It was at approximately 8:00 the next morning when the police came knocking at the Lucky Cat Café.

Hiro had been up in his room, tinkering with some of Tadashi's things. His brother had left his university project back in their shared room - it was some kind of robot or something, but Hiro had never seen it, only read through some of Tadashi's designs and code. Now, he wished that he had gone back with Tadashi to the lab the thousands of times that his brother had offered. Hiro had refused despite his brother's insistence that Hiro needed a cover from the police so they wouldn't start to get suspicious. At the moment, the young Avatar was trying to jam a thin wedge into the opening, trying to figure out how to activate it. He had clambered on top of the shiny red box, leaning over it precariously when he heard his Aunt softly call, "Hiro? There's someone here to see you."

Her voice was tense, and Hiro immediately noticed. Scrambling off of the case, he pulled down his hoodie and scanned the room to make sure that nothing was sitting out that would immediately give him away. The night previous, he had made sure that all of his scrolls, glider, and other materials were locked in a safe that he then buried seven feet below the ground in the small yard area behind the café. It was hopefully deep enough that the police wouldn't even try to dig it up, at least not at this first visit.

After ensuring that everything was in place, Hiro calmly walked down the stairs, schooling his face. There were two officers in the kitchen, and one of them was quite obviously high ranking. Hiro's guilt and fear settled to the pit of his stomach, but he walked to the table where the higher ranking officer was sitting. Aunt Cass was in the corner, biting her lip like she always did when she was nervous. Offering a small, polite smile, Hiro took the seat opposite the officer and evenly spoke, "How can I help you?"

The officer pursed his lips as his cohort stood stiffly. "Hiro, isn't it?" Hiro nodded, keeping his expression neutral. "I am assuming that you are aware of the fact that your brother was arrested the night previous?"

Hiro nodded, his face taught. The officer continued. "Are you aware of the reason for which he was arrested?"

Hiro shook his head.

"Hiro," the man spoke as he leaned in closer. "Your brother is a bender."

Hiro had practiced this, if only briefly. He allowed his eyebrows to draw together; his bottom lip to drop slightly in disbelief. "What?"

The officer drew his hands together in the center of the table, clasping them together. "He resisted arrest following a raid of an organized bending match in the financial district. An accomplice of his, an airbender, escaped." The man tightened his face as Hiro fought to keep still. "Were you aware of any irregular habits your brother may have had?"

Hiro knew that he had to choose his words carefully. "Sometimes…" he began, twiddling his fingers in what he knew was a display of anxiousness. "Sometimes, Tadashi would say that he was going to the lab to work on his project for school. He would stay out late some nights. It wasn't very often, but…" he trailed off, biting his lip. "Maybe he was going out."

Brow crinkling, the officer wrote something down on the notepad in front of him. "Were you aware that your brother was a bender?"

Hiro swallowed, shaking his head in what he hoped was a convincing manner.

The officer raised an eyebrow, continuing to write on his notepad. Eventually, he set his pen down and met Hiro's eyes. Aunt Cass was worrying the edge of her shirt nervously eyes flicking between the pair at the table and the floor of the kitchen. The officer cleared his throat and leaned in slightly, adjusting his position on the chair. "Hiro, do you possess any bending abilities?"

This was it, Hiro thought as he swallowed nervously. "I mean," he cleared his throat slightly. "I feel like I would have found out by now."

The officer held eye contact. "I want you to realize that having a sibling who is a proven bending greatly increases your chances of having inherited the ability as well."

Fighting to keep his gaze steady, Hiro evenly replied, "Yes, I'm aware."

Raising an eyebrow, the man continued. "Then you understand that in light of recent events, you will be monitored on occasion by city police."

Well, Hiro hadn't expected him to be so blunt about it. However, he didn't let it throw him off guard. Narrowing his eyes, he responded. "That seems reasonable, officer. When will I be allowed to see my brother?"

The second officer who hadn't yet spoken shifted against his position leaning against the kitchen counter. "Kid, no one is allowed to see benders once they've been arrested."

Hiro gripped the edge of the wooden table. "Why not?"

"The security threat is too high," the officer at the table replied, shuffling his papers. "We can't risk an escape."

