5:
It wasn't until three days later that Hiro bumped into the odd people from the first night again and, much like then, Tadashi wasn't with him. Neither was Mochi, both of them still at the shelter annoyed with his abundant amount of teenage boy energy.
This time, they weren't alone.
Two more people were with them, one female and the other male, and Honey Lemon immediately beamed when green eyes focused on him as she hurried over to where he stood. He blinked in dumb shock because he's always been warned to avoid strangers yet these people don't make him feel threatened.
"Hiro!" the blond haired girl greeted brightly, sparkling grin gracing her gorgeous features as she rushed over to kiss him on the cheek before turning back to her companions, completely oblivious by the way Hiro continued to gap at her in surprise.
The other three people didn't seem perturbed and Wasabi even offered a friendly grin and tilt of the head. The woman Hiro didn't know just narrowed dark eyes at him. She was short, the shortest out of the four of them, with spiked black hair cropped to her chin and an aura that had Hiro feeling like he should step back, give the girl some space.
The other male was taller than the dark haired girl but shorter than Honey or Wasabi and perhaps had the most energy out of the four of them.
His mouth stretched into a wide grin as he rushed forward to take both of Hiro's hands, blue eyes seemingly taking in every detail Hiro had to offer. Long brown hair stuck out in straight strands around his head, trapped under the confines of a green hat. It took a moment before Hiro realized he was speaking and even longer before the words made sense.
"-so cool. Are you really the youngest person in the shelter? I've never met anyone younger than us living in one. You know, with their terrible reputations and all."
"Uh," Hiro interrupted as he blinked startled eyes, gently taking his hands back, before he focused deeper on the face and asked, "Who are you?"
"Oh right," he said with a smack to his head, "Duh. My name's Fred. You've met Honey Lemon and Wasabi," he gestured wildly towards them before swinging towards the dark haired stranger and finished, "and that's GoGo. Don't let her fool you, she just likes to act tough. Inside she's a big olé softy with a heart of gold."
"I will break you," she warned stepping forward so she could shove Fred away from Hiro and spoke to him for the first time since they greeted him, "What's a little shrimp like you doing out here anyways? Don't you know how dangerous it is?"
Hiro shrugged trying to not look intimidated as he answered, "I don't have anything of value on me, and I'm not that far from the shelter."
GoGo just narrowed her gaze, making Hiro squirm slightly before she replied in an icy tone, "Being near the shelter is more dangerous than being away from it. Don't you know anything? You should be in one of the few orphanages still running, at least then you'll be protected."
Hiro felt a chill run down his spine at the implication.
The orphanages were known for its shelter but only people under a certain age limit could stay there, and as soon as you became of age they kicked you back on the streets. Hiro was still capable to stay in one but Tadashi wasn't, and the thought of splitting from his brother left him shivering.
"I can't," he denied drawing his arms around his chest protectively as he gazed up at her harsh stare, "I can't go to one of those places."
Wasabi- thankfully- seemed to notice Hiro's discomfort and set a large calming hand against her shoulder as he spoke in a tone softer than any person his size should be capable of, "Leave him alone."
GoGo blinked, furrowed her brow, but let the matter drop. Hiro let out a thankful sigh before gazing back up at the four strangers. They all appeared to be the same age- Tadashi's age- and all of them except Fred wore clothes similar to the ones Hiro wore. Plain, worn and faded.
Fred, on the other hand, wore clothes that were obviously old and well-worn. The fabrics had dulled several shades, and the designs were almost non-existing. Something about them still seemed to set them apart, though, like they were a little more ornamental. Hiro squinted, trying to make out the faint designs and realized that they were probably once carefully created, as intricate as they had been beautiful.
"So?" Hiro asked forcing himself to look away from Fred's outfit because there was just no way that Fred could afford the types of clothes he was thinking about, "Are you all staying at the shelter?"
"All except Fred," Wasabi supplied as he glanced at his brown headed friend, "We're not really sure where he stays."
"Probably under a rock," GoGo added under her breath, earning a sharp look of disapproval from Honey Lemon as she slapped her friend on the arm.
