Chapter I

Frienemies

Korra awoke with a start.

Beneath her, Naga snored, her large white bulk moving gently as she huffed in her sleep. Korra swallowed and sat up, surveying her surroundings. Bolin and Pabu were curled into a ball, gently draped over Mako's lap. Mako's hand rested on his younger brother's head as he slept soundly. Bolin snorted, only before rolling a little, squishing Pabu. The fire ferret squeaked, before scurrying out of his arms and up Naga's back. Asami was resting against the opposite wall of the large drain, her arms crossed and head lulling to the side.

Asami Sato made it blatantly she knew about the kiss. Korra was even sure that the Equalist's daughter hated her, though she showed no outward emotion displaying so. Sighing, Korra wished it would all go away and they could all be happy again.

She ran a hand through her hair, worry lacing her features.

She had one of those dreams again. The dream when she is held down, helpless, and Amon's mask appears out of the shadows. He stalks forward, she struggles. She kicks and screams and punches but nothing happens. She tries to get away, but her legs won't work. Amon would reach out to her now, grasping her face. He would stretch to remove her bending and…

She'd wake up.

Standing and extending her limbs, the Avatar spotted something by Naga's feet. Hopping down from the polar bear dog, she could feel the water slop into boots, chilling her feet. Wading over to the small package, Korra's brows furrowed in confusion. The Avatar knelt down, grasping the small basket. On the top, a small tag was wrapped about the handle.

"You are welcome in our home. It is time we benders come together.

-Nasko"

Opening the basket, Korra grinned as the overwhelming sent of noodles soup and bread filled her nostrils. Whoever this Nasko guy was, she really did-

"Do I smell food?"

Korra's face dropped as Bolin scampered to his feet, rushing over to the basket.

"Woah! Korra! How'd you get all this food?" With a childish gasp, Bolin's eyes grew huge and his voice raised to another octave, "Noodle soup!"

Pabu squealed and hopped down from Naga, crawling up Bolin's leg as the teenager sniffed the piping hot container of food. From across the way, Mako blinked and rubbed his face, trying to wake himself up. Groaning and mustering up the strength to stand, the firebender hobbled over to the food with a curious expression.

"Don't look at me," Korra muttered, "I found it here."

Bolin froze, a few strands of noodles poking out of his mouth. Spitting it out dramatically, he scampered away from the basket to hide behind his brother.

"It could have been poisoned! Korra!" Turning around, Bolin spat into the drain's water, coughing.

Mako knelt down, surveying the basket. Taking the small card and flipping it in his hands, he let out a small chuckle. Asami wandered over, squinting at him as he stood.

"It's from Nasko, Bo. I don't he would poison our food."

Asami and Korra shared confused glances before Ms. Sato spoke up, "Nasko?"

Bolin cheered, and Pabu made a content noise. The earthbender rushed forward and grabbed a piece of bread, stuffing it into his mouth. "Nasko was this guy who maintained the bending arena! He was a firebender. We never really knew where he went through… We thought Amon got him and his family."

Korra frowned as Mako rummaged through the basket.

Pulling out a tattered piece of paper, the teen held it up to the light. It was a map of Republic City, showing small X's on roads and near buildings. Korra laughed, taking the paper from Mako.

"Huh. Sewer covers."

"They're hiding in the sewers?" Asami made a face, "And they're calling it home?"

"Not the sewers…" Mako figured, "The Catacomb."

"The Catacomb?" Bolin piped up, munching on his bread. He gave a piece to Pabu, who began nibbling on the white bread. With a defiant bite, Bolin chewed heartily before swallowing and eyeing his brother, "That thing the Eel Hounds were talking about?"

"That must be where they're hiding," Mako stood tall, peering out of the drain and across the water to Republic City.

"Woah, woah, woah. Hold up. Catacombs?" Korra frowned, holding up her hands defensively, "Sounds creepy, dangerous and not fun."

"I'm with Korra on this one," Asami crossed her arms and muttered, "I don't trust this."

"You don't trust anything I say," Mako shot back with a glare directed in Asami's direction.

"I have every right to not trust what you say!"

"You're just jealous!"

"Of course I'm jealous, you idiot!"

"Uh… guys?"