Hiro allowed himself to become incredulous, something that wasn't all that difficult given the situation. "So I'm never going to be allowed to see my brother again?" He stood up, pushing his chair out behind him. "He's one of the few family members that I have left!"

Aunt Cass flinched, but the officer calmly stood up, documents steadily held in his right hand. His gaze pierced straight through Hiro and a shiver ran down the Avatar's spine. "You won't see him unless you join him."

Robert Callaghan exited the Lucky Cat Café, shuffling his papers and documents back into the manila folder that he was clutching in his right hand. His partner for the day, a previous student of his from the academy, quickly followed him, matching his pace to Callaghan's.

"The kid's lying, right?" His partner Joshua, a young man in his early thirties, spoke as he stepped in line with his superior officer.

"Of course," Callaghan responded brusquely, quickening his pace. "He was obviously in on the entire situation. Hell, he was probably the airbender that escaped. He matched the rough description just enough. But we can't arrest without probable evidence."

Joshua's eyebrows knit together. "Didn't we already check the family genealogy? Their mother was a waterbender and their father was a firebender."

"We'll have to check again," Callaghan spoke as they reached the car. "Stranger things have happened, in any case. It's not like old times. There aren't any nations anymore."

As they stepped into the vehicle, Joshua turned his head to Callaghan. "What about the brother, Tadashi?"

Callaghan started the car, gripping the steering wheel. "We'd better make sure that he's the Avatar."

Tadashi had been ready to lose his mind after about an hour, and it had been by his estimate about eight since he had arrived on Akuma Island.

The chain attached to his ankle was about four feet long, and allowed him to walk in a small radius away from the bed, which was bolted solidly to the ground. To be quite honest, it felt more cliché than anything he had experienced. He had expected the solitude, but not to be chained like an animal. Of course, it wasn't any more comfortable than the handcuffs had been. He kept trying to pace around, nearly tripping as he forgot that it was even on his leg.

The multiple cameras hadn't escaped him either. The petulant part of his mind had considered sending rude gestures through the video feed, but his strategy still remained trying not to actively anger the people who now controlled his existence. He had slept fitfully for a while, realizing almost immediately that the bed they had provided him with was nothing like his own at home and was thin with a minimal amount of padding. He hadn't had any interaction thus far with any of the guards, although he was sure that there was a pair outside of the door. He had already exhausted the possibility of tugging off the uncomfortable chain, which was resolutely locked around his ankle and secured into the wall.

As of the moment, he was sitting on the cot, trying to meditate like his mother had taught him back when she was his water bending master. In through the nose, and out through the mouth, spine straight, and head clear of thoughts. That was what Tadashi had always gotten hung up on. It was too difficult for him to clear his mind when there were thousands of thoughts racing around in it at any given time.

By now, the police had probably already visited the Lucky Cat Café, and Tadashi prayed that Hiro would be able to use the same silver tongue that allowed him to expertly con pro-benders to get the police off of his back for the time being. The brothers hadn't ever extensively explored the possibility of either of them being captured by the police simply because it was unthinkable. However, Tadashi had given Hiro Fred's address, and he hoped that his brother would be smart enough to use it.

Aunt Cass would be worried out of her mind. Tadashi could see her worrying the ends of her hair as Hiro was informally interrogated, could see her biting her lip as she let the police officers into the café, could see her slamming the door shut as soon as they exited. She wasn't a bender herself, but her sister and adopted children were and that had caused her infinite stress. He wished that he would have discussed this case with her, but knew that she had a stronger will than anyone else he knew and would be able to get herself and Hiro through the situation.

Tadashi wished that he would have been able to warn his friends as well. They would be placed under scrutiny as well, though not as heavily as Hiro. Gogo would be steadfast in her resistance, answering bluntly to any and all police questions. Honey Lemon would probably just keep talking until the police tired of her chatter. Wasabi would have difficulty with lying to the officers, but he had done it plenty of times before and would be able to again. Fred would be able to play the part perfectly, his investment in the fictional world allowing him to perfectly craft a character that would lead the police away from any suspicion that would be placed on any of them. As the only non-bender in their group, he would still go to any length to ensure his friends' safety.

