Disclaimer: I do not own the Avatar world, that is all owned by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.

Chapter 22

Happy

Arlo was always cheerful as a boy. Some would say unnaturally so. You could always find him skipping around the air temple with a small little smile on his face. Looking at the world around him in wonder, as if seeing it for the first time. Eyes so bright that they were practically on fire. He awoke earlier than anyone, always walking to the cliffs to greet the radiant sun. Stretching his arms wide open, embracing the ray's warmth on his face. When the sun set, he would return, waving the star goodbye. Watched it settle beneath the depths of the night. As coolness overtook. And the beautiful sight of Republic City lit up in the distance. Then he would walk home in solitude.

Arlo lived alone with his mother, whose name was Arell. She was a sullen woman, eyes as dull as the stone pillars of their abode. Messy chestnut curls wrapped around her shoulders. The two lived by themselves, separated from the other acolytes. The same people his mother had grown up with now shunned her. But things had been okay.

Then things weren't.

It started when Arlo was around six. A lucky number his mother had told him, gifting him a small cake for his birthday. She had been out, doing the usual business in the air temple. He was just messing around at home. Trying to fruitlessly work the metal boiler. It had been a sudden feeling. Starting out as a small tingle before erupting into a warm, burning sensation that pumped through his veins. The young boy had accidentally lit the carpet on fire. Soon the fire spread up the walls before it had engulfed the room in scorching flames. Luckily, he was able to escape out the door.

But their home was scorched.

Now, bending accidents were a common occurrence. But, there was a particular reason why his was a disaster. Maybe things would've turned out drastically different had he turned out a non bender like his poor mother. There had always been a portion of Avatar Aang's fanbase that took things a little too far. Always been that small percent that refused to change, despite the Avatar's best efforts. The traditionalists, the elitists of the air acolytes.

The problem only got worse when people suddenly began air bending. Unfortunately, a good number of them being the elitists faction. Refusing Master Tenzin's offer of assistance, they trained themselves. Ego increasing by the minute as a divide formed in the acolytes. Some left, most stayed, eventually they started their started their own temple, further away from the city.

It was this group that Arlo's mother had been born into. This group where she had met Arlo's long dead father, a fire bender immigrant. Whom she married, and soon was widowed. Before that, she had Arlo. Who she loved more than life itself, but could not prevent the bile that arose in her throat. Upon being reminded day in and day out of what his existence had meant for her. Of the tragedy that had befallen her. The guilt of these feelings causing her to withdraw into a shell of her former self.

It wasn't enough that he had his father's hair and eye. But now Arlo was a fire bender. One of the accursed ash makers who had brought their people to near extinction if not for the brace actions of the Avatar. False words, but words the temple believed in nonetheless.

And so their isolation was worsened. Which the boy noticed despite the mother's hollow attempts to hide them. Walking through the temple, hateful glares were thrown the pair's way. His mother keeping her head down while Arlo just confusedly looked on.

"Mommy…" The boy whispered, pulling at her long sleeve when they arrived at the halfhearted attempt of a repaired house. She gave him a blank stare, mouth opening but no words exiting. "Why don't the other acolytes like us?" Arlo asked, long hair covering his golden eye. His mother simply shrank out of his grasp, not daring to look at her son. "Mommy…?" Arlo whimpered, staring at his mother's retreating back.

Alone in the bedroom they shared, Arlo tried to sleep from beside his mother. Yet it eluded him as he pulled at his white stripe and rubbed his eyes. The young boy pondered his question over and over. Trying to find an answer and satiate his curiosity. But more importantly than that, he wanted to see his mother smile for once. It was something the woman rarely did those days. When she did though, it lit up his entire week.

Arlo caught his reflection in the small mirror in the room's corner. Mismatched eyes and appearance staring back at him. The boy shifted around, staring at the open sky above.

He would be a good son.

He would make his mother happy.

The next morning, instead of greeting the sun Arlo carefully picked up some sharp scissors. When his mother awoke, she found the boy eagerly waiting to show off his new look. Head badly shaven.

