Note: I decided to make this chapter a two part one just because originally it was going to be just a long ass chapter, but then I realized I felt like I should inpart at least some of this unto all of you awesome readers. Speaking of which, I still can't believe you guys read this. It's super cool that you guys do. Also totally listen to TV on the Radio's "Wolf Like Me" not just because I want to capture the essence of that song in this two parter but because it is good.

Korra placed her hand on her hip and leaned just slightly as she made a face at Noatak.

"What?" Noatak said.

"That looks stupid," Korra said.

Korra did not mince words when it came to Noatak's choices for his clothes for tonight's venture. He stood in front of her wearing a black shirt and pants. He wrapped a loose black scarf around his face. The boots he wore were reminiscent of the old boots he used to wear in his equalist days- metal and utilitarian.

"This does not look bad," Noatak said.

"It's too plain for you- except for the boots. By the way, how did you get your old boots back?" Korra asked.

"I didn't. I bought these. They're standard issue for the Water Tribe Navy," Noatak said.

"You were in the navy?"

"Possibly."

"So I'll take that as a yes."

"I wasn't there for long. I just liked the boots they wore."

Korra nodded and rustled with the shoulders of Noatak's shirt. She put her finger to her bottom lip and then to her forehead to tap. She stood back and looked up and down at Noatak.

"Yeah, this isn't fancy enough for you. We need some clasps or something," Korra said.

"We're going out to practice chi blocking- not for me to make a fashion statement," Noatak said.

"Yeah, but if we make a name for ourselves as these cool masked crime fighters, we don't want to look… not cool," Korra said.

"Again, chi-blocking- not trying to draw attention to ourselves. Have you not been listening to me when I've been teaching you?"

"I may or may not tune you out at times. It's not because you're a bad teacher though. I'm just distracted. Some nights you look too handsome, and all I want to do is have you in bed."

"Oh Korra…. What am I going to do with you?"

"We can have a quick session before we go out?"

Noatak rolled his eyes and walked away from Korra. He rummaged through his dresser before taking out a jacket and hood. The jacket was something he picked up when he came back to the city. He had no idea why he bought it, but he suspected he bought it because it reminded him of who he used to be. It was a black jacket with metal spaulders and a metal zipper enclosure. The jacket fit tightly and molded to his body, which made him reconsider wearing it out in public.

"Whoa…" Korra said.

Noatak zipped the jacket up and placed the hood over his head. He raked his fingers through his hair and looked at Korra. Her mouth was slightly opened as she stared at him.

"Will this do?" Noatak asked.

"Uh… We don't have to go out night at all. I'm just saying. Or the quick session. Either way… This is doing it for me," Korra said.

"Well I'm glad this works out," Noatak said.

Korra gripped the collar and kissed Noatak with full force. He took her hands and pulled away from her. He made a smirk that had Korra melting on the inside. Tonight was supposed to be the first night she was to chi block for real- not on Noatak or that bundle of blankets in her room. Now she didn't have the heart or the motivation to go out. Korra wanted Noatak, and she wanted him now. She wanted him to hoist her up against a wall. She wanted carnal kisses and desperate groping. Korra felt embarrassed to even carry the thought in her mind.

"Come on Korra. Let's go," Noatak said.

"Maybe we should do this tomorrow night? I just want…" Korra said.

"What do you want?"

"I can't say."

Korra looked away.

"You can tell me. You don't need to be ashamed around me," Noatak said.

"I want you to take me. Right here. Right now…" Korra said.

Noatak grabbed Korra and placed her against the wall. Their faces were so close that Korra thought they were touching, but the space between them said otherwise. She felt his hot breath on her face and then on her neck.

"This is what you want? Right?" Noatak said.

He bit into her skin at the crook of her neck.

"Yes," Korra said.

Noatak took a piece of Korra's hair and placed it behind her ear. His fingers traced a line down her jaw line and paused under her chin. He simply tilted her head towards his forefinger

"Later. I promise," he said.

Korra put on her best pout, which made Noatak smile. He understood the idea behind the fantasy she was suggesting. When he was her age, he would have given in completely to this fantasy at the moment. He didn't have the sort of control back then that he had these days- just some naïve boy of a man who would want to drop his pants the second after a beautiful woman asked him to. For this, he was entirely grateful to be older and more cautious. There was always a time and a place for intimacy in Noatak's mind, but this time was not it. Later, he thought, when she would feel the power of control mixed with the adrenaline of danger- that was the time. He knew that feeling all too well.

"Okay… but it definitely is going to happen tonight. If I kick butt, that's just a plus," Korra said.

They walked to the bars on the eastern side of the city. Korra hadn't been there since she arrived there. She placed her mask over her face and secured it while Noatak pulled down his hood and arranged it over his face. Korra listened to Noatak earlier about how on this side of town, there was always someone being accosted by the gangs. It had a bit to deal with how the law didn't extend itself fully and because there was only so much police could do. The importing of illegal goods was the main economy of these slums- anything to keep one's self afloat.

"Be on your guard. Some of the gangs have their home territory here," Noatak said.

"What if we see someone?" Korra said.

Noatak pulled Korra aside into an alley. They rested against the brick wall of the building.

