For an eighteen years old boy, I think I managed to do relatively well.

Mako was not all that happy of my new attitude, the poor chap was so accustomed to the old, childish Bolin that he has been taking care of for all his life that it came as a shock to him. However, Mako soon learned to accept how I was now, and if Mako was honest with his real thoughts for one time in his life, he will admit that he preferred as I was now then how I was before.

Our old master Tozan saw my new self as an improvement, especially when my Earthbending skills made leaps and bounds.

On a secondary note, I can Metalbend now; that is a tremendously useful ability, especially in Republic City, were impure metals were all around us. It is amazing how bending can become something incredible, only with a bit of resourcefulness.

I personally blame my advance mental age to my more mature personality. I am an eighty years old war veteran at heart and trained to be a Percival. I am still trying to understand what that is. Most of the expectations that people had in me are because of my teenageteenage years when I have already a lifetime experiences to rely on.

And a very varied life, if I am allowed to a bit of self-flattering.

Anyhow, I did not only pass all my time in the Gym of the Arena. Being the rookie, we were the bottom ladder of the teams, we were not even a team, just a couple of kids training to, perhaps, one day get to the Pro-bending Arena. In truth, I did a couple of things that almost severed my bond with my brother, but I will speak about that later.

There is something that people forgets that exist and that they have been the repository of knowledge since the ancient times.

The freaking Library.

Mako found a work as a bender in the power station and I worked an illegal turn in the mines and the construction. For the rest of the time, I trained, study in the library and slowly saved money for a travel that I have planned for my conversation with Iroh.

Among my original plans, was to pass four years; from my fourteens to the eighteens, traveling around the world. But lack of money, knowing that Republic city was capital in the future and the unwillingness to abandon my brother, prevented me from such pilgrimage.

Not to mention that at the time, I was sorely disappointed with my physical body. I have the foundations but lacked the development.

Using my own experience as Percival. A real combat machine, that was. The Library and the knowledge that Iroh left me, I carefully crafted myself into a solid fighter.

And that guided me into the things that put quite the strain on my brother.

First, our less than legal extracurricular activities.

Mako and I had to do odd jobs for the Triple Threat Triad. It was unavoidable, we own the wankers our lives. The jobs were low level, low muscle or running numbers at the most. But during that time, I discovered the illegal fighting ground that the Agni Kais gang run in the slums.

The perfect place to test my fighting; bending and not; skills. If I cracked some thugs skulls, well, is not as if they were the next Avatar or something, and it was one of the few places in town were a bender can make good money.

Tonza lessons, the rent, the food, the Pro-bending gear, our own debt to the Triple Threat, bills piled up and we needed the money.

Second, Mako didn't really understood what it means to be Spirit Touch.

Now that I have experimented the Spirit World and have interacted with it; the Spirit World is no longer invisible for me. I can see and interact with Spirits, and that lead to some very odd and awkward moments on where I am trying to do all I could to keep my calm as I saw things that shouldn't be there.

Mako is a city boy, through and through, and trying to explain the Spirit world to him would be a waste of time; not to mention that he never the had the slightest inclination to learn about the matter.

On a side note, the freaking library of the city was not helpful either.

That lead to me traveling to the Air Temple Island. The only Airbenders left in the world, had taken residence there.

The youngest of the Avatar Aang´s children, Tenzin, and his family of Airbenders lived in the temple, trying to restore and preserve as much as they could from the Air Nomad culture that Avatar Aang tried to restore.

Avatar Aang was the Last Airbender alive, after the genocide of all his kin during the Hundred Year War. The Grandfather of Fire Lord Zuko, started the genocide of all the Air Nomad temples, killing all of them, trying to prevent the birth of the next Avatar. After Avatar Aang defeated Fire Lord Ozai and put an end to the Hundred Year War, his wife; Lady Katara; and him, did all they could to restore the Air Nomads.

Of the three children of the pair, only Tenzin inherited Avatar Aang´s Airbending, and that put the heavy duty of restoring the Air Nomads upon him. On top of that, Lord Tenzin was Councilman of the Council that ruled over Republic City.

Yes, I know, a Council of Five ruled over a place called Republic City. I raised my eyebrow at that too, but I rolled with it. A lot of things that happens in Republic City had little to none sense, and you just have to deal with it or torch the entire place down in flames as it truly deserves.

Anyhow, I humbly asked for Lord Tenzin expertise in Spiritual matters and even if at the beginning he did not like me very much; soon become clear that I was not yanking his leg and I was totally serious.

