Katara pulled Zaya away from the crowd. "What do you plan with my son?" Zaya panicked. What should she do? Give her the honest answer that she loved Bumi. Or how she joined the United Forces to sneak into the fire nation palace to free her mother?
"I love your son more than anything. Even if I was afraid." She chuckled.
Katara started interrogating a more pressing matter. "Why did you attack me and my husband?" She wanted a motive.
Zaya just said it. "I wanted my mother back." Katar looked at her with complete sympathy at that moment.
Katara just hugged, and Zaya tried her best not to ruin her makeup.
Zaya was watching Tenzin and Lin being hugged by the Earth nation's royal pet. "If anything happens to that bear, I will kill those responsible." Toph laughed at that. "So, seeing vibrations? Can you stop, like, say, closing your eyes?"
Toph shrugged. "When I sleep, I guess, but I know what happens around me for miles." Zaya looked at her, imagining it to be a nightmare.
Then an idea came to her. "Is that why the avatar lives on an island?" She burst out laughing, and Zaya joined her.
Then Toph took her youngest cub from the bear to meet a few people. Zaya walked to Tenzin. "Aren't you adorable!" She pinched his cheeks, and before Basco could grab Zaya into her hug, she scratched his back. "There you go, big guy, don't let the air bender go, ok?" The bear hugged Tenzing tighter.
Tenzin's back popped. "I hate you." He said before Zaya got the bear to let him go.
Zaya pocked the air bender after he stopped moving. "He's still breathing." She told the bear; Bumi and Kya laughed at his brothers.
Bumi was brought to one of the guest rooms. "Why isn't Zaya staying with me?" He had asked.
Izumi shrugged. "It's a rule that the bride and groom see each other at their wedding. Something about distance makes them stronger." She left, and he sighed.
Tenzin sighed. "Why did we have to share a room?" She groaned as Kya did the same.
She sat up. "Yea, I'm not happy either. Shouldn't I get a separate room? I mean, I'm a girl." Bumi sat and glared at them.
Once that didn't work, he spoke. "I changed your diapers, So I don't care! I want to get married and have my honeymoon, so please just sleep." He turned to the wall, and both looked surprised that he had grown a spine.
Meanwhile, Azula and holding Zaya as they slept, having not done so in years.
H
Zaya was wearing a layered dress, and the top was a white robe with fire nation symbols on it. "I feel like I'm wearing 40-pounds armor." She said, looking at herself in the mirror. "At least I can use this as a blanket." She said as the maids left and the relatives came in.
Azula smiled and told her daughter. "It looks beautiful; if anything happens, I will make sure he regrets it." Zaya just looked tired. If it wasn't for the makeup, everyone would already know. Next to her, Bumi was wearing traditional clothes, and his mother kept straightening them.
Zaya looked at her. "At least I'm not the only one who could trip." Bumi then checked if the scarf was touching the ground again.
"Don't worry, and your dad had the same issue." Aang was sitting outside with Aang. "Just make sure you two don't move too fast." They sighed, both agreeing to get this done as quickly as possible.
Their family left, and the two looked at each other. "Please don't get more handsome, or I will explode." He chuckled.
Bumi blushed. "If you get any prettier, I might melt away." She wanted to take him into her arms, but the makeup would be stuck on his clothes.
They walked to the aisle as many followed behind them, all wearing white. It was like leading the troops of an army on a parade.
They stepped up to the fire sage, who smiled at the young couple. "Today, we gather here to see these two in love and unity. May the eternal sun watch over you and your future, and may you bring honor to your ancestors. If one is against their union, please speak or burn those thoughts of opposition." He then looked toward Bumi. "Will you, Bumi son of Avatar Aang, protect, cherish and look after her even in times of hardship and sickness?"
"Even after my hair turns gray and my sight is lost, I will." The sage turned to Zaya.
Zaya smiled, "Zaya, daughter of Azula, will you support, guide and bless your family?" The sage asked.
