Bolin woke in the middle of the night to the sound of arguing. So much for a good night's sleep. He thought. He picked up his sheets and placed his feet on the ground. He looked to the left of his room and saw his desk. On that desk he saw a picture of his family when they were younger and when he and his brother, Mako, were kids. What happened to you Mako? What happened to this family? The arguing grew more intense and Bolin couldn't take the arguing anymore. He wanted it to end, he wanted his family back.
He walked to the right of his room to his closet and put on a tank top and a pair of pants. He opened the door. The argument getting louder with every step he took down the hall.
"Why are you doing this?! You are not the son I raised and if your mother was here she would say the same thing!"
"You're not telling me stuff she hasn't already told me before I came here. Now move out of the way so I can get my stuff and go."
"Mako I don't know what has gotten into you, but this behavior in unacceptable! What happened to the boy who wanted to become a Pro – Bender? What happened to the boy who helped his brother with his homework? What happened to YOU?!"
"I grew up."
Bolin could hear footsteps come upstairs and saw his brother. He couldn't help but feel disgusted by the sight of him. He wasn't the same brother who helped him in school, or cheered him up when he was down. He was a shadow of his former self.
Mako had a duffle bag in his left hand and didn't even acknowledge Bolin's presence.
"Mako we need to talk." Bolin placed a hand on Mako's shoulder but he immediately shrugged it off.
"What happened to you…?" Said Bolin before Mako slammed the door in his face.
Bolin scanned the room and saw Earth and Fire nation antics in both corners of the living area, he saw a couch with a wooden table in the middle and when he walked down stairs he saw his Dad rub his eyes with his thumb and index finger on the couch. His Dad looked up and gave a weak smile to him. Bolin sat across from him on the table.
"Hey son, sorry I woke you…"
"It's okay"
"No, it's not okay. I don't get why your brother is acting this way. He's been acting like this since your Mother and I got our divorce and he just won't stop." He placed a hand over forehead. "Maybe you can try talking some sense into him Bo'."
Bolin sighed "I don't know Dad; part of me thinks he'll wake up eventually. But I'm starting to think it's too late. He didn't even notice me when he came up stairs. He's just…he's just not the brother I grew up with anymore."
His father looked at the ground, and what little hope he had left, was gone. Bolin couldn't sit and watch his family fall apart. Not again. He got up to his feet, marched upstairs and kicked his brothers' door in. His brother just zipped up his duffle bag.
"Mako, we need to talk, now."
Mako didn't acknowledge him; he just kept walking towards him and pushed him out of the way. Bolin stood in front of the door, anger building up.
"Mako get back here!"
Mako slid on the railing down stairs and was halfway to the door. Bolin couldn't take it. He ran down the stairs and tackled his brother to the ground. Mako collapsed and Bolin could feel the shock of his brothers body as he fell. A large 'THUMP' happened from the impact and Mako lost grip of his duffle bag.
Mako kicked free of Bolin's grip and got up. He was about to blast him with fire but was pushed outside when Bolin shot some earth at his stomach.
The night was dark and nobody was around. Street lamps lit the side walk and Bolin could make out the 'Stop Sign' on the other side. Mako was lying on the street, slowly getting back up with a hand on his stomach.
Bolin made his way to the street and shot some earth to keep his brother on the ground. But Mako was ready for it and dodged to the left as he sent fire in Bolin's direction. Bolin brought earth from the street up to protect from the blast and started punching pieces of the shield towards his brother. Mako kept dodging from left to right as he slowly made his way to Bolin. He then went into the air and kicked fire at Bolin's face but missed as Bolin back flipped out of the way.
When Bolin was on his feet, he made an earth pillar hit his brothers back as his feet hit the ground. Sending him to the floor. Mako was done. He lay on the street trying to get up. As Bolin walked towards him, he could see his brothers' amber eyes look at him with hate and anger.
Bolin didn't care; he needed to speak his mind.
"Listen Mako" He took a deep breath "I don't know what has gotten into you and I don't know what you're trying to prove by acting like a child. But you need to grow up. Mom and Dad want you home, I want you home." Bolin could feel a lump forming in his throat. "What happened to the brother I looked up to? What happened to the brother that played tag with me and helped me in school when bullies arrived?" Tears were forming in his eyes, his voice started to shake. "I just want my brother back. I want the brother who helped me sleep off thunder storms, I want the brother who showed me I could do anything as long as I never gave up, I want the brother who encouraged me to talk to the first girl I liked." Tears rolled down his eyes as his knees hit the ground. "I just want you back as my brother! I want you snap out of whatever it is you're going through and come home!"
Mako's gaze never changed, he showed no emotion besides anger. Bolin finally realized there was no way he was coming back. He got up and threw his duffle bag next to Mako and went inside.
Bolin looked at the ground, tears still rolling down his eyes. His father put a reassuring hand on his shoulder and hugged him.
