[IC] A Bender's Story: The One Where It Began (Aerandir and Tsubasa)

[tsubasa]

Nyima rolled her eyes when he asked why he would need her number. She shook her head, "Ha. Ha. So funny. I mean a girl that you can bring to the Chans' so they'll stop setting you up on blind dates."

She stuck her tongue out at him then walked over to the carnival games. Rayn didn't play much but Matsen and Nyima played most of the games. They were mainly based on luck and apparently Nyima was overflowing with it. She had won most of the games that she and Matsen had played together and the prizes she carried were mainly won by her. She didn't know what was worse for Matsen, the fact that he couldn't show up Rayn as he avoided the games or that Nyima was showing him up. As they reached the last game, the classic knock the bottle down with the ball, Nyima looked at Rayn, "Come on, you have to play at least one game... I'm sure you'll do great at this one!"

Matsen watched her as she asked Rayn to play. He wasn't very impressed or happy about the fact that Rayn tagged along but maybe he could try and show him up here.... Maybe.

[Aerandir]

Nyima rolled her eyes when he asked why he would need her number. She shook her head, "Ha. Ha. So funny. I mean a girl that you can bring to the Chans' so they'll stop setting you up on blind dates."

"Like that is going to happen." He said softly as she stuck her tongue out at him then walked over to the carnival games. Rayn didn't play much but Matsen and Nyima played most of the games. They were mainly based on luck and apparently Nyima was overflowing with it. She had won most of the games that she and Matsen had played together and the prizes she carried were mainly won by her. She didn't know what was worse for Matsen, the fact that he couldn't show up Rayn as he avoided the games or that Nyima was showing him up. As they reached the last game, the classic knock the bottle down with the ball, Nyima looked at Rayn, "Come on, you have to play at least one game... I'm sure you'll do great at this one!"

Rayn during this time since he wasn't playing, he was carrying most of the prizes he looked at the game and sighed. "Alright." He said as he placed the prizes down. He allowed matsen to go first. In his attempt he could see he was trying very hard now to impress Nyima... Trying to make up for all the humiliating loses he had against her earlier. He could tell he was trying the other times by the look of concentration on his face.

He missed almost half but he manged to knock it down in the end pretty proud of himself he smiled at Rayn smugly and folded his arms. Ryan picked up the balls while staring matsen straight in the eye he began to throw the balls with his right arm going accrossed his body to his left. His left hand picking up the next ball and tossing it to his right hand in what looked like a fluid motion and knocked down his pins, the next, and the next till he knocked down every set of pins with one shot.

He looked at Nyima and said "well to ahead a pick. A prize he said with a smile"

[tsubasa]

Nyima watched the two boys as they played the game. She looked at Rayn as he seemed to stare down Matsen, tossing the ball from hand to hand. She leaned against the counter when he prepared to toss the ball. She didn't expect much from either of them as she knew the bottles were most likely weighted in someway to prevent them from being knocked down. She didn't like this game because of it. She knew most of them were rigged in some way or another but this one seemed to be the most unfair in her opinion. She watched as Rayn tossed the ball and it knocked down one of the pyramids. He threw another knocking down another pyramid. Her eyes widened when he finished all of the piles knocked down. She glanced at Rayn, absolutely amazed. She laughed a little when he told her to pick a stuff animal. The man behind the counter pointed at the stuffed animals she could choose between. She pointed at a Koala-seal and he took it down for her. She took it from him and smiled, "It's soft."

She hugged it along with the few other stuffed animals that she had won herself. She looked at the two men, one far more displeased with the goings on, "Any other ideas about what to do from here?"

[Aerandir]

She laughed a little when he told her to pick a stuff animal. The man behind the counter pointed at the stuffed animals she could choose between. She pointed at a Koala-seal and he took it down for her. She took it from him and smiled, "It's soft."

She hugged it along with the few other stuffed animals that she had won herself. At which he raised an eyebrow. When she did that. She then looked at the two men, as he looked at matsen who was more displeased than he was in the morning. He smirked slightly at the sight.

"Any other ideas about what to do from here?" She asked he shook his head " I don't know..." He looked around and matsen did as well. "You got face paining over there. Water fighting over there..." Mostly waterbending ... Stuff."

[tsubasa]

~~Time skip a few months~~

Nyima and Matsen ran down the dark streets of Republic City. She pulled the scarf she wore around her neck up to cover her nose. She shook her head, "We better catch this guy soon or Rayn is going to flip about me being out after dark."

