Authors Notes: Fighting scenes in the story are most likely not going to be that good, as I can't really describe it that well and they're not that fun to write.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Avatar world, that is all owned by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.

Chapter 2

Decisions

The two Dai Li agents swiftly exited their target's building after getting the job done. Afterwards, making a hasty getaway towards the area where Elsi and Gale were located. The duo found the young woman and spirit alone as usual, with Elsi mindlessly stroking Gale's head softly as she waited. When she noticed the two arrive, she nodded and wordlessly began moving with them away from the area.

Most jobs were done at night, so the moon looked down on them as they travelled down a small road.

However, Rin was looking at Wikilow with something he couldn't discern. He was content to wait until they reached a suitable location to make camp to discuss whatever issue it was. But, the water bender instead grabbed his wrist. The Avatar gave her a confused look as she dragged him far ahead of Elsi. Rin giving her the excuse that they were going to scout the area. Elsi looked perplexed, sensing the atmosphere but didn't protest, watching the duo leave.

Once they reached a suitable distance away from their other companion. Rin released Wikilow from her tight hold.

"What is the reason you desired to talk to me alone?" Wikilow asked, while absentmindedly cradling his wrist.

"You hesitated earlier." Rin accused angrily.

"I am aware of my actions during our previous assignment." The Avatar responded dully, his eyes meeting Rin's dark stormy ones.

"You never, ever, hesitate during tasks. So, why did you now?" The water bender roughly interrogated, crossing her arms across her red tank top.

"I do not know." Wikilow honestly replied, making Rin let out a loud sigh as she turned and took a few steps away from him.

"You're acting weird." She said after a few tense moments. Wikilow tilted his head, confused which made her roll her eyes. " You're not acting like yourself." Rin clarified with an exasperated and irritated tone.

"Myself?" The young man questioned, befuddled.

"Obviously, so here I am, wondering why that is." His partner stated, going to say something else before a certain air bender called out to them.

"Is something going on?" Elsi asked with Gale perched on her shoulder.

The two Dai Li agents gave her a blank look before Wikilow responded.

"We were discussing our last assignment." He plainly informed while Rin looked between him to Elsi, as if in deep thought.

"Weren't you supposed to stay behind us?" She asked suspiciously though her mind was elsewhere.

"Well, you guys don't seem to be moving forward right now, so I kind of caught up." Elsi explained with a gesture. "Did something go wrong on your mission?" The air bender went, though a little uncomfortable, as she always was after these things.

"We completed out goal." Wikilow responded, looking back to Rin.

The water bender's eyes were focused on the ground beneath her. She was rapidly going over the past few months, specifically concerning Wikilow and Elsi. Rin remembered all those times the air bender had tried to talk about their work. Then, she made a heavy realization. A look of anger painted her face as her fists clenched, then released as she realized another thing. Her anger was temporarily replaced by a flash of guilt, before she beat it back and sighed.

"Yes we did." Rin said after Wikilow, voice clear and confidant, showing no signs of trouble or unease. "And you know what Wikilow?" She added afterwards, glancing at the Avatar. "Forget it, mission's already over and it doesn't matter that much now. Target's dead and we got other more important things to do anyways." Rin waved off with a casual air about her. "Lets set up camp here." The water bender said to which the other two agreed on.

However, Rin was uncharacteristically quiet that evening and for the next couple days and nights after.

The group made their way into a local town, brimming with people and life. They didn't have any assignments there, but it was on the way to their next one. After restocking supplies, Wikilow made to keep moving but Rin paused.

"Hey, I need to do something first, so stay tight." The water bender said, already jumping off before the others could really react.

Though they stared at the spot the bender had previously occupied, Elsi leisurely shrugged while Wikilow just turned his attention elsewhere. Meanwhile, Rin discreetly wandered through the back alleys of the town. Silently, and with the skills of a professional, she crept into a single, dark alley. In the compact space, hidden in the shadows of buildings was a single Dai Li agent.

Elsewhere, Elsi and Wikilow wandered through the town while waiting for their missing companion to return. Elsi tried to make small conversation to pass the time, despite Wikilow not being able to offer much insight into the topics.

"About what we discussed a few days ago, sorry for kind of going off like that. I can get kind of worked up sometimes." Elsi said after one particular silence.

"You do not need to apologize. I can not fault you for having a differing opinion or mindset. But if you disrupt the peace, then I would have to take action." Wikilow remarked, not noticing the way Elsi stiffened.

