Bin parted the faded red cloth acting as the doorway to his secret hideaway. Revealing its many quote on quote borrowed treasures.
You mean you actually live like this? Muttered Malo as he kicked over a tin cup casually sending it across what Bin considered to be his dining room.
Alright Mr. judgmental, where do you live anyway? asked bin
I go where the wind takes me. Said Malo, acting all sage-like and wise.
So basically nowhere.
In short. yes. I am free from life's burdens. I would prefer being homeless than living in a home like this.
He wasn't wrong.
The small stuffy warehouse was a modest trove of cobwebs and stashed goods piled up and just waiting to be sold on the black market without raising too much suspicion. To sell all of this at once would raise too many questions, so instead, Bin preferred to trade piecemeal from a secure stash to stay unnoticed. But it wasn't exactly a fun place to live.
What did you expect, a kings palace? Replied bin, grunting in pain as he hopped inside one leg at a time with aid from the air bender. She carefully lowered him atop a crate of his stolen goods before kneeling beside to further tend to him. Malo had a look around curious, while Azzai stood lookout near the entrance, occasionally sparing a quick survey every so often through the flap of the entrance outside onto the street and of his inside surroundings, as if observing every inch of the room for defensive weakness. There were many he noted like quartermaster inspecting the poor quality of a fort. It looked as if he could punch any escape route right through the plankboard walls of the crumbling building if he so desired. No wonder it was abandoned.
Do you have any fresh water or bandages I can use? Inquired kishe. That burn looks really bad. Bin gestured towards a bucket of water he had kept stashed near the pile of straw where he slept.
"Eh, it's just a scratch. I've had worse." Reassured bin through clenched teeth as she returned, but he knew it was a lie, and so did she. It was agonizingly painful. Anyone could see that. What he wouldn't give for a waterbender healer to magically appear out of thin air right about now.
Seeing no clean bandages available, the airbender hesitated for a moment in somber silence before slowly untying the piece of cloth she had stolen from the clothesline from her forehead, revealing the bright blue arrow tattoo underneath. She stared at her headband for just a moment before rolling up the sleeves of her shirt in acceptance and sloshing the strip of cloth around the bucket to collect moisture. No point in hiding what she was here.
The entire time, Bin just stared at her arrows in uncomfortable long silence, noticing that the arrows went all the way from her hands up to her shoulders. Explains why she always wore long sleeves thought bin. Azzai as well was sparing occasional grim glances up and down, though with more inquisitive scrutiny than curiosity. Both fire benders had never seen an airbender up so close before after all.
The public story they had probably been told in school was that they had all been killed years ago during the fire nations first attacks when the war had started the day of the comet, when the skies turned red and the fire nation battled the air nation armies in an epic titanic clash simultaneously to make use of its power. But she didn't seem like the warrior type to Bin. He wished he could have met them at their height. The fire nation still to this day claimed the narrative that airbenders were decadent, lazy, and cowardly beggars. Content to justify their pacifism as a weakness and their society as nothing but dead weight. But in his travels Bin had heard many good things about them to suspect that their legacy had been twisted somehow in his homeland. But he couldn't know for sure. The good they did, the people they inspired with their humor, compassion and willingness to aid those in need, regardless of nation. That was what the rest of the world looked back fondly on most. They weren't the most powerful nation, or the most wealthy or influential. They were simply good people. And the world was poorer without them. Their absence was like a wound that would never heal. That was the side he was more inclined to believe.
Malo however, curiously enough, took no interest in the airbenders tattoo's or strange customs. Instead he was in the process of lazing about not helping, eyeing up everything like a kid in a candy shop, looking for what he could potentially steal. Bored from the uncomfortable silence, he formed a comfortable pile of elaborate rugs and pillows before vanishing in it like a rock letting itself being swallowed up by mud.
"Well, this place isn't all bad, I suppose." Came Malo's muffled voice from somewhere deep within the pile he had surrounded himself in, making himself very cozy. "Might just stay a while."
Don't get too comfortable said bin. We can't stay here long.
