Chapter Text
“I cannot believe you burned down Master Permak’s shed! Especially after he agreed to teach you!”
Ainara rolled her eyes and rotated her fish over the fire. “Kiannok I already told you it was an accident. He was stressing me out and I lost control, not my fault.”
Kiannok was bright-eyed and a cheeky smile crossed her face. “Okay accident or not, I bet it felt pretty good to get back at that geezer after what he said about your mom.”
“Well-”
“Ainara Mei Makodo!”
The two women gave each other a panicked look as Ainara’s mother came stomping down the hill, the snow shaking with her anger. Of course Kiannok decided that was her queue to leave, and made a mad dash for her own abode. This left Ainara alone to face her mother’s wrath.
Somin Makodo was one of the most patient women in the village. She was an excellent teacher, skilled waterbender, and had a no-nonsense approach to life that made the village elders favor her. Today, it seemed like her patience had been worn thin.
“What in Tui’s name were you thinking !? I’m finally able to convince someone to train you and you go and tarnish that opportunity by burning his shed down?!” Somin raged, glare icy enough to chill Ainara’s bones more than the tundra around them.
The flames in the campfire wavered as Ainara rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. “Ma listen, it was an accident. You know how I get when I’m stressed and Master Permak is relentless.”
This statement seemed to do nothing other than enrage her mother further. “I don’t care if it was an accident! You know you have to control yourself, especially when you’re around others!” Somin fumed, pacing in front of the fire that was slowly burning brighter. “What would have happened if he hadn’t been there to put the fire out, hm? Or if he hadn’t been able to protect himself from your foolishness?”
“I said I was sorry multiple times, and I offered to rebuild him a better shed in the coming months, what more do you want from me?” Ainara inquired, slowly growing more tense the longer her mother berated her.
“Are you kidding? I want you to control yourself, Ainara. I want to be able to look into the elders’ eyes and tell them that my daughter deserves to be here and that she isn’t a threat to everyone around her.” Her mother stated coldly, glaring daggers into the young woman in front of her.
It was like a bucket of ice cold water had been dumped on Ainara, the way her mother’s words hit her. Control. A threat. Is that all anybody thought about when they saw her?
When the young woman said nothing and kept her gaze towards the fire, Somin took a deep breath and let it out, steam filling the air in front of her face. “The elders have deemed you unfit to live amongst us.” She started, eyes brimming with tears despite her anger. “You’re going to be moving to Republic City and staying with your Aunt Ayiro. You leave tomorrow morning.”
And with that, Somin turned her back and entered their home.
Ainara felt numb. She was so angry and hurt, her emotions melting together and leaving the woman confused. She had only ever known her village and everyone in it. Leaving it for Republic City was her worst nightmare.
The brunette stayed by the fire until the logs were ash, and then stayed even longer staring at the white remnants of the fire until her nose started to numb. When she entered the igloo, her mother was fast asleep. And when Ainara clambered into her own bed, sleep took her fast and quick.
She awoke just as the sun rose, only to find her mother gone and a bag with all her possessions sitting by the door. Ainara picked the bag up and slung it across her shoulders, taking one last look around her home before she left.
It was snowing outside, enough for Ainara to put her hood up but not enough for it to be unbearable. The trek to the docks was quiet and lonely as she contemplated everything that had led to this moment, every moment of weakness and suffering she had experienced. Ainara sat on the edge of the docks, feet dangling just above the icy water, when the noise of someone clearing their throat caught her attention. She turned to see Kiannok standing shyly a few paces away, uncharacteristic of the usually bold girl.
“I heard what happened.”
Ainara said nothing, returning her gaze to the endless waves in front of her.
“I just want to say, I’ve never thought of you as a monster or someone I should be scared of. You’re honestly my best friend and I think life is going to be a lot worse without you around.”
When Ainara still didn’t say anything, Kiannok considered turning and leaving. However, she chose to sit down next to Ainara and gently rest her head on the other woman’s shoulder. The silence between them was comfortable, albeit laced with an undertone of sadness.
The pair stayed like that for a while, just them and the ocean. And when the ship pulled up to the docks, Kiannok stood and helped Ainara to her feet before pulling her into a tight hug. “Don’t forget to write to me, please.”