Also, me being a cage fighter, a prospective criminal and a Pro-bender were not precisely green checks in Tenzin books.

I have to thank Lady Pema for softening the headbutting that Lord Tenzin and I had at the beginning.

Perhaps as a consequence that practically everybody else is a child from my perspective, and the fact that I am an Earthbender; stubborn as a mule by default; I have a lot of difficulties to make myself understood, without appearing as a freaking arrogant brat.

My meditation and training with Tenzin did wonders in that aspect and just in time.

I had to put an end to my illegal fighting career to train with Tenzin; it did not sit well among the Agni Kais, neither the Triple Threat Triads that saw me as their personal champion and muscle; not to mention how Chief Lin Beifong was on a hunt to put me behind bars permanently.

The latter, was mostly because I was a Metalbender and the majority; if not all; of the Metalbenders in the city were police officers.

Thanks to my training with Tenzin, I managed to quell the worst parts of my character; subduing the differences between the original Bolin and I, into a whole. Part physical, part spiritual training and a couple of Spiritual trances for some tea with an old friend and I was practically an urban guru.

By the way, that was how the criminal of the city called me, the City´s Guru; well, when I was out of ear range, my reputation as an underground fighter; preceded me.

I was capable of great rage, of that, I was pretty sure, but also, I knew how to control, focus and channel my rage into what I need to overcome my enemies. In all, I seriously hope that I am ready for whatever comes next.

The worst part of all this was freaking puberty.

I was a growing boy and thanks to my training and discipline, I grew into a powerful frame. It was easier to jump me that surround me and none of mine body mass was fat. To be honest, I kind of fall into the cliche that the people of the Earth Kingdom are bulky and muscular.

Point in case was that my physical power was very appealing to certain ladies; of the night and of the day. Those were a bit shallow relationships, always tainted by the ghost of the underground criminal activities. I knew zero women outside of the underground circles were I moved and, Spirits protects me; I would never drag any sane women into that madness.

When I left the underground to concentrate on Tenzin´s training and my job at the Pro-bending arena; I lost ninety percent of my female acquaintances. And the other ones that I know, were Pema, Ikki, Jinora, Asami and Shen Hua. The wife and daughters of Tenzin, the girlfriend of my brother, and the overseer of the underground arena.

Mako, on the other hand, managed to snatch a pretty lady called Asami Sato, yes, the only daughter of the owner of Sato Industries. It was a funny tale, Asami run over Mako with her Satobike, she invited her for dinner as an apology and they went on more romantic dates from there on.

I tended to do not hang around Asami much; not that she is not a brilliant lass, but for the little problem that I have; or had, I burned those bridges with a passion later; contacts and acquaintances with the Agni Kai, coincidentally, the same bloody gang that killed her mother.

So, it would lead to a very awkward conversation. Not that I never was an active part of the Agni Kai, but still, I am pretty sure that neither Asami or her father would be precisely delighted to know that she was dating the brother of an individual that was part of the same bunch that assassinated her mother.

Yes, awkward was awkward.

At some point in my training, I did something that made Mako sock my jaw with enough force to slam me into the wall; good thing he kept his flames under control. And truth to be told, I would have done the same If I was in his shoes.

Once I arrogantly believed that I was ready, I left a letter for the few that I called friends and family and vanish for about six months. It was not one of my best moments, I confess, but puberty and hormones and arrogance and self-sufficiency and a long list of things that I stupidly believe I have mastered rammed the doors of my brain and gave me a crazy idea.

It paid rotund benefits, but even today, I freaking wonder if it was worth it.

The genius plan was that I accidentally managed to discover the location of the library of Wan Shi Tong, the Spirit of knowledge. Once I get to the place, I could speak with the giant owl and with incredible luck, learn and be more prepared for whatever will come to bite my ass in the future.

Yes, totally genius, I know, I am the most brilliant mind ever.

Yes, I am still kicking myself for that ass pull of a plan, if the sarcasm was not that clear in the previous phrase.

So, I vanished and travel to the location of the library. Deep into the desert of the Earth Kingdom. Only reach the place was a complete nightmare, not to mention the raiders, the dangers of the desert and the Library, that was so deep within the sand that digging an entrance to it, took me weeks of backbreaking Earthbending.

After a horrible week, I managed to dig out a tower from one of the outer wings of the Library and painfully squeeze myself into the building. As it could not be otherwise, Wan Shi Tong perceive me as soon as I managed to set a foot in his halls, but I was prepared for the meeting.

Or so I believed.

Wan Shi Tong was serious feed up with humans; each time he has allowed one to step into his halls, the humans have botched it up royally and cause more harm than good.

