Letters.

[spiralmovements]

Waiting for Commander Bumi at the principal port to Ba Sing Se:

Brother,

I sincerely hope this letter finds you well and in good spirits. I do not know how long the United Forces will take to forward this message to you, but you had requested on your last visit that my letters be slightly less formal. I will do my utmost.

The White Lotus keep me apprised constantly about Korra's progress in the South Pole. I imagine it will be quite some time before my presence will be required but I am pleased to hear of everything going so smoothly thus far. Mom has become friendly with Korra's mother. I hope she will be able to provide them with some insight into what life with an Avatar might hold in their future.

Have you heard from Kya recently?

I am currently having serious concerns regarding my relationship with Lin. I love her, but I do not know where to go from here.

Please find the stuffed sky bison toy included in the package. Happy Birthday.

Tenzin

Comments

[spiralmovements]

Wait.

"Pema told you about having feelings for me?"

Her exact words to Tenzin were love. She loves him.

It's still beyond comprehension.

[abitofawildman]

"She didn't have to, a blind man could have seen that," he quips as he tries to get a grip on where this conversation is going.

"In your message you said she told you everything. What is everything, Tenzin?"

[spiralmovements]

"I'm confused, now.




"Pema being in love with me is a pretty large everything, Bumi. What are you not saying?"

[abitofawildman]

"That girl, that foolish romantic girl," he says starting to laugh with relief in his voice.

"I thought you were angry at me. I double-timed it to port to get to this phone because I thought you were furious, and...it was just Pema finally finding her feet to tell you how she feels."

No big.

[spiralmovements]

Bumi is the worst romance-buzzkill ever.

"If it helps, I'm starting to edge towards furious now..."

[abitofawildman]

"It does, actually. Thank you."

Bumi's chair squeaks as he leans back, and his boots clomp as he puts his feet on the desk.

"So what happened?"
Because he's nosey.

[spiralmovements]

"No. You don't get the good story until you tell me the one that I'm supposed to be mad at you for!"

[abitofawildman]

"Spoil sport." Bumi sighs.

"You'd been quiet after your fight with Lin, so I sent Pema a letter asking her to check up on you for me. I never really asked her outright to do that before, normally you just came up in polite conversation.

We never talked about her feelings for you because we never had to, they were just...understood. This time she wrote back asking if she should give up hope that you'd ever see her that way."

[spiralmovements]

Tenzin's heart does something off-kilter in his chest at the idea of Pema being so open with his brother, about being in love with Tenzin. Flattery at such emotion, anxiety, embarrassment at not having noticed or not having done something himself --

It all equates to Tenzin being quiet on the line a beat or four too long.

"You didn't tell her to tell me."

[abitofawildman]

"I didn't," Bumi confirms. "In truth, I told her to let go of hope. I've been where she is, and I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.

Her coming to you with that was all her. Please tell me you didn't do something stupid."

[spiralmovements]

Tenzin doesn't know what to do with Bumi telling Pema that the situation - that Tenzin - was hopeless.

So he doesn't do anything with it.

Like usual.

"That depends on your definition of stupid."

[abitofawildman]

From Bumi's point of view the only way Tenzin and Lin are ever going to separate is if Lin leaves.

"Anything short of complete honesty and one hundred percent respect would be stupid."

[spiralmovements]

"I told Lin this morning.

"Who then decided to try and arrest Pema."

But Tenzin's jumping around a bit, isn't he?

[abitofawildman]

"You what?!?!"

Which is followed almost instantly by a loud crash, which could only be Bumi's chair tipping over and him falling to the ground.

[spiralmovements]

"Bumi? Are you alright?"

[abitofawildman]

"I'm...fine," he says struggling to his feet. "You, on the other hand, must have fallen from a great height and landed on your head. Rutting badgermoles, Tenzin! Why would you tell Lin that?!"

[spiralmovements]

"Were you not advocating honesty not two minutes ago, brother?" Tenzin retorts back with a huff. "I think I have to say something to the woman if I would like to start a relationship with Pema in any significant way -- "

[abitofawildman]

"Yes, but I meant with Pema, Tenzin," he starts before his brother can finish. "Not with...wait...what?"

[spiralmovements]

"Hmm?"

[abitofawildman]

"I'm sorry, I think our connection got fuzzy there for a moment. Please repeat what you just said.

...

And I don't mean the Hmmm."

[spiralmovements]

"I said that telling Lin that I want to be with Pema seemed like the best course of action. At least it did until she tried to arrest Pema, but I managed to stop that eventually."

[abitofawildman]

It's not often that Bumi is rendered speechless.

[spiralmovements]

"Bumi?





"Did the line drop? Bumi?"

[abitofawildman]

"I'm here," he says eventually. "I'm just gobsmacked, is all."

There's another moment of silence before Bumi starts to laugh again.

"You heartbreaker, you. I didn't think you had it in you."

[spiralmovements]

"I really do not understand how this is at all funny. Lin will never speak to me again."