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“Where are you, Sokka?” Aang mumbles as he searches around the southern water tribe.
The family of the avatar was currently staying there to celebrate a very important milestone in his eldest child’s life.
The problem was-
Aang didn’t know what he was doing.
Bumi, Aang’s oldest child, was going to be turning 14 soon and the avatar felt like a failure of a father.
He always preached about respecting other’s cultures and here he was, a fraud.
Aang felt so bad and what is worse is that he has only tonight to make it right.
”Sokka, I swear,” Aang growls.
If he was anywhere else but the South Pole he would be using his systemic sense but sadly they are in a place made up of ice and snow so that little trick won’t be helping him any time soon.
Aang’s search started with Sokka as the new Southern Water Tribe Chief but he wasn’t there so the avatar was stuck looking in all the common places.
Which was a lot.
So different than when Aang woke up from the ice.
Back then the southern water tribe was made up of tents and a few structures of snow with a population smaller than a raft of otter penguins. Of course today the south flourished ten times its size and had structures that could rival the north but it’s still crazy to think of how much things changed.
But that isn’t what is important at the moment, he needed to find Sokka.
After what felt like forever of searching Aang was shocked when he heard snickering behind him. Aang whirled around and saw Sokka standing there with a smirk.
”SOKKA!” Aang smiles in relief.
”You look like a mama turtle duck obsessed with finding her baby,” Sokka jokes. “I thought you and Katara were going to go to bed early tonight to prepare everything for Bumi’s big birthday.”
”Tomorrow is Bumi’s 14th,” Aang states.
”Yeah I know, are you loosing your mind Aang cause it’s not good if the avatar starts to go crazy,” Sokka raises an eyebrow. He places his hands on his hips and gave Aang a confused look but he didn’t care.
”It’s his 14th that is big in the south,” Aang states again, trying to find the right words. “And I know I’m not from the south but this birthday is important.”
”All birthday are important Aang,” Sokka tells him, looking even more confused now.
”No, it’s his 14th that means he can go ice dodging,” Aang finally says while Sokka’s eyes widened.
”You right, man time flies.” Sokka shakes his head a smile forming on his face as he looks at the sky in nostalgia, nostalgia that Aang didn’t need right now. “I remember when he was just a little kid begging me to teach him a cool sword trick.”
”Sokka, I don’t know how to ice dodge, the only time I witnessed it was with you,” Aang tells Sokka before he can loose focus as to why he is here.
”Oh.”
”I… Wasn’t even thinking about how this was a huge thing in Katara and your culture and I’m so mad at myself for it,” Aang tells Sokka with a grown. “I want Bumi to have both of his cultures but I can’t-“
”Aang-“
”I just want him to be able to do this, I remember how happy your were to go ice dodging and I want Bumi to have that experience but I’m not even from the South Pole so-“ Aang starts to place a hand in his head as he tried to think of a better way to explain this to Sokka.
”Aang!” Sokka shouts grabbing Aang’s attention before he spiraled even more which was a miracle
”It will be fine, we will take him bright and early tomorrow if he wants to,” Sokka waves him off.
”Really?” Aang asks, “we don’t have to set anything up or do anything?”
”No, remember all we need was a boat and a way to control it,” Sokka waves Aang off before placing a hand on Aang’s shoulder. “I will have that handled, just make sure Bumi is ready to actually go ice dodging.”
”I… okay, thank you, Sokka,” Aang smiles as he sighs in relief.
”No problem,” Sokka smiles before waving Aang off. “No off to bed, I know you remember how disastrous my ice dodging was at the start.”
Aang chuckles, he really does.
A huge weight was no longer on Aang, he feels he can rest easy knowing that Sokka will help him tomorrow.
Bumi wasn’t expecting much from the start of the day, he knew his party wouldn’t be until later so he thought he was going to have a calm morning.
Or well as calm as it can be with a two year old brother sneezing air out of his nose and a five year old water bender just being a nuisance.
Bumi saw his mom was finishing up breakfast and Bumi was excited, one thing his mom was, an amazing cook.
