My Fire Was Fate With You

(This is the design for the betrothal necklace, credit to holsen08 on DevinArt. The design referenced in this fic is the bottom right)

Kya sat in a lotus meditative position, the rising sun casting warm golden light onto her skin. She breathed in and out, letting her mind and body become overtaken with calm. Before long, the previous day with the Air Acolytes at the temple was all she could think about. She knew they were excited at the possibility of more airbenders, but the comment “Avatar Aang had other children?” stung. Was her father really that ashamed of her? Did the world really forget about her?

She shook her head and let out a sigh, giving up on meditation. She pulled out water from the pouch on her waist and bent the water back and forth between her hands. She let herself get pulled into the familiarity of her bending, feeling the tension recede a bit. She knew she would never be fully out of her father’s shadow, but she wished Lin was here. Her girlfriend had an innate ability to sense when she was upset and reassure her with compliments.

She sat on a rock warmed by the morning sun while Tenzin sat and sipped on his tea. Pema joined them soon after, holding little Rohan. She let the two parents enjoy some rare peace and fed the lemurs by her feet.

Before long, Bumi made his presence known in the way that only Bumi could: by jumping onto a rock and giving Kya a small heart attack over his suspicious lack of clothing. “Well, lookee here, ‘Vacation Tenzin’ has finally decided to join us.”

“Yes he has,” Tenzin said, picking up Rohan and cooing over his baby. Kya was content to zone out for a while until his next sentence caught her attention. “And I've really enjoyed having you two around. Reminds me of all those great vacations we took as kids with Dad.”

Kya frowned, feeling those familiar feelings of inadequacy rise within her. “Uhh I think your memory’s a little foggy. Bumi and I weren’t on those great vacations. It was also just you and Dad.”

Kya tried her hardest to keep the venom from entering her voice, but thankfully her niece and nephew broke up the scene before long. She let out a quiet sigh and tried to get her emotions under control. She knew she shouldn’t blame Tenzin, but spirits, someone needed to knock some sense into his thick skull.

She heard Pema blow up at her children, which rarely happened with the relaxed woman. “Honestly, I don’t know why you kids just can’t get along!”

 Kya instinctively looked for Ikki, who always took her mother’s words to heart, before realizing she wasn’t there. Kya quickly connected the dots and walked over to her brothers, hearing Bumi offer to help look for her. “What do you say we all go together?” she asked, latching onto their shoulders.

Tenzin accepted her offer with a sincere smile, "Sure, I could use the help.”

This was a horrible idea. This was a really fucking bad idea. She began quietly shaking after the argument between her and her brothers. She and Bumi had turned to walk back to the temple, but she quickly ran into a nearby cave. All of the feelings of inadequacy had built up and exploded in her face and she needed to be alone right now. 

She sat on the floor of the rocky cave, not even feeling the sharp stones stab at her skin. All she felt was a suffocating feeling of worthlessness. She couldn’t even hold back her pathetic tears and sobs, letting out the pain she had carried for years. 

Li Meiza’s sessions and her girlfriend were the only reasons Kya hadn’t hurled herself off the edge of the cliff. She didn’t actively crave death, but when she got extremely hurt, everything felt like too much. It would be easier to be dead than deal with the shitstorm of emotions rolling through her right now.

She was so lost in her emotions she didn’t even register arms encircling her until Bumi began muttering assurances into her hair. “Kya, it’s okay. I’m here, I’ll always try to be. You’re safe with me,” he said, running a hand up and down her back gently. 

Kya let herself cry all the tears she could, head pressed into her brother’s shoulder, his arms holding her in a reassuring hug. Oftentimes when they were younger, the positions were reversed. One particular memory struck her at this moment. 

She opened the door to her brother’s room, noticing the tears on his face. She silently walked up to her older brother and wrapped her arms around him into a tight hug. 

“Bum, what’s wrong?”

He looked at her with tears in his eyes. “I’m not a bender. I can’t bend water like you and I can't bend air like Tenny. I’m the only nonbender child to the Avatar and his famous crazy talented waterbending wife. I think I was a mistake,” he admitted softly.

He pressed his head into her shoulder while she ran a hand up and down her older brother’s back. “Bumi, you’re not a mistake. You may be a nonbender, but so is Uncle Sokka. He fought so many benders in the war and came up with so many helpful inventions. Yeah, he can’t bend, but that’s okay. You aren’t a mistake for not being able to bend.”

