3:

The streets were empty, but that was to be expected considering it was dark. Way past dark, actually, and Hiro knew that if he got caught then he'd be punished severely.

He'd probably never see Tadashi and Cass again, but this wasn't the first time he's taken the risk and he's 99.9% sure Tadashi won't notice, that him and Aunty Cass will stay up all night talking about him, and how difficult he was- a statement he'd like to think would hurt but he's not exactly proving them wrong by sneaking out past curfew, soaking wet and still shaking from his earlier near death experience.

He shivered despite the warm temperature, turning the corner and nearly colliding into a broad man with wide shoulders and a neck as thick as Hiro's waist. He snarled, showing off his collection of impressive silver teeth as he flexed massive biceps.

"What are you doing here little boy?" he growled, widening his stance as if he was expecting a fight.

It wasn't the first time Hiro's ran into him; it just never ceased to amaze the teen how forgetful the giant of the man was. He never recognizes him, always referring to him like he was a child that didn't belong here. Fair, Hiro supposed, considering he probably was a child that didn't belong, but it wasn't like he's ever participated before. Tadashi would've killed him then resurrected him just so he could kill him again.

This time was different, though, so he squared skinny shoulders and straightened up his posture as he focused on the man's intense gaze.

"I'm here to compete," he spoke like it was obvious, allowing the slight waver slip into his voice.

The man reared back and laughed, his entire belly shaking with the motion. Hiro bit back a grimace as he continued to stare wide-eyed and pleadingly up at the man. He tried conveying an innocent- very gullible- little boy they could easily win some money off of. He just wasn't buying any of it.

"Listen, kid, go home," the man said in a flippant tone, "This is no place for children."

"I have money," Hiro finally blurted, taking out a few measly bills and some pocket change to stare earnestly up at the man.

The man's eyes instantly locked onto the cash, and something in his expression changed. Hiro knew then that he had the guy- these peoples' many language being greed.

He must have realized he was slipping because his face changed back to aloof as he straightened up and shrugged, "Alright. Don't say I didn't warn you."

And he stepped back, permeating Hiro past, who bowed his thanks and scrambled inside. The room was large- having once been an old warehouse that was hollowed out and abandoned a long time ago. The overhead lights had been removed whenever the place had been gutted so several large torches blazing with fire lined the outside of the room and again in the center where the ring was in their place.

It was amazing how little the place seemed to change, people crowded around the upraised arena cheering and placing bets.

The couple of times Hiro's snuck out to come here he would place a couple of bets just so they won't kick him out or accuse him of being a spy. Then he started betting right every time and had to lose a couple of times when he started to turn heads.

It would do him no good to get beat up and robbed in a place as sketchy as this. Especially considering it was illegal to just stand within a five foot radius here.

He swallowed thickly.

Tadashi and Cass were going to have a fit.

There was a loud clang of a gong, and he looked up curiously at the arena to see a skinny looking man with half a head of green hair being drug off the stage. His eyes were rolled up in the backs of his skull and his arm was bent at an odd angle; Hiro offered a hiss of sympathy as he turned his gaze to the other guy on stage.

He resembled the man outside, Hiro noted not for the first time. Perhaps a little shorter, a little stockier and twice as ugly. Oily black hair was slicked back in a hairstyle that wasn't popular now nor a hundred years ago. Bushy black eyebrows hung over his black beads for eyes; a twisted grin spread across his face as he rose both hands in a victorious gesture, prompting the crowd to cheer his name.

Yama.

He was the reigning champion and most current participant's competition. He also had a sadistic streak and found way too much enjoyment out of beating those who stepped in the ring with him into unconsciousness. Hiro was going to have to play his cards right if he wanted to leave the place in one piece.

"Who's next?" Yama challenged as he gazed confidently over the cheering faces, "Who thinks they can take on Yama?"

Hiro winced, hating whenever people referred to themselves in the a third person. It was creepy and odd and Hiro noticed those who think they were unbeatable slipped into the habit. Yama was no exception, flaunting around across the stage as he dared random people to climb in the ring with him.

