43 Luke

Morning came. And this time, I wasn't waiting around for anybody to kick me out and send me on my way. I put on some pants, washed my face in my water basin which seconded as a waste bucket, grabbed a piece of bread from the kitchen downstairs and was on my way. The sun was barely up and for a while, It felt like life before the Hornets. Before I chose a side. It was strange. No group watching over me, standing around me at all times. For once, I felt like I could breathe, but at the same time, I felt exposed, like anything could kill me at any given moment, but at least I knew the Hornets weren't one of those things. I thought things over as I slept. Plan A was sneaking into the walls between the slums and the military district. Patrols were tighter there as if they were more afraid of some slum rats than the Earth Kingdom. Walls were thin enough to heard through and with more patrols, there was more idle talk.

So I went to the walls. I snuck in through an entrance through an old warehouse I had found a few days ago. It was odd. The doors to the warehouse had been unlocked as opposed to normal. I snuck inside to have a look, but all of the supplies had gone. I imagine the Fire Nation must have moved it somewhere safer. I wouldn't know, but there was a steel door leading straight into the wall. I took out a small lock pick that I had stolen, sorry, 'borrowed' from Aden a few weeks ago. Wouldn't stop bragging about how good he was at lock picking, so I swiped it from him just to piss him off. Few days later, decided to try doing it myself, and guess what? I'm pretty damn good. That, or the Fire Nation really sucks at making doors.

This time was no different. I was through in less than 30 seconds. There was a different entrance I used to take into the inner wall, but the Fire Nation had caught me in the act once before and had sealed the entire doorway. Overkill if you ask me. That was before I joined the Hornets, of course. I decided I would sit around for maybe 3 hours which meant patrols would go by at least 30 times and if I heard anything that sounded important, I would follow them from right under their noses.

So when 3 hours passed and I had heard nothing, I wasn't in the best of moods. Having put all but one egg in one basket, I was pretty pissed. At the Fire Nation, the world, and myself. So then came that ingle egg that I wasn't particularly excited about.

Reek was standing at his usual corner. With him was Mouse. I figured that, should things go really bad, I could probably take Mouse and maybe Reek. Reek was the same age as me, but for having been better fed, more scrawny somehow. That's vague. We're all fucking scrawny. He's just a little more. I approached the duo to have both of them already have knives raised at me before I could say a word. Even Reek. I knew he recognized me, but the speed at which he went for his weapon surprised even me. I admit. It hurt a bit.

"Reek." I said putting on calm mask and keeping my voice to match it.

"Luke." He said, still holding his knife up at me despite me having my arms clearly raised.

"Been a while."

"Why are you here?"

"Figured we could have a little chat."

"Go on then."

"Privately if it wouldn't be too much of a bother."

"Mouse spoke this time. "Though luck, Hornet fuck"

"Wow. Rude, but also poetic."

Reek lowered the knife. "It's fine mouse. Go along. I can handle him."

Handle him? Where's the love?

"Fine." Said mouse disgruntled. Don't let him go without a few broken bones.

"I'm not counting on it." Spoke out Reek.

Mouse left and I was able to get a better look at Reek. He had a green armband with a symbolic rat's head. The same one at the Hive.

"So how you doing today?" I asked. "Nice weather, in't it?"

"What do you want?"

"There's something we need to speak about."

"So speak." He wasn't happy. That much was clear. Most likely considering due to how we left things off last time we spoke.

I looked around before speaking. The grain street was abandoned for the most part considering supplies didn't come into the city anymore and the soup kitchen was the place to be if you were hungry. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about the Fire Nation storing supplies outside the city, would you?"

"No. Why?"

"Well. I don't know. It's just that Fire nation convoys have been getting hit quite a lot to the point that they're scared to bring supplies into the City anymore. I hear the Rats are responsible. Aren't you a rat yourself?"

He was smart, but still a kid. He was grinning giddily at the mention of the rats scaring the Fire Nation. He realized it himself and tried to regain his earlier pose and expression. "Yeah. I am."

"So you know what I'm talking about then?"

"I might."

"Okay Reek. Seriously. What the fuck is this? I thought we were friends."

"Yeah. I thought so too. Last time we spoke however, after the execution and 2 of your guys got got, you practically told me to fuck off."

"Reek."

"I offered to help you and you told me to fuck off and here you are asking for my help now. Why in fuck's name should I do anything for you? A hornet?

"Is that what you see me as? Just a hornet."

"It's what I see now."

I sighed. This wasn't going to be easy, but I had to make the effort. Not just for myself. For my friends. Some of them at least.

"Reek. Please. I need to know about the Fire Nation."

"Why should I help you? What reason do I have to give a fuck?" And with that, he turned around. I thought he was going to leave so I blurted out what I knew would stop him.

"Why do you think you rats are still alive. Why do you think the Fire Nation hasn't hunted you all down yet?"

He stopped, but wasn't yet facing me. "Why should they? They don't give a flying fuck about us. We're just a nuisance. They're busy fighting the Earth Kingdom."

"So wouldn't things change if they knew you were helping the Earth Kingdom infiltrate Citadel?"

