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Scout jerked his head back, wincing. "Ow. That hurt." He complained.

Ludwig gave a sharp sigh. "Hold still and it von't hurt as much." He replied.

Scout groaned internally, before finally laying still on his back for the doctor to heal the wound at his side.

The three were all currently inside a jail cell made of stone and metal. Pauling was angrily pacing around it by the bars. The woman had her hands clutched to fists, grumbling under her breath at everything.

Ludwig gave a sharp sigh, finally pulling his hands away from the Avatar's side. "Zhere. Zhat should be fine now, just take it easy for zhe moment. And Pauling, relax."

"Relax? Relax?! IM PERFECTLY RELAXED!" She yelled, turning to the doctor and air bender.

The two both jolted and scrambled back slightly. The doctor put his hands up slightly in his own defense.

Scout sat up straighter. "Ok ok! We hear ya! We hear ya!"

Pauling scoffed, clenching her hands to fists as she angrily continued to pace around while Ludwig and Scout both revived themselves after the sudden spike of adrenaline from a threatening Miss Pauling.

A moment passed and then suddenly a large wooden door opened. Sun light scattered into the dark cells, momentarily blinding the group of three.

"Who are they Tavish?" A deep voice spoke. The person wasn't visible currently because of the bright sun that was currently illuminating his form.

"Ey, that be them alright." A Scot's voice. That must have been the same Scot that attacked them.

Both foreign presences only fueled Pauling's increasing rage. She hated being trapped in a cell and she hated confined areas. That's part of the reason why she accompanied Ludwig was so that she could adventure the world and different terrains. "Yeah? And what about us?" She demanded.

"Pauling." Came Ludwig's warning tone.

The much deeper voice gave a chuckle, then stepped further into the building. "I like de woman. She shows courage." The man with the voice had stepped into the shadows, making it easier to see him. The three in the jail cell all suddenly felt all their bravado leave them.

The man with the deep voice was huge. Big bulking muscles were visible and an obviously well in shape body.

Pauling hadn't noticed herself take a step back. Her words of previous venom all but died on her tongue.

The man walked right up to the cells bars, peering inside at the three. "So. You three were at our town gate, yes?"

Doctor Ludwig stood up and walked up by Miss Pauling's side, speaking up after the sudden shock. "Ja! Ve didn't mean any harm! Ve just needed-"

The older water bender was cut off by the larger male. "You ramble to much for your own good, comrade." He said, an accent now more present. An accent which Ludwig recognized. Russian.

Scout had managed to stand up on his own and walked up to the other side of Miss Pauling. "So, who are you then?" He questioned aloud. There wasn't to much he could do within a jail cell. So he figured it was best to ask questions now with words then with fists.

The larger male let out another low, deep chuckle. "You all yap like little wolf pups. Do they not Tavish?" He turned back to the Scot for his reply.

Tavish merely laughed, side leaning against the frame of the door that was the entrance. "Aye, I see the resemblance in em."

The Russian man then took one step back and stretched out his massive, muscular arms. "Now. Let us discuss further plans." He looked back at the three smaller people in the cell, cracking all of his fingers and neck as he stared them down.

None of the three made any further comment. They listened in silence as the Russian turned and spoke once again to Tavish. "Get the guards. Have them bring these three to the arena."

Doctor Ludwig felt himself flinch. A ringing in his head started to slowly make itself audible. The water bender took a step further, looking at the man. "Vait, you haven't even given us a name to call you!"

The Russian turned to the German. "Calm yourself, Fatherland foreigner. All will be explained soon enough to you. But for now, let us all vent anger out the easiest way possible."

Pauling finally rejoined the conversation. "Which would be?" She asked hesitantly.

"A fight in the arena."

Scout shuttered where he stood, taking a step back behind Miss Pauling. "Oh lord."

Time Skip --- 2 Hours

Scout looked around their new surroundings. They were no longer in a jail cell, but a fight with a huge man that could probably wipe the floor with all of them combined? Which was worse? Confinement or the fear of being crushed with rocks?

Currently, Doctor Ludwig was checking over Scout's wound, making sure it was healed right.

"Hows it lookin doc?" The air bender asked.

"It looks better zhan zhis morning, but it still looks tender. It's best to prevent movement of such zhat vould be considered extreme and cause it strain." The water bender replied, standing up straight and meeting the younger man's eye again.

With one last look over, Scout placed a careful hand at his side. "Aw man. This ain't good is it?"

Pauling was currently sitting on the floor, weighting the options they had with them right now. "We can't forfeit and Scout can't fight." She then stood up and looked at her mentor. "I guess it's the choice between you and me on who's going to fight this goliath."

Ludwig turned to his pupil. "Zhat is an easy decision. Its going to be me."

"What?!" She protested.

"You still have much to learn. And zhe man who's wanting to challenge us is most likely far more experienced in bending."

"But I want to fight!" Pauling proclaimed.

"Not zhis time." Ludwig shot her declaration down immediately. "Zhis time, I'll fight."

"But-"

"Zhat is final, Pauling. Understood?"

The young water bender looked up at her mentor, before hanging her head down in defeat and looking at her feet. "Yes, Doctor Ludwig."

"Good girl."

(Alright so the ending sounds a little bit weird; but it's an elder talking to pretty much a teen almost young adult soooo- no Medic x Pauling ship, sorry; their relationship is completely platonic. This is also where I pivot from MadJester's plot and views. So do go visit MadJester's site on DeviantArt if you want the actual thing for this, thank you much.)