When he was a child, Wei would often play hide and seek with Kuvira. To train their seismic sense, she would blindfold him and Wing and then have them come find her. When her hiding spot was too difficult she would tap her foot on the ground, so they could feel the vibrations more clearly. Whichever one found her first would get a reward, like a piece of candy, or if they did really well, they were allowed to come with her on her guard duties.
Therefore, Wei knew her heartbeat and breathing patterns better than his own. He could find her even here and now, amongst the thousands of others. Curiosity bid him to keep searching, hoping to find the heartbeats of others he knew. He felt a wretched little part of his heart hope to feel Bolin, but try as he might, Wei was unable to find what he remembered to be lavabender's heartbeat. Perhaps he didn't know Bolin as well as he thought he did, he mused bitterly.

A guard neared them, and was quickly incapacitated. They tied the unconscious man to a tree. No need for casualties,, their mother had said. They were just here for Kuvira.

-Are you sure this will work?- whispered Wing, voicing both their thoughts. When their mother had aproached them with this plan, they immediately agreed. They would do anything to save their home. But soon, doubt reared its ugly head. -Even without Kuvira, they could still crush us.-
-Most of this army has been forced into service by Kuvira. If we take her out, they'll have no reason to fight. - Su spoke with a conviction Wei hadn't seen from her for a long time. -Tonight we end her reign of terror.-

They pulled on their masks and did a last-minute check if their equipment. They'd have to be quick and unseen if they wanted this to work. Not an easy task with how heavy the patrols were. But it seemed that the size of Kuvira's army would be her downfall. There were many hidden spaces amongst the multitude of tanks and supply crates, the almost endless expanse of tents offering plenty of cover.
Bobbing and weaving through the cluttered camp, Wei couldn't contain the exhilaration seeping through his veins. Finally, finally he was able to do something to save the home he loved so much. If he had to endure a couple more hours of sitting in the house, worrying, he might have very well gone insane.

They sensed the approaching mecha tank long before it even emerged from among the countless tents. Their mother pointed at one of the inactive tanks and soon all three of them were in the surprisingly large space underneath it.
As the huge robot stomped past their hiding spot, Wei remembered Bolin's tales about the damn things. Apparently they'd been a real gamechanger for non-benders wanting to fight on the same level as benders. He tried to recall if Bolin had mentioned any weak points, but to his frustration, all he could remember was the other's bright smile as he recounted Team Avatar's epic clash against the Equalists. He shook his head in frustration, trying to rid himself of those treacherous sentiments. He carefully poked his head out from under the tank to check if the coast was clear. When he made sure it was safe to come out, he motioned to his mother and twin and soon they were off again.

They were able to get to Kuvira's tent with no issues after that, only having to avoid the light of a nearby watchtower. Soon, sooner than Wei's nervous thoughts would want, Kuvira's tent, guarded by two mecha tanks, came into view. The Beifongs regrouped behind a stack of boxes. Their mother stomped her foot on the ground, eyes closed in concentration. -She's alone in there. - she whispered -Now's our chance!-

All three of them quickly burrowed holes into the ground. Blindly, Wei lengthened the tunnel, collapsing it behind him. The only sense that mattered at the moment was his connection to the earth. He crawled towards Kuvira's sleeping body, her breaths and heartbeat weirdly irregular. He was faintly aware of his mother and Wing to his left.
Finally, they resurfaced, in the metal interior of Kuvira's tent. The furniture was spartan, but that was to be expected of Kuvira. The dictator herself was sleeping with her back to them, on a simple mattress on the ground. Her blanket covered form looked so small. Wei felt a twinge of sorrow, a feeling he'd been recently getting more and more used to.

Suyin quickly directed her wires to bind their target and started towards the mattress. Wei sighed in relief. Now they could just get back home, and they could make everything okay. As his mother turned their captive around, all his hopes shattered. For it was not Kuvira who stared up at them, fear in her eyes.
-Don't hurt me!- not-Kuvira begged. It took Wei a second to recognise the woman, but it seemed to hit him at the same time as his mother.
-Zhu Li?-

In the end, the decoy's identity didn't matter. What mattered was that they had been tricked. Sirens blared outside and suddenly the tent opened, like a flower, revealing them all to the world. Spotlights shone down upon them, further adding to the chaos.
When Wei's eyes adjusted to the jarringly bright light, he realised they'd been surrounded by mecha-tanks. Kuvira was there too, smiling smugly. It was the same smile she would give when he failed to find her during their games. He felt like a child again. Small and helpless.
He searched the surrounding soldiers for other familiar faces. Hoping to see Bolin, perhaps, hoping to see his comfortingly kind eyes in the crowd. No such luck.

