look everyone over because the person who was on trial used a form of waterbending to knock them unconscious." He explained calmly. She opened her mouth but he raised a hand to cut her off. "I'm going to take Katara and Kya to the courthouse with me to take a look at your parents and the others. You three have to stay here. We'll come get you when your parents wake up." She scowled but nodded, hearing her mother's voice in her head. 'Things get done faster when people who can't help don't get in the way.'
"Okay." She allowed grudgingly, stalking inside. She heard Bumi objecting loudly while Tenzin followed her. He sat down on the floor and began to meditate while she paced angrily. Minutes later, Bumi came in frowning and she heard a roar as Appa took off again.
"They're gonna be fine, Lin." Bumi said firmly. He proceeded to joke and fool around, trying anything to make her laugh. She was smiling by the time one of the Acolytes came to get them for dinner. They had just finished dinner when they heard Appa roar outside. The feel of the earth rumbling under her feet made Lin grin broadly and bolt from the room, into her parents' arms.
In the aftermath of the trial, Lin clung to both her parents, which was fairly easy since they were clinging to each other. Her father was at their stone house whenever he wasn't at work. Sometimes, he spent the night there when he was too tired to go home.
Eventually, life got back to normal. Lin was happily surprised, though, when, even after she stopped clinging to them, her father still came around constantly. When her mother blushed faintly when the topic was brought up, Lin had a sneaking suspicion as to why, and told Bumi. The two grinned and got to plotting, arranging it so that her parents were pushed together as much as possible. It took time, but a year and a half after the trial, her parents announced that they were going to get married.
Aunt Katara insisted that, as chief of police and councilman, the two had to have a big wedding, so the planning took months. But the party with just family and friends after the big celebration was amazing. She hardly ever got to see Uncle Zuko or Aunt Mai, and she didn't really remember ever meeting their daughter Ursa. Aunt Ty Lee was a blast to see as she made Lin's dad go bright red. The dancing started and Bumi and she laughed at everyone, until her dad made her dance with him and Aunt Katara made Bumi dance with her. Then they were the ones being laughed at. Still, the only real downside to the party was how much attention Bumi was paying Ursa. He kept telling Lin how pretty Ursa was, but turned red when Ursa complimented him on his skills with a sword. He hadn't even turned that red when Uncle Zuko had said he should join the United Forces when he was older! It made no sense to Lin at all, but he was paying attention to Ursa and mostly ignoring her, and she didn't like it. So as much as she'd missed Uncle Zuko and Aunt Mai, she was glad when they left, though Bumi was disappointed.
He shook it off quickly though, and life got back to normal once again.
The next big event in their lives came a year later. Bumi was fifteen and Lin was eleven. That was the year that Bumi started dating. He'd met Her at the park they sometimes went to so they could practice without Aunt Katara's disapproving eyes. They used staffs because Uncle Sokka made them promise not to use the real swords without him with them, even if they had been practicing for five years now. She'd been there the day that they met, watching in annoyance while they flirted, snapping icily when The Girl commented about how cute it was that he was helping his sister learn to fight. He'd drug her home grumpily, but her interruption hadn't stopped them. She was there the day he brought Her home to meet his parents, watching with scorn when The Girl fawned over her parents and Uncle Aang and Aunt Katara.
They broke up soon enough, but not without the first fight between Bumi and Lin that had occurred in years. Lin had demanded that her parents take her home, and she'd cried once she was in her room. Her father had come in and tried to comfort her, but she shook him off.
Bumi had apologized, and Lin had reciprocated, but there was a distance there that hadn't been there before. Lin blamed The Girl for that, but she stayed silent, even when Bumi commented later that it was an insult to Lin that had caused the breakup. Lin didn't care about the insult, but she did care that Bumi had defended her even though they were fighting.
The months passed and Lin started hanging out more with Tenzin to fill the gap left by Bumi. She treasured their sword lessons because it was the only time she got to spend any time with him anymore.
