Disclaimer: I do not own the Avatar world, that is all owned by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.
—
Chapter 7
Rin Alone Part 1
Rin looked across the ocean with a detached look on her face. The waves softly coalesced against each other while a light breeze moved through the air. The former water bender's arms were crossed above the railing as she laid her head upon them. The hood of her cloak hiding her face from the other passengers, who paid the young woman no mind.
She tried not to look down at the wooden peg below her left knee. As doing so brought with it the memory of how she lost the limb.
Rin remembered screaming, just barely able to throw her body to the side. However, the earthen spike penetrated and separated her leg from the knee down. Blood spilled from the wound onto the floor as she screeched at the pain. The agent convulsed, instinctively moving to try and heal the injury with water bending, before she despondently recalling she no longer could.
"Get out of my sight and don't come back." The Director had bitterly spat.
"D… D…. D…" Rin had tried to say, through gasps and suppressed whimpers of pain, both physical and mental.
"It's not even worth killing you now. You no longer hold value to me, the Dai Li or anyone else in this world." He coldly explained, cutting her with his words. The Director looked down at her, dark eyes meeting desperate blue. "Now get out. I doubt a single individual out there will be willing to help you. But, you're better off dying in the streets then us doing it for you." The Director stated with narrowed eyes.
"P…please…" She foolishly tried to protest, before a kick rammed against her side, making her cry out.
"Get. Out. And disappear." He harshly ordered, and she wisely obeyed. Forcing herself to stumble away in a dizzying daze. Rin had collapsed on the streets, but the spirits weren't done with her just yet. A stranger had taken pity on the ex agent, and nursed her back to health. They had outfitted Rin with the wooden peg, and even sent her on her way with a small amount of money.
She didn't complain once out of shame of requiring help in the first place. Sometimes, Rin mused that it would've been better if she died right there, alone. Then she wouldn't have to live through the nightmare her life had become.
But no, Rin carried on. Using her extremely limited finance she boarded a boat to the Fire Nation. The Dai Li had limited influence in the area, the nation and Water Tribes having a rigid system that was capable of repelling their attempts at infiltration. The best they could manage were connections to the local crime and some transportation records.
Ironically, the best transport she could afford would dock near her hometown. Rin's journey would circle back to where it began.
She pondered why the Director had let her live. Besides the fact that she was suffering more alive then dead. Rin knew their methods, crimes and so much more information. She could leak all of it to outside parties.
"But who would believe me?" Rin dejectedly thought. "The Dai Li would be able to counter anything and everything I could say anyways. I'm only one person." She bitterly added. "Who would I even talk to?" The young woman mentally questioned.
Rin had tried to avoid thinking about her future prospects. Without her bending, she doubted she could simply return to average mercenary work. Which in turn terminated a career of more then six years. There was really nothing left for Rin, not anymore.
Sighing, Rin stared at the red ribbon she had removed from her hair. The dark brown locks further hiding her face. The ribbon peacefully swayed in the wind, and through it she could see her reflection in the water. Rin proceeded to reflect on the events that had brought her to that current situation.
—
An eleven year old Rin blinked at her own reflection in a large puddle, long hair behind her back, a red bow tied at the back of her head. Youthful features adorned her face while she was dressed in the traditional Fire Nation school uniform.
"Hey Rin!" Another girl with light brown hair and eyes called out, poking the water bender on the shoulder.
"Huh?" She replied, shaking out of her trance. "Oh sorry, Koto, got lost in thoughts for a second." Rin answered with a semi embarrassed smile.
"Come on you two! Hurry up before we're all late!" A boy with spiky black hair and golden eyes shouted at both of them.
"We know Rozoku!" Both girls chorused as they all sprinted to school.
Rin lived in a large coastal town that went back centuries. Not many traveled through the area, much less settled down. Despite that, the town's residents were mostly a tight knit community. Their school was located near the water as well.
The three kids sped inside the building and into their shared history class, managing to avoid being late. Panting, they moved to take their seats in the classroom.
"Rin." Their shrewd history teacher stated.
"Yes Ms. Okai?" The water bender asked, forcing a sly grin on her face.
"You were almost late to class again." The teacher remarked with venom in their voice. Ms. Okai purposefully ignored the fact that both Koto and Rozoku arrived at the same time. The older woman singling out Rin.
"Ah, but I wasn't this time." Rin casually replied, calmly strolling over to her own seat while inwardly rolling her eyes.
Ms. Okai paused for a bit before proceeding with that day's lesson. Throughout class, Rin could feel the wayward looks her fellow classmates sent her. Though, she didn't care much about what they thought. She spent the time lazily pretending to pay attention to the morning lessons.
Their school was the only educational institute in the town. So, Rin had attended there all her life. As such, she had long learnt to not care about trying to do well in most of the classes. The teachers were blatantly biased towards her no matter what she did.
