As soon as the trucks stopped I let myself breathe again. I could hear boots thudding on the truck floor as people exited, the near-silent footsteps of Amon walking oast my hiding place. Gripping the pipes tightly, I watched as he stopped to talk with mustache man briefly before turning on his heel and leaving, his body rigid as if he was prepared for someone to jump him at any moment. Looking at the other people, I could see from the timid way that they held themselves that they were just as uneasy with Amon's presence as I was. He didn't strike me as the type of guy who was overly friendly, and I didn't even dare to think what he must be like here.

Wherever here was.

I couldn't really tell where we had stopped, but from my position I could see concrete walls surrounding us, and hanging above a flight of stairs there was a massive poster of Amon's mask. There was a balcony that looked like it wrapped around the room with multiple doors lined up around it that led to who knows where. It smelled like mold and the air was damp, making me wonder if we were underground. It was still as chilly as ever though, and through my thin jacket, I felt goosebumps starting to form.

As soon as the rest of the people had left, I slowly moved from underneath the truck, crawling out and resting briefly on the cold concrete. My chest was heaving, and I stared at the posters of Amon on the ceiling, a million thoughts racing through my mind.

By this time Lin would be pacing the floor, waiting for me to barge into her office with a report. She didn't want me to rush into things.

She had specifically told me not to do this.

"You need to learn to listen to your mind, Laira. Your heart is deceitful. You know this," it replied, and I shook my head.

"You don't have to remind me," I muttered as I stood up shakily, walking up the stairs. Looking through the small window, I could see people walking down the hall, opening a side door, and stepping inside. Once the hallway was empty I slowly pulled the doors open, relieved that there was no sound with the movement. Tiptoeing inside, I passed the doors lining the hall, briefly looking inside them as I passed. At the door at the end of the hall, there was a stack of equalist unforms on top of several boxes, and I shoved down the urges to do a little happy dance. Stepping into the dimly lit room, I walked over and pulled one of the uniforms off the stack, and tried it on.

The dark green jacket snugly around my chest while also giving me room to breathe and move around, the dark leggings making my legs look skinnier than they were which made me secretly happy. The boots were a tight fit but the laces were adjustable, so I left them as loose as possible. As soon as I put the mask on my eyes had to adjust briefly to my tinted surroundings, but after a few seconds, I could see better through the darkened room. Shoving the rest of my clothes into a bag in the corner, I opened the door and walked down the side hallway, hearing loud boisterous laughter coming from the door at the end. Peeking through the door I could see a long table occupied by a large group of men, their masks all in a pile in the middle of the table. One of them turned to look at me, his face tan and handsome as he beckoned me over.

"Oh no, I was just looking for the uh-the-the bathroom," I said awkwardly, and all the men laughed.

"Come on in lady, we won't bite," a man with a rough face and a scraggly beard replied, showing off a lopsided smile.

"Uh, I-" I tried, but no other words would come out.

The pretty man from before stood up from his chair and made his way over, holding out a hand. His eyes were a beautiful hazel green, and his form was muscled and poised, built as if a fighter would be. He had short black hair that was slightly shaggy as if he hadn't brushed it in a while, but it made him all the cuter. With that thought in my mind, I blushed slightly.

I couldn't let myself be swayed by these people; I was here for a mission. That was it.

"Join us. We've been needing a woman in here anyway to keep all these ruffians in check," he joked with a wink, and I blushed again.

Thank the Spirits he couldn't see my face.

"Oh Zhen, don't you go wooing women again. Leave some of them for us," the other men teased, and I found myself chuckling softly.

"O-okay, I guess I could spare a few minutes," I replied, sitting down in the chair he offered me.

"You can take the mask off. We're all friends here," Zhen replied, and reluctantly I took it off, not missing the way Zhen's face turned beet red as he looked at me.

"Woah you're preettyyy," one of the younger men drawled, his boyish features making me wonder if he was even an adult yet.

"Uh, thanks…?" I said nervously, rubbing the back of my neck awkwardly as the rest of the men laughed.

"So miss, where you from?" one of the other men asked as I fiddled nervously with my hands.

"Uh, downtown. I've been living in the Sion Apartments for a bit," I said. The men looked at me with wide eyes, as if I had just told them I had four eyes.

"That's the Triple Threat Triad District! How have you not gotten incinerated yet?" they asked, and I shrugged.

"Just luck, I guess. They don't really bother me as much because I stay out of the way as much as possible. Besides, they're more interested in the shop keepers than a simple non-bender like me," I commented, and they all looked mildly impressed.

"So you've never had to fight any of them before?" one of the other men spoke up suddenly, his face young and bright as he stared at me curiously.

