From a very young age, while Katsuki was still an innocent, blissfully unaware, undeveloped soul, he knew he would grow up to do great things. He didn't question himself when he started to believe he would be better than everyone else. That he was above them. Because why would he deny it? He trusted his instincts.
Whether it was being the best at Sour Butterfly-Fish – the game where one person will count to three before turning around and calling anyone out who moved after announcing the Butterfly-Fish and they would have to walk back to their starting point where they would try to reach the counter. Kids kept pointing out that Katsuki was cheating. That he kept moving and that he looked before announcing the full name and wasn't being fair. He was still better than them, at the game.
Or if it was being the best at firebending. He knew all his moves precisely and was really strong. And if you asked him, well, yes. Of course he's going to be the best firebender the world will ever witness. Even better that Fire Lord Enji who insists everyone call him Endeavor, for some reason. Thankfully, he did end up being a bender, a firebender, of course. But the problem is, and he wouldn't admit that it exists, is that he kind of, well… sucks at bending.
Instead, it would just go pop-pop. Okay? It will blow in his face, quite literally. And it was loud, and annoying and everyone would glare at him and he would glare back because, shut up, explosions are cool. But they barely did anything. But whatever. He's Katsuki. He'll make it work; it's going to be the thing to set him away from the others, what will bring him to the top eventually.
If you asked Katsuki: No, he didn't have friends – he doesn't need them. But the truth is that he does. Not the need for them, but he does have one friend – Shouto. The youngest prince of the Fire Nation, son of Endeavor.
He had split hair and eyes, which was strange. One eye was yellow, the other was blue. One side of his hair was brown – almost reddish, to match with his father's head and the golden eye and a scar, and the other was white, like his mother's. Which, still, was weird. He guesses he looks half like his mom and dad. Katsuki sure as hell isn't split in the middle. Maybe his parents just looked exactly the same to one another, he has no idea. He never met them.
And yeah, Shouto's mother's hair was white. Which was bizarre, especially considering she was the wife to the Fire Lord. Her skin was darker than anyone Katsuki had ever met and she was really pretty. He liked her. She was kind.
At first, he thought her skin was darker because of a tan, surely because she loved to spend time in her little garden, sitting in the sun and watering her plants.
But apparently it's because she's from the Water Tribe. Shouto told him all about it when Katsuki wasn't practically listening. They were sitting next to the pond with all of the turtle-ducks in the palace. Shouto was dragging a stick lazily in circles, watching the water sway around it and Katsuki was tracking down one of the turtle-ducks, to see if it was following a route as it swam idly.
Shouto mentioned that Rei, his mother, was supposed to die when she was a baby. But was blessed by the Moon Spirit, which took her hair color or something and saved her life. Again, he isn't quite tuned in. Yadda yadda Shouto's grandfather wanted his son Enji to marry a person blessed by the spirits and pretty much bought Rei with money and promised safety to her water tribe.
Shouto also said that Fire Lord Endeavor wanted the heir next in line to be a bender. His eldest son, Touya, was the perfect fit. Katsuki was told he was a good firebender. But Touya died early. And the next two children weren't benders. And Shouto wasn't either, is what he told him. So Katsuki has no idea what the Fire Lord is gonna do, and also doesn't care. Shouldn't've married a person from the Water Tribes.
By the time Shouto had finished with his rambling, the turtle-duck made it only half way across the pond.
And if Katsuki is the Avatar, he's going to be the best Avatar.
"You're the Avatar."
"What."
Shouto kicks at the wooden deck awkwardly. It was the middle of the night; Katsuki could sense the sun on the other side of the world. Shouto was prince of the Fire Nation and was wearing a robe that looked way too expensive and they weren't supposed to be this far away from the palace and they're twelve years old and Katsuki was the Avatar, apparently. They were not supposed to be there, for sure.
"Mother overheard Father," Shouto explains, glancing at the ocean they were next to. Katsuki never had the chance to really look at the sea. He was always training indoors. Because the Fire Lord never let them outside the palace. And now it's too dark to really see the deep blue – which, if you asked: No, he didn't care about. But sometimes he feels that the only blue he really sees was Rei's eyes. And the sky, maybe. But it felt so far away. He can hold Rei, but he can't hold the sky. Maybe someday, when he comes on top, higher than the world.
He can touch the ocean, if he'd want to. But he's way too tired for this.
"He was talking to some… important guy…" Shouto says lamely. He never bothered to learn the positions of the people teetering around his home. He was twelve, too.
Shouto pauses. "Don't you ever wonder why you pretty much live with us? Why you don't know your parents?" he asks. Katsuki blinks. He's the Avatar. "It's because Father bought you. I think." he says. The moon is bright tonight. The white side of Shouto's hair is facing towards it, glittering in the moonlight. "He's planning on starting a war. He doesn't feel satisfied with what he has." he informs after a pause and Katsuki raises his eyebrows. Katsuki has red eyes and light yellow hair. No one else looks like that. Maybe his parents. Maybe he was, too, blessed by some sort of spirit.
