Republic City Park was teeming with people by the time the boys got there. It seemed like the whole city had turned out with one idea in mind. They lined the banks of the streams and huddled around the fountains, desperately seeking relief from the heat. But although the air was cooler there, away from the streets and Satomobiles, with the sun still blazing mercilessly away overhead it remained unbearably hot.

By instinct, Mako gravitated away from the crowds, avoiding the waterways altogether. Quickly cutting across the grass, he slipped into a quiet spot in the shade of an old tree.

A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he set his brother down and shrugged the sweat soaked shirt loose from his back. There was something about the park that he liked. Being there never failed to put him at ease.

In the city, on the streets, he always felt like an extra piece to a puzzle that had already been completed. He and his brother didn't belong anywhere. Shop owners and police officers were constantly shooing them away, moving them along, even though they had nowhere to go.

But, out here, things were different. Anyone was welcome in the park.

Beside him, Bolin's expression brightened into a smile of his own. It was rare that Mako let his guard down and he was glad to see him relax for once. Breathing in the happy tranquility of the place, he gave an easy stretch and then clapped his big brother cheerfully on the back, breaking the stillness without a hint of hesitation.

"So…! What now?"

The reminder of Bolin's presence brought Mako back to himself.

"Here," he said, pulling a cloth bundle from his pocket. He unwrapped the two small rolls he'd managed to win for the day and held them both out. "Which one do you want?"

The Earthbender snagged the nearest one and plopped down on the ground at his brother's feet, wonderingly turning it over and over in his hand.

"They're not even stale," he marveled, a grin of genuine admiration broadening across his face.

"I know," was the irritable reply. "Stop playing with it and just eat it."

Mako shoved the empty rag back where it came from and grabbed himself a seat alongside his brother on one of the tree's raised roots. He took his time picking the lint off his sad excuse for a lunch and ate as slowly as he could, tearing off one little bite at a time—it was all he'd had to eat all day and all the food he was likely to see before the next morning—but it seemed like it was gone almost before he'd started.

Puny as they were, those rolls had been hard to come by. He'd worked the day at a bakery downtown with the promise of food and money, but when the time had come to pay him, the baker dropped two yuans into his hand and told him to get out of the store. It wasn't half of what they'd agreed to pay and not nearly enough to buy dinner for two people. He had argued with the man until he threatened to call the police, then he'd taken the rolls and run.

It wasn't the way he'd pictured the day going, but he did what he had to do. He refused to feed his little brother out of a dumpster when he was sick.

Brushing the crumbs off his clothing, Mako gave an inward sigh. He didn't see the point in complaining—Bolin was the only person who would listen to him, anyway—but the meal had done nothing to dull the gnaw of hunger and he couldn't help thinking it would be nice to have enough to eat once in a while.

He had no more than finished the thought when his brother tugged lightly at his pants leg and held out his own roll almost untouched.

"Do you want the rest of mine? I'm not hungry anymore."

His tone was almost pleading, like Mako would be doing him a favor by taking his food from him. But the older boy shook his head and pushed it back.

"No. You have to finish it," he insisted. "You didn't eat anything yesterday and the day before that you—"

"But I don't want it. You can have it."

Their contest of wills was brief. One pitiful look from Bolin was all it took to win Mako over.

Scowling his disapproval first at the roll, then at his brother, he snatched the bread and slipped it back into his pocket.

"Fine. I'll hold onto it," he conceded grudgingly. "You can eat the rest later."

"Thanks, Mako."

Grateful relief flickered across Bolin's face and he looped an arm familiarly around his brother's calf.

The Firebender couldn't stifle a groan of exasperation. He dutifully resisted the urge to shake him off, but the day was too hot and the air too still for his brother to be clingy. He was on the point of saying so when Bolin tipped his head back.

"Hey. Can I go with you tomorrow?" he asked eagerly.

Mako's brows drew together uneasily. He missed his brother's help, but Bolin was in no condition to go anywhere—he could barely stand on his own, let alone do anything else. The idea of carrying him all over town was too much. There was just no way.

"I don't know, Bo," he hedged, dropping his eyes to the side. "Maybe in a couple days."

Pouting to himself, Bolin settled his head against his brother's knee. He didn't argue. He didn't even sigh. But the disappointed silence that hung in the air got under Mako's skin faster than any amount of whining could have done.

"What do you want me to say?" he bridled, yanking his leg away. "I can't spend the whole day—"

He never finished his sentence.

With no more warning than a muted whimper, Bolin lurched forward and threw up everything he'd eaten all over the ground. He doubled over as wave after wave of convulsions racked his body, tightening his chest until he could barely breathe. Gasping sobs mingling with the rest as he continued to retch long after there was nothing left.

"Shh. You're okay. You're okay," Mako soothed, helplessly stroking his back. The smell of bile turned his stomach, but he stayed at his brother's side until little by little the heaving slowly subsided.

"You're okay," he repeated one last time. "You done?"

Shivering and covered in cold perspiration, Bolin gave a weak nod. He held his belly as he tentatively straightened up, breathing in broken gulps.

All Mako could do was sigh. The look of reliance and exhaustion in Bolin's eyes as he looked up struck straight to his heart. He knew his brother needed more help than he could give and he had been trying all week to save up a little money—enough for medicine or a doctor—but he hadn't had much luck. Between people ripping him off and the cost of food, he'd only managed to scrape together a paltry three yuans, which wasn't nearly enough for either.

Brushing the damp hair off his brother's forehead, he shook out the frayed rag he'd used to wrap their rolls and carefully cleaned the mess from his face.

"You think you can walk, bro?" he asked gently, already slinging Bolin's arm across his shoulders.

The Earthbender clumsily wiped his nose with the back of his hand and nodded again, struggling to stay on his feet as Mako half led, half carried him to a cleaner and more comfortable seat against the base of the tree.

It didn't take long for the bustle and activity of the park to lift his spirits. Everything seemed to interest him, from children with pets to a hobo making off with a fish. But try as he might, he couldn't get Mako to lighten up again.

There was only one thing on the Firebender's mind. It had been three days since his brother had really eaten anything. And he didn't know what to do about it.