On Kya's eighteenth birthday, they were working on their swordplay as the other adults prepared for the huge party. Bumi had progressed to a double-ended sword, which had tripped up her sword more than once, giving him the victory. Her father's Black Sword was put up for now, which had caused Bumi much disappointment despite the opportunity to work with a different kind of sword.
"Sokka! Come here for a second, will you?" Aunt Katara called. Her father frowned faintly, but nodded.
"You two have been working with swords for six years. I hope you both know not to play around with your sword." They both nodded solemnly and watched as he headed inside.
"You'd think we were babies." Bumi scoffed with a grin. She smiled back. "Oh, guess what?"
"The mountain men who abandoned you as a baby decided they wanted you back." She retorted with a grin, teasing him for the beard he insisted on, trying to copy her father without shaving most of his wild hair off. He snorted and rolled his eyes.
"No." He said, his voice a whine. "I managed to figure out the last piece of the invention I was working on." He explained. Her eyes lit up.
"Really? Bumi, that's great!" She exclaimed. His pout disappeared, eyes lighting up.
"I know! It just needed a bit of work, that's all. I'll get it and show it to you." He hopped up immediately, sword falling to the ground. Hearing it clang, he hesitated.
"Go on!" She encouraged. "I'll watch it while you go grab your invention. It's not like it's going to run off, and by the time you put it away and get back here with the invention, Dad'll be back." He grinned and bolted easily. While she sat, waiting for him, Tenzin came by.
"Aren't you guys supposed to be practicing?" His voice was bitter. She frowned at him.
"Aunt Katara needed Dad and Bumi ran inside real quick." She said.
"And left his sword lying on the ground gathering dust." Tenzin said scornfully. "I don't know why Uncle Sokka lets him play soldier. He's too irresponsible to ever be a real soldier."
"Bumi will be a great soldier!" She snapped, angry. "He's better with a sword than you ever could be!" Tenzin's face turned red.
"I doubt it. If someone like Bumi can learn how to use a sword, I certainly can." Her blood boiled.
"What's that supposed to mean, 'someone like Bumi'?" She demanded furiously. He shrugged nonchalantly.
"Well, he's not a bender, is he?" He said, as though it were obvious. She couldn't help but gape at him in shock, unable to move. He took advantage of her horror to grab Bumi's sword from the ground. She snapped out of her shock quickly and lunged forward, but he dodged back. She hesitated, not wanting to earthbend him for fear of him hurting himself. As much as she was angry at him, she didn't want him to chop his own foot off or something.
It was clear to her that he was struggling. The sword was almost too heavy for her to lift, so of course it was too heavy for the airbender who did little physical exercise.
"Just put it down before you hurt yourself!" She snapped, stepping forward.
"Shut up!" He snapped, waving the sword at her as though she were a fly her was trying to wave away. The sword was longer than he thought, and the weight caused the sword to come down faster than he could stop. She screamed as the right side of her face exploded in pain.
"Lin!" She heard Bumi shout. "What in the name of the Spirits did you think you were doing?" The snarl was directed at Tenzin, but unless she'd passed out of consciousness, he didn't wait for an answer. He was kneeling on the ground, scooping her up into his arms. "Lin!" He cried again. She sobbed and curled up into his chest, throwing her arms around his neck. She could feel the pulsing of the blood as it flowed from her cheek. "Get Mom!" Bumi snarled. She heard Tenzin shouting as he ran, but she just curled tighter around Bumi. "It's gonna be alright, Lin. Mom's coming and she'll fix you right up, you'll see. Come on, Linny, you're gonna be fine." His voice soothed her, even if she could hear the fear and the tears in his voice. She heard the exclamations of the adults, heard them yelling. It took her a moment to realize her dad was yelling at Bumi, that they were trying to pry her away from him.
"No!" She screamed, clinging to him tighter. She felt his own arms tighten around her, but he wasn't defending himself. They thought Bumi had cut her.
"Bumi didn't do it." Tenzin blurted out. A moment of silence followed, but then she felt a soft hand on her shoulder and turned her head, not moving from Bumi's arms. Aunt Katara's soft eyes met hers.
