A special thank you to my reviewers: irok2hard, BeccaRomano, and vampheart410, and those who put this story on their alert/favorite list!

School is busy. Time is short. Amon is back.

Please read, review, and enjoy! :)

I do not own The Legend of Korra.

Pulling her jacket on, Li stepped out of Republic Hall and into the chilly autumn evening. The clock on the memorial island chimed ten times, and the teenager let out a groan, knowing she had to get up early for work the next day. She would have joined Ling, who had left an hour ago, if it weren't for Mrs. Zhong's necessary review of her work.

Aside from a few complaints, the older woman was satisfied with her job as a waitress. Mrs. Zhong would report to Mr. Sato tomorrow, informing him of the new face that would be on the grounds of his estate on the weekends.

Relieved that she had made a good impression, Li thanked the elder several times before taking her leave.

"Good thing I told Ling to go on ahead of me," she mumbled to herself as she buttoned her jacket. "She would have complained about waiting for so long and losing sleep."

Descending the steps, she looked both ways before crossing the street and heading in the direction of the apartment. The good thing about holding the gala at Republic Hall was that it was only a few buildings down from Tarrlok's office, so she didn't need the map to find her way back when she had just made the trip a couple of days ago.

Pulling the cuffs of her sleeves over her naked hands, she walked briskly down the sidewalk, anxious to get out of the cold. I should have brought my hat and gloves.

She glanced enviously at a passing man wearing both as she turned at the corner. I bet every person I see for the rest of the evening will have them.

A group of four men came around the corner of the building in front of her, laughing and speaking in low tones amongst one another.

Li's expression hardened. It wasn't that she distrusted men and expected them to mess with her, but she chose to be wary of them at night when they hung out in groups. Looking straight ahead, she didn't make eye contact as they passed, although she noticed a couple of them glance her way.

"Hey."

Slowing her step, she turned half-way at the voice to see if the speaker was addressing her. Finding that to be the case, she halted after a couple more steps. "Pardon?"

The man who had spoken rubbed his goateed chin, scrutinizing her with a thoughtful frown. His companions had stopped to see what the hold-up was, looking from him to her.

After a few seconds of silence, the man asked, "Have we met before?"

He looked like any other person to Li's eyes, and as far as she was concerned, they had never been introduced. "No, I don't think so. You must mistake me for someone else." She gave a respectful nod and turned away. That was weird. She thought as the men spoke amongst one another.

"She looks like that girl."

"Which girl?"

"What are you talking about?"

She took a step forward.

"When I was at the Lotus and Zolt got taken – her picture was in the paper."

The toe of her shoe dragged slightly on the sidewalk, and she almost stumbled.

That's something I don't want to remember. Huh. That guy didn't look familiar… But he said he was there, so where...? The uncertainty bothered her.

The men were now out of earshot.

Less than a minute later, she reached the corner and inconspicuously looked to where the group had been standing before the building could block her view. The men were coming back her way.

Heart skipping a beat, she narrowed her eyes in concentration and began walking faster, trying to remember the one man's face.

Thirty seconds passed and she looked over her shoulder.

The group was turning the corner. They had gotten closer.

Now or never! She broke out into a run and heard a grunt come from behind:

"Go!"

They are after me! But my name was cleared after I met Amon!?

Something dark spread out under her feet and she used her velocity to leap to the right, off the sidewalk and into the deserted road. Her left foot shifted slightly as it left the sidewalk, cutting her jump short. Ice?

Hands coming in contact with the road, she pushed herself forward and into a shoulder roll before springing up and darting to the other side of the street.

Wait a minute! I needed to turn left back there! It's fine, it's fine, I'll come back when I lose these guys. She tried to assure herself as she turned right down another street.

That was ice back there, I think… So they're benders? Triad?

Eyes scanning the surrounding buildings in hope of locating a store or restaurant with its lights on and a large number of people inside, her search ended in disappointment. I can't just burst into a small shop – Ling said the Triad goes around threatening people in those places all the time. Where are the big, physically intimidating good guys when you need them!?

She turned a corner and ran a few more yards before skidding to a stop. Not enough lights down here!

The men weren't far behind, and going back could mean running into them.