-I knew you'd try a sneak attack. - Kuvira's sharp voice snapped Wei back to reality, as she glowered at his mother. He bristled, lowering himself to a fighting position. -You were afraid to step up and lead the Earth Kingdom when you had the chance. You were afraid to join me when I became the leader, and now, you're afraid of a fair fight. You've always been a coward. - Kuvira spat and Wei took offence on his mother's behalf. But right now, he had to focus on getting them all out of there safely. -Take them!- Kuvira motioned to her soldiers. The three Beifongs prepared to fight. The odds were bad, but not impossible. All thoughts flew out the window, when the mecha-tanks raised their mechanical limbs, emitting a threatening humming noise. Wei readied himself to dodge whatever projectiles they were to fire. What came out were tendrils of electricity.

Painpainpainpain.

They all, including poor Zhu Li, cried out in pain. Wei felt his body hit the ground harshly. Numbness washed over him, even as his limbs spasmed violently. There was a loud ringing in his ears, his vision blurred and blackened. He could see his mother lying next to him in a similar condition. He tried to reach out for her, but quickly realised he couldn't move. He sobbed. His vision darkened rapidly and his head spun.
He almost welcomed unconsciousness.

Wei woke up to cold metal encasing his entire body. He whined, light invading his sensitive eyes. His head pulsated with pain. He couldn't feel his toes. He pulled at his restraints. Platinum. He started to panic. He had to get out of here. He had to find mom and Wing.
He thrashed a bit, but only succeed in rubbing his wrists and ankles raw along with making his headache worse. The human sized box that contained him didn't even budge. He took a couple shallow breaths and started again.

- Sweetie. Shh, stop, you'll just hurt yourself. - somewhere to his left, he heard Su's voice. He tried to look around to the best of his ability, but only made out a blurry, grayish shape to his left.
- Mom? - he croaked, cringing at how small and broken his voice sounded. He felt so very weak. His knees buckled underneath him and had it not been for the contraption holding him upright, he certainly would have fallen over.
- I'm here, sweetie, don't worry - he thought he could see her give a reassuring smile, but his vision was far too blurry to be sure. His head hurt. For some reason, he felt short of breath. They were in one of those metal tents. The weak lightbulb that hung from the ceiling was still enough to make is burning eyes water.

- What... - he swallowed, but it did little to relieve his dry throat. - what do you think they'll do to us ?- Even a couple days ago, he couldn't believe Kuvira would actually hurt them, but after seeing the look in her eyes last night... He wasn't sure of anything anymore. He thought he knew his brother and adopted sister, but then they turned around and stabbed their family in the back.
Once, Wei had thought himself to be a good judge of character. Perhaps he was mistaken. Perhaps he found kindness where there was none. Gentle green eyes accompanied by a dazzling smile wormed their way into his head again, but he firmly smothered those insidious memories.
His mother sighed. - I don't know.- she whispered. It shook Wei to his very core to see his mother, usually so strong and confident in such a helpless state. He almost felt like crying. He couldn't think.

He heard Wing groan and craned his head to the right, just about able to see his brother waking up. A little bit of sibling-typical mischief piped up in him. A need to lift the mood at least a little. To not let Wing panic as he had. - Mornin! Sleep well? - he quipped, hoping his voice didn't sound too strained this time.
Wing groaned. - Owwwww...-
- I'll take that as a no.- Wei hoped his twin could see his attempt at a smile and Wing chuckled in response.
- Nah, slept like a baby! Just got this awful creak in the neck. -

- Glad to see both of you still have your sense of humour. - their mom snorted. -are either of you hurt? - she asked, tone becoming more serious.
- Head hurts.- Wing announced and Wei made a noise of agreement.
Su exhaled, placated. - That's to be expected. I'm just glad the electricity didn't injure any of us too severely... I'm sorry I dragged you two into this. -