"I'll do it," a female voice called and Hiro watched from his spot near the back of the crowd as a slender woman with short pink hair climbed onto the stage.

Unlike with Yama, Hiro didn't know her name which meant she was either new or, like him, stayed near the back every other time she came here awaiting for her chance to beat the unbeatable champion.

"Are both competitors ready?" the announcer- a tall woman dressed in something Cass would disapprove greatly of- asked as she flaunted across the stage, oblivious or just didn't care about the men ogling her from behind.

"Ready," Yama chuckled, grinding his knuckles into the opposite hand as a predatory smile spread across his face, "I'm going to enjoy messing up that pretty face of yours, princess."

"Big talk for a big man," the woman shot back widening her stance in preparation, "but let's see you put your money where your mouth is."

"Alright," the announcer said with a sadistic grin as she clamped a lid over the money both competitor's placed and it might have been a trick of the light but Hiro could've sworn she winked at Yama before shouting, "Let's get started!"

The crowd erupted in wild cheers as the woman stepped forward, a rush of fire sprouting from her feet towards Yama.

A fire bender, then, just like Tadashi.

Hiro watched with wide eyes as Yama blocked with a wall of rocks before he shoved in the air, like he was pushing something, and the wall barreled over the woman. She fell back, tripping over the back of the ring, and ended up tumbling out of the ring and onto the ground.

"And the winner is Yama!" the announcer chanted as she rushed over to lifted Yama's massive arm in the air, the man hooting with the crowd.

The woman who lost sat up, hand poking at her slightly bleeding temple with a wince. She groaned, but was still conscious which was more than most of the people who went up against Yama could account for.

Another woman about the same age with pixie features and cropped black hair rushed over to help her up, fretting over her. Hiro observed the scene with a slight pang in his chest, a sudden urge to rush home and apologize to the people who care for him for sneaking out and being so stupid.

He stamped down on the urge, knowing that he couldn't leave until he won some money.

"Who else dares face Yama?!" Yama challenged, stuffing the money somewhere near his breast.

Yama, Hiro knew, was an Earth bender which meant that fire bending against him was unwise. He also knew water bending wouldn't help much, since there wasn't much water around, and it was illegal for two people with the same element to fight so that left air. Hiro knew all of this, has calculated every minuscule detail yet he knew Yama was a powerful opponent. It wouldn't be wise to underestimate him.

"Can I try?" he called bravely, feeling his courage and confidence fill him.

He was short and skinny and Yama wouldn't see him as much of a threat, a point proven when the crowd quickly scrambled to reveal him standing with a gap toothed smile and Yama burst out into indigent laughter.

"What's your name?" he demanded once it became clear Hiro wasn't going to be perturbed.

"Hiro," Hiro piped in with a slight waver in his voice, "Hiro Hamada."

"Well Ze-ro, I'm not going to waste your time. Go home and let the adults play," he chided already turning away and Hiro realized it was now or never.

"Sorry kid," the announcer shrugged apathetically, "House rules. You've got to pay to play."

"I have money!" he chirped up, reaching into his pocket to pull out a couple of wrinkled bills and much like the man at the door Yama's expression shifted into a shark seconds away from devouring a baby seal.

Hiro looked like an easy target, and it was something he was going to use to his advantage.

"I'm going to crush you," Yama threatened once Hiro dropped the change on the platter; Hiro didn't bother replying as he replayed the plan in his head.

Yama took his silence as weakness as he spun to face the crowd and chanted, "Hope none of you are squeamish!"

A wave an anger at being belittled rushed through Hiro but he's spent the majority of his life being belittled. He could take a couple of harsh words from a bully who beat people out of their money.

"Begin!" the announcer screamed and Hiro forced a burst of wind at Yama, shocking him only slightly before he let out a harsh laugh.

"You think a little breeze is enough to take down Yama?" the man challenged before holding out a fist and Hiro closed his eyes as a large rock disk knocked him out of the ring, but not unconscious.

"Yama wins!" the woman announced and Hiro quickly scrambled to his feet, playing the stunned loser who didn't know when to quit.

"What?" he asked, "That was my first fight. Please let me try again."