"As long as we've known him," Honey Lemon explained once she realized Hiro was looking up at her expectantly, "He's always just been there."
"If you're all that curious you're more than welcome to come stay with me," Fred offered brightly and Hiro assumed it wasn't the first time he had offered.
"No!" the three of them chorused at the same time and Hiro realized they were all probably thinking the same thing Hiro was- Fred might live in a home but with the obviously well-worn clothes he wears and unkempt hair then it was probably a modest one. They were all probably better off staying at the shelter.
"Oh alright," Fred shrugged, staring at his friends like they had gone crazy.
Hiro grinned, enjoying the closeness the four of them seemed to emit. It was a tight bond, one only created through years of hardships and happiness; it was something Hiro's always dreamed of having with someone who wasn't his brother, whom he loved dearly but realized that life was more than just his brother.
Unfortunately, friends have always been impossible considering Hiro was the Avatar and not all that fond of people to begin with. He never considered it as a real possibility, to be able to connect with another human being in a way other than suspicious aloofness.
All good things must come to an end, though; a point proven when Hiro heard his name and every muscle tensed up at the familiar voice.
The four teens blinked, turning in unison to see Tadashi sprinting towards them with a protective glower set across his otherwise handsome face. Mochi was draped over one of his shoulders, blinking bored eyes in their direction. Tadashi obviously didn't trust the cat alone.
Hiro winced, ducking his head as Fred practically beamed.
"Hey man!" he shouted like an excited puppy as he bounded over to his brother to shake his hand eagerly, "The name's Fred and you look a lot like little man over there," he gestured wildly towards Hiro with his free hand.
Tadashi seemed stunned by the other boy's bravado as he took back his hand, blinking wildly. Hiro just kept his head bowed, watching his brother from underneath his curtain of bangs.
"Uh, yeah," Tadashi agreed as he continued to stare at Fred like he was expecting for the boy to spontaneously attack him.
Needless to say, he didn't.
"It's his brother," Wasabi explained as he eyed Tadashi warily; beside him, GoGo's expression darkened and Honey Lemon beamed.
That's when Hiro realized that- much like Tadashi- they were also protective of their own. Friendly but not stupid and weren't willing to just walk up to anyone and strike a conversation. Hiro idly wondered if the only reason they ever spoke to him was because he was so young.
"Yeah," Tadashi agreed as he inched around Fred who was still obliviously grinning at him like a fool, "and he's not really supposed to speak with strangers."
"Please," GoGo replied unimpressed as she rolled dark eyes and crossed both arms over her chest, "No need to be so dramatic."
She wouldn't say that if she knew. She didn't know, though, and any rebuttal to her sentence would only draw suspicion so Hiro just clamped onto his brother's sleeve once he was within reach. He immediately felt his brother's large hand settle itself on the top of his head.
"He's the only family I got," Tadashi explained with a smile that didn't at all looked forced and Hiro knew his brother was a crappy liar, "I can't help but get a little protective over him."
"No problem man," Wasabi agreed, playing peace keeper as GoGo's expression darkened slightly.
She stepped forward, opening her mouth like she was going to say something but he set a large hand against her shoulder as if to hold her back. Hiro watched with curious eyes from the other side of his brother's back.
"Right," Tadashi agreed awkwardly, dipping his head and slightly pushing Hiro the other way.
Hiro allowed himself to be herded away from the strange group of teens, waiting until they were out of earshot completely before coming to stop so he could glare up at his brother.
"That was rude," Hiro muttered bitterly as he continued to stare at his brother.
"I know," Tadashi agreed as he ran a hand down his face, "but I don't like you talking to people I don't already know. It makes me uneasy."
"Because you don't trust me?" Hiro challenged, crossing his arms over his chest as if to dare his brother to reply.
"What? No. Of course not," Tadashi denied instantly, large brown eyes staring down at him like he couldn't believe Hiro would dare say something like that.
"Alright then," Hiro nodded, voice tinged with skepticism as he tilted his head back from where they came and asked, "What was that?"
