Nyima was slightly shocked when he brought up what had happened to his family. She bit her lip, "I'm sorry to hear that..."

She felt like an idiot. Since the moment she got here, she has said that she refused to return to see her family and yet here was Rayn. He would kill to see his family again. She could only imagine how much it irked him to hear her say that she had no interest in returning home. The guilt was heavy on her shoulders as she crossed her arms. She sighed, "It's a shame... That no one is dealing with it..."

She shrugged, "Well, I'm sure the police are... but they can't be there for every girl who gets in trouble with them.... And I'm sure they can't really combat the extinction card," she shook her head, "It is sad..."

As soon as she heard of his family, She bit her lip, "I'm sorry to hear that."she crossed her arms. She sighed, "It's a shame... That no one is dealing with it..." She shrugged, "Well, I'm sure the police are... but they can't be there for every girl who gets in trouble with them.... And I'm sure they can't really combat the extinction card," she shook her head, "It is sad..."

He looked forward and thought a moment, this could go really bad or well. "Cops can't do it on their own they have other things to take care of. There is a group dedicated to taking them down... Not Within the law that strikes them before they do."

Nyima looked at him slightly confused when he mentioned a group that was dealing with the Airbenders. She adjusted herself on her seat against the counter, "Not within the law..."

She could only figure out a few ways where one would dispose of someone they didn't particularly enjoy the presence of. She shivered slightly, "Do you mean... They are killing the Airbenders?"

She turned her back to him and started to wipe down the counter, hiding her face from him. Half of her was disgusted by the thought of it, killing people, the other half thought they deserved it. With what they did to Rayn's family and herself, why wouldn't they deserve it. She couldn't have Rayn thinking that she agreed with these people though. They were doing things that were against the law, he surely didn't agree. When she felt she had control of herself again, she looked at him, "And you... Are you trying to catch them? Was that why you were taking the long way home? Looking out for these people going after the Airbenders?"

Nyima looked at him slightly confused when he mentioned a group that was dealing with the Airbenders. She adjusted herself on her seat against the counter, "Not within the law..."
"Do you mean... They are killing the Airbenders?" She asked.

She turned her back to him and started to wipe down the counter, obviously she was shocked at this notion. she looked at him, "And you... Are you trying to catch them? Was that why you were taking the long way home? Looking out for these people going after the Airbenders?"

He couldn't tell her he was apart of this group... Not right away. He glanced at her and said, "yes they kill Airbenders, some more zealous than others... " he then moved over to a fruit bowl and played with an apple. "No I don't look for them. I took the long way home to exercise a little... " mostly by knocking a few airbenders or thugs airheads in. He thought to himself.

Nyima walked over to the mat and sat down. She began to stretch as she did, "I can't believe... That law enforcement allows them to do that..."

She shook her head and sighed, "I doesn't make sense. If they are terrorizing the inhabitants of the city and those outside of it, surely they would want them to stop..." She made sure to be vague about who she was talking about. There was no way she was going to side with the Airbenders, even if it was just to not look like she might do the same. She sighed and stood, walking over to the punching bag, "No wonder you want to walk with me when it is dark out, if you are going to let thugs like that roam the street," she looked over her shoulder and smiled, a teasing glint in her eye.

She began to punch the bag, practicing what Rayn had taught her the night before, "It's ridiculous."

Nyima walked over to the mat and sat down. She began to stretch as she did, "I can't believe... That law enforcement allows them to do that..."

She shook her head and sighed, "I doesn't make sense. If they are terrorizing the inhabitants of the city and those outside of it, surely they would want them to stop..." She sighed and stood, walking over to the punching bag, "No wonder you want to walk with me when it is dark out, if you are going to let thugs like that roam the street," she looked over her shoulder and smiled, a teasing glint in her eye. "It's ridiculous."

He watched her as she did this "I never said the police doesn't look for them, both parties..." He sighed and sat down on the corner of the table. "It's a constant battle, when ever a group is taken down three more pop up. "

He decided to wait to bring more details. He couldn't risk letting her know he was a rouge bender.

----------/-
A month later

Rayn wiped the blood from his nose as he walked away from four dead Airbenders. He threw up a hood and made his way back to the house. He wondered if Nyima would be home by now, she had been practicing water bending late lately.

Nyima ran home, barrelling into their apartment, glad to see that Rayn wasn't home yet. Matsen and her had both lost track of time while they were practicing and she was almost positive that he would not have been happy to know that she had walked home alone as the night began to fall. She had been lying through her teeth, saying that Matsen was walking her home, while she ran through the dark streets. She had learnt more about the Rogue Benders from Rayn and Matsen. Matsen seemed to think that they were doing the right thing and as much as she hated what the Airbenders were doing, she couldn't be a Rogue Bender while living with a police officer. She was slightly worried that she might say something about Matsen and blow his cover.