Her breakfast are yo die for.
“Morning,” Bumi’s dad walked into the room and place a kiss on Kya and Tenzin’s head before making his way to Bumi. “I can’t believe it 14 already.”
”I know, it doesn’t feel like it’s been 14 years,” Mom agrees as she places a stack of pancakes with sprinkles in front of Bumi before kissing his cheek.
”Mom,” Bumi groans jokingly making her chuckle before he digs into his pancakes.
”You were gone late last night,” Mom says, giving Dad a stern look.
”I needed to talk to Sokka about something,” Dad holds his right hand in the air. “No avatar business, I swear.”
”Good because I hate when you guys don’t include me,” Mom sighs before she gave Bum’s dad a plate of plane boring pancakes, nothing like the party he received.
”I actually went to talk to Sokka about Bumi being able to go ice dodging,” Dad tells Mom.
Bumi was about to place a big bite in his mouth when he dropped is girl in surprise.
”Are you serious? Please tell me you are serious?” Bumi excitedly jumps up, dad smiles and nods.
”We are just waiting for Sokka to tell us when everything is ready,” Dad tells Bumi.
”That is great!” Mom says happily.
”You are going too, dad?” Bumi asks, looking at his father with a hopeful look.
”Of course I am,” Aang nods his head. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Bumi smiles which makes his dad beam more, there wasn’t often times where Bumi could have a special moment with his dad, he was the avatar after all but the boy adored ever minute his dad can spare.
”I wish I could join,” Mom sighs, as she cuts up some pancakes for Tenzin. “Sadly we have young ones who need tending to.”
Dad hums as he cuts up Kya’s food for her, to make it easier for her to eat.
”Well we can forgo Aang,” a voice chimes in from the door.
”UNCLE SOKKA!” Bumi shouts, rushing to his uncle and pulling him into a huge hug.
“Happy Birthday Bumi!” Uncle Sokka smiles and pulls him into tighter. “Are you excited to go ice dodging?”
”Yeah, dad said he was going and I’m going to show him how amazing I am at it!” Bumi says, rapidly.
”You know the tradition is father taking son, Sokka,” Mom tells Uncle Sokka. “I will be happy to hear how it goes.”
”It doesn’t always have to be, Bato took me,” Uncle Sokka smirks.
”That is because dad couldn’t,” Mom rolls her eyes but smirks. “Unless you are willing to watch the kids while I go with Aang,”
”And miss Bumi’s big 14th tradition, no way!” Uncle Sokka shakes his head wildly, Bumi laughs at his uncle’s antics and so does dad.
”I thought so,” Mom huffs before turning back to Tenzin.
”So do you have everything?” Dad looks at Uncle Sokka with almost a desperate look which was weird for Bumi. He never seen his father look desperate in his life, Avatar Aang was always so sure of himself-
He had to be, he was the avatar after all.
”Don’t worry, everything is ready to go and later he can brag at his party,” Uncle Sokka says as he grabs his own stack of pancakes.
Bumi started to shove his birthday pancakes into his mouth as fast as he could.
”Bumi!” Mom shouts while Dad and Uncle Sokka both laugh. “You could choke! Sokka that isn’t an invitation to race him! AANG!”
Soon enough to Bumi’s delight, his dad and his uncle joined in scarfing down the pancakes.
Even Kya laughed and started to eat as quickly as she can too, leaving only mom and Tenzin by themselves.
”They are delicious, Mom!” Bumi shouts as he looks at her with glee. His mom sighs and takes his bow empty plate.
”I will let this slide since you are the birthday boy,” Mom kisses Bumi’s cheek before turning to glare at Dad and Uncle Sokka.
”You two are going to do a whole bunch of work later,” Mom glares at them making Dad and Uncle Sokka gulp.
Bumi knew his father wants afraid of anything-
Well almost anything, his mom will always be his biggest fear.
”Of course,” they both say in unison.
”Now go take Bumi ice dodging,” mom tells them with a smile as she grabs dad’s arm and pulls him out the door, Uncle Sokka moves to wrap his arm around Bumi and direct him out the door too. “I have Kya and Tenzin.”
