Bonds That Hold || A LOK Fanfiction

Chapter 10

Sorry for the short chapter

Haydn's POV~

"You're too tense" Jinora frowns, opening her eyes. "Is it about Anika?"

Looking down, I sigh. I had tried meditating with Jinora, but I still felt wrapped up like I was in a box running out of air. "She shouldn't have went with Korra and Tarrlock."

You know she had too. Like she said, you can't lose your bending.

"She'll be fine, she looked perfectly capable of taking care of herself" Jinora whispers, standing to her feet. "My dad should be home soon, perhaps you can speak with him."

As we walk from the shore of the island, we run into Bolin and Mako, looking just as concerned. "Hey" Bolin says. "Have you guys seen Korra?"

"Off with Anika and Tarrlock as far as I know" I reply, looking down to Jinora. "Thanks for the help, but I think I got it from here." Jinora nods, walking off.

"Of course, it seems like Tarrlock is taking up most of Anika and Korra's time" Mako scoffs, crossing his arms.

Instantly I see something in him, concern for Korra. Of course I was worried about Anika, but his was in an unexpressed way. "If you want, we can go and blow off some steam like the good old days" I suggest, shrugging.

Bolin grins. "Sounds good to me!" 

--

Grunting, I block the force of Mako's blow, my heart pounding. The thrill of bending excited me, the blue fire seeming to boost my mood. The light flames slam into the earth wall Bolin formed, the rock cracking under the heat. 

The rock explodes, shooting towards me in discs. Just as I go to destroy them, Mako's orange flame shoots in front of me, the discs fading away with the heat.

"How come you never got into pro-bending?" Mako asks, lowering his fists. "Clearly you can handle yourself."

Shrugging, I look at the blue flame in my palm. "They believed my bending would be an unfair advantage. Trust me, anything I could do to keep Anika and I safe I did."

Bolin frowns. That's unnatural. "At the Gala last night, I was dancing with Anika and she seemed off. I tried to ask why you two left the gang, but she got upset and ran off."

I sigh, looking over to Mako, proud that he kept his word, but ashamed that I even opened my mouth. "The situation is complicated" I sigh, shaking my head, but Bolin pushes.

"I want to know" he states like a child. "Come on, you can tell me."

"It's not as simple as you eating someone else's dinner, little bro" Mako snaps.

"Well maybe if you told me, I'd understand."

Before I can help myself, I think back to that day, and my mouth opens, explaining it. 

She stood in the corner of the warehouse, tears running down her cheeks, shoulders shaking with sobs. "Ani, whats wrong?" I ask, instantly pulling her to me. She looks to me, a small gash on her cheek. 

"Zolt" she whispers. "He sent me out on a mission. I thought I- he sent me to a man, to please him. He was coming on me, I didn't know so I took a swing." She takes a hard breath, leaning on my figure. "He slapped me."

"Did he-?" I start, anger rising.

"No" she shakes her head. "He only put his hands on me. I swear by the spirits that's all he did."

"Zolt can't use you like this" I snarl, pulling away from her. "We need to go."

"Zolt sent her to a man who had done good to the gang, and decided to reward his efforts with her. He failed to tell her this, so she fought him, almost started a civil war" looking down I sigh. "I tried to talk to Zolt, but he insisted that Anika was of age and ought to know her place in the gang."

"Haydn" Bolin frowns. I hate it when he frowns.

"I should really get back to the island, Tenzin will be waiting" turning, I go to leave the arena. "But thanks for this. It was nice."