I found myself hoping that he would never have to fight anyone. He looked as if he had a pure heart.

"No. I don't know any good fighting moves, to be honest, so I'm glad that I never have met any of the triad face to face. I don't know if I'd be much of a match for them," I joked lightly, but none of the men joined in.

"My mother got burned by one of them a few months ago. She was defenseless against them. She's still having trouble walking," the boy from earlier replied solemnly, and I felt my heart drop.

"Benders are all like that. Never once caring about other people that aren't like them. They use their powers only for evil. That's why their bending needs to be taken from them," the man with the beard muttered angrily, and the other men around the table nodded in agreement.

I felt my blood boil.

Just as I was about to stand up to leave, mustache man walked into the room and the table went silent. Mustache man looked right at me.

"Who are you?"

My whole body froze as I tried to make up an explanation in my head, but Zhen saved me before I could.

"She's a new recruit, sir. No one told her where to go, so she came here," he told the man, and the mustache man stared me down briefly before sighing in frustration.

"I knew I shouldn't have put Jian in charge of recruits today," he mumbled to himself, rolling his eyes and motioning me over.

"You need to come with me. Now," he ordered, and I gulped, standing up shakily.

"Don't mind Zhi. He's always like this. He has a soft heart tho. You just have to get to know him," Zhen told me, and I smiled tightly, following Zhi out the door.

"So, what's your name?" Zhi asked me as we walked, and I forced my racing heart to calm as I replied, "L-Laira, sir. It's Laira."

Zhi glanced at me before responding, "well then, Laira. Since Jian never did his job as I asked him to, I'll need to get you settled. Wait here," he said as we came to another door, two soldiers posted on either side. Curious, I dared to peek around the corner as Zhi walked inside, and saw Amon sitting at a desk. I saw his mask turn towards me and as soon as I saw him I ducked away.

I couldn't hear the words that were spoken, but Amon's voice sounded tired, and I almost felt sympathy for him.

Almost.

As soon as Zhi exited the room and closed the door, I fell into step beside him as he led me down yet another long hallway.

"For now you'll be staying in your own room until I can get things sorted out tomorrow. First thing in the morning you'll be meeting with the other new recruits so you can be assigned a certain squadron. Be at the Quarter at no later than seven," Zhi told me as he opened the door to what I assumed was my room. The space was small but comfortable, with a cot in the corner and a small bedside table with a lamp and a dresser next to it. There were no windows, but I liked it better that way.

"Sleep well. If you need anything during the night our head healer Jia is next door," he said kindly, closing the door behind him and leaving me alone in the dark room.

Turning on the lamp, I sat down on my makeshift bed, running my hands through my hair.

"Looks like I'm not getting out of this now," I told myself, tapping my foot on the ground nervously. After a few minutes of staring blankly at the wall trying to sort out my racing thoughts, I decided to try and get some sleep before I had to try and function again. Pulling off my boots and burying myself under my blanket, I tried to will my body to rest, but apparently, that was the last thing it wanted to do. After what seemed like years of tossing and turning, I stubbornly decided to walk around a bit outside to try and clear my head. Opening my door quietly, I walked down the empty hallway, my bare feet cold against the concrete floor.

I didn't pay attention to where I was going as I walked farther and farther away from my bedroom. My mind was far too busy thinking about why in the spirits I decided to risk my life doing this to care about anything else. As I turned a corner, I didn't realize I was no longer alone in the hall until I walked right into them.

"Oh! I'm so sorry," I apologized, looking up into the soft green eyes of Zhen as he smiled at me gently.

"Nah you're fine! I was just heading back to my room. Did you get lost?" he asked with a smile, and I looked away shyly.

"Uh...yeah, I guess you could say that. I had a lot on my mind and I couldn't sleep, so I decided to walk until I could get my brain to relax," I rambled, not knowing how I was suddenly so comfortable talking to a man I barely knew.

I decided it was probably his unnaturally good looks.

"Mind if I walk you back? I don't want a pretty girl like you walking around here by yourself. Who knows what kind of unsavory characters are milling about?" he said with a wink, and I laughed.

"Sure. It's right next to Jia's room," I told him, hoping he would know who she was. To my relief he nodded, walking in step with me as we made our way back.

"So, do you mind me asking what you were thinking about before?" Zhen inquired, and I shrugged.

"I mean, everything here in Republic City is so...different. I'm not originally from the city, so even though it's been about ten years since I was home, it still feels like I'm still a newbie. Back home in the northern water tribe, I knew everyone and could tell someone where everything was, but here there are new buildings built every day, and there are so many people, and I just get overwhelmed so quickly. I just feel so homesick sometimes, even though I don't even remember most of my memories from home," I admitted softly, feeling tears gather at the edges of my eyes.