- Mom, it's ok! - Wei rushed to reassure her. It wasn't her fault they fell into a trap - You couldn't have known we'd end up like this. -
- Yeah! We were all tricked. - Wing butted in -Besides, we probably would have found a way to get ourselves in trouble on our own, anyway. -

Their mother tried to answer, but was cut off by the unpleasant sound of microphone feedback. They all winced as their headaches got infinitely worse. Kuvira's voice, amplified by a megaphone rang throughout their usually peaceful valley. -Attention citizens of Zaofu. Your leader, Su Beifong, attempted to attack me tonight while I slept, ignoring the terms of our truce. - Wei wanted to yell that there was no truce, Kuvira just pulled up and threatened them, expecting no repercussions. - Luckily, I now have her and her assault team in custody. Rest assured that I will not take revenge on the peaceful citizens of Zaofu, unless your remaining representatives meet me outside the city at dawn to offer the full and unconditional surrender of your city. That is all.-

The silence that followed was deafening. Wei's head was spinning. He wondered about his family. He could imagine his father worrying, pacing as he always did. His thoughts drifted to Opal. His dear, sweet sister who had grown so much in the last few years. She was probably trying to get Korra to help break them out. He hoped she wouldn't be successful. It would be a suicide mission.
Korra. He hadn't seen much of the Avatar before him, Wing and their mother had left on their nightly escapade, but she seemed... different. Quieter, more reserved. It felt like something had broken inside of her, and if everything he heard from Bolin was true, it probably had.

Then there was Bolin. Wei frowned. Why had Bolin not come to see them? Had he not been told about their capture? Or did he just not care enough to come? The thought hurt much more than he would have wanted it to. He felt like an idiot. He thought Bolin actually cared about them. About him.
He'd even had a stupid, childish fantasy of Bolin finally realising Kuvira's true nature and helping them defeat her. Perhaps the torn look in his friend's emerald eyes stoked the flames of that naive pipe dream.'Look at how pathetic you are' admonished a harsh, bitter voice in his head. 'Still pining after your sister's boyfriend, even when he's about to invade your home'.

He screwed his eyes shut, trying to will away the tears threatening to spill. Rage, shame, sadness and, most prominently, betrayal swam around in his already aching head. He couldn't think anymore. He felt sick again.
He wasn't sure when he fell asleep, but he was grateful his mother and Wing didn't wake him.

After a fitful night of waking up and falling back into blissful unconsciousness, someone else finally entered the tent, right as the first rays of sunlight began to poke their way through the open doorway.

- I hope you all slept well. - Kuvira gave them a smile that didn't reach her eyes. A shudder went down Wei's spine. How could the supportive big sister he'd known for most of his life become this? - We have a big day today.-
- Kuvira, think about what you're doing! - his mother pleaded again, but her words fell on deaf ears. The dictator signaled at someone outside the tent and a bunch of soldiers marched in, spliting into twos, each pair pushing one of the boxes containing a Beifong out of the tent.

Soon they found themselves at the very front of the army, looking across the field he could easily see Zaofu. The safety of his home was so close. Three figures emerged from the mist. Wei quickly recognised Opal and Korra, along with another airbender, the oldest of master Tenzin's children. He caught his sister looking at them, worry clearly painted on her face. She never was good at hiding her emotions. Wei did his best to shoot her a reassuring smile. 'We're okay' he tried to telegraph. Opal gave him a small nod, before turning towards Kuvira, fury quickly replacing worry.

-Release them now!- she snarled, looking like she was ready to rip someone's throat out.
Kuvira stared her down, unflinching and unyielding. -If Su agrees to bow to me and turn over Zaofu, she and the rest of your family will not be harmed.-

Well, that was never even an option. -Never!- his mother seethed and Wei could see her pulling at her restraints.- I'll never bow to you!-

Korra took a step forward, raising her arms in a placating manner. She locked eyes with Kuvira -There must be some way for us to resolve this!-
-I've already laid out my terms, and I think they're very reasonable. - Kuvira retorted -After all, Su did try to take me out during our peaceful negotiations.-

Wei saw red.-You call bringing an army to threaten our city "peaceful"?- he spat, Kuvira looked over her shoulder at him. And once again he was struck by intense her eyes were. -And where's Bolin?- he asked, some silly little remenant of his faith in the lavabender still keeping hold of him.
Opal followed up his question.- I know he would never go along with this!- Kuvira looked between them both, a sardonic smile tugging at her lips.