“Love you mom!” Bumi shouts before grabbing his parka and following his uncle.
”I love you too!” He heard his mom shout after him.
Once out of the house dad looks at Sokka with curiosity.
”Lead the way, Sokka,” dad gestures to the path and Uncle Sokka happily obliges.
“This is going to be amazing, Bumi,” Uncle Sokka starts to say as he leads him and his dad to the boat. “It’s a ride of passage for every boy in the southern water tribe, it helps show bravery and strength. Aang can’t give you a mark so I’m sure that is why he asked me to come so I will be happy to-“
”Your Uncle sure likes to talk a lot,” dad stage whispers to Bumi making him snicker.
”Hey!” Uncle Sokka shouts with a fake glare. “Your one to talk when we first met you didn’t stop talking.”
“I was excited to meet you and Katara,” Dad shrugs.
Bumi smiles at the interaction but the smile didn’t stay, the closer they were getting to the boat the more scared Bumi started to feel.
Did he deserve this, he lived in Republic City with his family, not just that but he wasn’t a full southern water tribe boy, he was t anything really.
He was just Bumi, nothing special about him.
”Hey, Bumi, are you okay?” Dad asks, placing a had on Bumi’s shoulder.
”Y-yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” Bumi asks back, hoping that his voice didn’t sound too shaky.
At this point they already made it to the boat and Uncle Sokka stands in front of it with a smirk.
”What a Beauty,” Uncle Sokka exclaims. “Just give me a second to get it ready and we will be on our ways.”
Both nod but dad kept his attention on Bumi which made him feel uncomfortable.
”Come on Bum, don’t act like that. You can tell me what is wrong,” Dad tells him while Uncle Sokka continues to prepare the boat.
”It’s just… I’m not actually water tribe so can I actually-“
”Of course you can,” Dad interrupts Bumi before he even got the chance to finish his sentence.
Which was really annoying actually.
”I helped your Uncle when he went Ice Dodging, there is no rule that half-air nomads can’t do it,” dad jokes which made Bumi more upset.
”Dad, I’m barely water tribe, I live in republic city and I don’t do any of mom’s traditions and o shouldn’t be doing this-“
”Hey, hey, hey, Bumi you aren’t intruding,” Dad pills Bumi into a hug. “You are the son of the South Pole’s Water Bending Master Katara, the greatest water bender and healer of all time and the nephew of Chief Sokka, one of the smartest men who was able to lead two warriors totaling down 14 ships. Don’t say you aren’t deserving of this because you are.”
”I… I am the son of Katara and you but-“ tears were starting to form in Bumi’s eyes.
”No buts,” Dad tells him sternly. “You are of both the southern water tribe and the air nomads, don’t forget that.”
Bumi sniffs, and nods.
”ALRIGHT,” Uncle Sokka shouts from on the ship. “You two ready for the best thing ever?”
”Yeah,” Dad says grabbing Bumi’s arm and using Air Bending to get them both on the boat easily.
Sometimes Bumi was jealous that he can’t do the same thing.
”Okay so Bumi you have to pull this to go what way you want to but remember on a boat the direction you push and pull it, the boat will go the opposite way,” Uncle Sokka explains. “And you have to tell me and Aang what to do, you got that?”
”Y-yeah, push and pull, opposite way, and I have to command you,” Bumi nods.
”Good now let’s get going!” Uncle Sokka shouts in excitement.
The ship leaves the dock with Uncle Sokka taking them to where they need to go and Bumi felt a wave of excitement, the rocking of the boat and the heavy waves were already better than anything Bumi has experienced before and he has flown on Appa loads of times.
”Be careful of ice!” Uncle Sokka shouts as he gives up control to Bumi. “And use your resources.”
Bumi nods and gets ready at the helm.
He starts out slow, just slowly approaching the area, it didn’t take long for the current to grab the boat and start hurdling them to towards the ice.