Ainara returned the hug and promised to write. Then she boarded the ship and stood on the deck as she watched the shoreline slowly shrink into the distance. And for the first time in a very long time, Ainara cried.
Republic City was loud.
When Ainara stepped off the boat and absorbed the environment around her, that was the first thing she noticed. She was surrounded by a loud cacophony of noises ranging from motorized vehicles to chattering citizens. The feeling was already starting to overwhelm her.
The next thing Ainara noticed was how warm it was. Sweat was already pooling on her forehead, and the furs she was adorned with only furthered her discomfort. Just as she was debating on taking the coat off, a voice called her name near the other side of the dock.
Ainara looked up and spotted a tall Fire Nation woman beckoning her forward. She looked vaguely familiar, with high cheekbones and golden eyes. Her jet black hair was pulled into a tight bun, with a golden comb stuck in the front of it. If Ainara didn’t know any better, she would have assumed the woman was some sort of royalty.
“Oh my how you’ve grown! You were probably too young to remember me, but I’m your Aunt Ayiro.” The woman explained, giving Ainara a warm smile. “Come, let’s get you out of those horrid clothes.”
Ayiro led Ainara to one of the motorized vehicles she had seen. Her aunt got into the driver’s side as Ainara got into the passenger’s seat. Soon enough, the streets of Republic City were zipping by and Ainara had to hold on to her seat to keep steady.
The car was quiet for a while as Ayiro drove. Ainara was amazed at how easily she seemed to handle the controls. “You know, once you get settled in I can teach you how to drive a Sato-Mobile like this one.” Ayiro offered, gaze still trained on the road as she spoke.
Ainara’s eyes widened, hands fiddling in her lap. “Oh, I don’t know. I wasn’t even able to ride a polar bear dog back home.” She responded nervously, returning her gaze towards the view of the city rushing by. The memory of home saddened her, remembering the times her mother used to spend attempting to teach her how to ride one of the majestic beasts native to her homeland.
“Trust me honey, handling one of these babies is much easier than riding one of those things.” Ayiro stated, making a quick turn before pulling the car to a stop. She got out of the car, motioning to Ainara for her to do the same.
They seemed to be in a shopping center of sorts, surrounded by people and those selling their wares. Ainara seemed nervous as she stepped out, the crowds and noise much different than the quiet village she was used to. The city’s heat hit her again as she tried to wipe her sweaty hands off on her pants.
Ayiro gently grabbed her arm and led her into the nearest shop. The small store was filled to the brim with different kinds of clothing. Ainara was amazed at the selection, instinctively heading towards the blues and whites she saw until Ayiro pulled her towards a more warm-colored section.
“Oh my goodness! Look at these dresses, are they not the most fabulous things you’ve ever seen?” Ayiro exclaimed, pulling out a long red dress with gold accents adorning the edges. Without waiting for a response, the woman continued pulling out clothes and tossing them into Ainara’s arms, all in varying shades of red.
Ainara sighed, not particularly liking any of the options her aunt had picked out. “Um, Ayiro, is it possible for me to pick out some more, I don’t know, water tribe inspired clothes?” She inquired, arms straining with the weight of the clothes her aunt had handed to her.
A sour look crossed the woman’s face for a moment before quickly being replaced by a forced smile. “Of course! But at least try some of these out, okay?” Ayiro responded, leading the girl to the dressing rooms.
Ainara swore she spent at least an hour trying on different clothes. She had completely denied all of the dresses, much to her aunt’s dismay. However, Ainara conceded on a few pairs of black pants with varying simple patterns, plenty of shirts with red and gold accents, and one formal traditional Fire Nation outfit. After that ordeal, Ayiro begrudgingly let the girl look at the Water Tribe clothing.
She quickly picked out familiar tunics and pants, before also deciding on some more modern clothing in Water Tribe colors and patterns. Ayiro purchased the items, not even blinking at their prices while Ainara gawked at them. The two then returned to the car and placed the bags in the trunk.
As Ainara went to enter the passenger’s side once more, she was stopped by Ayiro. “And where do you think you’re going? We’ve only just started our shopping day!”
The two then spent the better part of the day circling the shops in the center. Ayiro bought Ainara a plethora of items, ranging from more clothes to decorations and accessories. By the time they finally made it back to the car, Ainara was exhausted and starving, which Ayiro also had a solution for.
