Chapter 2. Due to suggestions, I'm not using alter-ego names. It is too confusing.

So in this verse, asian-influenced names are still big.

Sophie; don't need to know. Yupyup. Much influence from Cave of Two Lovers- but you'll see eventually that it's not gonna follow the plot as much as it seems. This isn't going to be a very long story- I'm not expecting more than 12 chapters.

I don't remember the exact day he entered my life. I think it might've been a Wednesday. I'm older now and my memories are a bit fuzzy, but I do remember it was right after the flowers had begun to bloom; right into the beginning of spring. The snow had finished melting just a few weeks previous and the air was sometimes still brisk in the mornings.

Spring had always been my favorite season.

My father had died in the dead of winter when I was just eight years old. I remember my mother holding me in a hug and whispering in my ear, "See those tulips? Even though they disappear in the winter, they're always back in spring to remind us that life continues." But I, for some reason, hated that memory and try to block it out whenever I can.

On the day of our first meeting, I had been comforting an elderly woman who had just lost her husband to Alzheimer's disease.

"He hadn't been my Kan for years," she had been ranting, blowing her nose with one hand and waving the other frantically. "It was like he was a different man, so afraid and frail; nothing like the man I had married!" She continued to wail. Luckily for me, I was good at comforting people. My voice was soft and soothing and my words were always coated with sugar, as if I could really relate to their problems.

Both my parents had a degree in medicine, so I had been slapping band-aids on scabbed knees as far back as I could remember, even when I was just a small girl. When a kid fell on the playground they would go to me first, instead of the school nurse. I always kept band-aids, or as I had called them 'Sticky Patches', in my pockets and sometimes even in my shoes. Sometimes, I even got in trouble for it.

So I suppose it was simple fate that I would grow up to be a nurse. No one was surprised.

I had my arm slung over her shoulder like a rag doll smiling and calmly assuring her that he was in a better place now, that everyone has a time, things like that. People like to hear those kinds of things. She had just begun to gather herself, her sniffles slowly fading, when I had got the call.

Katara appeared in the doorway, leaning on the frame and smiling. Immediately I felt a tiny pang of envy and respect, looking up at her. She was the kind of girl who everyone envied and wanted to hate, but often couldn't bring themselves to do it. Her hair was long and brown; a shade or two lighter than mine. Often it was worn in a braid and when she wasn't working, two strands of hair framed around her face. Her skin was deeply tanned, like a Hawaiians', and her eyes, piercing and blue, stood out in contrast. My eyes were a dull grey and I had boring, over-used side bangs. While I was simply cute, she was beautiful.

In high school she had been captain of the swim team and, though she hates to talk about it, but prom queen too. In high school I had been a nobody, and my prom date had been a boy who thought he could get lucky with me in a hotel room. I had been ditched the moment he found out I wasn't some slut who would give herself to him. Katara's prom date had been a boy she had been dating for years, and still was. He was smart, and although two years younger, athletic and loved by almost everyone.

As far as I knew, Katara had only been cheated on once. And that was before she fully hit puberty with some impulsive bad-boy. My first boyfriend had been when I was fifteen, definitely not before puberty. I had been cheated on twice.

I knew Katara didn't approve of the government, but she was smart enough not to bring up bending around me and to keep her mouth shut. Unlike me, a simple nurse, she was a full-fledged doctor of the human department.

Judging from the way I talked about her, people often assumed I hated her and was only jealous. However it was quite the opposite. Despite the silent war raging in the world, I was an optimist, as was Katara. And together, we could secretly hope for a better world.

"Knock, knock," She said with a smirk. We both looked up and instantly both smiled. I smiled because she was my friend and the elderly woman, smiled because Katara was the kind of person who drew the corners of lips upward.

"So," she said, referring to my nickname, "you're needed in room 202. Some old guy's got food poisoning and he needs your special remedy. I'll take care of her." I nodded, getting the message; skin diseases were my specialty. I stood, pausing only to wipe the dust from my peach and white nurses' uniform and patted the woman's hand affectionately.