"No one likes a sore loser. Go home kid," the announcer told him sternly, expression slightly pale; she must draw the line of watching Yama beat up little kids.

That was fine. Hiro had everyone exactly where he wanted them.

"I have more money!" he protested pulling out the large wad he's collected over the years from his allowance and winnings.

Yama's expression darkened, narrowing in on the wad; another grin starting to creep across his face as he replied, "It's your funeral kid."

The announcer rolled her eyes but accepted the cash and Hiro eyed the large sum Yama piled on the tray cockily. Hiro forced back the grin that threatened to spit across his features and give him away.

It doesn't pay well to underestimate him either.

"Begin!"

Yama flung an earth disk at him, Hiro ducking and rolling from its path. He landed on his knee, calling forth a large burst of air- larger than his first one- and watched as Yama stumbled but remained upright.

Yama growled in frustration, moving as if he expected to attack again when a large wind vortex opened up above him spinning down to trap him in the whipping air. He screamed, anger coloring his voice, and Hiro flicked his wrist and watched as Yama flew off the stage, out of the ring.

Dead silence followed.

Then Yama straightened up from the other side of the ring, eyes wide in shock. They focused on Hiro, who eagerly stuffed his pockets with the cash.

"What?" he asked, slightly dazed and Hiro couldn't keep his cocky smile from his lips as he shrugged.

"Honestly I'm as surprised as you," he teased, "Beginners luck, I guess."

Then realization crossed through Yama's expression and a seed of dread sparked inside Hiro's gut. Yama wasn't pleased and, despite his earlier words, wasn't planning on letting this one slide. Not considering Hiro humiliated him in front of everyone.

"No one hustles Yama," he growled, the ground shaking underneath Hiro's shoes.

"Wha-" Hiro started but was interrupted when the ring cracked and split, Hiro losing his footing and falling towards the ground.

He struck, landing on his elbow, and couldn't stop the scream from erupting out of his mouth. It hurt and Yama was climbing onto his feet like he won and all Hiro could remember feeling was panic.

The ground vibrated, splitting apart and Hiro watched from his spot on the ground as bits and pieces of Earth folded into an oversized cone, the point directed towards Hiro's head.

"I'll show you," Yama growled, his outstretched hand clasping into a fist.

A yelp of panic escaped Hiro's throat as he shot out his good hand to stop the blow, something jolting through his entire frame before the rock trying to impale him cracked and shattered followed by silence. Hiro blinked dark eyes open, staring in shock as he realized he'd just earth bended in front of all these people, revealing himself as the Avatar.

Not good.

"Impossible," Yama growled from his spot as he focused on Hiro before he growled, "Avatar."

Later, much later, Hiro will recall the next events as something close to a miracle. Tadashi, of course, would disagree, but he never really had the best idea of what was happening before he threw open the doors.

"Hiro!" he screamed and relief flooded through the youth as he scrambled to his feet and rushed over to Tadashi's side.

"Tadashi," he gasped, "Great timing."

"Uh huh," Tadashi murmured, eyes focusing on the angry benders his brother just managed to reveal himself in front of but he couldn't feel angry with Hiro still clutching his arm and staring up at him like he was the best thing ever.

"Tadashi!" Hiro cried, turning around to recognize the danger he'd managed to put them all in; Tadashi's hand reached out to latch onto the back of Hiro's shirt, yanking him behind him as he took a protective stance.

"Hiro, get out of here. I'll hold them off," Tadashi shouted and Hiro felt himself swallow something sticky.

Something that felt like panic bred with desperation sprouted inside him and he heard himself scream. Heat clouded itself around his heart, threatening to burn him from the inside out and it was no wonder Tadashi hated fire bending so much.

The flames on the torches sprouted up, fed by Hiro's emotions before they all simultaneously shot forward. Tadashi must have blinked in surprise, memories unwillingly flooding through him, as he stiffened and a stab of guilt struck Hiro.

He forgot; Tadashi still feared fire, sometimes the smallest of flames while he was making tea causing his eyes to get vague and fuzzy. They didn't have time for this, though.

