[IC] Avatar: Trusting your enemy

[pyroman]

It had been a little more than a year since Nikko started traveling on his own. The nomadic musicians were really good people, and great friends, but there was so much of the world that he wanted to see. He was traveling east, hoping to experience more of the world and possibly head to the fire nation. Since Lord Zuko became the Fire lord, the Fire Nation hasn't been hostile to the other nations, and actually welcomes people from other nations to visit. He wanted to be able to go there some day, after he saw all there was to the Earth Kingdom. Though the same couldn't be said for many people. Just because the leader changes didn't mean that everybody else did, and they believed just that.

It had been days since he had been to a town, but his map told him that the nearest town was only a little more than an hour away from where he was. He did enjoy living alongside nature, but he also enjoyed civilization just as much. He wanted to see actual humans again, and not just the hybrid animals that were all over the place. He had seen and fought his fair share of them, and he just wanted to exchange a few words with another human at the very least.

He had long since abandoned his cold weather clothing, finding no use for it in the earth kingdom. It wasn't cold enough to snow, even during the winter season. If he ever made his way down to the Southern Water Tribe, then he would get new clothes there, but not now. His current clothes were similar to his old ones, but much lighter and without the large and heavy jacket that was needed for living in the north.

[tsubasa]

Jaya sat in a small town on in the Earth Kingdom. After the news about Ozin got out and Zuko, not Azula, taking the throne, the Fire Nation was in a bit of a mess. People who supported the change were alive and well but they were far quieter and less aggressive than those who supported Ozin. Brawls would break out in the streets, houses and personal belongings would get torched. There was an upset that would take time to calm but Jaya was not wanting to stick around. She had gotten caught in one of those fights once, trying to remove a young boy from the thick of a fire fight and it didn't turn out to well... So, she left for different shores and headed to the Earth Kingdom. Where she learnt quickly that the Fire Nation wasn't treated kindly...

She opted to wearing Earth Kingdom clothing and hoping people didn't notice how little she actually looked like someone from the Earth Kingdom. She held her tea in her hands and sipped at it. She grimaced slightly, finding it cold. She looked around slightly before lighting a small fire under the cup, heating it with her fingers. She sipped it a moment later and smiled. However, before she could continue, someone grabbed her shoulder, "Filthy Fire Bender," He hissed before pulling her off the chair and dragging her to the door, "We don't take your kind here."

Then with no grace nor tenderness, he shoved her out the door. She stumbled and fell to the ground. She started her to pick herself up and huffed. She'd have to move on to avoid word catching and others showing their disconnect with the old Fire Lord's ways.

[pyroman]

As the young man approached the town, his stomach rumbled quietly. Nikko sighed to himself as he walked on and made a mental note to get some food. The apples that he had in his pack were fine, but he wanted to eat something else. His mouth began to drool as he thought about all of the different kinds of foods that might be available. It might have been a small town, but that didn't mean that it couldn't have amazing and unique food. He had always wanted to try Fire Nation food, as well as Air Nomad food, but he knew that it would be quite a while before the latter would become available. He had no idea what the nomadic people used to eat, but he assumed that it was great food nonetheless.

Lost in his musings, Nikko didn't notice that he was walking towards a young woman who seemed about his age. He continued to walk and think of food before running into her. As soon as he made contact, he took a couple quick steps back and looked around him, wondering where he was now and what he just ran into. His eyes landed on the woman before him. "Uh, sorry about that!" He said to her with a smile as he looked around.

[tsubasa]

Jaya had gotten to her feet and was brushing the dirt and dust of her dress when someone bumped into her. She stumbled again but managed to catch herself this time and avoided falling. She turned her hands up, thinking it was someone who knew she was from the Fire Nation looking for a fight.She looked at the man, who seemed to look as though he were close to her age, as he apologized. He didn't seem to know. She quickly dropped her hands and straightened. She nodded her head, "It's fine... I shouldn't have been in the way...."

She looked down and brushed off the last remains of dust off, focusing back on the stranger. She gave another nod of her head before turning away. She had to pack up and leave. Maybe she'd head to a Fire Nation village that was on the coast... Although, she wasn't sure if it would be too different from the Fire Nation itself. She didn't get far before she leaned against a wall, feeling defeated. She stood there and sighed, not knowing where to go.

[pyroman]

When the young woman responded to him, Nikko shook his head at her and laughed lightly. "No, no! I wasn't paying attention, the fault is mine." He said to her as she nodded and turned away. He simply stood there as she began to walk away, but stopped not too far ahead. He wondered what she was thinking about, as it appeared to him that she was lost. Slowly, he walked over to her and gave her a curious look.

