Republic City

Bast accepted the hug with no questions asked. He really liked hugs and a hug from Bael was special. He hugged him back tightly and followed him into the house. "I will, don't worry."

Of course, he was hungry and he would go and find the leftovers.

"Mom, I won't be out all day! Geez. I'll come home after the Pro-Bending Tournament..." Rakka shouted, as he left his home. He sighed to himself and looked to the waiting Leta outside of his home. Over the past few days, after the incident, she had been waiting there for him. He was surprised at first, but now, he welcomed it. It was nice to see such a friendly face the moment he stepped outside, rather than an Equalist waiting to take his bending.

He recalled the message Amon had given the Avatar, challenging her to stop him. He really hadn't heard anything after that, but he knew she was going to be at the Pro-Bending Tournament tonight.

He glanced at Leta, trying to act the concerned gentleman. "Why don't you wait at the inn? I told you, it really isn't safe." And she wouldn't answer him, much like every other morning. After that night she healed them after the Equalist rally, she hadn't said much at all. She would just come get him, and then take him over to Bael's, as if she wanted to check on him and Bast.

Rakka didn't like the idea, but he just followed her obediently. Some days they would hang out with Bast and Bael, and other times they would just chat for a bit. Or at least Rakka would. Leta was still quiet, even when she was in the presence of her other friends.

And even though Rakka didn't want to admit it, he considered Bael a friend, after saving him and all.

There they were, at Bael's doorstep, and Leta was knocking on the door, and Rakka was crossing his arms/

Baelfire had gotten used to Rakka and Leta randomly showing up at his doorstep since the attack, but that didn't mean he had to like it. When they knocked he'd open the door and then he wandered back off to the kitchen to finish cooking whatever it was he'd been working on. Bast was likely around here somewhere, since Bae hadn't made him get his own place yet.

"I guess there's enough food for everyone." They should know he was just grumpy by now, and that he had definitely made enough food for them all to eat. "I take it you're all going to the bending thing tonight?" He may not be into it, but he did have a radio in his apartment and they had been talking about it non stop.

Bast was sitting cross legged on his sleeping rolls with Falu in front of him. The little mouse was standing on his back legs and doing something like a dance for a crumb of food in Bast's hand. The water tribesman was very intent on making the little animal taken careful steps in a circle. His concentration broke as Falu completed the spin and the door opened. He looked up to find Leta and Rakka and Falu took the opportunity to bite his person's finger to get the food. Bast flinched and sucked on his bleeding fingertip while waving with the other hand.

"Hi guys!" He got to his feet and the polar mouse stole away into his blankets to enjoy his prize. "How are you today?" His mouth was nearly watering with the smell of whatever Bael was cooking.

At least Bael had seemed to be over the whole hugging Leta and being all nice and stuff. That always put Rakka in a better mood when he didn't have to watch that. "Sorry, guys, we can't stay long. Leta and I are going to practice bending a bit. Still have to get her ready for next year, one step at a time." He would give Leta a nudge, making Taru shift a bit as he was lazily laying on top of her head. Even he was seemingly less energized over the past few days.

"You both are welcome to watch if you want." He glanced around again, before he turned to Leta, giving her a nod. "Well, see you guys later!" Leta nodded as well, and they turned to leave the home.

Kaehi had been having a time of it today, her leg was killing her as she limped her way through Republic City. She was lost which didn't help her mood one bit, that and she was starving. Today was just not her day.

Limping along like this was starting to grab attention she didn't want, she was anti-social for the most part and just wanted people to stop pestering her. She hurt okay, she was in pain but she could handle it! With a huge hurrumph she found a place to sit and rub her leg. How on earth was she going to find where she was going now?

Bael frowned at Rakka, "You could at least let her eat first! Quit being such a slave driver." He'd snort and go back to his cooking, he and Rakka had had their moment, and now they were back to being the same. The two of them hadn't answered, so Bae looked at Bast, "Are you going to the tournament tonight?"