"What action would you take if that were to happen?" She quietly asked, hair hiding her eyes from view.

"I…" Wikilow trailed off, hesitating to answer. "Kill you immediately." His mind said, yet for some reason he couldn't name or place, he didn't want to say it despite it being the truthful answer.

"Do you know what exactly the Dai Li do to 'keep' peace and order?" Elsi continued, looking at him.

"We kill people who disrupt it, thus eliminating the problem." Wikilow naturally replied.

"I want to show you something. Do you mind following me?" The air bender eventually requested, which Wikilow shook his head to.

Elsi led Wikilow through the town, mumbling to herself and occasionally making sure he was still with her. "It should be around here somewhere." She quietly went, before spotting something and quickening her pace towards it. They were in a more run down street, the buildings old and dirty like the people who lived there. Multiple people just sat outside their houses despondently, staring at anything and nothing at all. "Okay Wikilow, what do you see here?" Elsi asked the Avatar who observed the scene.

"A street that is comprised of low quality buildings and materials, with eight people." He plainly but accurately observed.

"I see something more then that. I see people who are suffering and sad. People who are struggling and despaired. People, who might not like life right now." Elsi explained with a somber tone.

"Your point?" Wikilow asked.

"The reason why many of these people are living like this. Is because the Dai Li demand so much they can't afford to do anything else but barely scrape by." The air bender elaborated on, though Wikilow was skeptical of this claim.

"Correlation does not automatically relate to cause. Other factors could contribute to this state, like the people themselves or area. We have seen people who are living in above average conditions as well." He argued, to which Elsi sent him a sympathetic look.

"I've heard horror stories about the Dai Li while I lived in the Water Tribes. And when I was travelling through the Earth States, I saw so many people like this, and in much larger numbers." Elsi continued. "Does this sound like peace Wikilow?" She asked seriously.

Wikilow tried to form an argument but remained silent, as the two just watched. On the tiled rooftops above, Rin watched the duo with a solemn look. Behind her back she held a scroll bearing the Dai Li's symbol.

A day passed without incident within the group. Elsi noticed that Rin was acting odd but decided to ask about it in private. When they set up camp at nightfall, the air bender went to talk to her. However, Rin was one step ahead.

"Hey Elsi, can we talk? In private?" The water bender asked with a leisure demeanour, motioning in the direction of a nearby river.

"Of course." Elsi said back with a gentle smile.

The two benders went at a slow pace, strolling down to the water's edge. The stars twinkled above them, shining down like a light in the dark. The river was considerably large, the rapids streaming across at a fast pace. Rin stood in front of the water with her hands behind her back. The moist ground beneath her feet welcoming. Beneath her calm, relaxed exterior though, Elsi could sense a stiff unease in the water bender. "So, what did you want to talk about?" Elsi asked gently, a few steps behind Rin. "You seem to have something on your mind." She added.

"I always find the water comforting you know?" Rin said out of nowhere, eyes transfixed by the continuous motions of the river. "It might just be a water bending thing, but whenever I need to cool down and think, I like coming to rivers and stuff, you know?" Rin continued, looking down at her reflection, arms falling to her sides.

"I get it. We all have our comforts." Elsi said back, though she was still unsure as to why Rin was telling her this.

"Listen Elsi. I need to get something off my chest." Rin confessed, not looking at her.

"You… do?" The air bender went, tilting her head.

"When Wikilow and I first met you, and when I spared your life. I wasn't just curious about the Water Tribes. Seeing as you were a foreign bender, I wanted to see if you were like me." The water bender stated, slowly turning towards her.

"What do you mean like you?" Elsi prodded softly.

Rin was silent before she answered, as if further pondering something. "My parents kicked me out when I first became a mercenary. They literally pushed me out of the house. Almost everyone I had ever met besides my parents mistreated me, looked down on me because I was a water bender." The older girl seethed, fists clenching.

"Rin…" The younger of the two whispered, feeling sympathetic for the other girl.

"I needed the work, but they didn't understand." Rin quietly muttered, a dark look in her eyes. "I wanted to know if you had gone through anything similar. Mistreatment, unfair prejudice and bias. But, I guess things are just different down there." The water bender stated coldly.

"… I understand Rin. Compared to what you've gone through, my experiences are far less extreme. But, I have been treated differently, and in some cases badly because we're 'different'." Elsi comforted, moving to stand beside Rin, who sighed and gave her a genuine smile.

