"Set him down here!" Said Zaya. Clearing off a place for Bin by shoving empty cups and gambling dice onto the floor with a loud clatter. She had pulled up an old butcher's table used for dead things. Hopefully, it would suffice in the reverse for a change.
The airbenders carefully lowered Bin atop the makeshift operating table as more and more members of Mosi's gang began to circle in from a distance, curious and even a bit worried. He had stopped breathing and was badly burned and bleeding all over the table and floor. Even Mosi seemed alarmed, not expecting Bin to return in such a state. He had only seen him less than an hour ago and he was fine. And now this..? What the hell had happened?
"Honna!" Mosi called out.
The waterbender spat, rolled up her sleeves, and got to work. She didn't like Bin, but she did what the big boss told her without question. Water was the element of life and renewal, and she had been burdened with the gift and talents of ensuring others lived. It was the part she had been born to play in this war, whether she wanted it or not.
"Hold him down." She ordered, tying her hair back as other gang members nodded and brought her four buckets of clean water to work with, positioned neatly at all corners of the table. She had to act fast. The longer she waited, the lower the chance that he could be revived. Other gang members held Bin by his limbs as makeshift orderlies, knowing this wouldn't be pretty. Jina clutched tightly to his hand, making a silent promise that she would not to leave his side, no matter what, and never would again.
He couldn't hear it. Being on the brink of death had a way of stifling words of comfort. His body was already starting to grow cold. His soul preparing to cross over to the spirit world. He could see the meadow and smell the misty air already. His eyes stared up into nothing, glazed and not blinking.
With a gentle motion of her wrists, Honna began to waterbend the liquid in spiraling tendrils into her palms like transparent oven mitts before placing them on Bin's chest. Encasing him slowly in a creeping bubble. A cocoon of restorative metamorphic properties to encase what remained of his body from head to toe. Then as she squinted her eyes and concentrated, the water began to glow an ethereal blue, casting everyone in the room in its glowing light as they watched with bated breath. Then, leaving a gap in the cocoon open, Mosi stepped forward to send a sudden jolt of electricity to restart Bin's heart.
Bin's work in the world was not done yet.
The thief snapped half-awake, startled, and panicking as the sudden jolt and cool healing rush shocked him from the other side. The adrenaline dull of battle had worn off, now all he felt were the brutal burns and cuts of the aftermath to comfort him. The other grunted as they tried to hold him steady from the rude awakening while Honna finished the work, sweat beading down her forehead. Even Malo and Mosi helped. Normally Honna was used to patching up a few burns or scrapes. But this? This would take all of her energy and expertise in order to save him, when really she preferred not to. She wasn't sure if she could do this. But she had to try.
"He's thrashing too much!" Honna said angrily as Bin's powerful fist inadvertently slugged her right across the cheek. Can you knock him out or something so I can bloody finish?
Way ahead of them, Malo used his nunchucks and bonked him on the back of the head.
"Thank you." Honna said. Relieved for the blessed silence at last. As the waterbender healer continued her hard work, pulling out the throwing star embedded in his shoulder, Mosi finally took a moment to breathe before approaching the two unknowns looking for answers. He wasn't angry. But he would like an explanation regardless.
"So you're the other's he was bringing?" He asked.
The two nodded.
"What happened?" Asked Mosi. "Where's the third?"
Malo explained. He explained Azzai's betrayal, the ensuing fight, and the mad desperate dash back here. The young man assured Mosi that they had given the guards the slip, but from experience, Mosi Hamato always expected the worst outcome. It was why he had survived when so many others had not.
"So you're the airbender?" Mosi asked, turning his attention to Jina after taking all the information in. He made one glance at her forehead arrow then proceeded to ignore it completely from that point on.
"Aibenders." Jina corrected. Gesturing proudly to Malo. So happy and grateful to finally be referred to as plural.
Malo shrugged.
"Figures he'd bring two." Mosi smiled.
Malo smiled as well. He was going to like this guy.
"Bin told us you could help? Please we have no one else to turn to. I have gold." Jina pleaded. Pulling out a few spare coins she had tucked away in the tunic of her dress.
She fully expected him to refuse. To demand something more in return as so many did. Instead, Mosi Hamato simply gave a warm genuine smile to them both and dropped the mask entirely. The kind of smile that could melt any heart. There had never been a malicious bone in his body for years. The time when he asked for anything in return had long since passed. All that he had, he gave to others.
"Well. Your search is finally at an end. You are among allies here. This Hermit crab you speak of? I'm him."
Jina's eyes widened. Mosi took her hand of coins and patted it gently back closed. Then Mosi. Crime lord of Gong Hejin. Actually bowed to the two of them.
"Welcome to the guiding wind. This is our purpose. Our privilege. Our responsibility. Along the path the air flows. Fire cannot exist without air. And the world cannot endure without the hope you both provide. We will ensure its survival. Your survival. By any means necessary. You have our word."
Those words. She recognized those kind, comforting words. It had been the last thing the family who had harbored her had said before sending her onward with a pack of clothes, food, and all the best luck in the world. At the time she thought they had just been words of support, but now she knew they were so much more. They were the last link in her journey, and she had finally found the next.
Jina was speechless. She was shaking. Looking like she might actually pass out. Even Malo had to sit down beside her for a moment as it all sank in. Unlike her, he had never believed it existed at all, and here it was. Real as day. The guiding wind wasn't some rumor. It was real. All one had to do was look around.
And so they did.
