" Tenzin. Earth. Fire. Air. Water. Only the Avatar can master all four elements and bring balance to the world.
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"I heard on the radio today that the Avatar is in Republic City!" Bolin cheered, entering the locker room where the other two friends were already gathered before the match.
Mako had been running over plays in his head for the past fifteen minutes, trying to remember everything. He had been silent this whole time, succumbing to the constant wheels turning in his brain, while Mayalean had herself propped up on the table— laying on her stomach with her head in the palms of her hands.
She stared at the older brother with intent, almost trying to read his mind, as if she could. Swinging her bent legs behind her, excitement building up to watch the match, Mayalean had paid little attention to Bolin's rambling.
His brother seemed to also ignore his incessant droning, too worried about his own performance for the upcoming match. The air-bender, on the other hand, stayed quiet simply because she had no idea how to inform Bolin that the Avatar was, indeed, her friend.
Bolin placed Pabu on the table next to Mayalean, in which the fire-ferret made a bed out of her back. The girl giggled at this, "hey Pabu, I missed you too," she chimed, trying to glance at the animal over her shoulder.
Before the earth-bender could continue on listing all the things that were going through his mind, like he usually did, Mako slammed his hands into the locker frustrated. "Where's Hasook?" He questioned the two, who simply replied with a gesture of their own confusion.
"Maybe he's just running late!" Mayalean said, trying to convince her friend, or at least ease his irritation. "Or... maybe he got lost on his way here ... it happens.."
Bolin looked to her, confused, but shook his head as he turned to his own locker to start preparing himself. While doing so, his older brother started demonstrating his stances to Mayalean.
Subconsciously, he flexed his muscles more than usual, while being under her careful stare. Mako wasn't sure why he was trying to show off, but it was almost as if he needed her approval, or something.
As he finished a sequence, not actually sending a wave of flame out, to prevent burning down the locker room, he looked back to the girl expectantly.
"That was very good!" Mayalean cheered, though, in all honesty, she didn't know much about fire-bending techniques. At least beside what Mako had showed her whenever he learned something new.
Fire-bending and air-bending were almost two different worlds. While manipulating fire was all about the offensive, the air-benders nature was more defensive, only utilizing it when they were being attacked.
Mako didn't seem satisfied though, leaning on the table she had been laying on. "No, be critical," he demanded her, wanting to correct anything that was wrong before going out.
When Mayalean met his gaze, she shrunk into herself, "that ... was ... bad? I'm sorry, I can't do this."
The boy sighed, turning away from her in some kind of dissatisfaction, and finally put on his uniform over his white shirt. "Mako," she grumbled at his stressed stature, now sitting properly while Pabu climbed to her shoulder. The boy turned to face her, and she placed a careful hand on his, now clothed, arm.
When she was about to continue, Bolin whipped around, "oh! Is it time for some Mayalean words of wisdom?" He questioned excitedly, joining the two. "Do me too! Me too!"
She giggled quietly at her friend, before turning to the both of them, lowering her hand and placing them folded in her lap. "You cannot change the outcome, what's meant to be will be," Mayalean starts slowly, observing their concentrated faces. "But as long as you do what you can, with what you have, you will always win."
Bolin started clapping, as if she were on a podium announcing to a crowd of people, but Mako on the other hand had a ghost of a smile. She flushed when he met her eyes, nodding his head like she had said the right thing.
Suddenly, the door swung open, ruining the moment, and Hasook threw his stuff down begrudgingly— like he didn't really want to be there.
Before Mako could chew his ear off, Mayalean jumped to his rescue. "Hasook?" She asked him calmly. "Everything alright? You're late."
"Don't nag me," he shot angrily. "You're not even part of the team. What, are you going around taking attendance or something?"
Mayalean frowned at the water-bender's snarky comment, almost backing up in confusion. But before she could try to smooth things out, Mako stepped in front of the boy. "She's more a part of this team then you are, pal," he sneered. "At least she shows up to practices."
Bolin and Mayalean exchanged awkward glances, trying to reduce the tension that was building in the locker room— so rapidly it might become tangible at some point.
"Alright, guys," Bolin starts worriedly. "Let's just get out there and show 'em what we got!"
The air-bender smiled at the younger brother, giving him a thumbs up and he returned the gesture. The two boys, who looked like they were about to fight, only backed down— Hasook muttering something under his breath.
As Mako whipped around and went to go question him about it, Mayalean caught his shoulder, grinning brightly at him with glimmering eyes of excitement. For a moment, Mako remembered what the girl had once told him, when they had met for the first time: about how attacking someone from behind was unfair, and only brought you dishonor. Mako watched as Hasook walked to the platform, sighing to contain his frustration before looking back at his friend once more.
Mayalean grasped his hand with her right one, and took her left hand to slide her bracelet off of her wrist and onto his. She had done this every time Mako needed some good luck.
It was a bracelet beaded with Citrine, a crystal known for bringing good fortune, and before every match, Mayalean made sure the boy wore it. "Fortune favors the bold," she told him, watching his face conform into a grin— in spite of himself.
He took one last gaze at the bracelet, before looking back at the girl, and pulling her into a short— one arm hug. "I owe you my win," he said, winking as he went to step on the platform.
Shortly after, Mayalean rode her air scooter over to the balcony, perching on the railing so she could watch. She ignored her heart that beat big bricks against her chest— perhaps it was just nerves, or she was getting sick.
Yes, that was it, the temperature change from the South Pole to Air Temple Island was making her sick. It was the only way to excuse this feeling that turned so viciously in her stomach.