He was right, even now, through the cracks of the wooden walls there were brief passing lights of torches and handheld flames of fire nation soldiers patrolling with heavy footed steps just outside the thin walls that made all four of them stop and freeze every so often. They were scouring every inch of the city, barging into people's homes in the dead of night, looking in cellars and basements and the cargo holds of ships, questioning and brutalizing any suspected of harboring the fugitive, unaware that the airbender they were looking for was so close at hand. Soon enough, though, they would find her here if they lingered to long. The fire nation was, if anything, thorough and persistent.
Kishe twisted and squeezed the water out of the damp rag before gently patting the bruises on Bin's black eye, causing him to flinch.
Hold still you big baby. She snapped sternly with a scowl and raised eyebrow, I've barely even touched it yet.
Bin obeyed in silence as she continued working. Sparing the occasional glance towards her green eyes. He was used to dealing with injuries on his own. It was..nice, having someone else to help for a change. As she started ripping up further strips of cloth to use as bandages, she broke the uncomfortable silence with her warm comforting voice.
"Thank you.." said the airbender as she wrapped a bandage around his bruised forehead. "For standing up for me when no one else would."
Even it was incredibly stupid? Asked bin rotating his bruised broad shoulders toward her to work on next. While also using it as subtle way to show off his muscles littered with sexy scars to a girl he admired.
Yes that. she chuckled tending to it admittedly a bit eagerly. Thank you. It was very brave.
Would do it again in a heartbeat. He said with utter sincerity through utterly broken teeth. You serve the best tea in this whole damn city. He winked behind him. The airbender couldnt help but blush at the complement, parted a flock of hair from her face and continued tending to his back which felt as solid as marble in her hands. Her eyes wandered every now and then from the job at hand to observe the numerous scars he had collected over the years. Each one told a story. She was curious how he had gotten them, perhaps...
Get it together girl. She noticed she was exhaling a bit too loudly for her own good as her fingers lingered too long in place on an especially long deep one that ran all the way across his spine. Everyone was looking at her funny, though not because she was an airbender this time. Her face looked like a kettle about to burst from embarrassment, her eyes appearing like they were about to practically pop out of her skull she hadn't even noticed. All the while throughout the definitely professional and level-headedly impartial procedure she now resolved to remain calm and bloody focus on saving his life. Bin, on the other hand couldn't help but smile.
"Got any food?" Asked malo, his head emerging from the pile and interrupting the intimate and slightly embarrassing moment. "Watching the shit get kicked out of you really really works up an appetite in a fella."
Bin gave Malo a look that could shatter glass, to which malo could care less. He leapt and continued to look around. Carefully inspecting and sniffing one item after another. Even biting a few to test its quality before tossing them over his shoulder forgotten.
Stop touching my stuff.
Well it's not your stuff, really is it?
Bin shrugged in acceptance. He made a fair point.
Kishe, then gently patted water against bin's calf where he had been burnt. Bin singed and ground his teeth at the sudden jolt of pain. It was the worst injury he had suffered by far, feeling the raw flesh and nerves exposed to the air.
Sorry..the airbender apologized hastily. If I had my bag i bag back at my apartment I could help more with that burn. I have ointment in there.
That odd remark struck bin. Why do you have burn ointment?
What she said with such calm stoic acceptance as she tore of another piece of cloth to use on his leg, that it sent shivers up bin's spine.
This isn't the first time I've dealt with the aftermath of firebenders before.
Bin was horrified by that blunt statement and how dispassionately she had said it without a second thought. Suffering had become as second nature to her as breathing. Behind her kind eyes and kind smiles, there was such a sadness he had never seen in any a person, now coming to the surface bit by bit. He never would have suspected that such inner sorrow lay beneath such a calm and collected persona. But that is exactly what it was. A persona, an act she had learned and learned well. A mask of burying it all away from everyone she encountered in order to stay hidden. Even him. And a mask she had shed to save him. It was a debt he could never repay. If anyone here was the brave one. It was her.
