Disclaimer: Not mine

--

The fire was everywhere.

He could hear the roar and feel the heat, smell the soot and taste the ash as it fell down not unlike snow... but all he could do was watch as his world went down in flames.

Or so it had seemed.

Because right now there was a man clad in red armor in front of him, and he was more than willing to take losing his home and friends out on this man.

"You're starting to get tired. If you don't come with me, you'll get killed," he smirked even as he turned the boulder flying at him to nothing.

Somehow, he managed to dodge the sudden blast of fire. "I'll die first." That wasn't just a taunt: he'd heard the horror stories of what the Fire Nation did to benders, and he refused to let that happen to him.

Another smirk. "Maybe you will. But what about your grandparents? Aren't they still at your house?"

It didn't matter if the man was still after him, it didn't matter that the rest of world was on fire, the only thing that mattered to him was running home and getting them out her before it was too late... before it was too--

Then, suddenly, Sion was staring at him, eyes wide with terror. For a few moments, Domon wondered what had happened to spook the kid... and then he realized that there was a chunk of earth inches away from Sion's head.

Domon sighed heavily as he let the earth fall back to the ground. "Sorry. You caught me in the middle of a bad dream."

Sion shook his head as he scooted closer to him (and Domon wondered if he should remind that he'd very nearly thrown a rock at his head). "No, it's okay. I was trying to get you up anyways." He poked at the fire half-heartedly, and an unpleasant pause settled over them before Sion spoke again.

"Mister earthbender?"

"It's Domon-- and what?"

The kid kept his eyes fixed on the fire. "I was wondering if you could tell me more about how bending works, please?"

Domon frowned at Sion. He still had no idea about how his brain worked (or if it did at all)... but it was becoming painfully clear that he honestly had no idea about bending, or the four nations, or even the war.

"Okay. But pay attention, I'm only explaining this once."

Sion perked up, drawing his knees to his chest. "Understood."

He looked up to the stars as he tried to think of a quick/easy/understandable way to explain the events of the last century. "Okay, the world started out in four nations: the Water Tribe, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation, and the Air Nomads. Each nation has its own benders: for example, I'm from the Earth Kingdom and I'm an earthbender." Sion nodded for him to continue.

"And the Avatar, who was reborn in a new nation every time the old died, kept harmony between them. But then..."

"Then what happened, Domon?"

Domon tired to ignore the feeling he was telling a campfire story as he went on. "No one knows. After the last one died, the new one never appeared." He gazed at the campfire bitterly. "That's when the Fire Nation started taking over. They've practically wiped out the Water Tribes, and who knows what happened to the Air Nomads. And now it looks like they're trying to conquer the Earth Kingdom." He lay back down on the ground. "My home was taken over by the Fire Nation. They took some prisoners, mostly benders, but some shopkeepers, too. Anyone they thought could organize a resistance I guess."

He kept his eyes fixed carefully on the night sky. "My grandparents ran a small shop."

Then the stars were gone, blocked out by Sion hovering over him. "Domon, I'm so sorry--"

He reminded himself of whom he was talking to as he rested his arm over his eyes. "Don't apologize. You didn't take them prisoner, the Fire Nation did."

There was another pause. "So, you're looking for them now?"

"Pretty much." Domon sat up long enough to grab his blanket, tossing it over his body once more, hoping that Sion would catch the hint-- but then he tossed it up and sat up again as a thought hit him.

"Sion... do you mind if I ask you a question now?"

He blinked at him. "Of course not."

Suddenly not sure if this was such a good idea, Domon rubbed the back of his neck. "You, um, really don't seem to have any idea of how the world works." Sion smiled and nodded, taking no offense in his admittedly blunt words. "So... why don't you?"

"I was raised in a cave."

"... You're kidding."

The kid shook his head, messy hair bobbing. "Really. Sora took... there was an old woman who took care of me. Food, water, clothes-- she even brought me the parts to build Takku. But she wouldn't let me leave. She said the world was no good."

She was right. "So, did you run away?"

"No. She died."

Now Domon was the one who felt like apologizing for no real reason. "And this is really the first time you've been out of that cave of yours?"

"Uh-huh." Sion leaned against him, just for a moment. "But I'm glad I left. I don't care what Sora said; it was worth everything just to see what you can do."

Domon managed something approaching a smile as he pulled his covers over him one last time. As horrible as it was to even consider... it explained everything. The pale skin, the unkempt hair and shabby clothes, the ignorance of the world around him... and he must've felt so alone during it all...

If I were in his place, I'd probably latch onto the first vaguely friendly person I met, too.

But as much as Domon wanted to brood on Sion's past, he was also really tired. And Sion tinkering with Takku turned out to be just the right amount of background noise he needed to finally fall into the first deep sleep he'd had since Omashu burned up before his eyes.

--

"I want you to take this money and get yourself some clothes. Shirt, trousers, and shoes. It's getting pretty warm, so get a coat only if you think you'll need it."

Sion looked down at the coins Domon had pressed into his palm skeptically. "Are you sure? That's going to cost a lot."

"It's either that or you look like caveboy for the rest of our trip," Domon told him pointedly as he shoved him in the direction of the store. "And stay there when you're done, I'll be there to pick you up after I get us some food. And don't talk to strangers! Oh, and get me a pair of boots!"

"What size do you wear?"

It doesn't matter, I'm gonna rip out the soles later. "Just get the biggest you can find! And remember-- no talking to strangers!"

--

Domon was trying to figure out which of two cabbages was the least rotten when someone strangely familiar brushed past him. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was the girl who had kicked out of the inn yesterday-- she was the type who looked very different when she was out of uniform.

