The next few days were a hazy blur to Bumi. He was excused from his ship-duties until they made it into port, where he’d be let loose to go take care of Aang’s affairs. Most of that time was spent in his bunk, staring up at the ceiling in a mental fog.
When the FNS Kuchiku-kan pulled into port, Bumi was the first to descend the ramp onto the docks, where Kya was anxiously awaiting him. She appeared no worse for wear, given the circumstance, and greeted Bumi with a wordless hug that he returned almost mechanically. They booked a night at a local hotel before booking passage to Republic City to manage their father’s affairs. And much like his voyage into port, Bumi spent most of that time lying on his bed and staring up at the ceiling.
"Bumi," Kya prompted, sitting on her own bed and looking at her brother, "I know what you’re feeling right now, and bottling it up isn’t going to help. I know Mom’s going to be a wreck when we meet her, so the two of us have to be strong to support her when we get there. You can open up to me. Tell me what’s on your mind."
Bumi gave Kya a sidelong glance. What was he supposed to tell her? That he’d felt nothing since he’d received news of his father’s passing? That he was a heartless monster for not feeling the same horror and dismay at the death of quite possibly the greatest Avatar? Restorer of Balance and founder of Republic City? He wordlessly rolled over to face the far wall.
Kya frowned and blinked back the tears. “Bumi, please. Let’s talk about this.” She stood and placed a hand on Bumi’s shoulder.
Bumi rolled off the bed to his feet opposite Kya, knocking her hand away with his wrist. “I don’t want to talk about it Kya!” he said, much louder and more forcefully than he intended. “There’s nothing to talk about. Dad’s dead and we have to go clean up his mess! Mother’s going to want the whole family back together, and that means fawning over Ten-Ten, Aunt Toph and Lin are going to be there, grouchy as always, as well as Uncle Zuko and Izumi (that’ll be fun and awkward.) I can’t go through all of that, I just can’t!" Bumi stormed past a horrified Kya to door of their room and left, letting the door slam behind him.
He fumed through the hallway of the hotel, not knowing where he was going or what he intended to do when he got there. He just knew he had to get away; he had to find somewhere where he could escape all of the anxiety and self-loathing that had been building up inside of him.
He could hear Kya’s footsteps behind him, and he picked up the pace of his angry march, trying to get away without giving her the satisfaction of having to run.
What happened next was so fast, Bumi didn’t even register. As he turned to face Kya, his hand was raised to strike. His sister, with reflexes born and bred from the world’s greatest waterbender, shot a jet of water from her waist-pouch, blasting her brother against the wall of the corridor and freezing him in place. Her bright blue eyes flashed with outrage.
"That’s not fair, Kya!" Bumi shouted, his temper getting the better of him. "Let me down! Let me down now!”
Kya shook her head, her expression a mixture of pity and contempt as she watched Bumi fruitlessly struggle against the ice securing him to the wall.
"It’s not fair, Kya!" Bumi shouted again. "It’s not fair! It’s not… It’s not fair…"
All of the emotion that had been brewing inside of Bumi seemed to surge forth and burn out within Bumi as he was forced to face his sister and accept that he couldn’t escape the ramifications of his father’s death.
Seeing the change come over her brother, Kya melted the water and bended it back into her waist-pouch, catching Bumi in a tight hug as he was released.
Bumi returned the hug in full. “You shouldn’t have done that,” he said softly. “I’m soaked to the bone.”
"I got all the water I used back in the pouch. You’re fine." Kya replied, still holding on.
"No. I’m pretty sure you missed some." Bumi said, pressing a wet face into his sister’s shoulder. His body shook silently as he hugged his sister in apology and support.
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