Once the food was ready, he made a plate for himself and Bast, and the leftovers were left on the stove. So much for cooking for everybody!

"I want to, yes. Will you come?" He was shoving food into his mouth and trying to be polite by not talking when it was full, but failing. He tried to swallowed before the next mouthful, and again failed. His stomach was a bottomless pit, it would seem. "I almost want to go watch them... But I don't want to be in the way."

"Ugh, that guy... calling me a slave driver. You would tell me if you didn't want to practice... right?" Rakka said, giving a sidelong glance at Leta, though he didn't get an answer. So he just gave a sigh. He continued to walk, at least until the water bender beside him stopped, because she had found someone of interest sitting nearby. He stopped as well, and then began to feel uncomfortable at who Leta was looking at.

"Stop staring, it's rude," Rakka said, nudging Leta. But the girl ignored him, and quickly made her way over to the person sitting down, rubbing her leg as if she were in pain.

Leta bent down to get a better look at the girl. She wouldn't really be able to do anything for the pain she was obviously feeling, but this person looked like she had more trouble on her mind.

Kaehi wasn't unused to people staring at her, but she did her best to ignore it as she shifted to give this strange girl her back rather than her face to look at. Leta wasn't doing anything too strange, though so Kae wasn't going to fuss. However she did seem a little uneasy as she continued to rub at her leg.

Bael snorted, "Me? Go to a tournament full of benders to watch bending like it's a sport? No thanks." He was cleaning up in the kitchen from making food, and any of the leftovers were passed off to Bast. "Then go watch them practice? Sit off to the side if you don't want to get in the way."

He'd never admit it, but he wanted to go too, if only because he wanted to spend more time with Leta.

"You know... Just because I can't play a sport doesn't mean I can't enjoy watching it." He gladly accepted the leftovers and made to wash the dishes when they were done. Falu tried to steal all the scraps he could before the dishes went in the water.

"I am going to and I think you should give it a shot."

Rakka rubbed the back of his head, and quickly made his way over to Leta, taking a hold of the back of her shirt, and pulling her up, and away. "Er, sorry about that. She's a little... well, yeah. We are on our way to practice, and she's easily distracted... NOT that you are distracting... oh man..."

He gave a glare at Leta, only because she always brought him into awkward situations.

Kaehi looked at Rakka and quirked a brow, poor thing was digging his own grave. "I uh." She pouted a bit, "I don't mind being a little distracting." But the pout turned into a smile, "Granted I've never had someone come over and stare at me quite like that before, usually it's just across the way."

Her eyes settled on Leta though, "You seem like you want to ask questions, fire away. So to speak."

Bael snorted, "Bending isn't a game or a sport. It can be very dangerous." Bast already knew it was like talking to a wall when it came to convincing Bae that not all benders were evil. "If you want to go, you should go. I'm not going and that's that." He's content to wash the dishes really, and then go to his job. Someone had to buy food and pay the bills!

Bast looked crestfallen, but when he was done cleaning up, he slunk to his pack. He dressed himself in silence and gathered Falu from eating garbage.

"You'll know where we are if you change your mind." He gave Bael the sad puppy dog face and left. He didn't think his friend would come, but he had tried.

Rakka frowned, wishing the girl hadn't asked Leta to speak. He was worried she'd say something insulting as well...

"You look troubled," Leta said, tilting her head a bit. She studied the girl a bit longer, before she held out her hand to her. "I am Leta." Rakka blinked, a little surprised. Leta wasn't being weird or anything right now. She seemed... normal. She hadn't spoke hardly the past few days, but now she seemed intent on making a new friend.

Kae smiled, "Tired and confused. Troubled works for that too." A hand was offered to her and she reached out to take it, "I'm Kaehi, nice to meet you Leta and..." Her eyes fell on Rakka, well come on boy talk.