Reluctantly sprinting down the darker street, she squinted at the intersection farther ahead, trying to determine the most well-lit street. Getting out of the darker spot was her first priority.

Unfortunately, she wasn't used to this much running, and she could start to feel pain creeping up through her legs and in her chest. If I want to lose these guys, I need to lose them now. I don't know how much longer I can keep sprinting like this! Breathing hard, she put on a burst of speed, intending the increase the distance between her and the men.

One of her pursuers shouted, and subsequently, something rumbled around her. Glancing from side to side, she saw nothing. Then she looked down, just as the ground became uneven beneath her shoes, jutting upward in some places and sinking in others.

It was too late to avoid the earth bending obstacles, and she gave a gasp as her right ankle twisted painfully before she fell forward. Her jacket provided some protection for her forearms as they hit the ground to break her fall, but there was no denying there would be bruises later. Her hands weren't fortunate enough to come out unscathed, and she could feel the sharp earth cut into her palms.

Scrambling back up with a wince, she did her best to ignore the pain in her ankle and the uncomfortable tingling sensation in her hands. The thudding feet behind her sounded close, but she had no intention of checking on the group's progress. Clenching her jaw in determination, she took a step forward and felt the ground shift again.

Stretching her arms out for balance, she managed two more uneasy steps before the first man grabbed her right arm, roughly pulling her back towards him as the ground under their feet leveled. Stupid earth bender…!

The man twisted the captured arm behind her back, and she instinctively looked over her shoulder and brought her left leg up between the man's legs. The grip on her arm loosened and she followed up with her left elbow striking below her captor's ribcage. As the earth bender bent over she jerked her right arm away before bringing it towards him land a punch squarely in his face, a small crunch issuing from the blow.

Her arm was free a second later, and she was only able to take a few steps back and shake her pained fist before the other men reached her.

We're in the middle of a road in Republic City; why isn't someone driving down here and saving me!?

The man sporting a small goatee reached for her, and she sent a thrust kick towards his stomach, which he successfully blocked.

Preparing to put some distance between herself and the goateed man who looked intent on kicking her back, her plan was interrupted by an arm wrapping around her neck from behind. Luckily for her, the man in green didn't follow through with the kick, as it might have harmed his partner.

Her new captor grunted as she struggled and began shuffling towards the closest alleyway.

The suffocating limb tightened around her neck, and her face heated, eyes beginning to burn. No, no, no! I can't let him…!

"You got her?" Asked the goateed man.

The person holding her gave a curt nod.

"Check on Bo." The remaining man who had remained silent approached the earth bender, who was hunched over and keeping a hand over his nose.

Unable to remove the man's arm with her own physical strength, Li jabbed an elbow into his stomach, and he stopped dragging her for a moment to grunt in discomfort.

"Little - !" The unoccupied bender stepped towards her when he saw her move her hips out.

The man holding her tensed and looked at his partner questioningly, and Li swung her backside into the man's gut as hard as she could, simultaneously pulling at his constricting arm. The man gasped as the air left his lungs, and he staggered back several steps before falling over.

With the goateed man closing in, Li was only able to get a few seconds' head start creating space between her and the group, her pace slowed by the increasing pain in her ankle.

Short of breath and with spots flashing in her vision, her desperate gaze was drawn to a light that appeared at the entrance of a building at the intersection ahead. A dark silhouette appeared in the doorway and Li reached out toward the figure, raising her voice to its loudest volume in hope of getting their attention. "Hel – !"

Her shout was cut short as a sphere of liquid enveloped her head from behind, and she inhaled water. The water bender! I forgot! She dropped to her knees, eyes closed in pain and hands clutching at her neck and mouth, unable to prevent her lungs from attempting to fill with the oxygen that wasn't there as she drowned.

And then the sphere of water around her dropped, splashing on her shoulders and torso. Leaning forward she coughed up water, taking in greedy gulps of air between each gasp.

A brief sensation of heat manifested at her back, and looking over her shoulder, a ball of fire died out less than three feet from where she was kneeling.

"Ah!" She scrambled away panting, head swiveling around to try and get a grasp on what was happening.