Now he turned around. Now I had his attention. "What makes you think we're helping the Earth Kingdom?"

He hid it well. Not well enough though. He would listen to me. "You never go to the soup kitchen, you're activity against the Fire Nation is growing exponentially and getting far more organized, Fire Nation's just now starting to see activity of Earth Benders outside the city…"

Reek was sweating. He knew I was on the right track. "And?"

"And if the Fire Nation were too learn that the rats are responsible for this Earth Bender activity-"

"You wouldn't."

"I will unless you help me out with my problem. You've been spending a good amount of time harassing Fire Nation caravans. I figure that you know all about where the Fire nation's keeping them all bundled up."

"Don't do this, Luke. We need those supplies?"

"You need that supplies? We're not the ones getting relief aid from the fucking Earth Kingdom!"

"Okay okay" he said, shushing me. "Look. I'll take you to the top of the walls and show you were they're keeping it, alright?"

"Alright." I knew it would work.

We sat over the edge of the wall right by the tunnel that was being built. Construction had resumed on it and good progress was being made. The metal plates were already being settled on the foundation supports and being screwed on. I wondered if Danev had found a way in.

We faced in the direction of Ba-Sing-Se. Around noon, you could sometimes even see the Great Wall. It was too early for that right now, unfortunately.

"See the lake by the far right of the forest?"

"Yeah?"

"They have a camp to our left of it. They're keeping the caravans there ranging from food to weapons. It's heavily guarded in case of Earth Kingdom attack. I was told around 150 soldiers."

"Fuckin' Hell. You sure?

"Yes. I know you can just tell the Fire Nation about us if I'm lying to you. There's no point."

"Who told you all this?"

"The Earth-." He sighed. "The Earth bender who's been helping us."

I let out a fake gasp of surprise. "The Earth Kingdom's helping you?"

"Shut up. You got me. Even if you had to go so low as to blackmail us for it.

I sighed too. "I'm sorry. It's just gotten really desperate. Yesterday was the first day we even went to the soup kitchen. We've been starving and you know how Riu is with getting help from others. He considers this business with the nuns to be a fallback plan should everything else in the world fail.

"He's proud."

I scoffed. "Yeah. You could say that again."

We sat there for a while, looking out at the forests between Citadel and Ba-Sing-Se. The sun was now high above the forest, casting a long shadow cross the plains between Citadel and the forests.

"So." I said. "I've got to ask. Why the Earth Kingdom?"

"Miro's idea. We were desperate too. Everyone was when food had stopped coming in. The Earth Kingdom was our best bet. Miro was furious at even a mention at a deal with the Fire Nation. I have no idea what his deal is with them, but he fucking hates them." There was a pause and then he let out a chuckle. "You know? It's funny. A few weeks ago, I didn't even know earth benders existed. I knew there was an Earth Kingdom, but I had never seen earth bending before. When I saw the walls of our sewer break apart and the earth kingdom soldier walk in as though it was nothing, I nearly pissed myself. It was fucking cool."

I laughed a bit, regaining my breath before saying "Damn. Wait until you see water bending."

"What?"

"Yeah. There's fire benders, earth benders, water benders, and air benders."

"How do you know all this. Who told you this?"

"No idea really. I just kind of know."

"Oh fuck you."

"I'm serious. I can't remember ever being told this. I just know somehow.

"Any other benders I should know about. Wood or something too?"

"Not that I know of, but that would be pretty badass."

"It would be useful."

"Very."

There was another pause as we just looked out at the landscape ahead of us. I knew his next question before he even asked it.

"Why won't you just come with us?"

"It's like I told you last time. I can't."

"Why not? That was last time. There's no point in sticking with the Hornets any more. We're better equipped. We have more people. Our odds of surviving are way better."

"It's not about that. I've gotten to know the Hornets. They're my friends. My family."

"I was your friend. Your family. Or don't you remember?"

"Of course I remember. And you still are, but I can't just leave these people behind. Not like this. Not now."

"So when?"

"I don't know. Maybe never. I just don't know how anything will turn out.

He turned away from me, shook his head, and sighed before standing up. "You should go. Hornets are probably waiting for you.

"Reek, I-"

"Be careful with the Fire nation if you do try attacking their camp. They're tougher than the ones in this garrison. You know, actual soldiers. Just-. Just don't die."

I didn't want to end things this way. I wanted us both to remember simpler times. "Hey. You're not really going to break any of my bones, right?"

That got him smiling. "I don't know, Luke. It's probably best if you leave before I make a decision."

I chuckled. It was nice remembering when things were simpler and easier. Before the gang war. "Until next time, Reek."

"Until then, Luke."

And with that, I left. It was odd. Since the last time we spoke, there was an inexplainable weight on my chest. One that I couldn't get off. Like some kind of guilt, but this-. This had helped. That weight was gone. When I last spoke with Reek, It felt like that was goodbye. I was glad it wasn't. I was glad I could speak with him at least one more time. But now I had to leave. It was nearing midday and I had to tell the Hornets about what I had learned. Maybe I would get some extra lunch for it too.