"If you'd like to learn how a real pro bends..." Tahno slid his arm around the tall girl's thick waist. "I could give you some lessons."

Narook's Seaweed Noodlery, his usual stomping grounds. He was there with his team and a group of fangirls. Tahno always got to pick first, that was the unsaid rule. He liked the most sophisticated, normally. City girls, he called them, had a certain spark to him. The way they dressed, the way they talked... even the way that they smelled was enticing to him. But this girl wasn't what was on his plate tonight. Instead, he had a special girl in his line of sight: The Avatar.

She and that idiot Bolin were slurping down noodles so... sloppily. It was disgusting, but he couldn't stop watching her. She was his top competition, he had heard.

He and the Wolfbats had been the reigning champions of pro-bending. Three years and running. No one was going to take that away from him. So when he noticed the woman's eyes meet his own, he stood and gave the signal. His crew stood up and followed him as he advanced towards the Avatar.

"Don't mess with this guy, he's a nasty dude." He heard Bolin say.

If you think I'm nasty now. Just wait. He scowled but held the sneer on his face.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Fire Ferrets. Pro-bending's saddest excuse for a team. Tell me, how'd a couple of amateurs like you luck your way into the tournament? Especially you," he was excited to release his killer insult. "Uh-vatar."

She simply spit at it.

"If you'd like to learn how a real pro bends..." Tahno slid his arm around the Avatar's chair repeating his favorite line with only a slight twist, "I could give you some private lessons."

He had moderately expected what happened next, but it didn't intimidate him in the least. In fact, it was almost a turn on.

"You want to go toe-to-toe with me, pretty boy?" The Avatar's seaweed tinted breath was directly under his nose.

"Go for it. I'll give you the first shot." It was easy to keep his cool. He'd had plenty of practice with angry women.

"Don't. He's just trying to bait you. You hit him and we're out of the tournament." Bolin reminded her.

Three seconds lasted in a stare down. This was his favorite part-- the moment before the explosion. He watched as she raised up her hand, and grinned with satisfaction. But before he could hear or even feel the punch, a loud whistle assaulted his ears. And then, a monster appeared.

The white beast let out a terrorizing roar, causing him to shriek and fall backwards. It even dared to mess up his hair. He had to admit, he had been momentarily thrown off his game. But it was only a second before he shook off his teammate who had caught him and flicked his hair back into place. With a swish of the wrist, he once again gave the signal and the crowd followed him out of the noodlery.