"Don't move until you are absolutely certain you can strike without being seen. Remember, patience Korra," Noatak said.

Korra nodded as Noatak padded lightly through the alleys. She forgot how well he traveled without being seen or heard. She sometimes had a difficult time keeping track of where he was when he moved in the shadows. Korra remembered Noatak saying something about being rather good at moving with shadows and realized what he meant by that. He never chased after shadows because the dark was his cloak. She tried to remember parts of their training, but all she could do was thinking about how hard her heart was pounding. Her heart pounded so hard that she thought it had crept up into her throat. She wasn't about to screw up like she did that first night- trying on random to strike and do something. Part of this time required her to be calmer and organize her thoughts before fighting.

Most of the buildings were quiet- not that this was surprising- it was dark after all. However, Korra couldn't shake the feeling that someone was nearby. She felt Noatak grip her and pulled her further into shadow. If she concentrated hard enough, she could hear Noatak's breathing. As she listened beyond, she made out a conversation ahead of them. She heard bits and parts of what was being said.

"…If he manages to get… he'll need to be…."

"But the…. You know?"

"I do but… And Councilman… do anything…"

"…Council… convincing… bribing is too… "

"What about… and the chief… he needs to be…"

"He's too soft… worry about… hire…."

Before Korra could gasp, she felt Noatak's hand reach out to the mask to muffle the sound. Those two, they were certainly talking about her uncle. What was going on in this city?

"…Hear that?"

"Yeah… someone out…"

"I'll…care…"

"Send… out."

Korra wanted to scream into the mask. How did those people hear her? What did she get into? Why did she think that she could have done anything? She could hear a door open. Two men walked out. Korra saw the glimmer on their fingers. They prepared ice daggers for the occasion. They walked closer and closer to Korra and Noatak. She heard the taps of their feet and the heavy breathing.

"It came from this way," one person said.

"That's what the boss said?" the other said.

"Yeah, but I can't see shit out here. It's too dark."

"Times like these you wish you were a firebender."

"Yeah, but then I'd have to be a fucking firebender."

They laughed to themselves and walked further into the alley where the moon was blocked off by one of the buildings. Noatak steadied Korra's arm. He wished he could just ask her whether or not she could see these guys in the dark. Bloodbending afforded him some sort of advantage in this respect. He could hear their heartbeats and the blood flow if he concentrated enough. When he noticed they were close enough, he let go of Korra's arm and jabbed without getting a good feel of where this person was. It didn't matter though. Noatak heard the low groan of the man as he fell to his knees and the shatter of the ice on the pavement.

"What the fuck!" The other man said.

Korra's eyes make out the dark shape of the man as he started to run back in the limited moonlight. She gripped her hand and let her arm move in a fluid motion. Her fingers hit his shoulder blade. The pain from the jab reverberated in her fingertips like an aftershock. The man turned towards Korra to try and land a punch. He turned in far enough for Korra to catch his other shoulder. He staggered back and clutched shoulder.

"Fuck. I don't have time for this shit," the man said.

He flipped open the cap on the flask attached to his belt. He whipped the water out fast and towards Korra's feet. She jumped back. Before she realized it, she was closer to the moonlight. The man had successfully routed her to his eyesight. The water snaked around his hand and arm as he walked closer to Korra.

"Where's the other one?" The man asked

"Over here," Noatak said.

Noatak sent a fist to the man's face. Korra stumbled back behind Noatak while the man got back to his feet. The hit was enough to knock the man's concentration in holding the water, but he was no less incapacitated than before. He came back at Noatak with more fury behind his hits. He lunged at Noatak, but he was too slow for Noatak's agile movements. The man needed to catch Korra, but Noatak proved to be a formidable protector. He was about to give up until he saw an opening and put Noatak into a half Nelson. Noatak tried prying his fingers off to loosen grip.

"The other points!" Noatak said.

Korra rushed to the side holding her hands into position. Her head cleared into blankness that had no idea how to approach what was happening. She practiced this with Noatak so many times that it felt so strange that in the thick of it, she couldn't remember anything. Korra just stood paralyzed as the many started to crush Noatak's head to the pavement.

"Now!" Noatak said.

The breath from her lungs emptied. Korra felt like no air was reaching back inside of her. When she saw her fingers in front of her, she saw foreign hands that didn't move. She should have been able to just fearlessly go in and fight, but she didn't feel fearless. Korra could only hear the muffled noises in her ears- not the things that were coming out of Noatak's mouth. She tried to gather the energy to strike. There was something more out of body about the experience compared to her practices. First the shoulders, then the arms, and then the sides… She saw the man slump to the side and try to gather the water to his hands, but before she could see any more, Noatak grabbed her hand and ran off into the alleys.

When he noticed they were far away enough in the alleys, Noatak stopped and held Korra against the wall. He wrapped an arm around Korra and pulled her close to his body. Korra saw his chest heave and felt his body radiate an intense heat. He tugged his hood down and pulled Korra's mask above her head.

"I did it," Korra said.

"You did," Noatak said.

Korra took Noatak's face into her hand and crushed her lips against his. He responded with an equally devouring kiss. Korra couldn't explain the rush as she let Noatak push her body between his body and the wall she leaned against.

"This… this is the time," Noatak said.