Matsen nodded, "You cool to take the alley?"

Nyima looked at him and smiled, "Of course," she turned off and darted down the alley with the intent of cutting the airbender off. Matsen would chase him down and she would break their momentum. She crouched behind a garbage bin and bended her water out of her pouch. It ran across the ground as she heard the stomping of feet. As the airbender approached, she stood, the water following her and hardening, making a water of ice. It returned back to water as Nyima wrapped it around him and froze it again. The airbender struggled as Matsen looked at Nyima. The girl shook her head, this was always the part she hated about this. She turned away and covered her ears. Matsen rolled his eyes and dealt with the air nomad.

[Aerandir]

Rayn made his way down the road. Making his patrol through down town. He didn't have to do this because of his rank but he did it for other reasons and he liked getting out and walking around. He pulled a late shift today because of a favor he owed a guy.

He made his way through the rougher part of town... Where he heard running and scuffling near by. He bolted around the corner only to run into matsen and Nyima. Standing over a dead airbender. He skidded to a stop, shocked to see Nyima there. He stood there for a moment looking at the airbender and matsen.

Matsen was just as shocked, "Rayn.... What are you doing here?"
Rayn glared at him and balled up his fist. Before Nymia could say anything he shifted his foot, throwing him off balanced at which he pulled up some rock with a quick thrust up with his hands and shoved it at Matsen who blocked one rock with his water but was hit with the second at which he jumped on top of him and started punching him. "I TOLD YOU ID KILL YOU IF YOU GOT HER INVOLVED." He continued punching him, until he knocked him out. He sat there for a moment before looking towards Nymia and said"why are you here?"

[tsubasa]

Nyima dropped her hands from over her ears when Matsen tapped her shoulder. She looked at him and nodded as he started to walk over to the dead body that she refused to look at. She heard the pounding of feet and cursed. She was about to run when she noticed who it was. Her entire body froze as she looked at Rayn. Oh god, he was going to kick her out, surely. She supposed it wouldn't matter though, you didn't have to pay rent in jail. She heard Matsen talking to him but it wasn't with the same kind of fear she had. She flinched when Rayn yelled. She turned her head away from him and Matsen. When she started to hear him punching Matsen, she looked at him, "Rayn! Stop!"

He did after a moment, although she saw it was more so because Matsen was no longer conscious. She clasped her hands together against her chest, hiding her trembling hands. She back up against the wall when he asked why she was here. She bit her lip, "Because.... Because... I wanted to help.... The Rogue Benders...."

She kept looking at him, "You told him... not to get me involved?" Nyima stepped away from the wall, "You knew he was a Rogue Bender...." She took a step toward him, "But you didn't arrest him......" Her eyes widened, "Are... you?"

[Aerandir]

He heard Nyima yell "Rayn stop!" He did after he was out cold. She clasped her hands together against her chest, hiding her trembling hands. She back up against the wall when he asked why she was here. She bit her lip, "Because.... Because... I wanted to help.... The Rogue Benders...."

He Hesitated at hearing that. She wanted to help the rouges? She was too sweet for that. Why would she, he looked at matsen again. Anger still brewing inside him.

She kept looking at him, "You told him... not to get me involved?" Nyima stepped away from the wall, "You knew he was a Rogue Bender...." She took a step toward him, "But you didn't arrest him......" Her eyes widened, "Are... you?"

He looked at her he then said, "Nyima! This isn't the life for you. Rouges are dangerous. They are always hunted by the police, by every nation. They are the minority. Fighting a battle they might not win. You know what happens to a rouge when the police get ahold of one? Death. " he rubbed his face as he began to think.

"This life is dangerous I don't want you to be apart of it you are too kind hearted for this kinda of way of life."

He picked up Matsen and said. "We got to get you guys out of here quickly. This way" he said as he ran through the alleys towards a safe house.

[tsubasa]

Nyima listened to him as he said she was not ot get involoed in this way of life. He told her the consciquences of getting caught. She knew that though, Matsen had told her that when she figured out what he was and wanted to help. Now she knew why he was so against it to begin with. She held her arms around herself as she followed Rayn. She looked at the unconscious Matsen, "You would have been better off leaving him conscious..."