"Are you, uh, lost or something? I could at least point you in the right direction of where you're going to say sorry for bumping into you." He said to her as he focused on her eyes. He had never seen someone with that kind of eye color in the Earth Kingdom before, and he wondered if it was some sort of oddity or if her parents had it as well. Still, he stood before her hoping to be able to help her in some way as an apology.

[tsubasa]

Jaya was looking intently at her feet, thinking, when she heard the voice of the man again. Her heard shot up and she looked at him. She just stared for a moment before she noticed how he was looking into her eyes. She glanced away and shook her head, "No, I just..." What could she say? The man wore the blue of the Water Tribe, who probably got it the worst from the Fire Nation, aside from the Air Nomads a hundred years ago. The army had even killed their spirit and attacked... She bit her lip, "I've been travelling and I believe... I've over stayed my welcome here.... and I don't know where to go...."

She scratched her forehead, "But thank you.... That was very kind of you to offer.... To help," She gave him a soft smile. It was refreshing to see someone's kindness, even if it might have only been because he was unaware of where she was from.

[pyroman]

Nikko stayed quiet as the woman before him told him that she believed she overstayed her welcome. He was beginning to make guesses on where she was from, because her appearance didn't look anything like the standard Earth Kingdom man/woman. She had pale skin, amber eyes, and dark brown hair that didn't seem to be styled in typical Earth Nation fashion. Her clothes seemed to be Earth Kingdom, though, but that seemed to be the only normal thing.

Giving her a curious look, the young man stood still and spoke to her. "Can I ask where you're from? I've been traveling around and I don't think I've seen anyone like you before." He didn't mean that in a smooth and romantic way, as if he was trying to say she was unique and special. She looked out of place despite being in Earth Kingdom clothing.

A grunt could be heard a shot distance away as the man that had encountered Jaya and thrown her out of one of the similar looking buildings. "Why are you still here, Fire Nation? When I said that we didn't take your kind here, I was speaking for the town. Get out of here or we'll make you!"

[tsubasa]

Jaya bit her lip again when he asked where it was that she was from. She didn't know what to say. She slowly shook her head, figuring it best just to not answer, "Just... Not from around here," She said quietly.

She heard a grunt a short ways away and flinched when she heard the man who had kicked her out not too long ago speak. She looked at him, wide eyed, "I'm sorry.... I'm leaving... I just...." She shook her head and gave the man a small bow, "I'm sorry."

She turned and slipped away from the wall and held her hands close to her chest. She began her retreat to the hotel that she was staying at. She figured it would be for the best that she find her way from there... She glanced over her shoulder and sighed. Why did Ozai have to be so cruel? Why did people have to be cruel? She touched her shoulder and rubbed it gently as she left.

[pyroman]

When the woman left, Nikko simply stared at the man who had made her left. He was smirking at seeing the woman leave, but stopped and looked at the boy curiously as he noticed that he was staring at him.

"What are you looking at? You out of all people, Water Tribe, should be happy that I made her leave. They attacked both of your tribes and killed off one of your spirits! Unless you have a problem, I'm gonna.leave." The man said as he walked around, hoping to avoid the man's gave before realizing that he was still staring at him. He attempted to walk away before being stopped by the young man's voice.

"Hold on!" He said to get the man to stop. His eyes were still locked on the Earth Kingdom man as they both stood. "Why are you getting mad at her? Did her father or mother waltz in here when the war was going on?"

"It doesn't matter! She's Fire Nation and they should be trusted so openly right after a war! They might be trying to soften us up so they can attack again, and we won't be taking chances. I suggest you get out of here before I get the guards to make you, Water Tribe."

Nikko shook his head at the man and sighed. While he didn't have full trust in the Fire Nation yet, he was still going to wait until they attacked before being hostile towards them. For now, he would just stay neutral, without love or hate for the former enemy. He should have hated the Fire Nation, they attacked his home and harmed his friends and extended family, as well as killed one of the two spirits that they housed. "I'm sorry, but you need to treat them right until they give you a new reason to hate them. What they did was in the past and under the influence of an evil ruler. They have a better ruler now and from what I heard he used to be one of the worst. If a man that bad can change, then so can you!"

The man gritted his teeth as he shook his head. "You just don't get it kid. They took homes, killed families! We can't just trust them after one hundred years or pain and suffering! Guards! Get this kid and the Fire Nation scum and throw make sure they don't come back!"

