"Ugh lost her. She sure can run.."Mako said to himself as he stands on top of a building looking over Republic City. "She could be anywhere. Guess its for another day though."He said as he jumps down from the roof to the ground. Something suddenly hits him. "Hey, where did Bo go?"He looks around but then sighs and shrugs.
"Probably headed home depressed. I'll talk to him later"Mako said as he started walking off.
Back at the abandoned building, Bolin and the new girl, Mika start talking. Every now and then Bolin just stares at her as she speaks in awe of her beauty and her stories. They are both sitting on some old boxes in front of each other and continue their conversation.
"So, you and our brother were street kids too huh? That's rough. I know how it is. For awhile I lived like that."Mika said.
"What about your parents?"Bolin asked. For some reason she felt that was a little too personal and kinda snapped at him.
"You don't need to know about my parents."She said upset.
"You tell me about yours and I'll tell you about mine."Bolin reasoned with her. She looks suspicious.
"Alright but you first."she said pointing her finger at him.
"Okay okay cool. I'll go first."he said proving he's got nothing to hide.
"But its not something I like to think about."He said looking to the side gloomy. Mika's hard face softened at his sad expression.
"Hey ya know if its that hard you don't have to.."Mika said but got interrupted.
"No its fine. When I was little, my mom and dad were killed by a firebender. My brother and I were there and saw them die in front of our eyes. I can't ever forget that night."He said looking down at the ground with a serious face remembering that tragic night. Mika gasped in surprise.
This guy seemed so cheerful and happy, but he actually saw his parents die. Now she feels awful for being so cold to him.
"I'm so sorry"she said very apologetic.
Bolin looks up at her surprised. "What for? Its not like you had anything to do with it. Yeah losing my folks was rough. Mako had to play dad for me and take care of both of us. He even had to do some work for the Triad just to keep us alive. We slept in boxes or on the ground for days and nights. Those aren't fun times to remember either."He said. Mika felt so sorry for him. He didn't deserve to have such a tough childhood.
"But then thing started to turn around. I found Pabu eating out of a garbage can near me. I felt bad that the little guy was eating trash so I gave him some of my food. Then I gave him a bath in the lake at the park. Well before police came and chased me out. After that I gave him some of my leftover food and let him sleep with me. I was sure he was gonna leave the next day but he stayed. And he's been with me ever since."He said reminiscing and turning to cuddle Pabu who as still around his neck. Mika couldn't help but smile.
"That's so sweet of you to take care of him. I think its great when you do something to help others, even when it means sacrificing something."She said with a warm smile. Bolin lightly blushed and cleared his throat.
"Well ya know that's just the kind of guy I am. Always helping others."He said in a fake macho tone. Mika giggled and rolled her eyes.
"Anyway, its your turn now."He said with a smirk. Mika smirked back.
"Okay I get it. I'll tell ya everything. Better get comfortable. It's a long story."
Bolin shifted in his seat getting closer looking very interested.
"I did have a family too. My mom and dad and I lived a pretty normal life. We weren't rich but we weren't poor. I was too little to remember what happened but suddenly money got tight. I was eating smaller meals and my mom was sewing my clothes up. Eventually my dad left. I don't remember much about him but all I do know is that he ditched me and my mom. Things got even worse for us after my dad left. My mom wouldn't admit it but I knew we were poor and I one step away from losing out home. By the time I was 10 my mom told me I'd be going on a trip to some place called Kyoshi Island to see my grandma. I learned later on that my mom couldn't afford to have me around so she sent me away to live with my grandma." Mika said telling her story nonchalantly.
Bolin was now feeling sorry for her. Her own father left her. What dad would leave his family?
"My grandma lived with her old friends on the island after gramps died. My grandma was an amazing leader of the Kysohi warriors and told me all about her adventures with thieves and bandits. I begged her to teach me her style and she did. I was there for about 3 years and I already advanced faster than she did. No one would dare to mess with me."She said smirking.
"But old habits don't die so fast. Back at home with my mom, I used to..liberate some food from carts. And on the island, I did it again. I was just helping some kids out with no food. But everyone labeled me as a thief. The whole town wanted me behind bars but my grandma wouldn't do it. Soon I became too much for her, so she sent me to the Northern Water Tribe to live with a friend of the family over there. I was taught waterbending moves even though I'm not a bender. But I used the technique to my advantage was able to beat waterbenders. Then I got into trouble again when I got into a fight with a couple of guys who were really bugging me. They said that I just attacked them and had the whole city convinced I was a bully. I was only there for a year until I was sent to live with another friend of the family. He was the grandson of the swordsman who trained by grandfather." Mika said.
Bolin was curious as to why her grandmother and grandfather sounded familiar to him. Like Tenzin or someone mentioned it to him.
"I saw him training others and I wanted to learn so bad. I begged him until he finally taught me. It took me two years before he thought I mastered the sword. I was so excited. But I spoiled that too and I got into a little trouble. Then he sent me here. That's why I gotta see Tenzin."She explained.
"But wait what does Tenzin have anything to do with you? He a friend of the family too?"Bolin asked.
"Actually he's closer than that. He's my mom's cousin."