Avatars included.

Only one sage was allowed to live and die in the halls of the Library; his love for knowledge was so great that even Wan Shi Tong was impressed and allowed the man to stay in the Library until he did of old age, doing what he loved more than anything else.

The correct protocol would have been to offer knowledge to the shelves of the Library. Knowledge for Knowledge, it was fair, after all. However, two of the last three humans that set foot in the library commit a series of crimes that turn any possible patience that owl may have with intruders, into a deep and volcanic distaste for anyone that dared to step in the Library halls.

General Zhao or admiral or whatever, discovered something and burned an entire hall of the Library; supposedly protecting the Fire Nation from something. Avatar Aang and his companions stole a scroll, fought Wan Shi Tong and destroyed part of the architecture. And now, I have entered without invitation inside the Library, ready to pick up any useful knowledge for a battle that I will face in the future.

The Spirit of Knowledge was Not Amused.

As it cannot happen otherwise, I ended up fighting for my dear life and trying to reason with the freaking giant owl; that I did not want to cause any damage and that in fact, I was trying to minimize any damages to the world.

Then I botched it up again and made a deal with the bird, promising him a knowledge that no one in this world but me had. Guided by his own nature, the owl accepted and took from my mind, the knowledge of the World Wars.

From a couple of seconds, I believe that I have managed it, but before I could open my mouth, the freaking overgrown chicken went ballistic and tried to kill me with all he had. Desperate, I did all I can to keep myself alive. I will never say that I dish as much as I receive, far from it, the owl beat the shit out of me until I was little more than a walking bruise.

I had a scar on my chest from that day. No healing will never heal that wound, as it was made by the talons of Wan Shi Tong, totally determined to end my life. Is a memento of my own idiocy and the moment on where I discovered that I can Lavabend.

Both the owl and me were totally freaked out by the sudden lava, to be honest.

I was desperate, I was crying in pain, everything hurt and I was about to be butchered to pieces by an overgrown scared owl. My pain, rage, despair, I don't even know what the heck did I did, but I managed to summon a pillar of lava that protected me and fiercely burned the Spirit, crippling his wings and leaving him in a pitiful state.

Nor that I was much better, if it wasn't for that deus ex machina, I would be bird poo by now.

I just lay there, several meters far from the collapsed form of the giant owl, sobbing like a little child and with every cell in my body screaming in pain. I was battered, bloodied and burned. Lava was as harmful to me as is to anyone else. I don't even know how much time did I pass like that, I think that I fainted several times.

At some point, Wan was not there anymore and I dragged myself to my little camp inside the library, trying to mend as much as I could of my wounds. I was never much of a doctor, so I patched myself as much as I could and, well, fainted again over my sleeping bag. Even today, I am not even sure about how did I survive to my own idiocy.

That was my personal Rubicon.

On that moment, I lost any arrogance and overconfidence in myself that I could have; and at the same time, I became incredibly conscious of how really fucking dangerous I really was. Like the Bloodbenders of old, as Lavabender I had all the advantages of fire, earth, and water at my beck and call, with one of the most destructive elements that humanity has ever seen.

I was confused as hell. I have never listened to rumors to Lavabenders. As it happened with Metalbenders and Lightning benders, it must be something that I discovered in a state of desperation, when my Chi called upon the earth and the earth responded in such an explosive fashion.

I have no idea of what the heck did, I just did, is like trying to explain Firebend to a Waterbender; its impossible to explain in a way that the Waterbend could understand. Sure, the Katas could be adapted; Lord Zuko demonstrated as such during his youth with Avatar Aang; but beyond that, I was pretty sure that I would never be able to explain this deus ex machina with words that had an iota of sense.

Months later, I climbed my way out the Library, wiser and with a nasty scar to remind me of getting my head out of my ass before doing anything.

A month later I was humbly apologizing to everyone for being a cretin and begging for forgiveness. It was one of my most painful memories.

In the time that I have passed with Tenzin and his family, they have grown on me, and I have to admit that my rushing to prepare for an unknown event in the future has pretty much screw any good will that I could have gained with the family of Airbenders.

Not to mention how Mako; as I said before; punched me into a wall, as soon as he saw me again.

Physically speaking, Shen Hua was the worst, as she tried to fillet me alive with those swords of hers. Emotionally, however, I am still debating between the disappointment of Tenzin and his family or the hurtful expression of Mako. It is something that I do not want to experiment again, not now, not ever.