"Wait. What?" Zhen said in astonishment, and I looked past him to a corner of the hall, not focusing on where I was.

"I...I had an accident. No one knows what happened, but one day I apparently went on a trip with one of my friends and it ended with me falling over the edge of a glacier. I woke up a week later with no memory of who I was, and all of my memories from before the accident were gone. I remember being so scared of everything afterward, and whenever someone would ask me about something from my past I would have to tell them I didn't remember, and then they would have this pitying look on their face that made me feel so...so empty. I wished so much that I would wake up one day and everything would return, but it never did, and to this day I still struggle with it. When I left home to come here, I thought life would be so much better than it was, and I would make new fun memories that I could remember, but it's just been so dull. My happy memories are few and far between, and I've found myself wishing I was back home more and more," I said softly, tears rolling down my cheeks despite me trying to hold them back.

"I'm sorry that happened to you," Zhen tried to comfort me, but I shook my head, smiling tightly.

"It's okay. I can't fix it now, obviously. I just try to find the good in every day, so I'll find the courage to keep moving," I asserted, trying to sound confident. Zhen opened his mouth to say something, but apparently decided against it and instead put his hands in his pockets awkwardly.

"We're here," he stated as we came to my room, both of us standing in the dark hall, not moving an inch.

"Uh, thanks for walking me back," I thanked him, and Zhen nodded quickly.

"You're welcome. Thanks for trusting me with your story. It meant a lot. Usually, girls are too giggly around me to say anything, and you were so open with me even though we just met tonight. If you ever need anything or just want to talk again, I'm always around," he told me, smiling. Blushing, I nodded, not able to say anything with the tears still streaming down my face. Reaching out a hand, Zhen wiped them away gently with his thumbs, and as I looked up at him I could see an emotion I couldn't place swimming in his eyes.

"You don't have to be so strong all the time," he consoled, and I fell apart, sobbing into his shoulder.

"I-I'm s-sorry," I wept, knowing that I shouldn't be crying around a man I barely knew, but Zhen only pulled me closer, laying his head on top of mine.

"You don't have to apologize. It's okay," he comforted, making the hole in my heart smaller as I realized he was being genuine.

I had learned the hard way over the years not to cry in front of other people because they always looked at me with pity and hurt, and I didn't need that. I needed people who would help me through the bad days and wouldn't try and tell me everything would be okay when I knew it wouldn't. Nothing would ever be the same for me again, and I was slowly learning to be okay with that. Even though this wasn't the life that I chose, it was the life that I had, and now I had to learn how to live in it. If that meant I had to learn how to open up to others, then so be it. Even though I had only known him for a few hours, Zhen had never looked at me with sorrow in his eyes when I told him my story. He had helped me more than anyone else had, and for that I was grateful.

As soon as we pulled away from each other Zhen looked at me with a small smile on his face, and I returned the gesture.

"So, ready for assignments tomorrow? I'm hoping to get into the boss's squadron myself. I could put in a good word for you if you want me to," Zhen winked, trying to change the subject, and I laughed, shaking my head.

"Uh, no. I don't think Amon needs a clumsy girl who falls on her face every day from tripping over gravity on his most trusted group of soldiers," I joked, and Zhen chuckled.

"Oh, I don't know about that. I haven't even seen you fight yet. Who knows? You might be a natural at chi-blocking," he encouraged, and I rolled my eyes.

"Uh, based on the fact that I've never had to chi-block someone before, I would have to disagree," I told him, and Zhen's mouth dropped open.

"Wait. You've never-oh no, that's not gonna go well with Zhi tomorrow morning. Come on, I'll show you a few moves down at the Quarter. It'll be quick, I promise," Zhen promised as he took my hand and started walking quickly down the hall, practically dragging me with him.

"Hey, wait! What do you mean 'it won't go well,'?" I thought we were supposed how to learn here anyways," I remarked breathlessly as I caught up with him, and he looked at me like I was crazy.

"The new recruits were supposed to have already learned the basics before they came here. I'm surprised they let you in here if you hadn't learned anything," he said as he slid open the doors to the training area, and I walked with him to the back corner of the room where a small mat was spread on the floor. Standing in front of him, I followed his stance as he spread his legs shoulder-width apart, locking eyes with me.

Faster than I thought would be humanely possible he came at me, his hands hitting me lightly in the arm, and I felt both of my arms go limp.

"I can't feel my arms," I mumbled, shocked, and Zhen grinned.