"That," and special emphasis was placed on that word, "was me overreacting."
"What?" Hiro asked in wonder because all the things he expected his brother to say that hadn't even come close.
"I think you heard me," Tadashi replied instantly turning an affectionate expression towards him before he frowned again and spoke, "That doesn't mean I want you frolicking around with them, got it?"
"Please, big brother," Hiro said with a smug expression as he crossed his arms back over his chest and added, "I don't frolic."
"You know what I mean," Tadashi breathed in slight humor as he dropped his shoulders and set another hand against Hiro's head for a moment before ruffling it fondly.
Hiro immediately sputtered out a protest as he swatted his brother's hand away before reaching up to fix the mess all the while grumbling about obnoxious older brothers. Tadashi just laughed- a bright sound that lifted something heavy inside Hiro's chest.
"I'm serious though," Tadashi warned, still smiling, "if you're serious about being their friends then at least let me get to know them first. Now, come on, your cat was begging for food."
At the mention of him, Mochi perked up for the first time since the conversation started. He mewled softly, purring as he rubbed Tadashi's cheek before gracefully leaping over to Hiro, settling around his neck. Hiro grinned, reaching up to pet under his chin lovingly.
"What's for lunch?" he asked, still petting Mochi, as he turned large eyes up to his brother.
"Something filling for a good price. I'm still searching for a job and we can't afford to waste any money," Tadashi explained logically, and Hiro hummed as he continued to pet Mochi.
"I think there was a rice stand somewhere," Hiro offered, "It smelt really good, at least, and I think they pile stuff on top to make it taste better."
"I guess it wouldn't hurt to check it out," Tadashi mumbled, following Hiro's lead.
The place turned out a little more expensive than Hiro hoped, but Tadashi ended up buying him something which he shared with Mochi. He glanced back at his brother, frowning as he realized his brother hadn't bought anything for himself.
"You've got to eat Tadashi," Hiro protested and his brother smiled sheepishly.
"I will; I promise," Tadashi reassured before raising his hands up in surrender at Hiro's hard glower, "Oh, come on little brother. I'm a big boy. I can care for myself."
"Not if you don't eat," Hiro denied shaking his head, "Please, don't starve yourself to save money. That doesn't solve anything except to make you sick and what will happen when that happens and we're out of money completely? I can't work. I'm too young."
"Yeah. Alright," Tadashi relented rising to his feet and sighing, "I'll go buy something to eat. Okay, ya big baby?"
Hiro nodded contently, watching as his brother walked away while he settled back against the wall when something shuffled behind him. His ears perked up as his muscles tensed. Mochi blinked lazy eyes at him but seemed otherwise unconcerned.
"You hear that?" Hiro asked though the noise was gone.
He sighed, willing his now racing heart to calm down as he went back to stroking Mochi's soft fur. Another shuffle, a fluttering of wings sort of sound, and Hiro was certain he hadn't imagined it now.
"You alright?" Tadashi asked, returning with a bowl as he tilted his head and gave him a weird look.
"Yeah," Hiro lied nervously as he flashed a smile he didn't feel, "Never better, big brother. Come on. It's getting late."
Tadashi looked at him, unconvinced, but didn't protest.
Hiro forced himself to not look back at the alley.
Whatever he had heard in the alley was out of his mind by the next day. He was much more occupied with his amazement that Tadashi was speaking with other people that wasn't him and in a manner that was neither suspicious nor hostile. If anything, it rose a suppressed feeling of possessiveness from inside Hiro.
He grinned brightly at whatever Honey Lemon had just said, face lighting up like the tree Cass used to buy so they could decorate, his eyes shone like glittery diamonds. Beside him, GoGo was also smiling which was strange. Hiro didn't think she was capable of smiling.
Honey Lemon just beamed at them before focusing green eyes on him and wave friendly. He waved back, back still pressed against the corner of his bed as he stroked Mochi's fur.
He liked the strange group of friends that practically stalked him when he first arrived, and he figured Tadashi did to. They just seemed to much prefer hanging out with someone their own age and not a bratty little kid like himself.