Mosi's gang had never been anything of the sort. It was a means to an end, robbing from and sabotaging the rich and powerful of the Fire Nation to fund the organization's every effort. As the two airbender's who had been lost for so long surveyed the room awestruck, one by one, every scoundrel and vagabond's gaze suddenly felt more inviting to look at as they rose to their feet, smiled, and bowed back at the two in the center of the room in a chorus of utmost respect alongside their leader. It was then Jina realized something. The vast majority were Fire Nation. The way they followed orders and held themselves with such rigid fire nation discipline was something no amount of baggy or disheveled clothes could hide. They had never truly forgotten what they were. They were just serving a different cause now and had learned how to hide it well. They were soldiers. Soldiers who had deserted. An entire company of fire nation soldiers who had abandoned the cause of their evil fire lord and their families back home in order to help undo a fraction of the the damage they themselves had done. And Mosi. Was their general leading the charge. He was one of its founding members after all.
"We've got trouble." Said Zaya suddenly, rushing to Mosi's side, interrupting the whimsical moment of solemnity.
The two climbed a ladder to look out through the faded curtains of a second-story window to be greeted with a small army just waiting for them outside. He counted at least a hundred. Armed in formation with spears and shields, riding Komodo rhinos, they had even scrounged up a black tundra tank from storage. They had been followed because, of course they had. Wonderful. Not that he blamed them.
"Can you hold them?" He asked Zaya, still looking outward, weighing his options.
She nodded with a stern, stoic face of acceptance before cracking her knuckles. This was child's play.
"Go give them a warm welcome he said casually. Nothing too crazy though, there are civilians." She obeyed his command and left to man the front door to do what she did best. But not before giving Jina a little remark for luck before all hell broke lose.
I like your tattoo," said Zaya. Inspecting her up and down and winking as she walked past.
"Thanks. I like yours too." Said Jina smiling with a faint blush. They were going to get along great, she could tell already.
It's time. Mosi said, sliding back down the ladder. He knew this day would come, just not like this. But what's done is done. They had to play the cards dealt to them, not the ones they wanted. He clapped his hands once. And everyone in the organization got to work. Not like criminals. Like soldiers fighting a war. The mood in the air shifted in an instant. They had never forgotten what they were. Like a well drilled machine, the members of the guiding wind sprang into action, grabbing weapons, burning incriminating documents, and packing up supplies and gold on their backs needed for the long journey ahead.
"What's going on?" asked Jina, confused by the hustle and bustle.
"We're moving our base of operations elsewhere." Mosi explained while moving some crates. "Somewhere where the fire nation has less of a presence. We'll get you two out of the city and head northeast. Bin as well. It's what we do."
Jina could never repay them for their debt. These brave wonderfull, beatifull people who were risking so much for helping them. She gave a humble bow in genuine joy and gratitude and utmost adoration. I don't know how we can ever repay you she said as tears fell from her eyes.
No need. Mosi said as he burned papers, if anything, it's me who should be repaying the two of you. Though if you could watch over Bin and keep him out of trouble though that would be a big help. We'll handle the rest.
She nodded, wanting to be useful however she could. She wanted to ask further about the debt he said he owed the two of them and what he meant by that, but probably realized questions would have to wait for a less busy time. She left Mosi to his busy work and turned his attention back to Bin. His eyes were finally beginning to open. His voice faint and weak, but still it had the comforting warmth in it.
"show.."he muttered fantly for anyone to hear.
Jina leaned in closer. I'm here bin. What is it?
"Show of hands. Is anyone else an airbender here that I'm not aware of?"
Jina and Malo grinned. Even returned from death, he still hadn't lost that humor.
"He'll live." Honna sighed before standing and arching her back in a stretch, the energy drained from her body and mind. "I've done all I can for him. But we both need rest before we can continue with more healing sessions. And not in a place like this." Honna then rubbed her forehead. "Guess I'm stuck babysitting him again after this is all sorted. Great. If he starts dying again, call me. Otherwise I'll be busy."
Honna left to help guard the windows. Leaving Bin with his two airbenders who had dragged his smoking, burnt carcass halfway across the city in order to save him. If he have any doubts about Malo before. They were swept away by coming to their rescue. The man was like a brother to both of them now as far as they were concerned.
"Why didn't you tell me you were an airbender?" she said, glaring at Malo before jabbing him in the shoulder. She looked a bit crazy from how much joy was coursing through her veins right now.
I didn't think it relevant at the time. he replied, his eyes shying away. Anyway....here's your bag. Sorry I, kind of took it for a while.
He handed her her satchel. All its contents still there. Even the money.
Not relevant? She asked amazed he could even say such a thing. Not relevant?!!
Jina took the bag, let it drop, forgetting it existed entirely, and gave the young kid from the southern air temple the biggest hug she had ever given anyone. Spinning him around in circles and laughing and squeezing so much it looked like she would choke the life out of him further with each ecstatic step. Robbing the world of one more airbender unintentionally.
Malo was taken aback not knowing what to do. So instead he decided to embrace the hug. Never imagining he would ever find solace in another of his kind. Never imagining to hope again. But she had helped bring it back to him. They were no longer alone. They never had been. From this point on. They would always stay together the three of them. All the forces of the universe had collided in a random chance of their meeting and from here on they would keep it that way. They would be a team. Ensuring each other's survival and well-being. No threat would ever keep them apart for as long as they lived.
But the fourth member of their team wasn't done with them yet.
As the guiding wind prepared and manned the windows, preparing for the siege. A lone bounty hunter had just managed to slip inside and now hid in the shadows from the scaffolding like a hawkbat. He had listened in on everything being said. Every word. And was waiting for the perfect time to strike and take just what he needed while the soldiers brazenly used the front door and got themselves killed. If he couldn't escape with the girl alive, he could at least take her head and get out before the others gave chase in the chaos and collect the reward.
Just her, though.
He needed the one with the arrows as proof.
The other was useless to him.