When they reached the safe house, Nyima walked in and helped Rayn put Matsen on the couch. She sat on the couch's arm rest and looked at him, "They weren't going to catch him..." She looked at him, "Had it been anyone but you... I would have run... Matsen and I have discussed escape routes and sort... And they weren't going to figure out I was doing anything..." She her hands in her lap, "I mean... I been living with you for five months... and I started this within the first.... You never figured it out... Until now..."

She held his gaze as she looked at him, worried, "Are you mad at me?"

[Aerandir]

She looked at the unconscious Matsen, "You would have been better off leaving him conscious..."

" I would have been better off leading you to another teacher." He snapped back as they ran to the safe house

When they reached the safe house, Nyima walked in and helped Rayn put Matsen on the couch. She sat on the couch's arm rest and looked at him, "They weren't going to catch him..." She looked at him, "Had it been anyone but you... I would have run... Matsen and I have discussed escape routes and sort... And they weren't going to figure out I was doing anything..." She her hands in her lap, "I mean... I been living with you for five months... and I started this within the first.... You never figured it out... Until now..."
He glared at her, as if that we as a Slap in the face.

She held his gaze as she looked at him, worried, "Are you mad at me?"

He placed his hands over his face and said, " of course I'm mad at you. I KNEW you were up to something in the second month. You be home just before me, breathing heavy, you would have dirt marks on your knees or elbows, nothing sort of practice or work. I just had no proof." He looked at her. "I've trained most of these cops. They are not your adverage batch of new recruits, they know ADVANCED earth bending, they are trained to catch things normally not thought of, I have to train them to the best of my ability or the chief will know something's up. " he stood up and said stay here till he wakes up then get back to the house." He pulled a coat over his police uniform and looked back at her." Tell matsen if he takes you out again, I'll arrest him and make him the fall guy for this months deaths." He said with a deadly tone.

The rouges usually had one guy or more captured. If they were and proven to have killed the airbenders they were to take credit for the others. Didn't work every time butwhen they didn't have enough evidence to prove otherwise they would just add it on to it.

He opened the door and slammed it shut. Running back to the crime scene he ditched the coat and placed his police hat back on and called in the murder. When the coroners came and other officers he explained he wounded the assailant but he slipped away before he could catch him. Which was hard to believe for the other officers, but he had to make up why there was earth bending damage in the alley.

Later he came home, slamming the door and dropping his equipment on the floor before falling into the couch sighing as he did

[tsubasa]

Nyima flinched when he said he was mad at her. She could hear the disappointment in his voice as he spoke. She sat there in silence, looking at her hands, as he talked about the police force that he had trained. She was going to say something, explain what they had in mind if they ever did get caught but she stopped herself. It wasn't going to calm him down any and she really didn't want him yelling at her. She only looked up at him when he told her to wait for Matsen to wake up before she went home. She stared at him when he gave a threat to relay to Matsen when he was awake. When he left she sighed, she took her water out and went about healing Matsen, in her mind he hadn't done anything wrong. When he woke up she told him what Rayn had said and apologized for getting him beat up. He quickly said it was nothing and he didn't even feel it. She giggled a little and shook her head. The two of them left the safe house and she returned home.

She was making dinner when Rayn stormed, in slamming the door behind him. She looked at him, she had been scared before but that fear had slipped away as she stared at him. She shook her head, "You don't have to arrest him.... He isn't going to take me out anymore.... But that isn't going to stop me," She looked at him, "I'm done with being that scared little girl from the Northern Water Tribe... I thought you were going to help me stop being her but you were sheltering me just like my parents were. You're even making choices for me!"

She threw the cloth she held onto the counter, "I'm going to continue to go out and if I get caught, so be it... But I am done being seen as some pathetic little girl who needs to be protected," she walked over to her room, "Dinner is on the stove," she said softly before stepping into her room and slamming the door.

[Aerandir]

She shook her head,when he hit the couch "You don't have to arrest him.... He isn't going to take me out anymore.... But that isn't going to stop me," She looked at him, "I'm done with being that scared little girl from the Northern Water Tribe... I thought you were going to help me stop being her but you were sheltering me just like my parents were. You're even making choices for me!"
He got up as She threw the cloth she held onto the counter, before he could "I'm going to continue to go out and if I get caught, so be it... But I am done being seen as some pathetic little girl who needs to be protected," she walked over to her room, "Dinner is on the stove," she said softly before stepping into her room and slamming the door.

