Chapter 32

It was a good time to finish Amon, once and for all. Chen entered the mansion of the Sato family with his girlfriend. Asami turned her face to Chen's. She smiled. 

"I would love to invite you in. But I don't live alone in this place. Wait… I can say that you are injured and let you stay. I can come to check on you later." She said, her words having a hiding meaning.

Smiling at her, he said. "It's okay. I just want to talk with your dad." 

"He would be sleeping by now." Asami pushed her hair behind her ear. 

"Trust me. He isn't sleeping." Chen said. "Tell him. I would be happy to talk to him." 

"First, how do you know that? Second, talking about what?" 

"Asking for your hand," Chen said. He couldn't simply tell her that her dad was involved with the criminals. He also couldn't give her a lame excuse. That's why purposing for her would make her awake her father. 

"I see why you can't wait." Asami put her hands on her mouth, her eyes getting cloudier. She looked surprised and happy, and she seemed to feel the warmth. "I'll wake him up." Asami turned and walked upstairs. Turning her head to Chen, she said. "Wait here," she then ran to her father's room. 

-x-X-x- 

Hiroshi happened to be awake at this time as Chen had expected. Amon had attacked the pro-bending arena. Hiroshi, as one of the leaders of the equalists movement, would be awake during the attack. 

Chen was sitting at the table. When he saw Hiroshi coming down with his smiling daughter, he waved his hand. 

"Hey, father-in-law," Chen called. 

Hiroshi flinched for a part of a second. But soon, he created a happy expression. 

"Chen, my guy. I haven't expected your visit during this time." 

"And I haven't expected you to be awake," Chen replied. 

Asami raised her eyebrows at Chen and blinked twice. She just caught him lying.

"How could I not," Hiroshi replied. "Every second my daughter is out of my sight is a second I don't sleep."  

"I'll leave you two to talk. I'm going to change." Asami excused herself. 

When she left, Hiroshi sat opposite Chen. He stared at Chen dead in the eyes. Hiroshi's expression changed to a serious one. 

"How did things go? I have heard it on the radio. But I have yet to get a report from them. You know who I mean by them." Asked Hiroshi. 

"Trust me, you won't get any report," Chen said. "Amon and his brother were the only ones to escape. The others are all arrested." 

"I know that," Hiroshi said. "But still… what happened?" 

"I injured Amon when he tried to escape," Chen replied. "Your plan of exposing his bending has failed. He'd his brother to cover up for him." 

"I didn't expect that too," Hiroshi replied. He then sighed and said. "But if you injured Amon, those are good news." 

"I know." Chen sighed. "That's why I need you to give me the location 

"I would advice against it." 

"Why?" 

"There is a whole trained army there. They have my latest technologies. How would you like to feel knowing that you are going to fight huge robots." He said. 

"Feels pretty good," Chen smirked. "By the way, how was the device I asked you to make." 

"It's not tested." Hiroshi reached his pocket. "It will only disable devices within 100 meters range. It's not perfect yet." 

"Only a hundred meters? Do you have any idea how many devices it can ruin?" Chen admired. Hiroshi was very humble as it seems. He leaned backwards on the sofa, and he put a leg above another. He treated himself as if he were in his home.

"Now you said it, I think it's sufficient." Hiroshi pulled a grey sphere with a red button in the middle. He showed it to Chen. He said. "After pressing the button, throw it. It will explode three seconds later." 

"alright," Chen said. "How much do you have of it." 

"Only one. I haven't made it perfect yet." 

"This will do for now." Chen took it and put it in his coat pocket. "I will use it wisely. Now, where they are." 

Hiroshi then explained to Chen the locations of the anti-benders. He said that he won't be sure where Amon would go. But if he and his brother used the sea to escape, they would be hiding in a warehouse on the eastern side of the city. Hiroshi gave Chen the address. Chen nodded. 

"By the way," Chen said. "To awaken you, I told Asami that I would ask for her hand from you." 

"What!?" 

"Hey, you're the first who came to me and asked me to protect her." 

"I meant in case something happened to me."

"I promised to protect her, and I don't remember a condition such as if something to happened to you." 

"You're quite argumentative." Hiroshi clicked his tongue and turned his head. He then exhaled a sigh. "Still, I want you to protect her. You are not rich, but at least you are strong. But hey, you only said that you wanted to ask her hand because you needed to meet me. Not to have her." 

"Why not both?" Chen turned to him and he shrugged. 

"I'll keep close eyes on you," Hiroshi said, flinching. 

"What close eyes?" Asami entered from the main door, wearing a light red charming nightgown. . Chen turned to her, and he checked her from head to toe.  Delicate skin, hourglass shape, wide hips and long full legs. It took him a considerable amount of willpower to stay still and not jump at her and touch those thighs. He wanted to see how soft they were. He smiled. 

Hiroshi's expression to a smiling one. He looked at Asami, and he said. "I was just giving your fiancee a bit of warning not to mess things up." 

"Fiance…" Asami put her hands on her mouth. She walked to Chen, opened her hands widely, and hugged him, before kissing him on the lips. She turned to her father and said. "But I would be sad that I won't live with you. After all, when I marry, I would move to his place."

Hiroshi waved his hand in front of his face. "Oh don't worry about that. There is no way my daughter be away from her eyes. For that, Chen will live with us from now on. This way, I can be sure that you are safe." 