I assured her she was in good hands and with a passing smile towards Katara, entered the hallway.

I locked eyes with a nurse on the other side of the hall. We both had closed our doors at the same time, we were both nurses, we both had the same skill level, and yet I was paid twice as much as she, my uniform was nicer than hers, my equipment was updated, and I lived a safer life.

She was a waterbender; a healer and that made her an outcast. She worked in the bender's department, doing the same things I did, only with bending. She was probably twice as skilled as I was, and probably worked twice as hard. She and I both knew there was something wrong with this picture. Neither of us said anything.

I looked away first. That was the way it worked; you waited for the human to make the first move.

Within moments I was in the elevator. I was welcomed by the boring (yet peaceful) lull of elevator music as I rose a single floor. A loud 'bing' welcomed me to the second floor and I took a little more time crossing this hallway. The second floor was not nearly as crowded or as busy, used for walk-in patients who were in for physicals, or flu's, or, in this man's case food poisoning.

It was also an all-human floor, just like they all were. The first floor was the only exception, and the benders were given only half of it.

"Good afternoon," I greeted the man in room 202. His food poisoning, which had made his already-large body swell, was bad, but I had seen worse. He looked like he had stuffed two round, ripe apples in his cheeks. His stomach looked like he had one too many helpings and above all, he was scratching himself anywhere and everywhere. "My name is Song."

"…Mushy," the man greeted back. His voice sounded slightly Asian, not that it was noticeable in his features. His cheeks were so round that they caused his eyes to close halfway, so they looked a bit like crescent moons. He was old, so his hair was graying.

"You're human, right?" I asked, snapping on my plastic gloves.

"Yes," he said with a nod. I pulled out a needle, as was regulation.

"I'm going to need a blood sample; just protocol. We wouldn't want you to be in the wrong department, would we?" I was only joking around, but clearly to him I hadn't said the right thing.

He quickly grew uncomfortable, looking past me. He began to have a conversation with head and hand gestures. I turned, surprised to see a scowling young man frowning back at me. He was wearing an old, dirty Mets cap and watching me from his right eye. A few tuffs of dark brown hair stuck out the back and bottom. He froze the minute I lay my eyes on him.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't see you there," I brightly said, holding out my hand. "Song."

He said nothing in reply nor made no movement to shake my hand. Instead, Mushy spoke for him. "Excuse my nephew's rudeness," he apologized, sharply glancing at the young man, "this is my nephew…Li." He looked rather rehearsed, like he had done this before.

"Alright, so before I start…you mind?" I held up the needle with an encouraging smile. Reluctantly, he stuck out his arm. I pressed the needle against the skin. Once I was done I gave him another smile and held the vial up to the light. It was positive; human.

"Great," I murmured happily.

Suddenly, my arm shot out and grabbed Mushy's hand, stopping it centimeters before it could touch anymore skin. He looked annoyed, but amused. I shook my head, smiling. "Tell me, when did your skin break out like this?" I asked, shuffling towards the medicine cabinet and pulling out a small container of white cream.

"Uh, earlier today," Mushy told me with an uncertainty that made me pause, but only for a minute.

I took that into note, nodding as I applied the cream. "You should have come right in; the rash would have gone right away." Mushy only shrugged with a smile.

"Li was the one who made me come in; I was about to use some old medicine from the forties that was probably for headaches. I should be thanking him," Mushy continued. He and I both laughed. From the corner of my eye, I saw Li fighting down a smile.

"That was very smart Li," I praised, throwing my head over my shoulder to smile at him. He quickly grew somber and looked away. Immediately, something caught my eye about the left side of his face. "That's a nasty scar you've got there," I observed. Distantly, I could see Mushy slicing the air in front his neck. I chose to ignore it, and continued. "A firebender give you that?"

