Chapter 39: One Last Time

My eyes shot open to the sound of knocking. What the? My head was resting comfortably on a warm... firm... pillow? I turned my head at the feeling of something warm over my shoulders. I jumped at the sight of Amon's arm. I swiveled my head to see Amon's face tilted upwards, resting against the couch.

I SNUGGLED with Amon?! Oh hell... oh HELL. Shit! What... what?!

I jumped again at the rapping on the door, this time Amon shooting upright, sending me sprawling forward. Still rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I looked at him in worry.

He pointed a finger at me. "That did not happen, do you understand?" I nodded mutely, a part of me hurt.

Shut up Kanni. It's not like it meant anything.

He rushed to his room as I pulled the blanket around my shoulders again, curling back into the still warm couch. Amon reemerged with his gray cloak on, mask tied onto his face. He shot a glance at me as he opened the door.

"Lieutenant," He greeted the mustached man.

"Sir, the bender girl isn't in her room." I scoffed from my place on the ground.

"I'm aware," Amon mumbled as he stepped aside, allowing the Lieutenant to enter. When he walked in, his mask off of his tousled hair, the man stopped dead in his tracks upon seeing me. Amon continued explaining. "She was being a nuisance, so I kept her here for the night to ensure she doesn't escape."

Lee had a look cross his face that I couldn't quite read. For a quick moment, it seemed like pity. He turned back to Amon. "Of course, sir. The... uhh..." He cast a glance at me curled in the blanket, most likely looking like I was mauled by a bear. I more or less was. "The... ceremony... is almost ready. We await you."

"Good. And it will be broadcast to all of Republic City?"

"Yes, sir."

"Perfect," Amon basically purred out. "Send Ming up to get Ka- the girl... ready. I won't be long."

"Of course, sir." The Lieutenant bowed as Amon spun on his heel to return to his bedroom. As Lee went to leave, I felt my mouth open without my permission.

"Forgotten my name, have you?" My voice was hoarse and tired.

He stopped, his back stiff. With my bending, I felt Amon stop as well, holding his breath as he listened from his room.

"No," The Lieutenant replied curtly. "But you are undeserving of one."

Ouch.

"Lieutenant," I put my hand to my heart, a mocking look of hurt on my face. "Your words pierce me like a knife." Sure, I was acting like it didn't bother me... but that was just how I dealt with things.

He turned to me, a scowl marring his features. "You would mock me? You're unbelievable."

I shrugged, my face falling. "No, Lieutenant. I don't mean to mock. But if you were about to lose everything, wouldn't you at least try to be a little carefree? A little happy?"

The Lieutenant's face filled with shock.

I shifted my weight around, wincing as I leaned my head back on the couch. "There was a time, however brief, that we were on a first name-basis." I sent him a gentle smile.

He cleared his throat uncomfortably, his fingers lacing together in front of his body. "Yes, well... that was under different circumstances."

"I'm no different than I was then. I'm the same person."

"But now I know that you were lying."

I shook my head, a tired smile gracing my worn features. "No... I never used to bend anyway. The first time I used my bending in a long time was when I escaped from the compound." He looked at me, a flash of sadness in his eyes. "I know I lied, but I don't like being judged over being a bender. I didn't choose it, and I don't abuse it. So why should I be grouped in with those that do?" I looked down, playing with a string on the blanket.

"I know that I'm in no position to ask for favors," I mumbled.

"You're not."

"Nor do I really deserve any..."

"No."

"But I'm going to ask anyway," I finished as I looked up into his eyes, my face sincere. "I know what you are both talking about. I'm not stupid. If I'm going to lose everything today and be humiliated... can you please... find it in yourself to treat me like a human? Even if you don't see me like one?" I felt my eyes brim with tears so I glanced to the wall, blinking them away.

When I worked up the courage to look, the Lieutenant was staring at me contemplatively. A frown pulled down the corners of his mouth as he shifted from foot to foot. He looked sideways to Amon's doorway before opening his mouth to respond.

"I suppose... I can do that for you... Kanni."

"Thank you, Lieutenant."

He cleared his throat. "I wish it wasn't you, I hope you know that."

"Wasn't me who...?" I led him into continuing.

"I wish you weren't a bender. Then you wouldn't have been lying to us. Then I wouldn't have to watch you go through this." His voice was strained.

"But even knowing me, your view of bending hasn't changed?" I asked quietly, glancing down.

"No."

I met his eyes again, my voice shy, threatening to break. "Does it hurt?"

I saw his cheek divot in as he gnawed at it with his teeth. "I don't know. But-"

"Lieutenant!" Amon emerged from his room, no further along in getting ready than he was when he entered. He was listening the whole time. "I believe that she needs Ming here. Now."

Lee snapped to attention. "Yes, sir. Of course." He glanced sideways at me before leaving the room quickly.

"What was that for?" I asked with a snap in my voice.

Amon turned to me after snapping the door closed. "Watch your tone."

I scowled, turning my head. "You could be a little nicer, you know."

"And why is that?"