It never even occurred to him that she was hiding something. In all the time he had seen her at the tavern, she never flinched at the sight of a fire nation soldier entering and continued with the masquerade. Nor had he ever once seen her without some form of head covering. And the fact that she wore especially long sleeves and fingerless gloves in the dead of summer on her hands that were clearly meant to cover the arrows racing along her arms. It was all so obvious in hindsight. Why hadn't he seen it? Why hadn't he seen her?
He never put two and two together before. But it was becoming clearer every moment they were together. It was becoming clearer to the rest of them as well.
Why were you hiding out in a city with the fire nation around every corner? Asked Azzai from across the room. His voice sharp and to the point. The way he uttered it sounded more like an interrogation than a question.
I was...told someone could help me and...others like me. Said the airbender, wary of the imposing long-haired firebender.
Others? Others like you? Asked malo, now genuinely curious. He sat cross legged across from the airbender as she recounted her reasoning for being here.
"There have been.. Rumors." She spoke. Of an underground organization of sorts that helps air nomads in hiding to escape occupied fire nation lands and take on new lives deep within the earth kingdom, far from their reach.
Ah, Bin had heard of this. Rumors among the underworld had grown far and wide about this supposed organization in recent years. The guiding wind as it was so called, was said to be a secretive network of powerful people sympathetic to the plight of the airbenders. This cabal was also rumored not only to be dedicated to saving air nomad survivors but also to oppose the old fire lord Sozin's imperialistic aims on world domination by hindering his war effort wherever they could and plotting his downfall from the shadows.
Bin could understand why Sozin had made so many enemies.
The guy genuinely sucked.
The fire lord's promised quick and glorious victory for the fire nation was dragging on into its tenth year and the cost both in coin and young men had been insurmountable beyond even he had anticipated. To continue paying for his war, he had been forced to raise taxes on his subjects, driving many poor families to squalor and starvation, while conscripting more and more young men to go overseas to die in the defense of the few lands they were barely clinging on to. The fire nation had a smaller better-trained army, but the earth kingdom was massive by comparison and had far more men and resources to work with even if it was more disorganized and was a stubborn enemy if ever there was one. Weathering blow after blow and coming back with renewed strength as the fire nation continued to exhaust it's strength and manpower like a once roaring fire now sputtering after running out of the kindling needed to continue fueling it. They were so short benders, especially from recent Pythic victories, they were increasingly having to rely on domestic female fire benders of the home guard to go overseas and join their male counterparts but even that was not enough. Hiring Earth Kingdom mercenaries willing to betray their own country and forcibly conscripting earth citizens at spear point as cannon fodder could only do so much and were all serving as a reminder that the fire nation was close to running on empty. They couldn't hide it. And they couldn't go on like this forever. The only question was which side would give in first.
To add to all these troubles, water tribe raids had severely hampered the fire nation's ability to resupply and maintain its already strained connection to its new struggling colonies. The strategy being the water tribes would distract and weaken at sea, while the earth kingdom would hold the line and deal the death blow on land as the fire nation sputtered and died without the reinforcements and resources from the home archipelago needed to sustain them. So far it had saved the allied nations, but even still, the war had devolved into a brutal slog fest and a hotly debated matter that many in the Fire Nation had begun to question whether it was worth all this blood and sacrifice with so little to show for it.
"Why are we still here? Why not make peace with the earth kingdom? Why not give back their lands and be done with it so we can all bloody go home?"
Asking questions along the lines of that was the fastest way one could become ostracized in fire nation society or worse. Any who opposed the war publicly were either arrested or went missing mysteriously if they showed a shred of dissatisfaction at all under Sozin's rule. With families being actively encouraged to report and turn in any suspected of disloyalty to their fire lord or the war effort. There was no middle ground. You were either a patriot. Or a traitor. In light of all these troubles that plagued the fire nation running on fumes it made sense that some would seek to capitalize on the discontent and anger brewing against their fire lord. Likely powerful people with connections if they even existed that is.
This guiding wind sounds like a pretty appealing all-seeing all all-knowing force for good, more likely though it was just a tall tale spread to explain the fire nations' occasional failings. But to people like Kishe, it gave them hope. And that was just what they needed in these dark times. Even if it was likely a false one.
"How did you end up in the city?" asked Bin.
