The Unexpected Case of Bumi, Son of Avatar

Chapter 7

This is it. Be warned, I was not brief... The chapter is again longer than it has any right to be.

oooooooooo

Sitting in a little cell, chained to the floor, Bumi should have felt angry. Angry at whoever really killed all those people. Angry at whoever planned it all. Angry at himself for being stupid enough to be framed this easily. He also had grounds to be sad. Sad because he'll never attend another family dinner. Sad he'll never wear his red United Forces jacket again. Sad he'll never again get to see Izumi wear it. And there is always regret... Regret for dragging people he loved into this with him. Regret they'll all have to see him beheaded tomorrow. Regret for not spending more time with them while he still had time to spend.

But he didn't feel any of that. Weirdly enough, he didn't feel anything at all.

When joining the army, the drill sergeant told all of them if they were going to stay, they ought to pick their last words sooner rather than later. It was intimidation, but some of his colleagues actually did it. Bumi never did. He figured he'd die doing something rash and stupid, so his last words were going to end up being either Oops or a string of curses. Both seemed appropriate now as well.

Then unexpectedly, around two in the morning, the door to his cell opened revealing eight Earth Kingdom soldiers. He'd been jailed in the City Hall and was supposed to be guarded by a combination of soldiers and Republic City police to make sure there was no incident until his trial at noon.

But the bastards couldn't even wait till then, could they? They were going to kill him right here and now, to not take any chances. Bumi snickered to his fate slightly and then stood up to face them. They could slit his throat just as well if he was standing, but at least they'd know he isn't afraid.

Oh, yes, fear... He should have been feeling that too.

"We're moving you," one of the soldiers said. "Come quietly."

"Why? Don't want to dirty the floor here?" Bumi asked as another soldier stepped forward and detached his cuffs from the floor.

"You'll get what's coming to you at the trial. Our job is to keep you here till then."

Bumi started walking down the hallway, while the soldiers surrounded him. Some of them carrying bows, others swords.

"So what exactly is happening?" he asked and got completely ignored. "It concerns me, man. Don't you think I should know?"

"The policemen that were supposed to be guarding you with us tonight just disappeared."

"What, all of them?!"

The man nodded. "That means someone is either planning to free you or kill you, and we're here to stop either."

Now Bumi was scared. He didn't even want to consider it being Lin risking everything again. He liked the idea of it being Izumi even less. But who else...

The group rounded a corner and after a few steps froze in shock.

"Azula?" Bumi asked seeing the woman casually strolling the corridor like it was her damn house they were intruding in.

"Ma'am, you are not allowed to be here." The soldiers raised their swords and readied their bows.

"You're not going to shoot a Fire Nation princess, are you?" She raised her hands slowly.

"Don't come any closer!"

"I wouldn't dream of it. I came to talk." She smiled. But it wasn't one of the warm smiles she gave Zari. No. This could chill a man's blood.