Seeing as I had the day off the next day I decided to run errands. When I woke up that day I had to admit it felt nice to not have to bend my uniform on for the millionth time this month, instead I put on a clean tight charcoal grey tee and a pair of black pants with brown knee high leather boots. I grabbed my leather satchel from off my bed post and quickly brushed my hair and teeth, once I was completely ready I locked my door behind me and headed out to get my errands finished. I stopped by the market and saw that there was still the man preaching about the Equalists on his little stage and sighed. I continued weaving through the sea of people at the market when I saw a little girl being bullied by a earthbending boy, who was taunting her with his little pebbles I got out of the crowd and stood in the clearing where they were and raised a hand and clenched my fist causing his rocks to turn into nothing more than sand.
"Hey!"
"Hey yourself, how dare you disrespect the name of benders by attacking this poor little girl?"
"B-but she's a non bender!"
"So what if she is? That doesn't mean she deserves to be attacked"
"But she's probably Equalist scum" a familiar voice said and I turned to see it was Tai-Fo.
"This your kid, Kid?"
"No, he's my nephew"
"He needs to be reprimanded"
"For what? He's right non-benders don't deserve protection!"
"Bullsh—Bull! That's a load of crap and you know it OFFICER Tai Fong"
"Oh please save your naive ways for someone who cares" I stormed over to her and got nose to nose.
"If you don't shut your mouth and back down, I'll bend you back to your crib"
"Oh c'mon you're what? Like 5 years older than me?"
"You're 19 there for 6, never learn how to count little tyke? I maybe only 6 years your senior but I'm not talking with the fact that I'm chronologically older than you, I'm talking mentally"
"Oooo I'm shaking in my Metalbending police officer issued boots, where's yours Lee? Get fired?"
"In your dreams, I'll have you know I helped discover Mr. Sato was in partnership with Sato, alongside CHIEF Beifong" She growled and earthbent the ground beneath her and made a boulder to which she threw at the non bending girl. My eyes went wide and seeing as I had no time I jumped in front and spun so that my back was toward the attack and I held onto the little girl, making myself a human shield. The blow hit hard but it would only bruise a little, but it could've easily broken the little girl's bones. "Have you gone crazy?" I bellowed looking over my shoulder before looking back to the little girl. "Run, I'll protect you" I whispered and she nodded face full of tears and ran away. Tai tried a few more blows at the little girl but I absorbed them all until the little girl had disappeared.
"ARG! FINE AGNI KAI, EARTHBENDING STYLE RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW!"
"No! There are too many citizens around here I will not risk them!"
"I think you're just scared"
"Appeal to my pride go ahead but I'm not going to cave into your psychotic provocations"
By this time a crowd had gathered and Tai and I were stuck in a stand-off, her hands up and ready to defend and mine lazily at my sides. She bent the earth into spires and sent them flying my way; she was forcing me into an earth styled Agni kai.
I demolished them into sand that blew away with the wind. "So the rumors are true, you can Earthbend, Metalbend, Sandbend, and Mudbend" Tai shouted with a devious smirk as she sent boulders flying to the left and right but I used the ground to form large rock walls causing her boulders to shatter against them. I bent a top to the walls and walls behind her and me, completely encasing us, from the sunlight that did peek in I could see her fiery red hair flail wildly behind her as she charged towards me throwing boulders and spires like crazy, I dodged them all but one boulder that sent me flying through the wall behind me and skidding back out to the crowd, one man with short brown hair and sideburns and gorgeous blue eyes caught me as I stumbled back a bit, I was caught in his gaze for a moment, he seemed familiar but I snapped back to and walked away, Tai had already come out of the fortress of rock that I had created and she already sent a few boulders my way which I demolished by jumping and doing a sideways bicycle kick that turned the boulders into dust.
"Enough Tai, you can't beat me, I'm almost a master level Earthbender, I taught the Avatar all she knows, surrender and we can forget this happened"
"No! Do you remember the last time you and I went on patrol together? Hm? MONTHS AGO WASN'T IT? YOU LEFT ME TO DO ALL THE DIRTY WORK WHILE YOU WENT GALLAVANTING OFF AS CHIEF BEIFONGS PERSONAL PET AND PLAYED AVATARS ASSISTANT"
"Tai, as if I can help that! I was a staff sergeant, that's a high rank I had higher accountabilities to attend to than just patrol"
"Oh COME ON, even I'm not that stupid! Beifong loves you like a daughter, favors you even! We all know Beifong taught you all she knows about Earthbending"
"It's not like that at all!"
"Oh don't even deny it for a second Terra! You even just got promoted to Captain, and for what? Getting shocked on the job?"
"It's a lot more than that Miss Fong, and you're terminated effective immediately, for insubordination, assaulting a citizen and need I go on with the charges against you? There's a whole list" I bellowed as I stomped my foot on the ground and disappeared beneath the earth. I ran and made a tunnel to directly behind Tai and shot up and cuffed her with cuffs made from rock as hard and unbreakable as the Dai Lee's. "You forgot to mention my grandfather was a member of the Dai Lee's" I whispered into her ear and she let out angry growls as I led her to her Satomobile and threw her in the back and shut the door, hearing the satisfying click of the automatic locks. Officers came emerging from the crowd and into the clearing, and saw that nothing was happening, Officer Song came running to me in his civvies and asked what happened.
