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This had to be the worst vacation Izumi had ever experienced. The Fire Nation princess clenched her fists tightly as she walked away from the laughing group of kids behind her, stomping through the sand. It wasn't fair— she wished the others had never been invited to this trip. Usually, she went to Ember Island with just her mother and father, but this time they had to bring their friends and their friends' stupid kids.
It hadn't started off all that bad, they had just been sitting together and chatting while Suyin used her earthbending to make a big sandcastle nearby. But then Bumi had spotted a group of girls he wanted to show off for, and for some reason he had decided the best way to do that was to start digging the biggest hole in the sand he could manage. Izumi couldn't decide if he truly hadn't noticed she was sitting behind him when he started digging and throwing sand on her or if he had done it on purpose, she wasn't sure which was worse. But when she'd said something about it, he'd made a stupid joke and everyone had laughed. Even Lin, who rarely laughed at anything.
Izumi probably could have brushed it off if Tenzin hadn't decided to 'help' her using his airbending. He'd probably meant well, but instead of blowing the sand away, it had only covered her more than she already was. The sand had been blown into her face, her hair, in her bathing suit— everywhere.
And they had all laughed again, this time including the girls Bumi had tried to impress. The breaking point had been the slight smile on Kya's face. That had hurt the most. Izumi had gotten up and left, ignoring the protestations and half-hearted apologies that followed her.
They were probably just worried she'd tattle to her parents.
When there was enough distance between her and the group, she paused to brush as much of the sand as she could off her bathing suit, arms and legs. Then she sat down in a huff. She wished she had brought her parasol, or at least her towel, but that would have made her angry exit even more undignified than it already had been. Ugh. She crossed her arms, staring out over the black sand and sparkling ocean in the distance. She wished this trip was how it had been when she was younger. Just her and her parents, sometimes joined by Auntie Azula and Ty Lee.
Izumi glanced up at the house up on the cliff. Their vacation home. She knew her mom and dad were up there, and a part of her wanted to go to them. But she knew they were having fun with their friends. Friends who apparently didn't know how to raise their kids properly. Izumi thought bitterly, though she knew it was an unfair thought.
"You should probably start sulking in the shade, you'll burn like a lobster crab," a familiar voice said behind her. Izumi turned her head and frowned at Kya, who picked up a seashell from the beach as she walked closer to Izumi.
Kya ignored the frown entirely as she sat down, holding the shell up to the sunlight and squinting at it with one eye closed. "Think this one would make a nice necklace?" She asked casually, like Izumi hadn't walked away from her and the rest angrily only moments before.
Izumi didn't know how to answer, so she just grunted in response, turning to stare ahead at the ocean again.
Kya sighed next to her. "Come on, Izumi. I know Bumi is an idiot, but it wasn't anything personal."
"He said I looked like a baby badgermole after he threw sand all over me. I just know Suyin won't call me anything else for the rest of the trip! If I'm lucky, she won't just call me that for the rest of our lives."
Kya snorted. "Suyin is five years old and can't even pronounce your real name properly half the time. It might be an improvement."
Izumi huffed angrily, annoyed that Kya had a point.
Kya sighed. She shifted closer, nudging Izumi with her shoulder. "You should try to enjoy the trip, don't let Bumi ruin it."
Feeling Kya's arm press against her own was distracting, the feel of soft skin against her own. Izumi took a deep breath, trying to focus on the conversation rather than the girl leaning against her side."Well maybe he should stop trying to ruin it for me. He's supposed to be the adult."
Kya laughed. "Oh, Bumi's never growing up. We have Tenzin to be the adult in the room, even though he's twelve," she joked. "You know, if you didn't act like such a princess about it, he wouldn't joke around so much."
Izumi turned to her sharply. "What? I do not— I don't—" She spluttered. "I am a princess," she finally said, though it wasn't what she had meant to say.
The waterbender was smiling. "I know you are, but you don't have to act like one all the time."
Izumi looked at Kya's amused face, feeling her cheeks start to burn in embarrassment. She scooted to the side, creating distance between them. "I think I want to be left alone," she said, her voice coming out smaller than she had intended.
Kya's face fell, she quickly held up her hands. "I didn't mean it in a bad way. I like that you're so serious and proper. I'm just saying it'd be a lot harder for Bumi to make fun of you if you didn't act so…" she trailed off, clearly unsure of how to finish the sentence.
But Izumi had heard enough, she turned her face away, feeling her eyes sting. "You can go now, Kya. I get the message, you think I'm stuck up." It hurt the most coming from Kya. Izumi had always admired the younger girl's confidence. Kya moved through the world like she knew she could accomplish whatever she wanted. Like she could make anything happen if she tried hard enough. Izumi, despite being older, always felt awkward in comparison. It hurt to hear Kya confirm it.
Kya groaned in frustration, then got to her feet. With a mixture of relief and disappointment Izumi thought she was really leaving her alone. Until Kya stepped around and knelt down in the sand in front of her. She reached out, taking Izumi's hands into her own.
"Listen to me," Kya said with a serious expression on her face. It was all Izumi could do to focus on her words when the girl was holding her hands.
Kya's blue eyes bore into her own with an intensity that made Izumi blush again. She realized Kya was waiting for an answer, and she nodded mutely, sure she would be unable to form a sentence even if she knew what to say.
Kya smiled softly, then went on. "I didn't mean it in a bad way, I'm sorry. You are a princess. And you're different from us— more refined," she grimaced slightly, "I sometimes worry we come across like a bunch of wild animals to you, and I hate that because… I want you to like me."
Izumi's eyes widened slightly, her mouth opening in surprise.
Kya took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, I keep saying the wrong thing. You were right to be upset, and there's nothing wrong with you being a princess— or acting like it."
Izumi honestly had trouble focusing on the waterbender's words, when she was this close it was easy to get lost in her ocean blue eyes, the hand holding was still very distracting. She swallowed nervously.
"I do. Uh. Like you," she muttered, wincing immediately at how strange it sounded coming out of her mouth.
But it seemed like Kya didn't notice the awkwardness, her smile widened and she genuinely looked happy.
"Good."
The waterbender leaned in, and for a dizzying moment Izumi thought she was going to kiss her. Instead, she grinned conspiratorially. "I'll help you get revenge on Bumi."
Working together to ambush Bumi with a giant wave had been more fun than Izumi had imagined— and the apology she got from the older boy after Kya had been nice, even if it had only happened after Kya had threatened to pour more water onto his head. The rest of the day passed by quickly. They played games, swam in the sea, had ice cream, made a sand castle that was not nearly as impressive as Lin and Suyin's, and hung out on the beach until the sun started to set.
In the golden dusk light, Kya pulled Izumi away behind a boulder and gently pressed her lips to hers. There was only one thought that pushed through the heady sensation of Kya's kiss.
This was the best vacation she'd ever been on.