When Rin was younger, her parents had futilely tried to shelter her from the prejudice against foreigners. It didn't matter in the end though, the child could clearly see how they were treated differently by most of the town. Which in turn hadn't quite developed much socially when compared to the rest of the nation.
When lunch came Rin sat at an out of sight corner table. Skilfully ignoring the occasional glance, she gave a genuine smile when both Koto and Rozoku plopped down next to her.
"I swear, Ms. Okai's trying to kill us with homework." Koto complained with a huff, stabbing her fish.
"Wouldn't surprise me." Rin replied while chewing her own fish and boiled rice. The three continued their friendly banter. However, the moment was interrupted with the arrival of a group of older students. "Afternoon gentlemen." Rin irritably yet sarcastically greeted.
"Koto, Rozoku," The group's self proclaimed leader, Mizu, stated. At their unanimous silence, the older boy straightened his back. "Why don't you two go sit at other tables? There are plenty of free seats." Mizu invited, beckoning the two over to said tables.
"We're good." Koto instantly replied, putting her hands in her lap.
"Yeah, thanks but no thanks." Rozoku cooly turned down with a hard stare.
"Come on!" Mizu exasperated. "Why do you two always insist on hanging out with the Water Tribe low life?" The older boy questioned with a dramatic gesture.
"For your information, I was born here." Rin muttered with a visible eye roll. "Not that anyone cares." She bitterly thought to herself.
"We're not bothering you, so just go away and leave us alone." Rozoku shot back. The older group gave them a few more patronizing looks before retreating.
"Spirits." Both Koto and Rozoku mumbled as they finished eating in peace.
"You guys don't have to keep defending me all the time. I really don't care about what any of those idiots think." Rin stated as they began walking through the hallways.
"We know." Rozoku casually waved off.
"But what kind of friends would we be if we didn't do anything." Koto cheerfully explained, hands before her back.
"Horrible no good ones." The boy answered, the three chuckling in turn.
"Say, do you mind if we come over to your place after school, Rin?" Koto asked in an airy mien.
"Sorry, me and Rozoku have practise after school. Next time maybe." Rin answered with an apologetic tone.
"I forget about that!" The other girl replied. "See you later then, guys!" Koto called out as they went to their separate classes.
After trudging through the remainder of her classes, Rin slowly gathered her things. Ignoring the hard gaze her teacher was giving her, she calmly exited the classroom. She took calm and leisure steps through the mostly silent halls. Most of the students having already left. Rin passed by the courtyard, where multiple other students were practising their fire bending.
Benders took mandatory lessons after school. Usually these were fire benders, so the classes would normally be supervised by a teacher. However, Rin's case was different.
The water bender observed Rozoku in the crowd and gave a warm smile, pausing for a few mere seconds. However, she soon continued towards her own destination. Navigating the building, she gingerly opened the door to an empty classroom. Taking the familiar sight in, Rin let out a resigned sigh as she made her way to the front.
Located there was a small television screen, beneath the device was a single tape. Rin loaded the tape into the television and patiently waited for the video to load. Crossing her legs she sat down on the classroom's floor to watch.
A video of an old man clearly from the Water Tribes began playing. He began to recite a few things about water bending before demonstrating various techniques, accompanied by more explanations. Rin listened eagerly with full attention, soaking in the information. This was unfortunately her only live source to learn water bending. Especially since the faculty didn't trust her to take the tapes home herself.
Upon finishing the video, Rin unloaded the tape and placed it back under the device. Afterwards, she calmly exited the building to head home. She mindlessly walked alone, humming one of the songs taught in their music class.
Rin and her parents lived on the farther side of town. Their home was located on top of a small shop they owned that sold knick knacks and gimmicks. Though, they received little business.
"Hey, Mom!" Rin happily greeted when she strolled into the empty shop, a small elaborate bell signalling her entrance. Her mother warmly smiled back from behind the shop's counter. Both of Rin's parents were older individuals in their late forties, with a good amount of white hairs.
"Back from school already?" She lightheartedly asked, a simple braid decorating her shoulder.
"Yup…" The water bender answered, looking around the room. "Hey, where's Dad?" She curiously prodded, leaning against the shop's wall.
"Upstairs." Her Mom explained before Rin rushed behind the counter to access the staircase that lead to their home. Upstairs, Rin found her father working away on more merchandise for the shop. A man with a fine beard, he paused when he saw his daughter appear.
"Hey there, Squirt." He greeted.
"Hi, Dad. What ya working on?" Rin curiously asked as she observed the various objects in front of him.
"Just some new ideas I had in mind." Her father explained with an enthusiastic mien. "Actually, I'm having trouble working some of the finer details out. Mind lending your old man a hand?" He asked as he got back to work.