She heard the door open and tossed her coat into her room. She turned and looked at Rayn, seeing blood trickling from his nose. She sighed and shook her head, opening the pouch that sat on her hip. She bent the water out of the bag and walked over to him, "Sit down and stay still... It looks like it might be broken... Bones are far harder to heal...."

He opene the door and saw that She turned and looked at Rayn, seeing blood trickling from his nose. She sighed and shook her head, opening the pouch that sat on her hip. She bent the water out of the bag and walked over to him, "Sit down and stay still... It looks like it might be broken... Bones are far harder to heal...."

He waved his hand and shook his head. "I'm fine. It's just a bloody nose, it's not broken. " he walked by her and took a paper towel from the kitchen and sat down and pinched his nose. Leaning his head back. He was sore yes but he didn't show it, he didn't want her always healing him. he was getting soft with out the pain. He glanced at her from behind the paper towel to see her slightly flustered at him not letting her heal him.she seemed to be breathing hard. He wondered why. " you alright over there? You seemed to be breathing hard... Or is it just me?"

Nyima looked at Rayn as he walked away from her, not allowingher to heal him at all. She shook her head and returned the water to the pouch and crossed her arm. He was difficult to work with at times. She nearly had to tie him to the chair the last time she healed him and it wasn't something as simple as a bloody nose. She crossed her arms and watched him as he grabbed some paper towel and held it against his nose. When he asked about her breathing, she hesitated, "I'm fine... Why are you looking at my chest?" she shot back, raising an eyebrow.

She sighed and walked over to him, "If you aren't going to let me heal you, at least do it right," she gently placed her hands on his head and tipped it forward, "This way the blood doesn't go down your throat... It will stop it too..."

She moved over to the table and took a seat, looking at him, "So... who beat me to the punch?"

After his question, she hesitated, "I'm fine... Why are you looking at my chest?" she shot back, raising an eyebrow. His eyes widen and his shoulders shrugged. "SINCE WHEN DO YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT A CHRST TO SEE SOME ONE BREATHING HARD?!" He said in defense.

She sighed and walked over to him, "If you aren't going to let me heal you, at least do it right," she gently placed her hands on his head and tipped it forward, "This way the blood doesn't go down your throat... It will stop it too..."
He watched her and said " never had that problem before. Always worked this way..." He watched as She moved over to the table and took a seat, looking at him, "So... who beat me to the punch?"

He watched her for a mintute and then said, " gang of Airbenders and non. It's the third one this courtesy of he Rougue benders...." Which he left open making it sound either the rouges started the fight but in reality he was informed of them from them. He knew Nyimas mentor, he was one as well. He had visited him during work and asked him not to get Nyima involved in rouge benders. She was too kind for that.... Well was. She's been getting a fiery personality. Keeping Rayn on his toes.

" how was your day?" He asked softly as he closed his eyes.

Nyima giggled at Rayn's response and shook her head, "You do understand I was joking, right?"

She looked at him and shrugged when he asked about her day, "It was nice... I work for a bit with Matsen making a few items, since it was rather slow. Then I hung around a bit afterward and we trained a bit... Then I came home..."

She sighed, "It was a rather uneventful day," she thought back on it, well maybe not. Matsen had brought her around the city telling her about the places Airbenders liked to hide. She didn't know yet if those were places she wanted to go to or if she wanted to avoid them. She pulled her legs up onto her seat, "Although, Matsen invited me to this Glacier Spirit Party.... I guess it is coming up. It is a big thing in the South... But anyways, they apparently have a party here at the Southern Water Tribe Cultural Centre. It is tomorrow night... You should come," she smiled at him, "It'll be fun."

Nyima giggled at Rayn's response and shook her head, "You do understand I was joking, right?"

He shook his head and said, " one thing I've learned over the years is to suspect the worst rather think it's a joke and make it even more worse." He said with a hint of a smile but a tone of mostly seriousness.

She looked at him and shrugged when he asked about her day, "It was nice... I work for a bit with Matsen making a few items, since it was rather slow. Then I hung around a bit afterward and we trained a bit... Then I came home..."

She sighed, "It was a rather uneventful day," She pulled her legs up onto her seat, "Although, Matsen invited me to this Glacier Spirit Party.... I guess it is coming up. It is a big thing in the South... But anyways, they apparently have a party here at the Southern Water Tribe Cultural Centre. It is tomorrow night... You should come," she smiled at him, "It'll be fun."

