Tenzin freaking out in a good way for once?

[spiralmovements]

A teletype from Air Temple Island proper:

CMDR BUMI
UNITED FORCES FLEET
OUTPOST, KYOSHI ISLAND

I AM GOING TO BE A FATHER
SPIRITS HELP US ALL

TENZIN

Comments

[abitofawildman]

"Well, it should. And probably would have sooner had we not...we hit the Fire Nation, Tenzin."

[spiralmovements]

"And you wonder why I ask what happened?"

[abitofawildman]

Oh here we go.

"No one got hurt, there's just a tiny breach in the hull. That's all."

[spiralmovements]

"Do I have to hide the newspapers from Mom?"

[abitofawildman]

"I hope not, but just in case if you could impress upon Pema that now would be a good time for a baby, that'd be great. Tell her I'd owe her one."

He's mostly kidding.

[spiralmovements]

"I'll put in your request, Commander."

[abitofawildman]

"I've spent the better part of the last day doing damage control. It's really a minor story and shouldn't make the papers. It most certainly wouldn't if I hadn't been on board at the time. Such is life.

I keep telling the higher ups that It Just Jumped out in front of us! That Everything Changed When the Fire Nation Attacked!"

[spiralmovements]

Ugh.

"You sound like Uncle Sokka and Mom telling stories."

[abitofawildman]

"You're not saying that's a bad thing, are you?"

[spiralmovements]

"No."

It's never a bad thing to sound like Uncle Sokka.

[abitofawildman]

Good. Because the only person Bumi is more protective of than Tenzin, is Sokka.

Mom can handle herself.

"That's the correct answer," he says with the smile returning to his voice. "Fat lot of good it did anyway, no one seemed to laugh. Always a bad sign."

[spiralmovements]

"It's alright though - Pema still thinks you're funny."

[abitofawildman]

"That's hardly a compliment, I mean...look at her taste in men."

[spiralmovements]

"We already knew a sense of humor is not why she loves me."

[abitofawildman]

"That we did, brother," he says laughing. "That we did. And she loves you so much she's producing a little version of you. I don't even love you that much."

[spiralmovements]

"I think the child will be much closer to Pema."

Which has many connotations, really.

Not the least of which is that he has serious doubts about the child having Tenzin's bending.

[abitofawildman]

Tenzin doesn't have to elaborate, Bumi knows the doubts. He grew up surrounded by that doubt, and for all intents and purposes is the personification of that doubt.

If the tabloids are any indication, Tenzin and Bumi are probably the only people in the world who discuss the impending bundle of joy without the mention of Bending.

"For the sake of your child's future love life, I certainly hope so."

[spiralmovements]

"You may have a point on that. Dating was never exactly my strongest talent.

"I sincerely look forward to you being a horrible influence on them, brother."

[abitofawildman]

"That's because dating requires a courtship with not only another person, but with your own comfort zones."

Tenzin is the most stationary Airbender in the history of Airbending.

"But, it is good to hear that you've accepted yourself for who you are, and have resigned yourself to your fate."

[spiralmovements]

Mental images start to flit across Tenzin's brain - Pema holding their child, flying on Oogi as a family, seeing Mom and her grandchild.

"I have no qualms about my fate." Sounding terribly pleased with the scenario, in fact.

"Now, you must forgive me, but I have some business I have to attend to."

[abitofawildman]

"I suppose," he says sounding ever so put upon. "But if you must do seven hundred more laps of the Island before you turn in for the evening, then I should really let you get back to that.

Before you go though, we're going to be here for at least another week or so. SO if anything should happen, dial the base and they'll be able to drag me out of whatever seedy dive I've holed myself up in."

[spiralmovements]

Tenzin is nodding even without the usefulness of Bumi being able to see him. "Yes, of course.

"I hope to have some more exciting news when I speak to you next."

[abitofawildman]

"That, my dear brother, makes two of us."