Bonds That Hold || A LOK Fanfiction

Chapter 4

Anika's POV

Grand music plays throughout the streets, children laugh and play, something I haven't seen in a long time. I remember Haydn and I, barely teenagers running away from these very streets. Sighing, I adjust the red fabric clinging to my body. It had been just a week since Haydn almost caught me, and I still felt guilty lying to my brother, I always have, but he wouldn't understand.

Clearing the thoughts from my head, I walk around the restaurant, knocking on the small back door. It opens, revealing Shin. His eyes gaze over my body, but his smile remains large. "I'm so glad you could make it. Spirits you look ravishing."

"Thank you, bought the dress a few weeks back" I nod, entering inside the darkened area of the restaurant.

"I see you've put it to good use" Shin grins, leading me through the building. "I'm so glad you came, the guys and gals have been nothing but loudmouths since the news hit."

I pull on my fingers, sweat forming along my hairline as we approach the table. "Boss, look who's here."

Lightning Bolt Zolt looks up from his paper, cocking a brow. More gray hair mixed with his black hair, the lighter strands shining in the lights. "Well almighty me, is that Anika?"

"I thought a visit would be in order" I reply, holding out my hand. The older man takes it, shaking it firmly. "How have you been, Zolt?"

Surprised, he leans back in his booth, arms wrapped around two women. "Stressed, but I'm guessing Shady Shin has already told you that. Please, take a seat." Nodding, I pull out a chair, sitting down. The old man smiles, taking a sip of his water. "You've seemed to fill out in the past few years, nobody will expect you to be working for us."

"I didn't come to work for you, Zolt" I say sharply, the man choking on his water.

"Oh please Anika. Do you really think you'll be working at the Sato Mansion you entire life? You'll find yourself a kind man who finds you attractive enough to marry and hopefully he'll have enough money to take care of you?"

I grip the table cloth. "Certainly that would be more of a life than selling my body. Sure, I'll help the gang, but I will never demote myself to those standards, Zolt." Pushing out of my seat, I head to the door. "I seem to have lost my appetite, perhaps we can try again some other time."

Back outside, I let out a frustrated scream. The wind shoots through the tight streets, my hair swirling around my face. Zolt was always a hard man to work with, but I assume he never learns from his past mistakes.

A hand wraps around my wrist, instantly I turn, ready to strike. Shin catches my hand, frowning. A fancy suit covers his everyday clothes, keys in hand. "I'm sorry about Zolt, if I knew he would say that, I never would have brought you."

"I just want to go home" I sigh, looking down the street. "Can you drive me? This entire thing is humiliating enough."

He leads me towards his car. "I think I have a better idea. How about I take you to dinner?"

"Where?" I ask, sitting down on the car.

Getting in on his own side, Shin smiles. "Barolo's"

—

"I can't believe the Avatar is really in the city" I say, knocking our glasses together.

Shin chuckles, taking a ship. "Yeah. Poor Viper decided to cause her trouble and now is behind bars. He should be out in a few days."

Shaking my head, I feel another wave of envy go over me. Some people couldn't bend at all, but here the Avatar was, able to bend all four. "What's her name?"

"Korra, I think" Shin informs me. "Looks like she's staying with Master Tenzin at his home. Whatever they had her do down in the Southern Water Tribe left her fit."

"Aren't you from the Southern Tribe?" I ask, pulling apart a piece of bread.

"Yeah" he frowns, dipping his bread in butter. "My parents moved to the city and I guess we lost touch after I joined the gang."

Reaching across the table, I take his hand, giving it a squeeze. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked." He nods, looking to the waiter who carries our food. Together we dig in, the shrimp-carp puffs melting in my mouth.

"How has your brother been?" Shin asks.

"Focused on work. He's definitely more ambitious than anyone else in the gang. He hopes to move up from Asami Sato's driver to working in Mr. Sato's business" I frown, poking at my food.

He chuckles "Haydn was always so focused." Looking down to his food, he takes another bite. "What do you hope to do later on in life?"

I raise a brow, my response not coming to mind. What did I want to do? Life had always been focused around surviving a day, a week or even a month, never thinks about decades from now. "Perhaps I could dabble in politics. I hear enough of Hiroshi Sato's comments about a lack of nonbenders being on the council."

"I could never see you doing something so professional" Shin comments, smiling. Once he sees my forms, he corrects himself. "It's not like that, Anika. I grew up with you, so find me tickled to call you Councilwoman Anika."

A small smile pull at my lips. Taking the last bite of my meal, I push myself out of the chair. "Wanna get out of here? My brother will be heading home soon."

Shin's car is tucked in an alleyway a few blocks from my house. Just as the sun finally dips into the bay, I turn to him. "Thank you for dinner, Shin. It's been good getting to see you again." I lean over, hugging him tightly.

As I pull away, my scarf had been pulled away, his fingers lightly tracing the scar running down from my neck and pooling onto my collarbone. I'm shocked by the bolt movement. "It's healed nicely."

Pulling away from his touch, I readjust the cloth, my skin burning. "I try to forget about it, and you should too." I shift away from him, opening the door. I merely glance back at him before I slam the door, moving away from the car. I hear his voice calling after me, but I keep going, another set of voices echoing in my head, hand on my neck.

"Anika!" Haydn cries out, tears streaming down my cheeks.

My skin burns, and all I wanted to do was to crawl out of it. "It burns" I choke.

Zolt nods, squirting some liquid into his hand, gently rubbing it onto the skin. He shakes his head, looking to Haydn. "You need to learn to control your bending, or the next time your sister won't just be burned. "

"I'm so sorry Ani" Haydn whispers quietly, smoke drifting around us. "I never wanted this to happen."