"Hi~ro," Fred sang as he face suddenly popped up in front of him, causing him to jump in shock; the older boy grinned, face bright and innocent Hiro wondered how he could've survived this long without living in the same shelter as his friends.
"Hey Fred," he greeted, heart pounding and fists clenched tightly round Mochi's fur, "Shouldn't you be over there?"
He gestured towards the small huddle of fast friends, Wasabi having crouched down to join them. Fred waved his hands in their direction as bright eyes focused back on him.
"I couldn't while you sitting over here looking so lonely," the older boy explained with a bright grin as he settled in beside Hiro.
Hiro let him though he made no move to offer him space. That, apparently, was fine with Fred as he squeezed his thin frame on the bed. Mochi immediately crawled from Hiro's lap to beg for attention from the older boy, who scratched his ears almost instantly.
"Traitor," Hiro grumbled under his breath as he glowered at the cat.
"So why are you not over there?" Fred asked suddenly, drawing Hiro's stunned attention up to him as he blinked dumbly.
"I… err," Hiro grumbled wondering how he was going to explain that they were the first time Tadashi had that wasn't both of theirs and he wanted him to relish in it while it lasted.
Besides, Hiro was fine sitting way over here with Mochi.
"I see," Fred replied in a serious sort of tone and Hiro couldn't tell if he figured it out or not as he continued gazing in the direction of his friends before they lit back up and he explained excitedly, "Have you heard yet? GoGo asked her boss about a job opening, and he's going to interview Tadashi tomorrow."
"Really?" Hiro asked with a happy grin, not yet having been told but figured Tadashi was just waiting for a definite answer. Better to not tell him then raise his hopes only to let him down.
"Uh huh," Fred hummed bending over to press his face against Mochi's fur, "She said she had to pull some serious strings but, hey, if your brother gets it then you won't have to worry about money for a while. It pays really well, and the hours are pretty flexible. Plus, on Fridays she says he buys all his employees treats."
"Sounds wonderful," Hiro muttered looking at Tadashi, who noticed him staring and offered a bright smile Hiro instantly returned.
This was good- whatever this was.
Bright even and he just had to convince himself that the pang in his chest was just from sleeping in such an unsanitary place and not him feeling his brother drift away from him. After all, it was him and Tadashi against the world and nothing was going to change that.
Nothing.
"So do you work?" Hiro asked for the sole purpose of drawing his attention away from his growingly depressing thoughts.
"No. Not really. I do charity mostly," Fred supplied with a bright grin as he focused on him, "Nothing that pays. I figure I best let my parents handle that."
"So you're not an orphan," Hiro murmured before wincing at how disappointing he sounded, like he wished Fred's parents were dead so he'd after to live there with all of them.
Fred either didn't notice or didn't mind as he shrugged, "Nah. Last time I checked they were both still alive and kicking. What about you?"
Hiro suddenly felt very cold as he drew his legs up to his chest and hug them tightly, setting his chin on top of his knees so he could stare at his brother from across the room.
"My parents died when I was three," he explained in a dull voice, "A fire, I think. I was too young to remember them."
"Oh man," Fred whistled in sympathy as he turned to gaze at him.
Hiro shrugged, uncurling his legs as he forced out, "It could be worst. Tadashi had been 11 and I think the night still haunts him. He gets weird whenever he's around fire, at least."
Not to mention he's terrified of fire bending.
"Ah jeez," Fred whispered as he turned his focus back on Tadashi like it was the first time ever seeing him, "No wonder he's so crazy protective."
Hiro shrugged again, finding great interest in the blanket underneath him.
It always seemed to be an unspoken rule between the two of them: don't talk about their parents. Now Aunt Cass was dead and Hiro could feel his heart ache from inside his chest. Like it was splintered, seconds away from shattering, and every little thing could set it off. Break it beyond repair.
"What about you? How do you know the others?" he asked, changing the topic off of him and all the loved ones he's lost as he turned back to stare curiously up at Fred.
"We went to the same school when we were all younger," Fred explained, "I remember them all being, like, crazy smart. I was so happy when they wanted to become my friends."