"You bet I am!" She eagerly replied, getting down on her knees to assist her father. She ignored the fact that she had lots of homework to do, her family was more important.
After dinner and more joyous moments, Rin finally got around to her homework. It was late in the night, and the moonlight from her one window wasn't enough to see properly. Silently, she shifted in her personal desk and lit a small lamp. Rin owned a collection of books, both her own and borrowed from various sources. Though she didn't pay much attention in class, the young girl did invest time in teaching herself.
In the limited light of the lamp and moon, Rin cut through the assignments with ease.
Rin was content with her life. She had her friends, her family and a home. Despite how she and her parents were treated. There was nothing else in the world she would ever want.
—
The next day, Rin let out a tired yawn while walking to school. She had stayed up a little later then usual. Rubbing her eyes, she tried to listen to what Koto and Rozoku were babbling about. But she was actually looking forward to the day ahead. Splitting from her friends once more, she hurriedly made her way towards the courtyard.
"Rin, good to see you." The teacher, Pao Shi welcomed with an earnest smile. Pao Shi was the only teacher in the entire school that treated Rin fairly, in turn making him her favourite teacher out of the bunch. He usually sported a laid back persona. The late thirty year old styling his inky hair in a slick manner.
"Back at ya." Rin returned as she joined her peers.
Pao Shi taught the optional swordsmanship classes. There was an unfortunate growing disinterest in weapon combat, especially near the borders. Few took the class, one of the exceptions to this being Rin. The girl in question always enjoying the thrill of a fight.
Grouping into pairs, they practised against each other. Rin found herself sparring with Mizu's delightful younger brother. Who was a perfect miniature copy of his older sibling, personality and all. However, it was pitifully easy to disarm the cocky boy. Rin kicking him in the stomach and knocking him to the ground with skillful ease. The water bender smirked as he struggled to his feat, hand on her hip.
"You cheated!" The boy angrily huffed.
"No I didn't. I beat you fair and square." Rin boasted with a proud grin. Mizu's younger brother was going to respond before Pao Shi came over.
"Is there a problem?" The teacher pointedly asked.
"She cheated." Mizu's younger brother whined, pouting while crossing his arms. Rin gave a playful eye roll in return, though she was annoyed inside.
"I see. And how did Rin cheat exactly?" Pao Shi questioned, tilting his head.
"Well… She just had to." The boy argued, though his argument was quickly falling to pieces.
"And why is that?" Pao Shi asked with a doubtful gaze.
"Because… because…" Mizu's younger brother mumbled, scratching his brain for an excuse. Pao Shi sighed, and gently took the boy's shoulder. The boy in turn, looking up in surprise.
"Lets have a quick talk outside." Pao Shi suggested and lead him away. However, the boy looked back and gave Rin a hateful and infuriated glare. She in turn, shrugged it off and continued practising various forms Pao Shi had demonstrated earlier.
—
Things spiralled out of control. Rin supposed she could have done things differently, and she did regret some of her actions. However, she didn't deserve what had happened to her.
Rin had gone to the shore near the school after her morning classes. It was where she normally practised her water bending. Silently, she made a small ball of water rise up into her hand. Staring at her reflection in the surface briefly, Rin increased the ball's temperature. Wisps of white steam floated into the sky.
Rin knew she would never master water bending with just videos. So, if she wanted to become one, she would have to research herself. Talking to travellers, reading in the local library, she learned many more things then what school tried to teach her.
However, there wasn't much about increasing temperatures. Sure, it was mentioned as a possibility in books. But, there wasn't much on the skill besides that. Though, Rin found she could perform it with ease.
Soon, Koto and Rozoku joined her by the shore. They exchanged friendly banter and jokes, before a loud cough disturbed them. Turning, all three saw Mizu and his usual gang. With them was Mizu's younger brother, who had a smug look on his face.
"You guys hear something?" Rin sarcastically joked, squinting her eyes as she mockingly looked around.
"Low life! My little brother got in trouble because of you!" Mizu angrily accused, pointing at Rin. In turn, she let out a tired sigh while rolling her eyes.
"What?" Koto whispered next to Rin.
"I beat his brother in a sparring match, he thought I was cheating, couldn't explain why and what I did exactly so Pao Shi took him away for a bit to talk." Rin nonchalantly explained.
"That's right! And now we're going to make you pay!" Mizu's little brother shouted back with a wild grin.
"How do you think you're going to do that?" Rin deadpanned while her friends tried to deescalate the situation. Mizu answered by charging her, throwing a fist which she sidestepped.
"Okay then, we're doing this." The water bender stated and pivoted on her heel. Leaning forward, she avoided another swing from the older boy. Afterwards, Rin brought her knee up on him. Hitting him where it hurts, Mizu let out a high pitched yelp, clutching the wounded area. Rin took the opportunity to chop him on the back, sending her opponent to the damp ground.