"That's kind of the whole point. Chi-blocking effectively "blocks" a person's most powerful chi points. A person's bending flows through those chi points, so if you were to face a bender in a fight, you would be more than capable of rendering their bending completely useless by blocking the power. It only lasts for a few minutes though, so you have to be quick in your movements," Zhen explained, and I nodded, the feeling already returning to my aching limbs.

"Okay. Where are those points exactly?" I asked him, watching as he came up to me and pointed to the various areas.

"Your upper arms, sides, back, and lower stomach area is where some of the most powerful chi points are located since bending comes from those areas most of the time, but sometimes people's legs are a good option too since fire benders like to kick flames at people every so often," Zhen laughed drily, but I could tell it was more of an angry laugh than anything else.

"Okay. Can I try on you?" I asked, and Zhen nodded.

"Yeah, of course. But I'm not going easy on you," Zhen narrowed his eyes at me playfully, beckoning me closer. Smirking, I ran up to him, narrowly avoiding a punch to the arm and stepping back quickly just as he swung out a leg at me. Flipping over him, I watched as he reached an arm out to hit me in the side, seeing an open spot underneath where his underarm was exposed. Duckling underneath his arm, I hit his thigh and watched triumphantly as he fell to the ground. Too late, I realized I had made a grave mistake as he swung his other leg and caught me off balance, swinging one of his arms up and hitting me in both legs. Crumpling to the mat, I fell straight on my back, groaning in pain.

"You have to be prepared for anything," Zhen said as he helped me up a few moments later, my legs protesting with the movement.

"Oh? Like this?" I replied, hitting him lightly on the shoulder and the stomach before he could react. He doubled over, moaning softly, a smile on his face despite the pain.

"Yeah. T-that's good," he grunted, limping off the mat as I grinned.

Just as I was getting ready to follow him, I saw Zhen suddenly stiffen, looking at something in front of him. Looking past his shoulder, I saw a figure standing in the shadows of the doors, his arms clasped behind him. Amon stepped out into the dim light of the room, his mask seeming to stare directly into my soul as he turned his head towards me. I prayed that he wouldn't speak to me, my nerves getting the best of me as my hands began to sweat.

How long had he been watching?

"It is late. Why are you two here?" he asked, his gaze still on me as Zhen responded, "I was teaching her how to chi-block, sir. She said no one taught her before she came here."

"That was not your decision to make. There are instructors here who she could have seen," Amon reprimanded, and I could see Zhen's shoulders slump at the remark.

With anger boiling in my chest, I stepped up beside my friend, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"With all due respect, sir, Zhen taught me very well. I don't think I could have learned anything new from an instructor," I countered, ignoring the shocked look from Zhen.

I could practically feel the glare Amon was giving me as he stepped closer to me, but I refused to allow myself to be intimidated.

He stared me down for a solid minute, but I only stared more, narrowing my eyes defiantly. I could see his eyes behind his mask, searching my face for something I couldn't place. After what seemed like forever he stepped back, seemingly satisfied with whatever he saw.

"You fight well. You will make a fine addition to my team. Both of you," he added, turning to Zhen.

My mind went blank as I stared at Amon, not really comprehending what had just happened.

Did he really say what I think he said?

"T-thank you, sir," Zhen breathed in disbelief, looking aghast as I stared at the floor, my mind reeling.

"Get some rest. We leave at seven," Amon stated as he walked away, the shadows seeming to swallow him whole.

Once we were alone, Zhen picked me up and spun me, both of us laughing.

"Do you realize what this means? We'll be working together! This will be awesome!" he exclaimed happily, hugging me tightly.

"Yeah, but that also means that we'll constantly be with the guy who basically told you you were a loser," I retorted, and Zhen rolled his eyes.

"He didn't say that."

"He implied it. And now he's gonna have to make up for what he said, or he's gonna have to deal with me," I grumbled, putting my hands on my hips.

"Oh, I'm sure he's shaking right now," Zhen joked as he walked with me back to my room.

"That's not funny," I muttered as I rolled my eyes again, and Zhen only laughed, putting his arm around my shoulder.

Once we got back to my bedroom door, I stopped as my hand reached for the handle, and turned around, hugging Zhen.

"Thank you," I whispered, and he wrapped his arms around me, laying his head on my shoulder.

"Any time. Now get to bed, loser," he teased, pushing me towards the door.

"Who are you calling loser, loser?" I joked, earning a smack on the arm as Zhen smiled.

"See you tomorrow," he told me as I opened the door, stepping into my room. Turning back, I waved, watching him walk down the hall and out of sight before I closed the door.

Walking to my bed, I lied down, curling up underneath the blanket and forcing my eyes to shut, dreams for once escaping me as my mind surrendered blissfully to sleep.