"I will. Even when the sky is at its darkest time, I will guide my loved one through the night." Zaya told the fire sage, who nodded his head.
The fire sage raised his arms, and the crowd that followed them cheered.
After the dinner and carriage ride, they meet in their room and lie on the bed with Zaya wearing her multilayered wedding clothes as black and hugging Bumi. "How is the best day of your life the most tiring?" Zaya agreed.
Zaya took one breath and decided to rip the bandaid off. "I'm pregnant." Bumi stared, shocked, and then he grinned, jumping out of the bed.
"I'M GOING TO BE A FATHER!" He howled like a wolf.
Zaya laughed at that but decided to join in. "I'M GOING TO BE A MOM!"
Bumi decided to go louder. "WE'RE GOING TO BE PARENTS!" Everyone in the castle could hear them screaming like it was the next room over. Izumi was questioning how she was related to these screeching birds.
Azula was drinking and sighed. "They're passionate," she told Ursa, who was laughing, knowing nothing was going on. Everyone except them thought otherwise.
Katara was smiling at the idea of being a grandparent so was Aang, but Kya was holding her ears and Tenzin the same because he had just explained where babies came from.
Zuko was holding the bridge of his nose, and Mai had an idea. "How about we send them to an ember island?" The Fire lord nodded because he was worried they might continue this madness for a few more weeks.
The fire sages were still unhappy and decided to add some insurance. Though it wouldn't work, it would cause much suffering.
They spent their entire honeymoon there. "This place is too nice." Bumi agreed. "Maybe we should get a place here?" Bumi sat up.
"That's a great idea! But what about the money?" She smirked. "Oh right, you own an entire block. I didn't marry you for money, you know."
She giggled. "You married me because I'm funny?"
Bumi smirked at her with joy. "And you married me because of my big smile." They kissed.
Zaya, in republic city and decorating it with Bumi, was a little overprotective. However, "Bumi bear, could you move the crib closer to the window?" she didn't mind much of it since he was just being sweet. She was looking at the baby room, setting up the pictures and plush toys. "Was yellow the right choice?" She decided on yellow mostly because it reminded her of Azula's eyes and Aang's robes.
Bumi stretched out, looking at the big room. "If it's a boy, I'm teaching him how to use a Boomerang, and if it's a girl, I'm teaching her how to use a boomerang and her how to cook." Zaya rolled her eyes, there wasn't even a bump, and he was already making plans. He bent his knees to Zaya's belly. "I'm going to be the best dad ever!" He yelled, and Zaya burst out laughing at her silly husband.
"Stop it, or they might be born deaf." He responded by kissing her.
"Even then, I would love them more." He picked her up and spun Zaya around, both laughing.
Zaya looked at that clock and stood up. "I need to talk with the superintendents about the rents." She said, opening the door. "Wanna look around?" He jumped at the chance to explore. Plus, he still had a day of shore leave.
She met with the superintendent, who had one eye missing and a hook for a hand. "I'm not leaving!" He told Zaya, and Bumi both stared, confused. "I have been here for six years cleaning these cursed flats, the triads tried to get rid of me, and I got rid of their throats!" He said, swinging his hook.
Zaya was wondering how such an eccentric person could exist, and then the fire bender remembered everyone she was related to and decided to stop thinking about it. "We're not here to fire you." His brow rose at Bumi the old man nodded.
He sighed. "I'm Genghis. I'm the only one who works here because of the throat-ripping thing." Zaya nodded while Bumi tightened his grip on Zaya's hand. "That's just a myth to keep out the damn darn triads and their annoying wastes of talent!" He finished leading them to his flat. He got them a seat and tea. His flat was odd. The furniture was made of wood but had an orange color to them, each having artwork painted on it that looked like fabric moving through the wind, and the tea was milk mixed with salt and boiled tea leaves. "So why did you want to talk with me? Hope it's not about Ostrich dung because I refuse to clean it." He spoke with a stern expression.