-Bolin is with my fiancé, working on something very important. But, I assure you, he's on board with my plans. - she answered, voice almost mocking. Wei's heart dropped to his stomach. Of course. He'd suspected as much. It was plain to see that Bolin's loyalties didn't lie were his own did. Then why did it gnaw at his heart so much? Kuvira continued, glaring at a fuming Opal. -You two have been apart for some time. I guess you don't realize how much Bolin has grown up.- as she spoke the last words she looked back at Wei, something almost like amusement gleaming in her eyes.
His heart sank even deeper. She knew something he didn't want her to, didn't she?

Mercifully, Kuvira said nothing about that. She simply turned to glare at Korra -Now turn over Zaofu. -
-I can't just let you take the city!- the Avatar protested.
-Avatar Korra, you are interfering with internal Earth Empire business, and letting your personal feelings get in the way of reason. - Kuvira replied, a threatening edge to her usually so controlled voice. -Zaofu cannot continue to rule itself. They have been hoarding their riches and technology too long. I'm here to distribute those resources fairly throughout the nation. This is about equality.-

-You don't care about equality! This is about control!- Opal raged, before turning to Korra. -Just take her down! You know it's the right thing to do! You have to stop this!-

-The only way you're going to keep me from marching into Zaofu is if you physically stop me. - Kuvira stated confidently, sounding very much like someone who wanted to get in a fight with a master of the four elements. -Now what are you going to do?-
-It looks like you're not giving me a choice.- Korra sighed, unusually conflict-averse. Huh. She really had changed. Wei tried not to let that worry him.
-Fine. - Kuvira nodded, turning around to address her army. -I want you all to know that I would never ask any of you to do something that I'm not willing to do myself. So, rather than risk your lives, I will fight the Avatar one-on-one. - As much as Wei hated to agree with her, he was glad the duel would spare unnecessary bloodshed. He just hoped their champion was up to fight.

Kuvira finished her speech, turning back towards her opponent. -Korra, if you win, then you can do whatever you want with Zaofu. But after I beat you, I want you out of my business for good. I'm the one who brought peace to the Earth Empire, not you. You're not relevant here anymore.- Wei bit back a scathing comment about Kuvira and her warped intention of 'bringing peace'.
-Fine. - Korra smirked and now she looked much more like the cocky girl from met three years ago. -You wanna fight the Avatar? Then let's finish this, right here, right now.-

Opal and the other airbender moved back a safe distance as Korra quickly warmed up and got into a fighting position, followed by Kuvira doing the same. -Use whatever you want: all the elements; the Avatar State; anything you need. - the dictator jabbed -I know you're a little rusty.-
-Enough talk!- Growled Korra, launching herself at Kuvira with reckless abandon.

The Avatar started off flinging a couple of fire attacks at her opponent, all of which were gracefully evaded. Korra switched her bending, sending a stone at Kuvira's head, who barely dodged, but managed to answer with her own attack. As Korra blocked the stone slab, Kuvira initiated another attack, slamming a rock into the Avatar's unprotected stomach. Korra stumbled as the projectile made contact. Using this window of opportunity, her opponent sent forth two metal clasps. They wrapped around Korra's wrist and ankle, then pulled her to the ground.

The Earth Empire soldiers cheered loudly, though out of the corner of his eye Wei spotted a disinterested looking Zhu Li. He momentarily wondered where Varrick was. The two seemed practically attached at the hip.
Kuvira barked a cold, yet somehow manic laugh. -Looks like the Avatar's a little off her game!- she taunted as Korra got to her feet.
-Don't let her get you frustrated!- Opal yelled to the Avatar. - She wants you to make a mistake!-
Wei could tell his sister was itching to intervene. Even back when she wasn't an airbender, Opal was always ready to fight for her family. He caught her gaze and smiled again. It was all he could do to reassure her, with his entire body locked in place.

The duel resumed, Korra splitting apart the ground before her, while simultaneously sending forth a blast of air, but once again, Kuvira was faster. Korra kept up the impressive onslaught of attacks, but Kuvira seemed to dodge every single one. Once again, all it took was a tiny slip up from the Avatar and Kuvira had sent a metal plate that locked around Korra's eyes. As she flailed, the great uniter threw a rock that knocked her opponent to the ground. Korra, to her credit, immediately lept back to her feet, tearing the metal band off her face. Wei was ever so grateful that his mother offered the Avatar those metalbending lessons.

