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Ever since Boun came back from saving the world and together with Raya and the others, boomed the Druun away, he's been content about seeing his family after six years on the rivers of Kumandra alone and crestfallen.
Although, he has to confess that the overprotectiveness and and the whole helicopter-parenting from his mother and sister, or the bashing from his brothers and nagging for him to change his career choices and become a soldier like his dad was took a toll on it's own. Boun hasn't been taking care of himself fairly enough to be treated as child, even though he is a kid, he had to sharpen himself to pay attention to his surroundings way too soon, had to make so many thins to survive, thankfully his love for food and cooking in general save not only his life but also provided protection from the Druun, just like Fang, safe from it yet isolated from the world.
And then a certain Heart princess came running on his boat being chased by angry Fang soldiers and their even angrier cats, though the princess of Fang at first raised his disdain and slight hatred against Fang in general, she fixed the gem and remained by their side, even if the gem wouldn't work, she would stay for Raya. Together, Tail, Talon, Spine, Heart and Fang banished the Druun and made way to a new Kumandra, through trust, hope or faith, call it what you want.
Boun started to see Namaari and Raya like some sort of substitute sisters when his own family got too much to handle, Raya doesn't know how to cope with feelings at all and doesn't know how to give practical advice when swords are not involved, Namaari's emotions had to be carefully shaped undercover and not afford to let it slip, however compared to Raya, she did have the skills of an "actual grownup", silver-tongued but also gold-hearted, she always seem to know what to do, Boun sometimes envied their royal titles, because they get to have the final word on anything and never be opposed.
It wasn't until late afternoon,while waiting for Namaari for their cooking routine, something they did to pass the time while he needed help with his business, Boun was delivering his last food requests and started to do the dishes until he stopped at the sound of a instrument, a harmonizing and soul-soothing melody dare him say, enticed by this sudden yet pleasing break of silence, Boun put some plates down and got up to step out of the boat close to the shore, curious and indignant to find out these mysterious tune and their even mysterious player. Getting closer and closer to the source he heard gasps and giggles, found nobody but...Namaari?!!
She was using a Khene, think about it like a pan flute but way larger and the bamboo sticks are longer, sitting against a nearby shore, she was surrounded by children and adults alike, she played with such gusto that sometimes the vibrating and calm sounds followed along with the fast pulses and still maintained it's rhythm, before tapping her feet with faster beats with the claps of the small audience and finally ended with graceful swing, nearby people shouted and clapped at the wonderful play, she bowed at the display of applause and waved at the children smiling at her and turning to leave, but halted when she spotted Boun clapping at her, slightly embarrassed she returned gently the heavy khene to it's owner avoiding the boy's eyes.
"Wow.. and here i though i knew everything about you, not only you are a fearsome and fierce warrior but also a Mor lam ? Now all you need to do is sing Raya a serenade." Boun wiggled his brows while snorting at the response he got from the princess, a small cough proceeded by a roll of eyes.
"In your dreams, Em , besides that was just a skill reinforcement, you know i can't let go without a proper challenge."
" Sure, sure, now come along, i need your help with your 'skill reinforcements' with the boat."
"Alright let's go."
Reaching the boat, both carefully re-entered, Namaari sat down on a stool while the boy stood atop it.
"Alright! So today we are making Phat kaphrao, you know the basics right?" Namaari nodded while helping Boun reaching a bowl he couldn't get by himself up the boat, putting the boy down gently while helping herself collecting the fish sauce and the vegetables putting the ingredients on a near cutting board.
"Ok, Now we need to cut those vegetables in very small cubes, so it can fit into the pot and give space to the other ingredients." Namaari nodded handling the knife Boun gave her and with the other hand took two garlic and three onions preparing to chop it "Here i think you might need some help with-." Boun just turned his body to get down the stool and hand her a small glasses with elastics so Namaari wouldn't have trouble with the onions while cutting it, but only found himself coming back to Namaari, already finished with the garlic, the onions and the carrots, all square minuscular cubes, all in neat slices, halfway the bamboo shoots and getting closer to the asparagus. "those?" how Boun didn't heard the repetitive and fast beatings of the knife on the board while Namaari chopped those vegetables at such speed yet such precision is beyond him.
