It was the anniversary.
He hated the anniversary.
7 years ago today he watched as his parents withered in the flames he had been too weak to stop.
But he liked to count himself lucky. Nestled beside him was his only surviving family, and he would do everything in his power to secure the safety of his thirteen-year-old brother with bright green eyes and a bright white smile.
The sun was rising now, and Mako watched for a moment as the eerie shadows of the city vanished upon the light's touch.
He'd heard that fire was like the sun.
That fire was life.
And he wanted so badly to believe it, but no matter how hard he tried to put aside the horrors of the flames he had witnessed, he simply couldn't do it. His soul was too polluted by jagged scars to accept the reality of the power he possessed.
Mako was still healing.
And fire only opened up the wounds.
"Bolin?" He whispered gently, rustling the earthbender's shaggy, dark and overgrown hair.
"Hmmm?" The green-eyed teen muttered.
"We should get moving. The Triple Threats want us there early for briefing."
Bolin rubbed his eyes with his dirt-caked fists, "M'kay."
Mako stood up from the alley corner and outstretched a hand for his brother. Bolin took the calloused hand in his and groggily stood to his feet. After brushing off the excess dirt from their attire, the two boys exited the cool, damp security of the alley and headed for whatever trouble would cure their starvation for the day.