The two women continued go back and forth like that. Korra with a ferocious barrage of attacks that Kuvira deftly dodged, and waited for her opening to once again knock her opponent down.

-Come on, Avatar, get up! Show me what you've got!- Kuvira taunted. She got some sort of sick enjoyment out of constantly knocking someone down a peg. Wei felt sick, though perhaps that also had something to do with having been standing upright for seveal hours straight.
To his horror, it Opal took the bait, rushing towards the battling women. Wei was about to yell for her to stop, but Korra beat him to it. - No! Stay back! I can handle this. -

Wei wanted to believe in her, he really did, but he couldn't stop the bitter taste of defeat from seeping into his mouth. What would happen to them if Korra lost? To his home? To his family?

-You have to go into the Avatar State!- his mother cried, and for a moment Korra seemed frightened, biting her lip, blue eyes wildly roaming the field. Wei wondered if her resolve to use the Avatar State as a last resort was actually do to something more sinister. But Su kept urging -Do it!-

Kuvira pounced towards Korra, ready to finish the battle once and for all, only to be thrown backwards by airbending, as Korra's eyes glowed. The great uniter tried to get up, but at this point the tables had officially turned. A couple more blasts of air tossed her even further away, brutally smashing her against the ground.
Korra rose into the air, lower half of her body encased in a tornado, lifting a huge boulder. It was a horrifying sight, activating some manner of innate fear in Wei's bones, a remenant of the days humans worshiped the Avatar.
Kuvira pulled herself up onto her knees, untangled hair waving in the wind. Korra raised the boulder even higher, preparing to crush the Great Uniter. Wei didn't want Kuvira to die, he realised with a start. She was like a sister to him, and he still loved her despite her actions. Looking at the figure before him, cowering from the force of nature that was the Avatar, Wei couldn't see anything other than the girl who would lovingly ruffle his hair and help him perfect his bending. He looked away.

Korra fell.
The boulder dropped to the ground with a crash, followed by the Avatar, her eyes back to their regular deep blue. Everyone stared on in shock.

Staggering to her feet, Kuvira chuckled darkly -I knew you were weak.- she hissed at the kneeling, prone Avatar. Ruthlessly, she slammed Korra to the ground and encased her in the earth. The Great Uniter stumbled forward, calling forth several metal plates. As she moved her fingers, the plates turned to razor blades, making it clear that she was not about to afford Korra the same mercy the Avatar had given her. As the blades' edges glistened dangerously in the sunlight, Wei prepared to see an Avatar die.

Kuvira was thrown backwards by twin gusts of wind, courtesy of the two airbenders. She flew backwards, landing just in front of Wei. Two of her soldiers rushed forward to help her up, but she shook them off. -You broke our agreement! - she snarled, before turning to her army -Attack!-

The soldiers charged, but Opal and the other airbender managed to repel them with a tornado. Thank the Spirits, Wei sighed in relief. He wanted, above anything to be able to help his sister, but try as he might, he wasn't able to free himself from the platinum restraints.

Thankfully the tornado kept going strong, even against the onslaught of mecha-tanks. A sky bison emerged from the city, master Tenzin's other kids on its back. Opal and the other airbender grabbed Korra under the arms and leapt up into the huge creature's saddle.
Good, they were safe.

Opal moved as if she was going to leap back down to them and Wei shook his head frantically, thankful for Tenzin's daughters, who held her back. He raised his eyes to see her face, twisted by distress as it was, for mabye the last time.
-Opal, get out of here, we'll be fine! - his mother cried, as Opal hesitated.
-Just go!- Wing added, voice booming across the field.
- I'll be back for you!- Opal cried, tears streaming down her face, as the sky bison carried her towards safety. - I love you!- were the last words he heard.

Once again, Wei felt numb. All hope was lost. He barely registered Kuvira and her army's triumphant yells. He didn't react when he, his mother and brother were wheeled into the town square and arranged into a neat little line, as if they were but inanimate trophies. Wei just hung his head in shame, unable to force himself to look into the faces of those he swore to protect and then failed.