The sound of thick locks and tumblers falling out of place pulled Tadashi out of his thoughts, causing his eyes to snap open at the sound. Instinctively he tensed, pulling his arms closer into his body while his feet curled in in their crossed position. Eventually, the heavy door swung open. Tadashi hoped that they were bringing him water. He knew that he'd be pinned on the ground before he'd even be able to bend it, but even outside of his existence as a waterbender he was thoroughly parched.

No such luck. The guards that entered were armed heavily with stun guns, and immediately four of them moved in. Not eager to be tased early in the morning (at least, he thought it was morning), Tadashi slowly stood at the cue of one of the officer's gestures for him to rise. He preemptively and carefully moved his hands away from his body, holding them up on the sides of his head. Even though it was obvious that he wouldn't resist, the officers moved cautiously, one officer grabbing each of his hands and sharply pulling them behind his back. The cuffs that they put on him were more extensive than the simple ones he had been in yesterday. They were designed as wrist braces, and forced his wrists straight with little range of movement. One of the guards hooked a chain between the two braces, and as Tadashi attempted to flex his wrists he realized the astuteness of the restraints. No one, save perhaps an earthbender, would be able to properly bend in them.

With his arms secured, one of the officers unlocked the chain around his ankle, which Tadashi eagerly flexed. None of the officers had yet spoken, something that struck Tadashi as odd. He had assumed that there were supposed to be standoffs, pointed glares, and more bravado. At the moment, it seemed like they were just trying to be as stoic as possible. Holding on to his shoulders, the guards pushed him forward and out the door towards an elevator that Tadashi hadn't seen the night previous. He craned his neck around, trying to observe his surroundings in the thin corridor where his cell was located.

Dull points prodded into the space between his ribs, and Tadashi immediately stiffened. "Head forward", the officer on his left spoke. "Walk straight."

Tadashi swallowed, rigidly turning his focus forward towards the elevator. What he had assumed was a stun gun was still pushed into the fabric of his shirt and into his ribcage, rubbing against his skin and setting him on edge. He resisted the urge to roll his shoulders in order to try and relieve some of the tension that was already building up from the restraints on his wrists. They reached the elevator, and as one of the auxiliary officers punched in the code, Tadashi felt the points of the stun gun grind further into his side and he grimaced, attempting to school his expression. He decided to push the boundaries as they stepped into the elevator together. "Where are you taking me?"

The points twisted, and Tadashi hissed under his breath. "All you need to know is that if you do not comply with regulation," the officer holding the weapon began, "We will not hesitate to use necessary force."

Tadashi swallowed, doing his best not to shy away from the officer. He nodded slightly, glancing at the man out of his periphery. If there was any semblance of civil rights in the United Prefectures, they certainly didn't apply to benders. It was an arrest first, ask questions later type of system, and there was little regulation outside the police force and the law of San Fransokyo. Tadashi wouldn't even be tried. They had seen him waterbending; there wasn't any need for further evidence past that.

The elevator heavily came to a stop, and another one of the other officers punched in a nine-digit number on a keypad that Tadashi hadn't previously noticed in the elevator. As the doors slid open, Tadashi was frogmarched down a hallway that was similar enough to the one he had just exited, and they all quickly turned into an open door leading into what Tadashi assumed was an interrogation room. He was shoved down forcefully into a chair once the chain connecting his wrists was unlocked and his wrists were locked into the chair's metal arms. His feet were locked into the metal of the chair as well. Tadashi suspected that since they were in a less secure location, the officers wanted to make sure that he wouldn't be able to escape. He just wished that they would give him some water.

The officer that had held the stun gun to his side laid his hand down heavily on the table in front of Tadashi. "Good luck, kid." He smiled grimly, and then exited the room as another entered.

The man that entered was at least fifty years old with graying hair, wearing a suit over a buttoned up shirt and a beige sweater vest. He carried a clipboard with a pen tucked behind his ear and an deliberately visible taser at his belt. He closed the door behind him, shuffling his papers and glancing at Tadashi as he sat down in the chair on the opposite side of the table. He looked harmless enough, but Tadashi could see a glint of steel in his eyes. He swallowed nervously, shifting his eyes anywhere in the room away from the man sitting across from him

The man cleared his throat. "Tadashi Hamada," he spoke, still looking down at his papers and organizing them.

Tadashi's focus snapped back across the table. "Yes," he attempted to speak clearly, his voice rough from hours of disuse.