He looked over at her as she said this and said," Eh maybe.... I'm not one for celebrations. " he said as he lowered the towel. Looking at the blood. His nose was still sore but it was not bleeding anymore. "Besides it sounds more like a mentor apprentice water bender....thingy do ha. He's Probably not wanting me to come." He said as he groaned slightly getting up and moving to the trash and throwing out his blood stained paper.
"A nice hot shower sounds more fun than standing around hundreds of people" he said with a smile

Nyima looked at him as he said he may go. She pouted slightly, "Please! It'll be fun! Besides, why would he not want you to come?"

She stood and walked into the kitchen, "You can take a hot shower tonight and come tomorrow," she smiled at him as she started to pull things out of the cupboard starting to make dinner. She had noticed how stiff he was, "I can help you if you are sore... It won't do you any good if you get into a fight and can hardly raise your arm to defend yourself."

She watched him, waiting for a response, "If you still need convincing with the whole Glacier Spirits thing... I'll be leaving and returning after dark and I'm still not allowed to walk around the city at night without supervision, your rule," she turned toward the stove and started to boil water, "And I don't need Matsen thinking this is anything more than a Mentor Apprentice thing..." she looked at him over her shoulder, "But it is up to you... I'm done making my case."

Nyima looked at him as he said he may go. She pouted slightly, "Please! It'll be fun! Besides, why would he not want you to come?"
He moved over to the couch and laid down. Looking at her but said nothing as she stood and walked into the kitchen, "You can take a hot shower tonight and come tomorrow," she smiled at him as she started to pull things out of the cupboard starting to make dinner. She had noticed how stiff he was, "I can help you if you are sore... It won't do you any good if you get into a fight and can hardly raise your arm to defend yourself."

She watched him, waiting for a response, "If you still need convincing with the whole Glacier Spirits thing... I'll be leaving and returning after dark and I'm still not allowed to walk around the city at night without supervision, your rule," she turned toward the stove and started to boil water, "And I don't need Matsen thinking this is anything more than a Mentor Apprentice thing..." she looked at him over her shoulder, "But it is up to you... I'm done making my case."

He closed his eyes and and sighed grumpily. He did not want to to go. He hated crowds... Partially due to his job and partially most people were morons. He tried to think his way out of it but she was right he still didn't like her walking alone after dark and she's gotten comfortable enough to make a statement... She would probably walk home alone to prove a point to him.

" Fine! I'll go." He then looked at at her and added. " Indont need your healing tonight... It's just sore muscles nothing to worry about. I've had worse before and faired enough. I appreciate the offer though. " he noticed she was making dinner and sighed and got up and made his way over to help. She's made dinner almost every night for him. He felt guilty letting her cook alone when he is in the house. She tended to have dinner ready when he got home so he would take over dishes.

He washed his hands and got ready to help her

Nyima looked at him for a little bit as he denied her help with his being sore then shook her head, "You are being difficult."

She turned back around and began to cook some meat as she cut up vegetables. She looked at him when she heard the water running. She smiled lightly at him, "I was thinking we'd have some dumplings tonight. Maybe some pan fried noodles as well..." she shrugged, "I've been learning a few recipes and I'm sure you are getting sick of Water Tribe foods. So I figured some Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom would be a nice change."

Grabbing some egg noodles, she tossed them into the boiling water and looked at him. She moved slightly, allowing him to get to the vegetables that she had started to cut, "You can do the vegetables... Cut up whatever you want in the noodles."

Nyima looked at him, "You are being difficult."
He glanced at her and said. "Metal bending is never easy... Rubbed off on me." He said with a smile

She turned back around and began to cook some meat as she cut up vegetables. She looked at him when she heard the water running. She smiled lightly at him, "I was thinking we'd have some dumplings tonight. Maybe some pan fried noodles as well..." she shrugged, "I've been learning a few recipes and I'm sure you are getting sick of Water Tribe foods. So I figured some Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom would be a nice change."

He looked up and said thank. To himself he said, "thank goodness" he got used to the food she made and it wasn't bad but he wished for something more...

Grabbing some egg noodles, she tossed them into the boiling water and looked at him. She moved slightly, allowing him to get to the vegetables that she had started to cut, "You can do the vegetables... Cut up whatever you want in the noodles."

He opened the fridge and pulled out some vegetables and washed them and started to cut them. Some minced others in thick chunks. "Has your boss been teaching you new recipes?"

After she would answer he glanced at"You know .... you never answered me about you breathing hard "he said with a smile.

Nyima focused on the cooking meat and boiling noodles while Rayn cut. Normally, she would cut the vegetables in the time it took the other things to be ready, meaning she had little time to wait. When she allowed Rayn to help, that changed things. Luckily, with the new recipes, it wasn't just noodles, meat, and vegetables. Quickly pouring ingredients together, she started to make the dough for the dumplings. She shook her head, "No, Mala is strictly Northern Water tribe... Matsen says their home is like you never left," She shrugged, "I don't understand the point of leaving."