"Easy there undercut, don't wanna see you cutting your fingers and dipping them on the food." Boun joked while returning to stand on the stool next to Namaari, the latter chuckled and dripped a tear or two to which Boun quickly got a clean cloth and handed to Namaari, who mumbled a quick 'thanks' and wiped a strand of her tears caused by the obnoxious acids released from the vegetable. Observing the prowess and dexterity of the Fang warrior while she finished the bamboo shoots and in a hurry, almost finishing with the asparagus, Boun held the cutting board and decided to ask.
"How did you learn to chop this fast? I thought royals didn't had to cook." Boun joked once again, Namaari just laughed and sighed at his curiosity.
"After the stealing gem attempt, mother managed to bring some 'prosperity' to Fang by retrieving one of gems, it didn't magically brought us prosperity though, just helped in the nature of the land, the gem also held the spirit of Sisu, alongside the powers of her siblings, and well Tail was already doomed and so was Heart, Spine was falling apart and Talon needed more supplies after the return of the Druun, so the only ones they had to go were us."
Boun nodded, still wanting to listen the end of it.
"And well, after some 'agreements' between Fang, Talon and Spine, food shortages lessened, and so did the deaths, so mother and i helped in the distribution and preparation of the meals in the first day, it was a happy day dare i say." Namaari replied.
Boun nodded again and sighed "I wished mom would let me do the meals in the house, but she is so paranoid ever since the banishment of Druun she won't let me do anything, saying i'm too young or sometimes too old, toi she won't even let me cut a carrot?!" Boun groans frustrated.
"She's your mom, of course she is paranoid." Boun was closing his eyes, of course Namaari would agree with her mother- "Although, you've been taking care of yourself for a long time, you are independent and self-reliable, it wouldn't hurt to let go and put some faith on you." Namaari concluded.
"Exactly! I would retort but i can't, her roof her rules, i just wished she trusted me more." Boun sighed shoulders slumped, since when Namaari seen Boun so low, said sight tighten the knots of her heart, she can relate to Boun, he's smart and can take care of himself fair and square, but she can also understand a mother's view, anyone in her position would be paranoid, mothers know best, but not all of it.
"If she refuses to taught you, maybe i can, if you allow me." Namaari replied like it was the most normal thing to say, while handling him the cutting board, this time with the rest of the bamboo shoots and asparagus and returning to the sauces. For a moment she thought she crossed a line given the silence and shock of the boy, who just eyed her with a expression Namaari couldn't quite guess, so she held his gaze with a calm and still one.
"Would you? Even if i'm far too young or old or just overall not fit?" Boun turned his head away, and gave a bitter laugh, tears threatening to spill, grip on the board clenching, Namaari was slightly shocked at this display of anger from the boy, she assumed his family was just afraid and concerned, but after those words, she started to consider if some family members like his father or brothers were too scornful or far controlling than the allowed, she would probably have a word with his mom about this behavior, and Namaari didn't have a flying damn if his mother disliked her due to her prejudice against Fang, she knew when to shut people up and put them in their respective places.
Boun was silently tearing up now "I-i'm" a cough escaped, along followed a sob. "I'm sorry, i know this isn't suppose to bother me, it's just i am sick of them nagging me all the time. Don't get me wrong, i love them, i really do, i-it's -j-just UGH!" Boun let the spoon fall on the pot with a little too much force, the contents spilled a little, the boy got down the stool and went to the back of the boat, to calm down.
Namaari put the sauces away to tend to them later, also putting a log in the stove below the pans and closing the pot with it's lid, standing and slowly walking towards the boy, to make her distance known and welcomed, she reassured.
"Boun, you don't have to beat yourself for feeling suffocated over your love for your family, it's your right to feel so, and while your mother have the right to concern," Namaari approached the boy and sat beside him, his arms were hugging his knees, tears spilling. "so have you the right of your independence and free-will, no one, not even your parents and siblings have the right to mold you the way they think you should become, that's why actual 'Parents' and 'Siblings' exist" Boun wiped a bit of his tears and looked at her "You look out for each other, you care for each other, you share the genuine love all members equally possess, but if this condition fails, there is no longer family, just people you know and share genetics with."
Boun snorted "Poetic way to cheer me up, Undercut." Namaari rolled her eyes.
"What i'm trying to say is, sometimes the families we have are not the families we want, but that doesn't stop the fact that the families we need are the families we make, i don't believe your mom is a bad person nor an awful parent, but i might need to speak with your father and brothers, i'm afraid they are far controlling and manipulative, if not too forceful against your career choices." Namaari concluded while putting a hand on his shouder.
