In His Element(s) || avatar / bnha

You Didn't See That Coming?

Suddenly, everything was clear and still.

Aang blinked, his hands instinctively going to his chest, the phantom pain slowly fading away.

He... he was...

Where was he?

"What?"

He briefly glanced down at himself and tugged on the hem of his torn shirt, distantly noting the blood staining the edges before looking up and around once more.

It was white and blank as far as the eye could see around him.

He took a cautious step forwards, and his footsteps didn't echo in the world around him. It was perfectly, unsettlingly quiet.

Aang grimaced, scrubbing at his eyes. The pain may be gone, but he was still so tired.

Of everything.

Wait.

Aang lowered his hands, staring at them. Hesitantly, he circled his wrist in a basic air strike.

Nothing.

And it felt like he'd been stabbed all over again.

He cycled through earth, water, fire, before trying his own element once more, desperate, even though he had horrible knowledge of what had happened.

"It's gone," he finally whispered, closing his fists.

A presence and a soft set of footsteps disturbed the space.

Aang quickly glanced up, unable to stop the instinctive chill of fear that ran down his spine.

And stopped. And stared.

Orange robes, a beaded tabard, and an impossibly familiar face.

"Monk Gyatso?"

His oldest mentor smiled, sad and patient.

"Hello, Aang."

Why did Shouta even bother thinking that anything he was involved with would ever go to plan? He should know better by now.

Ryukyu and Fat Gum's teams had engaged on schedule, taking two Nomu on each. So far as he knew, Nighteye's team had made it into the warehouse.

But there was no sign of the League. And most concerning, the General hadn't stayed back to guard the warehouse like they had been expecting.

No.

The General had come after them.

And Eri was right. He was glowing brilliantly, blue-white and mildly terrifying.

Much stronger than he'd been before.

Shouta ducked as a blade of light whipped over his head, continuing to sprint out of the spirit's range. Hizashi stepped up a moment later, screaming an attack out that rattled against the metal plates of armor.

The General spun, snarling, and not nearly as affected by the sonic attack as Shouta would have liked. He stomped his foot, shaking the ground and staggering everyone within the vicinity.

Shinsou stumbled, going to his knees. The General whirled on his student, radiant sword raising to the heavens to slash downwards-

No.

Shouta whipped his capture weapon out, wrapping it around Shinsou's midsection and yanking, dragging him out of the way as the blade came crashing down.

Shinsou rolled, picking himself up a few moments later, grimacing and holding his side. Shouta grabbed his shoulder, helping him to his feet as they backed off.