Thank you for the request, Sandface! I think this ended up being a fun character exercise plus I love me some backstory any day of the week. I hope you enjoy.
Also just letting y'all know that because just about this entire oneshot is taking place in the past I decided to not type it all in italicise like I usually do with flashbacks.
Chance
Morro hated his height.
He hated it even more when someone pointed it out.
"You're small." The boy beside him slouched a lot despite his lanky build, must be a field hand.
Morro didn't look away from his lunch. What was Wu thinking? None of these village kids would work out, none of them would understand what it takes to-
"So what's your name?"
The wind master turned an annoyed look back to the farm boy.
He was leering closer now, like a jackal. Morro narrowed his eyes, forcing himself to sit as straight as possible. He still barely reached the other boy's shoulders. "Morro." The ravenette wanted to leave as he watched him process. Leaving felt like an admission though, an admission to everyone there that no, he didn't belong here.
So he kept still.
"Huh, well my name's Eran." Eran reached out a calloused hand.
Morro just stared and when the hand didn't disappear simply because he wished it, he turned away and continued to eat in silence.
ForgottenFamily
Morro knocked down the last child with a huff as they rotated to another ring of children. They couldn't be more sloppy and slow ,but Sensei kept giving everyone pointers like that at all could help any of them have even the slightest chance of improvement.
He was tempted to yawn as he got into position ,but kept it in out of respect for Wu.
ForgottenFamily
When Sensei Wu asked the boy how he felt about it all that night, Morro pretended not to hear him as he scarfed down his dinner.
His master was persistent.
"Morro, please answer me." The blonde man asked a final time as he tucked his charge into bed.
The wind master finally sighed, muttering a terse. "Fine." before burrowing into his covers.
ForgottenFamily
The next day, as a smaller group of kids filtered through the gate for the free midday meal, Morro discreetly crossed his fingers that a certain someone would not be one of the-
"So how come we never see you around the village?"
Luck never seemed to visit him often.
Morro kept his head down as Eran took an obnoxious bite out of his rice bowl. "You just shy or something?"
The wind master closed his eyes, curling his fingers into a fist. Of course. Of course no one recognized the boy who ate out just a year ago.
Even he didn't recognize that boy anymore.
Still, he angrily ignored Eran all the same.
ForgottenFamily
The next day's training was much the same.
Every last one of them failed to knock him down.
Maybe soon they'd all give up and leave.
Hopefully.
.
Morro did his best to contain his snark as he graciously escorted the village kids out the door. Eran was the last to go.
He turned just before descending the mountain stairs, muttering. "You were one of those street kids right?"
The ravenette froze, his hand gripping the edge of the gate like a safety post.
"Yeah, I thought I recognized you from somewhere. You were always running from someone. You're pretty fast on those short legs you know."
Morro wanted to slam the door shut. He wanted to scream in the taller boy's face too.
His heart thudded as Eran awkwardly took a step closer. Without realizing the wind master was shifting into pos-
"Well uh, I'll see you tomorrow I guess. Thank you and your sensei for the meal." With that the boy hastily bowed and began waltzing down the stairs as if nothing happened.
Morro shut the door immediately.
When did he start shaking?
ForgottenFamily
Morro decided if Eran wasn't going to leave him alone at lunch today, he would make him.
The tall boy had gotten into the habit of rambling about the most pointless stuff to Morro, every day, every lunch hour, on the hour.
Today it came to an end.
Before Eran could even open his mouth as he took his usual spot beside Morro on the monastery ground, the wind master beat him to it. "I know what you're doing."
The field hand tilted his head like an idiot.
"You're not gonna get in Sensei's good graces just because you talk to me. I'm not stupid."
Eran stared at him.
Then, "So I think I'm getting better at climbing those fsm forsaken stairs. They're not so bad when you remember to pace yourself. You shoulda seen some of these other kids when your sensei first started doing this. They all just kept trying to sprint up the first few flights like it was a race or something. It got really funny when they started dropping like flie-"
Morro's eye twitched. "Did you not hear me?!" He finally interrupted.
