Fei quickly caught Xen up on what happened in the alleyway and left the firebender to babble her input from there.

"So he just attacked you? That's not the best way to start of a relationship… He did call you pretty though, albeit indirectly," Xen muttered on to herself, occasionally raising her voice for Fei's benefit.

They both walked aimlessly on through the streets, trying to get some bearings for the confusing layout of Republic City. On occasion they would risk going through an alley for a short cut. And one of those suspicious alleys was where they were when a guy in a skull mask and red suit jumped in front of them without warning.

Xen looked about ready to scream as Fei rubbed her temples in aggravation.

The guy held a single finger to where his mouth could be assumed to be in an effort to keep them from screaming their ebony heads off.

"Don't tell us to shush," Fei snapped.

"Really? Cause I just did," A male voice answered from behind the mask.

Xen carefully looked the guy over. He didn't seem to have a weapon, but this city is full of benders. "Are you going to rob us?" She asked.

"No!" The guy yelped out. "I'm here to help, trust me!"

Fei rolled her eyes, "Jumping somebody in an alley doesn't quite point to trust you know."

"So you want me to leave you out here for Nurik to find you?"

"For the love of all badgermoles," Fei muttered under her breath. "I don't want to be in the same vicinity as that guy for a while."

"Well, now that that's settled," He added with a sigh, "Can you come with me now?"

"Where?" Xen busted in. This conversation wasn't quite pointing down the road of sense.

The guy slapped his palm to his masked forehead. "Let's clear this up right now. Nurik is a gang leader. You're the Avatar and companion. Gang leader plus Avatar do not mix well. See where I'm going?"

"So you want to take us to a safe house or something?" Fei questioned with a raised eyebrow. How knowledge of her being the Avatar spread so fast, she didn't quite want to know.

"Thank you!" The guy exclaimed.

"Wonderful idea and all, but who in Agni's name are you?" Xen stopped the small celebration the guy was going through for getting his point across.

The guy put a dramatic hand to his heart and gasped, "Why I'm The Chuckling Reaper of Justice! Reaper for short though."

"Great name," Fei mumbled, "Surely promotes your sanity."

"The term is mentally unstable, not deaf," He added with a hint of snark.

Xen scoffed, "That's reassuring."

"Doesn't have to be reassuring," Reaper pointed out, "You could just accept my help and then we'll be on our merry way."

"Tell us your real name first," Fei demanded with narrowed eyes.

"Rai. Rai Nomi Kanda. Happy?" He said after checking around for anyone snooping.

"Yeah, just dandy," The Avatar deadpanned.

Reaper swooped his arm out in a sort of bowing motion, pointing towards the edge of the alley, "Now if you'd please maladies."

Both girls exchanged a look, but ended up leaving out the alley anyways. He was pointing them towards a crowd for one, so it's not like he could attack them there without some decent citizen calling the police. Second, both teens could handle themselves in a fight, so why not see what Rai is trying to do.

~Motions of the Cycle~Motions of the Cycle~Motions of the Cycle~

Rai had lead the girls to a more seedy part of town, if calling it seedy even does it justice. A few of the buildings looked like they needed repair and people sat along the edges of the streets begging for a spare coin.

Welcome to Republic City, Fei thought rather drearily.

Reaper eventually stopped his feet and tapped on a door to what seemed to be a rowdy tavern. Without his skull mask and with a large black coat over his obnoxious red suit, he almost blended in with these people. Except his blue eyes didn't shine with the same kind of malice most of the patron's did.

A particularly burly guy looked at the three teenagers in contempt. "Fresh meat?" He growled out.

"Just from the farm," Rai answered back.

The man stepped aside as part of the solid wall fell behind him. With a small peer down all you could see were stairs. But if you opened your ears distinct fighting sounds drifted up.

"That's certainly encouraging," Fei thought aloud.

The man glared her down as she walked through the stairway. "We're known for our warm welcomes," He sneered.

Rai rushed Xen and Fei down the stairs before a mini brawl could start. "Don't mind Otis," He rushed out, "Just likes being friendly is all."

They reached the end of the stairs as the sounds of fighting died down. From where they stood they could clearly see a guy in his teens standing over another guy who was more or less beaten to a bloody pulp.

"Xu Li!" Rai called out.

The menacing teenage guy's head snapped towards them.

Fei mentally kicked herself for even letting Reaper lead them anywhere. This is just wonderful, really, could've been relaxing at Airbender Island, but no, just had to go with the strange masked guy.

Said teenager walked towards them and the girls got a better look at him. He had short brown hair hidden under a green hooded jacket, also wearing brown pants and boots. Not to mention any clothing he had on was bloody. That's always a good sign. Besides that his green eyes never ceased a glare at Rai. And here they thought people in Republic City were friendly.

"Hey! Long time no see!" Rai exclaimed.

"Cut the nonsense, Reaper. You only come here when you want a favor," Xu Li snarled out with crossed arms.

"Not true Ol' Buddy, Ol' Pal."

"Really?" Green eyes shining with a slight bit of humor, "Then did you come to say you wanted to go out for a bowl of noodles?"

"Rain check?" Reaper asked innocently.

Xu Li rolled his eyes, "Of course. So c'mon, what do ya want?"

"I was hoping you could look after these two for a while," Rai pulled both girls forward so they were standing next to him.

"I'm not a babysitter."

Fei unexpectedly felt someone wrap their arm around her waist. When she followed it, the arm lead back to Rai. She was about ready to punch him when his next words froze her in place.

"I'm gonna level with you, since we're such good friends and all. My fiancée and her sister here have gotten in trouble with the Triads and I can't leave them alone in the apartment. So what does any concerned boyfriend-slash-almost-husband do? Leave his beloved with a good friend of course!"

Fei looked at the teen of justice with a glare that promised certain death. But the pleading look in his eyes made her go along with it.

She ever so slightly leaned into his side and said as sweetly as she could, "Aww, now honey, we don't want to burden him."

Xen looked on with confusion until the gears in her head snapped into place. She smirked and wondered when blackmail might be necessary in the future.

Xu Li looked at the "happy couple" with a larger sense of amusement finding its way to his face. "Looks like you found a real keeper, Reaper. She looks ready to kick you where it hurts, that's true love right there."

"Yeah, you should see us on our anniversary," Fei ground out with a sickeningly sweet smile.

The intimidating fighter looked the three younger teens over once more. "Fine, but you owe me one Reaper."

"Thanks pal! I'll come get them when I'm done with patrol," With that Rai turned to Fei once more, "Kiss good-bye?"

"You're pushing your luck," The Avatar whispered as menacingly as possible.

"Eh, maybe later babe," He still managed to give her a peck on the cheek and run up the stairs before she could blast him with a fireball… or worse.

"Real charmer you picked," Xu Li said to Fei. He turned around and walked more inwards of the underground room before turning around and flinging his arms out, saying, "Welcome to Fight Club."

A/N: Short chapter, just wanted to get it done. I've been sick so writing is pretty far down my priority list. But still, here ya go nonetheless. Feel free to flame, I'll just use all of them to make personal pizzas and sticky buns.

OC's are as follows:

Fei – Me

Xen – Simply One Hell of a Fujoshi

Reaper/Rai – BiggerGulimonmon

Xu Li – DXRough

Not many characters, but what can you do? *Shrug*

Read. Enjoy. Review.