Bolin was walking along the sidewalk towards Narook's Seaweed Noodlery with Pabu curled over his shoulders. The summer sun beat down on him and little beads of sweat glistened on his forehead. It was abnormally hot for this time of year, but that didn't stop him from venturing away from Air Temple Island to enjoy an all-you-can eat offer he received for being a loyal customer at Narook's.
As he approached the restaurant he could hear the murmurs of the many customers that frequented the popular eatery. However, today there were some voices that rose above the happy chatter and Bolin entered the establishment to find Narook arguing with a girl. Bolin shrugged and sat himself down at his usual place by the front window and waited patiently for Narook to finish.
"I don't care how many times you beg, food is not free, young lady!" Narook screamed.
"Please, I'm so hungry," she begged.
At this statement Bolin turned around to take another look at the girl. Her clothes were dirty and torn in places and her face looked bruised and scratched. Taking pity on her he got up and said, "Why don't you come join me? I know all the best grub here and I'll take care of the bill." The girl looked at him warily, but nodded when she heard no argument from Narook. She followed him back to the table and Bolin ordered two steaming bowls of the seaweed noodle special.
The girl looked around nervously and avoided making eye contact with Bolin. "What's got you in a tizzy?" he asked her.
She jumped a bit when he asked her, and said, "I'm just not used to this kind of kindness." She played a bit with her hair as they conversed.
"If you don't mind me asking, what is your name?" she asked.
"Oh, I'm Bolin," he said proudly, pointing his thumb to his chest. "And this is Pabu," he mentioned motioning a hand to the lively fire ferret. "What's yours?"
"Saido," she said shyly. "So you're an earth bender; aren't you a part of a pro-bending team?"
"Well, yea," Bolin said. "But we don't know when we'll be able to play again. The arena is all but destroyed."
"Yea, I heard about that." Saido shifted uncomfortably in her seat. The food was taking forever.
"So what about you? What do you bend?" he asked.
Saido shifted again and answered, "If I told you, you'd think I was a lying fraud like everyone else."
"No I wouldn't. I promise," he said, holding a fist to his heart and his other hand raised beside him. "I swear I won't think anything of the sort." Seeing as she still looked uncomfortable telling him he said, "Why don't we see after dinner, okay?" Saido nodded and just then their food came out.
Saido and Bolin stood in an alley off to the side of Narook's restaurant. "I can't just tell you," Saido said. "I have to show you what I bend." Bolin nodded and smiled at her; this was fun and all, but he really thought it was funny how mysterious she was being. What could she possibly be able to bend that would make him think she was a lying fraud?
Saido took in a deep breath and slowly began bending some water out of a nearby puddle that had survived the heat of the day. She turned and swayed just as a water bender did, but her form was changing. The moves were getting faster and more aggressive and before he knew it, Bolin was watching in awe as she added fire to the bending. The water and fire were intertwining with each other, hardly touching, and she finally aimed her twisted water/fire rope at a pile of crates and demolished them in one blow. What was left over from the crates was burnt, but when Bolin placed a hand on the wreckage it was cool to the touch.
He turned around and gaped at her. "How the – how did…?" he stuttered. Saido shrugged.
"It's just how I was born. I've been able to bend the two for as long as I can remember. They are the elements I can bend; fire and water only," she explained. "I was actually traveling here to see the Avatar to see if she may be of assistance to me." Bolin was struggling to not stare with an open mouth at the girl.
"Uh… buh…uhm…yea. Okay," he managed to get out. "I could take you to see Korra."