"Well...a kind earth family who sheltered and hid me for a couple of months who had harbored other airbenders told me that this city was a haven." She explained. "That here I could meet agents to help smuggle me out of the occupied lands. I was told to meet at a certain place for someone going by the name of hermit crab so I waited and waited, but the agent never came. So I tried to carry on as best I could, holding on hope that someone would come for me eventually. They never did."
Hmmm..Bin throught. Either it was a false rumor or something had happened to this supposed contact of hers. But Bin knew his way around the city very well. And he knew of someone who might know if this guiding wind really existed. Or at least a way to get her out of the city unnoticed.
Hamato. He was the guy to turn to if you needed something transported discreetly.
I think I can help you with that. Bin said with renewed hope. A big crime boss I used to steal for, he runs a big thieves guild in parts of the city with eyes and ears everywhere. If anyone can find people to smuggle you out. This guy can.
You would help me like that? She asked astounded, not believing what she was hearing. All I did was serve you tea.
It was really good tea. He said truthfully and with a bit of humor. And you served it really really well. He set her down eye leve with him. Why not help you? You helped me. And I have the means to repay that kindness. Besides, Hamato owes me a favor. I think it's time I came to collect on that old skunkrat.
She could never repay him for this. In all her years of fleeing and begging on the streets and sleeping in gutters she had lived by a promise she had made when she was younger when she was first on her own, having been guilble and hungry enough to trust someone from the fire nation once who had betrayed her by almost succeeding in turning her in. Never trust anyone. No matter how friendly they seemed. It doesn't last. She liked bin. She wished she could trust him completely. But she was starting to get a sense of his motives at least, and its not as if she had any better options for getting past the guards with inspections going on. If she had to trust anyone. She was glad it was him. The rest of them, however, they concerned her greatly. She didn't know them. She didn't trust them.
What's in it for you two? She asked. Why could you possibly hope to gain by helping me?
Yea, bin thought she made a good point. Bin knew her well and cared for her safety. Fire nation be dammed. These two, however. He trusted them as far as he could throw them currently. Azzai was worrying in his single minded pursuit of returning home, and Malo was a mystery. Bin couldn't tell what his motive was or even what nationality he came from he was so vague. The only reason he had tolerated their presence was that they had carried him in their chase after her during her flight from the guards. What was their incentive? And what was keeping them from turning her in for the reward?
Bin inquired further. You two. Mind explaining your reasoning for being here real quick? If we're going to be pals. It would be nice to know we can trust each other."
The two hesitated in their response, which Bin found suspicious and worrying.
Malo went first. "Well.." he said awkwardly ruffling the back of his hair. "I have no more love for the fire nation than the rest of you. I've lost people. People I cared about because of them. If I can help get one over on the ash bringers even in a small way such as this, I think its worth the risk. You could use of my talents of sneaking around. Besides. You two sound like trouble. Trouble is bound to be interesting.
Bin seemed to accept the answer. At least for the time being. He wanted to trust the two of them. But it would be a slow process to build the assurance that he could count on them fully. Then there was Azzai.
Azzai was quiet for a brief moment. He had hadrly spoken throughout the entire conversation. His response was short and to the point.
There is no honor in capturing a young, defenseless airbender. I seek a worthy foe to prove my worth. Not a helpless girl.
Um.. thanks I guess? She couldn't tell if she was deeply offended by the blatant sexism or relieved he wouldn't even bother with the likes of her. But still, there was something about his demeanor that felt off. Bin could sense it too. Maybe it was his brutal honesty or only the brief times he had spoken, or the his history of helping enforce fire nation law. He would be the more difficult to trust he knew. He could not leave him alone with her. He wouldn't take the risk.
Alright now that's settled for the time being. Mind if I ask what you all are planning on doing asked malo. Or do you plan for us to stay in here forever until firebenders break down the walls or we resort to eating rats? if thats the case i'd rather just turn myself in.
Bin pondered this for a bit. Thinking about his options carefully. "Well I think we should wait here for a few more hours to let things die down a bit further. Then when the coast is as clear as its gonna get, we'll sneak out to go meet with Boss hamoto to see if I can convince him to smuggle her out of the city. All of us.
