Xonsu signaled for Tuo Po to sit on the bed while he leaned on the window ledge. A breeze casting the warm desert air against his back. It was actually quite pleasant while stood within the cold halls of the monastery. He sighed as Tuo Po sat herself down uncomfortably, her hands rubbing her heads awkwardly. She wasn’t comfortable with something, he started trying to wrack his mind for any possible news he had heard regarding the goings and comings of the city. The only real issue he could think of was that some of the Sandbender tribes were becoming more restless and that Toz was coming to town. Though as far as he was aware Toz’ arrival wasn’t common knowledge as off yet, it soon would be. Just hopefully he would have time to sit down with the other members of the city council beforehand. Not everyone from the Fire Islands would be happy with Toz coming, some had left their homes because of his rampage. 

“You know Tuo Po, whatever it is you can tell me-” 

She put her hands at her side and took a deep breath before speaking. “I’m Pregnant.” Xonsu could feel the colour drain away from his face, so she had found another, and this was her way of telling him? He wasn’t entirely sure why she was telling him- “Actually that’s not entirely true. I just got nervous. I was, I’m not anymore. I have a son. He’s four-” Xonsu felt his heart rate start to rise. “-Xonsu. He’s your son.”

Xonsu started to cough uncontrollably. He wasn’t entirely sure why something had been caught in his throat? He’d been surprised? Confused. “How could, I mean I know [i]how[/i], we used to, I mean we [i]did[/i] but, how? That was- khm- that was a long time ago. I mean, four years so I guess, but how, we didn’t, did we? I mean, why-” Xonsu’ mind was going a mile a minute, he was pacing. Heart racing, his hand moving over his head. Not only was this a revelation in that he was a father, but everything he had ever worked towards was at risk. While Air Nomads throughout the temples and the world were allowed to procreate and have relations, which is why Xonsu had partaken in the sins of the flesh once upon a time. Being a Monk? That was entirely different, they swore to celibacy and had to swear that they had never kept the company of another before becoming a monk (or a nun). It was expected that all Monks and Nuns were virgins, if not then they may be at the risk of temptation. To lead others on the path too enlightenment meant that they themselves had to detach themselves from all bodily and earthly concerns. 

“It was a while ago Xonsu, you were starting on your path to becoming a Monk. I knew how important that was too you, I knew the conditions imposed and that if our relationship had been known you wouldn’t have made it-”

Xonsu just looked at her. “If I had known-”

“You would have given everything up. I know but I wasn’t ready. We had fun Xonsu, but I wasn’t ready to settle down into typical family life. Even now our son spends most of his time at his grandparents, to everyone but them and me he is my younger brother. I know I have no right to drop this on you now-” Tears began welling in her eyes. “-I have no desire to derail your life. I know you have worked so hard to achieve all this, and I’m so very proud of you but I just don’t know what to do anymore.” She rubbed her sleeve against her eyes, drying them. Since she had interrupted Xonsu was weighing on her words, unable to think of anything to say. The weight of everything she was saying was crushing down upon him. 

Tuo Po stood up and walked towards him, placing a hand on his cheek and raising his head to face her. Tears ran slowly down his cheeks and she wiped them off. “This was not your burden to bear, and I want you to understand that you don’t need to feel bad. I chose to keep this from you, I just now need your help.” She sighed. “Our sons an Airbender.” Xonsu couldn’t contain his smile. 

“An Airbender?”

She returned the smile, some joy returning to her sparkling eyes. “Just like his father. Look, I came to you first as pretty soon people are going to have questions. They know of our connection, if my younger brother starts going around Airbending they’re going to put two and two together, especially with the fact that my mother was never pregnant and I disappeared for several months. I can move if you’d like. We can go back to Ba Sing Se. I have family there, we’d be well looked after and live happy lives, if that’s what you’d want, or we can stay and try and figure this out. The most important thing is that I don’t want to disrupt your life, but Xonsu. Our son he’s-” She chuckled slightly as she shook her head “-he’s just like you. He has the same energy, way of life. You deserved the truth.”