"You didn't have any other friends before?" Hiro inquired curiously tilting his head to the side as he focused on Fred in a new light.
He didn't understand why anyone wouldn't want to be the teen's friend. He was a little eccentric, sure, and a lot odd but something about him warmed Hiro from the inside out and he noticed the same happen in Tadashi when they meet yesterday. That was perhaps the whole reason Tadashi was sitting across the room conversing with people his own age for the first time in forever.
"No," Fred shook his head though he was still smiling, "I was a little strange. Like the deer with the red nose that lit up."
"Rudolph?" Hiro asked, remembering the Christmas story Aunt Cass would read him every Christmas Eve.
Fred nodded, "Yep. That's the one. Rudolph the Red Nose Deer."
Hiro snorted, smiling slightly, before he corrected, "Rudolph's a reindeer. You know, Santa's magic little helpers who drag his sleigh around across the world- impossible, by the way."
"What?" Fred perked up as he turned stunned eyes at him, "You're one of those?"
"One of whom?" Hiro asked, suddenly cautious as he stared meekly up at Fred; awaiting for what felt like the final judgement on his soul.
"Those," and the older boy gestured back towards the group of his friends, "Geniuses with bright futures."
"Genius?" Hiro repeated, the first time anyone that wasn't his family referring to him like that, "You really think so?"
"Sure," Fred shrugged again, "I'm only around them all hours of the day. When they're not all working, of course."
"That reminds me," Hiro spoke, "Why do you come here? To the shelter, I mean, when you have a home."
"Because my friends are here," Fred said like it was obvious, "and even I need a break from the constant ladies swarming me at all times of the day."
Hiro snorted because, unlikely, but then sobered his expression and pressed, "Yeah but why do you return to these friends when you can go make new ones? Ones that don't live in such a dangerous place."
"I don't want new friends," Fred explained simply, without a single hint of irony, as he gazed at his friends and added, "Besides, my dad thinks it's good for me to have friends that keep me grounded."
Hiro wanted to ask grounded to what but then Honey Lemon skipped over to them, peering brightly at them both.
"Come on you two," she pestered reaching down to jerk them both off the mattress; Fred somehow managed to keep his grip on Mochi, "Everybody else is over there."
"Oh, uh, you two go on ahead," Hiro stuttered as he pulled away and took Mochi from Fred's arms, "I don't really do well in groups."
Honey Lemon and Fred gave him identical looks but didn't press, which Hiro was thankful for. It was true when he said that he didn't do large groups, an impressable sense of dread and anxiety filling him, but that wasn't the whole reason he didn't want to go over there.
He offered them a bright grin before sitting back on the mattress, pressing his back against the wall and started stroking Mochi again.
"If you're sure," Honey Lemon muttered, unconvinced as she eyed him oddly; Fred was looking at him in much the same way.
"Uh, oh yeah. I'm sure," Hiro murmured bowing his head and watched from behind a curtain of his bangs as they walked back over to their friends.
Tadashi gave him a sharp look when he didn't join them, and Hiro offered a bright reassuring smile he didn't all the way feel thankful when Tadashi turned back to chatting with the other teens.
Hiro liked them, felt comfortable around them even, but they were also the first people he's ever seen Tadashi warm up to this much as them so he'd sit back and let his brother have this one thing. He deserved it, having spent his entire life watching after him.
None of that explained why it made his heart ache so much.
"I'm doing the right thing here, right Mochi?" he asked glancing down at the still purring cat.
Mochi blinked dark eyes at him but didn't reply, which was fine. Hiro wasn't really expecting him to. He glanced back up at the close group of teens, watching as Tadashi practically beamed at something goofy Fred was saying.
It was fine; he was fine. Tadashi deserved this and he could deal with sharing his brother with other- admittedly awesome- people.
Now he just had to keep telling himself that until he believed it.
Living in the shelters were a lot different that living with Aunt Cass. For one, the baths were dreadful and Hiro's had to deal with creepy people on several different occasions. He figured it had something to do with his age- being the youngest person at the shelter- but, thankfully, it never escalated past creepy stares.
