A Different Path
Somehow, the girl had gotten the eerie feeling that Amon had planned this the entire time. She sat across the table from the masked man, simply staring at him in shock and awe. Her feelings were a mish-mash of curiosity, fear, and confusion. It would be too much sooner or later.
"What are you?" the girl managed to say eventually, her chin resting in her hand on the table.
Amon's grim, lifeless stare kept on, and he was silent, just as she was.
-lololol-
The match was intense, and everyone knew it. It was intense as fire was hot, the crowd's cheers blaring from all sides to such a degree that it filled her to the brim with excitement and a certain kind of pride that was unbreakable, and it was fueled not only by the crowd, but by her teammates as well. Her teammates didn't matter, though. This was about her.
'Her' was a shorter Asian girl named Janae. Her complexion was that of a girl who spent most of her time outside, but it was quite the opposite. She worked in a noodlery on the other side of town, so she was indoors most of the time. It was great to work there, especially when the really nice old people came in and left really big ti –
Janae was knocked back into reality when the bushy browed earthbender on the other team had a disk slamming into her side, and she was forced back a few feet. Not enough to make a huge difference, though.
A knowing glance was exchanged between the water bender on her team, Cody, and a hefty spurt of water was spiraling into the air. The spurt distracted the opponent earthbender and Janae forced a blast of fire at her target. One of their best moves had knocked the Fire Ferrets' earthbender off the probending plateau. One down, two to go.
The earthbender on Janae's own team was doing his own hand in the fight, and had picked the distracted firebender off the field within a matter of seconds, with the help of three disks, of course. Janae watched him roll off the plateau solemnly, and focused again in time to see a jet of water rushing towards her. She side-stepped, dodging it, flipping, and dodging another jet in the process. The Asian bounced on her heels as her teammates landed hits on the enemy waterbender, pushing the girl back until she was barely on the edge. The Blue Falcons' were given an advantage with this, and they took two-thirds of the plateau. A running start gave Janae enough power to finish off the last of the Fire Ferrets, along with their winning streak.
Their victory was announced promptly, and the Blue Falcons were back in their team room, taking off their equipment.
"Good game, guys," Janae said loudly, struggling to take off the headgear, trying not to make her sweaty, smelly hair look worse than it probably did.
"Did you see the look on that idiot's face when I hit him right in the stomach?" Chris asked nonchalantly, shoving a glove down his bag.
"No," Cody mumbled, sitting and sighing out of exhaustion.
"Good, cause I didn't either. Well, guys, I'm gonna head home, gotta pick up some shit, y'know?" Janae nodded, slinging her equipment filled bag over her shoulder.
"What?" Cody inquired, curious. It wasn't everyday that Janae would just casually pick up some shit.
"Just some things for Katey, she's been pretty down lately."
"Yeah, you pick up that shit," Chris snickered, earning a shove from Janae.
"Shut the fuck up!" Janae laughed, rolling her eyes.
-IoIoIoI-
Republic City was never a good place to walk around at night. Ever. The ghetto was crawling with Triple Threat Triad members, but it wasn't like Janae was stupid enough to actually go into the shadows. Oh, hell no. She walked near the street lights, like a normal person. With her probending bag on her shoulder, and a small paper bag in her left hand, she walked on, glancing around every so often. She put an index finger up, creating a small floating flame to use as additional, comforting light.
Everything changed in the quiet moment she felt a stabbing, electrical pain run through her body.
-lololol-
They sat at the table still, Amon still staring at her. Janae, for some reason, wasn't remotely close to being uncomfortable.
"What am I?" Amon repeated, slightly shocked for a reason he couldn't pinpoint exactly. The gall this little girl had just to ask him that… "What are you?" He asked in a daring tone, turning the conversation around.
Janae leaned back in her chair, smirking, staring down at the table before her eyes flickered up to meet with Amon's dim ones. It wouldn't derail her, though. Never.
"I'm a lover, not a fighter," she answered.
"Is that so?"
Janae nodded, her hard smirk softening into a gentle smile, "Yep."
"You're a bender, though."
"That is… completely accurate – "
"You're impure," Amon got across, tilting his head just a dab.
The little two-word sentence caught Janae by surprise and she tilted her as well, blinking once, "I wouldn't say that, really."
Amon fell silent, casting a glance towards the pile of her things in the corner. She was right, he supposed, debating whether he should still take her bending away or not. Perhaps a few more questions would help make up his mind.
"Who were the cookies for?" Amon asked suddenly.
Janae shrugged, "My roommate."
Amon raised an eyebrow, prompting her to tell more.
Janae sighed, "Her name is Katey. She's uh – She's a nonbender."
Amon let a quiet sigh leave his lips, "I'll spare you." The sentence seemingly cut through the awkward silence like a machete, creating confusion and some tension.
"Wait, what – " Janae leaned forward, her brows furrowing as she felt strong, large hands wrap around her slender arms and she was lifted from her seat before another striking pain coursed through her body, and she was out like a light again.
-lololol-
Janae sat up in a cold sweat, propping herself up on her elbows. She had fallen asleep on the pathetic blanket pallet in the apartment, and Katey noticed her whispering and trembling in her sleep.
"Janae!" Katey whispered, standing over the other, using her foot to shake the other a little. "Janae, wake up!"
"What – What the fuck?" Janae slurred, looking up at her through hazy eyes.
"You were starting to freak me out, so I woke you up, asshole…"
Janae got up, running a hand through her dark locks and got up, walking around the one room apartment above the noodlery. Sunlight poured in through the windows. Morning… "Katey? We – I – have a probending match tonight, yeah?"
Katey nodded, "Yeah, against the Fire Ferrets. Actually, Cody and Chris wanted to come over later, if that was okay. You were still asleep when they called, so…"
Janae stood, glued to her spot, wide-eyed, thinking. Who was the man from her deam? Would the Blue Falcons win the match? Was she psychic?
Most of all, that man… who was he?
"Janae?" Katey said, attempting to get her attention and succeeding.
"I had the weirdest dream."