He ran his hand through his hair and growled. He walked over to her door and said " Nyima! He got close to the door. "I am trying to help you. Nyima. But just jumping out there in the deep end is not the best idea. I'm helping you become independent but it takes TIME. It's different when I'm trying to protect you from Death and the ability to become an independent woman than marrying you off to a guy. And the fact you were with Matsen who is NOT the greatest at covering his tracts and almost got caught twice last year. So FORGIVE ME if I as pissed when he took you out when I told him not too, I don't want you hurt. So my "choices"for you are a little different than ruining your life."

[tsubasa]

Nyima looked at the door when he spoke from the other side. Standing in the middle of her room, she didn't know what to do. To scream, to shout, to cry, to laugh, to not say or do anything, to just stand there and stare the door. After a moment of silence, she walked over to the door. She left it closed, not wanting him to see the tear accumulating her eyes and moving her back to the scared little girl. She leaned against the door, pressing her forehead to it before she spoke, "For once.... In my life, someone trusted me with something people would say I was too weak for or to young or incapable of..... You taught me that I can protect myself... But with you it was always just self defense. Matsen was teaching me to take a stand... I didn't choose to do what I've been doing because I found out about Matsen...... I choose the night you told me what they had done to your family. If I stop... what would the point of growing into an independent woman be? To fear what happened that night on the docks will repeat itself? To avoid walking home alone at night? To always have to be ready to be attacked when I'm just trying to get home? That doesn't sound like a life worth living...."

She sniffled and sighed, leaning against the door, "I'm going to get hurt some days... But I want to choose why..."

[Aerandir]

She finally spoke, "For once.... In my life, someone trusted me with something people would say I was too weak for or to young or incapable of..... You taught me that I can protect myself... But with you it was always just self defense. Matsen was teaching me to take a stand... I didn't choose to do what I've been doing because I found out about Matsen...... I choose the night you told me what they had done to your family. If I stop... what would the point of growing into an independent woman be? To fear what happened that night on the docks will repeat itself? To avoid walking home alone at night? To always have to be ready to be attacked when I'm just trying to get home? That doesn't sound like a life worth living...."
She sniffled and sighed, leaning against the door, "I'm going to get hurt some days... But I want to choose why..."

He sighed and looked towards his room and said " there are two ways to stand up for yourself, by making sure no one steps over you or stepping over other people... " he hoped she understood that he was teaching her what she wanted... Just in a different way. " he punched the wall and walked away. " Fine! If you want to be apart of this too go ahead... I'll stop "ruining your life" by saving it. "

[tsubasa]

Nyima pulled open her door and looked at him as he walked toward his room, "I didn't say that!" She watched him, "I just want a chance to make a choice... even if it is the wrong one...."

She stepped out of her room and walked over to him, "You know... You haven't gotten mad at me about going out.... Just about who I was with..." She wiped her eyes and looked at him, her hands held behind her back, "W-what if you took me with you? I'd get to learn from the best, someone who knows the officers and how to cover his tracks and can teach me."

She rose onto her toes as she looked at him, biting her lip. She was nervous, maybe he was just angry about her being the Rogue Benders. Maybe he didn't want some little girl blowing his cover. He seemed rather adamant about keeping her safe and although she was done with having to be protected it was nice, "You could..." she glanced up at him, "Even... keep me safe if it comes down to it. I wouldn't get too hurt..."

She began to play with her fingers behind her back, "I um... I haven't killed anyone... I just... can't stomach it," she looked down the ground, slightly ashamed that she couldn't do anymore that catch them, "I want to help.... you..."

[Aerandir]

Nyima pulled open her door and looked at him as he walked toward his room, "I didn't say that!" She watched him, "I just want a chance to make a choice... even if it is the wrong one...."

He stopped and hung his head. As she started to speak.

She stepped out of her room and walked over to him, "You know... You haven't gotten mad at me about going out.... Just about who I was with..." She wiped her eyes and looked at him. "W-what if you took me with you? I'd get to learn from the best, someone who knows the officers and how to cover his tracks and can teach me."

He sighed and shook his head not looking at her. Though he was glad he didn't have to hide it anymore and that she even supported the ideal. But the fact is that he was worried about her getting hurt.

"You could..." she glanced up at him, "Even... keep me safe if it comes down to it. I wouldn't get too hurt..."

She had a point yet he didn't like she was manuvering him like this

"I um... I haven't killed anyone... I just... can't stomach it," she looked down the ground, slightly ashamed that she couldn't do anymore that catch them, "I want to help.... you..."

