2. White

"Sorry I'm late, Council session went longer than expected," said Sokka, walking into the hospital room. "Those bandages, um, suit you."

"Thanks," said Toph, getting of the bed. "Those gray streaks suit you too."

"What? Where?" said Sokka, parting his hair. "The hairdresser swore the dye was the exact… oh. Are you sure you should be moving around?"

"I'll live," said Toph, walking out the hallway. "We have more important things to deal with."

Toph walked into the next room. A veiled girl was sleeping with a bandage across her eyes.

"She must be younger than Lin," said Sokka. "Will her eyes recover?"

"Her eyes are fine," said Toph.

"Then why…"

Toph lifted the veil, revealing the third-eye mark.

Sokka jumped back. "Combustion girl!"

"That's not her name," said Toph. "But yeah."

"I don't think the veil's gonna do much for you," said Sokka. "I'm thinking six-inch steel plate."

"It's for the staff's benefit," said Toph. "She's sedated, but we can't keep her like this forever."

"Why not?" said Sokka. "She demolished a whole warehouse."

"She may not be dangerous," said Toph.

"A. Whole. Warehouse," said Sokka.

"We don't know whether she can, um, combust without seeing her target," said Toph. "If she can, we're hoping she won't fire blindly and risk hurting her friend."

"Friend?" asked Sokka.

#

Toph stopped by a viewing window. A boy was looking angrily at the ceiling.

"Don't tell me," said Sokka. "He's a bloodbender."

"Nope," said Toph.

"Fenderbender?"

"No such thing," said Toph.

"I give up," said Sokka. "What is it?"

"Nothing," said Toph. "He's a non-bender."

"Huh," said Sokka, stroking his goatee. "Must be the brains of the operation. Skilled in multiple weapons. A heartbreaker with the ladies…"

"Enough, you're making me a little sick," said Toph. "We had to restrain him after he tried to escape. He insists on seeing the girl before she hurts herself."

"And everyone else in the city block," said Sokka.

"Exactly," said Toph. "It seems we need him to keep her calm. But he says they won't go anywhere without their other friends."

"Spirits, Toph," said Sokka, "did you raid a day care?"

#

In the next window, Sokka saw a black-haired girl sleeping with heavy bandages around her torso. There was something odd about them.

"She got trapped in the fire," said Toph. "Her arms were burned pretty bad. The healers did what they could, but they got infected…"

"They had to amputate," said Sokka.

Toph nodded.

"How did she react?" asked Sokka.

"She hasn't woken up since surgery," said Toph.

"Wow," said Sokka. "I can't imagine waking up and finding out you're…"

"Disabled?" said Toph.

"Yeah," said Sokka. "Wait, I didn't mean… Argh, what's the right way of saying what I'm trying to say?"

"Relax," said Toph, "I'm not playing the disability card. It'll be hard, but she seems like a tough kid. Used to work for the Typhoons before Yakone recruited her. Time will tell."

#

In the last window, a boy looked sullenly at his bandaged hands. His eyes were red with tears.

"Oh no," said Sokka. "Are his hands…"

"They'll heal," said Toph. "He was asking after the black-haired girl ever since he woke up. We told him."

"Rough," said Sokka. "Did you send Psychosocial?"

"He didn't feel like talking," said Toph. "We'll keep trying."

"Toph, this is all very sad," said Sokka, "but I'm not sure how I can help. Are you bringing charges?"

"Then what?" said Toph, "Send them to juvie? They'd blow the place up."

"A max security might hold them," said Sokka, "but that's no place for a child."

"And I can't just release them," said Toph. "They'd just end up in another triad."

Sokka thought about it. Maybe if… "No, definitely not!"

"What?" said Toph. "You came up with the idea yourself."

"Only because you led me to it," said Sokka, "with your winged-lemur-eyed children."

"It's the ideal solution," said Toph. "It protects the children and protects society."

"Sure," said Sokka, "but who's going to protect me?"

"That's just the ice-cherry on the cake," Toph said sweetly.

"Fine," sighed Sokka. "I'll take it up with the Order."

#

White-and-blue sentries walked the ramparts.

"Good morning, everyone," said Sokka. "Welcome to your new home."

Veil stared at her feet. Slinger looked at her with concern. Cobbler was looking around the patio.

"Where's Pen?" said Cobbler. "The deal was we would stay together."

"She's been moved to the infirmary," said Sokka. "She… didn't feel well enough to join us. Why don't we start with introductions? My name is Sokka."

"I'm Cobbler."

"Like a shoemaker?" said Sokka.

Cobbler glared at him.

"Sorry, bad timing," said Sokka. "That was your street name. I hope this will be a new beginning for all of you. What's your real name?"

Cobbler exchanged looks with Slinger. "Ghazan," he muttered.

"P'Li," whispered Veil.

"Zaheer," Slinger said at last.

"Excellent," said Sokka, "I can already tell we'll get along fine. Here's the deal. The Council has assigned your custody to the White Lotus. You will study and carry out chores appropriate to your age. You will be given greater freedom in return for good behavior. When you turn eighteen, the Council will look at your record and determine whether you still present a threat to society."

"What if some of us will always present a threat to society?" said P'Li, hiding her face in her hair.

"Um, I'm sure that won't be the case," said Sokka.

"Is it true the Avatar took the boss's bending?" asked Zaheer.

"Will he take our bending?" asked Ghazan.

"No one is taking anyone's bending," said Sokka. "I mean, yes, Yakone lost his, but that's it. Aang is still miserable about it. Look, I know you guys have been through a lot. I hope you come to see this place as more than a prison. Try to give it a chance."

#

"How are we feeling this morning?"