Breath…
Breath… you are the son of Master Bending Master Katara and Nephew of Chief Sokka
Bumi took focus as he started to direct the boat, the ice was coming quick so he hurriedly pull the boat which caused them to go left, another thing of ice was coming and so he pushed the control going left.
One thing Bumi realized is that he boat won’t turn fast, it takes at most a minute which could be the difference between crashing and staying above water.
As Bumi started the ship he noticed a huge piece of ice in front of the boat that was fast approaching.
”DAD I NEED YOU TO DESTROY THAT IFE IN FRONT IF US! THE BOAT WON’T MOVE FAST ENOUGH!” Bumi shouts while his dad nods, using water bending to break the ice.
Bumi smirks in satisfaction, for the next hour Bumi led his father and uncle through the ice with minimal damage, they only hit a piece of ice once which was a win in Bumi’s book.
”I- I did it!” Bumi says looking amazed at himself.
”You Did It!” Dad shouts and claps Bumi on the back. “I knew you could!”
“I am the son of Water Bending Master Katara and Avatar Aang, Nephew of Chief Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe, of course I could,” Bumi smirks, forgetting about all his fears.
Dad pats Bumi on the back and for a moment Bumi felt like the top of the world.
“And for his efforts I give Bumi the mark of the wise,” Sokka announces to the whole of the southern water tribe. “The same mark I and your grandfather received.”
Aang clapped along with the whole of the southern water tribe, pride filled his very body.
Bumi was beaming while he was being presented his mark, it was clear to Aang that he was really proud of it.
Aang was relieved he didn’t forget such an important tradition and got to actually be there, he hasn’t been the best father with all is avatar duties getting in the way and if it wasn’t for an off comment by a few tribesmen, Aang would have forgotten about it entirely.
It didn’t take long for the party to get into full swing, Bumi seems to be telling a lot of water tribe boys and Zuko’s daughter, Izumi, about his ice dodging experience.
Toph and Katara were comparing notes about raising two year olds or so they say, Suki, Mai, and Ty Lee were enjoying the company of Uncle Iroh.
He might be getting old but he is still very much the life of the party.
Aang also knew Hokada was somewhere probably talking to a few of his fellow tribesmen.
”Daddy!”
”Kya,” Aang happily says, picking his daughter up.
”Now, why such a long face, it’s a party, we should be celebrating!” Sokka says, wrapping his arms around Aang’s shoulders.
”Tired from all the work we had to do,” Aang jokes, kind of. Katara put them through the wringer for earlier. She was a tough woman and that was why he loved her so much.
“Bumi is happy,” Aang smiles as he moves Kya around to his other arm so she doesn’t slip.
”Daddy, when can I go?” Kya asks, pleading to her father.
”When you are 14 like your brother,” Aang laughs.
”I will gladly take you when you are old enough Kya, and same with Tenzin,” Sokka smirks.
Aang chuckles, that would be great if Sokka could help him with his two other kids. Sokka’s smile turns serious however when he looks at Aang.
”He was happy you were there,” Sokka agrees with Aang’s earlier statement.
”I’m an awful father, I should be there for him, for all of them more,” Aang whispers while Kya burrows her head into Aang’s shoulder.
”You are doing great, Aang.” Sokka waves Aang off. “You are doing your best and no one can fault you for that.”
”I don’t give them the time they deserve,” Aang whispers, giving the five year olds in his arms a small kiss.
”I know, it sucks but they all know you care that is why they get excited when you can be there for them,” Sokka tells Aang. “It’s hard for kids when their fathers aren’t around but they understand.”
”They shouldn’t have to,” Aang argues. “I guess I don’t understand parents that well. I was raised by all the monks at the air temple, if I couldn’t go to one then I would find another but Bumi, and Kya, and Tenzin don’t get to see me often.”
”Like I said I know it’s hard but as long as you are there for things like this it will be fine,” Sokka tells Aang, placing his hand on the shoulder without Kya on it.
Aang wasn’t so sure but when he looks at Bumi he sees him smiling brightly at him.
Maybe Sokka was right, his kids know and understand why he can’t always be there.
He hopes they always know that he is proud of each and every one of them no matter what.