Chapter 1

Korra wasn't ready to head to work. She'd been there late last night, and had a ton of homework to do after as well. Needless to say that didn't get done. She'd had a free hour between school and work, but she got in a quick nap instead of writing a paper. She needed money now, the paper could wait.

The walk wasn't too long, but it took her through some dangerous streets, and the drizzle didn't help either.

Work was always taxing, but she was lucky to have the job. It was at a little restaurant, tucked between a laundry mat, and a nail salon. She was happy it only seated 20 or 30 people, it could never get too busy that way. It was a popular place, the food was good, and the way it was cooked was a flamboyant nuisance. If she didn't flip her wrist right, or have the right footing the owner would flip.

"It's for your own good!" He screeched at her from the back.

"Yeah, so I can get a better tip." She mumbled under her breath.

There was a certain way to cook each thing. It was a special technique, an art. It hadn't taken her long to catch on. And thought she wouldn't admit it, she liked it. Rotate like this when stirring, hand over hand when mixing, and the list went on. Each item had it's own movements.

"It doesn't taste right if you do it wrong" He scolded.

"I just can't do it, the dough is impossible to make." She pouted, mashing the ingredients together in a horrific manner.

"We'll try again tomorrow, I know you'll get it. You just need patience." He always had a way of calming her when she couldn't do something.

"Fine" She sighed "I have to get home, I have homework calling my name!" She joked.

"Night, get home safe." His farewell was the same every night. His face looked more weathered tonight some how, like he was worried about something. She figured he was tired, and old man like him working all day alone would kill any normal human being.

She walked out the door, it was still raining. She liked the rain, it was always calming. It made her feel content. That's why she never complained when she had to walk home in it. No one seemed to understand that she liked walking in the rain, she often had taxi drivers offer her free rides home. She eventually started using the back way home, cutting through little alleys, and hoping a fence here or there. She'd never come into any trouble, just a few homeless people trying to stay out of the elements.

So when she saw three guys, one trying to blend in with the wall behind him, another behind a dumpster, and one laying inside of a box she became a little weary. She pulled her little flash light out of her purse. It wasn't big, she only used it to find stuff inside her purse. She didn't turn it on. It was just the right size to fit inside of her hand and give enough weight to a punch to knock someone out. She didn't know how she was going to knock three someones' out though.

She looked at each of their faces as she passed, burning their features into her mind. Scar across the eye, amber eyes, butt chin. Chunky, thick brows, brown eyes, mole on the right cheek. Large, muscular, green eyes, prominent cheek bones. They were distinct enough that she could easily remember them, pick them out of a line up if she had too.

She hoped they just wanted to rob her, and didn't have any other intentions. As she passed she could hear them falling in toe behind her. Did they think she couldn't hear them? Were they that stupid? She heard one step hard, meaning they were going to make their move. She side stepped and turned with her fist heavy, straight into his jaw. One down, two to go.

Her hand throbbed, and She wasn't sure how to take on two opponents at once, she had never fought in her life. They both lunged, she was helpless.

"No!" she yelled as loud as she could, hopefully someone nearby would hear her and come to help her.

"You knocked out our friend! We're going to teach you a lesson!" the one with the scar screamed. He had caught her fist with his hand easily. The other man kneed her in the gut and she went down, with one more kick her world changed colors.

"Hey Bro, did you hear that?"

"Huh? No. What are you talking about?"

"I think I just heard a girl yell?"

"No man, it was probably just someone's TV turned up too loud."

"No, I definitely hear someone getting beat up. I'm going to help out, you comin'?"

"I'm going to have to, you need all the protection you can get Bo."

They grabbed their jackets, and crawled out their fire escape. It was a quicker way to get to the street, and they needed to avoid the landlord because they didn't have rent this week.

Around the corner they saw a blue flash. Mako and Bolin looked at each other in shock and ran towards the light.

Once they turned the corner the sight they saw was confusing. There was a girl crumpled up in the middle of the alley, and three men strewn about haphazardly.

"Bo, check their pulses!" Mako ordered as he ran towards the girl. She looked okay, a small bruise appearing on her forehead and arms, who knew where else. Her knuckles were bloody. He felt her neck for a pulse. It was strong.

"Hey, can you hear me?" He said while gently cradling her "Are you alright, does anything hurt?" She mumbled incoherently and her bright blue eyes flashed open for a moment and fluttered shut again.

"They're dead man." Bolin whispered. "We better get out of here."

Almost like he had wished for it sirens started off in the distance.

"Fuck! Help me pick her up, grab her feet." Mako looped his arms under hers, and hoisted her up. It was awkward, so Mako threw her over his shoulder. They had to climb the latter of the fire escape anyways.

"Dude, are you sure? We might get in trouble, what if we get caught?"

"She was clearly defending herself, but those guys are dead, and it would be better for her just to avoid the whole thing. We are the only ones who saw anything, or at least gave a shit about it. Besides, if WE get caught here they might think we did something. So let's move our asses!"

"Dammit you are always right!"

Flashing lights filled the alley not a second too soon. They had just closed the window.

"Mako, what are we going to do with this girl? How are we going to explain all of this? What if she kills us?"

"She wont, they attacked her, see her fist? See the bruises on her arms?"

"Okay maybe your right, but what should we do?"

"Get some ice, and some peroxide, we need to clean these wounds. She's gotta rest. We'll figure it out when she wakes up." Convincing his brother, because really, he had no plan.