You were last night. "Because of what you're doing to me today."

"What I'm doing you see as unkind, yes?" He asked, looking over his shoulder in the doorway to his bedroom.

I quirked an eyebrow at him. "Yes, of course."

I heard a hollow laugh echo through his mask. "Then why should I be nice?" He stepped into his room, shutting the door behind him. I scowled, pulling my bending away from him so I could pretend he wasn't in the next room over. I cannot follow his shifting moods for the life of me...

A light knock was heard on the door. I glanced towards Amon's door, but when he didn't emerge, I called out, wary of my lungs.

"Come in!"

Ming stuck her head in, her dark-haired bun falling loose and spilling about her face. Her face filled with relief upon seeing me relatively unharmed in the blanket.

"Oh," She sighed, rushing over to me, dumping her bag on the floor. "Kanni, thank goodness you're alright. Did he... "

I shook my head. "No. But he's taking it today. At his ceremony..."

She bit her lip. "I'm sorry."

I shrugged offhandedly. "There's nothing you can do. But thank you." I looked around, shrugging off the warm blanket. "So I guess you have to get me ready to be publicly humiliated?" I meant it to be a joke, but my voice was timid.

She frowned, helping me to my feet. "Unfortunately, yes. Let's get you to the bathroom. I brought some clothes to change into."

I winced slightly, letting her walk me to the cold tiles of the bathroom floor. She sat me on the bench before closing the door behind us. She ran the water, drawing a hot bath.

"Let's go," She mumbled, commanding me to sit still. She unbuttoned my shirt, pulling it off my shoulders. I moved to cover myself but was stopped by her scoff. "Honey, we have the same thing. Relax." She stopped suddenly, eyeing the wrappings around my torso. "These look good, considering you were thrown around a lot..."

"Amon redid them." My hand lifted to the side of my head. "This too."

She pursed her lips. "He did?" I nodded in response. "He confuses me sometimes..."

I let out a small laugh. "You and me both."

"Thank you, by the way," She whispered as she began removing the wrappings. "The Lieutenant informed me that as long as I didn't act out again, I wouldn't be punished for what I did. It's because you defended me that I'm not in more trouble. So thank you."

I smiled softly. "Well don't act out again."

"If I could do anything to save you from this fate, Kanni, I would put my neck on the line in a heartbeat."

I reached out with my bending, surprised to find that she was being honest. I'm not used to such... loyalty.

"Thank you. But there is no need. Please be careful." She nodded, moving on to help me out of the loose hospital pants. She followed up with tugging off the bandage on my head, then turning to my left forearm.

I hadn't even noticed the thin gauze wrapped around it...

"I... I had to take off your sleeve to make sure nothing was broken. And it was sopping wet..."

"It's okay, Ming," I cut her off gently.

Her fingers hesitantly pulled off the wrappings, turning over my arm to reveal the tattoo. The Koi fish's lips rested on my wrist, its elegant and swirling body nearly reaching to my elbow. It was mostly white, except for the black spot that sat on its forehead, but surprisingly still stuck out against my pale skin. It was an unnatural white... Like the shining of the moon? I rolled my eyes at Yue, turning to watch Ming stare at my mark.

"Why do you hide this?" I shrugged in response. Ming lipped her lips, trying to get a conversation going. "Why a Koi fish? It sort of looks like the one from the stories..."

"The moon spirit?" She nodded. "That's what it is," Literally.

"But there are two, yes?"

I smiled. "Yeah. The white one," I waved my arm slightly. "Is the moon spirit. Tui. Now Yue, after La's death at the Battle of the North Pole. The other is the ocean spirit. La."

"So why the moon? They're both symbolic to waterbending."

"Sure, I mean, both are essential to waterbending, really. But I've always felt more..." I grinned as I thought of a clever way to explain. "Connected to Yue, than to La."

She quirked an eyebrow at me, but let the subject drop, helping me to the bath. I slid gratefully into the warm water, feeling at ease immediately.

Ming cleared her throat awkwardly. "Can I- Can I ask you a favor?" I looked at her questioningly, nodding for her to continue. "I heard that you are a healer? Using your bending?" I nodded my head. "Can you... show me?"

I felt my lips tug upward. "You've never seen it?"

"Not really," She shook her head.

I smiled. "Sure. Just... give me a second." I closed my eyes, leaning backwards in the tub. She's in for a show. They still don't know how powerful you are, do they? Nope. They might never find out. I felt Yue sigh sadly, but ignored her as I focused on my bending.

I felt the warm water swirling around me, encasing my sore body in its gentle embrace. Ming sucked in a breath as the water began to glow a light blue. I felt the tingling sensation of healing spread through my limbs, focused in my chest. I cracked my eyes to see Ming's face one of pure awe. I let out a small laugh before sucking in a deep breath to dip below the surface. The healing water immediately found the cut in the side of my head, mending the skin.

Perhaps I stayed below a touch too long, since Ming's hands reached in to grab my arm and pull me up. I surfaced, dragging in a breath of air.