They did not forgive immediately, it took time, and honest remorse from my part; for them to begin to accept that I have colossally screwed up and I was trying to mend my failure as much as I can.

Nor that I blame then, broken trust is hard to mend.

I was the one that abandoned my brother; one that has took care of me since what happened to our parents, I was the one that; after Tenzin opened his home to me; run in the middle of the night, abandoning my training; training that I ask in the first place; in order to chase behind something that only I knew about.

Shen Hua was the one that gave me the less flak for what I did, she just tried to murder me. That sound incredible wrong, yes I know, but Shen Hua was the overseer of an illegal arena where people die daily. When one of the few individuals that she could begin to call a friend, suddenly vanish without even a goodbye and appear half a year later, you tend to get a bit pissed off without a good explanation.

Curiously, what was a good explanation for ones, was the worst for others.

The kids of the temple were delighted to have me back; as I have experience raising my own children and grandchildren in the past, I knew how to deal with them; sure I still have to endure some cold shoulders from them, but after a bit, they just wanted to have their friend back.

Pema was understanding. And terrific as a freaking demon at the same time I would say, but she understood that sometimes teenagers do stupid things; which was ironic to a level that I can not even begin to imagine considering my supposedly real age; and I had one of those rebel phases, where only the harsh lessons of life could enter in a teenager thick skull.

I laughed without any humor at that phrase and later, in front of Tenzin, I revealed her why that phrase was so true.

My scar is not a nice sight, it covers a third of my chest, right in the middle of it. The talons of Wan Shi Tong has forever marked me and I will forever bear that mark as a memento, to always remind me of where arrogance could lead.

It did not hide anything from Pema or Tenzin; I spoke about all that happened in the Library, my battle, and my new bending; there is little need to say that both were astonished. I beg them to keep it until I decided to reveal it myself.

They tried to convince me to, at last, reveal myself as Lavabender, however, I knew that the only other Lavabender know was in an Earth Kingdom cell, rooting for being part of something called the Red Lotus, whatever that organization was.

The least I am related to that individual, the best, last thing I need is attention on myself for being a Lavabender and a possible member of the Red Lotus. Not to mention what I discovered in the Library. Let me say something, Ignorance is a fucking blessing.

That was one reunion; Mako´s punch to the face was the other one. I did not sleep in our apartment on the Pro-bending arena that day; in fact, I hide in the underground arena, after Shen Hua trying to kill me.

Shen Hua was more than accommodating, and she had a soft spot for me. After all, I have done, when a woman like Shen Hua, the hell with high heels, chains you to the bed and ride you for hours, you tend to shut up and pray to survive the ride.

I bunked with Shen Hua for a week before Mako did not look like he was going to murder me as soon as I entered in his visual range. I could have faced him when he was with Asami, as the presence of the lass will force him to be civil, but that would be wrong. I want to talk and apologize to my brother without such underhanded tactics. It was my fault after all.

I still appeared on the Pro-bending arena and with I have learned and the teachings of Tenzin; pretty sure that he severely disprove of what I was doing; it was clear that I was top league material. Of course, I reject any teams; even if I never made to the Pro-bending arena, unless I enter with my brother, I will not participate.

After a heated exchange of words; and fireballs from his part; Mako and I, kind of mend some bridges, and I solemnly promised that I was not going to pull another asshole move like I have done unless I bring him with me. Which is probably bullshit, because Mako did not deserve being dragged by my next "genius" idea.

We formed the team we always wanted; along with a talentless Waterbender slob called Hasook; unfortunately, it was the only Waterbender available, who was not already on a team. I blame myself for this, if I didn't run into a crazy adventure, we could have formed the team way sooner and pick up a decent Waterbender for the Fire Ferrets.

Ah, yes, I almost forgot; Pabu still did not get close to me and we named the team in honor of the little critter.

I suspect that Pabu is uncomfortable with me, due to the Spirit scar I had on my chest, the poor animal must sense it and feel scared of it. The presence of Wan Shi Tong was still on my blood and flesh, and any sensitive animal will pick it up.

That was one of the reasons why Jinora forgave me faster than the rest. Jinora is capable of sense Spirits far better than I will ever be, and she immediately picked up the faint residue that the Spirit of Knowledge carved on my chest with its talons. She did not know of the scar, but she is a clever child and deducted that I have fought or had a dangerous meeting with a Spirit.

Back to our Pro-bending Team, it was easy to me to convince Mako to step up our training to compensate for that slob of Hasook. Why someone like him was on the Pro-bending was something that I would never understand. And thanks to Iroh, I show Mako a scroll that detailed some Katas from the Sun Warriors, aka, the badasses that learn Firebending from the freaking dragons themselves.