"I'm Zaya, and this is my husband, Bumi, and-" Genghis interrupted like an arrow hitting a target.
He took his hook off. "You're expecting, your husband is clinging on to you, and I have had nine children, so I can tell by sight at this point." They nodded to this off man. "Please tell me this is a pay raise because I'm the only superintendent who still has a spine!" He yelled to his upstairs neighbor.
"I wanted to ask if you could help collect rent," Zaya spoke up because of the weird man with a hook and gave any of them to talk.
He thought for a moment. "Sure, But I get a raise, and I get to decide what colors the flats are if the renters haven't chosen one." Zaya nodded, and the old man stepped up. "Good! Now who wants fruit pie?" He brought it from his fridge.
After a nice tea with the Superintendent, they were walking through the park. "Haven't changed since I was twelve," Zaya told Bumi as they had their feet in the artificial river. "This is nice." Bumi lay next to her. Watching the cloud swim through the sky and the wind gently touching their skin before flying off. "I came here after we met." She smiled.
Bumi looked at the cloud. "I wish I had followed you back then, and maybe you would have met your family earlier." He stood up and pulled her up. "Let's go before the panda ants eat us." She moaned, annoyed. "Come on. I never got to look around this city because my parents wanted to spend all my time at home." Zaya chuckled. "What?"
"Unless you want to look at a bunch of statues and buildings that aren't even old, then be my guest." He rolled his eyes and pulled his bride to their carriage. The pro-bending arena was getting pictures next to it, and Zaya said her thoughts. "Pro bending sucks."
Bumi agreed. "I know it does, The rules are stupid, but the stadium is great," he said, smiling at the flash with Zaya smirking at the picture.
Next was the Katara general hospital, with the said woman having a statue in front of it. "Wanna go in and sign up to be a clown?" Bumi grabbed her and ran inside. They spent the next few hours making children laugh and reassuring some going under the knife. They came out, bumi still wearing the makeup, and Zaya just smiling at him. The next plan was to eat like a bison after it fast, which was honestly her favorite part. As they went to the restaurant jumping from one place to another, Zaya walked with a full stomach but was pouting about one thing. "I wish I could drink with my fire flakes. It tastes better with Soko," she said, pouting and looking out of the window.
Bumi "At Least now you look a little pregnant." She got angry at that and pulled his nose.
The next morning she woke up alone with a headache and ran to the bathroom to throw up. She sighed, regretting pigging out yesterday, and then saw a note from Bumi. "Hope you're not having morning sickness. P.S. You were too cute to wake up." She smiled and walked to the kitchen to make herself breakfast, and then she heard fire bending, which was a little odd.
She came out of her flat to see a bunch of men in red. "It's too early for this!" Zaya said, rubbing her eyes.
The leader of three raised his hand towards her. "Just talking to My friend here for some money he owes us." Zaya was already suspicious of the Fire bender.
"Ok, if you're his friend, why aren't you in his house and talking this over breakfast instead of out in this heat." She said not to take his idiocy.
The man walked to her, frustrated about grabbing her, until she went close and a blue fire blade was put into her throat. He fell on his butt panting in fear. "Who are you!" He demanded, remembering the older member talking about a horrible spirit of wrath attacking them years ago.
She grimaced, her headache hitting at that moment. "I'm the landlord, and you're a bunch of triad goons who are begging for money, or else you will start burning homes." She gave them a smirk that would make her mother proud. "You already know about my mother, who would be so angry if you annoyed her, little darling." He gulped and stood up, grabbing his even-kicking one to go faster.
He bowed. "Have a good day, ma'am." He ran Zaya smirking at the idiots.
She turned to the Wheelwright. "I hope you're not here for the rent." He joked, and Zaya took out a notebook.
She looked at the address, and that's when the man started sweating. "Nope, in three weeks." She smiled, shutting the book. "I'm Zaya. Just call me if those people come again." She said, writing her numbers in a notepad, then ripped the page out. "You wouldn't happen to know if there are people in this neighborhood who are benders? Or at least know chi blockers? It would help a lot, and they can have their rent lowered." He smiled and laughed.