The sleeping was another complaint. A bed had opened up and- after much convincing- Tadashi was moved several beds down to own of his own and Hiro wasn't going to lie, it took some getting used to. Sleeping, surrounded by strangers, with the only comfort being Mochi curled up beside him, but then Tadashi asked to trade places with the person beside Hiro and, after a purchased lunch at a place way too expensive, he got the spot next to him.
The absolute weirdest (worst?) thing, though, was when Tadashi had gotten the job and ended up taking longer shifts to earn enough money to put them in a safe place financially- especially considering the lunch-bribe all but diminished what little savings they had left over from the bender fight.
It wasn't all bad, though.
GoGo was hardly ever around because she worked about as much as Tadashi, and Wasabi and Honey Lemon both seemed to disappear with jobs of their own and Fred hadn't been lying when he called them geniuses.
GoGo knew everything there was about mechanics, down to the tiniest mechanism Hiro didn't even knew existed much less what role it had. Tadashi would often come home gushing about how much she knew and how much he was learning from her- the dork.
Honey Lemon worked at a perfume company, creating the scents that both male and females would flock over and from Hiro could tell, she was the best at it knowing exactly which compound was in each and how they would react with each other, giving off the sweet scents that drove people insane. Unfortunately for her, the work she performed was underappreciated and the hours and pay weren't that impressive.
He wasn't entirely sure what Wasabi did- something that resembled a blacksmith- but the way the older boy spoke reminded Hiro of a passionate employee skilled in his craft.
And Hiro's taken special caution to avoid them when the group was together, escaping with some flimsy excuse as he hurried on by. Tadashi confronted him on the matter more than once but he just dodged the concern with questions of his own or by showing his brother some robot he pieced together with scraps he found wandering around near the shelter- something Tadashi didn't approve of but would always praise once it was finished.
"Don't wander too far," Tadashi sighed as he gripped the oddly shaped newest creation Hiro pieced together, "I don't know what would happen if anything were to happen to you."
"Relax, big brother," Hiro reassured with a bright grin as he took back his robot, "I'll be careful."
He wasn't, always, sometimes getting distracted and wandering off to inspect it only to realize he has to sprint to make it back to the shelter without his brother realizing he was still out. He's had several close calls, but nothing he couldn't just shrug off as he went to sit back on his mattress, Tadashi watching him the entire time.
Hiro supposed Tadashi will never really get over that big brother urge to coddle and shelter him. He isn't sure that he wants him to.
"I brought you back something," Tadashi finally spoke as he forced himself on Hiro's mattress and handed out a carefully wrapped square, "It's one of the treats my boss bought us and there were some leftover so I figured, why not? You've been good as of lately."
"Thanks," Hiro mumbled accepting the present and unwrapping it only to realize he didn't recognize what it was; he turned back to stare at his brother as he asked, "What is it?"
"Don't know?" Tadashi admitted reaching over to pick off a corner and tossing it in his mouth, "It's tasty though."
And it was, the whole thing gone before he realized he'd taken the first bite. Beside him, Tadashi chuckled as he ruffled his hair.
"So how was your day?" Tadashi inquired after a pregnant pause and Hiro frowned; it wasn't the first time Tadashi's asked that and he knew it was a ploy to figure out if Hiro was obeying the rules for whenever Tadashi wasn't around: don't talk to strangers, don't wander too far away from the shelter, and especially don't lurk too close to an alley even if it seems empty.
"Good," Hiro offered hesitating only slightly, "Slow."
"I see," Tadashi nodded reaching out to scratch Mochi's head subconsciously, "That's good."
Hiro hummed in agreement, squirming uncomfortably before he asked, "And what about you? Did you get any weird costumers today?"
"Weird? No," Tadashi admitted shaking his head, voice lost in thought, "Although several guards came in asking for runaway benders. Apparently they're getting restless."
"Guards? All the way out here?" Hiro blurted in amazement because one of the perks for staying in a shelter was that Imperial Guards considered themselves too high and mighty to venture out there; it made it easier to hide although he didn't suspect anyone was looking for them.