"Thanks for the words, really, I mean it. I just needed to quickly come clean about that, clear my conscience." The water bender said in a clear voice, but took a couple long steps away from Elsi. The air bender however, could see that there was still something troubling Rin. Before she could comment on it though the other girl spoke once more. "Anyways… forgetting all that… I'm sor… I'm sorry about this." Rin apologized, confusing Elsi further.

Before she could even formulate a response, an icicle was thrust at her head. Letting out a sound of surprise she just barely twisted to the side so it missed. Though, the icicle cut her hair beads loose. They fell to the ground and were promptly washed away in the river. Elsi shot a shocked look at the water bender.

"Rin!" The air bender yelled, as said person wordlessly continued her assault. "What are you doing?" Elsi questioned as she was forced to defend herself.

"I have my orders." Rin coldly remarked as she sent boiling water whips at her.

Dodging the whips, Elsi rolled on the ground before quickly rising to her feet. She refused to attack the other bender. "Can't we talk about this? I don't want to fight you Rin!" Elsi shouted as she skillfully parried small icicles away.

"You don't have a choice in the matter! If you won't fight, then help me make this quick!" The water bender shot back, quickening her attack speed.

The two continued to fight. Though at first they were evenly matched, Elsi was no match for the experienced mercenary. Especially since she rather focused on defending herself and trying to verbally resolve things peacefully. As Rin directed more boiling water towards her, Elsi countered by air bending in a circular motion, redirecting the water to the then steaming ground. But, she was distracted by the steam. This small diversion gave Rin the opportunity to land a hit on the air bender. Hot boiling water scorched Elsi's chest, making her recoil and hiss. Afterwards, Rin used her bending to grapple and then slam Elsi into a nearby tree, causing her to let out a sound of pain.

Before she could deal the finishing blow however, a wall of fire interrupted the fight, separating her from a downed Elsi. Opening her eyes, Rin saw that Wikilow had created the now dissipated wall.

"Why are you trying to kill Elsi?" The Avatar asked, glancing at both Rin and said air bender.

"Dai Li ordered it Wikilow! She's disrupting the peace!" Rin called out, making Wikilow freeze.

"The Dai Li ordered it. Elsi disrupted the peace? So, she has to, die?" He thought as Elsi brought her leg up and launched a strike from her foot, continuing to defend herself. "I… have to obey then… if the Dai Li ordered it done. The Dai Li can do no wrong." Wikilow recited in his head, frozen in place as he watched Rin gain the upper hand and begin to pummel the resisting air bender.

"Just give up. It will make this easier for the both of us." Rin said as she tried to restrain a struggling Elsi beneath her.

"I have to obey orders from the Dai Li. I should let Elsi die." Wikilow said in his head, though inner doubt began to surface. "What action did they do to disrupt the peace?" He remembered Elsi saying, coming to one decision. "Rin, what did Elsi do to disrupt the peace? He asked, staring at the two.

"You don't need to know-" Rin began before Wikilow cut her off.

"What did she do?" The young man asked again, with a slightly forceful tone.

"For goodness sakes. Influencing the Avatar." The water bender answered with a growl.

"Influencing… me?" Wikilow trailed off with a head tilt, thoughts racing as Rin prepared a killing blow. "Has Elsi been trying to, influence, manipulate me." The Avatar thought, feeling oddly confused and torn. "That… does not seem logical." Wikilow continued, thinking back to past moments with the air bender. "Yet, the Dai Li have ordered…" He trailed off, observing Elsi.

Something in the air benders eyes, so alive in the face of imminent death, stirred something within Wikilow. "I should obey." His mind thought though his body began moving. The thought seeming distant for some unknown reason. He didn't really know why or what he was doing.

And for once, he followed his instincts.

Earth bending a rock into the air, Wikilow kicked it into Rin, knocking her off a badly injured Elsi. His partner looked at him with shock, but stood.

"Wikilow! What are you doing?" Rin angrily demanded, eyes boring into his.

"I will not permit you to kill Elsi." He explained, looking to Rin then Elsi, who had a new gleam in her eyes as she tried to sit up.

"These are the Dai Li's orders!" Rin argued, making Wikilow look down a little.

"I know." He said back quietly.

Rin looked furious at this new development. But she took a resigned breath, and launched herself forward to attack. Wikilow caught the water benders arms and threw her to the ground effortlessly. "It is illogical to try and fight me Rin. You know that." He said coldly as Rin jumped back. Her facial expression was just as cold, she would not back down. "Very well then." Wikilow stated, beginning to fight his partner.