"Tai went berserk, even went as far as letting her nephew assault a little girl and attacking the public and myself"
"For what?"
"A hatred for non-benders" I explained and Song nodded.
"Gai can take her to the station; I'm off duty, same as you"
"Oh how convenient Mr. Song" I joked as I playfully punched his shoulder. He had a nice tight black shirt with the republic city logo on the left breast and olive drab green pants on with knee high black combat boots, and I noted that he had a muscular build, and that he looked rather attractive with his short messy black hair. He accompanied me to the markets and helped me with my errands, even if it meant walking back to my apartment.
"Thanks for saving my hide yesterday by the way"
"Not a problem, anytime...again Terra" He chuckled and I laughed with embarrassment and smiled sheepishly.
"Sorry, guess I've been thanking you enough already" I joked and he just continued to laugh at me, as the day went on we spent it discussing things about each other, Song and I were usually put on separate detail but he and I had gone through training together so we stayed friends and still talked whenever we could.
"So are you coming tonight?"
"Huh? To where?"
"That joint over on 5th street, can't remember the name for the life of me but it's for Beifong"
"Ahaha! Beifong? In a bar? What for?"
"She didn't tell you then, she quit so we're giving her a goodbye party"
"What? Why'd she leave?"
"Yesterday made her realise that she had to work outside of the law, but that stays between you and I"
"Of course! And I'll go to the party"
"Good! I'll take you there myself, I know the place when I see it"
When night fell we separated and got changed at our homes, I brushed my hair and teeth again then I chose the only dress I had which was a black sequined tight fitting flapper style dress. I slipped that on and grabbed my matching headband, black sleeve gloves, and black flapper shoes and put them all on before locking the door up and heading out front. I had to admit it was more than I cared to wear, I was a practical dresser more than a fashionable one most times but it was a special occasion. When I got out front Song was there dressed to the nine's in a nice gangster style suit that consisted of a tightly fitted jacket, with a high "pinched" waist, and narrow shoulders, and all of this showed off his body even better than his tight shirt. He looked rugged and classy ready to kill.
"You look great Lee!"
"So do you Song, holy cow, I'm glad I have you as my arm candy tonight" I joked with a saucy wink as he offered out an arm and I hooked mine around his as he escorted me to the bar. It took us roughly 15 minutes to walk there from my house and I wondered how women could dress this way and in these shoes! When we got in Lin was already there and looking unimpressed as she drank. I let go of Song and walked over to her, she looked at me and smiled a tiny bit.
"That excited about me quitting are we?"
"No, quite frankly it bothers me to no end but...Song told me everything so it kinda makes everything sting less"
"I heard about the tussle this afternoon with your former partner, the former new recruit"
"I'm sorry Lin, I had no choice"
"It's ok, Gai explained everything to me, listen, while I'm acting OUTSIDE the law, and I want you to be my ears on the inside"
"Roger wilco ma'am, but on one condition"
"And what's that?"
"Dance the Charleston with me!"
"Oh good heavens no"
"Oh good heavens YES"
"Lee, no"
"Beifong yes"
"Fine! One dance!"
"That's all I ask" I chirped heavily and the sounds of music hit our ears and myself and Beifong started the Charleston together and everyone watched and clapped, laughing merrily. (A/N: The song they are dancing to right now is Booty Swing by Parov Stelar). After the song ended I grabbed a drink and paid for another one for Lin. We sat at the bar reminiscing on training and work together for an hour before Officer Song found me and dragged me onto the dance floor. He started and it certainly wasn't the Charleston, it was more like, a daring sexy tango as he tore off his suit jacket. I smirked and I slowly sauntered sexily over toward him, all eyes were on us as we began to tango together, don't get me wrong my feelings for Amon were strong but with the growing tension between him and I, this dance with Song was a nice distraction. (A/N: The song playing here is The Chambermaid Swing by Parov Stelar, seriously look these songs up they rock!)
When we finished I was still swaying my hips, my back against him as I slunk down and slid and swayed my way back up with one arm curled behind his neck. I stopped and smiled as the crowd cheered and clapped for our performance and soon everyone started dancing again, I took this opportunity to grab another drink from the bar.
"Where'd you learn to dance like that? It was very provocative...and sexy" Lin asked casually.
"Lessons here and there from a local dance joint why?"
"You have left Song very flustered, it was amusing"
"Glad you enjoyed it Lin" I replied as I finished my shot of tequila and went back to the dance floor with my fellow officers.
After the party ended late in the evening I waited 'til I was sober to walk home. Song tried to walk me home but Lin was far more drunk than I by the end of the night and so I insisted he take her instead and that I'd be fine. Once he was satisfied that I was completely sober he left with her leaving me to the streets alone. I was halfway home when I heard a rustle then a pair of strong muscular arms grabbed my triceps and pushed me back first against the closest wall. It was Amon.