Now, Mako was a city boy, and cared three fucks about legends and mysticism; his martial arts and bending lacked any spirituality, it was just physical and mental will. Telling anything about the Sun warriors would be useless, but seeing the Katas and actually trying them physically, convinced Mako that they were awesome.

Fire Lord Zuko himself used them, along with Avatar Aang, so I am pretty sure that, yes, they are indeed awesome.

Despite Haasook, we breeze through the Pre-championship matches, between Mako and I, we were freaking unstoppable, and I loved every freaking second of it. It was good to be in the good graces of my brother again, I missed him a lot.

I am Bolin, I am Percival; changes, merging, souls, whatever the universe did to us, I am who I am, and Mako is my brother; older brother to be precise; and I will have his back, come hell or high water.

In resume, it was good to be back to relatively normal.

That remind me of a couple of conversations that I had during this time that pretty much cemented the idea that I was a complete idiot, I have a lot of headaches coming my way and that I was more broken than what I initially believed.

And all of those, when I finally managed to be back on the good graces of those that I cared about.

The first one was with Pema.

The pregnant Pema. It was her´s and Tozin fourth kid; I knew that Tenzin was trying to repopulate the Air Nomads, but the poor Pema was the mother of four; give her a bloody break.

Mind you, that more than once debated with myself about the idea of explaining Pema and Tenzin the idea of harems, concubines or artificial insemination; but then I accidentally annoyed Pema and once you are on the other side of one of her legendary verbal lashings, you need professional help.

So, I wisely shut the hell up.

"I so missed this", I took a sip of my tea as Pema and I sat on one of the rooms of the temple.

It was a comfortable summer afternoon; I found myself without nothing really to do, and I found myself traveling to the Air temple. For a year before I left, this place was almost akin to a home; and I missed it dearly, now that I can, relatively, be back on it, I usually moved back and forth the city.

With Pema in such an advanced pregnancy, I offered myself to help her around the house, and the help was appreciated, someday I will be back on Tenzin good graces, but that was in the far future. The far, far, future considering our tempers.

We were sat around a circular wooden table, a replica of one that could be found in the past, in the Air temples, Pema was serving the tea; Jasmine Tea, the favorite of Iroh and I; in one delicate tea port with clouds and skies painted on it. I had my fedora hat, resting on the table at the side of the tray where the tea set was.

Oh, shit, I forgot about that; Spirits I am a horrible narrator.

I started to wear a fedora as soon as I got back in Republic City. Well, not only a fedora but the suits that were the trend in the city right now. As Percival, I felt good in a suit, and I was a sharp dresser if I can say myself.

Also, It was not only a method of clicking with the rest of the trends of the city but a hidden in plain sight weapons that I can carry anywhere. My hat and suit had metal under the cloth, perfectly bendable steel.

"You could only blame yourself, Bolin", Pema chided to me.

She lacked any malice, but she was a bit motherly and Mako and I were the poster child of bad boys that needed some positive maternal attention.

"Please, don't rub it on Lady Pema", I groaned under my tea, since I got back, I have never called anyone of the Tenzin family with nothing with absolute respect.

Or anybody else, now that I thought about it, manners and politeness is something that I use always. Another gimmick of the Percival that I was. Except when some wanker annoys or piss me off, then kiddy gloves are off and I called them things that would make sailors blush in embarrassment.

On a side note, the children of Tenzin love it, they found it silly, and that made them laugh. A small price to make them happy and content.

"Bolin, I thought that I have already tell you that honorifics are unnecessary", she said before serving herself a cup of tea.

"Pain taught me manners, and manners maketh man". I shrugged.

Since my little excursion to the Library of Wan Shi Tong, I tend to behave like even more like an English Gentleman. It was a remnant of Percival, but it has worked so far. Don't repair whats not broken.

Pema sighed audibly and I just hide my eyes behind my tea. Even if I was; relatively; twice the mental age of Pema, my body was still the body of a young adult who still has difficulties to find his own ass with a map and a compass.

"This tip-toeing around us, is starting to become tiresome, you know?", Pema stared at me and I lowered my cup. I respect her too much to do otherwise.

"At the beginning, Tenzin approved of it and the children found it funny", she explained to me. "But now, Tenzin fears that we may have lost a friend and the children think that the joke is no longer funny. They like when you are around, they love you, but there is a wall between you and them that is starting to scare them".

I sighed, took a deep sip of my tea and prepared to confess something that scares the shit out of me.