"Kanni, don't do that!"

I giggled. "I'm a waterbender, Ming. I'm not going to drown."

"Tell that to the girl who almost died in a frozen river."

My smile fell as I pushed my wet hair out of my face. "Yeah, well..." My voice tapered off as Ming brought forth soap.

I stayed silent as she helped bathe me, being gentle around my wounds. When I was done, she helped me out of the water and wrapped a towel around my torso.

She turned away to fish around in her bag. "Now, when you finish drying-"

I dropped the towel, moving my hands, bending the water off of my body. "Dry," I said with a grin.

She pivoted, a look of shock on her face as I covered myself with a towel again. She smiled, rolling her eyes and tossed me some clothes. They were gray pants and a blue short sleeve shirt, which I donned quickly.

"Let's wrap your ribs," Ming muttered as she lifted my shirt. She frowned, staring at my ribcage.

"What?"

"Where did- the bruises! Did the healing do that?" I nodded. "That's incredible."

I smiled. "Thank you?" I giggled as she sent me a joking look. Since my ribs were still sore, she wrapped them to keep them in place, then removed the stitches in the side of my head, replacing them with a small pad of gauze.

"Here, I found these down in your old room before we left the mansion. I brought them with me,,, I don't know why... I just..." Ming held out a pair of my gray arm covers. I took them from her hands graciously, cutting her off.

"Thank you, Ming." I slipped them on, followed by the black boots she handed to me. She then moved behind me as I sat on the bench, running a brush through my tangled locks.

"How do you want me to do your hair?" Ming mumbled to me softly.

I shrugged. "Does it matter?" My mood was turning dark as the time ticked further along.

I felt her purse her lips behind me, and I closed my eyes as her fingers began to dance across my skull, tugging at the strands.

Do you have a plan yet? No... nothing. I keep resigning myself to this... only to get this burst of anger and betrayal and all I want to do is fight... But I can't. Are you sure you don't want my help? Positive. They think I'm a freak enough. Your bond with me doesn't make you a freak, Kanni. It's a gift. It makes you special. But never a freak.

"There," Ming sighed as she set my braided hair over my shoulder, dangling down the left side of my face. I quirked my eyebrow. I had expected a bun or something... nothing intricate. She shrugged at me in the mirror. "You should be proud today. Of everything you are. Don't let them destroy you," She mumbled as her hand cupped my cheek. "Even if you think they are, you are the strongest and most bull-headed person I have ever met." I smiled tearily at her, as her own eyes began to water. "Don't you dare let them break you."

I opened my mouth to respond, but was cut off by a knock at the door. Ming wiped her face as she squeezed my shoulder reassuringly. I sniffed, standing up and walking behind her out of the bathroom. Amon stood in his main room in his full garb, hands behind his back.

He turned his head upon seeing us emerge. "Is she ready?"

Ming went to answer, but I stepped forward. "She is right here. And yes. I'm ready for your stupid ceremony." Ming looked sideways at me in fright, but I shrugged. What do I have to lose anyway?

Amon's eyes narrowed at me through the mask, but he didn't say anything about it. Instead, he stepped back and nodded to the door, two chi-blockers walking in with their heads covered. They stepped behind me, one of them kicking out the back of my legs.

I cried out as I fell to my knees, my arms being tied behind my back.

"Stop! She'll go without a fight! Please!" Ming's voice reverberated in the room.

I stayed silent as a coarse hood was pulled over my head, blacking out my vision. One last time, Yue? Yes, Kanni. One last time. Her voice was sad, but I smiled softly behind my burlap veil. I reached out with my bending, feeling what was around me as I was led through the base and pushed into the back of a truck. I sat, crossing my legs beneath me as I felt both Ming's and Amon's presence follow me in.

We rumbled along, and I tried to feel everything around me. Ming's racing heartbeat. The chi blockers' fidgeting limbs. Amon's steady breaths. I reached further out, feeling the liquids rushing through the machine's engines. I felt the mist that was outside of the truck, and how we pushed through it. I felt myself get lost in its tranquility, the gentle swirls of the fog coaxing me into a meditative state.

My mind floated into memories.

Author's Note:

Hi everyone! So first off, I want to apologize for the technical error when I posted the previous chapter. I have no idea why that happened, but I'm happy one of my readers caught it and pointed it out! So please, if it happens again, I would be ever so grateful if you all let me know!

Secondly, I would like to apologize for taking a while to update! I know how annoying it is, so I super apologize!

On that note, I want to super duper apologize in advance because I'm taking part in NaNoWriMo in November. A part of me is debating about not writing a completely new novel for it, and just using it as motivation to get a minimum of 50,000 words written in 30 days. Which I know I can do because this story has been going for, what? A month and a half? And I have a crap-ton of words.

So what I might do is both continue with this and spend a little more time writing my actual novel that I've been writing for years. We shall see! But either way, I won't be as super focused on this!

On the other hand, soccer is over on Halloween so I'm HOME-FREE!

Enjoy everyone, and I should be updating soon!

-Pheonixash