Thank you for being patient with me, it makes me happy knowing I have such understanding readers. My hiatus is still not over, and my grandfather has both good and terrible days, but... we're getting there. Hopefully.

Your Author,

-Jenna

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Aang and Sokka watched as Ayaan allowed himself to be cuffed by the quiet, trembling Wǔ. They were too far away to hear anything that the blessed child was saying to him, but they noticed that the disguised spy calmed, nodding his head. They left into the distance soon after, disappearing from their sight.

The two didn't know what to say as they made their way from their hiding place. They knew that he was going to attack them, they knew that Ayaan was angry. He had told them he was. But this...

'This is why he apologized to us before it happened.'

It was a massacre. A completely one-sided assault. They could see what Katara had been saying before; Ayaan could easily take all of these guys out. It was nothing for him. The four groaning, crying, and broken men before them were nothing but punching bags for him.

It was a miracle that he didn't just kill them, as he proved in that moment that he could have easily... very easily... done so.

'I shouldn't feel bad for them.'

Sokka knew he shouldn't feel a shred of pity for these men. They'd done horrible things to this village and its people, and they made jokes about it. There shouldn't be a single ounce of feeling toward their suffering right now. He should be like the villagers currently coming out of their homes. He should be feeling relief that a bit of justice had been rightfully given to these bastards, but...

'It scared me.'

Ayaan's anger scared him. It was the first time he'd truly seen it displayed. More often than not, Ayaan did not let anyone see when he wasn't alright. Anger, sadness, pain, he didn't want anyone to see him like that ever. This was especially true in regard to his family.

After their mother's death, Ayaan began hiding away from them. When it first started, he obviously wasn't as good at it. There were times that Sokka would see that he was hurting, or follow him when he went to the river.

Sokka sought him out much more than Katara did. She distracted herself by taking up chores with their grandmother while he tried to keep up his warrior training.

Maybe that was why he could see it much more clearly than anyone else the longer they were on this journey.

As the years passed, Ayaan's skill in hiding grew, to the point one couldn't tell anymore if they weren't looking for it. What his grandmother told him about Ayaan being a fortress that lets no one in... Sokka was becoming painfully aware of its meaning.

Yes, he'd been terrified watching that unfold. But it wasn't their screams of agony or the snaps of their bones that scared him. It was his brother's silence during the entire ordeal. It was his ruthlessness.

It was his gaze.

'The color of his eyes was different again.'

Usually, they were grayish-blue and calm. Since Omashu, he'd been keeping better tabs on his brother's subtle shifts in mood and demeanor. Steadily, he was getting better at reading them. The happier he is, the more they seem to sparkle. One could see it when Momo was on his shoulders or he was pampering Appa. He didn't need to smile to express his joy.

His lips curving into a small smile was nowhere near as rare as seeing his eyes light up. Sokka loved when he saw it. Since their mother's death, that sight had been few to none at all. More often than not, his eyes would remain that steady, guarded grayish blue.

It was a calm that Sokka was slowly realizing was just a ruse, hiding something darker.

He felt he'd only gotten a glimpse of today.

'Funny that when that 'darkness' shows up, the grays in his eyes disappear.'

They become a clear, solid, almost glowing sky blue. Vibrant, cold, and vicious. He was like one of the arctic wolves from their home, fierce and terrifying when hunting for prey. It made sense. Their father and many of the men from their tribe described Ayaan as such when they sparred with him.

"The Lunar Warrior, a lone silver wolf who hunts by moon's light," they said. Sokka had been in awe of his nickname when they were younger. It didn't change even years later.

Now, he could truly see why they called him a wolf. For that brief moment, he seemed feral and untamed. When Sokka got over his initial fear, he felt something he thought was odd about the situation. Usually, he'd be impressed with his brother's brilliant show of strength and skill. He'd be proud that he took down some no-good thugs. And he was, truly, he was.

But above all of those, he was worried about him.

His gaze lingered on the horizon, where his brother had long since disappeared to. His expression was too complicated to put a proper name towards as he patted Aang on his shoulder, "Come on, Ayaan Bro gave us a job to do, too."

"Y-Yeah, I'm coming." Aang may not have known Ayaan for as long as Sokka had, but his feelings ran along the same lines. Yeah, he was impressed. Yeah, his pacifistic mind was greatly shocked by this display, but more than he was proud, conflicted, or repulsed, he was worried about his friend, too.

No, at this point they were family.

"Will he be okay?" The airbender glanced at the horizon with Sokka. "I've never seen him so... so..."

Sokka understood what he meant even if he didn't openly say it.

It took a moment for Sokka to answer. One of the main reasons he was training wasn't just so he could be an accomplished warrior. The strength that he wanted wasn't just in his body or achievements. He wanted to be capable.

Being a brother that always needed to be protected wasn't the type of brother he wanted to be.

"...Ayaan is the strongest person I know, I'm sure he'll be okay," He tried to sound reassuring, but the young Avatar could hear the uncertainty in his voice.