"And If you ever need me for anything, you know where to find me" Namaari winked.
"Thanks, Namaari that's sweet." Boun smiled and got up, Namaari did the same but was greeted by two small arms around her waist, snuggling in her stomach.
"Anytime Boun, anytime." Namaari returned the embrace, ruffling his little hair strands.
"You can start by helping me chopping like you do, and i will tell you my secret ingredient to my famous congee."
"Deal."
"Dinner's ready!" Boun shouted while bringing two bowls and Namaari managing to bring four, Boun sat the two bowls for himself and the other to Noi, Namaari handled one to herself and the other three to Raya, Tong and Sisu, all of them thanked Boun and Namaari and resumed to eating.
"Fried egg or rice?" Boun asked Namaari, Raya's head snapped at Boun and then at Namaari, the latter froze for some seconds before quickly adding "B-Both please"
"My you are hungry, didn't knew a plate of rice could make you drool." Sisu innocently joked.
"Hey, this meal is great, can't blame her." Tong laughed while picking a portion of his shrimp and giving it to Noi.
"What can i say, i have a great sous-chef." Boun bumped Namaari's shoulder. The rest of the crew grew silent and stared at Namaari with mouth open.
"Namaari can cook!?" Raya, Tong and Sisu shouted. Namaari recoiled back in her seat, shoulders slumped.
"Why didn't you told us?" Sisu asked the alarmed princess.
"You mean to tell me you were cooking delicious meals with Boun, ALL THE TIME, and you didn't said a word?!" Tong shouted indignant at Namaari, who just recoiled in her seat even more and stared at him with slight anxiety, just shrugged while a bit shaken.
"You are infuriating." Raya prompted, she was also going to shout, indignant of why Namaari chose not to take credit, probably glaring at Boun to not spill it, but upon noticing her shaken and anxious attitude towards the shouting of Tong, she kept it to herself, Namaari seemed always on the edge of anxiety.
"From now on you'll be helping Hien with the cooking for Duy. Noi too." Tong crossed his arms, faking disappointment. Noi did the same.
"And to us!" The rest's shouts chanted, and when they didn't receive a reply from the princess, they made puppy eyes, Boun just shrugged at her, Namaari nodded silently "Sure thing." before tending to her meal, another shout of victory echoed.
"Get ready Boun, now you are gonna have lots of customers for sure." Namaari chanted. " With you by my side? I wouldn't doubt it" Boun winked.
Raya noticed their small banter and couldn't help but smile.
"Oh and make sure to help me with the dishes, Undercut." Boun mocked.
The crew laughed at the nickname.
Namaari slowly turned her head to Raya, who smiling just held her hands in surrender.
Schools in Tail were just starting in a week or so, since Bien and Namaari finally managed to fix and repair the educational system, Boun had to hire two workers and change his working shift in part-time, since not only he worked but was a student too, problem is...it's been a long time he even heard of equations and numbers and calligraphy lessons, he started feeling behind his grades due to not knowing how to cope such a different atmosphere, being forced to sit all the time and listen to lectures the whole day, he preferred the Druun.
To darken his day even more, he had to repeat algebra and literature classes, he knew the basics of math but not the more advanced equations, he could write and had a beautiful writing, but sometimes some words had replaced letters, sometimes the d's were b's and the r's were l's, though unlike algebra, literature wasn't going to be a problem, his brain seemed like it refused to cooperate and understand the amount of numbers and letters mixed with signals, who the hell had the brilliant idea of adding symbols and letters to a discipline of numbers?!
Frustrated, he decide to not even ask his parents for help, since it's always the same history 'go ask your ba' 'go ask your ma' 'go ask your siblings', so he wouldn't even bother. But if not his parents or siblings, who could he run to? he didn't want to repeat algebra classes once again. Raya herself didn't had much study either, Sisu is not interested in math, Noi is a baby, but maybe Namaari and Tong could? As expected, Namaari had great expertise in...any subject? Tong's son Duy had to be homeschooled ever since the banishment of Druun, with no one to go but this two, he went to his boat and drove to Spine.
"I would like to throw my axe on the being who created such maleficent worship!" Tong grumbled while sorting though Boun's scrolls, equally confused, why would Boun needs to know how many mangoes their classmate will have if they won't do anything with it?