POV shift.
I walked to the roof of my flat and looked into a family fire-bending journal, my mother's theories, and the current more scientific understanding of Fire, which I added. I placed a few around myself and tried to light each one with only the use of my breath and chi. The only thing I did was melt the wax away. "Argh, this is stupid! That Yakone novsh was able to bend with his mind! I just want to make a heat shield!" I looked at the molten remains. "I sorta made it work." I started with one new candle and tried again. This one is only a foot away, but It should work. "Ok, I just need to concentrate and—" I glared at it trying to set the damn thing on fire with my sight alone, but the best I could do was burn the wick lightly. "—*sigh* What is missing?" I asked, summoning a small flame and lit the candle to meditate and try to ignore the morning sickness. "Nope!" I ran down to the toilet.
I walked around the flats and then noticed another group of wasted talent. "Oh, come on." This time they were trying to scare the Genghis, who showed his hook, and one of the men in green bent it like a straw. The old man then presided to beat the earth bender with his now corkscrew hand breaking the triad member's nose before his friends grabbed Genghis. I launched multiple fireballs at the jerks before one bent a wall in front of me and jumped, creating a burst under my foot, launching myself over it, and then releasing a wave of flames at the earth benders knocking them off their feet. "Wow, you're really bad earth benders! I met people half your age with more talent in little pinky!" As mom taught me, enrage the enemy. Their anger will ruin their concentration, then use your speed against them. I ran to their side, launching more fire at them as they tried to cause as little property damage as possible before I created a lighting currently in my right hand. It wasn't strong, but it did the trick as I released the current at one of their legs, shocking them to the ground, I was about to run at them again, but Genghis ran and knocked one of them out with his former hook and the other one just decided to run like a little child.
I looked at the one who had their nose broken. "He looks better now," I told Genghis, who chuckled, and a few minutes later, the police came. "Hey, can one of you fix my superintendent's hook?" The cop rolled his eyes, annoyed, but once he saw the money I was offering him, he fixed the hook like a champ. After getting our confession, I was brought to the police station and placed in her office. "Hello, badger queen," I told her with a smirk.
She then gave me a smirk. "I need a babysitter." My eyes widened, and before I was able to make an argument or tell her the fact that I was a stranger. "Katara convinced me, and it's better to get them used to you." Note: Tell my mother-in-law not to get me involved with the badger queen. "And you have been fighting and beating up triad members." I did because they were attacking my tenants and superintendent, so I didn't care. "Here, the key to the house, and the tutor should be leaving in a few minutes." She smirked while I glared and took the keys. "Goodbye, sparky toes, the address is on the key!" The smugness was so thick it could be used as cement.
I look at it. "That's stupid. What if a burglar finds it?"
Toph gave me a look as if I said something stupid. "Why do you think there isn't a key chain? One for a different lock, sparky." I left before I tried to throw her desk at her.
I got there on a carriage before stepping out. I looked at the ground, checking for "debris" from the ostrich horses. The moment I entered, toys were flying around, and the tutor quickly walked to me. "May the spirits keep you." Said the traumatized tutor running down the stairs.
I was already done. Nothing could break me now. I made a whistle with my fingers, and the two grabbed their ears once I blew. "That hurt, jerk!" The older of the two, one six and the other eleven. "Hey, You're Bumi's wife!" She pointed at me, and my eyes turned to the six-year-old with a fake smile.
"I'm Zaya, you must be Lin, and you must be Suyin?" I asked, making the voice people did when they interacted with something adorable and then grabbed her nose. "Don't try it, kid, I was a pickpocket, and that's the first trick in the book." Suyin pouted at the fact her innocent act didn't work. "Ok, first, you're cleaning this up, and second whoever does it the fastest gets extra dessert," I said, and then the competition started. Another page from my mother's playbook, 'Make your enemies fight each other so that they forget you,' I watched the two, and not a minute passed after I turned my head before the fighting started, and I jumped in to stop them from bending. "No! What happened?" I let the two children go, and the two glared at each other. I asked the spirits for no twins in my future, in my head.