After a short drive, the pair arrived at a swanky restaurant named Kwong’s Cuisine. Ainara was glad she had changed into nicer clothes at one of the shops, as the air of the restaurant was one of those who had heavy pockets. Despite her nicer clothing, she still felt uncomfortable as she sat across from her aunt, who seemed to be completely at home in the environment.
When their food had been ordered, Ayiro sat and examined Ainara thoughtfully, scrutinizing the young woman under her gaze. “You know, I didn’t bring you here just to eat. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.” She explained eventually, nodding her head towards the entrance of the restaurant.
As if on cue, an elegantly beautiful young woman walked in with a warm smile on her face. Her hair was long and black, face painted with a modest amount of makeup. She approached the table and sat beside Ayiro, giving her a hug before reaching her hand across the table towards Ainara.
“My name’s Asami, nice to meet you.”
Ainara was stunned speechless for a moment. Asami was undeniably pretty, with soft natural features and a kind aura radiating about her. Before she seemed too awkward, Ainara shook Asami’s hand as a blush rose to her tan face. “I’m Ainara, nice to meet you, too.”
Asami smiled at her, and Ainara could tell it was genuine just by her nature. “Ayiro told me you’re new in town. What made you want to move to Republic City all the way from the Ice Flow villages?” She inquired innocently, folding her manicured hands on the table.
Flashes of fire and anger appeared in Ainara’s mind, causing the girl to grimace a bit. “Oh, you know, I just wanted a change of scenery and to see the world.” She lied, hoping it came across as truthful to the young woman. Ainara felt slightly guilty about omitting the truth, but considering she had only just met Asami, she figured it was better safe than sorry.
“I totally get that. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place because Republic City has plenty of scenery,” Asami responded with a laugh. “And you’ve got the perfect tour guide right here.”
This made Ainara smile, something she hadn’t done since she arrived in Republic City. Then, their food arrived and their conversation continued between bites. Ainara learned about Future Industries and how Asami’s father invented the Sato-Mobile. When Asami asked about Ainara, the girl kept her answers short and vague, until Asami realized she didn’t want to talk about her family and changed the subject.
Ayiro ended up excusing herself halfway through dinner, stating she had some business to deal with before night fell. Asami assured the older woman that Ainara would make it home safe, and then she took her leave. Ayiro’s absence caused the atmosphere to become slightly more awkward, which Asami tried to lessen by talking about miscellaneous facts about Republic City.
“And don’t even get me started on pro-bending. It is genuinely one of the coolest things I have ever watched.”
“What in the world is pro-bending?”
Which is how Asami and Ainara ended up at the arena with just enough time to take their seats before the match started. Ainara wasn’t surprised about the spectacular seats Asami acquired after learning about her father’s position. Ainara didn’t know what she was getting into, but peered over the balcony as the announcer began introducing the teams.
“Introducing the Fire Ferrets!” The man announced as the crowd watched the group of pro-benders enter the arena via a moving platform. The announcer then continued on to talk about how the Fire Ferrets were the underdogs who made it further than anybody believed they would. Then he introduced the opposing team, the Golden Temple Tigerdillos.
Asami seemed to be on the edge of her seat as the match started. Soon enough, fire, earth, and water were flying through the air as the benders began to fight. Ainara was amazed at how fluidly they all moved, the teams moving together and attacking in tandem. She quickly became engrossed in the game, cheering when the Fire Ferrets were able to knock a player back, and then booing when they lost the round.
When the final round came, Asami and Ainara watched with bated breath. The Fire Ferrets lost Bolin and Hasook quickly. Ainara was amazed at Mako’s bending ability. His movements were swift, attacks brutal, and defenses strong. She was both jealous and awestruck of how well he was able to use his fire.
After a long and hard-fought battle, Mako was able to knock out all of the Tigerdillos. Cheers erupted from all around the arena, and Ainara herself jumped up from her seat, clapping and cheering for the Ferrets. Asami smiled at the woman’s enjoyment, clapping and cheering as well.
As the arena began to clear out, Asami and Ainara made their way back to the car. Ainara was passionately recounting all of the key moments from the fight, surprising Asami with how much attention she had paid to the players’ movements. “I wish I could bend like that, but my movements are always sloppy and I can never get the stance right.” Ainara explained, frowning slightly.