"Pema, I am the one that is scared shitless", I am blunt, ready to nail the point home. She was a bit taken back for the confession, but I stop her before she could argue back. "No, please, let me explain".

Taking a deep breath, I start my rant, a rant that has been dancing on my head ever since returned and saw, first hand, the deep impression that I have made on those that I care about.

"When I left, I had a plan, a stupid, arrogant and crazy plan; but alas, I was so arrogant to believe that it will work and after all, even if the improbable case that I perished on the little quest, who am I?. A nobody, another street rat of Republic City, people like me are dime a dozen in the Pro-bending Arena, the underground fight clubs and the gangs of the city".

"No, Pema, no, wait, let me finish, please".

"Point is, that Mako and I were a two urchins that only survived by freaking luck; Tozen, the arena manager, saw potential in us; but you know that to survive until that point, Mako and I; mostly Mako, Spirits bless his soul; had to swamp our sorry asses to the Triple Threat Triad".

"I know, that Tenzin and you were informed about my starring career in the underground cage matches; as soon as I came to learn about Spirits and what was wrong with me. Chief Beifong showed Tenzin my file; she cannot prove anything, but that never stopped her to be convinced that I am the next scion of the devil".

"I never lied to any of you, I am guilty of a lot of those charges; mostly the one of being a runner, low-level muscle and fighter in the cage matches; relatively harmless crimes, made in order to survive".

"After what I did and realize what it almost cost me; I am pretty sure that I am half retarded; but the thing is, that the only redeeming qualities I have, are my sturdy body and my bending, so I used them to made mine and Mako´s life better. How? by using them in professions that bring real money to us".

"Don't believe any of the bullshit that the people spits in the streets, Republic City is not oppressed by benders, bloody hell, is the other way around, actually, but I digress".

"I took pride; to the point of arrogance, in the fact that I am a very good fighter and a good bender; the Spirits are only an added bonus. People call me the City´s Guru, even if I hate that arrogant title".

"I thought, that with that under my belt, I could find the legendary Library of Wan Shi Tong, to become a master bender of an unrivaled match, like the Blind bandit or Fire Lord Zuko, you know, perhaps found something that could make Mako and I unbeatable in the Pro-bending league".

And here I almost inserted a lie. It was among my plans, but the truth is that I needed to know the ins and out of this universe, and the mysteries and secrets of bending, the Spirits, the whole package. I repeat, Ignorance is bliss.

"I never thought of what I was losing in my arrogance, and whats worst is that I get my wish; I am a freaking Lavabender, one of the most dangerous individuals that exist. At the beginning it was euphoric, I discovered a new bending technique, then discovered that I was not the only one. I was exultant, I was the king of the castle, baby".

"When I left, I never thought that anyone except perhaps Mako would miss me much. I am another meat bag from the streets, oh sure, a very dangerous Earth and Metal bending meat bag, but meat bag nonetheless".

"Mako and Asami, Spirit bless that fine lass; had a stable thing together, Tenzin and the children were happy and good, and if my calculations are correct, you were on the first month of pregnancy. You know, that´s all the people I have in my life; I have been dragging Mako down all my freaking life and I thought, what do I have to lose?".

"Then I get back; wiser and sober, and by the Spirits, I was slapped with what I had to lose".

"I am already in thin ice with all of you; the mere idea of hurting any of you, intentionally of or not, terrifies me to the bone. But I am what I am; trying to run from it, hide and cover under a goofy, idiotic smile and positive attitude was poisoning my brother".

"I am a Lavabender, meaning I can turn anything that contains a smudge of earth, into lava. Please, Pema, think, point me, right now, in this room; something that I can not turn into a weapon with a simple Kata. And Pema, do please remember, that I am the undisputed champion of Republic City underground cage matches for an entire year, I am very fast and my bending is more than Martial Arts for me, they are art and I am a bloody artist".

Pema observed me during all the tirade. Okay, I think that I may have rant a little too much; her glare is starting to get uncomfortable. I drank the rest of my cold tea and serve myself another cup, after my speech, I have my throat dry.

I can not even begin to fathom what the heck is Pema thinking; if our roles were reversed, I would have punched my idiotic surrogate child through the walls and then hugged it to death and make him promise to never do such a stupidity again or sell itself so low.

I had the uncomfortable sensation that Pema was wishing for a way to punch me through the walls with her glare.

"You are an idiot". She stated and sighed, there was sadness in her tone. I have never heard that tone in her voice. "A big, gigantic idiot".

