What? Don't look so surprised! It was solely up to my energy-level to write this! Well, it was this or a seriously awful AU for Avatar about...well, you don't care about that. Hell, I don't care about that. Not now anyhow.

Right now, I care about this Crane-centric multi chapter that's probably featuring my best writing with one of my favorite characters in all his dorky glory. Apologies if I play up the dork too much...but it's necessary. I promise.

The great Fanfictionn gods have not yet said how many chapters this will be (though I'm putting my bets on 3).

Anyway, introducing Winged Bravery! (cheesy title I know. Sue me later)

To anyone not accustomed to the gangly janitor of Lee Da Academy, seeing him trying rather hard to seduce a mop would send bad vibes. To those who were accustomed to it…well, the vibes were still received, but it also gave the opportunity for an epic teasing session.

In fact, the boy feathered kid probably thought he was alone at the time. (Being alone was the only time making kissy faces and wriggling your eyebrows at a mop was acceptable.) He had no idea of the three rhinos hiding behind a corner and trying—or rather, failing—to keep their laughter contained.

"How you doin'?" the janitor said, forcing his voice to drop a few octaves. He did some kind of fancy twirl with the mop, only to stop and hold it in a nearly dipping motion. "Oh please, don't be so shy. You look great-" he stood upright and behind spinning quickly "In fact, you've never looked so-o-D'OW."

Before his final line could be delivered, the water fowl tripped over a nearby bucket and face-planted into the ground. Unable to help themselves, his soon-to-be tormentors burst into heart guffaws, leaning on each other and gripping their sides.

Poor, poor janitor-boy's face turned from grayish-blue to crimson in 0.3 seconds. He stumbled to a standing position, tripped over the spilled water from the bucket, and let out a muffled curse when the mop landed solidly on his head. The rhinos laughed harder, bellowing so uproariously he honestly thought they'd end up exploding.

"You," the biggest of them managed, "are the-the funniest thing to ha-happen to this school!"

The friend to his left joined in, "It's a wonder they haven't kicked you out for causing a riot yet!"

"Or!" the last of the tacked on, "Or, from breaking things faster then you can fix 'em!"

And, as if they were the funniest people in the world, the rhinos proceeded to laugh until tears flowed freely down their cheeks.

Janitor-boy slumped on his back, staring blankly at the ceiling. He never figured out just how he managed to get into these situations. Maybe the whole mop-seducing practices should be held when he was absolutely positive he was alone.

"Heh heh, real funny guys," he said tiredly. With a small push of his wings, he righted himself. "You're a riot."

With a downcast expression, he resumed mopping the floors, simultaneously wishing his face would return to its normal.

The rhinos continued laughing, cracking more awful jokes and empty insults as they staggered about each other. Only when a shrill cry of, "Hey; you lot! Get your asses to the training hall!", echoed off the hallways' walls did they sober up and trot away.

The klutzy avian didn't watch their retreat; still desperately trying to play off the situation in a completely cool manner. When the same voice came again, this time directed at him and a lot less irritated, his head did snap up and his face paled.

"Sorry about that," the voice's owner said, strolling into the room with her arms crossed. Her voice took on a bit more annoyance as she added, "That's the Wang brothers. They aren't exactly the sharpest knives in the drawer."

Despite the fact that his legs were turning into jello and his heart was racing, Crane calmed himself enough to say, "I could tell." The reply didn't feel quite adequate to her words, so he quickly threw in, "They weren't even funny. Sometimes laughing along is easy, but their jokes…let's just say, I wasn't pitying myself."

She grinned at him, letting out a quiet laugh and—there went the rest of his composure. "I have to train," she said, with a slight shake of her head. "I…I'll see you around, Crane." With one last fleeting smile, she turned and strutted out the door again, and he wanted to either gauge his eyes out of drool.

"Bye!" he squeaked instead, waving one wing with far too much enthusiasm, and was ultimately glad she couldn't see him.

Once he was sure she was long gone, the impatient smile finally broke out on his face and he found himself twirling around with the mop again, this time chanting 'Mei Ling wants to see me around!' and 'Wow, she sure showed those guys!'.

After a few minutes of doing this, he realized how lovelorn he sounded and stopped abruptly, glancing around to make sure he wasn't being watched this time. But even though he pressed his lips together tightly, he managed to smile anyhow.