As if the predicted little one was the first. "She took my badger mole!" Zaya then picked it up, the only toy still on the ground.
"No, It's what Aunty Katara gave me!" Lin pointed, showing her tongue at Suyin.
I decided to give both a scare. "Ok, if neither wants to behave, I will just set you on fire." The first to scream the loudest was Suyin, and I threw it too to the little girl. "I don't need to be your mom to know who lies." Lin poked her tongue out, and I did the same. "Ok, I'm making fried Rice with pig chicken and peas." Suyin giggled at the peas.
Once that was done, the bath came, and only this once I wished I was a water bender because I felt like I fell into the ocean once it was over and then I searched through the radio for the pro-bending channel, but instead, I decided to make up my fairytale. "Once upon a time, before the avatar and bending, there was a young man who was about to leave home, but before he left, his parents gave him three dumplings, so he traveled and then met a pai sho player and after learning how to play, the teacher wanted a payment, and so he gave a dumpling and the young continued as the teacher ate the dumpling." Lin interrupted.
"Why did he pay with dumplings? Didn't he have money?"
"because the teacher was hungry." Zaya sighed and continued before Suyin raised her hand to question. "Yes?"
"Why didn't they give him money before they left?"
"And where are you this bad at storytelling?" Lin added.
I took a breath, stopping myself from burning the entire place. "Ok, how about we play pai sho, but with a bet." Lin raised a brow at that, "I bet 20 yuan, and what would you bet?" Lin looked at the money and what are you going to bet.
The eleven-year-old thought for a moment. "My ball." This spiraled into me getting everything they owned as they took turns. "Um... I bet Suyin." The little sister retaliated by punching her big sister's arm. "It was a joke, and Mom would kill me." I chuckled, wondering what if I had a si— No, knowing Mom, it would have ended with us fighting each other to the death. "I don't have anything left! I'm telling auntie katara to you."
I gave her a smirk. "I'm an adult, and my mom isn't Katara." She pouted, annoyed that I reminded her of the fact. "How about you two go to bed now, and I won't take anything." Lin ran to her bedroom and, hopefully, into her bed. "That was quick." I looked at Suyin, who gave me an innocent smile at me. "Go to bed." She jumped up and went to her room. I sneaked a look into their room, saw they were asleep, closed the door, and listened in to hear nothing. I sat on the couch reading a newspaper, and then the door opened.
She looked surprised by my guess. It was the fact there were no toys on the ground or that her children were asleep. "How did you do?" I smirked, placing the papers on the couch.
I walked to the door. "Blackmail, and I tricked them." I left the apartment and got a carriage home, and once I stepped into my flat, A man in a fancy fur coat stood in front of the door
"I hope you had a good evening; the bars here are nice." He said, slime dripping from his word. "So I have heard you scared off my competition. Now where is the protection money?" I was surrounded, and I knew I wouldn't be able to fight these fools without burning my house. I took my wallet and the one in the fur suit. "Thank you for the donation to the creeping crystals." That moment I burst out laughing, the creeping crystals?! Or less commonly known as rock candy! "What's so funny?" He demanded to know why I was laughing after he told me his triad's name was rock candy!
I just answered. "Don't play with your food," I said, releasing a massive cloud of smoke from my hands and then proceeded to electrocute each one of them before calling the police.
I sat outside waiting for the scene to be cleared and for the firefighter to leave; however, someone came who I wasn't expecting, much less the hug. "I hope they didn't hurt." My mother in law said before throwing the bombshell. "You're staying with us until Toph makes sure the triads stop attacking you." I didn't know if this was a curse or a blessing until I remembered my husband's side of the family was mostly vegetarians, and I couldn't refuse without being unappreciative.
"Yay," I said with a forced smile that she thankfully didn't see.