"Yeah," Tadashi nodded before frowning and focused on Hiro, "I want you to stay indoors for a couple of days. Until I'm certain that they're gone."
"You're grounding me?" Hiro demanded incredulously because that was a little ridiculous- even for his brother.
"Not grounding just… stay indoors, please?" Tadashi all but begged and Hiro sighed but relented with a meek nod.
And the next day he obeyed, Fred- being the only one who seemed to not be busy all the time- showed up with stuffed bread. Hiro grinned upon seeing him, grateful for the company.
"Tadashi said I might find you here," Fred panted as he grinned, plopping down beside him and offering a bun filled with meat.
Hiro accepted, hungrily taking a bite out of it, before he blinked at Fred and frowned as he demanded, "Did he send you to check up on me?"
"What?" Fred asked blinking in surprise before bursting out in laughter and quickly reassured, "No. Nothing like that. He just worries about you, ya know, and the Imperial Guard venturing this far out in the city kind of freaks him out. They're all like that?"
"They who?" Hiro questioned, curiosity peaking as he turned his entranced gaze back up at Fred.
Fred took another bit, chewed and swallowed before responding, "All of them: Wasabi, GoGo and Honey Lemon. They're not really fond of them."
"What? Why?" Hiro asked realizing it was probably the first time since meeting the others that someone would explain what caused them to end up at the shelter; some nights he suspected Tadashi knew, which wouldn't have surprised him all that much. They spend a lot of time together.
"There was a fire," Fred explained fondling with the bread nervously, "When we were barely past the age of 10. No one died, though, but they all became homeless and the Guard arrested their parents for being out at night."
Hiro swallowed at the thought.
"What happened to them? Why weren't they arrested?" he asked and Fred wasn't meeting his gaze as he played with the bread in his hands.
"They were really young," Fred offered with a shrug, "They were placed in an orphanage until they reached of age and was kicked out. Then they ended up here and I offered them a place with me but they all said no. I think they don't want to be a burden."
"Yeah, well, taking in three other people is a large difference," Hiro explained and Fred chuckled dryly, shrugging.
"Not really. I don't have any siblings and think it would be cool. I'm sure my parents would agree."
Hiro seriously doubted it, not sure where Fred lived but was almost certain it wasn't big enough to house three other people.
"Eh, it's not so bad here," Hiro admitted leaning back and stretching out short legs as he shrugged, "It kind of grows on you. Besides, you're here every day so it's not like they never see you or anything."
"Yeah," Fred agreed, warm spark lighting up his eyes before a loud noise echoed from the doorway of the shelter and they turned both their attention towards it; a rock settling deep inside Hiro's gut.
Two men wearing Imperial uniforms stood arguing with the man in charge before the man threw both his hands in the air, turning his back on them. He snapped something over his shoulder but Hiro couldn't make it out.
"What are they doing here?" he whispered-hissed to Fred who looked as stunned as he felt.
"Don't know," he admitted reaching out to grasp Hiro's arm, "but don't draw attention over here. Stay down."
Hiro obeyed, watching as one of the Guards seemed to thank the still peeved owner before turning their attention back inside the shelter. One of them wrinkled their nose as they both entered, dark eyes taking in the surroundings.
Only a couple people were still inside- most either too sick or old to move around. The heat inside the cramped room probably not making their situation any better, and Hiro watched as the guards strolled down the winding rows of unkempt beds.
They'd split up, one taking the right side while the other took the left, and soon one of them stopped in front of the boys narrowing green eyes at them.
"You two look a little young to be cooped up inside all day," he observed, voice cool and indifferent, and Hiro felt his heart sped up until it threatened to burst out from his chest.
"Bad ankle," Fred lied smoothly, stunning Hiro.
He was starting to believe that Fred had been incapable of lying. Now he knew that he was wrong as Fred gazed calmly up at the guard, one leg stretched out in front of his as he reached over to grasp Hiro's neck in the crook of his elbow.
"This little guy," he explained equally as effortlessly, "is caring for me."