[tsubasa]

Jaya kept walking, she heard the two men speaking as she fled but ignored it. If she were to say anything who knew what they would do to her. Suddenly, the man from the shop was yelling for the guards. She stopped and turned only to have her arms seized by a man much larger and stronger than her. She yelped and struggled against his hold, "Let go!" She cried. She had been manhandled enough for one day, "I'm leaving. I'm leaving."

The man looked down at her, "Doesn't seem like it, walking into town like you are."

She looked up at him, stunned, they expected her to leave immediately, "I was just going to get my things. Pay for my room! You are robbing an elderly woman of her pay because you want me out this instant?!"

The guard didn't seem to know what to say, so Jaya continued, "Take me to the hotel, so I can gather my things then you can kick me out all you want."

The man looked up at the other guarding who was seizing the Water Tribe member, "Bring him with us to The Lotus. We'll make sure they are on their way together."

Then he pushed Jaya forward and in the direction of the hotel. She made the trek to her room and gathered her things before returning to the lobby. She had made a change out of casual Earth Kingdom attire into Fire Nation travelling clothes. She walked over to the desk and smiled at the old woman behind it, "Thank you for allowing me to stay."

Jaya handed her the money before walking over to the two guards and the Water Tribe boy. She held her arm out for the guard to take hold of, "Alright, might as well get this over with."

[pyroman]

Nikko was prepared to fight against the guards, but before he could use his water, his hands were bound together by rock. He remembered that the Dai Li agents of Ba Sing Se commonly used rock gloves for the same purpose. It seemed that they had taken notice of his water pouches and the motions he made moments before they bound his hands. He sruggled against the rock and attempted to fight with his feet, but to was all proven useless when one of the guards grabbed him to prevent him from moving.

"Hey! Let me go!" He continued to struggle against the guard, stopping momentarily to hear what the guards had to say. He wondered what 'The Lotus' was, and assumed that it was someone who was a part of the White Lotus group. They had made quite an impact, and made themselves fully known during the day of the fall of Fire Lord Ozai.

He ceased struggling as he thought about how to escape. Honestly, it wouldn't matter as he would have to get out of the town anyway.

[tsubasa]

The guard seized her arm again and the four of them left the hotel. He didn't seem to see Jaya as a threat. She mused about how easy it would be for her to set them both on fire and make a break for it. She pushed these thoughts deep down inside of her. That was the side of her that scared her the most, the side that needed to be contained and controlled. The men was not gentle as he guided Jaya and the Water Tribe boy to the edge of the town, and passed its limits. They walked for a little while longer before the man finally released Jaya and the other removed the man's handcuffs. They grunted, "Don't come back."

Jaya sighed, it was getting late... She would need to find somewhere to camp soon. Otherwise she'd be setting up in the middle of the night. She looked at the man after the others left them. She sighed, "I'm sorry. I can only assume you got kicked out because of me," She bowed to him, "My deepest apologies...."

She adjusted the bag on her shoulder and looked out to the vast expanse that she would have to trek through before finding another town and ultimately getting kicked out, "I will leave you.... To avoid causing you more troubles."

[tsubasa]

The guard seized her arm again and the four of them left the hotel. He didn't seem to see Jaya as a threat. She mused about how easy it would be for her to set them both on fire and make a break for it. She pushed these thoughts deep down inside of her. That was the side of her that scared her the most, the side that needed to be contained and controlled. The men was not gentle as he guided Jaya and the Water Tribe boy to the edge of the town, and passed its limits. They walked for a little while longer before the man finally released Jaya and the other removed the man's handcuffs. They grunted, "Don't come back."

Jaya sighed, it was getting late... She would need to find somewhere to camp soon. Otherwise she'd be setting up in the middle of the night. She looked at the man after the others left them. She sighed, "I'm sorry. I can only assume you got kicked out because of me," She bowed to him, "My deepest apologies...."

She adjusted the bag on her shoulder and looked out to the vast expanse that she would have to trek through before finding another town and ultimately getting kicked out, "I will leave you.... To avoid causing you more troubles."

[pyroman]

Nikko rubbed his wrists as the guard released his handcuffs. He wasn't doing it because his wrists hurt, just for effect to make it seem like the guard was rougher than he should have been. When he was finished with his little display, he turned to the woman who bowed to him and looked at her oddly. He didn't see any reason for her to apologizing like she was. I simple sorry would have been more than enough. Although it did seem like she had overheard him and the man who had called the guards, as the correctly assumed the reason for him being thrown out as well.