I immediately knew I had said the wrong thing, for I saw Li's fists clench. The atmosphere grew awkward quickly and I turned back to Mushy just in time to stop him from scratching himself. "So, er, what did you eat?"

My question brought Mushy back into reality and he looked at me curiously for a moment. "Huh? Oh, yes, oh, I tried to eat a not-so-healthy vegetable."

With my head lowered as I applied the ointment, I smirked up at him. A vegetable that wasn't healthy? I decided to ask, and Mushy chuckled again. His laugh was aged and hearty; something only old men could pull off. I felt a slight reminisce of my grandfather. "Alright, alright, I give. I tried to make my own tea."

I paused, recalling a restaurant I had had dinner at a few months ago that had served excellent tea. "I know a wonderful Japanese restaurant downtown," I murmured absently. By the way Mushy's body relaxed I could tell he was intrigued. Behind me, Li began to moan.

"Oh?" He pressed, rubbing his chin. I slapped the hand away.

"Yes, and they have all kind of delicacies like roast duck or—"

"Say no more," Mushy interrupted. He smiled at me. "I already like the place."

I felt my cheeks grow warm with heat as my head rushed. I don't know why, maybe it was fate, but a sudden bravery and boldness coursed through my veins. I blurted out, "I could take you, if you'd like."

It was silent a few moments after that and I soon regretted even mentioning the restaurant. "I don't think—" Li began.

"Z—Li!" Mushy scolded harshly. "Miss Song has just been very kind to us; I think we should accept her offer!"

"Uncle," I could hear Li's voice rising. He was struggling to keep calm.

"Li," Mushy countered. I felt quite awkward, caught in the middle of the staring contest. Their eyes were boring into one another's, waiting to see which one would stand down first.

"Well, maybe we should just forget I said—" I tried to squeeze in, but Mushy quickly cut me off.

"No. You have made a very generous offer and we will humbly accept," He said, shooting one more quick glance towards Li. I couldn't help thinking that maybe Mushy was raised from a very manners-forward family.

I tried to smile, but to my dismay it came out as weak. "Alright then. I just need to speak with my supervisor; you're my last patient, but I need to tell her I'm going out." I turned to Li, who was adjusting his Mets cap and trying to cover his forehead more. As he realized I was watching him, I could make out a slight tinge of pink in his cheeks.

---

"I hope you two don't mind the subway," I murmured as we stepped onto the subway car. "Medical school wasn't cheap, and I don't really see a need for a car in this city…" I trailed off, realizing neither Li nor Mushy were paying attention to me. Li's eyes were darting from person to person, as if testing them to see if they were some crazed stalker who was following them. Mushy, on the other hand, obviously excited about the restaurant, had closed his eyes, humming happily to himself. His rash, thanks to the ointment, was steadily disappearing.

I saw a woman sitting down with a child in her lap as we entered; instantly, my eyes were drawn to their necks. Both wore a silver chain with a green pendant; benders. The woman caught my gaze and stood abruptly up. "The seat is yours."

I would've been fine standing, but when I opened my mouth to protest, her eyes darted towards a guard standing at the end of the car. The gun was so big he needed to hold it with two hands and even though it wasn't pointing at us, I still felt my body tremble. His head turned towards us. I nodded—it felt so wrong—and sat down.

No sooner than my eyes had been closed for a minute, I felt a pair of eyes on me. My own opened with mixed alarm and curiosity, surprised to see Li's golden-brown orbs staring straight at my right leg. The bottoms of my scrubs were a bit short in the length and whenever I sat, they rose to a bit above my ankles.

More importantly, he was staring at my scar. I looked up at him, and we locked eyes. His Mets hat was still pulled downward, but I could see some kind of surprise or pity in his eyes. I wondered what my own eyes were telling him.

It's nothing. Don't worry about it. Yeah, so?

Then the train lurched to a stop and an automated female voice broke through to us. I snapped back into reality, as did Li. I could feel my cheeks flushing. Then I registered the voice had told me we were at our stop and I stood. Li followed in suit, and nudged his uncle awake. He snorted a bit and looked rather surprised, but let out a soft laugh after realizing he had fallen asleep.

