Bonds That Hold || A LOK Fanfiction

Chapter 3

Haydn's POV

"Big Brother" Anika smiles as I walk in the door, opening her arms for me. Her raven locks are pinned to her head. I quickly give her a hug, then leading her into one of the many side parlors. "What can I do for you?"

"Where have you been all day?" I ask, shutting the door.

She takes a moment, making sure not to reply too quickly or too slowly. "Mizu needed me to pick a few things up for her. I spent the whole day in the shopping district."

I had to give her credit, her lying was almost perfect, and probably would have worked if it wasn't me she was lying to. Whenever she lied, she would tug and play with her left pinkie, a habit she could never break. Nodding, I try to push her, hoping to make her crack and tell the truth. "Then how come I saw you getting out of Shady Shin's car?"

"I was walking home since any busses were done for the night when he pulled up. He said hello and offered me a ride. I was exhausted so I said yes" she replies, hands at her side.

Narrowing my eyes at her, I look over her, trying to find something, anything.

"Can I go now? I have to help Mizu finish up some cleaning before we can go home" she sighs, and a small smile breaks on my lips.

"Where are the supplies?" I ask.

"Pardon?" she tugs her fingers.

"Where's all the stuff you bought?"

She drops her hands, looking me straight in the eyes. Her irises were bright like the sun, I'm comparison to my dark ones that reminded one of amber.  "I brought them in earlier, and then came back out to say goodbye to Shin. Are you trying to accuse me of something, Big Brother?"

I let out a sigh, knowing she's won. "Are you hanging with the gang again?" A frown settles on my lips. "You know why we had to leave, Anika, if we didn't leave when we did, we would've been bound for life. Please tell me you're not doing business with them again."

She sets a hand on my arm. "Haydn, you know I would never jeopardize us like that. I swear Shady Shin just gave me a ride home, and that's all." This time, something flickers in her eyes, and I already know what she's thinking.

"Where do you think you're going?" Viper snarls, grabbing Anika's wrist. She cries out, spitting any profanity she can at him, but he doesn't let go.

"Let go of her!" I snarl, stepping in front of the gang member. Even though I was just shy of 14, I still looked Viper in the eyes. "We are leaving."

Viper chuckles, shaking his head. "I don't think so. You two still owe us." He glances down to my sister. "Especially this one. After what she did, I'm surprised the boss isn't melting her to the streets."

"The debt has been paid. Unhand my sister before things get ugly" I growl, light fire lighting my fingertips. Viper stands still, watching the hot flames dance along my fingers. With a grunt, he lets her go.

"Don't bother coming back" He warns, turning and leaving us in the street.

"I'm sorry-"

"Don't be" she interrupts me, holding up her hand. "There's nothing to be sorry for. You saw Shin's car and assumed the worse. If it were you getting out of that car, I'd think the same thing." She smiles weakly, patting my shoulder. "I gotta go, okay? I'll see you at home." I nod, watching as she turns and leaves the room.

-

"It's a nice night" a voice whispers. Turning from the night sky, I'm met with Mizu, one of the maids Anika had befriended. Her skin was dark, her bright eyes popping out. She screamed Water Tribe, but I couldn't tell if she was Northern, Southern born or from the city. Her uniform was too baggy for her, perhaps it belonged to her mother or an older sister.

Stop it Haydn, you don't need to observe people anymore.

"It is. You finished cleaning?" I ask, leaning on the railing.

"Almost. Mr Sato instructed me to skim the pool before closing it" she smiles, walking up beside me. "But I thought I'd give myself a break." Her hands rest on the marble, a layer of nail polish fading. Did she do them herself?

"Ironic how he has a pool, but doesn't even own a swimsuit."

"If he really wants to swim, he can just buy one. I know I don't own a swimsuit" she states, turning to me. "Do you own a swimsuit?"

Taken aback by a tone I ever hear from my sister, I stutter. "I, well I guess I don't. No, I don't own a swimsuit."

"Hm" she tsks, shaking her head with a laugh. "Do firebenders even like water?"

I can't help but chuckle. "We're not cats. It's just extremely cold water that might effect us. Now, do you like the sun." Rolling her eyes, she goes to say something but Anika calls for her. Sending me a sympathetic glance, she follows my sister to the pool.

Sighing, I look back out to the night sky, then to a nearby clock, the dials worn by the sun. "Spirits" I hiss, stumbling inside the house to see the time, hoping the dials were wrong. They weren't. Snatching the keys from the waiting butler, I hurry outside to get Asami.