Authors Note: Another Rin chapter, let's hope this goes better then the entirety of Rin Alone…

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

Chapter 20

Old Friends

A Dai Li agent exited a small shop. A greedy smile on his face and malevolence in his eyes as he stalked the alleys. A hefty sum of money in his pocket. The night was his and his alone. The agent began making their way toward the next location to extort. Taking delight in his annual routine and the power it gave him. The fear people had for him.

Even the silence bowed to him.

A sound pierced his euphoria. Making the agent whip around behind him. There was nothing but the wind in the alley. Scoffing, the agent continued on his way. Another sound, a quick intake of breath. But before the agent could even respond to it, the flat metal surface of a spear whacked him on the side of his head. Knocking the agent unconscious. His attacker sighed, dragging the agent away as they had done many times before. The spear was mounted on their back once more. But once the agent was placed into a suitable location, their assailant grasped it again.

Rin plunged the spear into the agent's heart, killing them for good.

"Rin?" Another, deeper voice spoke. Stealing away her mute reward. She quickly moved to defend herself from the newcomer. But they frantically put their hands up to signify they weren't a threat. "Whoa! Hold it! Hold it!" They stammered, moving toward her. Rin took a few cautious steps back, tightening her hold. From the shadows a young man emerged, entering the moonlight. Charred flattened spikes hanging off his head. Glistening golden eyes staring back at Rin. The ex water bender's eyes widened after studying his face, which had seemed faintly familiar.

"…Rozoku…" Rin coldly acknowledged, stance only tensing more at his appearance. "What are you doing in the Earth States?" She questioned, eyes narrowing at her former acquaintance. He wore a simple brown open short coat over a long white shirt, a dark cap facing forward on his head.

"I…I could ask the same of you…" Rozoku slowly replied, lowering his arms.

"It's none of your business!" Rin snapped, gesturing at him with her spear. The fire bender's eyes trailed downwards, at the limp body at Rin's feet. Blood slowly leaked from the corpse, pooling into one red lake. Rin took a couple steps back to avoid the vicious sight.

"…Did…did you do that?" Rozoku nervously asked, drawing his mouth into a thin line.

"Well you were watching weren't you?" Rin sassed, but before she could continue a loud street commotion caught their attention. "Tcsh…" The young woman muttered, backing away to flee. "You're on your own!" She yelled back. Disappearing into the shadows before he could talk. Behind a corner, Rin tried to force her feet to move. Yet it was as if they were chained to the alley's walls.

"Rozo! Why'd you-WHY IS THERE A BODY?" A deep masculine voice yelled.

"Rozo?" Rin internally snickered at the nickname.

"It wasn't me!" Rozoku immediately defended, jumping away from the corpse.

"Why is there a body, then?" A separate, sweeter voice questioned.

"I- well- I-" The fire bender struggled to explain.

"…They don't sound like the Dai Li…" Rin noted, still hiding. Rozoku and the strangers continued to bicker before a paper airplane hit the wall. Rozoku bent over and picked it up, unfolding it and reading the scribbles inside.

"Nat's telling us to hurry up or he'll leave without us." The fire bender read aloud. "I- you know what? I'll explain later, we got to go!" Rozoku stated, turning around to leave. The others with him agreed. Rin stayed pressed against the wall, listening.

"What are they? No…" She thought, before closing her eyes. Before even she knew what had happened. Rin stepped out from the alley, cloak swaying behind her. Spear in hand she braced for an imminent attack. Two girls were with Rozoku. One had a large athletic build and choppy hair. The other was smaller and petite, with a frenzied air about her. The smaller girl saw Rin first. Slamming her foot down and spinning into a T pose. Causing the rocks and pebbles around them to rise off the ground. She then slammed her hands together, launching the stone at Rin.

"Wait Hafu!" Rozoku tried to say but it was already done. Rin spun her spear, deflecting each of the projectiles while jumping out of the way. The other girl ran forward, pulling back a large fist to swing at Rin. She ducked out of reach, kicking them in the stomach in turn.

"Stop!" Rozoku shouted, causing the fighting to cease. He took a deep breath before continuing. "Guys… this is Rin." He introduced.