"Agreed, though it's better Boun gets a hand on this as soon as possible, they will start the final exams for the first semester this weekend, and will demand a lot of Boun during these next days. Where would you like to start Boun? " Namaari proposed.
"Well, first i need to solve these 'x' equation ones, the mentor told us that there is many ways to memorize it, but all the ways they taught me were pointless and i can't memorize any!"
"Let me see." Tong requested the paper with ink scribbling, numbers crossing path with other numbers with a 'X' on the middle of all. He gave space to Namaari hold the other side of the paper, Namaari's brows widened a little.
"These are called multiplication, you count the number by repeating it's addition." Boun and Tong scrunched their faces in confusion, Namaari had to find a more blunt way to teach them. And so, she got up to Tong's kitchen, getting a small cup filled with sugar cubes .
"Let's suppose" Namaari returned to her seat and put her items in the table, picking nine sugar cubes. "your equation says it's three times three, right?" Boun checked his scrolls and nodded. "This operation wants to know the result of how many times the multiplied number counted will be, so if three times three." she got the nine sugar cubes "It means it wants you to multiply the number three by three times." she positioned the three section of three cubes in rows. Boun nodded. "Now, how many cubes the first row has?" "Three?" Tong and Boun replied, Namaari nodded "how many cubes the next row have counting the three from the previous row?" "Six!" Namaari nodded. "How many cubes the last row have?" "Nine!" Boun beamed. "So now that you multiplied three by repeating it's addition, what is the result?" "Nine! Three times three is nine!" Boun eagerly wrote his answer.
Tong noticed Duy rubbing his eyes with his little mammoth plush and nudged Namaari, Duy gasped when he saw Namaari "Maari!" he ran to hug her, Namaari got him up in her arms hugging tighly. "Hi my little crystal snowflake" Namaari smooching his cheek, earning a series of giggles from the little boy before putting him down, and returning to sit in the chair, Duy got up with his father's help and sat on her lap, Namaari returned to Boun's teaching session but not before introducing Duy to Boun.
"Duy this is Boun, say hi to him" Namaari held Duy in her lap while the little boy looked up at her and went to look to Boun, who just sheepishly waved, Duy clapped his hands.
"Bon!" Boun just smiled at the nickname. They returned to the lecture.
"Now let's finish with the division section, let's say" Namaari prompted to ask gently for the little mammoth plush, who gave it to her. "This little mammoth-" "Kilto!" Duy corrected. "Kilto, invades your class and eats five of your ten mangoes, how many times does the mammoth needs to take all of your mangoes in a blink?" Namaari proceeded to use the plush to 'eat' the cubes, Duy laughing at the scene. She got five cubes and the other five stayed on the table." Two?" Boun asked, Namaari nodded. "That's it."
Boun managed to finish his exercises, Tong suggested they stayed over, since it was raining and snowing a lot, both agreed.
By morning Namaari and Tong went together with Boun at the Shrimporium to Tail, so he could get his exams ready and got to the next classes.
Both Tong and Namaari waited outside to meet Boun and hear how it went.
"You think he will manage it?" Tong asked.
"He seems pretty capable himself, he handled the last thirty answers by himself, he'll do great." Namaari replied.
Upon seeing Boun running towards them, they both held the boy in their arms who jumped in excitement.
"I passed! I passed!" Boun exclaimed.
"Congrats little captain!" Tong congratulated him by giving him a noogie.
"Well done, Boun" Boun high-five Namaari.
They decided to return to Boun's home, to tell their parents that he passed, but to their surprises, his father and mother were already waiting for him, and oh boy they were far from happy, before Boun could say a word, his father already raised his hand and spoke.
"Where have you been?" just like that, blunt and cold.
"I was in Spine, Tong's house." Boun replied, with the same tone.
"Oh so now you are having sleepovers outside the lands too? Why didn't you asked us for help with our lessons?" Boun just scoffed at the audacity.
"What for? You are always busy and i needed help with someone with more patience and experience" Boun looked away while looking at Tong and Namaari. They approached the boy, his hands behind his back, head down.
Boun's mother and father shared a disgraceful look towards Namaari and Tong, who in return, glared back, Tong baring his teeth and Namaari's static glare sharp.