He didn't listen to Kuvira's speech. He didn't have to. -... The rest will be imprisoned as traitors, like Su Beifong and her sons.- perhaps on another day, Wei would protest being labled a traitor. After all, it was Kuvira who betrayed their family and city. -Now bow!- the Great Uniter demanded, frenzied eyes roaming over the kneeling crowd. None dared look her in the eyes. Well, none, exept for their father and Huan, who stubbornly stood, as if daring Kuvira to make them yield.
Of course, Wei had suspected the rest of his family would rebel, but still, he kind of wished they'd just give in. Neither his father nor Huan were fighters, this was not their war to fight in. Shame warmed his cheeks. What kind of son and brother was he, to not be able to protect his most fragile family members?

Baatar Jr stomped over to their father, fury evident. -Bow to her! Do it! - he spat, hands balled into trembling fists -She is your rightful leader!-
How had Wei not ever seen this side of his brother? How could his kind, studious brother hide so much anger and cruelty? Their father turned his head away, as if ashamed of what his oldest son has become. - I am so disappointed in you, Junior.-

Baatar sputtered in rage, before turning to a pair of nearby guards. -Take them away!- he pointed at his two offending family members, as if they were disgusting insects.
The burly men came up to grab at their father and brother. Baatar Sr didn't resist, but Huan turned to glare at the soldier with obvious disdain. -Get your hands off me! - he yelled indignantly as he was dragged away. -You're crushing my individuality! -

Baatar Jr turned to the crowd, spreading his arms. -All hail the Great Uniter!- he yelled extra loud, as if to compensate for his family's resistance. The crowd gave a couple, unenthusiastic to be honest, cheers, but at least his dictator siblings seemed satisfied.

Wei wondered what was next.

What was next was apparently being wheeled into an empty room in one of Kuvira's prison trains. They left him there, still restrained, all alone in the barren metal room, that had nothing in it but a table and two chairs either side of it. All Wei could do was slump in his restraints, as if he were but a discarded doll, relgated to the bottom of the toy box. He'd been waiting for long enough for him to consider going mad, when the door slid open. Kuvira and Baatar Jr stepped in, dismissing a guard. Wei was almost happy to see them, at least their appearance broke the dreadful tedium of the wait.

The Great Uniter smiled up at him.- We have a lot to talk about. - she said, as Baatar started to fiddle with the metal restraints.
Wei snarled. - Funny. From where I'm standing, we have nothing to talk about.-
The platinum box around him opened, and he stumbled forward, legs weak and all pins and needles. Kuvira caught him by the shoulders and sat him in one of the chairs, quickly cuffing his numb arms behind his back and securing them to the chair. Of course, everything in the room was platinum. He groaned.

- Listen, Wei.- Kuvira caught his attention, sitting down in the chair in front of him. A bruise from her fight with Korra had began forming on her cheek, and he took a mean bit of satisfaction in that. - I know you were just being loyal to Su. She's your mother, I understand that. But it's time for you to start making your own decisions. - oh. He could see where this was going form a mile away.

- Cut the crap. I said i don't want to talk to you. - he hissed, and Baatar Jr lightly smacked the back of his head. It wasn't supposed to be hard enough to hurt, but paired with his seemingly permanent headache the blow had him wincing.
- Stop acting like a child. - his older brother scolded. Crossing his arms, he walked over to Kuvira. - You're going to talk to one of us or you're going into a cell with the rest of our family.-

- Fine- Wei fired back, pouting petulantly. - I want to talk to Bolin. At least he's fun to be around. - It wasn't exactly a lie, but the real reason Wei wanted to see the lavabender was because he was scared and somehow, Bolin was always able to calm him down. And he needed to make sure that Bolin truly was the cruel, lying person Wei now believed him to be. Perhaps, he foolishly thought he could still somehow get his friend back onto their side. All he wanted was to just see the man for himself.