"I see," the guard murmured before bending down to inspect them before the name card on the mattress, claiming it as Hiro's, "Mr. Hamada."
"Oh please," Fred gushed with a certain steel in his eyes that didn't match his voice, "No one really calls me that. Fred, if you would please."
The guard sneered his teeth at him, veins in his throat poking out as he snarled, "I'd rather not," his eyes cut over to Hiro still sitting stiffly beside Fred before he replied, "You've got a good friend there kid."
"The best," Fred nodded and the guard straightened back up.
"Alright, have either of you seen any suspicious characters around? Perhaps someone you caught bending?" he demanded and both boys shook their heads.
"Who would be dumb enough to bend in public?" Hiro finally blurted out, feeling obligated to say something before he had a chance to stop himself.
Fred gave him a weird look but not in the reprimanding sort of way Tadashi did as the guard just shrugged, "The truly desperate. Listen, either one of you see something inform us immediately. Got it?"
They nodded and he moved on, Hiro letting out a breath he hadn't been aware that he was holding. Beside him, Fred watched them go with narrowed eyes. Cautious eyes. It was a gaze he hadn't been aware the seemingly always happy boy was capable of making.
"Fred?" he whispered-breathed as he hunched down like they were two friends sharing a sacred secret.
For all Hiro knew, they were.
"They must be getting desperate," the older boy murmured still not meeting his gaze as wheels turned somewhere behind blue eyes.
"Who? The guards?" Hiro continued to pester, keeping his voice low despite the fact the guards were well out of earshot by now and no one was around to eavesdrop on them.
Fred looked at him like it was the first time he saw him, eyes wide and face paler than usual. He still looked serious as he gazed at Hiro, mulling over what he can and shouldn't tell him. Otherwise, Tadashi might have a fit.
"Fred?" Hiro pressed, bending so he could gaze earnestly in Fred's eyes.
"They're looking for someone," Fred explained after a slight pause, gaze shifting back over to the door the guards had left from, "The Avatar."
Goosebumps raced down the back of Hiro's spine at the words as he followed Fred's gaze and asked, "Why? Has signs of one appearing started popping up?"
He flashed to the bender fight and all those people recognizing who he was. It would have been so simple to run to the Empire and rat him out, but the guards didn't seem to recognize him and all those people were benders, wanted by the Empire also and had as much to lose as him.
"No," Fred said in a distant voice as he blinked and looked back down at Hiro and shrugged, "That's why they're so desperate. They can't find the one bender they're looking for."
"Oh," Hiro murmured puckering his face in a thoughtful one as he asked, "Is that why they came way out here?"
"Who knows," Fred sighed before breaking out in a bright grin and laughed, "What were they thinking? A person that powerful wouldn't be caught in the middle of this city. There's no escape unless you're a non-bender."
"Right," Hiro swallowed, forcing a carefree smile across his features and wondered how Fred would react if he knew that the Avatar had ended up trapped in this city and was sitting right next to him, upholding a conversation.
"Are you scared of them?" Hiro suddenly spoke up after a pregnant pause.
"Who?" Fred asked as he blinked at the sudden question, head tilted to the side in confusion as he scrunched his face at Hiro in thought, "The Avatar? Nah. I think it would be cool to meet them in person. Don't you?"
Not really.
"I suppose so," Hiro said instead as he shrugged and ducked his expression, "I think I would be scared. Confronting someone who's wanted that badly."
Fred puffed out his cheeks as he shrugged and explained, "The Empire are just scared of someone stopping them. At least, that's what my dad always says."
"You're dad's against the Empire?" Hiro asked, head jerking upwards so he could gaze at Fred in astonishment.
Fred nodded, seemingly unfazed. After that, Fred veered them off into idle conversation Hiro was growing fond of. They talked and laughed, Fred's eccentric behavior making something light and warm settle in his chest. It was nice. Comforting.
Tadashi got off work early and brought back dinner. Fred said his good-byes and Hiro watched him go with a peaceful expression settled across his features. If Tadashi noticed, he never commented.
That night, it rained.