"Mommy! Look! Now I'm like the other kids!" Arlo cheered, forcing his golden eye to close, smile wide. In truth he felt very uncomfortable like that, but he beat the feeling down to his stomach. It would be worth it to make his mother happy. And she was happy if the others were happy. And they would surely be happy if he wasn't different anymore, if he was better.

His mother had gasped, feeling his bald head.

"Now everyone will be happy and not mean to us now!" Arlo had celebrated, not seeing the look of horror that had dawned on his mother's face. She wasn't smiling yet, so Arlo supposed she wasn't happy and that he hadn't done enough.

He would just do better.

Arlo tried to be the perfect son. Kept his eye closed and wore the traditional clothing. Ate every scrap from his vegetable plate. He didn't dare fire bend. Not when he was alone, never. His attempts brought forth a faint smile from his mother. That had been a good week. Despite how wrong it all felt, that one moment justified it all.

It was worth it, if people were happy.

So he tried taking it a step further, trying to turn lie into truth. But, he couldn't seem to get another smile from his mother. When his hair started growing back, she had even stopped him from cutting it more. That had confused him. Why wasn't it working? Why wasn't she happy-

Oh… it didn't matter what he did. The reason she wasn't happy… the problem was him. He was making her unhappy. Making them all unhappy.

That meant, to make them happy, he had to go.

So that's what Arlo did. When his mother was working late, deep inside the temple's library. No one none the wiser when he quietly crept out of his home and outside. He stopped at the cliff before going, watching the sun set one last time. The boy was determined when he stepped one foot out the temple, and then another, and another. Eyes hopeful that this would make things better, that they would be happy with him finally gone.

And Arlo left.

Back in the present, Arlo had a dark look in his eyes upon finishing his tale. Yulan just stared at him in horrified shock. The fire bender scoffed, shaking his head. He tried to be the funny guy who made everyone laugh. Someone had to be. Arlo didn't know if there was anyone who was, who genuinely could in their day and age. At least the left eye had stopped twitching. However, he did feel better. It was refreshing to take the mask off for once. To stop pretending, even to himself about who he was.

"Talking… isn't that bad actually… it helped… thanks." The fire bender awkwardly said to Yulan, pulling her out of her stupor.

"Don't mention it. I'm surprised that cliche trick actually worked." The engineer said in turn, crossing her arms.

"Tricks can be useful." Arlo admitted with a nod.

"…Did you ever see your mom again?" Yulan asked, hoping it wasn't insensitive. He shook his head. Arlo had joined Republic City's circus after leaving. He never saw anyone from that temple ever again. Tried to push it out of his mind while making the audience laugh and cheer. But today proved it would never leave. The mere reminder overwhelming him. "Do you want to?" Yulan continued, lifting an eyebrow.

"…No. No, I don't. She's better off without me." Arlo answered with a sad sigh.

"I find that hard to believe." The Beifong objected. "You're not a kid, you seriously can't still be believing that."She chastised, to his embarrassment. Narrowing his eyes, Arlo looked away from her. The sounds of celebration could be heard above them.

"You should go, go have fun." Arlo pushed, gesturing up.

"I don't think so, Weird Hair-" Yulan started but paused, cringing at her wording. "Err, sorry…" She apologized.

"It's not a big deal. I like my hair the way it is." The ex cirque waved off.

"Kay… but… you've done stuff for you, right?" The engineer asked. Arlo ran through his memory before answering.

"Of course… I like making others happy. But, tinkering's fun." He answered, though pointedly avoided looking at the still whirring reactor. This did not go unnoticed by Yulan. Then, the Beifong suddenly recalled that first day in the workshop with Arlo, realization dawning on her.

"Err… do you like working in the workshop?" Yulan asked with a frown. Arlo's eyes glazed over at her question. He tried to pull on a fake smile that didn't fool her. The fire bender loudly sighed at this.