- Hah! Bolin is currently working on a very important project with Varrick- Baatar sneered. Wei's heart hurt, as it often did on Bolin related matters. You'd think he'd be used to it by now. And yet, the confirmation of his friend's betrayal stung, made his insides ache with a resigned, painfully barbed sadness. - He has no time for trifles, let alone negotiating with a traitor like you!-

- Traitor! - Wei's blood boiled like lava, gladly swapping his sorrow regarding Bolin out for rage towards his brother.- You're the fucking traitor! You turned your back on our family and then came back with an army! And now you have the gall to...-
- I left because our parents were suffocating us! Look at how much Kuvira and I have accomplished without them constantly breathing down our necks! - Baatar spread his arms and spun around, as if the barren cell were a lavish throne room. He put a hand on Wei's shoulder. - You could join us! Free yourself from mom and dad... we could accomplish something great.-

- Be free from mom and dad? As long as become I Kuvira's good little pet, like you?- Wei taunted, knowing that he was being petty, but who could blame him? Baatar recoiled angrily.
-Fine. Be like that. Stay mommy's special baby boy. - the older mocked. Wei stuck his tounge out, like the child Baatar thought him to be. Kuvira cleared her throat.

- I can understand your reservations. - the Great Uniter spoke calmly, almost entrancing him. She always had had a cold, regal charisma about her. - You've only been told the worst about us and they've hidden all the good we have done. Just look at all the people who agree with our cause. Your brother, Varrick, Zhu Li, Bolin...- she placed emphasis on the last name, smirking victoriously. Cold sweat ran down his back. - Don't you want to see what the universe has in store for you? I know you, Wei. I know how all you've ever wanted was to see the world outside of Zaofu. We can give you that. - she gently spoke, like she did when they were kids and she was teaching him a new metalbending move. Had he not been cuffed to a chair, the offer may have been tantalising. - You can travel the Earth Empire and help people wherever you go. With all of us. All you have to do is swear your loyalty to me.-

- Never. - he spat, making eye contact with her for the first time, refusing to be the one to look away first. Kuvira sighed.
- Very well. You've made your choice. - she leant back in her chair. - Guards! - she called and two soldiers entered the room. She simply waved her hand dismissingly at Wei. The men grabbed his arms and forced him to his feet, dragging him out of the room and through the metal corridor. He tried to keep up on his still numb and hurting legs, stumbling through the steps. Finally, they arrived at a barred of cell, his family inside.

One of the guards unlocked the door, while the other shoved him in. He tripped, thankfully straight into his mother's waiting arms. Meanwhile, the guards grabbed Wing, dragging him back the way they came, probably to have Kuvira make him the same offer.
- Oh, sweetie, are you alright? What did she do to you? - His mom fretted. Wei smiled, gently pushing away her hands as she tried to examine his face for any bruises. He hadn't even noticed when his handcuffs were removed.

- Mom, I'm fine. They just wanted me to join their stupid army. - he sighed. Even in this awful situation, being with his family (minus Baatar Jr, who had lost family privileges at the moment), never failed to calm him down.
- And you said no?- Huan clarified, shuffling to sit next to him. Wei snorted.
- No, Huan, they put me in this cell because I was so exited to join that it intimidated them.- he joked and his older brother elbowed him in the ribs with a small grin.

A door slammed shut nearby and soon the guards returned with a fuming Wing.
- Lemme guess, they tried to get you to join?-
- Yup! - Wing nodded, sitting down next to him, as their father put an arm around him. -I gave them a piece of my mind.- he laughed wryly. This was a shitty situation, but at least they were together.

Wei rested his head against the cool wall, but it did very little to alleviate his headache. He wondered where the train was taking them. He wondered if Opal was safe. He wondered where Bolin was.
He wished he could stop thinking about Bolin. But Bolin had been so kind and geniuine, he never let others hurt. He made Wei's heart flutter and he made him laugh and feel all giddy. He tried not to smile at those long gone memories.

Was that all a lie? Was Bolin, dear, sweet Bolin truly the type of person who would ally themselves with Kuvira? At first, Wei had blamed the lavabender's conviction to see the best in people for his constant support of her. But as time went on, it became harder to make excuses for him. Even Bolin couldn't find the bright side of this disaster, right?
Perhaps this was what Bolin wanted all along. Perhaps he was just a power-hungry sycophant, loyally springing to Kuvira's commands. The image made Wei want to throw up. It felt so wrong. It hurt.
He didn't want to think about it.

He leant against Huan, who, as if understanding his inner turmoil, didn't push him away and simply adjusted to accommodate the additional weight. Wei closed his eyes, pretending he couldn't feel anything.

It didn't work.

He felt betrayed.