She smiled as she beg to roll the dumplings, "I went back to the inn that you took me to on my first night in town. The owner, Chan, seemed to be a friend of yours, so I figured that he wouldn't mind saving your palette," she looked at him, "They've been giving me recipes and have helped me with more... challenging dishes," she held out the dumpling and smiled before placing it on a place to deal with later, "They both speak highly of you. You seem to have made quite the impression on them."

She took the pot and strained the al dente noodles. She left them in the strainer while Rayn continued cutting. She bit her lip lightly, keeping her head down while she worked on the dumplings, "Training. I just finished up some when you got home," she shrugged, "Just a bit of endurance work."

"No, Mala is strictly Northern Water tribe... Matsen says their home is like you never left," She shrugged, "I don't understand the point of leaving." He shrugged.

"Maybe wants to move forward with the rest of the world in some parts of life."

"I went back to the inn that you took me to on my first night in town. The owner, Chan, seemed to be a friend of yours, so I figured that he wouldn't mind saving your palette,

He paused and stopped what he we doing and looks at her hopefully chan didn't say TOO much. He and his wife were match makers at heart. Trying to marry off Rayn to any pretty girl they know. 10 blind data so far.

she looked at him, "They've been giving me recipes and have helped me with more... challenging dishes," she held out the dumpling and smiled before placing it on a place to deal with later, "They both speak highly of you. You seem to have made quite the impression on them."

"Well don't always believe those two... They make up a lot of stuff." He thought back to when first met them. He stopped a robbery to wrong. They've adopted him since and made sure he was well fed with food. And th latest pretty girl to marry.

She took the pot and strained the al dente noodles. She left them in the strainer while Rayn continued cutting. She bit her lip lightly, keeping her head down while she worked on the dumplings, "Training. I just finished up some when you got home," she shrugged, "Just a bit of endurance work."

"Uh huh. " he said seeing something off.
"The chans a good people. They speak too highly of me. I should have expected this... The misses thinks I'm too thin."

Nyima laughed a little, "Well, I can't say that I agree," she looked him up and down, "You look healthy to me."

She turned back to her dumplings, "They are really nice. Whether they speak too highly of you or not. They were telling me some stories too," there was a teasing glint in her eye as she reached across him and stole a piece of pepper. She giggled a little, "I think I'll definitely go back, embellished or not, they are quite amusing."

She moved away from him and quickly made a simple broth for the dumplings to sit in. She grabbed the noodles that sat in the sink and poured them into the pan that the meat was being cooked it. She stirred in slightly, "Add the vegetables as you please."

She walked over to the cupboard and grabbed the oil. She walked back and looked at him, "Here's the part I'm having troubles with. How can a guy, who is apparently so shy that he can hardly talk to women and every date he's been on has been set up for him, deal with living under the same roof as a young lady," she smirked at him and laughed, "Okay, I'm almost positive that they embellished that tale."

She dropped the dumplings into the broth and leaned against the counter, "My first non-Water Tribe meal is almost done."

(for Aerandir)
Nyima laughed a little, "Well, I can't say that I agree," she looked him up and down, "You look healthy to me."
"Thank you, you Try to tell her that though..."

She turned back to her dumplings, "They are really nice. Whether they speak too highly of you or not. They were telling me some stories too," there was a teasing glint in her eye as she reached across him and stole a piece of pepper. She giggled a little, "I think I'll definitely go back, embellished or not, they are quite amusing."
He placed his knife down as his eyes went wide. 'Oh great just what I wanted to hear...' He thought to himself.

She moved away from him and quickly made a simple broth for the dumplings to sit in. She grabbed the noodles that sat in the sink and poured them into the pan that the meat was being cooked it. She stirred in slightly, "Add the vegetables as you please."

He moved over and used his knife to slide the chopped vegetables. Then moving over he washed a few more dishes. He also dried them off and placed them away.

She walked over to the cupboard and grabbed the oil. She walked back and looked at him, "Here's the part I'm having troubles with. How can a guy, who is apparently so shy that he can hardly talk to women and every date he's been on has been set up for him, deal with living under the same roof as a young lady," she smirked at him and laughed, "Okay, I'm almost positive that they embellished that tale."

He leaned on the counter, and hung his head. "Son of a..." He said softly he's gotta talk to mr.Chan tomorrow.
He glanced at her." You should see some of the girls they set me up with... You would be speechless like I was." He shudders at the thought of some of them came to mind.

She dropped the dumplings into the broth and leaned against the counter, "My first non-Water Tribe meal is almost done."