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“Avatar Korra. This next building is where we house-”
“Uh…great. I really didn’t need the full tour of the city’s medical facilities. I only wanted to know where I can get a bit healed up before I head back to the island and Master Tenzin realizes I’m injured.”
Korra held up her arm with a self-deprecating smile. She had only gotten a long, thin, gash on the outside of her arm but it was noticeable and, more importantly, it hurt.
“Excuse me, miss?” A voice called from inside of the rooms. The door to the room was open and inside was just a young man in casual clothing, sitting on the ground in front of some playing cards.
“Yes?” She leaned against the doorposts but leaned back to look at her tour guide. He was still walking down the hallway and hadn’t noticed her drop back.
“Have you seen a little boy running around here?”
“Uh, no. Not yet I haven’t. Did you lose one?” Korra joked but the teenager ignored her.
“He’s my little brother. He’s always getting lost.” The teen let a small smile show at the thought but still didn’t raise his head.
“Oh.” Korra quickly glanced down both sides of the long hallway. “No, I’m sorry, I don’t see him. But I’ll keep an eye out.” At that, the teen looked up at her. She smiled at him and he returned it with a larger one.
“Thank you.” The young man had a handsome smile but his eyes weren’t entirely focused on Korra. “I get worried about him but he wouldn’t have left Pabu for very long.”
Korra looked to the corner of his sparse room and saw what the teen was pointing at. It was a ratty stuffed animal. She wasn’t sure what of but it looked perfect for someone’s little brother.
“When you see him, tell him that I got his favorite dumplings, okay?” The boy gestured to a single bowl next to him but she couldn’t see what was inside it. She was hungry herself and idly thought that maybe this hospital place had a cafeteria.
“Will do. I gotta find my tour but it was nice meeting you! I’ll say goodbye on my way out!” She promised. He gave her a wave before turning back to his deck of cards.
It only took a few minutes and one disapproving glance before Korra was stuck back on the tour.
“Hey, the one patient down there thinks his brother snuck out. Has there been a kid named Bolin wandering around?” She asked.
The officials face was grim and Korra immediately realized her mistake. She had cut him off during the beginning of the building but she had also ignored the sign on the front door. It was a mental hospital.
“There is no Bolin. At least, not anymore, Avatar Korra.” The official inclined his head in an apology. “That was Mako, a young firebender. He and his brother, Bolin, lost their parents when they were quite young. From what we know, Mako tried to his best to keep them both alive but a combination of a long winter and no food didn’t help. His brother, Bolin, died and Mako’s mind didn’t make it through the rest of winter. He’s been here since he was eleven years old.”