She pressed a kiss to his hair. “I’ll always try to be here for you, no matter what. We’re family and family doesn’t abandon each other. I love you the same, and if Mom and Dad can’t, then they’re stupid.”

He let out a watery chuckle. “Thanks Ky,” he said, head still tucked into her shoulder.

“It’s what siblings are for.” She continued to hold him even after he had stopped crying, just offering silent support.

“Ky, can you tell me what’s going on in your spiral?” he asked, tightening his hug. “I recognize it from last time.”

“I...I feel like a failure. I fucked up with you and Tenny.” He stayed silent, knowing she only called them by their nicknames when she was really upset, annoyed with them or happy. It wasn’t hard to tell which she was feeling right now. “I hurt you with the bender bullshit and I hurt Tenny with the legacy shit. I don’t feel worthy enough to be in this family, much less ask someone else to join it.” 

She pulled her fluorite out of its sealskin pouch. “She deserves someone better than me. She deserves better than a half assed waterbender fuck up.” 

Bumi picked the stone out of her hand and placed it back in the pouch. “Ky, you aren’t a fuck up. I’m sure your girlfriend loves you and you love her. Love is scary and you’re constantly afraid of failing the other, but you two will work through it.” He ran his fingers through her hair and pressed a kiss to her forehead. 

The two sat in silence until Kya felt herself calm down. “Bum, I’m-”

He held his hand up, cutting her off. “You don’t get to apologize to me. We all hurt each other tonight. I’m sorry and I know you are too, but you’ll also apologize for letting me help you. We’re siblings, yeah we’ll be bitches to each other, but we love each other. I love you.”

“I love you too,” she said, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug.

“Do you want to get up? I know these stones aren’t exactly comfy, but hey I don’t judge.”

She let out a small laugh. “Yeah, please.” She took the hand he extended to her and followed him as he walked out of the cave. 

“So, I heard you mention a girlfriend. Tell me about her if you can,” he said. “I know you want to propose or have it on your mind so it’s serious. I think I know who it is, so if you can, tell me so I know if I’m right or wrong.”

She blushed. “Yeah, it is serious. She’s not out to her family but she hasn’t spoken to them in years so I don’t know why she gives a shit. We’ve been living together for a while and she makes me happy Bum. I’ve never felt this type of happiness until her.”

“So, is it Lin?” At her shocked face, he let out a chuckle. “I mean, ever since I heard you were living together I had my suspicions. Then, when you came over before we left, I noticed your lovestruck look whenever Lin’s name was mentioned. I don’t know how Tenzin hasn’t noticed, but he’s oblivious as fuck.”

She laughed. “Yeah, he is. She’s incredible. The reason I spiraled so bad last time was we had our first big fight. We went to therapy after that and our relationship is pretty damn stable. I mean...I want to marry her but I don’t know if she will accept it in reality.”

He raised an eyebrow at the last sentence. “Okay so, this is a fun story, Lin got drunk after we went to a restaurant. She was so drunk she didn’t realize she was speaking out loud and basically said ‘I want to marry her’. We talked about it and as soon as Li Meiza, our therapist, approves we’re going to get married.” 

Bumi picked her up and spun her around excitedly. “I’m so happy for you. You two are perfect for each other and think about it: you can get the best blackmail material from Lin to hold over him,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows.

“That’s not a bad idea,” she said thoughtfully. “I went to the Tui and La Cove during the festival and got her the stone. I have no idea what to carve though.”

He grabbed a stick and began drawing in the dirt. “Okay so, she’s earth and you’re water. You can use the Earth Kingdom circle with the little square in the middle and add Water Tribe swirls!”

“I love it!” she exclaimed, memorizing the design. “Thank you, for the design and your approval. Just don’t tell Tenzin. Pema knows because she’s the one who told me to ask Lin out. Other than her and you, not many people know about our relationship and I know she wants to keep it that way. Something about safety and not wanting me to get kidnapped,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“Sounds like the classic overprotective Beifong to me,” he said in mock serious agreement. She punched his shoulder and he laughed, before looking at her with a serious expression. “I won’t tell anyone, you can trust me. If you two decide on a courthouse wedding and need witnesses, you can call on me,” he said, showing his sincerity on his face.

Her eyes watered and she hugged him. “I want you there on my wedding day. If she’s willing, then I’m willing.” 

The two siblings walked up to the temple, before heading to bed. Tenzin was still out looking for Ikki, and they knew he’d be back when he was ready. When he was ready, they would be here for him. After all, it’s what siblings are for.