The father shoved Boun out of the way, walking towards Namaari and Tong "You binturis were nothing but trouble, not only you destroyed the world and brought the Druun back, but also because of you, our son is becoming more and more rebellious against us!" He finished while pointing a finger on Tong's chest, who growled in return.
"So much for the Fang and the Spine." The mother replied. Tong was in his last straw of patience, but a hand from the Fang princess calmed him down not now, Tong.
"Leave them alone! They are no longer our enemies, or did you just forgot it was all of us who helped restore the gem?" Boun jumped in front of his father, rebel defying his authority.
"It took six years-" the mother tried to retort "we are alive now, aren't we? They did more than any all of you could ever tried to!" Boun shouted.
"Even that traitor?" the father looked at Namaari, she looked back at him raising her chin we're really starting this again, old man?
"She's my friend, she saved my life back in Spine, when i almost fell in that lake." Boun shouted but calmed down when he felt a hand holding his own, looking up he saw Namaari smiling you don't have to , but Boun gripped her hand, I want to, it's not fair.
"That doesn't change the fact that she broke the world-" "ALL of us have a hand in the breaking of the gem, Ba" Boun glared at him, ready to retort any insult they could throw.
"You could have been a soldier, a chief but no you became a...a.." "Entrepreneur and salesman, Ma, i like what i do." "but!-" No Ma, i'm not changing my mind, you need to stop nagging me all the time!"
"That's it! you are grounded young man!" "What?!" "That boat of yours will be sent to another owner! " "No! you can't-" "And you two" The father shouted at Tong and Namaari. "Never show your damn faces here ever again!" Tong already lost his patience "Hey you dimwit, wait a sec."
Boun shouted at his father "NO! You don't get to know what i do with my life! I've took care of myself for six years, i started my own business and my own journey all by myself! Why now i have to listen you when you remained stone for six years while i had to fend for myself?!" The atmosphere grew silent, heavy, suffocating.
His father just widened his eyes and scrunched his face with anger. "Boun. Get to the house. Now." "No" "Don't test my patience, brat." "Don't test mine, old man."
His father got close to Boun, grabbed his arm, Boun tried to shook it off and run to Tong and Namaari but to no avail. Both knew something really bad was going to happen.
"I.Said.NOW!" The father raised his hand for a slap.
Boun braced himself for a hit.
A hit that never came.
Boun slowly opened his eyes, only to see Tong holding his axe firmly and Namaari in his front, she was holding his father's wrist glowing daggers at him, his father's hand was still around Boun's wrist.
"Let him go." "With what audaci-AUGH!" Namaari's grip on Boun's father's wrist squeezed "Let.Him.Go" and so he complied. Namaari offered a hand to Boun to help him stand.
"You damn binturi, you almost cracked my hand."
"You were about to hit a kid, so what?"
"I knew we shouldn't trust a Fang, they are cold assassins and trai-" His mother tried to retort again "SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Tong snarled. No one dared to talk back.
"it's because of your little petty actions Boun feels miserable in the first place. Don't you dare to offend Fang and Spine in front of me ever again." Tong made his warning clear.
"As for you, Boun's father, i wouldn't get rid of Boun's Shrimporium if i were you." Namaari dusted herself off.
"Or what Binturi?"
"Or else i will be having a word with Bien, and he won't be happy when he gets to hear of your suspicious illegal trading with mammoth tusks, buffalo horns and serlot fur, as well as your attempt of corporal punishment against a ten-year-old and unauthorized selling of a belonging without the consent of the owner. Now if you excuse us, we have better things to worry about, farewell" Namaari mockingly bowed and returned to the boat hands behind her back, Tong and Boun were shocked but followed without a word, leaving Boun's parents with words stuck in their throats.
"Hey, Namaari?"
"Yes Boun?"
"Thanks."
"No need for gratitude, it's the least i could do"
"No you don't get it." snort "Thank you for everything."
.....
"Anytime Boun."
Namaari was on a meeting with the rest of the crew at Tail, for another cooking showoff, with a Boun piggybacking her, his legs around her shoulders, forearms and head resting against her own, Namaari carried Boun to boat, only to shush the other members of the snoozing boy in her back.
"Here let me take him" Raya got the boy from Namaari's back, gently scooping him in her arms and using her cloak as a blanket around them.
With the captain and head chef sleeping, only his trusted sous-chef could cook for the crew.
That night, Namaari made Boun's famous shrimp congee.
And all be damned.
It was so good you could die happy.