Part 4

The older gentleman looked at Korra and then her two new friends. "All is good, I hope?" he asked before he recognized the other girl. "Hello June, what a pleasant surprise."

"Yeah yeah... food, then talk." Miss Manners climbed the stone steps but waited on the platform.

Tenzin turned to the boy. "Welcome to the air temple. I'm Councilman Tenzin. Who might you be?"

"I'm Nerio, Amon's, Amon's worst enemy." Tenzin nodded at the reply and led them to the table.

Nerio backed away. This is the future of the Airbenders, a snotty boy, a hyper girl, and a girl who didn't seem to care? The kids looked at the stranger. Meelo scurried, climbed his shoulders, and pulled at his ears. "Who's this?" he said. "Is he a bender? Is he with Amon? Why didn't he bring me any gifts?" Tenzin plucked his son off of Nerio's shoulders and directed his guest to his seat.

"Jinora," June said, smiling at the oldest girl. "What's up?"

"This and that and training." Even when talking about herself, Jinora looked bored.

"I see. Nerio, these kids are the future of airbending. Jinora, Ikki and Meelo are brilliant in their own way." She winked at Meelo. "If I knew you wanted something kid I would've gotten it for you."

Tenzin sighed, shoulders slumping once everyone was seated. "Nerio, June, what brings you here?"

June was about to retort about Lin not trusting her when she knew the older man still had a soft spot for her and it wouldn't be right to do so. "I met Nerio walking the streets last night. He wants to stop Amon as much as we all do. I think he has inside information."

Nerio nodded. "Trust me; if I tell you now, you'll lose your appetites." An hour of silent eating went. "I've seen Amon rendering a bender powerless. I escaped after learning that he wants to gather the citizens and show them how he can equalize the benders so we have to crash his party. He fears us, the benders; he knows we can stop him and we will. The reason he hasn't found me is that I don't waterbend in public. I can't attract the Equalists. I'm training myself with Amon's glove, so I can stand up for myself without my bending. I need your support. I have a plan, and a secret which not even Amon knows." He lowered his voice. "You might not trust me after knowing this, but I promise to use my powers to help you fight him, not the other way around." Nerio looked at his audience, eight pairs of eyes meeting his until Nerio gets to his point. So he did. "I'm… a bloodbender. I can stop Amon's movements before he takes away a person's bending. Then while I have him immobilized, the rest of us can attack. I understand if you don't trust me." He stood, bowing. "Thank you for the meal, Councilman Tenzin." Nerio had to flee, never to show his face again. After revealing his identity, it would be better to let Amon take away his bending for good, than to have his new friends turn against him. They had every right to; he's a monster.

June felt Nerio rise, focused on the small area, and closed the door before he reached it. "You're not leaving, Blue Eyes. You're on my side no matter what. Let the others speak before you leave." She was full and could think straight, which meant she'd have to apologize to her mother.

Tenzin looked at the boy, a little disgruntled. "Bloodbending means waterbending blood. Whoever your parents are have trained you in the art or you trained yourself. I see no trouble with it since he is on our side. Korra, dear? As the Avatar, your opinion is most valued."

Before the Avatar could cash in her two cents, there was a knock on the door; June lowered it to see golden eyes looking back. "Oh, man, did we miss lunch?" said the person wearing a red scarf.

She leaned against the wall. "We're just talking about something serious, however you got here or whatever doesn't matter and yeah ya kind of did."

"Harsh," said the other man coming behind the first. "Hey look, there's still food left! Sweet!"

June raised her eyebrow and watched as the two sat down to eat. "And you are?"

The green-eyed man had already stuffed his face with bread. "I'm Bolin," he mumbled.

"And I'm Mako," the first said. "You must've heard of us already. You know, pro-bending stars and all that. I didn't think there'd be more guests."

"We were just leaving," Nerio said, still not seeing a place for him on this island, however friendly.

Nerio turned, but Tenzin blew a column of air to close the door. "Stay with us, Nerio. We need to finish our conversation. There is still food out, so lunch has not yet finished, I suppose. Wasn't Asami with you guys? It's strange that didn't she come for lunch."

Nerio stood at the window. Two more guests meant that the table had zero seats left.

"'Course I know you fools, don't ya recognize me?" June hummed. "Ya'll idiots, that's for sure, bad at being in a city gang and just getting by in a tournament, really?" She laughed.

"She's moping in her room," Bolin said, taking another bite. "More Amon info stuff?" June nodded.

"Bolin... wait, she's right, we have seen her around." Mako said, setting down his fork.

June rolled her eyes. "Intro later business now. If you don't, mind we're wasting time, and Mom will have to wait to ground me again."

Nerio turned to Pema. "You didn't put any sedatives in the food, did you? June wasn't this cheery when I met her yesterday." June punched Nerio's arm. She has her mother's toughness. Nerio thought he had nothing to lose by telling Mako and Bolin what he told the others. Bolin was a little scared to know that someone in the room could control his movements. "Relax; I'd never use it against my friends." Too fast? He wondered. "What are we gonna do? We need to plan it all out. Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, should go wrong. Amon won't think twice before blocking a person's bending. Getting caught is not an option." The family looked at June and at the boys.

"Well it seems we got something going on," Tenzin said, "and I rather you guys stop meeting here. There's so much we can take."

"Yet Amon can get her and hurt you," June replied. "Mom would kill me if she found out I left you guys alone. The underground is a nice place to hide or so I've heard."

Mako and Bolin rolled their eyes, confused. "Wait a minute, earthbender, knows Tenzin, attitude like Chief Lin's... why in the world are you here?" asked Mako, wrapping his scarf tighter.

"You forgot 'the toughest rat on the streets.' I've seen you, you've seen me." June winked, laughing. This was actually going pretty well, now if only she can get her mother off her case.

Tenzin stood. "I'm supposed to meet the other council members. June, you'd best come along."

"And get caught in my mother's wire? Not happening." Nerio wondered how much of it was literal.