"...yeah. You're wrong by the way. Anyways so this one poor guy is so exhausted as he turns around right, and I swear when he remembered he had to go back down, I seriously thought he was about to start balling like a newborn b-"
"Wrong?"
"Yeah. Like a newborn baby. It was so funn-"
"Don't you ever shut up?!" Morro winced at his own volume, glad Sensei was in the other room brewing tea. Hopefully he didn't hear.
The other kids were all in their own groups talking ,but it didn't take long for them to register the sound and turned to look on in awe.
The regular group had too learned of Morro's origins, mostly thanks to some stupid girl spitting in his face a week ago. He and some other thieves had stolen a week's worth of groceries from her in the marketplace at some point in time. Morro never remembered anyone he stole from, but he didn't doubt her. He didn't apologise either, if that was the worst thing that ever happened to her he would have given anything to trade lives.
Eran was the only one who ever bothered who even tried talking to him after that.
Already the wind master could hear the whispers as they stared.
"Are they gonna fight?"
"Eran's got this one, the thief might be fast ,but he's too weak to put up a real fight."
"Yeah no kidding."
"But I heard the freak has some crazy healing powers, you know like a cockroach."
"Yeah right."
"No it's true. My mother said thieves like him are just a bunch of pests that never go away-"
"Are you done?"
Everyone turned wide eyes in Eran's direction. The boy had practically growled his words, holding everyone's gaze firm.
The air seemed to still, then when the first kid inevitably turned back around, the rest soon followed.
Eran waited till the bustling atmosphere resumed. Then just above a whisper he said. "Some people just don't know when to stop talking."
Morro was practically slack jawed for about a millisecond before he schooled his features back into a huffy brood.
"So anyway yeah, really funny I'm telling you…."
ForgottenFamily
Within the coming days some part of the wind master could admit he hadn't necessarily grown to like listening to Eran's useless blathering ,but...he could admit he'd grown more tolerant to it.
Sometimes he even found himself responding, usually with exasperation ,but occasionally not.
Occasionally he'd fumble telling a stupid joke. Maybe even offer some harsh critiques of Eran's technique.
Eran talked a lot at lunch hour.
But, whenever Morro had something to say he'd always nod along patiently.
The wind master would come to appreciate that.
ForgottenFamily
He took out the one staring at his feet first, then the twitchy boy, then the girl, and now all he had to do-
Morro felt a jarring impact against his lower back and before he knew it he was crashing to the ground. The boy laid there for a second in shock, then shot to his feet at Wu's hasty command.
His master gave him a quick once over then, "Remember Morro, never turn your back to an enemy." Wu then turned an encouraging smile to his attacker.
The wind master followed the blonde man's gaze.
Eran stood there, blank faced, fists stuck in the air.
Morro watched with wide eyes as Wu placed a hand upon Eran's unsteady shoulder. "You waited instead of trying to attack head on. I can tell you if you had my pupil would have most likely swept your feet out from under you." His master chuckled. "That was smart, Eran. Very good."
Morro cast his eyes to the floor.
He silently got back into position.
ForgottenFamily
It had to be a one time thing, a lucky shot. Everything would return back to normal tomorrow.
It had to.
Eran knocked him down again the next day.
Not even fairly, he just waited for the wind master to attack someone else again.
The coward.
Wu told him he did good that same smile.
Morro stopped talking to Eran. He didn't even let the boy sit by him anymore. He started eating in his bedroom at midday.
Morro couldn't decide who was the bigger coward.
ForgottenFamily
Eran waited by the gate again.
"You okay?"
Morro didn't bother replying as he dispassionately closed the doors.
Or would have, if not for the large foot suddenly wedged between them.
The wind master finally tore his gaze from the monastery floor.
Eran stared down at him, a distinct look of pity in his eyes.
Pity was a lifeline, as a street kid.