"I… I like getting to borrow stuff for tinkering… that's nice…" He started, but that made Yulan's glare harden. "No, okay! I don't like working on weapons… they're… they're…not fun…" Arlo explained, hitting his arm. The revelation struck Yulan across the face.

"And you didn't say anything?" She questioned, incredulous.

"It made you guys happy…" Was all he could offer up in response. Yulan trembled, clenching her fist.

"Kyoshi! Listen here, Weird Hair! If you don't want to do something, then tell me! We're fighting the damn Dai Li, who are the damn masters of getting people to do stuff against their will! Don't make me a hypocrite, you hear?!" The engineer shouted in his face, causing him to take an alarmed step back.

"I-" He tried to say.

"Okay!" Yulan repeated. He frantically nodded, to not anger her further. "Good…" The Beifong muttered, composing herself once more. "That settles that. Let's head up, others are probably wondering where we are." Yulan then stated, pulling the fire bender forward toward the tunnel.

"Wait, I can't!" Arlo resisted, wrestling out of the girl's strong hold. "I- I'll see them, and then I'll…I'll… I can't go-" The fire bender tried to excuse.

"They're not from your crazy acolyte temple!" Yulan yelled.

"I know! But I can't risk going up there and-"

"What are you afraid of?!"

"A- Afraid? I'm not afraid-"

"You're running away!"

"I'm not-"

"Yes you are!"

"How am I running away?"

"You're trying to avoid facing this!" Yulan shouted, standing tall. Arlo looked scandalized at her accusation, but seemed to be desperately holding something back. "Do you think you can just avoid this forever? Man up!" The engineer ordered. Arlo's face contorted.

Above, the Resistance were still celebrating the arrival of the legendary figures. A large group had gathered in the main cave, where they socialized and partied. Apparently this was normal for such an occasion. Despite the ludicrous illogicality of the event. The figures in question had managed to camp out near the edge of the commotion. Wikilow, Elsi, and Bara joining them. Gale had flown off as the fighters got more rowdy.

In the holding area, Hark was banging his head against the wall. Trying to block out their rambunctious noises.

The Avatar was recounting the journal's contents with Elsi. Though apparently it didn't provide any more insight than he could collect from his predecessor himself. It had piqued his interest. And it appeared to interest the air bender as well. It took their mind off the fact that they couldn't find Arlo. And everyone else was too caught up to help at that point.

Bara quietly conversed with Bolin and Opal. Who also wondered where Yulan was. The air bending masters and Asami watched the proceedings from the sidelines.

A blob of black and white hair emerged from the tunnel. Surprised at the loud reception occurring but making his way through nonetheless. Behind Arlo was Yulan, who was not surprised. The two slowly approached the group.

"Arlo!" Elsi cheered, noticing his arrival. "Are you okay? How's your eye?" She whispered, Wikilow by her side,

"I'll…I'll tell you guys later." Arlo explained, looking down and taking a breath. He gave them a determined look, to which they hesitantly backed away and watched as he approached the air bending masters.

"Hi…" Arlo awkwardly greeted with a clumsy wave. "I didn't get to introduce myself earlier. So um, I'm Arlo. Good to meet you." The fire bender stated. Jinora's eyes slightly widened at his name.

"…A pleasure to meet you as well, Arlo. Forgive me but, do you know someone named Arell?" Jinora quietly asked, saying his mother's name. The name felt so light and heavy at the same time. Arlo said nothing, just nodded in response. The air bending master was silent, looking him in the eyes. As if seeing his entire life story through gold and brown. "Arell came to us some years ago, looking for her missing son. She misses you." Jinora told him, knowing nothing else needed to be said.

Arlo's eyes glistened.

"Tell her Arlo says hi. I-I'll visit one day," He said in turn, a genuine smile adorning his face. The master nodded, and that was all.

Arlo turned and gave a silent thanks to Yulan, who in turn gave him a thumbs out. The fire bender then returned to his questioning friends. Whose concerns he laughed off for later. Though not to the same degree as he usually would've done.

He was happy.

Truly happy.

Authors Note: Probably my favourite backstory so far. Should've written Rin Alone like this.