Too risky said Azzai. They're looking for a girl matching her description and more people draws more attention. Only one should go. The rest of us would only slow them down or worse be an unknown entity left outside. I've hunted criminals before. They are a cowardly, suspicious lot. They rarely give their trust out freely to people they have no connection with. If the rest of us have to wait outside and are spotted by a patrol. We're done for.
Spirits above. He was right. Curfew was still in effect, and if things went bad and they were spotted, they wouldn't be able to keep up with an airbender if they needed to flee. He hadn't even considered that Boss Hamoto would only meet with people he knew or trusted and even that facade of friendship was dubious at best. This was Bin after all who had tried to hold out on him multiple occasions. He might not even be allowed to see him or get through the door.
Bin struggled to come up with a better solution. So Kishe decided to throw her hat in the ring and see what came up.
I suppose...I can stay for the time being. Said The airbender. If they are looking for me most of all, its easier if you go on alone to meet this friend of yours first to make sure it's safe for all of us before giving us the go ahead. I don't want us all to walk into a den of vipers unless I know it's a reliable option. Might be more dangerous than the firebenders without us even knowing. They could just betray us for the reward as easily.
Out of the quesiton replied Bin. I'm not leaving you alone with them.
Ouch that's hurtful. We're right here. We have feelings too. Said Malo. You really don't trust us? Even after we dragged your limp crispy body halfway across the city to find her?
No I don't. He replied. His decision was final.
"Fine compromise then." Malo sighed in defeat. We wait a few hours and then we bail. Heck I can even go run an arrand for you to prove I mean my worth. He glanced toward Kishe. You said you wanted to try and retrieve your belongings. Where were you staying at? Which building in particular.
No. I'll go get them myself. Said Bin defiant.
Malo mearly scoffed and laughed. Not with that leg you're not buddy. You can barely walk let alone climb buildings. Let me help. This is what I do.
Kishe waited before disclosing the information hesitantly, realizing he was right and also holding out hope that she could retrive her few possesions and the money she had saved up. "North side of town. Near the tavern I worked at. An inn. The sleeping koala sheep. Second story, far window to the right of the front entrance.
Got it. Malo said, committing it to memory. I'll be in an out in less than an hour before the fire benders notice a thing.
Bin and Kishe could accept those terms. "Fine, do that first and then you can stand guard to watch over Kishe and Azzai until I get back from talking with Hamato. If you both don't cause trouble and stick to the plan while I'm gone we'll be set. Betray us or try to flee. And I'll come after you.
I'd be hard to catch. Malo smiled unworriedly.
You're not helping your case Said Bin.
Whatever. I'm gonna get some shut eye first then go fetch her stuff. Just don't kill me while I sleep please. Said malo walking back over to his cozy cushion to take a respite from the long day of dragging around Bin like he was dead weight. Azzai for once agreed with malo and was also tired from the ordeal and set up a spot for himself in the corner on a pile of hay, tired of being accused and made the enemy of. Was Bin being to hard on them? He wasn't sure. But his fear had ground to stand on give the stakes.
Sensing Bin's unease and exhaustion, the airbender tried to console him with a little gesture of genuine trust.
Bin?
Yea?
I'm Jina
He turned to face her confused. What?
My name. Its not really kishe. Its Jina. I...changed it when I went into hiding.
Hmm Bin thought fondly. He liked that name better. He could get used to calling her that.
"I guessed as much. Well Jina as long as we're trading secrets I should warn you I'm not really bin."
You're not?
No, Its burnt ankle man.
Kishe. No. Jina now, shoved him hard in his bruised shoulder with a slight chuckle.
Bin sensing he was on a hotstreak in being able to make her laugh kept going. Also I'm not really a firebender I'm an undercover badgermole.
Jina just gave him a blank stare.
Ok now that's one step to far. "Should have quit while you were ahead. Now shut up and hold still while I work on your nose." she said, clutching the bottom of his chin and wiping away the dirt like he was an infant.
"You should leave the jokes to the professionals." said Malo before shifting and falling off to sleep." Yours are terrible."