Ming-Hua didn't look away from the window. "My arms hurt."

Katara gently undid the shoulder bandages. "These are healing very well. No sign of infection. Let's see what we can do about the pain."

Water glowed softly around Ming-Hua's torso.

"How does that feel?" asked Katara.

"I little better," said Ming-Hua.

"The body cannot be forced to heal," said Katara. "You need to want it too."

"I'm not sure I want to get better," said Ming-Hua.

"Have you tried going outside?" said Katara. "The sun is out."

"I don't want to be seen… like this," said Ming-Hua.

"We can make arrangements," said Katara, redressing her stumps. "You're friend is here to see you."

"They're not my friends," said Ming-Hua.

"Hi, Ming-Hua," Ghazan said from the door way.

Ming-Hua was silent.

Katara nodded encouragingly as she left.

"We're all worried about you," said Ghazan. "P'Li is afraid you'll never want to see her again."

"I don't blame her," said Ming-Hua.

"Thank the spirits," said Ghazan. "She'll be so happy when…"

"I blame you," said Ming-Hua.

"What?" said Ghazan. "But I rescued…"

Ming-Hua looked him in the eye. "Look at me!" she screamed. "Look at me! You should have left me there."

"Ming-Hua…" said Ghazan.

Ming-Hua faced the window in silence.

#

Ming-Hua sat under the overcast sky, looking over the bay. Surrounded by water…

"Ming-Hua?"

"I want to be alone," said Ming-Hua.

"I know," said P'Li, sitting next to her. "I came anyway."

They sat in silence.

"I'm so, so sorry," said P'Li. "I was so scared…"

"I know," said Ming-Hua. "It wasn't your fault."

"Ghazan pulled you out because he cares about you," said P'Li. "We all do."

"Do you see that fountain behind us?" said Ming-Hua.

P'Li turned to look.

"I can feel it mocking me," said Ming-Hua. "I didn't just lose my arms, I lost my bending. You'll never know what's it's like to sense your element all around you, refusing your call. "

"Sometimes I wish I did," said P'Li.

"How do you do it?" asked Ming-Hua.

"Do what?" asked P'Li.

"Your bending," said Ming-Hua. "You didn't use any forms."

"I'm not sure how to explain," said P'Li. "I just… will it. I never understood why other benders feel the need to move."

"Because water wants to flow," said Ming-Hua, looking at the waves. "How can you resist the invitation?"

"Because all fire wants is to destroy," said P'Li, getting up. "I have to believe we're more than our bending."

#

"May I come in?"

"It's not safe," said P'Li. "Nobody is safe."

"I'll take my chances," said Aang, walking into the room. "I understand you've been having trouble sleeping."

"I hurt people," said P'Li.

"It wasn't your fault," said Aang. "Toph had no idea you… You have a very unique ability. We never expected to see it again."

"You've seen it before?" said P'Li. "Who was it?"

"I never learned his real name," said Aang. "He had taken on a contract to take me out."

"A killing machine," said P'Li. "A monster."

"Maybe," said Aang. "I don't know his story. The person that hired him was Firelord Zuko, one of my closest friends. Does that make him a monster too?"

"Yes," said P'Li.

"Okay, maybe at the time," said Aang. "But people can change."

"I tried," said P'Li. "I promised I'd never do it again. But I was so scared. It was an accident…"

"It's okay," said Aang. "The first times I entered the Avatar state I had barely any control, it was all rage and pain. I was a monster. But the greatest pain always came after, seeing the fear in the one I loved."

"Why didn't you stop?" asked P'Li.

"I wanted to," said Aang. "I almost did, several times. But I realized I had a responsibility to use this terrible power."

"There's something I wanted to ask you," said P'Li.

"Sure," said Aang.

"Can you please take my bending?" asked P'Li. "I don't want to hurt people anymore."

Aang exhaled slowly. "That's a very serious request."

"I know," said P'Li. "I have some money put away…"

Aang smiled. "Keep the money, I won't ask where it came from. You're still very upset over what happened at the warehouse, you have every right to be. I'll make you a deal. Think carefully about whether this is what you really want. When you're eighteen, if you still feel this way, I will take your bending."

"Okay," said P'Li.

"Here, I brought you something," said Aang.

P'Li leafed through the small golden book. "It's beautiful. What is it?"

"The writings of Guru Laghima," said Aang, "a very wise Air Nomad master. He helped me in my own journey to accepting my power. Maybe he can help you in yours."

"Thank you," said P'Li.

"And P'Li?" said Aang, getting up. "Your power doesn't make you a monster. It's what you do with it that matters."

#

Ming-Hua sat in her usual spot over the bay. Sunlight broke through the clouds.

"Ming-Hua?"

She didn't reply.

"I know you don't want to see me," said Ghazan, sitting nearby. "I'll just sit here and do all the talking, if that's okay?"

Silence.

"Great," said Ghazan. "P'Li is doing better. That means Zaheer isn't angry all the time. We started classes with Master Xai Bau, we're reading Love Amongst the Dragons. It has some boring love parts, but it also has fighting and magic. I'll show you."

Ghazan took out a worn book with a faded cover.

"D-dark wa-ter spi-rit!" Ghazan read haltingly. "Y-you shall rule, no, rue the day you con-demn, con-demn…" He put the book down. "Sorry. I'm not smart enough."

"Don't stop," Ming-Hua whispered, looking at the waves.

Hesitating, Ghazan re-opened the book. "Y-you shall rue the day you con-demned the migh-ty Drag-on Em-pe-ror to dwell a-mongst the mor-tals…"

As he read, a rough dragon ice sculpture slowly emerged in the fountain behind them.