It was early December when their first child was born. A strong baby boy who shared his mother looks. Golden eyes, dark hair, and ivory colored skin. They named him Zain, which meant handsome. He had the heart of a firebender and the passion showed in his eyes. They were in love with their new son, but they wanted a second child. His father, Haska, was hoping for a waterbender like himself.
Three years later, he got his wish. They gave birth to another boy, Izo, he earned his name because eyes resembled the ice found in the regions of the water tribes. He was the spitting image of a water tribe baby, and looked nothing like his older brother. He had darker skin and brown hair. Haska had been told that Izo resembled his father quite often.
Zain was six when their mother died of a terrible illness, Izo was only three. Haska was left to raise his sons alone, and it was no easy task. He enrolled Zain into a new school where he would learn how to control and master the art of firebending. Zain was a natural at it, like his father had been, but the classes became too easy; and soon he was off causing trouble.
When Zain had turned the age of thirteen, he and his brother were sent to yet another school. Izo, ten, didn't argue with his father about the transfer after seeing how much he had aged due to stress. Zain, on the other hand, made himself loud and clear that he was not okay with the transfer. The boys had never known life outside of Republic City, nor did they know schooling anywhere outside of the cheap community school they were placed into. This sparked the first of many acts of crime Zain had committed. That night Zain ran off with a few friends who were a few years older. They were non-benders who had manipulated the young boy to use his bending for their benefit. Zain had burned down an entire store with one blow.
Haska was humiliated, and furious with his rebellious son; and had made rules more strict. Zain no longer had the freedom to do has he pleased, and he seemed to have lost all his childish spirit. Hate consumed him, the new firebender would blame his father for the death of their mother, because had never understood why she passed away. No one could explain it.
Izo was twelve when he discovered he was a healer as well as a waterbender. Word spread of the gift he held and soon Haska sent his son to learn from the very best, Katara herself. Zain was both jealous and hurt due to his brother's absence. No longer did the confused fifteen year old have his brother to talk to, and that destroyed him. Convinced that Haska only sent Izo to the Southern Water Tribe to punish him, Zain snuck out again, after all he didn't have Izo looking up to him anymore. The fifteen year old started his first raid, and committed three crimes. Haska was dumbfounded and had lost his eldest son to a rage that consumed the boy.
Zain was constantly being bailed from the prisons, being fined, and bringing strange people to the house.
During this time Izo was learning to master his healing skills, and word had struck. He was like a young Katara when it came to healing. For a while Izo studied with the new Avatar Korra, she was a year younger than him and struggled a bit when it came to the methods of healing. The two were friends for a while, but nothing lasted, they had their own destinies. Izo was dismissed from his training at the age of fourteen. He had enough knowledge to carry out mastering the skills himself. Excited to return home, he quickly said his good byes and boarded the ship. Little did the boy know that Zain was now what many called a lost cause and his father was a mental mess.
Zain was now seventeen and Haska was completely fed up with Zain's abusive behavior. The firebender was thrown out of the house before Izo returned. Zain never looked back, but would secretly visit his little brother on late nights. Izo tried to be the peace maker and resolve the hatred between his older brother and their father, but nothing worked. Zain was convinced his father played favorites with Izo and caused their mother's death. Haska had disowned his son, Zain, in spite.
Izo watched his family fall apart; he watched Zain get his own place and skip school…he was caught up in a drug cartel for a while also. Haska was more strict with Izo, yet begged he never turn out like his older brother. Izo continued to go to school and act like nothing bothered him, as much as the fourteen year old wanted his family back he was well aware it would never happen.
One afternoon, Izo was practicing his healing in his room when he felt a warm sensation heat up his feet. Curious about what was going on downstairs Izo left his room only to be greeted by thick clouds of black smoke. In a panic he screamed for his father, but their was no reply. The frightened boy stayed in his room, and wasn't planning on leaving. He had been physically removed from the burning building once a squad got there. They found the body of Haska and traced the fire to a gang that Zain had ran around with at one point. With nowhere else to go, Izo was sent to live with Zain, who was going to be eighteen with in the next few weeks.
It took one fatal action for Zain to realize his mistakes, and from that day forward he swore to never go back to his poor way of life. He learned about himself through Izo, and watched his younger brother grow. Zain even went as far to place flowers on their father's grave weekly. While carrying the guilt of not only his father's death, but having a bad relationship with him before hand the firebender changed. He found a factory job, and supported himself and Izo through Izo's schooling. While things may have seemed difficult Zain grew from the accident. He was no longer the troublesome boy, but was now a man working to find himself and the light…