"You're a liar!"

"What? I'm a liar? You're father was a member of the Eq-"

"Guys?"

"Don't even bring that up! I don't want to-"

"GUYS?"

Bolin seldom raised his voice, and as he dropped his bread into the basket and stood, he planted one arm on Mako's chest and the other on Asami's shoulder.

"I don't know what has you two at each other's throats, but, really, now isn't the time," he explained, letting the two cool off. Asami crossed her arms once more, turning her back and going to slump against the concrete wall. Mako stumbled over to Naga, petting the polar bear dog rather furiously.

"The Catacomb is this series of underground tunnels leading to a safehouse. Mushu monks built it incase of-"

"-another attack on the Avatar," Korra finished his sentence for him, "Oh my god. I'm so stupid! Why didn't we think of that? It would have been a lot better than a stupid storm drain!"

Bolin grinned, glancing to Asami and then his brother.

"So, you guys in, or what?"

It was dinner time and all the inhabitants were gathered around the table. Nasko and Buli, his wife, sat at the head of the table, while their twins, Ko and Sono, sat to their right. Members of the Catgators, Zebra Frogs and Eel hounds were scattered amongst the sitting area, spooning hot soup into their mouths. The occasional joke would be shared, exciting squeals of laughter from the firebending twins at the end of the table.

Ko and Sono were both 7 years old. The toddlers were still learning how to master fire. With four other firebenders in the Catacomb with them, the toddlers were being taught well. Ko was quite the girly girl. She loved getting dressed up, and talking with the older boys was one of her favorite things to do. Sono, on the other hand, was much unlike his sister. He loved to fight, and often would drag her into one. He was immature, and almost as immature as Warau, the Eel Hounds' waterbender.

Nasko was about to open his mouth and as for the rice to be passed when the small ting of a bell sounded.

The table hushed and the persons shared silent glances.

Joku and Eli stood first, and gave a nod to Nasko as they rushed through the safe house to the stairs leading to the sewer's door.

Joku was a hefty built boy, only 17. He had light blue eyes and straight hair which tied back into a ponytail. The earthbender towered over Eli as she ran beside him, trying to keep up with his long strides. Joku grew up in Republic City, with two earthbending parents. He first joined probending when he was 15, and now, he played for the Catgators, alongside Eli and Kakoro.

Eli was 18. The lesser, agile female bore dusky blonde hair and murky brown eyes. Eli wasn't the prettiest girl in Republic City, but Eli managed to pull off a decent appeal with her slim nose and gentle eyebrows. Her dusty blonde hair was normally tied into a braid, which was either secured around her head in a crown-like manner or in a bun. Today, however, it was hanging loosely down her back, and flopped about as she rushed up the many stairs to the heavy iron door.

Joku could barely see the other probenders now, but they were all there, manning the bottom of the stairwell in case of a hostile intruder.

When Eli and Juko reached the top of the stairwell, Eli slid the slot open quickly. A pair of green eyes met her. She almost yelped and jumped away, but regained her composure, the firebender sternly asked, "Password?"

"Uh…"

A strong female voice spoke up, her blue eyes replacing the green ones.

"Anzen-sei."

Juko heaved the door open, revealing the guests. Stepping aside, the two probenders let the four figures in.

Mako was first to recognized the two Catgator members. Juko was just as huge as he remembered, with a scowl plastered on his chubby face. He was crossing his arms, the huge pieces of muscle threatening him already. His eyes fleeted to Eli, the firebender, who greeted him with the tiniest of smalls.

"Well, if it isn't the Fire Ferrets, come to save the day," she sneered, "Took you long enough. We were afraid you two idiots let Amon get the Avatar."

"Ha ha ha, Catgator. Real funny," Mako retorted before giving the young woman a glare, "Just like your seasonal record."

The small blonde stepped forward, her hands a blaze. Joku put his hand on her shoulder, stopping her from lunging at Mako.

"They're our guests, El. Nasko invited them to live here. Not die."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Come on. We've got work to do."

A/N: Hi guys! I want to thank all of you guys for watching my story and especially writing reviews. I love input! Keep up the good work and I hope you guys liked this one!

Oh, and another thing... Love triangles: yay or nay?