Chapter Text
An Image of One’s Family
I sigh when the painter smiles back at the family.
“The portrait of your lovely family is done, General Daiyu” he says with a bright smile to Mom.
“Thank you for taking the time out of your day for this. I know that you would have plenty of requests from other families, but our littlest did just turn 13” Mom says while my little brother, Longwei, flops onto the grass with a sigh.
“Do we always have to get a portrait when one of us reaches an age milestone? I’ve had to sit through all of them and each of them have been on the hottest day of the year” My older brother, Quingshan, says in a groan as he stands up from kneeling. My sister, Ruolan, rolls her eyes.
“Maybe if you decided to dress in something other than your armor then maybe you wouldn’t be so hot” she says as Dad helps her up.
“Come now, Quingshan. There are only a few days here at the capital that are that hot. I much rather take this than the constant cold down from where I came from” Dad says with a small smile.
“I would suppose so, Mr. Yaochuan. You did after all come from the Southern Water tribe” the painter says without trying the hide his disproval of him. Mom flinches and starts walking over to him with a scowl before Dad grabs her hand. He only shakes his hand sadly. Mom sags some before going over to look at the painting. The rest of us glare at the painter. He might be good at what he does but certainly not on anything else.
“Come let’s get your pay so you can go work on some other requests” Mom says with a strained smile. The painter shrinks some before nodding quickly and packs up quickly.
“Now I want to go blow off some steam. Do you guys wanna go practice on firebending?” Ruolan says while looking between my brothers.
“When can I get out of this stupid dress?” I growl out not missing my sister frowning some to me. Mom looks at the both of us before giving a disproving look to Ruolan.
“Maybe you shouldn’t have said that in front of your sister Ruolan” she says sternly.
“No, it’s ok Mom. it’s not your guys fault I can’t bend anything. Don’t let me stop you guys from what you can do” I mumble out and give a weak smile. Mom only leads the painter towards the entrance in silence.
“Doesn’t mean we have to talk about it in front of you” Longwei says after he rolls his head to look up at me.
“Hey, you can still fight good. I’ve seen you practicing with knives and twine blades” Quinshan says with a cheesy smile.
“If your wanting to firebend Roulan, you need to change. It wouldn’t do you any good to burn that dress” Dad says while pulling on her sleeves.
“I know Dad. I’ll have to wear it again for another painting a year later from now” she sighs out after giving him a hug. Quingchan groans while hunched over.
“True, I will be turning 16 by then” I hum out with a frown. Why do we always have to get these paintings? Where do they even go?
“Come on, y/n. Let’s have some tea while they train some” Dad says before I could walk away and change.
“Can I change first?” I ask with my arms circling myself. He frowns some and my sister gives me a frown as well. Longwei quickly gets up.
“Hey, are you willing to tell me that story about penguin sledding?” he asks and stands next to me.
“Now’s your chance before he tells you no” Longwei whispered to me as Dad perks up some.
“You know that was what your mother and I bonded on when she could get away from her camp” he starts not even paying attention to me walking to my room. I change into something more comfortable than the layers of silk that come with a formal dress. I come out in loose pants that stop mid-calf and a sleeveless shirt. I put on my twin blades and walk back to the courtyard to see Dad still waiting for me. He sighs when he sees me.
“I hope you know you look beautiful in a dress, y/n. Even if you don’t like to wear them so much” he says with a smile that cuts into me. He always gives that smile when he disproves of you.
“A dress makes it hard to fight in” I give as we walk to the kitchens.
“You and Quingchan only think about that. Why are you wanting to be a soldier? Being a nonbender will have it be quite a deadly career for you” Dad says with a scowl. The servant looks up at us bows some.
“Some Lavender and Honey tea for me and my daughter, please” Dad says as he sits down by the table. The servant bows and walks behind the curtain.
“I know it’s dangerous Dad, but how else would I bring glory to the family?” I ask seating myself across from him.
“You can’t think of bringing glory to the family. That isn’t your role” He says with a frown.
“Then what’s my role? What if that’s the role I want?” I say with frustration in my voice. He doesn’t understand. If I don’t prove that I can bring honor and glory to our family name, like Mom, then I’m nothing. A nobody who can’t even bend some sparks of fire.
“Your role is to be my daughter. I don’t understand why I have to keep telling you this” he says with his eyes narrowing down at me. I only look off to the side and see the rest of my siblings firebending.
“Why am I the only one you say that to?” I mumble out. I hear him sigh before reaching out for my hand.
“You need to accept who you are more than the others” he says with a small frown. I only scowl at him before taking my hand away. Mom comes in with a sigh and stops to look between the both of us.
“Y/n, I see that you plan on practicing soon” she says with a smile and sits down next to me. Dad has a flash of annoyance cross his face before he looks away. The servant comes out and his eyes widen when he sees Mom.
“Mistress Daiyu, would you like some Lavender and Honey tea?” He asks. Mom nods at him with a smile. He comes back with another cup on the tray before setting it in front of us. We sip away for a few minutes in silence before I clear my throat to get their attention.
“I would like to stay at my friend’s house, Yazou. He was planning on having a sleep over” I say and see Dad tense up some.
“How many are coming?” Mom asks before Dad could say anything.
“4 other friends” I say.
“Are they-“
“I know you don’t like boys like that, but you can’t just say your sleeping over at one, y/n” Dad says cutting Mom off.
“I’ve been meeting this same group for years Dad, and now you want to get on my case for going to one of the guys house?” I say with a sneer to him. He frowns back in disapproval.
“You can go” Mom says in a deadpan voice and a glare to Dad. “But make sure you come back in time for lunch. Otherwise you won’t be doing sleepovers anymore” she adds in quickly with a stern look directed to me.
“Of course. Well, I’ll be on my way then. They want me for dinner too” I say with a smile and get up. I leave with Mom humming out a sure.
I pack some clothes and hide my blades with a fox mask in the bag. When it comes to this group of friends, the one that I like to call thief troupe, you always need to come prepared. I open my door to see Mom standing in front of it.
“I hope you understand that your father has your best interest in mind. He’s only tense because we’re on hard times with money again” she says and walks next to me. I give her a smirk.
“Is that why he gets on my case more and more now?” I ask with a roll of my eyes.
“Do try not to antagonize him too much, I know you still love him” she says with a smirk of her own.
“Hey, it’s not my fault he looks at me and only see what he lacks” I say and Mom only sighs some. I laugh and wave her goodbye when I start making my way to Yazou’s house.