He was silent for a moment as he thought of it. He looked at her for a long hard moment. After seeing her change in the last five months. Though she probably won't leave out on her own, she would probably pick some guy who would get her killed. He will have to take her under his wing to make sure she stays safe. She was right... As much as he hated to admit it. He looked away and glared at nothing particular.

He's trained a lot of officers, but he has never had a ' rouge trainee'

"Alright..." He looked at her. He lifted a finger "only to keep you safe... I still feel this is not a good idea."

[tsubasa]

Nyima nodded her head when he gave in and agreed to take her under his wing yet again. She did her best to hide her excitement, "Thank you, Rayn..."

She looked over at the stove and smiled at him, "Don't forget to get something to eat... Or else I'm going to tell Mrs. Chan that you skipped a meal," she placed her hands on her hips and looked him straight in the eye. After a moment, she rose her eyebrows before turning and walking into her room. She slowly closed her door behind her, shutting it quietly in contrast to slamming it moments earlier. Once in the quiet of her own room, she did a small happy dance. Sure, Rayn wasn't a hundred percent on board with it but he was going along with it. If she had wanted to join the army back home, her brother would have tied her to a chair before agreeing to partner up with her to keep her safe.

She changed into her pajamas and climbed into bed. As excited as she was, being angry made her tired, so she curled up and quickly drifted to sleep.
~~~~
The next morning, Nyima was making the two of them breakfast when she looked at Rayn. She pursed her lips, "So... How is this going to work? You don't normally come home before you go off on your off duty business... Do I meet with you somewhere? Or are you going to start coming back here?"

[Aerandir]

Nyima nodded her head when he gave in and agreed to take her under his wing, "Thank you, Rayn..."

She looked over at the stove and smiled at him, "Don't forget to get something to eat... Or else I'm going to tell Mrs. Chan that you skipped a meal," she placed her hands on her hips and looked him straight in the eye. After a moment, she rose her eyebrows before turning and walking into her room. She slowly closed her door behind her, shutting it quietly in contrast to slamming it moments earlier.

He said with his own raise eyebrows "threaten me after agreeing to take you out. Smooth move." At which he turned to get something to eat.
~~~~
The next morning, Nyima was making the two of them breakfast when she looked at Rayn. She pursed her lips, "So... How is this going to work? You don't normally come home before you go off on your off duty business... Do I meet with you somewhere? Or are you going to start coming back here?"

He sat down and said, "probably out in the field will give us more time. You might have to wait till I get off of work mostly. It would be strange for you to follow during my shifts... Most of the time."

[tsubasa]

Nyima nodded her head, "I figured as much... I may live with you but that is hardly an excuse to be putting myself in danger following you around," she smiled slightly at her. Maybe, it wouldn't be a good excuse for while he is on the job but it was exactly what was going to happen when he was off the clock. She scooped the oatmeal into two bowls before immediately soaking the pot. She walked the bowl over to Rayn and placed it in front of him before taking a seat at the table. She stuck her spoon into the hot cereal and looked at him, "So, we'd have to meet up somewhere..."

She thought about it as she began to eat slowly, "There's the docks... It is pretty busy during the day and people tend to avoid it at night... Due to it not being the most inviting of places.... My first night here.... being a fine example."

She keep eating, thinking about what they could do with their new found situation. She pursed her lips, "Or I could meet you just a small ways away from the headquarters...."

[Aerandir]

Nyima nodded her head, "I figured as much... I may live with you but that is hardly an excuse to be putting myself in danger following you around," she smiled slightly at him. at which he nodded and rubbed his face trying to wake himself up more.

He watched as she scooped the oatmeal into two bowls before immediately soaking the pot. She walked the bowl over to Rayn and placed it in front of him, he then said "thanks you quickly before she took a seat at the table. She stuck her spoon into the hot cereal and looked at him, "So, we'd have to meet up somewhere..." he blew on his oatmeal and took a bite as he thought about where they could meet. Before he could say anything though she continued.

she was eating slowly, "There's the docks... It is pretty busy during the day and people tend to avoid it at night... Due to it not being the most inviting of places.... My first night here.... being a fine example. Or I could meet you just a small ways away from the headquarters"

He nodded, "A lot of Gangs hang out at night there at the docks, it would be a place for initiations, people you could handle.We could possibly meet " He looked at her, "But we shouldn't meet at the same place every night perhaps a few times at the headquarters but we should meet other places. patterns lead to clues, clues lead to us and we get caught and killed. You should also wear gloves from now on, we don't want finger prints left behind."