#after the harmonic convergence bumi slowly heals from his traumas and in turn

[notdrifting]

no but - bumi ?? growing out his hair after retiring ?? finally fully embracing his water tribe roots ?? we love to see it !!!

[djinmer4]

Untitled 1/? (Avatar)

“I wish Asami had been able to accompany us.”  Korra sighed, and leaned over to watch the land pass below Oogi.

“The two of you got six months to explore the new Spirit Portal and get a good start to your relationship.  Now it’s time for both of you to go back to your responsibilities.” Tenzin lectured as he continued to guide the sky bison to their destination.

“Don’t be such a wet blanket, Tenzin, they’re in love” commented Bumi, lazing about.  “When you married Pema, we let you take a year off for your honeymoon.”

“You said you’d give me a year, but I actually had to come back after three months to deal with problems.  Six months is plenty of time for a vacation.” The younger brother argued back.

Korra rolled her eyes and interrupted before the two of them got into another argument.  She may have been ill for three years and in the Spirit World for another six months after that, but she knew these two well enough not to let them get into it.  “So, what’s so special about that it required the Avatar presence to fix?”

“It’s not an emergency this time, just something I thought you’d like to see.”

“Yeah?”

“A new Airbender.”

“Uh, didn’t we pick up all the Airbenders from the Harmonic Convergence back before the whole thing with the Red Lotus?” Despite herself, Korra couldn’t quite repress a shiver.  She’d healed from the trauma and fear, but she still instinctively flinched when she remembered how close she had come to dying and how long she had spent trying to recover.

“We picked up those closest to Republic City while you were with us, and during the three years of your recovery we also traveled to both the North and South Pole Water Tribes and the Fire Nation recruiting more.  But due to Kuvira’s actions, we don’t know if we’ve recruited all the Airbenders in the Earth Kingdom.”  Behind Tenzin’s head, Bumi raised his hand and began mimicking his brother’s words, muttering “Blah, blah, blah.”  Korra stifled a giggle.

“But today we’re going to see a new type of Airbender.  One who didn’t receive the power through Harmonic Convergence, but instead was born with it naturally.”

“When you say naturally . . . “

“No Airbender lineage.  In fact, no bender lineage at all.”

“And you’re sure they didn’t get it via Harmonic Convergence?”

“According to our contact in the area, the kid’s only three years old.” answered Bumi.  “Harmonic Convergence was five years ago.”

“Oh that is weird.” she agreed.  “Who’s the contact?”

“One of the Airbenders who chose not to join us.  Although he has his reasons.  He’s an older man, and when Opal and Kai met with him, apparently had been crippled by an accident, meaning it would be difficult for him to move to the Temple.  In addition, he’d just been appointed Mayor of his town when he developed Airbending, he didn’t want to abandon his responsibilities.”  Was that a crack at her?  With Tenzin’s straight face it was difficult to tell, and he wasn’t exactly turning colors.  Maybe it was just an observation.  “He’s advanced over the past three years to become Governor of the surrounding territory, so he’s never really had a chance to train with the rest of us, although we’ve sent training manuals and from what Opal and Kai said, he’s almost a natural at it.  If the parents are uncomfortable with us taking the kid for training, he’ll be a good basic trainer.”

She nodded, then what Tenzin had said earlier registered.  “Wait, was he working for Kuvira?”

“And so did Bolin and Varrick, and we forgave them and worked with them.  Kuvira didn’t become a tyrant overnight, initially many people joined her because she was quelling the chaos that appeared after Hou-Ting’s death.  And this guy was actually one of our better contacts after she started cracking down and isolating the Earth Kingdom.  Not to mention he and his brother, a Waterbender, got rounded up in those purges of hers.”

“Alright, I get it.  I’ll give the guy a chance.  What’s his name anyway?”

“Tarkik.”

“Huh, I guess he and his brother were from the North Water Tribe then.”  She rested her chin on her hands.

“Hey bro, are we there yet?”

“So help me, Bumi, I will turn this bison around and-oh, we’re here.”  With that, Tenzin started to bring Oogi down to the ground.

They landed, and after removing and cleaning Oogi’s tack (and making sure the bison had plenty of grass to graze on), Korra and the two Airbenders made their way to the governor’s residence.  Korra had been surprised that he hadn’t come out to greet them, then remembered that Tenzin had said the man was a cripple.  She was definitely interested in getting to meet the man who had so impressed both Opal and Kai (who were well on they’re way to becoming Master Airbenders as well) and how the man had managed given that he was too injured to join the rest of them at the Temple.  Once inside they were allowed in without any issue and informed that Tarkik was in his study with his brother and that they could go right in without needing to be accompanied by any guards.

Which turned out to be a good thing, because their reactions would have been really hard to explain.  “You two!” screeched Korra.

“Tarrlock!” yelled Tenzin.

“Councilor Tarrlock?  You’re alive?  We thought Amon had killed you.” said Bumi, then did a double-take, clearly confused that he was the calm one out of the three.

The ex-Councilor sighed and rubbed his sinuses with his left hand.  From where she stood, Korra could see the right had been replaced by a prosthetic.  She couldn’t spend more attention on him because she was focused more on Noatak, who was arching an eyebrow sardonically at her.  “I take it Opal and Kai are on another good will mission and were unavailable to act as liaisons?”

“That’s one way of putting it.  What the hell are you two doing here?” she snapped.

“Woah, woah, woah, time out!” shouted Bumi stepping between them.  “Let’s calm down and talk this over rationally.  Maybe some explanations on why everyone’s so mad at each other?”

Tenzin stared goggle-eyed at his brother.  “I never expected a day when you’d be the voice of reason.”

“Yeah, yeah, Bumi the reckless, I know what you think of me.  So think about what it means when I say I don’t want to get in a fight right now.”

“Bumi, how do you know Tarrlok?”

“Kid, I’ve was Commander of the Second Division of the United Forces before this guy,” he pointed his thumb over his shoulder at Tarrlok.  “-was appointed to the Council.  Of course I know who he is.  But what’s gotten into both of you?”

“That traitor-” spat out Tenzin.  “Is Yakone’s son, and a bloodbender!  He kidnapped the Avatar and tried to frame the Equalists!  He ran once his secret was discovered, but I guess he’s been building power again since then.”

“Tenzin-” Tarrlok was interrupted by Tenzin launching an air punch at him.  Surprisingly, it was deflected when Tarrlok put up an air shield, with the swipe being pushed away towards the window and not even ruffling the papers on his desk.  “You don’t give your students enough credit Tenzin.”

“How are you an Airbender?!?  Did Harmonic Convergence magically change your affinity?”

“No,” Korra hadn’t taken her eyes off the real threat since they’d walked in.  “Amon took away Tarrlok’s bending when he captured him.  I guess the Harmonic Convergence gave it back, but in a new form.  Little surprised to see you working together now though.”  Tenzin and Bumi slowly registered her words, then turned to the other man in growing horror.

“Well met, Commander Bumi and Councilor Tenzin.”

“What the hell?” whispered Bumi.

Ignoring him, Noatak addressed Korra.  “To answer your earlier question, Avatar, there was a recent flood that caused damage in the water treatment plant that supplies drinking water for this city and the surrounding towns.  The Governor and I were going over plans to repair the plant.”

A moment passed.

“You were doing civil planning?”