Now Morro hated nothing more.
"Are you sick or something? My sister probably knows an herb."
The young wind master felt his grip tighten on the door. He could feel the slightest prick of a splinter forming ,but none of that seemed to matter as he finally opened his mouth to speak.
"I knew it."
"What?"
"It wasn't sensei you were trying to get to. You wanted my trust, is that?"
"What are you-"
"Stop acting dumb!" Morro swore he didn't care if Wu could hear him over the clank of training equipment he was putting away ,but the boy dropped his shout to a whisper all the same. "I mean you've been doing a fantastic job of that so far."
For once it seemed Eran was speechless.
"You think I'm an easy target huh? Well try to bullsh*t me again and I'll.. ...I'll.. rip your throat out."
No one was going to take this away from him.
He didn't fight for his life everyday on those damn streets to be cast out now.
Morro slammed the door shut, uncaring if he smashed Eran's foot or not.
ForgottenFamily
Eran still came the next day.
He sat at the opposite end of the courtyard though.
Morro practically snarled everytime they made eye contact.
And yet, everytime Eran simply looked away….Morro felt..he felt…
….funny.
ForgottenFamily
"Is everything alright Morro?"
The ravenette looked up from the blanket thread he was twirling between his fingers. Wu gave him an odd look as he smoothed out Morro's bed covers.
"Yes Sensei."
The blonde man took a seat at the end of the bed.
"Are you sure? How's your new friend doing?"
"Friend?"
Wu frowned. "That Eran boy. You two have been talking an awful lot haven't you?"
Morro shrugged, turning to face the wall.
"We're not friends."
Wu made a strange noise behind him. "Did something happen?"
"No, we're just not."
The wind master barely contained a flinch when the Sensei's kind hand combed through his hair. "Maybe one of you just needs to reach out then."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
Morro finally rolled back over on his haunches. "Why does it matter? If we're friends or not?"
Wu sighed, his hand descended to the boy's shoulders.
"We all need friends. Morro. They help build us up, to make us better."
The boy felt like he suddenly shrunk several sizes, he found himself nodding along.
"That's why I started asking the children up here. I want you to make connections, Morro. I know you won't believe me right now ,but I promise the world isn't as cruel as it seems. There are good people out there, people who will be there for you if you just give them the chance."
"I" Why, why couldn't he seem to keep up? Had he really been such a fool this whole time?
"I understand Sensei."
ForgottenFamily
"Wait here Morro." Sensei directed as he followed the lady behind the shelves. They'd almost finished all the errands, the only thing to do left was finding and refilling Wu's favorite writing ink.
The wind master couldn't (refused to) recall the last time he'd been in the village.
It was….it was different (,but the same in so many ways)
No one looked at him the same.
The scornful looks were only reserved for the children ,but even they were few in number whenever Wu was close by.
The wind master couldn't help looking out the window at all the people scurrying about. He watched everyone going about their day, all lost in their own world, their own agenda.
It was almost mesmerizing, all the clothing flitted about, the almost rhythmic sound of footsteps against the asphalt.
Morro was so mesmerized he almost didn't see the familiar face over on the other side of the street.
The boy froze, Sensei's words echoed in his head. He should wait, wait for Sensei to come back out then maybe-
The apple core Eran was munching on fell to the ground as he and the other kid he was talking to-Morro recognized as Rusty, the boy who always complained the loudest when he got knocked down-began a casual stroll in the opposite direction of the ink shop.
The wind master felt his breath freeze in his lungs, he couldn't let them get away!
Morro looked back for Wu a final time, when Sensei didn't magically appear back in the looby, the boy made a snap decision. He wasn't going to interrupt his master just because he didn't know how to face his own problems.
He was not a coward.
The ravenette took a tentative step towards the door than another.
The door's creak felt like a gunshot in his ears as he quickly shut it behind him and ran out into the street.
Morro kept his head down just like he remembered. He didn't dare make any eye contact as he traversed the busy people in his way.