"Oh, it's no problem at all. Not everyone thinks the same way, so it wasn't right for them to throw you out. Me on the other hand, I probably would have been thrown out eventually." He said with a small smile as he scratched the back of his head. "Hey, hold up!" he said to her as an idea came to his head. "We should head back into the town and prove to them that you're a good person!"

[tsubasa]

Jaya was about to turn away when the man told her to hold up. She looked at him, as he told her what she was thinking. Her eyes widened and she shook her head, "No... I... I couldn't. This is their town and... if they don't want me here... well, I don't want to step on any toes," She rubbed her shoulder, "Besides, you don't even know me. How do you know that I'm not as horrible as they think I am? You don't eve know my name..."

She pursed her lips, well maybe because she was being anything but that. She had done just as everyone had asked her from the moment this man had bumped into her. She made no attempts to fight, despite the fact that she was capable. She clasped her hands together, "I'm Jaya..." She said quietly, realizing the man didn't know her name, just as she didn't know his.

[pyroman]

Nikko shook his head once more as she asked, possibly rhetorically, how he knew that she wasn't as horrible as the people of the village thought she that she was. "You haven't proven to me that you're a bad person. Until you do something that makes me change my opinion of you, you're pretty much in a neutral zone in my book." He said to her, pausing just as she pursed her lips together.

Nikko smiled at Jaya and held his hand out for her to shake. "I'm Nikko." He said to her, shaking her hand if she had chosen to do so.

[tsubasa]

Jaya took his hand as he introduced himself and shook it. When she dropped his hand, she held onto her elbows, "A mentality like that could get you killed one day."

She thought back to the Fire Nation... The people who she thought were good people, people who she had seen beating on other people because they didn't like their opinion. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she came back to the present, "You really don't have to worry... Plenty of people have not given me the chance to prove much... I'm used to roaming... Leaving..."

She shook her head a little, "You probably don't care..." She noticed it had gotten considerably darker since the men left them, "Do... you want to camp together? Safety in numbers and all that...."

[pyroman]

Nikko laughed at Jaya. He knew that living like he did would get him killed some day, but he would enjoy what time he had before that day happened. "I know." He said simply as he let his arm fall back down to his side.

He shook his head with a stern expression as she said that she was used to leaving towns and roaming around. He could only wonder what it felt like to have everyone against you, but he assumed that he would feel that when he eventually went back to the Northern Water Tribe. "Nonsense. People aren't going to start regaining their trust in the Fire Nation unless you show them that you're good people. If you keep running and letting them push you around like that, nothing will change."

He paused a moment when she suggested that they camp together, and the young man nodded his head. "I do care, and it's a good idea to camp together. Safety in numbers is pretty important, but it can get boring when traveling by yourself."

[tsubasa]

Jaya looked at him as he told her what she said was nonsense. She stayed quiet, merely nodding when he agreed to camp with her. She turned and started to walk a short ways from where they had been left, off the main road. She found them a small clearing and dropped her bag. She sat down and pulled out a few sticks from it. For the first time since they started walking, she spoke again, "Allowing them to push me around... will change something. That isn't how they believe people of the Fire Nation are... They believe us to be aggressive and destructive... like the fire we bend," She stuck the stick into the ground then, with ease, lit them. She dropped her hands into her lap, "If I were to go back.... They may not give me a chance to prove myself... They may become worse than they were today.... I may have to protect myself... Then where would we be. The Fire Nation fighting people... Just like they suspected," She smiled at him, the light of the fire flickering in her amber eyes, "Sometimes trying to fix things only makes it worse."

[pyroman]

Nikko simply enjoyed the silence while walking next to Jaya. He remembered his days while traveling with the musicians, how there was always something to talk about, even if it was an extremely simple topic. There were several times during his travels that he had gotten bored due to the fact that he couldn't talk to Moku, Lily, or Chong. He could easily be considered smarter than all of them, but he didn't have the musical talent that they did.

The walk was short, but nevertheless he enjoyed walking with someone that wasn't an animal. While Jaya started the fire, Nikko wasn't really sure what to do. He wanted to be of some use, but he couldn't find anything to do. He listened to what she had to say as she built the fire, and smiled back at her after she finished speaking. Shortly afterwards, though, he shook his head with a soft frown. "You won't know until you try. If you let them keep pushing you around, their opinions won't change, it'll just make them feel better, like they're stronger than you. They might want to take revenge on the Fire Nation and start another war. Don't push back, pushing back will make them want to push again, but harder the next time. Prove them wrong. Help them when you can, show them that you're not bad like they think."