One-shot XVI: Sick

That particular day, Aang was full of work, although it was nothing related to the other nations, but he was taking care of his children and almost all his nephews. From little Suyin, who was only two years old, to Kya, who was already thirteen; they were all sick with chicken pox, they were in one of the largest bedrooms in the palace with almost one bed for each one because Tenzin had insisted on being with his sister.

But they also had their nurse, who was there more out of obligation than because he wanted to, Bumi was the only one not infected because he had fallen sick shortly before his sister was born, so he was no longer in danger of contagion and his mother insisted that be a good brother and take care of Kya. The patients were somewhat annoyed and bored, it was their first week in bed almost without moving, Aang prevented them from scratching by filling them with creams and moistures, in addition, Bumi took the chance to tease his cousins and younger sister a little more. Aang could almost tell that it was a little revenge for his hurt ego of him being the only non-bender.

Sometimes, Aang had to go out leaving the children totally in the care of their cousin, this time he found them all relatively calm while Bumi read them a story as if they were little kids, but he was not always so lucky, on another occasion they all threw him violently their pillows and things to Bumi who made fun of them because they could barely get out of bed, another second and Izumi would have burned him out of sheer frustration.

This time, Aang left much earlier than usual, he was sorting out conflicts in Republic City that seemed to get more and more complicated, and he was scared that he would have to go personally to settle a trial. While the children began to get bored that Bumi treated them like little kids, although Suyin seemed incredibly happy, because she had managed to get out of her crib and was taking all the stuffed animals that she could in her little arms.

"I'm bored" Tenzin complained without wanting to get out of bed, he was fed up with the itching on his body, the layers of ointment that his 'mother' put on him and Bumi's made-up stories who moved exaggeratedly as he was making fun of them that they could barely get out of bed.

"If you paid more attention to my incredible feats, you wouldn't be" Bumi replied, pretending to be outraged.

"They're all lies, it's obvious that you didn't fight with a platypus-bear" Izumi continued burying her face in the pillow "not even a baby one."

"He can't even fight a penguin" his sister attacked who was the one who felt the worst, she even had a sore throat and was sure that she had a fever.

"I'm bored" Lin almost yelled, lengthening the last letter a lot, ignoring what the others had said "there's nothing to do"

"Bouged" baby Suyin cried, imitating her sister, and trying to get on the bed with her.

"What do the princes want to do?" Bumi asked sarcastically, walking towards Suyin to return her to her crib, because he, although wanted to deny it, was taking his babysitter role very seriously. The twins looked at each other thoughtfully and as if reading minds, they said at the same time.

"A tea party" they all looked at them without fully understanding.

"You know, a tea party. With a table with many kinds of tea and the whole decoration is very beautiful" Izumi began to explain.

"They also serve delicious cakes and cookies to accompany it, we always do it when Grandpa Iroh comes" Tenzin continued overly excited.

"I don't know, I don't think we can eat that much" Bumi thought for a moment.

"But the best thing is to prepare it, fix the table and wear very elegant clothes" Izumi tried to persuade him.

"It doesn't seem like a bad idea" Kya commented "it's better than feeling sorry for me while I hear how you supposedly rode a giant koi fish."

Bumi gave her a bad look but she just smiled sticking her tongue out.

"Okay, we'll have your tea party" the twins celebrated but Lin looked at them doubtfully for a second.

"So, your stories… were all a lie?" Bumi suddenly blushed and before he could defend himself, Lin and Kya were already laughing out loud. He just ignored them calling a maid and explained what the kids wanted, Bumi waited for her to interrupt him and say no but the young woman ran straight to the kitchen. Bumi did not know that Fire Lord Zuko, a little behind his husband's back, had asked that his convalescent kids not be denied anything.

They had even brought slightly extravagant (and somewhat large) outfits for each one, there were hats and other accessories. It did not take long for the twins to forget they were sick, and they got up to wear their incredible suits and to help Kya a little with hers, because being the one who was worse (and having some welts on the soles of her feet) she needed some help with her outfit, while Lin and Bumi dressed the little baby who wouldn't stop moving.

When Bumi thought that the outfits were too much, some servants came to put in the center of the room a table that they decorated with flowers, a pastel pink tablecloth and began to carry teapots full of hot water, a small assortment of different herbs to infuse (mostly courtesy of Grandpa Iroh) plus a large assortment of cakes and cookies.

"Now we can have a fancy party" Izumi yelled. Then they elegantly sat in front of the table, even Kya sat with them despite her discomfort, to the surprise of the others, Izumi and Tenzin behaved like the princes that they are, they did not raise their elbows to the table, they took the cups with delicacy and they did not fill their mouths when they were eating, they even politely asked their guests first what they would like to drink before serving themselves; another surprise that the older ones took was the knowledge that the twins seemed to have in medicinal herbs, because they offered Kya a tea that would relieve her sore throat.

That day Aang arrived anguished, thinking that he would find a pitched battle in the bedroom, but he found something that reassured him enough. Bumi with Suyin asleep in his arms, while the other kids drank the tea that Iroh sent them to comfort them, his kids behaved with great propriety while they seemed to scold Bumi for his bad table manners. Although he also wondered why they had clothes several sizes larger, in addition to a large assortment of pastries.

His children could wait a few minutes, first he had to go talk to Zuko.