They could only hope that he would be. And in the chances that he wasn't, they hoped they could be there for him.

Sokka hoped that he would let him be there for him.

'Because I want to be able to protect you, too, Ayaan.'

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Wǔ does his job seamlessly, as expected. His acting is on another level of flawless as he brings Ayaan into the headquarters of the firenation soldiers, his hands still bound.

"This boy attacked our soldiers?" The Commander on sight was a short, burly man with murky brown eyes and hair. To the question, Wǔ nodded, seemingly afraid of the so-called 'boy' in his custody.

The others in the room weren't sure what 'boy' their commander was seeing. Clearly, they weren't talking about the same person because had he seen this man? He was two heads taller than them with an expression that made them shiver, inching away from him. If they got closer, it spelled the end, that was what his expression said.

Though that fear wasn't a rouse. No one else could hear those poor bastards' bones snap like twigs underfoot. No one else heard those voices full of absolute terror only to go completely silent moments later. He would have been certain they died if not for the beating of their hearts, faint yet present.

"Hmph. Seems you got a death wish, kid." The Commander lit his hands ablaze, trying to intimidate the young lad before him. He smirked as he could see the boy follow his fire with rapted attention. "What'd you think you'd get out of attacking one of us aside from a new, matching scar?"

The boy with white hair said nothing. But his eyes steadily got brighter, from a grayish, softer blue to a harsh, vivid one. Wǔ saw this and hastily stepped between them.

'You trash Commander! You suicidal sh*t case! Put that away! I don't feel like watching another massacre this evening, thank you!'

"S-Sir, I do not think this wise." His soft voice, which contrasted heavily with his screaming thoughts, was a surprise to the commander. He'd hardly ever heard the boy speak, and the lad had been with them for the better part of a year. He'd proven his worth time and time again, he was one of his most trusted officers on the site.

If he was saying that it wasn't a wise choice, then the commander thought it best to rethink.

"What is your suggestion then, Officer Lee?"

"The Prison Rig, sir," Wǔ said, acting as if he put thought into it. "He would be useful there."

"Ah, I see what you mean," The Commander walks around Ayaan, nodding his head in approval, "We need more manpower there. A young, strong lad like this one is perfect to fill up the void."

The commander still hadn't put his fire away, inching dangerously toward the watertribe warrior's face, "What say you, slave?"

Wǔ really wanted to sock him. He had to keep telling himself that he had to wait. Not here, not now. He had to stay in character, he had to stay aside for now, if not, everything they'd been planning would fall through.

His award-winning acting skills made sure nothing seeped through his facade. But his mind? It sounded a bit like this:

'You dirty a*swipe! Get your pig-like face away from my lord! No one wants to smell your rancid breath, you flea-ridden piece of sh*t!'

Yet his face portrayed nothing of his thoughts.

He had to stay calm. He could give nothing away. And he didn't. His expression was flawless, his impressions worthy of an award. The commander and his guards knew nothing, and wouldn't until it was far too late.

But this resolve didn't stop his fist from slowly clenching at his sides. If the commander took this even a step further, he would forgo his spy duties for his primary one: Protect Ayaan.

Wǔ's almost red eyes narrowed behind his helmet. He could end everyone in this room and proceed with his own plan b. There was no way he was going to compromise Ayaan's safety to keep up an alias, which was the same rule he had for his brothers.

'If you touch him, I will kill you before you blink.'

As for our boy, he said nothing as he gazed down at the stocky, overconfident man. Ayaan did not budge, blink, or speak.

The tension of thick enough to cut through, but neither man backed down from the other. His icy blue eyes were alight with the amber flickers of the fire inches from his face. He gave the man none of the reactions he sought. It was unnerving enough that the commander starter to sweat in apprehension.

'What is this?'

His mind was playing tricks on him.

Instead of a young man, there was a carnivorous, white wolf on a useless leash. Blood seeped through its teeth from a fresh kill it had made, but it was still hungry for more. He, the small rabbit in its wake, was about to become its next victim. The wolf inched closer and closer until there was nothing between them but the air. Growling snarls escaped the visage before reality set back in, and he was back in his office.

There was no wolf, and he was no rabbit. It was only him and his officers with a boy they'd just arrested.

So why did he feel suffocated beneath those icy blue orbs?

Another moment passed before the fire was put out in a simple swipe of his hand, "I-It's a good thing we're taking prisoners today, or I'd have a burnt body to clean up. Take h-him to the rig, Officer Lee."

No one questioned their commander's stutter as Wǔ nodded and swiftly took Ayaan away from there. The other officers in the room let out a breath they didn't know they were holding.

'V-Vicious...! Why the f*ck did you antagonize that guy, Commander?!'

'Why the hell is this job so d*mn scary? I'm going to get murdered in my f*cking sleep because of you!'

'...F*ck this. Either I get a raise, or I'm retiring.'

