04 - Family

Returning back to the tribe from his training Levi walked to his home where he saw his mother Kya inside already awake near a fire preparing to make them breakfast while the rest of his family were nowhere to be seen, obviously still asleep.

"Good morning mom." He greeted with a cheerful smile fit for a kid his age as he entered. He didn't want to make anybody suspicious by being way too mature for his age so he still had to act like a child for now, not that he minds, although even then he still didn't succeed completely as everyone thinks that he's mature for his age.

Hearing him his mother turned around and from the look on her face he could tell that her heart melted as she saw him. He doesn't mean to brag or be arrogant but he definitely hit the genetic lottery in this life.

He is a very good looking boy with sky blue eyes, brown hair and a really beautiful well proportioned face. No one could help themselves but want to squeeze him. Needless to say he was going to be a lady magnet when he grew up, not that he was that interested, he'd have way more important things to worry about at that point.

"You're up so early in the morning as always, I wonder what my little munchkin is up to, when are you going to tell your mommy huh? hehehe." said His mother as she approached him and started playing with his hair, squeezing his cheeks and teasing him with a big smile on her face.

It was annoying at first but he is not gonna lie, humans are surprisingly adaptable creatures so he got used to it rather quickly. And especially after Sokka and Katara were born, it felt like a weight was off his shoulders as most of his parent's attention and energy was directed towards them, some children would definitely be jealous but he was only grateful to have some breathing room.

As for why his mother was so relaxed after seeing her son come back so early in the morning? Well she wasn't really worried about his safety, by this point in time there were still a lot of capable warriors and benders in the southern water tribe and it was sufficiently protected so there wasn't a lot of danger laying around, and she also knows that he is more responsible than kids his age and won't risk going far away from the tribe which eased her burden.

Levi wondered if the southern water tribe was always as strong at this point in time in the show, or if this was an entirely different Alternate universe, but now was not the time for that he will have to think about that later on.

"Mom, I said not to call him that and don't treat me like a kid, I am an adult for God's sake." He protested with an annoyed look on his face, but by the looks of it his words have just flown over her head.

"Sure sure hehe, my son is a strong big man I won't do it again." his mother laughed and started rubbing his head and squeezing his cheeks even harder, her previous words meaning nothing.

"Hey stop it!" He said as he tried to struggle out of her grasp, but all of his efforts were futile. Not that he couldn't get out of her grasp though. His strength state is already 3 which is three times that of an average adult. But he still wouldn't do that to his mother even if he could, and he did want to be labeled as some kind of monster by having suck strength at a young age.

He always felt annoyed when he read about characters hiding their power in his previous life and thought it was lame, but now that he was in their shoes he completely understood.

The danger element was real and always present, one wrong move and he would be screwed, the fire nation might hear about him, his own tribe might see him as an anomaly or a monster and isolate him, some people with bad intentions might want him gone now before he can grow any further, only with his life on the line did he understand the importance of secrecy and laying low.

Now he understood, knowing how to stay hidden and unnoticeable was just as important as growing stronger, he would have his time to shine eventually but it was not now.

Speaking of his abnormal strength state, he barely had to do anything to get it to 3, in fact he didn't do anything aside from his usual water bending practice that he does in secret, the system was indeed broken and he was seeing examples of it everyday.

'Sigh, it doesn't matter what highs I might reach in the future, for now I still have to endure this.' He thought as his mother squeezed his cheeks and ruffled his hair before giving up on struggling, surrendering himself entirely and just waiting for it to end as soon as possible.

Thankfully she needed to get back to preparing breakfast soon, so after a while, even if reluctantly, she let go of him and told him to go wash up and get ready.

As he was going to wash up he couldn't help but reflect, he looked annoyed and to some degree he was, but he Couldn't help but enjoy it deep down. He was an orphan in his previous life and had never experienced motherly love like this before, so receiving it now was nice, no matter how late it was.

But, he was still a 30 year old man mentally and was technically older than His mother so it still felt a little awkward and uncomfortable to be treated like that. Those two different and opposite feelings conflicted with each other and made him at a loss on how to deal with it.

'Admit it Levi, you like it.' He thought, sighing before shaking his head and picking an empty bucket filling it with warm water that his mom had heated before going to wash.

Before long he was done, coming back to the kitchen he saw his father sitting there and chatting with his mom who was putting food on the table.

"...I might be a little late during this hunt but I am sure we'll come back with a good harvest this time , so you…." said Hakoda to Kya but he suddenly stopped in the middle of his speech as he saw his son approaching.

"Hahaha why am I not surprised, my little warrior is already awake before me, what are you up to at this time in the morning huh?." asked his father with a hearty laugh.

He was also a very handsome guy with the same features as Levi, brown hair, blue eyes and a handsome face, same for his mother she also had the same features, 'They're not related are they?.' He couldn't help but think as he shuddered at that sudden thought. He could at least see where His good looks come from.

"Morning dad, it's nothing actually. I told you before that I love to take morning walks, didn't I?." He said lying through his teeth with a straight face as he sat on the table facing his father, he was really surprised that he hadn't unlocked a skill for lying by now.

"Haha, taking morning walks? careful now you're starting to act like an old man." said Hakoda with a teasing tone.

"Sigh, I'm really an old man dad." He said, sighing and telling the truth, but He knew that as always no one would believe him.

"HAHAHAHA, I'll never get bored of that, of course you are hahaha." said Hakoda as he burst out laughing, with Kya smiling on the side.

He was always like this ever since Levi knew him, always cheerful and laughing, he almost never saw him serious or mad. He didn't know if he was like this in the show too but that's how he is now.

"Stop teasing him honey." said his mother defending him, but he knew she didn't really mean it or else why would she also tease him when she got the chance, "Plus he really is mature for His age." nonetheless Levi still nodded at her words, it felt good to have someone agree with you.

"That I cannot deny, which is why I am telling you this and not your siblings so listen very well." said Hakoda, his tone suddenly turning very serious although he still had a slight smile on his face, nonetheless Levi perked up and paid attention. This seemed like something he should know.

"I am going on a hunting trip today with some of the warriors and benders. We may be gone for a few days so I need you to take care of your mother and younger sibling, can you do that for me?.'' asked Hakoda seriously.

Hearing that Levi nodded seriously as well,"Leave it to me dad, I'll die before letting anything happen to them." he replied, even though he knew that his dad didn't really expect much from him.

Hearing him both his parents couldn't help but have their hearts melt as they looked at his serious small face, both thinking that he didn't know what he was saying, after all how could a kid his age even comprehend death? But they appreciated his intentions nonetheless.

Only he knew how serious he was, He had already experienced death once and it wasn't much. So unlike most people who could only say it but cower when they are faced with it, he meant it, he isn't afraid of death, especially if it was dying to protect someone he loves. Was there a better ending than that?

'In the end words mean very little, only when we're faced with a difficult choice will our true essence shine through.' thought Levi.

"G…good morning." said a cute little girl's voice from behind me, stuttering before forming a full sentence snapping him out of his thoughts.

Turning around he could see Katara with a sleepy look on her face rubbing her eyes, barely awake.

Although he wasn't a child and this wasn't his real world he still treated these people as his real family and he especially doted on His younger siblings, he would do everything to protect them and make sure they have a nice life.

***

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