**This happened because I'm watching TLoK for the first time in three years (I still think the original one was better, with Aang and Zuko and the rest!). Btw, Lovino is a Fire bender. Toni is an Earth bender. Takes place roughly in the Last Airbender world (as opposed to Korra) because Ozai is still rising to power.  Up_Until_3am  should read this because of how great we both know Avatar is~ Anyway, enjoy and comment!**

Lovino Vargas moved smoothly through the course. His opponent was older than him, and an Earth bender at that. He jerked his arm and a thick, controlled stream of fire jutted out towards the other boy. The other boy blocked it easily with a large block of stone and it was good he did so, seeing as this was only training.

The boy raised his stone block again and launched it straight at Lovi's chest. He tried to deflect it, but--it was too quick. The skinny italian grunted as it went full-speed into his chest, and he fell backwards awkwardly.

"...all right, Antonio, that's enough. Help your opponent up." the instructor called, grinning good-naturedly. Lovino, still on the ground, didn't smile.

The older boy, presumably named Antonio, walked over to wear Lovino was sprawled--and only now did he get a decent look at him. He was tall and fairly muscular, with chocolate brown curls and sun-kissed skin. And oh my god: those eyes...

"Hola!" the guy said warmly, and he offered him his hand--large, weatherbeaten, warm as his voice--shut up, dammit!

"Ciao." Lovino muttered, grasping his hand reluctantly.

"You're quite good." Antonio grinned toothily. "You can call me Toni."

"Why the fuck would I want to call you anything?!"

"Ah, quite a mouth on you~". He was seemingly unfazed by his chronic swearing. Huh. "How long have you been training, mm?"

"...four years this autumn."

"Four years!" Toni said in amazement. "Wow! No wonder you're good, amigo!"

Lovino studied the handsome guy, looking for something to prove that he was false, that he was mocking him; he waited for "but your brother's much, much better." He waited, distrustful, bitter: it didn't come.

"Yeah." he said eventually. "Eh, you're good too. I guess."

Antonio grinned again. Fucking beautiful smile. "Gracias. I've been training for awhile too."

Lovi smiled slightly. "Yeah, well... it doesn't matter. Me being good."

"Why?" he tilted his head.

He almost told him about Feliciano. A complete fucking stranger: a fucking Earth bender!

He didn't though. He was smarter than that.

"In a few months," he said instead, almost coldly, "I'll be joining the Fire Lord's army."