For some reason, he felt like all of his soldiers were glaring daggers at him. What's worse, the Commander felt like he just committed a sin, and that hell was coming to collect soon. Why? They were firenation, it was their job to assert their dominance over these weak, pathetic slaves.

So why was it that when he did that, he was entirely alone in that sentiment?

'Ah... am I in danger?'

Honestly, yes. Yes, he was. Unlike this stupid piece of garbage, his guards had wives and children waiting at home for them. They did not feel like dying anytime soon. The only reason they took this job was that it was easy and the pay was great.

If something happened because of this incident, the soldiers in the room vowed to leave this commander high and dry to deal with it alone. Ain't no way they were getting dragged into more of his bullsh*t cause he'd been on a f*cking power trip.

F*ck. That.

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Meanwhile, the disguised fire nation soldier and 'prisoner' water tribe boy were making their way safely to the transport. On his authority, he was able to get away from the others to do this himself. No one questioned him as the routine had been done so often that it became a regular sight.

Once outside of prying eyes, he checked the older boy over frantically. "I'm so sorry. I would not have allowed harm to come to you."

'If he would have gotten closer I would have—'

"It's fine. I am fine," Ayaan told him, but Wǔ just glances at him. He was frowning as he gently lifted the older boy's hands up, opening the palm.

"...No, you are not, Sir Ayaan."

They were bleeding, his palms. He'd held his fists so tightly that his nails dug through the skin. It didn't even add to the fact that his knuckles were still bruised and bleeding from beating those officers down before.

But Ayaan didn't even give a single indication that he was hurting, as if he couldn't feel any pain from those wounds.

That wasn't even adding to what he'd seen in those eyes. He didn't have that look on his face when the fires danced so close to him. No, before, he looked as if he'd snap the commander like a twig.

It was after what the commander had said that his eyes changed. That one, specific line.

'I-It's a good thing we're taking prisoners today...'

His eyes were absolutely haunted for a brief, fleeting moment. A nightmare had come to life before them. This was when Wǔ noticed the blood slowly dripping to the ground from his clenched fists. The veins stressed in his face displayed his rage, while his eyes... showcased his fear.

Ayaan had lost a delicate grip on himself for one single moment during the end of that exchange. It was because of that single sentence.

It was true, Ayaan's emotions had been chaotic.

There were no similarities. He did not have the light brown eyes of that man or his stature. The man that had stood before him was a coward, shaking and shivering from his glare alone. The fire he threatened him with was almost cold. Weak, useless scum he could take anywhere, any day.

But that line... that one, vile phrase sent him spiraling for that one, awful second.

I'm afraid I'm not taking prisoners today.

Why? Why did he have to be reminded of that here? Now? He had calmed himself down as Wǔ led him out of that place towards the ferries. If Momo and Appa were around him, they would have started to cuddle him as a sort of comfort, sensing his distress. If he had his spear, he would have clenched onto it until his knuckles were white.

"I'm... I'm fine." He says again, as if trying to convince himself of it, too.

"Ugh..." There was a subtle pain in his chest. While it was dull, it was very present. It was different from the phantom pains he'd receive from his scars every now and then.

Sometimes, when he was stressed beyond belief, he'd feel these pains. He told no one of them, though. Not even his grandmother knew of them. He could take care of it on his own.

He took a breath, and then another. Slowly, he eased himself enough to function. It wasn't the first time he'd been this stressed, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.

Now was not the time for these feelings. His nightmares could wait until this was over. Flashbacks and phantom aches could wait until the earthbenders were free, Katara was safe, and they were on their way to their sister tribe. This pain in his chest could wait until they were relatively safe again.

It had to.

"I've no choice but to be fine."

He has always said he's fine. Maybe one day it will come true?

Wǔ worried about the blessed one before him. What horrible thing was he seeing at that moment? Was there anything he could do to help him? The way he subtly grabbed his chest sent warning signals through him.

As a proud member of the Asrar Clan, it was his honor and duty to see to and aid those blessed by spirits, especially the one before him. Every story they were ever told pointed to this individual, and as an Asrar, he could feel it the moment they were close to him.

It was almost instinct to want to aid him.

He hoped that he could help him through any pains he had, physical or emotional.

Every scar tells a story, he and his brothers would understand this better than most.

But he would not ask about his scar or the horrid memories it must have held the same way Ayaan never asked him about his own. They weren't at the level of friendship and trust where he could ask, anyway.

He hoped that they could be better friends as time went on. But for now, that dream would have to wait.

"Come. We must continue the plan." The watertribe warrior said.

Getting onto the ferries, Wǔ sighed. Knowing the older boy would not reveal what ails him at this moment, he could only softly speak his mind, "If you need me, I'm here."

He watched as Ayaan's eyes widened subtly before a small smile graced his face. "Thank you."

The pain eased with that reassurance. He'd seen the Phantom Unit's skills during the three days of waiting. He knew that they were strong, and surprisingly, he could tell that they were loyal. He didn't understand how though, he just did.

But now wasn't the time to dwell on gut feelings.

It was time for the infiltration and rescue.