One person was lying on the ground – the man she had punched earlier; two pairs of people were fighting; the man with the goatee was making his way towards her, edging around the fighting couples.

"I figured you were somehow involved with these scum."

Li's legs burned as she stood. She probably wouldn't get far if she tried running.

"Where is Zolt?" Growled the man. Raising an arm as he strode forward, a chunk of the road separated at the motion.

Li shook her head, trembling slightly in the cold, unable to supply the bender with an answer. The mass of earth came at her and she barely evaded it, while the bender stepped closer.

She bent her legs in anticipation, her right ankle aching in response, and the man made his hands into fists. He's going to do it again! I'll end up in the hospital if he hits me at such a short range! Panic gripped her, and she determined that the best course of action was to hit him before he hit her.

Lunging at him, she threw a punch, hoping he would block her attack instead of bend.

The man moved an arm to deflect her fist, but her limb stopped short. His eyes widened in surprise as her leg extended fast, combining all the strength and energy she had left and striking him in the sternum.

Hissing in pain, she dropped her leg and staggered back, the hurt in her ankle much stronger. Wrong leg! Wrong leg!

The man was knocked off his feet, but not out of the fight. Pressing a hand to his chest and wincing, he glared at her. "You're going to regret that." A couple of seconds later he picked himself back up, and Li didn't dare turn her back to him.

Her panic increasing, she limped backwards as the earth bender advanced. What do I do? What can I do!?

"Hm." The noise came from behind her, and would have been inaudible if its maker had not been so close.

Inhaling sharply, Li quickly spun around with her hands raised, intending to fight until she was either dead or unconscious. But once she had turned, she found herself frozen in place as her eyes landed on the masked figure standing barely four feet away. For an instant, she forgot about the threat she had unintentionally put her back to.

"I'll leave them to you, Lieutenant." The pale face remained fixed on her.

"Yes, sir." A low voice acknowledged as a figure darted past Amon and into the fray.

After a few more seconds of stupefied staring, Li swiftly looked away, wondering if the Equalist leader had been staring back.

Reminded of the fight taking place, Li turned to the earth bender, who hesitated as the new opponent approached.

Unexpectedly, a hand came to rest on her shoulder, and her muscles tautened beneath it. Applying some pressure, the hand slowly pulled her away from the fight, and she gave it no resistance.

"If you're in no condition to continue fighting, then the front line is not the place for you to be." As if emphasizing Amon's point, a chunk of earth-bent road smashed into the spot where she had been watching ten seconds before.

Despite the pain in her ankle, Li moved back a little faster, until the hand left her shoulder.

Electricity crackled, and after a few more failed offensives from the earth bender, the Lieutenant's kali sticks did their job of rendering him unconscious.

Finished with his first opponent, the Lieutenant went on to the fire bender – the only bender left fighting. The water bender was out cold on the ground, cords wrapped around his calves and arms.

In less than a minute, the remaining bender was taken down by the kali stick-wielding Equalist, who proceeded to tie his arms and legs like the water bender's had been.

The other two unarmed Equalists separated, one approaching Li while the second moved towards the earth bender whom Li had punched, who was still motionless in the road.

As the Equalist came closer, Li saw that it was a woman, her face partially covered by a strip of cloth.

"Are you all right?" The woman might have been in her late twenties, but having a portion of her face covered made it hard to tell.

"I-I'm okay," Li answered, hugging herself and realizing she was shaking.

"You're wet," the woman observed, eyeing her hair.

Now that the woman said so, Li remembered that her jacket and shirt were wet. That explains the shaking. I need to get home and out of these clothes, otherwise I might get sick.

"Jun, we could use your help with these men." Both women looked to the man who had spoken, his face also covered in cloth. Resting on his shoulder was the first earth bender, tied and unconscious.

Li frowned, squinting in the dim light. Is he…?

The Equalist did the same, tilting his head to the side like he was trying to see her from a different angle. "I know you," he said, and Li gave a nod of agreement as the older woman looked back and forth between the two of them.

The look in her eye became cautious. "Who is she?"

Jiro paused and glanced at the man standing behind Li, silently asking permission. "She was the girl," he admitted.