The man finally met Tadashi's eyes. "My name is Robert Callaghan. We're going to have a talk."

His voice was gravelly and level, and Tadashi felt chills run down his spine, similar to the feeling he got whenever Hiro had thought it was funny to bend snow down his coat when they were children. His will hardened, he decided to venture into the conversation. "Is this the part where I get to be innocent until proven guilty?"

Callaghan chuckled, his eyes not moving up from his shuffling papers. "No. This is the part where we determine if you are as guilty as we think you are."

Tadashi swallowed, attempting to shift his wrists inside the cuffs. He was cornered, and so he kept silent.

The other man read off of one of his papers. "Tadashi Hamada, born July 25th, 1993 to Tomeo and Maemi Hamada. Maemi, mother, confirmed waterbender. Tomeo, father, confirmed firebender. One sibling, Hiro, born September 8th, 2000. Bending capacity unknown."

Tadashi visibly stiffened at the mention of Hiro, but did his best to school his expression and keep it neutral. Callaghan continued. "Subject is currently enrolled at the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology. Certified genius, currently pursuing a degree in Robotics." The man set down the file, looking at Tadashi directly. "Quite the impressive resumé."

Tadashi pursed his lips. "I try, sir."

"You know," Callaghan began, crossing his legs, "I had a daughter that attended SFIT several years back. It's an incredible university."

The small talk was making Tadashi uncomfortable given the situation, but he kept on with it. "I was thrilled to be admitted. The lab is everything I could have hoped for."

"Not much time to train then," Callaghan stated offhandedly, leaning back in his chair.

Immediately, Tadashi's mouth tightened. "I keep busy."

"You help in the café as well, correct?" Tadashi bit his tongue, but Callaghan continued. "With your brother and Aunt."

Curling his fingers inward, Tadashi managed a curt nod. "I do."

"Well, it seems that you're a man of many talents," the other man stated with a slight nod of his head. "One of which is reportedly being master of all the elements."

Tadashi pursed his lips, trying to decide how to play the situation. At this point, it would probably be best to remain silent.

"You were captured the night previous at 12:37 p.m. in the financial district of San Fransokyo," Callaghan continued, skipping over Tadashi's silence. "Reportedly, there was an accomplice with you leading up to your capture. An airbender, likely several years younger than you. Who were they?"

"Another bender," Tadashi spoke, letting the lie spill out of his mouth. "From the matches. We just started running, I didn't know him."

The officer raised an eyebrow. "You seemed to be awfully familiar with him if you allowed him onto your bike."

Tadashi narrowed his gaze. "That's just what we do. When you're trying to get away, it doesn't really matter who comes with you."

"So you did try to escape from the police."

Tadashi replied quickly, drawing his eyebrows. "Obviously."

Callaghan locked his fingers together, setting his hands down on the table. "So you admit to charges of resisting arrest and illegal conduct."

Tadashi pursed his lips. "The police saw me waterbend at them. I'm sure that's admission enough."

Callaghan smiled grimly. "Then we can get to the real concerns here, Mr. Hamada. Are you truly the Avatar?"

"It's what I've been arrested for, isn't it?" Tadashi replied, curling his fingers.

The other man leaned forward in his seat. "You're evading the question. The police treated you as such because it had been reported that the Avatar had been spotted at the arena by another captured bender and upon catching up to you and your accomplice, officers reported seeing you briefly firebend before defending yourself by waterbending. Is this true?"

Drawing in a breath through his nose, Tadashi nodded. "Yes."

"This is what's peculiar, Mr. Hamada," Callaghan responded, shifting his weight. "Why would you defend yourself with the limited amount of water present rather than with other styles of bending more suited to the situation? It would have been easy enough to knock out the officers' weapons with airbending."

Tadashi felt his heart beating in his chest. "I - I'm more comfortable with waterbending than with other elements."

Callaghan raised an eyebrow. "Even though it is not your first element?"

Tadashi was puzzled, but then realized his mistake. Fire is Hiro's first element. The current element in the cycle is fire. "It was what I was first instructed in."

"By whom?"

"My mother," Tadashi spoke, telling the truth for once. "She taught me waterbending as a child."

"It must have been difficult for you," Callaghan stated plainly, tapping his foot.

