Part 1
As Nerio reduced his walking pace to steady his breathing, he reflected on the state of the city. Another day had ended in Republic City, whose residents, benders and nonbenders alike, strove to survive. Waterbenders, earthbenders, and firebenders coexisted with nonbenders and the few airbenders that live on Air Temple Island, but thugs began to oppress those whom the lion turtles had not blessed with powers of the elements. These thus were giving good benders a bad name.
He wasn't dropping by to visit family or get to know the people who don't live on ice and blubber and more ice. Rumor had it that the Avatar was here. He often wondered what "Princess" Korra could want with a city like this. Sure, he knew Korra wasn't born in a palace; she was born in a hut, just like him. Korra traveled the world under the pretext of training. Nerio traveled the South Pole under the pretext of providing emergency care to penguins. He tried to make friends with Southern Water Tribe teens, but earned the nickname of "Guiny". His grandfather, the one who couldn't stop talking about the Avatar, made him seem like either the greatest person in the world or the worst. He often said that Nerio was destined for greatness. And if he'd had more grandchildren, his grandfather would say the same about others. Korra's destiny was well-known even in the slums of Republic City. But if the Avatar is destined to be a hero, why wasn't Nerio?
Nerio's hand slipped into his pocket. He winced in the light of the full moon on his face. You're the reason I can't be like her, he thought, conjuring the image of the man who ruined his life by letting him be born. Nerio wanted to crumple that photo, but it may be the only chance he has of remembering the man behind the mask. A part of him refused to believe he could be a monster. Monsters were destined not for greatness, but for misery just for being themselves. Recovering his wind, Nerio felt hollowness inside his stomach and scanned the streets. For a full block and a half, there were no vendors or restaurants or trashcans filled with rotten fruit. Though Nerio gritted his teeth at the thought of eating garbage, he was fairly confident he could heal himself of stomach aches. Infection would be more difficult to cure with simply water. Then again, what he could do using simple water continues to surprise him, on certain nights more than others.
So, with the slums of Republic City crawling with Equalists, Nerio plucked a mask off the side of a craft store; the mask's markings similar to the ones on Amon's mask. Part of some stupid game, he thought. He heard of kids playing a game of "Get That Bender". If "Princess" Korra was willing, he might get in on the game before his father took all the fun out of it. The mask fit his face and he pulled over his hood. As Nerio passed another block, he didn't turn his head to the blank windows.
While Nerio didn't see his reflection, he saw a lone girl. He must not have been as discrete as he thought. The girl turned around. Nerio saw the silver flash of a dagger, raised enough that Nerio stood frozen. That didn't stop his eyes from scanning the girl's form. She was slender, loose black hair and green robes like any earthbender. At least he figured out the girl's element but he wasn't trained in weapons, and this lightning glove was like a prosthetic hand he'd need at least a week to get used to. Though the sidewalk was in shadow, Nerio caught the film of gray over her left eye, while the right eye was an emerald. Nerio gulped. Hope no one expects me to work a case like this, he thought. Would it be insensitive of him to call out this stranger's partial blindness?
"Who's there?" The girl's voice wavered between tough and startled. Maybe the mask and hood were making him look like a threat. Nerio was no mood for another fight so soon.
The robed figure stepped out of the shadows and pulled off his hood. "Relax. Why don't you just put down your dagger and we'll have ourselves a little chat? We'll avoid an unnecessary fight." Sure, he thought, that's the best way you can put it? An unnecessary fight? Nerio shook his head, but the girl seemed to have similar sentiments.
"Unnecessary?" she spat. "It's past midnight and I can't freaking see you!" She pocketed her dagger, crossed her arms over her chest, and studied this figure. Nerio loosened his arms and went for a smile. Villains don't smile, right? But his smile faded as the girl's cheeks colored red.
Shoot, forgot the damn mask, he thought. No wonder she's not assured; she couldn't see his smile.
She grabbed her dagger again and raised her arms in a classic earthbender stance. "Who are you? I'm not dropping anything until you tell me who you are!" When Nerio stood frozen again, waiting to see some earth moving his way so he could duck, she sighed. "Can I trust you?"
Nerio removed his mask, tucked it underneath his robe, and felt his glove sizzle with faint blue sparks. A streetlight flicked on. "You'd be the first but you should know; it's tough being a bender around these parts. A young woman like you should be careful roaming at night like this, alone. But if you insist on fighting..." He pulled an arm out of his robe. Electricity crackled in his palm. Nerio didn't trust his bending on this night. "You can call me Nerio, and to whom do I owe the favor?"
"Of course," she growled. "Well Nerio, I'm June, daughter of the Chief." She took a step back. "Yeah I'm a bender, what of it?" she said, looking at his face.
He analyzed her expression, raised his arm, and passed blue lightning to restore the rest of the streetlamps. Daughter of the Chief, he turned over in his mind, scanning for references. There should be only one, the Chief of Police, Lin Beifong. "And I'm son of... never mind. Knowing will only make matters worse between us." Nerio wished he didn't know whose son he is. He turned off the glove. "You're against Amon, yeah? That makes two of us. We should be careful. You can't imagine half of what Amon is capable of doing. Believe me." He shuddered, not for comic effect.
"Not like I care." June tucked her hair behind her ear. She took one step forward, then another, keeping her face in shadow, and looked into his eyes. "You're against him? Good enough for me." She extended a hand. "Well Nerio, let me take you to my hideout to talk." She jerked her head.
She didn't look threatening, but he knew better than to underestimate a bender. He leered at the moon shrouded by thin clouds, as if to say, "Not this time". Nerio shook her hand. "Amon's men are still roaming the shadows; we really shouldn't stay out in public this late at night."
"I can take them," she scoffed, with a smirk. He could sense the bravado beneath her smirk. Even Nerio could take them, but he'd rather not. She turned and checked the area once more before grabbing two apples off the cart. "It's abandoned." She shrugged taking a bite from one, offering him the other while they continued down the street. "Can you run? We're not far but we need to be fast," she reminded him, as if he didn't conclude the urgency of their situation.
Nerio inclined his head and took a big bite, grateful yet disappointed that a stranger offered him something he could've stolen. "In my tribe, they call me "Swift as a Raging River". He gripped the apple and took smaller bites as he ran, discarding it in a nearby trashcan. Nerio reached the next block when he had no clue where to go. June was standing by the streetlight, arms crossed, head tilted to the side. "Sorry!" he called to her. The air was moist enough to pick up her next words.
"Very nice," she sighed, catching up with him in a moment, her long black hair flying with her swift leg movements that brought her next to him. "Well now we're not far at all. I just hope someone's up." She pointed down the next block and closed her eyes for a moment. "Let me do the talking." She ran where she pointed, down that way and the fifth door on the left.
What is this girl up to? Nerio thought. Wasn't life complicated enough? He followed close behind her, on the lookout for Equalists that could jump out and ambush the unsuspecting bender. Amon will not be getting another victim tonight. Nerio waited until the door opened.