I woke up in the middle of the night to a pounding on my door. There was shouting outside my apartment building but I didn't care, that was a typical night in Triad territory. I rolled over trying to ignore it, but I couldn't ignore the overwhelming smell of smoke. I sat up quickly, suddenly alert, and looked around. My whole room was full of hazy smoke, but thankfully it wasn't overwhelming enough to where I couldn't breathe. Oh no, was there another attack by Amon? Why would he attack this part of town though? I realized Sayomi was the one pounding on my door, shouting my name and yelling about a fire. I jumped out of bed and swung the door open.
"Kisara come on!" She had a bag swung over her back and her maroon silk robe thrown haphazardly on her body. "The triads are having a turf war outside; we have to get out of here. The whole building is about to burn down! Grab your stuff! We have to go!"
How could this be happening? Amon had attacked the pro-bending arena only a few hours ago. Why were the triads suddenly in an uproar? Sayomi shoved past me and grabbed my bag from under my bed. "Hurry!" I rushed over to my dresser and started pulling clothes out of it. I didn't really have much, so I guess that's a good thing; less to carry. I grabbed my jar of money I had collected from working and the picture of my dad on my bedside table and shoved everything into my bag. Before we left, I pulled on my fuzzy water tribe boots and Sayomi threw open the window. A cold breeze blew in through the window as we climbed out onto the fire escape. The snow had long ago melted and the winter chill was colder than it had ever been, but the blaze of the building below us was enough to make my blood boil. I looked down at the scene below us, terrified at what I saw.
It was mad. Giant bits of earth, jets of fire, and streams of water were flying everywhere and flames were engulfing the bottom of our building. There were tons of people running around and bodies lying all over the street. I had never seen a fight this intense. Sayomi and I quickly climbed down the stairs and I could hear screams from inside the building. I wished I could help those people inside. When we jumped off the ladder onto the street below, everything seemed way more chaotic than how it looked above. Everyone was just kind of blended together. Triads and civilians, children and adults; it was absolutely terrifying. I couldn't tell who was on whose side, everyone was throwing elements at each other, and those that couldn't bend were just clutching their belongings and running for their lives. There was a little boy standing against the wall of the building opposite of us just crying. I wanted to help all the people so badly. I could heal or bend or something. Anything. But as I took a step towards the fight Sayomi quickly took off running in the other direction. So many people were just lying around moaning in pain. I could help all of them. I couldn't just leave. I heard Sayomi call my name from the distance. I turned around and saw her waving me over.
"What are you doing? We have to get out of here!" She ran back to me and grabbed me by the arm. "Look, we can't help these people! We have to go! These triads are going to kill us if we try to fight back. Please!" I knew she was right and I wanted her safe more than these strangers. She pulled on my arm and we started off away from the fight. As we rounded the corner a big chunk of earth hit Sayomi in the stomach and she slammed back into the wall. I ran over to where she had fallen to the ground. She clutched her stomach and winced when she tried to get up.
"Wait, I can help you."
"No, just get out of here! I'll be fine!"
"I'm not going to leave you," I looked at her sadly. "You're my friend! I can't just leave you!" I pulled her up to her feet and put her arm over my shoulder. I started carrying her but I didn't get more than a few feet before a ball of fire shot between me and Sayomi, blasting us in opposite directions. Two triads were running at me, their fists on fire. I looked at a puddle next to me, frowning. I wasn't going to have enough water to bend to keep them off of me. When they got close enough, they smiled and relaxed their hands, the fire going out. What were they going to do to me? I was scared. I didn't want them to hurt me.
Sayomi yelled my name and they looked her way. No, I had to distract them so she could get away safe. One started walking her way and I quickly bended the puddle into an ice spike and sent it through his shoulder. He yelped and fell against the brick wall. The other firebender turned and looked at me angrily. I backed away slowly as his fists burst into flames and I took off running down the street before he could do anything. I could hear him chasing after me. I was never going to get away. A fireball flew past my face, hitting an empty crate instead. I turned into an alley way and kept running. It was dark and narrow and if I got trapped here, no one would be able to help, but it was the quickest way to get to where I wanted to go.
The second fireball he threw was much luckier, and it hit me right in the shoulder. I yelled, falling into the brick wall and collapsing to the ground, clutching my shoulder. It was burnt so badly and I needed to heal it, but I didn't have time now. I watched as the firebender walked coolly towards me. I was done for now. This guy was going to kill me. I was so terrified; what could I do? I looked around for something to help me; anything that I could use to fend this guy off. I was just feet away from the opening of the alleyway and I could see a man hole in the street nearby. The firebender jumped on top of me, smiling menacingly. "Well, aren't you a pretty girl? It's too bad you're a waterbender, cause now I'm going to have to dispose of you." He traced a finger down my cheek. "Where were you trying to go, hmmm?" Before he could say anything more, the top of the manhole shot straight into the air as I bended the water out of it. The stream hit the man directly in the face, covering both of us with water, and he toppled backwards, sputtering. I took the chance to get up and keep running.