"I need to heal your cut, Lin. You can stay with Bumi but I need you to let me see." Lin hesitated but nodded and shifted in Bumi's arms so that Aunt Katara could get to her cuts. She heard everyone except her mother hiss as the right side of her face was revealed, along with Bumi's blood-soaked shirt.
"What do you mean, Bumi didn't do it?" Her father demanded, face furious and wild, his voice cold as ice. She saw Bumi flinch and Tenzin shudder before gathering himself.
"Bumi didn't do it." He repeated, voice shrinking as he spoke. "I did." He admitted quietly. Everyone turned to him in shock. "I just…I only wanted… I didn't mean to! It was an accident, I swear!" He exclaimed, voice shaking and tears beginning to fall. She saw her father swallow hard, closing his eyes briefly before turning to her and Bumi.
"What happened?" He demanded, staring at Bumi.
"I…I don't know." He admitted lowly. "I wasn't here when it happened." Lin saw her father grit his teeth, but her mother stepped forward before he could say anything else.
"Sokka." He let out an explosive sigh and nodded. "Lin, tell me what happened." Lin took a deep breath, focused her gaze on her mother's unseeing eyes, and told her what happened from the time her father left until Tenzin cut her. She repeated every word of their argument. By the time she was done, everyone was staring at either her or Tenzin, white-faced. Bumi was stiff beside her and Aunt Katara had sat back, no longer healing her cuts.
"Tenzin." Uncle Aang's voice sounded before either of her parents could get their wits back. "Go to your room and stay there. I will come speak with you later." Lin could see that the heavy disappointment in Uncle Aang's voice cut Tenzin deep, and he slunk off without a word. To break up the tension, Bumi swooped down and placed a playful, smacking kiss on her cheek. Unfortunately, it was the wrong cheek and she let out a soft cry of pain. He immediately began apologizing worriedly.
"Katara." Her mother's amused voice cut through Bumi's apologizing. Aunt Katara, who had been smiling a moment before, shook her head with a sigh.
"I'm afraid I've done all I can." The woman admitted.
"What does that mean?" Her father demanded. Bumi's arms tightened around her. Aunt Katara sighed again.
"I've managed to stop the bleeding and repair the torn muscles, but there will be some soreness for the next day or so on that side of her face. Also…" she hesitated.
"What is it, Katara?" Her mother demanded worriedly.
"The blades went in too deep. With time and a few more healings, I can minimize the scarring, but there will be scarring."
Tenzin's scolding, his father talking too low to hear and his mother yelling loud enough that everyone on the Isle could hear, caused even Bumi and her father to wince in sympathy. She and Bumi were told that they wouldn't be practicing for a while, and neither one objected. Lin didn't mind, because the distance caused by The Girl was gone now, forgotten in the face of her injury. Personally, Lin was just grateful they hadn't been banned altogether. It was her mother's reaction once they were in private with her father that caused her to understand just how lucky she had been.
Her mother had run a clean, Katara's orders so that her wound didn't get infected, hand over the twin scars running down her face. She hovered over the area between the top of the scar and Lin's right eye.
"It could have been worse." Her mother informed her quietly, pulling her hand away. Lin slid her own hand up to the top of the raised skin and found barely an inch of skin between the two parts of her face. If the sword had struck just an inch up, she might have lost her sight in her right eye.
"It could have been worse." She agreed, echoing her mother.
A month later, she and Bumi had gotten over the trauma and wanted to get back to swordfighting. Unfortunately, the adults had not gotten over it and so the two had taken to going to the public park and sparring with staffs again. It was awkward at first, the park bringing the memory of The Girl and their distance to their minds, but the awkwardness always disappeared when they started sparring.
They'd been coming to the park every day for a week when they were interrupted by a group of five boys Bumi's age. One, obviously the leader, shouted.