"The jury is still deliberating on the half retard part of the previous rant", I shrugged, trying; judging by Pema´s very not amused stare; with little success to insert some humor on the conversation.

"Bolin, you must never think like that; none of us thinks of you like you are a dead weight; argh, teenagers, really", Pema grunted and rambled a little on her own.

Well, I somehow managed to derail her train of thought a little, with luck, the conversation will be moved back to more mundane topics, I really don't want to deal in the mud that was my late puberty. Enough women problems I have already to...

"Broken, sweet, with all kind of juicy muscles, handsome and a sharp dresser", she commented, looking at me with an appreciative glare; being a married woman and mother of four children, it was slightly disturbing. "Girls must be throwing yourself at you".

Spirits will be dammed.

I almost choked on my tea because of the laughter that erupted from my throat. Of all the topics she could have pulled out of his sleeves, it has to be my horrible love life. It was something out of a Greek comedy.

"Pema, please, just, No". I begged almost to the point of tears.

"I...Bolin, this is weird even by your standards, whats going on?". She blinked and asked directly to me. Spirits will be damned, I knew that I can mentally be his blood grandfather and sometimes I almost call her mom.

"Pema, let me resume you, the names of all the women that I know beyond the name", I stared at the bottom of my cup of tea, trying to find the answer to the multiverse on it.

"Pema, Ikki, Jinora, Asami and Shen Hua".

That´s it.

That´s all the women that I know, that are not directly ladies of the night or I have been paid to accompany them. Money is money and we needed it at that point. Never again, that's for sure.

Pema blinked, I assume that she must be surprised, again, old songs like me are dime a dozen on the streets, so I fail to see why is that surprising.

"You, Ikki and Jinora are family", said refilling my cup again. Spirits, I need the tea and soon a very spiritual drink of high graduation. "Asami is the girlfriend of Mako and Shen Hua...I don't even know where to start".

Thanks to that conversation; I realized that I had a new family now, one that went beyond Mako and me, and that I almost lost it because of my own arrogance. I was rushing things, running head along into a situation that I barely understood, trying to chew and chug all the knowledge of the world in a second, and act like I was ready for everything.

I really should have know better.

The second conversation was with my own brother and boy it was an awkward and alcohol inducing conversation.

It happened when we were celebrating our overwhelming victory in the playoffs of the championship. With the money of the prize, we could buy a real house and move on with our lives, finally freeing themselves of the shadow of the Triple Threat Triad.

"We are close, Bo, I can feel it, we are finally moving".

The real kicker is that he was finally calling me Bo again; Mako was still a bit peeved with me about all the vanishing act. We have already mended bridges, but from time to time, it was difficult not to remember that fast one that I have to pull on him.

"Yes, yes we are", I laughed, enjoying my noodles.

I have grown an attachment to Southern Water tribe cuisine these days, do not ask me why. I have practically dinned in all the low-cost restaurants of the city.

The sudden doubt and diminishing smile of Mako told me that he was going to ask me something that I am not going to like. I was pretty sure what was the question and why. I was not eager to have that conversation, Spirits, it was one of those things that came to bite you in the ass when you needed them the last.

"No", I answered faster.

"What?", Mako blinked.

"You are going to tell me that Asami wants to know me", I resume his question and proceed to said why. Not that I have telepathy, it simply was that I was running from such encounter.

"Arguing, that you have been dating each other for almost three months by now, and she only knows my name. Not really a surprise, I run as if the devil is hot on my heels as soon as she entered the room".

"Yes, that would be it", sighed Mako eating his noodles.

"Mako, brother, I am really happy for you". His raised eyebrow is way better communicator than any of his words, really Mako, you really need to put thoughts into words. "No, really, Asami is good for you, she is an intelligent and beautiful girl; but Mako, please, you know that I can not meet her; the less she relates me to you, the bloody better".

"Asami knew that we worked for the Triple Threat Triad", Mako pointed out with his chopsticks in my direction. "We talked about how we lost our parents, I never talked with any of my girlfriends about that".

"And that is a good thing, now, refresh my memory, what happened to Asami´s mother?". I am not being a jerk, I am trying to nail a point.

"She was assassinated on a break-in", Mako said with sadness.

I understood, Spirits, Asami and we are of similar cloth; both lost our parents to Firebender muggers. Asami still has his father, but the tragedy was still there.

"Aha, now, who did break-into the mansion of the Sato´s?". And there lied the minefield and the core of the problem I had with Asami.

Mako observed me, without really answering, it was surprising how much expressive was his wordless expressions.

"Mako, the Agni Kai killed Asami´s mom", I dropped the bomb on his lap.

