Chapter 3: Worthy

"Liam, can I come in?" asked Isaac as he opened the door. When Isaac sought to help heal those who were hurt by the Burning Suns', Chief Inspector Johnstone gave him a list of people to find. Liam was one of them. He was like Isaac, his father was one of them, but left. The Burning Suns found Liam's father and killed him, then burnt the house down. Liam sustained 3rd degree burns to most of his body, and was near death when he was found. He was put in an orphanage, but was emotionally and physically scarred from the experience. For an eight year old, it was understandable. He never left him room, never turned on the lights or allowed sunlight in the room.

"My name is Isaac, I want to help you." Isaac said in a kind voice as he walked in the door. Cracks of light entered from the edges of the curtain, showing a young boy sitting in the corner of the room, most of his body blistered and scabbed.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"My name is Isaac Reed," said Isaac, "You and I have a lot in common."

"What the hell are you talking about?" asked the boy.

"We have both paid for our father's mistakes." Said Isaac.

Liam was silent for a second. Then he spoke.

"The bastard got what was coming for him. I hope he rots in hell."

Isaac was shocked. He had never heard a boy Liam's age talk like that. But then again, he had never seen a boy Liam's age cope with what he had.

Liam's burns must have started to sting, because he started to whimper.

"Are your burns hurting you?"

"Why the hell do you care?" sneered Liam.

"Because I know someone who can make them disappear."

Liam stopped sobbing.

"Really?"

Isaac called James in, who had a bowl of water in his hands.

"Just sit still, it will all be over soon." Isaac assured him.

James levitated the water out of the bowl, then moved it to a burnt section of Liam's arm. The water began to glow, as James closed his eyes in an attempt of concentration. After a minute James pulled the water away to reveal the completely healed section of skin. Liam's eyes lit up at the sight of it.

An hour later Isaac and James left the room, and a completely healed Liam with a smile on his face. Some of the burns had already scarred, but the blistering and scabs were gone, as was the pain. Liam ran over and hugged Isaac and James, smiling for the first time since his father's death.

Events like today had been a regular thing the past few weeks. Isaac and James would find people who had been hurt by the Burning Suns and heal them however they could. Sometimes it was just physically, other times, it was emotionally as well.

Isaac was happy with what he and James were doing. Even if it wasn't what Aang wanted him to do to get his bending, he didn't care. He felt like he had made up for what he had done, and he didn't want to stop. As they walked back to the warehouse above the sewers, Isaac and James talked about what had been happening.

"So how have you been Isaac?" asked James.

"Honestly, never better. When I first lost my bending, I thought I was useless to the world. Now I feel like I have a purpose. And I have you to thank for that. If you didn't help me with this plan, I would be sitting in a ditch feeling sorry for myself." Said Isaac.

James smiled. This was the Isaac he taught waterbending to. The selfless one who wanted the best for others.

"And you don't feel the urge to bloodbend any more? That is what sent you downhill in the first place after all. I wish I never taught you that." Said James.

"Don't be. I would have been dead if you never taught me. I took it way too far though. But no, I plan on never bloodbending again." Isaac assured him.

Eventually they reached the warehouse where James said goodbye, and Isaac continued home. Suddenly he heard his phone make a noise, so he pulled it out of his pocket and saw a new message in his inbox. It was from Samuel.

"Isaac could you please stop by the supermarket on your way home tonight and get some bread. We ran out at home, and won't have a free minute to go myself. Thanks"

He had plenty of time, so Isaac took a detour past the supermarket. Thinking about what Aang might want from him, Isaac grabbed a loaf of bread, and walked over to the counter. When he was almost at the checkout, Isaac's lack of concentration caught up with him, as he accidentally bumped into someone, their shopping basket hitting the floor and its contents scattering.

"I'm so sorry, I wasn't paying attention…" started Isaac and he bent over to help the person pick up their items. It wasn't until he put everything back in the basket that he realised who it was.

"Hey Isaac." Said Kayla as he gave her the basket.

"Hey, how have you been?" asked Isaac. They hadn't spoken since Aang had taken away his bending, and so much had happened since. Isaac was genuinely happy to see her.

They went through the checkout and continued to talk. When they were out of the store on the street, Isaac checked his watch again. His curfew wasn't for another few hours.

"If you aren't busy now, do you want to maybe get a coffee?" Isaac asked.

Kayla was silent.

"I won't be begging you to take me back, or anything like that. I just want to talk. It has been a while after all. I've missed you." Said Isaac, slightly embarrassed.

She smiled and agreed, so they made their way to a café further down the street.

"So what have you been doing the past few weeks?" asked Isaac.

"Well, I got a job at a clothing store downtown, nothing else has happened really. What about you? Asher called me a few weeks ago, yelling about you. Didn't know if it was good yelling or bad yelling. When I asked what he was talking about, he said he had to go, and hung up." Kayla laughed.

Isaac explained what he and James had been doing, about how Asher was learning to walk again, and about the people like Liam. Kayla was shocked.

"Are you serious?" she said, "That's great. It's good of you and James to do something like that."

She looked around, and lowered her tone.

"Is that what Aang wanted you to do? Before he would give you your bending back?" she asked.

"I don't know, but honestly, I don't care. I am doing something good, making up for the bad stuff I did. Whether I get my bending back or not isn't important. This is." Said Isaac.

Kayla smiled at him. The last time he had seen her smile like that was when they went out to dinner six months ago, after not seeing each other for four years. She looked down at her watch.

"I'm sorry, I have to get home." Said Kayla, pulling some money out of her pocket to pay for the coffee, "I was doubtful at first, but it has been great talking to you."

"Same," laughed Isaac. He left some money on the table and the two of them walked out of the café`. Kayla said bye, then went to cross the road and head home. Suddenly a feeling of paranoia hit Isaac, as if something was going to happen.

Isaac looked around until he heard something. Sirens. Coming from his right. There was a police chase heading towards them. Kayla began to cross the road, unaware of what was happening. The vehicle being chased sped past the intersection to Isaac's right, and was heading right for Kayla. Isaac ran towards Kayla.

"Kayla look out!" yelled Isaac, as Kayla turned around to see the blinding headlights of the car heading towards her. Isaac jumped between her and the car, and forgetting about everything, lifted his arms.

A few seconds later, Kayla opened her eyes. She wasn't dead. She looked up and saw Isaac standing in front of her, arms in the air, and a thick wall of earth between him and the car.

"Isaac, did you just earthbend?" she asked, still shaking from the experience.

"I don't know, I thought Aang took away…" began Isaac. Suddenly a dizzy spell hit him, and he fell unconscious. He was in a black place filled with smoke. A familiar place. The smoke grouped together, to form the shape of a man. The shape of Avatar Aang.

"You have proved your worth as the Avatar. You put your own life on the line to save Kayla. The moment you did that, you were given your bending back. Use it wisely."

Aang smiled at Isaac. The winds began to blow, and the smoke that was Avatar Aang disappeared.

Isaac awoke to Kayla kneeling over him. She looked relieved that he was awake.

"Isaac are you alright?" she asked.

Isaac stood up, remaining silent, and sent two jets of flame in the air. Kayla knew the answer.

Isaac was back. The bloodbender was gone. The Avatar stood where he used to be.