"Hey!" Lin paused but Bumi caught her eye and shook his head. "Hey, mountain man! I'm talking to you!" Lin frowned at the use of the teasing she'd often used with Bumi coming out of the older boy's mouth in such an ugly way but Bumi shook his head again. "I guess being the Avatar's son isn't such a great thing after all. Not only do you not bend, you can't hear either." The boy's voice says mockingly. "I guess the bending skipped a child, huh mountain man? I know your little brother is almost a master airbender. And that gorgeous sister of yours flows so prettily." She saw Bumi's jaw tighten angrily at the mention of Kya that way. "Or maybe, the Spirits didn't think you were worthy of an element. That's what you are, Mountain Man. Worthless. I mean, think about it. Master Katara's got a healing pupil, and Avatar Aang's got an airbender to carry on his legacy. What do they need you for?" The other boys were laughing, and Lin couldn't help but spin on them all, furious.
"Shut up!" She snarled. "You don't know anything."
"Lin, just ignore them." Bumi said quietly behind her. Before she could respond, the other boy spoke up again.
"What's this then, mountain man? Got a girlfriend to fight your battles for you? She's a bit young, but I guess you've got to get to her before she realizes there are other guys out there better than you. Of course, you might be in luck. She's not so pretty anymore, they may not want her." The boy leaned in close to her. "Tell me, not-so-pretty girlfriend, did your mother give you those scars with those cables she swings around?" She snarled at him and he laughed. "What are you going to do, baby, bend me into the ground and then run and cry to mommy?"
"I don't need bending to beat slime like you." Lin sneered. The boy grabbed her by the back of the neck, and she cried out in pain.
"Oh no?" He taunted.
"No." Bumi snarled, and snapped his staff forward. Lin grabbed hers and she and Bumi fought back to back, as all five boys rushed them. They were crushed together, but she and Bumi worked like a team and eventually they managed to overpower all five of them, sending the other boys running. It was only then that she realized that she and Bumi were laughing. Her lip was split, and Bumi had a black eye, but she felt better now than she had all month. "We should get back," Bumi mentioned regretfully.
"Aunt Katara's gonna kill us." Lin commented with a grin and Bumi laughed.
"True." He admitted. They began to walk back to the ferry in silence. Bumi was the one who broke it. "You know what they said isn't true, right? About you not being pretty." He was blushing faintly and she could feel the heat spread over her own cheeks.
"It doesn't really matter. I don't care about being pretty." She shrugged it off. He paused, and she stopped too.
"I mean it. That scar just makes you look tough. You're the prettiest and the toughest girl I know." He said. Her cheeks were bright red, she knew, but she couldn't help but smile.
"Thanks, Bumi." His cheeks were red also.
"Yeah, well." He muttered uncomfortably, starting to walk again.
"And you know that Aunt Katara and Uncle Aang love you just as much as Kya and Tenzin, even if you aren't a bender, don't you?" She said after a moment. He hesitated. "Bumi!" She exclaimed.
"What? C'mon, Lin, everyone knows that Tenzin is Dad's favorite and Kya's Mom's." He said gruffly.
"Do you think I love Mom more than Dad?" She asked suddenly. He frowned faintly but answered.
"Of course not. You adore Uncle Sokka. Everyone knows that."
"But Mom is the one who can bend like I can. And you're the one who Dad shows his inventions and taught to use his boomerang and taught to row a boat." She explained. "Just because Uncle Aang has airbending stuff that he has to teach Tenzin, and Aunt Katara has stuff she teaches to Kya, it doesn't mean they love you any less." Bumi frowned thoughtfully and she allowed him to think it over. They reached the ferry and boarded. She waited with patience that she knew she hadn't received from her mother until just before the got off the boat at Air Temple Island. When they were on the dock, he stopped walking and she stopped also, turning to him.
"Thanks, Lin." He murmured, pulling her in for a hug. She hugged him back with a smile and they continued up to the main building where they were sure the adults were waiting for them.
"What in the name of the Spirits happened to you two?" Aunt Katara demanded when she saw their faces. Lin licked her split lip cheerfully before speaking.
"We kicked some butt." Bumi roared with laughter, a silent agreement between the two of them not to tell their parents what happened.