That would be awesome. But he's a little too tired to be thinking clearly.
"He's going to use you," Shouto informs bitterly, now looking at katsuki, "He's going to use the Avatar to win the war. But you're not supposed to know that yet. Mother already sent letters to all corners of the world. With messenger hawks, I think. And the rest of the world are surely already working together against us."
"Okay?" Katsuki speaks for the first time and clears his throat, "Then… I guess I'm gonna fight your dad? Is that what you're implying?"
"No."
"Oi-"
"No, no, listen." Shouto says, and he sounds nervous, so Katsuki just grits hit teeth, "They're going to kill you."
There's a pause. Where Katsuki waits for an elaboration, and it seems Shouto waits for a reply. "Who?" Katsuki asks impatiently.
"E-Everyone. Everyone but the Fire Nation is going to think you're on… the Fire Lord's side. And that you want this war, too."
"Is that what your mom told them?" Katsuki asks accusatorily.
"No. But it's what everyone is bound to think. The newest Avatar is a firebender and they're the reason my father has the courage to start a war. They want you dead so the next one can arrive and save them."
Katsuki looks at him. The wind ruffles his light yellowish hair. "Oh," he says, quietly, and Shouto takes a step towards him, holding his hands in between them. The hands that can't firebend but still destroy. The hands that will start a war.
"But we're not going to let that happen, of course!"
"And how?" Katsuki spits.
"We can't let my father use you." he says, "Even if you don't cooperate he has… immense methods of making you do what he wants. You're not stronger than him…" Katsuki glares. "…yet. So the plan is to hide you. And when the nation can't find you, the other rest of the world will send their best worriers to attack Father and everyone in the wrong side. Then we'll switch Fire Lords…" he drawls, "It will be quick and easy."
"I'm not hiding!" Katsuki barks, nudging with his arms against the other but not pulling them away. Even in the dark, it's clear to see that Shouto's skin is somewhat darker than Katsuki's, against his pale hands. An in-between of his parents' skin. At least it's not split in the middle, too. "If I'm the Avatar or whatever, aren't I supposed to bring peace? What in the La is hiding gonna do?"
"It's you versus the world!" Shouto exclaims, hands trailing from Katsuki's own to his shoulders, shaking them, before Katsuki bats them away, "The strongest of the Fire Nation is planning on abusing you and the rest of the world wants you dead." He informs, and Katsuki can feel a headache starting, "You're dead or you're contributing to the war if we don't do anything!"
"Where will I even hide!?" Katsuki inquires, hands shaking.
"Where no one will find you." he says, pointing at the ocean.
"You're going to drown me?!"
"No! I'll freeze you. I… I'm a waterbender." Shouto raises his right hand, a blob of water floats out of the sea.
"Oh." Katsuki stares at the water ball. It floats there neatly. Better than Katsuki's bending. So either Shouto's been training without Katsuki's knowledge, or that he's naturally talented. Great. He doesn't question it. "So that's it? I'm just some useless, evil-doing thing that's gonna sit in the ocean while the others are at war?"
"Katsuki…" Shouto says. There's pity laced in his voice and Katsuki refuses to look at him, "Just until we can convince that the Avatar is good, okay? We'll tell everyone that you sacrificed yourself for a while to insure they feel safe. And then I'll get you out and you'll help beat my father. It'll only be a year or two tops."
Still, Katsuki's gaze finds Shouto's. "Promise?" he asks. "It won't take long?"
"Promise."
Katsuki takes a deep breath. It's what he's supposed to do while meditating, while learning how to firebend properly. But he's not good at it. He is, if you asked him directly, though. "Fine."
Shouto smiles. A delicate and small this, nothing like the Fire Lord's. "I'll be there for you when you come out. Promise."
Katsuki slumps until his chin is on Shouto's shoulders and Shouto's arms are around him. "Whatever."
Shouto never had the chance to say goodbye to his brother before he disappeared.
He barely has time to say goodbye to Katsuki before he freezes him in the bottom of the ocean, sitting on a small wooden boat. It might be the only reason his father let his wife and youngest son accompany him in his travels, when Rei asked to come to her once home, the Northern Water Tribe.
He only has the chance to say goodbye to his mother after she sacrifices herself to save the moon, going against her husband. Only after she's gone and she floats to him and kisses his cheek, under his scar. It might be the only reason why the water tribe didn't kill him like they initially wanted.
He doesn't have anyone to say goodbye to when the Water Tribe hand him over to the Earth Kingdom as a prisoner. They don't believe him when he talks about the Avatar. Even when he's a waterbender that used his healing powers to help the people that got hurt when the Fire Lord attacked their tribe. Even if he was the one to keep the Avatar away. Even if his mother was born here, blessed by the moon and returned the favor. Even if she warned them about her husband's plans ahead of time. He has no idea where his father is, now. Endeavor managed to escape when warriors from all around the world came to the tribe's help without even a single goodbye to his family.
Shouto's father started a war. And now his family pays the price. Shouto isn't there to say goodbye when they kill all the firebenders. To say goodbye to his nation.