The suspicion in her eyes changed to surprise before giving way to a hint of amusement, the look visible despite the evening dark. Seemingly satisfied by Jiro's answer, she didn't continue to question.

"Um, thank you for saving me." Li quickly voiced her thanks, nodding to the individuals who come to stand around her, even gathering the courage to glance at Amon in doing so. The man had moved forward to stand where she could see him, greatly relieving her now that she knew he wasn't at her back.

"Don't mention it." Jun waved an apathetic hand before leaving the group and heading for the water bender.

Jiro only gave a one-shouldered shrug, and spoke to Amon. "This one's got blood on his face, and it looks like his nose is broken." When the Equalist leader made no comment, Jiro defended himself. "It wasn't me. There was already blood before I knocked him out."

As if the conclusion hit the men at the same time, Li watched two faces turn in her direction, and her posture deflated.

Jiro's eyebrows rose in surprise, and after a moment, Amon broke the silence. "Put him with the others and give him something to clean up with when he wakes."

Giving Li one final glance, Jiro shifted his grip on the unconscious bender and headed for the open doors of the building he and the others had emerged from.

"Can you walk?" Amon was talking to her now.

Eyes lowering from the pale mask to her feet, she hesitantly put some weight onto her right leg. The pain had begun to subside again now that she hadn't been leaning on it, but it was distracting enough.

"I think I need something to wrap my ankle with." She said quietly, feeling awkward for asking something of the Equalist leader.

Amon nodded and caught Jun's attention as she was walking by with the smallest of the benders over her shoulder, and he spoke in a hushed tone for a few seconds before the woman gave a nod and moved on.

"She will get something for your leg. You may wait inside if you wish." Amon informed her.

"I should probably clean up," she mumbled in agreement, and abruptly turned towards the building for fear that Amon would ask if she needed assistance getting inside. It was enough that she was receiving help with her injury; she didn't want to further damage her pride by having someone escort her into a building like a wounded war veteran or some frail damsel-in-distress. Clenching her jaw, she endured the pain.

Upon entering the building, she found herself surrounded by bookshelves. Not the place I would expect Equalists to meet up.

Moving along the wall, she eventually found the women's room and stepped inside. Approaching the row of sinks, human nature made it impossible to resist a look in the mirror. To her relief, aside from rosy cheeks and being wet from the waist up, her appearance wasn't bad. But she still grabbed some paper towels to try and dry her hair with.

On examining her hands in the light, she immediately turned a faucet on and stuck her palms under the water, setting her mouth into a tight-lipped grimace. Please don't get infected, she inwardly groaned and reached for the soap – a necessary evil for her already stinging hands.

After a couple minutes of thorough washing, she turned the water off and grabbed some paper towels to gently dab at her palms. The skin had peeled in a few places, and both hands had cuts from catching herself on the more jagged patches of ground. They're probably superficial, she assured herself as she exited the restroom.

Walking down several aisles of books, she found a couple of tables and sat down at one, removing her shoe and propping her ankle on an adjacent chair. Her damp jacket was also taken off, but her shirt kept on, having decided it was dry enough and that she would rather not walk around partially naked. It felt nice taking the weight off her legs and not being in wet garments, and leaning back in the chair, she forced herself to relax. Even though the immediate danger was over, her heart was not ceasing its loud thudding in her chest. Too much excitement in one day. I don't remember life being this crazy back home.

The corners of her mouth turned up into a small smile at the thought. I wonder how everyone's doing? I haven't gotten a reply letter from the one I sent.

Suddenly sensing another presence, her head snapped to the side, distracting her thoughts.

Amon had appeared around the corner of a bookshelf and was making his way towards her. When he was about six feet away he stopped, keeping the table between them. As he remained standing, Li was forced to look up slightly in order to meet the eyes of the mask.

"I did not expect to see you here." Amon spoke first, indirectly questioning.

"I did not expect to run into you either," said Li, breaking eye contact and settling her gaze on the surface of the table. From her peripheral vision, she watched as Amon clasped his hands behind his back, his mask tilted down farther, as if he were looking hard at her now.

"What happened?"