Time passed normally again, only marked by Bumi's numerous girlfriends and Tenzin's clumsy attempts to flirt with her. She teased Bumi about his flirtatious comments and blushed at Tenzin, feeling flutters in her stomach at his attentions. She couldn't help but feel the slightest bit irritated that Bumi never flirted with her. He flirted with every female that he met (including her mother!) except her, Kya and Aunt Katara. It was as though she were his sister or one of the boys, even though he'd told her she was pretty. Still, she forced herself not to cause any fights, even refraining from making snide comments about his multitude of girlfriends.
Sooner than she realized, it was his eighteenth birthday and he was officially an adult. To Bumi's surprise and delight, her father had given him Black Sword. Everyone else had known for weeks, and their presents reflected that. Lin had used her metalbending to fashion of scabbard for the sword out of anodized steel, making it as black as the sword itself and almost impossible to cut through. Bumi had immediately placed Black Sword in the scabbard and tied it to his waist. Everyone had admired it greatly.
Lin went to talk to Bumi after the party was almost over, and found him leaning against the wall, eating cake. She grinned up at him and he grinned back.
"Thanks for the scabbard. I didn't get to tell you earlier." He commented, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She shook her head.
"It's fine. Lots of people wanted your attention, Mr. Respectable." She teased, referencing the multiple times people had asked him what he planned to do for a living. Kya had decided early on that she wanted to go to the Southern Water Tribe, which was still lacking healers even with the Northerners' help however many years ago. Bumi grimaced faintly.
"I think I prefer T's comments about my being irresponsible." He joked. She rolled her eyes at him playfully.
"What did Uncle Zuko want to talk to you about?" She asked instead. He frowned thoughtfully.
"He…uh…He asked me if I had considered joining the United Forces. With Uncle Sokka giving me Black Sword, and everyone else's presents, and our show at Uncle Sokka and Aunt Toph's wedding and today, he figured I'd be good at it."
"Have you?" She asked in surprise. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.
"Well, yeah, I mean, he mentioned it before, at the wedding. I sorta looked into it a little bit. The only thing is that it's a six year contract every time. So if I sign up, even if I hate it, I have to keep doing it until my contract's up or I could be put in jail." He explains.
"You'd be gone for six years?" She asked in surprise. He grimaced faintly.
"Yeah, I don't like that part either. I wouldn't be able to visit unless the captain ordered us to stop at Republic City for something or I got some leave time." She studied him for a moment; he was avoiding her eyes.
"You want to go." She said simply.
"What? No! I…"
"Liar." She interrupted. He flushed and shrugged.
"I don't like that I couldn't see everybody, but I think I could be good at it." He explained. She sighed.
"You could still write." She suggested sadly. He grinned down at her faintly.
"Would you miss me if I did go, Linny?" He teased. She snorted.
"Not a bit, Sasquatch." She teased back. "I'd be glad not to see your hairy mug for six years." He pressed a hand to his chest as though he'd been stabbed, falling back against the wall dramatically, and she laughed.
"Don't worry, Linny, I'll be sticking around a bit longer anyway. Still don't know if I'm going to." He said, grinning.
"You will." She told him confidently. He grins and shakes his head, and they say no more about it.
It was a week later that Tenzin worked up the nerve to ask her out. She was so surprised that she agreed immediately, and she was even more surprised to find she actually had a good time with the solemn airbender.
It was a week after her date with Tenzin that she found a note slipped under the door addressed to Linny. It's from Bumi, telling her she was right to be so confident that he would join the United Forces. According to the letter, he'd left the night before, unable to bear saying goodbye to anyone. He promised to write.
She doesn't see him again until four years later, just before her eighteenth birthday. He's grown up more since she last saw him, standing proud in his uniform at Princess Ursa's wedding. They both have to save face during the reception, but even the guards are relaxed during the reception, except those on guard duty. She finds him in the crowd and heads toward him.
"Nice uniform, Sasquatch. Very respectable." She teases. He turns.
"Nice dress, Linny. Very girly." His eyes meet hers and, just like that, no time has passed. At eighteen and twenty-two, they laugh together as though they were six and ten.