The flames had successfully cocooned itself around the brothers, but it won't be long before someone figures out how to take control back over them. After all, as an unspoken rule with his brother, Hiro never fire bended.

Except for now.

"Tadashi," he cried, reaching out to grasp onto his brother's hand and jerking him towards the direction of the door, "Let's go!"

Tadashi blinked out of whatever horrors his brain brought up and followed Hiro out the door, quickly taking the lead. Hiro didn't bother arguing, sprinting after his brother as they weaved themselves through the streets finally coming to a stop when Hiro was certain his lungs were going to burst.

"Are you alright?" Tadashi asked, concerned.

"Y-yeah," Hiro wheezed, hands on his knees as he tried to regain his breath.

"Are you hurt?"

"No."

"Then what were you thinking?" Tadashi demanded, voice irritated as he slapped Hiro's arm harshly before adding with another strike, "Knucklehead."

"Sorry," Hiro gasped straightening up and grinned when he went to reveal his winnings to his brother, gloating over the fat wads of cash he won, "but look how much I won."

"Are you crazy?" and he was looking at him like Hiro has gone crazy, "You're going to get caught. Or worst."

Hiro froze, ice churning inside his stomach at the fear that flittered across his brother's face. What he did tonight, bending and eventually outing himself as the Avatar, was dangerous and he seriously scared Tadashi.

"Aunty Cass-"

"Doesn't know," Tadashi huffed turning his back to his brother, "I left her sleeping."

"Why did you come up to my room?" Hiro asked curiously because he was almost certain nothing would've made Tadashi enter their room while Hiro was acting like such a brat.

Tadashi stiffened again, shoulders going rigid as he turned slowly to face Hiro and muttered in an honest voice, "I saw something on TV. An execution of a water bender that attacked a young boy earlier that day."

Hiro froze, the memory of being suffocated- drowned- still all-to clear. Vivid and he momentarily forgot how to breathe.

"Hiro!" Tadashi screamed, breaking him out from the images and he ducked his head, knowing his eyes gave himself away; Tadashi already knew.

"I'm sorry," he apologized, "I didn't mean to get attacked. I was just kind of gawking when he noticed me and struck out and I couldn't fight back because the guards were there and they were so cruel I-" he broke off, hands shaking at his side.

He curled them into tight fists, urging them to relax.

Tadashi's hands reached out, settling on either side of his arm as he reassured fondly, "It wasn't your fault. There was nothing you could do. This, though, this little stunt of yours tonight was undoubtedly your fault."

Hiro frowned because his brother had managed to comfort him and make him feel bad at the same time. Worst, Hiro knew the bending tournament got out of control, but it didn't matter because they were safe and Hiro had won enough money-

"Tadashi, I need to ask! I wasn't there so I wouldn't know but is this enough money to help Aunty Cass with her bills?" Hiro asked, setting his priorities which was why the sudden stricken look that settled on Tadashi's face confused him.

Shouldn't he be happy that he wasn't the only one helping Aunt Cass out with their debt problem? That Hiro, whom could eat his weight in their aunt's cooking, was taking responsibility and helping out?

"Tadashi?" he asked, blank look of confusion marring his features as he blinked wide-eyes up at his brother.

Then Tadashi's hands were back to crushing him as his brother practically growled, "Hiro, were you eavesdropping on that conversation? Of course you were, you knucklehead," the once affectionate nickname now sounded like an insult and Hiro swallowed as he watched Tadashi's head drop, frame still shaking.

"Tadashi?" he repeated before people screaming could be audible and Tadashi stiffened, straightening back up as he gazed in the direction of the voices.

"We're not finished with this conversation," Tadashi warned, promised, before gripping Hiro's wrist tightly and starting back down the alleys.

They ran, weaving in and out of alleys and streets, until Tadashi was certain they had lost their pursuers. By then, the moon was directly above them shining down on Hiro with its judgmental glow; something the boy decided considering his brother wasn't even trying to conceal the fact that he was angry with him.

Hiro kept his head bowed as they started back in the direction of the café.

Something prickled in the back of his mind, something familiar, and he glanced up. His step must have faltered because Tadashi glanced at him, thin concerned frown crossing his features as Hiro shifted through his internal memories to figure out what the feeling was.