"I guess that's all you got? If you're going to try and start a fight, at least come prepared." Rin taunted, lightly nudging the boy's side with her foot. However, a commotion to her right took Rin's attention away from Mizu. "What the?" She mumbled before processing the scene.
The rest of Mizu's gang and his little brother were fighting Koto and Rozoku, who tried to put up a futile defence. It was for naught though, as the group forced the two to the ground, hands behind their backs.
"Koto! Rozoku!" Rin cried out, moving to help her friends before her feet were swept from under her. Falling, Rin caught herself and tried to get up. But, a sudden force to her stomach sent her back. The water bender letting out a quiet gasp as she stumbled back. Before she could act, Mizu put her in a tough headlock. "Hey!" Rin shouted, struggling.
"Not so high and mighty now are you low life. Huh, serves you right, no good foreigner." Mizu ridiculed with a leer. "Come on guys, lets do this already!" The older boy yelled to his friends and brother.
Glancing over, Rin saw that multiple of them, including Mizu were fire bending. She could see the panicked looks of both Koto and Rozoku. The sight ignited sparks in the water bender, making her let out a growl.
Luckily, Mizu hadn't restrained her arms. Multiple torrents of water jetted out of the ocean and into Mizu and his gang. The force pushed them all back and off of Rin and her friends.
"Just go away you hear me! Leave us alone!" Rin furiously demanded, an enraged look in her eyes.
The older students were not deterred. Reigniting their flames, they focused all of their attention on Rin, rushing towards her. The water bender swiftly repeated her previous action, the waves sweeping them farther back. "I said to go away!" Rin screamed, eyes dark and stormy like a tsunami.
They charged again. Rin defended herself again. But it wasn't the same. Unintentionally, she fuelled her anger and hate into her bending, boiling the water as she unleashed it. "GO… AWAY!" Rin roared with the intensity of the sun.
Rin only realized what she had done when Mizu and some of his other friends fell to the floor gasping. Clutching various areas of their body, she fearfully looked down at the ground, where steam emanated from puddles.
"Oh my goodness." She whispered, hurriedly moving to heal what she had done. Luckily, it looked like none of them would have any permanent damage done.
Looking up, Rin saw that a crowd had gathered around her during the commotion. Nervously shifting, Rin tried to find her friends to make sure they were alright. After a few seconds, she saw the two scrambling up to their own feet, unharmed. Letting out a breath of relief, Rin took a few steps towards them.
Only for Koto and Rozoku to run into the confines of the crowd, eyes filled with fear. "Koto… Rozoku?" Rin whispered, reaching out only for them to back away more, eyes hardening while other students got in front.
Rin's eyes went wide, looking over the various people watching her and her alone. Suddenly it felt much more overbearing then before. "Guys…" She mumbled, voice slightly quavering while her hands fell uselessly to her sides.
—
Rin was practically dragged to the headmaster's office, her parents entering soon after. The people she had scalded were rushed to the nurse's office, though Rin had already healed most of their injuries. The young girl looked down at her feat while the headmaster explained the situation to her parents.
"She's expelled." The headmaster coldly stated after a short pause.
"What!?" Rin practically shouted.
"You're expelled." The plump headmaster stated again, eyes narrowing.
"B…But, I didn't do anything wrong!" She passionately protested.
"You injured numerous students." The headmaster responded, eyes looking down on the girl.
"That was an accident! They attacked me first!" Rin yelled.
"And in return, you scalded them." The old man said, glaring.
"You're saying that like I seriously injured them or something. None of the injuries were serious!" The young girl shouted, fists clenched as she tried to argue her case. The headmaster was silent, as rage bubbled up inside her. "People have fought before, and none of them were ever expelled. Even if they got sent to the hospital! Why am I being-" She raged before her mother put a hand on shoulder, stopping her.
"That's enough, Rin. We understand, headmaster." Her mother quietly said, as a disbelieving look painted Rin's face.
"Mom!" Rin cried, looking to her Dad for backup, only to see the same look on his face. "Dad!" The young girl continued. "This isn't fair." Rin angrily protested, directing her furious tone at the intolerant headmaster.
"We're incredibly sorry that this happened. We'll be going now." Her parents both said, taking Rin and leaving the office.
Outside in the hallways, the students all parted to let the family pass. Sending Rin glowers, glares and looks along the way. Koto and Rozoku avoided making eye contact with her. Only Pao Shi looked sympathetic. Although she wanted to, the water bender refused to let herself cry. Rin had a dark look on her face as she passed the crowd with her parents, and she kept it on all the way home.
—
Authors Note: Originally, I didn't plan to give Rin's backstory their own chapters. However, I ended up expanding it to the point where my original plan wouldn't fit. Next chapter should also be a backstory one.