Li paused. She didn't have to tell him anything; there was no obligation to respond to his words. Nevertheless – "I was on my way home," – it would be suspicious if she showed up with no explanation, even if running into them was unintentional. "Those men passed me on the street, and one recognized me from that night at the apartments. They chased me, and I made a wrong turn somewhere. I hoped that I would be able to outrun them, or that someone would see what was happening and help. I didn't know…"

Oh no, what if I'm not supposed to know about the Equalists being here? What if this is some kind of secret headquarters, and I just exposed them to somebody watching from the shadows?

She stiffened and ducked her head apologetically. "I'm sorry." The words left her mouth before she could reel them back into her thoughts. "I didn't mean for this to happen, and I'm sorry that you had to interfere. I wasn't aware that you were here, and I'm sorry if anyone else saw everything. I –" she abruptly cut off, her face burning.

What am I saying? Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry; I'm just rambling! Now her biggest worry wasn't getting caught as a spy for Tarrlok, but embarrassing herself and saying things that would give the impression that she was mentally and emotionally unstable.

She let out a heavy sigh after a couple of seconds, still unable to look at the man standing opposite her, although the color in her cheeks was fading. When she spoke again, her voice was level. "I apologize; I'm just on edge from that encounter. Once I wrap my ankle I'll be leaving, and you won't have to be bothered by me."

Amon was silent for a moment, as though he was thinking something over. His tone was neutral when he asked his next question. "Are you fit to walk home alone on that leg?"

Li looked at her ankle and murmured, "I'll be okay." If Ling was still up at this time (unlikely), she would probably be worrying about her. It was best if she got home as quickly as possible and left the Equalists to their business.

Stupid Triad, stupid earth bender, stupid ankle; if it weren't for you all I wouldn't be in this awkward situation.

From the aisle Amon had appeared came Jun, the cloth still in place despite the privacy of the bookstore. In one hand she carried a roll of medical bandages.

Amon moved out of the way for the woman to pass and stood by the nearest bookshelf, crossing his arms but looking anything but indifferent.

"Do you need me to wrap it or can you do it yourself?" Jun asked, holding up the bandage roll.

"I know how to do it, thank you." Li took the offered cloth and put her injured ankle back on the floor before unwinding a little of the roll and wrapping it around her foot and ankle. A silence settled on them as she wrapped, the atmosphere neither uncomfortable nor easy-going.

When she had finished with the bandages, she stifled a yawn. Handing the unused portion of the bandage roll to Jun, she repeated her thanks and received (what she assumed) was a hidden grin before the older woman excused herself.

Sensing that she was ready to leave as soon as possible, the Equalist leader uncrossed his arms and took a couple of steps closer.

Putting her shoe back on and getting out of her chair, Li regarded her damp jacket with some disdain before shrugging back into it. Testing the bandaged limb, a half-smile formed at the decreased discomfort when she shifted her weight, increasing her confidence that she could at least make it home without constantly taking breaks.

"Thank you for everything." She spoke sincerely to Amon as she moved around the table, managing to make eye contact for a couple of seconds. When she had almost passed him, he spoke, delaying her exit.

"If one Triad member recognized you, it's possible that others will recognize you as well. It might be in your best interest to avoid walking unaccompanied in the evening after tonight."

Biting her lip, Li realized that he was right. Less than two weeks ago I thought I was finished with the Equalists, and here I am. Maybe I shouldn't be so shocked that the Triad thinks I'm to blame for…Zolt's disappearance – or any of the others? That means the Equalists haven't released them? Well, this is a fine mess.

She could feel Amon's eyes on her, scanning her face, searching for a change in expression or reaction.

"Two days from this evening, there will be another rally."

Despite her unease, Li forced herself to return Amon's stare, for some reason feeling as if she was being challenged to do so. I don't think he trusts me; after all, I haven't given any reason as to why I showed up at the rally. Or maybe I'm just over-analyzing this? Either way, if she was going to be with the Equalists, she needed to get used to looking at the man's eyes – his head, in general – without showing fear or discomfort. Wasn't she supposed to act like she trusted him and the Equalists? So far she had botched that.

"Seven o'clock, at Cabbage Corp.'s chief distribution factory. There's a back entrance."

Li replied firmly. "I'll be there."