It was at the edge of his consciousness, mocking him. Hiro growled internally as he sought to figure out what exactly the feeling was. Figure out what could've made everything inside him stick and burn.

He gasped, eyes flying towards the direction of their café and he didn't stop to talk with his brother before he was sprinting. He heard Tadashi scream his name as he started to follow, but Hiro ignored him as he continued to run.

His step faltered when the café finally came into view, flames and black smoke cascading around it and something sick and close to anguish filled him. He stepped forward, to rush in and find their aunt, when arms circled around his waist and jerked him back.

He stumbled, tripping and falling to his rear.

He glanced up, Tadashi already up the steps and at the door and Hiro might've screamed his name, begging him to stop but Tadashi didn't listen and Hiro couldn't hear himself.

All he could hear were the sounds of flames cackling all around him as Tadashi disappeared from view.

Tadashi ignored his brother's cries as he rushed inside the café door, sole focus on finding their aunt and getting her out.

Ignoring the suffocating heat, he rushed across the café and up the stairs to where he remembered last leaving the woman, sleeping on the couch with a very warm, very flammable blanket tucked over her.

"Cass!" he shouted as he took the steps three at a time in his mad dash to their living room where he found the couch empty.

"Cass!" he repeated, voice raised but then he inhaled smoke and burst out in a fit of coughing.

Reaching up, he covered his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt as he glanced around for any signs of what might've happened to his aunt. Around him, the flames roared and, suddenly, he remembered.

He'd been no older than 11, his brother 3 when the men wearing black masks broke into their house.

Hiro and Tadashi were supposed to be in bed, asleep, but the brothers never tended to do as they were told. They would usually stay up long hours of the night, whispering softly to themselves, giggling with jokes and stories never shared with another soul. It was precious, what they had- what they shared- despite Tadashi knowing Hiro wouldn't remember much of any of it when he grew older.

That night had been no different, Hiro's soft giggles audible from where Tadashi laid across the room smiling affectionately when there was a loud bang, followed by a crash and Hiro was already sitting up. Tadashi could still remember his brother's dark outline as he jerked forward.

"What was that?" Hiro whispered, voice tense with fear.

"I'm sure it was nothing," Tadashi reassured as he too sat up to offer comfort to his frightened little brother, "Probably just mom and dad."

Yet an uneasy feeling had already settled in his gut so the older brother moved forward, towards the door. He was just going to check, he decided, to make sure everything was alright.

He reached out, hand on the doorknob, when it was jerked open and a man he didn't recognize, face concealed in a black mask standing in the doorway. Behind him, Tadashi could hear his parents screaming, begging to spare them.

"Ah," the man purred as he stepped forward in the room, Tadashi quickly scrambling back; on the bed, Hiro was staring wide-eyed and terrified, "Found you."

"What-what do you want?" Tadashi demanded, finding his brother in the dark and keeping him between the stranger and his brother.

"What do I want? Lots of things. Power. Riches," creepy blue eyes focused on the brothers as he added with a slight smirk in his voice, "Revenge."

"Revenge for what?" Tadashi demanded, conscious of Hiro's tiny fists bunched tightly against the fabric of his nightshirt, "What have we ever done to you?"

"You personally?" the man asked in slight surprise before chuckling darkly as he hummed, "Nothing but your parents. Well, let's just say we have a score to settle."

"You're lying!" Hiro cried from behind Tadashi's back, "Our parents would never-"

"Never what, little one?" the man demanded, blue eyes shifting over to Hiro hiding behind Tadashi causing Tadashi to stiffen and shuffle into the man's view.

The man chuckled darkly, as he observed amused, "Protective, aren't we?"

"You won't touch him," Tadashi promised, braver than he felt but this was Hiro and he'd rather die than let him fall into his evil hands.

"Will I not?" the man teased before shrugging, "For the best, I suppose. You both are going to die anyways. In this room. Together."

He brought out a match, flicking the red tip against metal and Tadashi watched amazed as the end sprouted into flame. Enveloping the entire surface seconds before the guy tossed it aside, the flames spreading across Tadashi's bed.