"You joined the Resistance?" Rin doubtfully asked, sitting on the other side of a circular table, Rozoku opposing her. The group had taken shelter in an abandoned run down building. It was a small town, Huíyì. Not notable for anything, and disappearing among all the other small areas of the Earth States in comparison to the bigger cities. But, it had almost meant there were less Dai Li agents. Thus, easier to eliminate when passing through.

"It's that surprising huh…" Rozoku sighed, slouching in his chair. "…Left school early to join the military. Then got the chance to volunteer for a covert operation over here." He explained, leaning back.

"So the Fire Nation isn't completely neutral after all…" Rin dryly replied. Crossing her arms over her spear on the table.

"…Well, that's my story. You?" Rozoku inquired, rubbing at his eye.

"Assassin." Rin curtly answered. "Well, technically former. But there's no way I'm telling you the whole thing." She thought. Rozoku froze at her words.

"Did… did you actually murder Miss Ping?" He incredulous questioned.

"…Maybe." Rin replied, rolling the spear under her hands.

"Spirits of the- what the heck, Rin?!" Rozoku exclaimed, wide eyed.

"I regret a lot of things okay." She darkly retorted, glaring at her former acquaintance. He crumbled at that and sank into himself.

"Kay…" He mumbled. "So… was earlier a job or?" The fire bender asked with a huff.

"Personal." The young woman answered, leaving it at that. Rozoku quickly nodded in turn. "Are you and Koto still talking?" She lightly asked, though her tone indicated disinterest. Rozoku blinked, processing her question before speaking.

"Oh uh, yeah we're still in touch. Haven't been able to talk much lately since we've both been pretty busy. I'm over here, and she's married and dealing with a kid," The fire bender informed, causing Rin to do a double take.

"Did… did you say kid? Seriously?" She gawked.

"Wait a second! It's not as bad as it sounds! She adopted!" Rozoku quickly clarified.

"Sheesh, thought Koto turned into one of those blubbering idiots." Rin stated. Rozoku let out a chuckle that almost seemed genuine. The conversation died off, just the two of them looking anywhere but each other.

"How long you in town for?" Rozoku asked after some time.

"I was going to leave today." Rin spoke, planning ahead for later. "I'm going to have to jack another car…the idiocy of some people I swear…" She thought with an eye roll.

"Oh, okay." Rozoku stiffly nodded. "Do… do you have time to help out with something first?" He awkwardly asked of her.

"Excuse me?" The ex water bender went, narrowing her eyes.

"It's- it's just a quick raid we're doing on the east factory! Could really use the help if I'm being honest…" Rozoku hurriedly explained, widely waving his hands. "But, if you don't want to that's fine!" He added with a forced laugh. Rin stayed silent. A small pop in the building's basement momentarily derailed the conversation. A yell made Rozoku stand up and leave. "I got to look at that quickly! Think about it!" He said over his shoulder, descending the hatch that led down.

Once he was out of sight Rin scoffed at the notion.

"Just my luck…" She inwardly scowled. As the Hafu girl climbed out, shooting a quick glance at her before moving to inspect the sink. The wavy haired fighter turned the tabs, a few minuscule droplets leaking out the rusted tap.

Drip drop…drip drop…

Rozoku's group consisted of himself, Hafu who apparently grew up on Kyoshi Island, the other girl named Sami who was also the only local, and Nat, their resident driver.

Drip drop… drip drop…

"Why does the first Resistance group I meet have to include… them…?" Rin wondered. She had been going from town to town, killing any Dai Li agent she could get away with. But she had been trying to find some pocket or branch of the rebel organization. Agni knows it would be so much more effective than offing random agents off the streets.

Drip drop… drip drop…

Rin had told herself she would be okay with any sort of people that would be her first contact. The thought of it being Rozoku was not appealing in the slightest however. And trying to find someone else was seeming more so by the minute.

Drip drop… drip drop…

The ex water bender inwardly groaned as Hafu left the room. A minute passed before Rozoku poked his head up from the hatch, bouncing back onto the floor.

Drip drop… drip drop…

"Hey Rin, we have a water situation down here. Mind lending a hand?" The fire bender innocently requested.