I was drenched now and freezing to death, but I needed to get to his apartment. I had made it two blocks away from the alley way and didn't think he was still chasing me, but I was too scared to stop and find out. I was so close and I couldn't stop now. My shoulder was killing me and there was a stitch in my side from all the running, but I had to keep going. Who knows what had happened to everyone back at the scene. I couldn't think about that now; the arena was in sight. I ran around the back and started pounding on the door the gym, screaming his name. He probably couldn't hear me from up in his apartment, but I had to get inside I knew someone would hear my screams.
"Bolin! Bolin, please let me in! Bolin!" Toza opened the door with an angry look on his face and started to say something, but I shoved past him. I needed Bolin. I ran through the training room and up the stairs and started pounding on the door to their apartment. I still didn't feel safe. I wouldn't until I could see him. "Bolin, let me in! Bolin! Please, Bolin!" I was trying to keep myself from crying. I was frantic now, gasping for air between every sentence. "BOLIN!" The door swung open and Mako was standing there, his face contorted in some weird expression. "What's go—" I shoved past him. Where was Bolin?
Our bodies collided before I could make it five feet into their apartment. I looked up into his face, his green eyes full of concern, and I just couldn't control myself. I started sobbing uncontrollably. I dropped my bag at my feet and buried my face into his chest. That strong earthy smell filled my nose and I finally felt safe. He wrapped his arms around me and held me tight, gently stroking my hair.
"What the hell is going on? Who is this girl?"
"Sorry Toza. She's a friend of ours."
"Well she can't stay here. It's the middle of the night! Is she some kind of floozy or something? And why is she—" I didn't hear what he said after that. Mako had taken him outside the apartment to talk and left me alone inside with Bolin. I was shaking uncontrollably in his arms and clutching his white tank top in my fists. He kissed my forehead lightly and whispered to me softly. "It's okay now. Stop crying." He continued to just hold me until my crying slowly ceased. He didn't ask any questions, he just held me close until I felt better, slowly stroking my hair all the while. After a few minutes of muffled arguing outside the door, Mako came back inside.
"She can stay, but Toza is furious. He really doesn't like being woken up in the middle of the night." Mako walked back to his bed and sat down. He propped his elbows up on his knees and dropped his face into his hands. "You really scared us. What's going on? What happened?"
I didn't want to answer him. I didn't want to talk about what just happened. I know I probably looked ridiculous, standing there in my water tribe boots and a flimsy silk night gown. I really did look like a floozy, and a badly dressed one at that, but why should I care. I just left everyone to die; left them at the hands of the Triads. And Sayomi… I covered my face with my hands and tried not to start crying again. What if Sayomi wasn't okay? The Triads were ruthless, even with women. I hoped she was still alive. Bolin loosened his grip around me and traced his hand over my burnt shoulder. I winced and looked up into his face. "Kisa, are you okay?"
I lost myself in those deep green eyes. I felt so safe with him now. "No..." I just wanted to collapse onto the floor and cry some more. I'm sure he expected me to say more, but I just couldn't. I continued to stare at him, my bottom lip starting to tremble. He picked me up and carried me to his bed. He sat down next to me and I rested my cheek against his shoulder.
"If you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to." Bolin squeezed my hand. I was thankful he was being so understanding. I knew I'd have to tell him about it eventually, but I didn't want to talk about it now. I lay down and yelped when the sheets brushed against my burn. Bolin quickly pulled me back up against him; I could tell he was worried.
"I'm fine…" I got up and slowly walked over to the sink on the other side of the room, Bolin hovering at my side making sure I wouldn't collapse. It wasn't that I was tired of running, but more of a combination of that and the sheer terror of the situation that had exhausted my body of any energy. I felt so weak, I wasn't even sure if I could heal my shoulder. I placed my hands on the basin to hold myself up and looked at myself in the mirror. The strap where the fireball had hit me was burned away, revealing a shiny, red, blistery shoulder. I was soaked from head to toe leaving my thin nightgown just clinging to me, showing every curve on my body. I suddenly felt very self-conscious. I didn't realize how inappropriate I actually looked. Glancing at Bolin in the mirror, I saw a bit of red in his cheeks. I could change out of my wet night gown after I healed my shoulder; I couldn't worry about how I looked right now.
I turned on the faucet and used my good arm to bend the water to my shoulder. Exhaling slowly, I hoped I would have enough strength to heal myself without passing out. I focused all my energy to the water rubbing against my shoulder. It slowly started glowing white and I concentrated on staying focused on that spot. When I was done, I barely had the strength to bend the water back into the sink. I was dizzy and could feel my knees buckling under me, but Bolin grabbed me by my arm before I could topple over. "Woah, let's go lie you down, hmm? How's your shoulder feel?"