Hiro murmured in panic, fists tightening their grasp, as the man stepped forward to latch onto their wrists. Hiro screamed, terror filling his voice as Tadashi tried beating the guy off him.

"Let him go!" he shouted as he could only watch Hiro being drug along with him into their living room where they were tossed beside their parents.

"Where's your mercy?" their mother shouted, shaken by the sight of them, "They're just children!"

"But they're your children," the man who started the fire in the brothers' room replied coldly, leveling a gun against Hiro's forehead, "and they shall die, just like you."

"You spineless coward," their dad snarled, hands gripping his pants tightly from where he sat, "you dare resort to hurting my boys?"

By then, the fire had engulfed the boys' room and had started its decent into the room they were all in. Hiro was still clutching against Tadashi's wrists, teary eyes glued to the gun leveled at his head. Tadashi didn't blame him, that's all he could focus on despite all his efforts on searching for a way out.

He knew if a bullet left the gun and struck Hiro, killed Hiro, then he'd have nothing and the will to escape would drain out of him. He imagined his parents felt much the same way, but didn't bother looking to see their distraught expressions.

"I won't let you hurt them!" their mother finally screeched, bolting upright from her spot, and Tadashi could only watch in dumb amazement as the gun spun around, off of Hiro, before firing.

She fell with a strangled gasp, hitting the ground like a broken doll. A pool of blood already surrounding her, and Tadashi felt some part of him die as the gun was redirected towards their father already moving. The man shot and their father fell lifeless.

"Fools," the man chuckled, turning gleaming eyes in the direction of the brothers as he laughed, "You see that boys? Cowards and you really ought to thank me," the gun was directed at Tadashi, "ending the cowardly bloodline before it can spread."

His finger against the trigger tightened and, beside him, Hiro screamed.

The flames flared as the ground shook and pipes burst, water raining down over them; Hiro's dark eyes seemed to have grown several shades darker themselves and realization struck Tadashi about the same time it did the murderers.

"The Avatar," the man with the gun gasped with barely concealed enjoyment, "what a prize. You, we won't kill. Get him."

Several of his goons stepped forward, descending on them to pull Hiro- the last thing Tadashi had- away from him.

He remembered anger, burning him from the inside out, as a foreign scream left his lips.

By the time he came to his senses, the men were lying on the ground dead, burnt to black lumps of human charcoal and Hiro was still beside him, staring at him with wide brown eyes.

"Dashi," he muttered in a soft pitiable voice slightly awed despite the fire still descending on them, "You fire bended."

Tadashi didn't reply, still shaking with shock, as he latched onto Hiro's thin wrists and jerked him up with him before sprinting out of the still burning house. He didn't bother looking back and it wasn't until the next day when it became clear that they were orphans did he allow the despair to fill him.

"Tadashi…"

"Tadashi!"

"Tadashi!"

He blinked out from the memory, surprised to find himself still standing in their burning living room while a familiar voice called out for him weakly.

"Aunt Cass?" he asked, spinning around before catching sight of her.

She was lying behind the couch, entire left side of her body burnt. She must have not woken up fast enough before the blanket caught flames, scorching her skin. She was alive, though, weakened by her injuries.

He descended on her, crouching in front of her so he could assist the situation with calculated eyes as he quickly reassured, "You're going to be alright. I promise, you're going to be fine."

She just shook her head, eyes dulled with pain, before she protested, "Tadashi, you can't stay here. Get your brother and get out."

Her hand pointed in the vague direction of their room, and it became clear on what she was doing from the other side of the couch. She must have tried rushing to them but her burns weakened her and she ended up collapsing.

Tadashi's chest hurt as he realized the first thing she thought of was of them, not herself.

"Aunt Cass, Hiro's fine, and as soon as I get you out of here you will be too," he promised, bending over to pick her up.

Her eyes softened at the realization that Hiro was fine, that he had gotten out, as she took a deep breath and murmured weakly, "He got out. Good. Now you need to."

"I will," Tadashi promised bending over to pick her up but she winced in pain, clutching her burns tenderly.