Feeling like he needed to at least try to apologize for yesterday, he decided they could do without rotten cabbage and approached her. "Um, hi. You may not recognize me, but--"

"Oh, you're the one I kicked out of the inn yesterday," she said with mild interest.

"... Okay, I guess you do recognize me." He waited until she had paid for her vegetables until he continued. "I wanted to say I'm sorry for that. I'm not usually that jumpy, but there was this metal--"

"Metal cat owl, I know." She led them to another cart. "You're not the first person to meet it. You are, however, the first person that overreacted like that."

"Is that what Takku is supposed to be? He doesn't look like that at all to me."

The girl looked up at him in surprise. "Takku? Is that what Sion calls it?"

Domon felt something grab at him. "Wait. You know Sion?"

Her impassive mask settled back into place as she inspected a carrot. "I think everyone who sells food in this town knows about the Earth Kingdom's friendliest thief."

"You're going to have to explain that."

She kept her gaze on the food. "He's been lurking around the shops for about a couple months now. He smiles at everyone, is very sweet, is willing to help with anything-- and he's stolen from each shop at least twice. He uses his cat owl-- you said his name was Takku, right? Anyways, he has him grab attention while he grabs food. If it weren't for the fact that they keep stealing from the same people, he might actually make a pretty good thief."

She rummaged in her purse. "Of course, considering how things are these days, you can't really blame him. And he really is a nice kid-- he helped Yeng find her mother after they got separated last week-- so everyone's just gotten used to some missing fruits and vegetables." She took her change from the shopkeeper and placed the carrots with the rest of her things. "To be honest, I've conveniently 'forgotten' some food outside the inn for him to pick up. It was just his bad luck that he stole from a shopkeeper without a heart yesterday."

"You saw that?" He grabbed her things along with his, figuring that if apologizing didn't work, he might be able to ease his conscious by helping her out with her shopping.

"Yes, and I'd be careful. Bending of any sort, especially with so many Fire Nations soldiers lurking around, is dangerous."

"I'm leaving today-- but if everyone is willing to let him steal from them, why not just have someone take him in?"

"Take a look around you, mister--"

"Domon. I'm Domon."

"And I'm Yuuri. But as I was saying, the people here can barely take care of themselves, let alone a teenager. And those who could are like you-- they're getting ready to leave, and an extra person would only slow them down."

And yet, I'm taking him and Takku with me anyways... "You want me to just leave these outside the inn?"

"Good idea." The faintest hint of a grin flickered across Yuuri's features. "The innkeeper wasn't too thrilled with you last night."

Domon hoped he didn't look too embarrassed. "Well, my boat's leaving soon. I'd better get going. I guess I'll never see you again, but it was nice to meet you, Yuuri."

She watched him as he ran off. "I wouldn't be so sure about that, Domon."

--

"Now are you sure you got everything?"

Sion (now looking a little less shabby in typical Earth Kingdom garb) held up the bag. "Food and your boots. Are you sure that you don't want to put them on now?"

"I will once we're on the boat." Silently thankful that he still had at least had enough money for their fare, he grabbed Sion's arm and began to lead him in the direction of the boat...

But the Fire Nation soldiers blocked their path.

"Domon of Omashu," the leader began formally. "We would like to speak to you privately."

The merchant must've told them, or Yuuri, or someone who'd just been there to see it. "Sion, get ready to run."

"But--"

"Now." There were too many soldiers, he couldn't hope to win, all he could do was hope that he could buy Sion enough time to escape--

But then one went down, then two, then four. It took awhile for Domon and the soldiers to figure out what was going on, but then he spotted a girl with a fan deflecting a blast of fire and landing a sound kick with no real effort.

"Yuuri?!" He sent a boulder flying into the torso of the leader.

"I'd rather you not say my name around Fire Nation soldiers." She took down another one of them. "I've already done time in their prisons, and it's an experience I'd rather not repeat."

Domon set up a wall of earth before the fire could hit Sion (who had not listened to him and was watching the whole thing in awe). Then he sent a boulder towards the ghoul who'd just tried killing a kid, making sure to hit him hard enough so that he wouldn't get up.

After glance over at Sion to make sure he was okay, Domon turned his attention to Yuuri. "Aren't you just a waitress?"

"I wasn't always," she replied as she put the fan away. "Although I guess I'll have time to explain to you when we get to Kiyoshi Island."

Domon's brow furrowed. "Maybe you're going there, but Sion and I aren't. We're--"

"Going to have the entire Fire Nation Navy looking for you. They'll check every commercial ship, but they'll gloss over smaller, private boats-- like the one I have."

"And how can you have a boat on a waitress's salary?!"

Yuuri shrugged. "The innkeeper said that if I worked for it, and could fix it, the boat was mine." This time she grinned for real, but it was too cold for Domon's liking. "I don't think he expected me to be able to do it."

Sion stood up, dusting off his new clothes. "That's very productive of you. I don't see why you need any help from us." There was no malice in his tone. He was merely stating a fact.

"Yeah, he's right!" Domon pointed a finger at her accusingly.

She rolled her eyes as she began to gather her and their bags. "It's not a safe journey. Even I'm going to need some help."

Domon still wasn't sure where this was going. "But I'm an earthbender. I'm not going to be much help on a boat."

"It's just a short journey. I'll be counting on you when we get to the island."

He wasn't exactly thrilled about Sion latching onto him and Yuuri strong arming him into whatever she was involved with (especially since he still didn't trust her)... but she was right. The Navy would be looking for him, and once he did whatever she wanted on the island he could continue his search again once the Fire Nation had lost interest in one rogue earthbender.

"Sion? Come on, we're taking a ride on Yuuri's boat."

No one said anything after that as Yuuri led the way through the darkened forest, and it took everything Domon had left in him to remind himself that the sun would rise again.