"Fine now." It was still a little burnt, but nothing serious. It was nothing more than a minor burn now that would disappear in a couple days. Bolin picked me up, cradling me in his arms, and carried me to his bed. I snuggled into his pillow, grateful to be someplace comfortable as Bolin pulled the sheets over me. I wished I could've changed into something comfortable first, but I didn't care now that I was under the covers. Bolin sat on the floor next to his bed and rested his arms on the side. Mako sat in his bed across from us with his arms crossed.
"Can we all go to bed now? Some of us have to get up and work in the morning."
"Oh Mako don't be so insensitive."
"No. He's right. I didn't mean to wake you all up, I just…" I didn't really want to say why I really wanted to come here. It never even occurred to me that I would have to sleep here tonight. I just wanted to see Bolin. He made me feel so safe. I wanted to be with him, in his embrace. "Let's go to bed." Bolin glared at Mako as he turned out the lights and rolled over in his bed.
I pulled the sheets up to my chin as Bolin rested his chin on his arms. He moved one of his hands to grab mine and gently rubbed the back of my hand with his thumb. I stared at him in the darkness, wondering why he wasn't going to bed. After a few minutes of silence, he whispered to me. "Would you mind if I got in the bed?" I bit my lip shyly. Surely he didn't mean with me. I sat up slowly, expecting to go to the couch, and he squeezed my hand. "Where are you going? I meant we could share it. Together." I laid back down and pulled the sheets over my mouth, trying to hide the smile that had formed. I nodded yes and he climbed under the covers next to me. I could hear Mako shifting around in his bed next to us, I'm sure he was uncomfortable with the situation, but I didn't care.
Bolin propped his head up on his arm and looked at me again. I felt like he hadn't taken his eyes off me since I barged into his apartment. I rolled over to face him and slid my hands under my face.
"What?" I whispered.
"Nothing." He paused and scrunched his eyebrows together. "I was just really worried. I was scared you had been attacked by Equalists or Amon; that maybe you couldn't bend anymore." I bit my lip. I didn't want to worry him. I hated making him feel this way. "I would hate if you had to experience what Tahno experienced. What almost happened to me a few months ago." His voice cracked and he laid his head down on his arm. I wanted to do something to comfort him; to make him feel better, but before I could think of anything, his expression quickly changed. He huffed and smiled at me. "But you're safe, aren't you? And you can still bend. And you weren't attacked by Equalists, right?" I wanted to answer him and tell him everything that had happened, but I still couldn't. When I opened my mouth to speak, all that came out was a muffled cough. Everything was just too fresh; like a wound. And talking about it would just feel like someone was poking at it, making it bleed more and more.
Bolin put an arm around my back and pulled me against him. Oh no, what was I supposed to do now? He laughed at the awkward, stiff postion I was in. "Relax, I'm not trying anything. I just want to, uhm, cuddle?" Even in the dark I could sense he was blushing, but not nearly as much as I was. I decided to just do what came naturally and I nuzzled my face against his chest. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight, and I closed my eyes. I had never been this intimate with a boy before and had no idea what to do. Back home, with our stupid traditions, we weren't even allowed to be alone with a boy unless it was a family member or for medical reasons. I inhaled slowly, taking in the moment. The warmth of his body, the sound of his heart beating under my ear, that earthy smell I always loved so much. It was overpowering. I couldn't take it anymore; I lightly rubbed my lips up his neck and planted a small kiss below his jaw line. My eyes flew open when I realized what I just did. He smiled and turned his face so our noses were just barely touching.
"What are you doing," he asked softly. I blushed and rolled onto my back, looking up at the ceiling.
"Nothing." That was so stupid, I shouldn't have done that. While I was silently chastising myself for being so dumb, he rolled over and placed a hand on my cheek, turning my face back towards his. Before I could comprehend what was about to happen, he leaned in and kissed me. It was soft and sweet, exactly how I expected him to kiss, and it made my whole body tingle with excitement. He pulled away slightly, but I wanted more. I put my hand behind his neck and pulled him back in, pressing my lips hard against his. I had never felt this way before, and it was amazing. I placed my hand on his cheek as he parted his lips and when his tongue met mine, a shiver went down my spine. He placed a hand on my lower back and pulled my body in against his. Everything was so perfect. After a minute or two, we finally broke apart. Our faces lingered together and I could feel his sweet, warm breath on my lips. I gently traced my thumb across his bottom lip and looked up into his eyes. He was staring back at me intently. Why'd he have to be so gorgeous?
I nuzzled my face back into his chest again and he held me tight. He kissed my forehead lightly and rubbed my back. His heart was beating faster now and his skin was much warmer. I held back a smile, enjoying the way I made his body react. I closed my eyes again, trying to avoid all the naughty ideas that came to mind, and I slowly started drifting to sleep. All the horrific scenes that had happened in the past 24 hours had long left my mind and all I could think of was Bolin. Before my mind drifted off into unconsciousness, he placed his lips to my ear and whispered, "I've been waiting a long time to kiss you like that. You have no idea the effect you have on me." I smiled lightly and kissed his chest, then slowly drifted off into oblivion.