Tadashi wouldn't be able to carry her out then.

He glanced around the room in hopes of finding an alternate way when she coughed, a thin red mist sprouting from her mouth. Blood.

"Aunt Cass," he reassured as he rose to find a blanket or something he could use to drag her on, something that would make the stairs difficult but he'll figure something out; he'd have too.

She reached out, latching onto his wrist with an iron grip as she shook her head and whispered, "It's too late for me, sweetie."

"No," Tadashi snapped without really meaning to.

He didn't stop to apologize to her, though. He could save that for when he got both of them out safe and sound.

"Tadashi," she begged, grip unrelenting as she clung onto him, "Please, listen to me. Even if I do get out I'm still too injured to survive the night and all the hospitals are closed. It's too late. You have to go, protect your brother."

"I can't," he admitted brokenly, something wet clouding his vision, "Not without you."

"Tadashi, honey, listen to me," she gasped, cough racking down her thin frame before she focused vague eyes on him before she snapped, "You've been taking care of Hiro since he was born. I know, my sister used to write me letters talking about you two. She loved you both so much."

She was broken off by another fit of coughing and Tadashi wrapped supportive hands around her shoulders.

"Save your breath," he commanded helplessly, "You're going to be fine."

"No," she shook her head, "I'm not, and I love both you boys like my own but my time has come. I can no longer watch out for both of you so I'm begging you to leave me. Go to your brother. Keep him safe. Promise me Tadashi."

And he knew then that it was useless.

That Aunt Cass was already half dead and that she was right, that she'd never survive the night.

"I love you," he told her, tears streaking his face, "so did Hiro. We both love you so very much."

"I know," she breathed, smile gracing her delicate features, "I know. I love you too just like my sister and her husband had. I'm just sorry none of us could watch either of you grow up."

Tadashi brought a delicate hand to his lips, placing a feathery kiss against them for the last time before spinning to escape. To go to Hiro so his brother wouldn't have to lose both of his last family members in one night.

That was when the world exploded around him.

Hiro only sat, stunned, for a couple of seconds before he was up to chase after his brother when more arms wrapped themselves around him, holding him back.

He screamed, struggling, before he realized they belonged to Nicolas. He froze momentarily, stunned by the mere fact that the man would break Imperial law to stop him from running inside, before bursting out in a fit of kicking and screaming. The man just clung on tighter, seemingly oblivious to the way Hiro's fingers started to draw blood.

"Kid," he screamed in his ear as he struggled for a good hold, "Kid. Kid. Kid. Hiro!"

The name jolted Hiro out from his frantic thrashing as he calmed down as he gazed helpless eyes up at the still burning café that held both his aunt and brother. The remaining parts of his heart.

"Hiro, where's your brother? And your aunt?' Nicolas was demanding and Hiro didn't reply, just kept blinking up at the fire with lost eyes; Nicolas seemed to understand as he gasped in shock, moving to release Hiro so he could rush in the flames himself.

As soon as Hiro's feet touched ground, though, he bolted.

He almost made it too, all the way to the stairs before Nicolas was back on him, pinning him to the ground as Hiro begged for him to release him so he could go to his family. He needed to be with them, to apologize for being such a handful.

"Hiro," Nicolas breathed in his ear, hefting him off the ground so he could yank him back, "Hiro, calm down."

Hiro didn't want to calm down.

He wanted to go inside, to be with Tadashi and Cass.

Suddenly desperate, he clamped down against the man's arm with his teeth, feeling them sink into flesh. Nicolas released him with a cry of surprise, Hiro landing on his feet and sprinting towards the café.

He made it all the way up the steps when the café exploded.

Taking Hiro's heart and soul with it.

Nicolas disappeared, Hiro was slightly ashamed of having not noticed it sooner but he'd been too occupied staring at the still smoldering remains of his aunt's café. His throat was sore from screaming his aunt and brother's names and he just eyes the smoke and steadily dying fire, wishing that the world would just open up and swallow him whole.

What was the point of living if he had no one to live for anyways?