'I can be sure that you are safe.' It was an indirect message for Chen to stick around and protect them. Hiroshi seemed to be afraid for the safety of his daughter. 

At any rate, it worked exactly for Chen's interests. 

He would live among a rich family.

There were servants all around to obey his shoulder. 

And his soon to be his wife was plenty rich. 

"But, what he has to say about that? Did you ask for his opinion?" Asami asked. 

"Of course, I would live with you," Chen said. 

Asami turned to him. Since her face didn't face her father's, she didn't hide her expression. She winked at him. It meant that they can sneak into each other's room and live happily. 

"May the spirits help me." Hiroshi massaged his forehead. He stood up, turned and said, "Now, Chen has to get his stuff. By tomorrow, he would move in. I'll ask someone to prepare him a room." 

"Sure, father-in-law," Chen slowly said. 

Hiroshi shivered for a millisecond, and he continued his walk as if Chen said nothing.

-x-X-x- 

6:00 AM.

Most of the people of Republic City started waking up. It was a good time to start setting up for a productive day. The police and the military would be the first ones to open. Other than that, most people were still sleeping. 

Chen blinked and stretched his arms standing at the door. He had to circle the blood, using his Chi, to feel awake. Waking up at such a time wasn't his thing. But he'd a job that must be done. 

Chen wouldn't have woken up now. But Korra came very early to his place and woke him. 

"Ready?" she asked, looking around. "Nice place, by the way." 

"Do you want it?" 

"No." She waved her hand in front of her face. "Tenzin wouldn't allow me to move anyway." 

"I can rent it to you." Chen said, "if you like it that much, you can have it." 

"Are you moving out?" Korra asked as Chen went to his closet and brought a set of clothes. 

"Yes, after we take care of them," Chen said, turning to Korra. "Mind you?" he was holding his clothes. 

Korra nodded, and walked out of his room, giving him space to change. 

Chen undressed and started dressing up. 

Suddenly, he flinched when he sensed Korra picking up on him. He turned his head, and she wasn't there. It doesn't matter anyway. He changed to black leather pants, a white shirt and a black coat. He wore a set of fingerless gloves. They were necessary, as it would hurt his skin if he punched someone too hard — he planned to punch someone that hard. 

"Let's go out." He walked out of his room, Korra was there, blushing. 

Pretending to be oblivious of the reason for her blush, he said. "Why your face is red." 

"I'm just too excited to kick someone's ass today." 

"Same feeling with me." 

They walked out of his apartment, and they took a taxi. While being in a taxi, Chen could understand why movie producers would cut the scene when the heroes leave their place. Staying in a taxi and looking through the window isn't badass. 

"Look, that's place. They have a nice barbecue." Korra pointed at one store opening. 

"Korra, focus," Chen said. He turned his head, and he raised his eyebrows. "Oh, that store. I know it. Lu makes it good." 

"And here you were asking me to focus. Look at yourself." 

Soon, they reached the eastern side of the city, facing the sea. In the middle, there was a small island with few buildings. It had an abandoned factory. A perfect place to have a criminal place at.  Chen turned to Korra. She nodded. 

"Alright, follow me." She held his hand, jumping to the water and taking him with her. She waved her free hand, creating a sphere of water around them, which allowed them to breathe. The sphere continued taking them to that island. 

"Ever been underwater?" She asked. 

"No, the first time," Chen said, looking around. 

"I guessed as much. You can thank me later." 

"For what?" 

"For the free tour." 

Chen rolled his eyes, and she giggled. The bubble they were in raised. Chen and Korra flew out of the water, landing on the island. It was well built. Chen stared at the huge building in front of them. It seemed to be rusty and old. However, the inside was another story. 

Activating his thermal vision and lightning sense, Chen could see beyond the wall. He felt a lot of people. The information intake made him feel a bit of a headache. But it wasn't much. Without needing to lift his head, he could see that someone saw them already. He was on the roof. He turned and ran, reaching a spot in the middle, and pressing a button. 

"We have been found out," Chen said. 

"Wait, how did you know." 

"There is nothing much to say," Chen said, pointing forward. "I can use my firebending to sense heat. The guy on the top saw us, and he rang the alarming bell. Many non-bender is on their way." 

Korra looked at him, and she placed her hands on her hips. She stood on her toe and let her face closer to his. 

"Aren't you too calm when saying that?" 

"Just use your avatar power." Chen cracked his fingers, sparks of lightning dancing around them. 

"Well, I'm going to see you in action, soon." She said.

From the large gates of the factory, many masked anti-benders started getting out, holding weapons. Behind them, a few 3 meters tall robot suits were marching. They should be called Mecha Suits. 

"Remember. Our target is Amon. We have to expose him in front of his followers" Chen turned to Korra. 

It's not like he didn't want to hurt the fooled anti-benders. However, he didn't want to go extreme. 

He didn't want legal troubles. Also, he needed these guys to see Amon for who who really he is.

"Why?" Korra asked him. 

"We don't want legal troubles," Chen said. "Also, if we don't expose Amon and If we arrested him or killed him, he will become just a dead hero, and a bigger antibending movement would raise. Get it." 

If a bigger anti-bending movement was to raise, then the target would be Chen and Korra. 

It would be so annoying. Chen wouldn't have time to chill with Asami in her mansion. 

"I see." Korra nodded, finding Chen very wise.

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