Bonds That Hold || A LOK Fanfiction

Chapter 7

Anika's POV

So many things happened yesterday that I never thought would ever happen.

No one but the Avatar should be able to take another's bending away, but Amon did. 

I never thought I would see Zolt fall at the hands of another, but he did.

I never thought I would see Mako and Bolin again, but I did. 

"You really didn't need to let us stay overnight" I smile, looking to Councilman Tenzin. "But I thank you."

"I couldn't let you three go after what Korra told me. Amon will be watching for you and your brother now" Tenzin replies, handing me a warm cup of tea. Taking a sip, I sigh, looking across the table. 

There sat the Avatar herself, her pride and ego seeming to come off of her in waves. Beside her was Mako and Bolin, who eyed me warily. "It's good to see you boys again" I say, raising a brow. "Though I never would have thought to see you being friends with the Avatar, or probenders for that matter."

"Who are you again?" the Avatar asks, my smile faltering.

"Anika. The boys passed out in the other room are Shin and my brother" I reply, narrowing my eyes, already hating her attitude. Already I saw the disgust in her eyes. "The five of us were very close friends once, but life happens and we got separated. Then again, I doubt you've ever had it hard."

"Anika" Mako warns.

Rolling my eyes I rise, looking down on the three. "It was nice to see you two again, but I really need to get going." Sighing, I go into the other room, where Mizu sits with the boys, who still lay unconscious. "We should get going, we don't want to be caught on the streets midday."

"Are you sure you're alright, Anika?" Mizu frowns. "Councilman Tenzin is being more than kind by letting us stay here. Maybe we should."

"Shin is apart of the Triple Threat, and Haydn and I are ex-members. Trust me, this man doesn't want us in his home."

"Anika" Mizu says sternly. "Tenzin is a good man, I know it. Now I don't know why you believe everyone in this building hates you." Taking a breath, she looks to my brother. "Besides, we won't be able to carry them both, we'll need some help."

"Fine" I reply. "I'll go get Bolin and Mako."

-

"Are you okay?" Mako asks quietly, gripping Shin's feet. 

"Will everyone stop asking me that?" I growl, squeezing Shin's hands. "I am fine."

Mako had certainly grown, perhaps he was even taller than Haydn. He looks down to Shin, then back up to me. "You know he always did have a soft spot for you."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Just be safe, Anika. I know the gang already hurt you more than the rest of us, and I don't want to see you get hurt again" Mako frowns, adjusting his grip. "Just be safe."

Looking down, I bite my lip. "How have you and Bolin been?" 

"It was hard leaving the gang, but after what happened with you and your brother, I knew we had to get out before it was too late" Mako replies wistfully. Mako had always been an interesting character, and I might have found him attractive if I hadn't grown up with him. Yes, he was very handsome, but it was laughable to even think of us dating. "So we camped out at the Pro Bending arena until we could compete, and the rest is history."

Eventually we make it back to Mizu's apartment, leaving me to say thanks and to say goodbye. I pull the two brothers into a hug. "Let's keep in touch, yeah?"

Wiping his eyes, Bolin pulls me into another hug, letting out a dramatic cry. "I'm going to miss you!" 

Smiling, I pat his shoulder, ruffling up his hair.  "Then I guess we have to see each other again. Maybe I can see you throw a few rocks around."

Bolin laughs, pulling away with a childish grin he never seemed to grow out of. Looking behind Bolin, I give Mako a stern nod, turning back and heading upstairs. 

"Good, you're here" Mizu frowns, looking to Haydn, who slowly begins to wake up. "Shin is in the other room."

"He's up?" I ask, raising a brow.

Mizu nods, biting her lip. "I think you need to talk to him."

Sighing, I nod, heading towards the room. For the first time in a long time, I actually prayed to the spirits, hoping that Amon hadn't stolen Shin's bending for good. "Hey" I say softly, pushing open the door.

Shin sits in the center of the room, a small glass of water in front of him, hands raised. They were shaking, desperately trying to pull a small amount of water from the cup. He lets out a frustrated snarl, slapping the cup over.

"Shin"I try again, kneeling beside him on the floor. 

He looks to the puddle, then to me. The vibrant blue eyes I had come to know were not there, and made me feel as if I were looking into the eyes of a stranger. "He really can do it" he whispers, pressing his hand in the water. "I feel nothing."

"There has to be something we can do" I reply, determined. "He shouldn't be able to posses this power, it's chi blocking, I know it. Maybe a cup of tea, or a visit to a healer."

"Ani."

"Maybe a Spirit bath, that could help your chi. Or maybe someone needs to chi block you and it'll wear off" I continue.

"There's nothing we can do" he frowns, taking my hands in his. "Whatever he did, it took my bending. I felt something snap inside me, Ani, something that can't be fixed."

"I should have helped you" I whisper, shaking my head. "I was there, I could have done something."

"If Amon couldn't have taken your bending he would have taken something else from you" Shin sighs, squeezing my hand. For the first time, I felt protective over Shin, wishing I could have done more. 

"I found Mako and Bolin. They're friends with the Avatar, so maybe she knows how to restore the bending of others. I just need to get close to her so she will help me" I smile. "I'm going to get your bending back, Shin."

Resting his head in my lap, he smiles. "You were always a woman of many talents."