His heart thudded ,but he could still hear the familiar voices as he caught up just behind the two.
Eran's lumbering presence was more comforting than ever in the hectic street.
Morro reached out a shaky hand, ready to call out to-
"-eah so I think I'm just gonna be like you tomorrow and stop coming. I am so sick of that, egotistical little shrimp." Rusty bragged aloud.
The ravenette froze as Eran, just nodded along.
"He sprained my foot."
"Are you serious?!"
"Yeah, he smashed it with the monastery doors."
"That little-You know I'd like to see him pull that in a real fight. You know what that probably means? He's sh*tting his pants in fear just cause you managed to get one on him."
Rusty bellowed out laughing. " He honestly should be at this point. He's already managed to piss everyone else off ,but you too. Man, what I wouldn't give to watch you teach ole rat boy a lesson. Are you sure you don't want to come back one last time?"
Morro could taste the bitter flakes of mineral coming off his teeth as he ground them together.
His callouses and scabs reopened themselves as he clenched his fists.
He didn't know why ,but a part of him hoped this would be the line Eran wouldn't cross.
Eran would-had to say no.
Farm boy gave Rusty a lazy smile.
"Like I said, maybe."
He knew it.
Rusty chuckled. "Hey man I'm just saying, I bet once you do, even that delusional sensei of his would have to realize that he deserved to be taken down a-"
Rusty's words garbled into a scream as Morro launched himself as hard and as fast as he could at Eran's back.
They both crashed to the ground, Rusty ran off faster than a street dog.
Morro's punches had no other aim ,but the vicinity of Eran's face.
He could see,smell, feel the blood as it poured out the farm boy's nose ,but it wasn't enough.
Eran was still talking.
"-ey Hey! Morro?!- S-stop!"
The ravenette didn't listen.
A second later, in the midst of his fury Morro felt a large hand latch onto his neck flinging him off.
Eran was on his feet a second later.
The wind master had already launched himself again, before the other boy had gotten so much as a syllable out.
Eran's large hand collided with his face this time, stopping him from knocking the other boy down again, but Morro didn't relent. He pushed himself against the hand with all his might.
"-ould you stop!"
Morro flung his arms and legs whatever limbs he had control over wildly like an animal.
Like a street rat.
"-was mad ok! Will you please just- urgh- calm down."
Whatever else Eran had to say faded to pointless static as did the watchful eyes of the passing villagers.
Morro knew what he had to do.
What he had to do all his life.
Fight!
The ravenette didn't know when he exactly decided to use his wind. (Wu forbade him from using it against another child all this time) couldn't really tell if it was even a decision.
All he knew was that in a matter of minutes Eran was falling to his knees, his hands coming to grasp his throat as the air in his lungs left him.
He was choking.
Morro didn't immediately panic and release his powers.
Instead he stared for a solid second.
Horrified.
Morro didn't know when he activated his powers ,but he knew when he stopped them Eran had already started to look blue.
The sound of the frightened villagers was everywhere ,but all Morro could hear was Eran panting against the pavement.
Another moment passed, it felt centuries long.
Then all the sudden a girl emerged from the crowd.
She looked at least two or three years older. She had a baby slung over her chest, and four other toddlers linger behind her.
They all looked dirty, barely clothed.
"Eran!" She sounded panicked, she knelt at his side, helping him to his feet a moment later when the coughing finally subsided.
Now Morro felt the eyes of the scared villagers on him.
Even more though, he felt the eyes of Eran and his siblings as he took back off into the crowd.
ForgottenFamily
Eran stopped coming.
So did all the other village kids after that.
Sensei wouldn't have let any of them in even if they did.
'So is that how I got here?' Morro pondered to himself as he leaned against the cottage door in present time.
He might not have control of this door, but at the very least he could reach under and keep around the one person- well dog left in this world that didn't completely hate him.
Morro smiled stupidly to himself as he felt the steady pulse of Jasper's paw.