Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. Hope you enjoy!


That's it, I'm making it official!

I hate trains.

I refuse to ever ride another one as long as I live and breathe.

They're crowded, dark, uncomfortable, and I just don't feel safe traveling on ground, up in the air… that's a different story.

On trains, there's way too many people and call me paranoid (which I have about a million and one reasons to be) but anyone could slip a gun out and attack.

Ok, yea, I admit, I am a little over paranoid, but it's best to be cautious.
Especially in big places like train stations.

If all those years since I found out I was the… well, I've learned to be cautious, to always be on guard. I've learned to melt into backgrounds, to be quiet and stealthy.

A bump to my back brought my heart racing.

"Hey, kid, move it!"

I slowly unclenched my fists, forcing my breathing to return to normal.

It was just a guy, a real impatient guy, but just a harmless man.

"Y-yes, sir." I mumbled, hefting my small messenger bag farther up my shoulder.

I didn't have much stuff; all those years on the run didn't leave much time for shopping.

I followed the crowd of passengers out of the train.

Oh man…

The train station had three times as many people on the actually train.

Each shifty eye, nervous laugh, unusual smell, jittery walker, brought back fearful memories.

If it weren't for the pushy man behind me, I would've remained paralyzed.

Instead, I was shoved hard and so were my senses.

I pivoted in my place, taking in the noisy scenery.

A particularly large family walked past me, and I decided it would be a great time to disappear.

I walked close enough with the family to be mistaken for one of them, but distant enough that I wouldn't raise suspicion of the members of said family.

I pulled my hood as far as it would go over a dead give away to my identity; my trademark gray eyes and short jet black hair.

Every little motion made by passer-biers made my heart flutter and miss a few beats.

The woman over by the newsstand with the red lips and the gold eyes.

She glanced down at the tabloid magazine in her hands before staring straight at me and as I had already begun formulating a plan of escape, she looked down again.

I released my breath.

My heart was thumping so hard in my chest, it had become painful. The world slowed and blurred in a fury of colors as adrenaline pumped through my veins.

My body felt icy and my brain felt numb.

This was the first time I was alone. Truly, alone.

"You're going to go live with a nice family I found, their town is far, you'll travel alone."

"I can't!"

"You have to. I know this is hard, but you'll be untraceable. You'll be safe"

I sure this crazy plan would work, because I was having a nervous breakdown.

It was then I realized the family I was using for cover had vanished, and I was staring at the front doors of the train station.

Oh-no!

I don't even know who was supposed to be waiting for me!

"Hey…"

A hand on my shoulder caused me to jump an unintentional five feet, then pray to the Spirits that no one noticed.

I spun around on my heel, my hands in fists and my legs ready to run.

A teenager.
About fifteen in age, somewhat lanky, tanned skinned, blue eyes, dark hair pulled into a ponytail.

I lowered my arms and tried to offer a disarming grin. "Uh… sorry about that."

The teenager only blinked, then placed a hand over his chest. "What you think I was gonna attack you or something! Geez, what are you, nuts?"

"Well…"

"Forget it, now listen, have you seen this kid… he's supposed to be like, thirteen or something. Black hair and uh…"

He glanced down at a glossy photo in his hand.

"… he's real pale…"

I squinted at the teenager from under the small protection my hood offered me.

He didn't look like someone who would want to hurt me, he actually looked sorta friendly.

I hesitantly pull back on my sweat jacket, my cover falling.

The teenager didn't even notice, he was still rattling off information. "… kinda big gray eyes, this goofy grin, about four eleven I would say…"

I felt the need to tap him on the shoulder before everyone around us knew my description.

He looked up from the photo, a frown forming and his eyebrows shooting up into his hairline. "Oh, Guess you're him then…"

"Yea, I guess so." I replied softly, before replacing my hood, paranoid at being so exposed in such a public place.

The teenager glanced critically at what I had done, most likely trying to determine if I was emo or something, which I wasn't.

I stuck out my hand, willing for the teenager to shake it. "And you are?"

He didn't grab my hand, instead reached for my elbow and held it there. "I'm Sokka. Sokka Wei."

He had let go.

"Nice to meet you." I said, trying to sound as friendly as possible as my eyes were more focused on the people moving behind this Sokka guy.

He looked one last time at the photo crumpled in his hand. "You must be Aang, then?"

I bit my lip almost hard enough to draw blood when I heard my name said so loudly.

Please let know one have heard him!

Sokka must have took my silence as an agreement because he sighed loudly. "My family's waiting outside in the car."

He turned to leave, but then faced me again. "Take down the hood, my dad hates that."

It took all my willpower to force my hand to my head and pull down.

When it was gone, I jumped from foot to foot. "Ok, I'm ready. Let's go, come one."

I didn't leave the urgency out of my voice.

I didn't know if they were warned about my, uh, 'special case', or not; and by the way Sokka now deliberately walked slow to the door and pushing them open as if underwater, I would say the Wei family was not.

Real comedian this guy was, the way he was now smirking at me and laughing quietly to himself.

I let out a deep groan and followed the teenager out of the train station.