The Father

"Here he is! Father, look! I found a nice man to help you! He saved the village so I know he can do it!"The boy said as he pulled Xiao into a half-collapsed building.

Xiao strolled up to the man, and saw that one of his arm had been crushed by the building.

Luckily, nothing else was crushed or it would have been fatal.

"I can save you but it will be painful." Xiao said seriously. The man nodded. "That is no problem. However, I have a request." The man said. Xiao nodded. "Go ahead." He said.

"If I do not make it through this, please bring little Lee to Ba Sing Se, we have some family there. If it is too much to ask I understand…" he trailed off as Xiao chuckled. "It is nothing. I was harassing there anyways so I would gladly do that!" He said.

Lee looked at his father and reared up. "Don't speak like that father! I know you'll live!" He said.

Xiao smiled and turned to the boy. "Leave." He said. The boy shook his head. "No! I want to stay with father!" He shouted. Xiao sighed and the man interjected.

"Lee. Please leave. Your father is going to be in a lot of pain. I would rather you didn't see me in this state anymore than necessary." He said.

The boy nodded reluctantly and walked out of the building.

Xiao looked over and saw him still peaking around a corner though. He chuckled to himself and drew his sword.

"I'm going to have to amputate the limb." He said to the man. The wiped his brow with his remaining right hand and grimaced. "Just do it." He said.

Xiao nodded, and as he brought the sword down and chopped off the man's arm, he watched as the man closed his eyes tight and bit his lip so hard blood came out of it.

'He doesn't want his son to worry, so he is staying silent, even in the face of extreme pain…' Xiao thought as his respect for this stranger grew immensely.

Fire encased Xiao's hand and he immediately seared the wound closed, cauterizing it. The man dig his finger nails into his palm so hard that he drew blood and a muffled groan escaped his lips.

"It's done." Xiao said, sitting back and sighing, relieved.

The man sat up. "I didn't know you were a fire bender…" he muttered, staring at Xiao. For a moment Xiao saw a hint of anger in the man's eyes before it was gone.

"Thank you. You saved my life. I would offer you a place to stay, but I'm afraid it may not work out…" the man said with a chuckle. Xiao laughed.

"I am truly sorry for the way my countryman have acted. I have only left the Fire Narion a year ago, and even then for that entire year I spent training and guarding an important noble. If I had known the Fire Nation pulled this type of shit on smaller towns like yours, I would have done something sooner." Xiao said, bowing his head slightly in apology.

"It's not your fault. You seem like a good kid. Plus, you saved our village, so I guess I should thank you for that as well." The man said, as he extended his hand. "My name is Baan by the way." He said with a smile. "And my son's name is Lee." He added as the boy ran into the half-destroyed house.

"Father!" He yelled, crying. He hugged Baan while the man smiled.

They had the same black hair, except Baan's was tied into a long ponytail, while Lee's was short and spiky.

Xiao smiled. "If you still need an escort to Ba Sing Se, I'd be glad to help!" He said.

Baan thought for a moment. "Can I bring others with me?" He asked finally. Xiao nodded. "If they would like to come as well I don't mind guarding a few extra people." He said honestly.

Baan smiled. "Then yes." He said.

Baan stood up and looked at his missing arm. Suddenly, rocks came from the ground, forming the rough shape of an arm. "You're an earth bender?" Xiao asked curiously. The man nodded and smiled wryly. "Ex-Dai Li." He said simply. Xiao tilted his head.

"You seem awfully young to already be retired..," he pointed out. After all, Baan looked to be in his late twenties.

He laughed. "They were appointed a new leader a year ago, and let's just say we don't exactly see eye to eye…" he said with a chuckle.

Xiao smiled. "I get it. I've been thinking about deserting the Fire Nation myself actually." Xiao said.

Baan laughed. "Is that so?" He asked while laughing Xiao smiled.

"Of course! Not only are most of them jerks, the Fire Lord himself seems to always have a stick of his rear end." Xiao said, trying l not to swear in front of Lee.

Baan laughed. "That he does!" He said. Xiao smiled and they walked out to ask if anyone else would like to come with them to the 'impenetrable city' that is Ba Sing Se.