Chapter Text
Nico is a bit of a late bloomer.
The Minorus are some of the most influential entrepreneurs to ever come from the fire nation and they all have the firebending power to match. Everyone except Nico that is.
Amy is gifted. Nico’s sister started firebending when she was two years old. She can bend lightning by the time she’s 11 and can redirect it before hitting 13. Amy’s room is covered in trophies and medals from competitions. Nico hears the students and coaches at school talk about how Amy is practically guaranteed a spot on a top pro-bending team as soon as she graduates. She watches the way her parents smile in approval each time Amy brings home another award. She ignores the look of disappointment in their eyes every time she fails to produce even the smallest flame, despite having the help of the very expensive firebending master they hired.
Nico hates feeling like a failure, a disgrace to the Minoru name when she compares herself to Amy. But that does nothing to diminish the love she has for her sister.
Amy is patient and encouraging.
“Don’t worry about it Nico. Lots of people wait years before ever discovering their bending. Its only a matter of time.”
“Lots of people have time to spare. Lots of people aren’t Minorus, Amy.”
“Yeah, they’re not. Which means they’re not even half as talented as I know you’ll be. Your form already looks great!”, Amy tells her with an encouraging pat on the back, “Trust me, once you get that first spark going, you’re gonna be unstoppable.”
Nico isn’t sure she believes her, but she appreciates it nonetheless. At least someone in her family is proud of her.
The potential for disappointing her parents weighs down on her constantly, but nothing lightens her spirit like being with her friends. They spend time together often, every time their parents have their PRIDE meetings. Nico isn’t really sure what the elite charity organization even does in Republic City, so she just keeps her nose out of it and hangs with her friends.
When she’s with them, sometimes she manages to completely forget that she still can’t bend. There are no other firebenders in their little ragtag group except Amy, who usually leaves the bending parlor tricks and practice to the others to spare Nico some grief. Besides, Chase and the Steins are all nonbenders so Nico could be worse off, right? Nico just likes to enjoy her peace before she and Amy have to leave the Wilder’s place and go back home with their parents. Unfortunately, it’s a peace that isn’t meant to last.
Nico’s entire world falls apart in a single moment.
Amy is dead and Nico is alone. She left Nico alone.
They have her funeral a week later, but Nico refuses to cry (not until she’s by herself in her room again). All of the members of the PRIDE show up. Karolina and the Deans stands across from her. She’s dressed in funeral clothes probably made by the monks on Air Temple Island. Her eyes are glassy, her face somber. It’s how Nico feels inside but she’s not about to put on a show for these people. She doesn’t want their sympathy.
The Steins and Yorkes make up the rest of the circle surrounding the casket as it lowers into the ground. Geoffrey and Catherine Wilder are there too.
Alex isn’t.
The year after Amy’s death is a dark one for Nico. Her group of friends disbands without Amy or their parents to hold them together. She spends her time alone in her room, wallowing in her misery, her guilt, her failures. She might feel a little better if she stays in Amy’s room, but her mom refuses to even let her near it.
Eventually, she takes to climbing up the hills on the outskirts of Republic City. Anything to get away from her mother’s disappointment and her father’s pitiful looks.
On one of those days it starts raining. Then pouring. Then the thunder comes. And finally, one bright flash of lightning. Crackling, electric blue, just like Amy’s used to be.
And as Nico sits on the hill, black mascara streaming down her face, she feels nothing but rage. How this happen to Amy? How could this happen to her? Amy was the pride and joy of their family, she didn’t deserve this. And none of them even saw it coming.
Nico couldn’t handle it anymore. She let out all the pain, screaming and cursing and throwing her fists up towards the sky. And to her surprise… two little orange flames shot out.
Nico’s world falls back together in a single moment.