I could tell Li was staring at my leg again, but this time I ignored his gaze and led them out of the station.

The minute we stepped off the last stair and entered the street, a surprisingly warm blast of air hit my face. My bangs and braid ruffled in the breeze. I turned in the direction the restaurant was and once again locked eyes with Li. It was far less intense this time and I soon realized I was smiling. He didn't glare back, simply turned away.

The Japanese restaurant was called The White Jade Lily, and among its wide variation of tempura and sushi, served a mean noodle soup. It was a human-only restaurant, advertised proudly with bright neon signs.

After we had ordered—Mushy right away knowing exactly what he wanted—I brought up conversation. "So…Li's an interesting name," I spoke up, drawing both pairs of eyes to me. I could clearly see Li's eyes widen this time, Mushy insisting he remove the hat. Li had protested, but finally gave in and reluctantly agreed. "Were you named after anyone?"

"Yes," Li blurted out quickly. I looked to him, expecting a continuation.

"After his father," Mushy supplied after a few moments of Li saying nothing. Slowly, he began to act more confident with his words. "Yes, after his father… Sometimes, I even all him Junior." He let out an unconvincing chuckle.

I chanced a side-glance at Li. He didn't strike me as a 'Junior', but then again he didn't really look more like a 'Li' either. He was glaring at his uncle as if he would've preferred that to stay unsaid and I couldn't help but giggle softly.

That, I think, was the last peaceful moment we'd be having for a while.

Before there's a terrible storm or hurricane, there is always some kind of peaceful, calm before it hits. The clouds wouldn't have gathered yet and there was not a cloud in the sky. The sea gulls or birds roamed the skies in circles, occasionally scooping down to grab a fish. It was beautiful, and no one would expect that it would bring a storm with cowering before.

That's what this moment was like; my laughter, Mushy's smile, and Li's growing grin.

Suddenly, three young women, probably no older than me, burst into the restaurant. Two had guns, pointed up at the ceiling. The third was simply in hard stance I could vaguely make out to be gymnastics. All three wore dark-tinted sunglasses and black suits. I couldn't tell, but earpieces were probably a given.

A shiver was sent down my spine. I had seen routines like this before; once, in the hospital. A pregnant bender had tried to slip in to the human emergency room to birth her baby, but the blood sample had been negative. Minutes before she gave birth, she was thrown out. I had been curious and had peeked out from behind the blinds to see her give birth in an alley.

I had thought about saying how horrible that was, but an officer had stepped in front of my view and shaken his head at me. I was quiet for the rest of the night.

The longer I looked at them, the more fearful I grew. I looked to Mushy and Li, as if they would be any help. Mushy looked simply annoyed, slightly angry, while Li had already stood; ready to move.

One of the girls suddenly locked her eyes on me. Quickly they passed over and landed on another target. She turned her head, calling to another one of the girls.

"What—" I wasn't given time to finish my sentence. Rough hands found their way around my mouth and waist. Before I knew it, I was being scooped up.

Things rushed past me in a great blur. I vaguely remember the back exit opening, I remember looking up to see Li frantically darting his head left and right. The alleyway was distant to me, but I remember nearly being knocked against the wall after Li tripped on a garbage can.

The creaking of a dumpster filled my ears and although everything was still hazy, I swore Mushy was yelling, "Zuko, down here!" Who was Zuko, I thought blankly. The last thing I remembered before darkness was being thrown into a dumpster and hitting my head on something hard.

It was already dark inside the dumpster, I could hear Li's anxious breaths against my neck, and I was fading fast. I didn't know what was going on, I didn't know where I was (aside from the fact I was passing out in a dumpster), but I did know one thing:

Li and Mushy weren't who they said they were.

Reworked version. I don't know where this'll go, or when I'll update. But it was bothering me that I still hadn't posted this.

High school is a bitch.