Stone Cold
"Just do as I said, and your brother will be safe. Got it?"
He didnt have a choice, did he? After all, the hazing punishments for screwing up on Triple Threat Triad business was infamous. He didnt want his brother to get hurt again. Lightning Bolt Zolt was legendary for his punishments. "First time's a warning. Second time's a scar. Third time's a limb." Those were the rules.
His brother already has a scar. It took weeks to heal up, infection and all. He couldnt let something worse happen.
Earthbender Ton Lee said his brother had messed up a third time. Third time's a limb. He would do anything to keep his brother from harm.
"Anything?"'
Anything.
So there he was. Staring down at a middle-aged man who was crying and begging for mercy. Ton Lee said, "Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. Limb for a limb. You want to save your brother? Take it from him."
The man's cries for mercy almost made him quit. But he had to save his brother. Ton Lee showed him how to do it. He clenched his hand, stone encasing the man's arm to the elbow. He paused only for a moment to collect himself, then Earthbent the stone under the man's upper arm into a jagged slice, severing it from the shoulder.
Then turned and vomited at the sight.
Ton Lee clapped him on the back and said he had spunk.
Mako was saved.
When he came home to their little abandoned corner of a condemned warehouse, Mako fussed and chastised him for being out and worrying him. Bolin only smiled. Smiled like it was no big deal. He was just the little brother, seven years old and innocent to what Mako did, right?
Mako was safe. That was all that mattered.