Drip drop… drip drop…

Rin froze before snapping her head forward, knuckles turning white. Cold air rushed through her body. Flashes of her parents shop went through her mind, of countless glass figurines being given out for nothing.

Drip drop… drip drop…

Of fake smiles and faces.

Drip drop… drip drop…

Of betrayal.

Drip drop… drip drop…

Rin yanked her spear off the table and stomped toward the exit. Rozoku made a surprised sound that died in his throat. The floorboards creaked under her weight. The tap seemed to stall as she spun around to give him a furious glare.

"I'd rather not be used just for your convenience." Rin uttered, voice full of contempt. At first Rozoku was confused, before understanding dawned on his face. Eyes and mouth slowly widening. He paled dramatically.

"I- I didn't mean it like that!" He sputtered, clambering to defend himself. Rin coldly scoffed, mind made up.

"Whatever, what's done is done, right?" She sarcastically replied, she took another step toward the door. Peg clinking against the floor. Rozoku's eyes trailed downwards.

"When did-" He began before Rin cut him off.

"Did you just notice?!" She snapped, bringing the wooden peg down once more.

"I-I…I'm sorry… about, that… about everything…really… everything…" Rozoku quietly told her. So full go emotion that Rin could almost believe him. She looked at him again with fiery scorn, hand on the knob to leave. "Can… can I show you something quick…? Rin…" The fire bender asked as she began twisting the handle. She wanted to ignore him and just get out so badly. So very badly.

Rin turned around, spear glinting in the little light inside. Silently, Rozoku walked to a separate door near the sink. Hafu peeked out from the hatch, gaping.

"Rozo! You can't possibly be-" The warrior started.

"Please just let me do this…" Rozoku softly stated.

"We just got one of those to work!" Hafu argued, but the fire bender simply turned and gave them both one of the most remorseful faces she had ever seen. Hafu quieted down, and shut the hatch. Rin, suspiciously followed Rozoku through the door, hitting cool metal ground. In front of her was an array of beat up motorcycles. Chipped paint and bent parts all around a garage.

Rin stilled, just staring at the show. Rozoku coughed, and shook one of the bikes farther down. It had a warm colour scheme to it, and was fully intact.

"…I know this is probably worthless to you… seeing as you probably already got rides and stuff. But, you like bikes, right?" Rozoku gently asked, a nostalgic feel to him.

It brought forward an old memory… of better days…

*Flashback* Nine years ago…

It had been the perfect afternoon. The sun so blindingly bright they had to cover their eyes. Golden rays of light reflecting in the waves. Like something out of a dream. It sure felt like one, that perfect day.

It had been outside of town, where the ground was flat yet still hard enough for biking. Rin's family could never afford one. And none of their neighbours had ever let the girl borrow one of theirs. The long line of kids just rode pass her house, laughing and racing each other in summertime glee. But that day was different. Koto's mom had gone overboard on her birthday. So Koto had a few bikes to spare.

They had left early morning. Rin, Rozoku and Koto. Excitedly dragging the bikes across town. Once they got far out, Rin fell off her bike more times then she could count. Yet each slight peddle forward was exhilarating all the same. It was her first time on a bike.

They all laughed, harmonizing with the wind and sea.

Rin stood the bike up again, determined to get it right. Feet planted on the ground she had a comically serious face on. Rin felt a hand on one of the handles, overtop hers. Then again on her other. It was Rozoku and Koto, smiling as they pulled her forward.

"Okay! Now go!" The two yelled un unison, pushing Rin forward. She squealed as she wheeled away, wind flying into her face and tangling her hair.

"I'm going! I'm going!" Rin gleefully celebrated as her two best friends joined her.

Nothing could ruin that day.

Not then, not ever…

*Flashback End*

Rin quickly shook the memory off. Silently running her hand over the metal. She opened her mouth to say something, but opted not to. However, she remembered that bitterness that had haunted her. Remembered the betrayal she had felt. Rin's eyes hardened, hand recoiling.

"…You think… you think a stupid bike will make up for what you did…?" She asked quietly, fury underlying every word. His face contorted at her remark.

"I just-" Rozoku tried to say.

"A bike making up for years of-" Rin shouted before he cut her off.