It was going very much like one of their spars. Only this time, they were actually fighting with real stakes on the line. Out of all the people in the Dai Li, Rin would be the one who could defeat Wikilow in a battle. She knew that her chances of victory were slim in reality, but she fought anyways.

Rin sent a rapid water stream towards Wikilow, attempting to pierce the Avatar's chest. Wikilow took control of the stream, bending it around himself while lightning bending, allowing the water to absorb the sparks. He sent this electrocuted stream back at Rin with the same speed. Who dodged but then countered the move back again. Wikilow twisted his feet and raised an earthen pillar to block the stream, dissipating it. Afterwards he threw the remains at Rin who dodged. In turn, she created multiple ice bullets and fired them, which didn't hit their target.

This continued for some time before Wikilow was able to sink Rin into the ground to her shoulders. Then he forced her up in an earthen hold. The Avatar then formed a fire dagger in his hand to execute Rin, as he was instinctually trained to do. Rin grit her teeth as she realized she was defeated.

"NO!" Elsi cried from behind them, though she still struggled to stand. "Don't kill her Wikilow!" The air bender protested passionately.

"She tried to assassinate you?" Wikilow argued, though he did not turn to face Elsi, keeping his focus on Rin.

"That doesn't mean I want her to die! That doesn't mean she deserves to die!" Elsi defended.

"She will be a danger to you." The Avatar said logically.

"You can't just kill her because of that. I don't want anyone to die because of me!" The air bender yelled vigorously.

"It would be most efficient to just end her life. But could that really be the incorrect course of action?" Wikilow mentally went. "If I do not kill Rin, she will most likely continue trying to kill Elsi." Wikilow thought in his head, trying to come up with a solution to his dilemma. "I cannot release her either, as it is likely she will also continue." He added. "Rin is a danger to Elsi. How can I make her no longer a danger without taking Rin's life?" The young man pondered before coming to an answer he found satisfactory.

He put his hands on Rin's forehead and shoulder.

"Wikilow?" Elsi whispered.

"DON'T YOU DARE!" Rin screamed at him, eyes wide when she realized what he was planning.

Wikilow remembered a time when he was still being trained by the Dai Li. They had been researching a specific technique that only the Avatar could perform. Eventually, they figured it out and brought people in to teach the young Avatar the technique. Energy bending. His superiors in the organization often said that it was not expected he would ever need to utilize it. Outright killing the targets being the preferred method. But as a precaution it was taught to him.

Rin futilely tried to escape as light enveloped the points of Wikilow's hands. She was muttering incoherently. Eventually though, the Avatar withdrew and released his partner who collapsed onto her knees. Rin was gasping and weakly stood, giving a betrayed and enraged glare despite her current condition. However, she tore her eyes away from the two and staggered backwards. Shakily proceeding to flee.

Wikilow took a step to chase his partner down, but a call from Elsi halted him.

"Rin!" Elsi called out, with a worried tone lacing her voice. However, the air bender then winced, clutching her side.

She felt herself being lowered to the ground, finding that Wikilow was water bending.

"I know some basic healing." The young man stated, beginning to treat Elsi's numerous injuries from Rin.

Wikilow was not skilled in the healing art though. As such, it took a while to get Elsi to a favourable condition. When he was done the duo stood, alone. For an unknown amount of time, they just stood there in utter silence. The only sound being that of nature and breath. It was Elsi who broke it.

"Are you alright Wikilow?" She asked, concerned.

"Rin is a skillful individual even without her bending. I have much doubt that I would be able to locate her, even more so regarding recapturing her." The Avatar said calmly.

Elsi gave him a pointed look. "That's not what I mean." She stated.

He knew what she meant.

"I… disobeyed orders. I disobeyed the Dai Li. What did I just do? What do I do now? What's going to happen? I broke procedure. I broke protocol. I went against my training. I disobeyed the Dai Li. I disobeyed the Dai Li's orders. I disobeyed orders… I disobeyed orders." Wikilow was thinking, a disarrayed storm raging in his mind.

However, he didn't show any of this turmoil outwardly. Keeping a calm emotionless face as he looked down at the ground, shadows hiding his face as always. For a moment though, this exterior momentarily broke away, revealing pure confusion. Wikilow said three words, for once, clear with feeling.

"I don't know."

Authors Note: I didn't expect this chapter to take as long as it did to write, but I hope it was alright. Anyways, don't worry about Rin, she'll be back. Please tell me your thoughts and review!