A/N: This one isn't as depressing as the other two were, but here's the next one! So, in this chapter, Mako is 13 and Bolin is 11, following this story's pattern of a chapter a year. I love your reviews, especially the long ones, and you guys are all so fabulous. If you follow me on tumblr, you'll have seen this before, but I added some things. Enjoy!
"Mako, why do we have to do this?"
Mako glances over at his younger brother, pushing the broom reluctantly.
He ignores his whining, aiming a carefully concentrated stream of fire above the water on the arena floor. The water sizzles in the heat, and lazy wisps of steam rise as the water evaporates.
Damn waterbenders. Always have to leave shit behind. That's the great thing about us firebenders, we don't-
"Mako, we've been at it all day!" Bolin's complaining breaks Mako's string of thoughts.
"C'mon, Bolin, just one more hour," he encourages. Bolin's 11. He shouldn't have to work this hard. Bolin's right this time, at least. It has been almost the whole day.
Mako looks up at the skylights. It's getting darker. He moves forward, and swears under his breath as his fire singes the stage. You'll have to paint over that later, he reminds himself. He shakes himself and continues with getting rid of the water.
"Finished with the sweeping!" Bolin proclaims hurriedly, grabbing the broom near the bristles and marching over to Mako.
Mako meets him halfway, taking the broom from him.
"Wow, bud, this looks awesome!"
Bolin grins, and the grin is enough to give Mako energy to smile in return. "I bet Toza's fine with us using the Arena's kitchen, okay? I'll cook you something."
"Food!" Bolin cheers, sprinting full-out for the kitchen. Mako places the broom on the designated hook, jogging after Bolin.
"Whatcha gonna cook?" Bolin asks, excitedly bouncing in his seat. Mako kneels underneath the sink to pull out a box, and arranges the meager supply of food provided by Toza onto the table.
Damn it. Toza forgot to go grocery shopping again. I'll have to ask him to stop by the market.
No. Mako knows as well as Toza does that it was more than kind of him to take them in as he did. He can't ask him for money or more food.
"This is all we have, Bol."
Bolin wrinkles his nose at the childhood nickname, and Mako resists rolling his eyes. That's right. Bolin's too old for that now.
"Can you make anything out of that?"
Mako pokes around the uncooked rice package and the dried soy cubes. It's a far cry from what Mom used to make, and he knows that. Still, he won't let Bolin starve, not the way Mako had to when there was only food for one.
"Yeah, I'll make you soy rice, okay?"
Bolin sighs. "There's nothing better?"
"Bolin-" he warns, and Bolin waves him off.
"I know, I know, be thankful for what we have."
As Mako struggles with the cooking, he considers asking the Arena cook for advice. They don't have a mom or dad anymore, and Mako is going to try his damnedest to be both.
As soon as Mako hears Bolin snore for the first time later in the night, Mako slips from their loft and down the ladder, slinging his scarf over his shoulder. The chill of the night hits him, but it's not enough to cut to the bone, not like the nights used to get when… He throws away the thought and breathes a small gust of fire, warming the air around him.
"What're you doin' up?" he hears Toza grumble as he puffs out a ring of smoke from his pipe.
"I wanted to know if there were any extra jobs I could do for money," Mako explains.
Toza grunts in surprise, looking up from his lounging position against the wall. "What fer? Yer not into those hussy girls, are you? How old are ye, anyway? Thirteen? Eh, I guess if yer into that, but the prices are-"
"No," Mako interrupts before his cheeks start to heat up. "No. I need it for… for extra food."
He grunts again, and lifts his mouth to the pipe for another leisurely puff.
"I dunno what ye could do."
"Am I old enough for the Pro-Bending? I'm a pretty good firebender, I could-"
"Yeah, yeah, I've seen you firebend." Toza shoots Mako a look that clearly illustrates just how intelligent - or not - he thinks Mako is. "But yer 13, right? Ye gotta be 16."
"Yes, I remember," Mako reminds him, trying not to get irritated. "Isn't there anything else I can do?"
"Hm. Firebending, huh? Well, I know some of the team members'll want someone they can practice against. I'll tell yeh what, you come to the 'rena on yer days off and I'll pay ye 25 yuans a day."
25 yuans would buy them a meal or two. Mako does a few figures in his head. If I work on both my days off, I could earn 50 yuans. I can make that work over seven days for meals for Bolin.
"I'll take the deal."
Toza snorts. "Of course ye will! Ye know, when I was yer age, we used to have to scrounge around on the streets fer a morsel of food! And the 'rena? Pshaw! It was a circle of mud. Mud, I tell ye…"
In the weeks to come, Mako finds himself creating new excuses for why he's covered in bruises to Bolin, why he comes home drenched in water or with cuts and burns on his cheeks.
The look on Bolin's face at the sight of fresh food makes it all worth it for Mako, and he feels as if perhaps he's doing something right.
Yes.
Maybe he's doing something right.