"Enjoy your little party Terra?" He growled out.
"Oh, so you caught that hm?"
"Don't toy with me!"
"Why? You've certainly done your fair share of it!"
"LOOK! I came to apologize to you, but it would seem you've found yourself a new man"
"Oh don't even give me that Amon; you're being ridiculous...and overly jealous"
"How am I being ridiculous Terra? Just look at that dance! You two were so close you couldn't fit a strand of hair between your bodies!"
"It's called the tango, that's how the dance is Amon"
"I was starting to believe you were different from the other benders but I was wrong, you're just as much scum as they are"
"WE ARE NOT SCUM! AND HOW ON EARTH DO YOU EXPECT ME TO PROVE TO YOU THAT THERE IS NOTHING BETWEEN OFFICER SONG AND I? 'CAUSE I'LL DO IT! ANYTHING, YOU NAME IT"
"Anything?"
"Anything"
"Tell me- Tell me why you helped that little girl, you realise she was an Equalist right? Tell me why you defended non-benders, do SOMETHING!"
"Because she was getting hurt, and no I didn't, nor did I care, no one deserves to be hurt like that, I defend non benders because they're just as much human as benders are, we're just born with powers and fine come here" I explained as I dragged him out to the streets, he took his mask off and tucked it into his coat and pulled his hood further over his head so I nor anyone else could tell it was Amon, and I led him to where there was a nightly crowd of party goers about and I cleared my throat.
"Haven't we met
You're some kind of beautiful stranger
You could be good for me
I've had the taste for danger
If I'm smart then I'll run away
But I'm not so I guess I'll stay
Heaven forbid
I'll take my chance on a beautiful stranger
I looked into your eyes
And my world came tumbling down
You're the devil in disguise
That's why I'm singing this song
To know you is to love you
you're everywhere I go
and everybody knows
to love you is to be part of you
I've paid for you with tears
and swallowed all my pride
Da-da-da-dum da-dum da-dum da da da-da dum
Beautiful stranger
Da-da-da-dum da-dum da-dum da da da-da dum
Beautiful stranger
If I'm smart then I'll run away
But I'm not so I guess I'll stay
Haven't you heard
I fell in love with a beautiful stranger
I looked into your face
my heart was dancing all over the place
I'd like to change my point of view
if I could just forget about you
To know you is to love you
you're everywhere I go
and everybody knows
to love you is to be part of you
I've paid for you with tears
and swallowed all my pride
I looked into your eyes
And my world came tumbling down
you're the devil in disguise
that's why I'm singing this song to you
To know you is to love you
you're everywhere I go
and everybody knows
I've paid for you with tears
and swallowed all my pride
I've paid for you with tears
and swallowed all my pride
Da-da-da-dum da-dum da-dum da da da-da dum
Beautiful stranger
Da-da-da-dum da-dum da-dum da da da-da dum
Beautiful stranger"
There were a few people laughing and staring at me, teasing me at how embarrassed the man before me must be.
"Happy, I've embarrassed myself, for you"
Silence.
"Fine" I said with frustration as I turned around to leave but he grabbed my wrist and spun me around to face him and crashed his lips onto mine. We parted our lips more for each other and dove our tongues into each other's mouths, fighting for dominance as he pushed me back into the alleyway and against the wall. We parted for a moment to catch our breaths.
"Terra, I'm...sorry for earlier"
"It's ok Amon; I would've done the same if roles were reversed"
"What you said...back at the arena that night, you were right, about everything but I've come so far and I'm so confused and I'm under so much pressure..."
"I know Amon, and I'm under pressure and confused too, I have been since we first kissed and it's a pain"
"So what would you call this...us?"
"I don't know...a mess?" I laughed and he chuckled softly, his hood covered his face still and I itched to pull it back from his face so I could see him.
"What's wrong?"
"I want to see your face, but..."
Amon took my hands and placed them on his face, I felt a scar that ran from his left side of his jaw line to the left corner of his upper lip across his nose and eye and up his forehead but he never let me see his face, for now this would have to do. I kissed him again and again before nuzzling my face into his neck.
"You didn't use your seismic sense to see my face"
"How'd you know?"
"Your foot never shifted, and you didn't cower away"
"I didn't want to look if you didn't want me to, and please Amon I bet you're as gorgeous as you feel and sound" I answered coolly as I kissed his neck and he let a groan escape and I smirked against his neck as I kissed my way up his jaw line and back down to his collarbone and nibbled on it. He moaned again and wrapped his arms around me tightly as he walked me back to my apartment...
TO BE CONTINUED...
*LEMON IN THE NEXT CHAPTER! Ok FYI when Song and Terra danced together you need to watch a certain video with the music off and play the song The Chambermaid Swing by Parov Stelar, inbox me and ask for the links! I'll even put in the link for the Booty Swing by Parov Stelar Hope you guys liked this chapter I know it was lengthier than usual*