Maki widened his eyes; there were rumors, but no one has ever confirmed nothing. Sure, the Agni Kai and Future Industries were on a not so subtle war, but none of the usual suspects has ever boasted about gutting the wife of Hiroshi Sato, the CEO of Future Industries.

"Now, I want you to think, about what could happen, if Asami finds out that her boyfriend is the brother of the undisputed champion of the Agni Kai´s underground cage matches". And cue the chopsticks of Mako dropping on the table.

"But you are not Agni Kai", protested Mako.

Mako is right, however, that was not an excuse; I was part of the same gang that offed Asami´s mother. That is not something that could be tossed aside like yesterday garbage, much less by her father; philanthropist facade aside, in the streets, people know that daddy Sato was a rabid Equalist, one of those wankers that have been on the rise this last year.

Equalist, that was a mess like I have not seen in years. Bunch of wankers to the last of them, only spouting useless propaganda. As bender, I have not seen any of the things that they are constantly whining about. Benders oppressing non-benders?, in what alternate universe?, in this one, Benders are always getting the freaking shaft.

I think that I have spoken about this already, but for a bender in Republic city, your professionals' options are not that bright.

Crime, Pro-bending, Power Station or Police officer.

Those are pretty much the only professions were benders tend to stand up from the rest, but with the appearance of all kind of technology from Future Industries, the gap between benders and non-benders has reduced a lot. Where previously a bender was necessary, the technology made it useless, so yeah, a non-bender can do a bender job.

And benders are the one oppressing the non-benders, yeah, sure.

Back to Mako and I; the thing is, that I have no real beef with Asami, in fact, I think she is one of the best things that has ever happened to my brother, and now, because I made a living out of my training, I am risking their relationship and their future.

"I am not Agni Kai", I nodded, "but I fought in the Agni Kai cages, I fought with the Agni Kai, Spirits, Shen Hua considers me his personal boy toy".

Gross...Mako has spat his noddles in my face at the last phrase. I deadpan like the best, but with a splash of noodles in my face, rest a lot of effect on my expression.

After a minute on where I clean my face and Mako recovers from his almost choking with his noodles, we are back on the conversation. Maybe, I should have shut up about the disaster that is my love life.

The only woman that I could see as something more than family, is a crazy assassin Firebender that rules an underground fighting arena, and she sees me as little more than the life support of the piece of male anatomy that she uses when she had an itch.

I really should start thinking about my life decisions, if this sounds as worse as it does in my head.

Now, this is pretty much the resume of what consist my actual life.

I did a lot of wrong shit, but somehow, I have a family; I am a dangerous bastard, but I am doing all I could to be a good man to my family and get myself out of the street and mud that my brother and I have been dragged on all our childhood.

Sure, I may appear as your everyday stupid teenager; and in a sense, that is what I am.

I may have the experience of a lifetime, but at the same time, I am a street rat, who witnesses his parents offed by a Firebender mugger and is doing all he could along with his brother to become someone in this Republic City.

That kind of baggage; and again, puberty is a bloody mess; is hard to ignore.

Wait a bloody second, where did I hear something similar?, I am pretty sure that I listened to the story of my life on one of the comics of my children and grandchildren.

Ah, now I remember; something about a young man seeing his parents assassinated by a mugger and turning into a crime fighter of some sort.

I am Batman?.

Anyhow, I continued traveling to Air Temple Island; the conversation that I had with Pema cleaned the air between Tenzin and me, and now, I am welcome on the island. I was practically part of the family by now. And by my everything that is sacred, I pretend to honor that trust.

I continue training with Mako for the Pro-bended championship; despite Hasook dead weight, and at the same time, I run from Asami like she is the plague.

I can not even think what the poor girl must be thinking about my excuses. At this point, I may appear as if I am either with a big case of Gynophobia or a total asshole. I am not the latter, honestly, I just scared that I could screw up her relationship with my brother.

I cut all ties with the criminal element of the city; sometimes by very, very violent methods.

See the previous line about Batman?; I took a page of the man and when any of my former criminal contacts, even suggest the idea of even looking funny in the direction of anyone that I consider close, I broke the wankers. Violently, savagely, head to toe, torn to pieces and torch the remains.

Last rumors I heard, Chief Beifong was doubting between unofficially giving me a medal or Metalbend me into a dark box and toss me into the ocean, where no one would ever find me.

Everything started to go our ways, and I was happy. Then shit hit the fan and as Iroh foresee; I was in the middle of all of it.

Ah, and I meet the Avatar.