"I - well," Tadashi began, fumbling for the answer. "I never knew, since it was the first element I learned." And the only element that I've learned.

"The fact still remains that you likely could have escaped the limited police force that was available at the time." The other man was still staring Tadashi down. "So why didn't you?"

Tadashi's wrists tightened inside the cuffs. "I wasn't thinking."

Callaghan raised an eyebrow. "Unusual, for someone of your intellect."

"We all have our moments," Tadashi replied evenly.

"Let's return back to that accomplice, shall we?" Callaghan questioned, and Tadashi stiffened. "Tell me a bit about them."

"I already told you, I don't know them," Tadashi answered, clenching his jaw.

"See, I don't think that's true," the other man replied.

"What do you want to know?" Tadashi shot back testily, trying to not give anything away. "They were younger than me. They were at the pro-bending match. They were probably about five feet tall."

"And of course," Callaghan began, shifting forward in his seat, "They were an airbender. Now, what would an airbender be doing at a pro-bending match?"

Tadashi shrugged involuntarily, his wrists chafing against the cuffs. He tried to remember what little Hiro had told him about his pro-bending escapades. "They show up sometimes. Not all of them are peaceful."

"Correct me if I'm wrong," Callaghan began, "But isn't it unusual for children to attend these matches in any case?"

The only knowledge Tadashi had of pro-bending matches was from that which he had obtained from Hiro. He'd have to elaborate a bit. "I suppose. But sometimes you get some crazy kids that were able to get training when they were young and want to try and make some money."

"Were there any other airbenders at this particular fight?" Callaghan questioned, leaning back in his chair.

"I-I'm not sure," Tadashi answered hesitantly. He was entering into dangerous territory and making things up about the match. "There weren't any airbending matches scheduled."

"Well, according to witness testimonies that we've collected," Callaghan began as he shuffled through his papers, "The only person that used airbending that night was the Avatar during a firebending match."

Oh Tui, Tadashi thought as he attempted to shift in his restraints. "It was an accident."

"An accident that cost your apparent capture," The interrogator stated matter-of-factly, clasping his hands. "The facts still remain: why was there a young airbender at the pro-bending match, and more importantly, why did you sacrifice your freedom for him?"

Tadashi's face tightened. "Someone had to help."

Callaghan raised an eyebrow. "You could have easily overpowered him and taken his glider."

A pang of hurt laced through Tadashi's chest at the mention of Hiro's escape. "I couldn't have done that."

Turning up a palm, Callaghan spoke. "Why not? I'm sure he would have understood if you were the Avatar. The bridge between worlds, if you will."

Tadashi's eyebrows knit together. "That's not what it's about. That would have been selfish; I would have been putting someone else below me. No one should even consider it. It is my duty," he paused, considering his words. "It is my duty as the Avatar," As a brother, "To protect anyone."

"Well, if you were planning on sacrificing yourself, perhaps you should have stopped thinking and waterbended at the police in front of the arena so you could have allowed more of the other benders to escape," Callaghan stated, raising his eyebrows skeptically.

Tadashi pursed his lips, breaking eye contact and choosing not to respond. Callaghan continued. "As it is, we were able to apprehend quite a few benders from the arena." Tadashi's nails scraped against the metal of the chair as he clenched his fists. "Several of which may be able to confirm your identity."

Tadashi's spine stiffened as his eyes flashed back up to the officer. He fought to keep his expression neutral, biting his tongue forcefully. Callaghan raised an eyebrow, collecting his papers and moving to stand up. "I'm sure that everything will be in accordance," he stated plainly, his eyes not moving from Tadashi's face. "Also, I spoke with with your brother this morning." Tadashi's entire body contracted as he maintained eye contact. "Hiro seemed to be unaware of your bending abilities. Strange for someone whose parents were both benders and a brother who is the Avatar, wouldn't you think?"

Tadashi swallowed, the words lost in his throat. Hiro was in a world of danger and would be pounced on as soon as Tadashi was proved to have been lying the entire time.

Oh Tui, please let my brother be smart enough to run.

AN: Sorry about the late update! I was on a college visit and was out of wifi for longer than was initially expected. That last scene is my favorite that I've written so far, so hopefully you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for all of you that have reviewed! It really means a lot, and I appreciate your feedback. Until next time!

- emrys-ite