“I’m sure I could find you a teacher, though I’m surprised nobody in your village could help you out.” Asami responded as they reached the car, taking her place in the driver’s seat. Ainara followed quickly behind, making herself comfortable beside the other woman.
“I’d really appreciate that, thank you.”
The car was filled with amiable silence as Asami drove. Her skill at controlling the vehicle was even more impressive than Ayiro’s, however she seemed to be taking her time arriving at their destination, allowing for Ainara to observe some of the sights of Republic City. She was still amazed at the tall buildings that the city was composed of, despite having spent the better part of the day in the city.
Ainara noticed that the buildings seemed to be getting smaller and more spaced out, which is when they entered a walled-off section of houses. The homes were varying in style and size, but they all looked fancier than the buildings in the main part of the city. It was easy to tell that they had entered one of the nicer boroughs.
Asami pulled the car to a stop in front of a large house that occupied one of the corner plots on the street they had driven in on. The house consisted of traditional Fire Nation architecture, with a few more modern additions to the style. Ainara examined the building from the outside, already wondering how she would get used to its size after living in an igloo her entire life.
“See, I told Ayiro I would get you home safe and sound,” Asami said, a small smile forming on her face. “If you need anything at all, my estate is at the end of this main street. Get some rest because I have so much planned for us tomorrow.”
Ainara nodded, stepping out of the car and thanking Asami for taking her to the pro-bending match. As the girl drove off, Ainara was filled with a sense of sadness at seeing her new friend go. However, she was excited to see what tomorrow would have in store for her.
Upon entering her aunt’s house, Ainara was greeted by a portly old man in a simple black suit. “Welcome Miss Makodo. I am Lee, Ms. Tomin’s butler.” The man greeted, bowing slightly.
“Oh, um, nice to meet you, Lee.” Ainara responded, unsure of how to act due to never having been around servants before. She supposed treating him like any other person would do, since she didn’t really have the desire to treat him as someone lower than her.
Lee nodded, and then motioned for Ainara to follow him. He showed her around each of the rooms, the girl gawking at how clean and elegant everything seemed. The house even had its own walled-off yard with a small swimming pool in the center. Lee ended the tour by showing Ainara to her room, which was on the second floor.
The room itself was pretty barren, but it was still spacious and tidy. Lee bowed as he left, leaving Ainara to settle in. She noticed all of the bags and boxes of items she had bought stacked neatly in the corner, and decided now would be a good time to make her room feel more homey. There was a radio sitting on the dresser, which Ainara tuned until calming classical music played through the speaker. Then she began to work.
First, she decided to tackle rearranging the room. Her and Ayiro had purchased some furniture which had swiftly been delivered to the house and was now placed around the room in a random fashion. Ainara moved the bed to the center of the right wall, then pushed the dresser to sit at the foot of the large bed. For a reason unknown to her, Ayiro had insisted that Ainara have a vanity, so the girl placed it to the right of the bed, deciding it would make a useful desk. After moving a bookshelf and some chairs into the corner to the left of her bed, Ayiro decided to take on the task of unpacking her clothing.
She sorted out her clothes from the bags, hanging up what needed to be on hangers and neatly folding the rest of the items into the dresser. Ainara prioritized the Water Tribe clothing over the red pieces that Ayiro had made her buy, smiling to herself as she did so. She may have been outcast from her village, but that wouldn’t stop her from being proud of her heritage.
Once her clothing had been dealt with, Ainara took on her last task, unpacking the sole bag her mother had packed her. There were a few coats and tunics shoved into the top, followed by all of Ainara’s trinkets and books. She hung up the clothes, placed the books and trinkets on the bookshelf, and felt satisfied with the way the room looked. The only thing that bothered her were the bedsheets, which of course were red with the Fire Nation insignia in the middle.
Stepping into the bathroom attached to her bedroom, Ainara found a small linen closet with a pair of white bedsheets hiding behind all of the towels. She decided these would have to do, and quickly removed the red sheets and pillowcases, replacing them with the white ones she had found. Finally, everything was as she liked it.
After a quick shower, Ainara changed into a pair of blue silk pajamas before sinking into the cozy bed. She quickly became aware of just how tired she was, and was soon lulled to sleep by the soothing sounds of the music on the radio.