But, no, Nicolas had held him back. Prevented him from rushing inside to share the same fate as the last remaining family members and now he just felt cold regardless to how close he was to the café or how much heat the flames were still emitting.

Tomorrow, if he managed to get through the night, he decided he would reveal himself as the Avatar.

He'd gather in front of a large crowd of people, releasing the irrational fear that they want to hurt him, and out himself. Then the Empire would have no choice but to kill him and he'd no longer have to leave with the pain in his chest.

He doubled over, cry of anguish breaking free from his lips as he placed his forehead against the backs of his hands, and knew that that was impossible. He couldn't reveal himself because neither Cass nor Tadashi wanted him to, and if he did then that would be equivalent of rubbing everything they sacrificed in their faces.

So, no, he would just sit there until someone found him because he couldn't remember how to move. Just sit and stare, vaguely aware of the sirens approaching him.

Something reached around his neck from behind, locking into place as he was jerked back.

He struggled, only because of the fact that he still wasn't done mourning those he lost, but it was weak and he soon stopped as he was jerked back into an alley- not unkindly. It didn't matter, he decided, whatever this person wanted from him can have it.

He no longer had any fight left.

"Hiro?" a soft slightly panicked voice whispered from the shadows, and Hiro blinked because surely he had misheard.

The figure's outline came into view and Hiro could make out the familiar features, a hysterical laugh bubbling out from his lips as he dug his the heels of his palms into his eyes. He leant his head back so it rested against the filthy ground, mindless of his situation.

"It's a little earlier for me to go insane," he chuckled, the figure moving awkwardly around as if unsure how to help Hiro.

Hiro was beyond help, though, and nothing could ever change that.

"Hiro? What's wrong? Did you hurt yourself? You're bleeding," the person who looked like his brother- talked like his brother- asked as he knelt down beside him, gentle hands reaching out to take Hiro's face gently.

Hiro jerked away, the motion causing a jolt of pain to cross through his skull, but he ignored it as he shuffled valiantly away from the figure that looked like his brother. Impossible, considering he just watched Tadashi die.

"You can't be real," Hiro denied at the distraught look that crossed the figure's face, "I just saw you die."

Realization seemed to filter through as the figure sagged their shoulders sadly, unmoving from where he crouched several feet away as he sighed sadly, "Oh, Hiro. I'm so sorry."

"What are you talking about?" Hiro snapped; he didn't want this person's pity, he wanted his now dead family.

"I- I shouldn't have run in the café and worried you. Aunt Cass- she was bad Hiro, yet I still tried to help her," Tadashi explained, tendons on his hands sticking out from where he was clenching them tightly, "and then when I tried to leave- I don't know. Everything turned white hot but I- I'm not dead. I don't know how, but I'm somehow not dead."

"You- you," Hiro gasped, narrowing his gaze to see Tadashi's face covered in ash and cinder but very much alive.

"Hiro," Tadashi murmured, tucking his gaze as he admitted in the softest of voices, "I think I fire bended."

Which would've made sense if not for the fact Tadashi never fire bended. Not since he realized he was a fire bender.

"Tadashi," he choked and the alarms were distressingly close now as he crawled over to where his brother still sat, crouched, several feet away.

He reached out, fingers brushing against warm skin and without thinking he leapt up to swallow Tadashi into an unrelenting hug. Tadashi gasped in surprise, collapsing against the ground with a slight outtake of air, and Hiro just squeezed.

"I- I thought," Hiro choked, tears flowing down his face freely now before he poked his head up and asked, "Aunty Cass, is she-"

"She's dead, Hiro," Tadashi affirmed and the pain of loss returned as Hiro buried his nose in his brother's shirt.

Instead of losing his whole heart, he lost half.

|| I really am sorry for this chapter. It turned out a lot... worst then I expected. More violent and sad then originally intended, and now Aunt Cass is dead. Shame because I really did like and admire her character. Unfortunately, though, for this story I had to swap one tragedy with another. ||

SPECIAL NOTES:

- Neither brother knew of their bending abilities until their parents' death. They had no need to attempt bending, considering it was illegal, so it didn't awaken until they needed it to.

Hope you enjoyed, remember to review.