"I'M SORRY OKAY! AGNI! WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO SAY? I'M SORRY RIN!" Rozoku angrily snapped. Rin took a step back, slightly shocked before doubling down.

"Do you know what it was like for me-" She started before he interrupted, steaming and tears leaking from the fire bender's eyes.

"YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW?! DO YOU THINK I WAS JUST OKAY AFTER YOU DISAPPEARED? AGNI! I COULDN'T LIVE WITH MYSELF! I'M TRYING TO MAKE UP FOR WHAT I DID! I'M TRYING!" Rozoku broke down, hiccuping as he backed away. The other rebels were cautiously looking through the garage door. Rin was still, stunned into silence. "…*sob* I'm trying…" He sobbed, sliding against the wall. "…I'm so, so, so sorry…" Rozoku quietly repeated. He looked up at her expressionless face, before squeezing his eyes shut. Shakily, he stumbled his way back into the building, closing the door and leaving Rin in the garage alone.

She took the bike and left. Speeding down the road and out of Huíyì town. Rin broke her passive facade, looking contemplative in the flickering shadows and moonlight.

"So… that happened…" The ex water bender soberly thought to herself. "Rozoku… happened… he, sure looked regretful…" Rin admitted. Ahead was the intersection that would lead out of the state. It stood alone in the plains, waiting for travellers. Rin tried to push the incident down, but it rebounded back. She gasped and mentally curled into herself. Finally dawning what she had just done. Rin slammed on the breaks, the motorcycle skidding to a halt. "Agni! He changed! He freaking changed!" She guiltily yelled, voice echoing throughout the plains.

And Rin had made it seem like it was nothing.

"I got to fix this! I'm going to fix this!" She determined, turning around and heading back to Huíyì. Rin turned east, to the factory where they were heading. So what if Rozoku and Koto's motives had changed at some point? So what if their friendship had turned sour at the end? She remembered those happy times. Their smiling faces and laughs as they enjoyed all that life could offer. They had met as kids. And no kid could've created that sort of long term plan. Their friendship had been genuine, at least once.

Arriving at the factory, a resounding boom caused the ground to shake and Rin to almost lose her balance. Steering into a dense clearing, she scoped the field. Nat seemed to use a rifle to snipe from a far. A bead of sweat trickling down his forehead. The other three were engaged in combat with a squad of Dai Li agents. Most likely having been caught during their raid.

Fortunately, they were holding their own against the agents. Hafu's fluid movements dancing around the enemy. Sami employed brute force, being a non bender. She crashed through earth and wrestled her opponents to the ground. Rozoku stuck with his fire bending, an offensive approach that forced the agents back.

Rin let out a breath, they were okay. However, that soon changed.

Another wave of agents emerged from the factory. Increasing the pressure on the Resistance. Soon, the Resistance had let themselves be separated. The Dai Li's main strategy. Hafu and Sami backed each other up as they fought side by side. But Rozoku was not so lucky. Though he fought valiantly, he was getting slowly overwhelmed. Jumping over rocks and projectiles. The fire bender called out for the others, but his voice was lost in the commotion.

Rin moved.

Thrusting her spear into one agent's chest, she began covering a shocked Rozoku.

"Fight you idiot!" She yelled at him to get the fire bender moving. Which he did, with a new burst of confidence. With that over with, the fight was ended after a long strenuous battle. The Resistance group stared at her, lost at what to do.

"Err… I hope it's alright that I showed up." Rin awkwardly began, scratching the back of her head.

"We got to go." Nat whispered to the others.

"Rozoku." She said, getting the fire bender's attention. She gulped. "I'm sorry, about earlier. I was wrong to say that." Rin sincerely apologized, looking away from their eyes.

"Rin…" She heard her former friend say, quietly. The ex water bender turned to exit, expecting rejection. But, she looked back, and instead saw his muddy hand extended to her. A relieved smile on his scratched up face.

Rin took it, grinning.

Now she knew what she was going to do. They would escape, and Rin would ask to join them. She would probably have to explain a lot of things, but a vague "I left the assassin business" would do. It was a good-

A gunshot rang through the air.

Blood dripped.

Rozoku fell.

Authors Note: Yeah, Rin chapters definitely take me longer to write. Until next time!