As usual, the studio was packed. The heat that radiated off everyone as they pushed their bodies was familiar and in stark contrast to the chilled, late fall wind outside. Most of the people lined the walls while group by group practiced their choreography in front of the mirror. Korra sat along the group by the window, all in a neat row to give the dancers plenty of room.

When at the studio, no matter the weather, she always had a ponytail, a ball cap, and either a handkerchief or a facemask on to cover her mouth and nose. It was accepted by everyone as normal for her and no one questioned it. She was happy because she could dance until she couldn't feel her body and no one would know it was her.

The group that had been dancing finished and everyone clapped. The main choreographer came to the center as they left.

"Okay Yuki, you're up!"

Korra stood, responding easily to her fake name. She had everything figured out in order to be a part of something like with without a personal cost. She came to the middle of the studio and faced the mirror, the window to the street on her right.

"Where is your group?" The lead asked her.

"I'm solo today. I finished my own set and I wanted you to sample it. Sound good Mina?"

"Great!" Mina cheered, smiling ear to ear. "Please, show us!"

Korra nodded and waited for her music to begin. She never really wanted to be in the spotlight but this time she had no choice. They had already done choreography to the song that started to play but it left her unsatisfied.

With each note her body bounced to the rhythm, getting the feel for her starting point and winding her finger up in the air when the lyric said 'turn it up'. She continued to bounce at a normal beat until the verse hit and her body exploded into swift arm movements with matching step sequences. She smiled to herself as she danced spinning and rolling her hips through the chorus and loving the way she could play her body against gravity. When she stopped the music faded, her sample over and Korra's chest was heaving. The steps were fairly complicated but she felt it was what the song deserved. She laughed a bit with each gasp and her classmates cheered for her. Mina, the lead choreographer, stood and was still smiling as wide as ever.

"Yuki, that was amazing!"

"Yeah?" Korra laughed and was sincerely asking too.

"Yes! I want to see the whole thing! But this also gives me the perfect opportunity to ask you something. How would you feel about becoming a lead here?"

Korra paused as her breathing slowed.

"Oh, really?" She asked behind her handkerchief. "That was my first original though. I don't really think I'm qualified."

"Yuki are you kidding me? I've been watching you from day one when you started in my beginner's class, where you didn't belong. You've been with us for a while and every time I watch you dance you are leading the group, no matter where you're positioned. I think you are more than qualified. What do you say?"

Others behind Mina encouraged Korra to agree and she laughed again.

"I guess I can? I just need time."

"Take all the time you need to work out the kinks with this one and when it's completely finished, I want you to show all of us and pick a few to teach. It would be a great 5 person set."

"That would be so fun!" "That dance looks impossible." "We can do that!" Korra heard many people say at once.

Mina looked up at the clock and realized it was time for everyone to go home. People filtered out little by little and eventually Korra left too, slinging her bag over her shoulder and turning towards the station. She froze when a pair of gold eyes looked her over with a smirk.

"That was pretty cool, Yuki." He said and she looked around, making sure no one was taking any special interest in their conversation.

"How long have you been watching?" She asked in a low voice and then another question occurred to her. "Better yet, how did you know where to find me?"

Bolin poked his head from behind Mako with an apologetic smile.

"Ugh Bolin, why?" She whined.

"He was curious and since you two are going on a date tonight anyway-"

"We're not going on a date." She cut him off.

"Oh really?" Bolin said with a stupidly cocked eyebrow. "Fong's, on the weekend, at night, alone, together? Sounds like a date."

She sighed and rolled her eyes, the only part of her face visible to them.

"Its dinner to get to know someone better." She said softly.

"I agree with Bolin, that sounds an awful lot like a date." Mako smirked.

She fumed inside but tried to let it go. She switched her focus to Mako.

"I need to go shower and change so I can meet you at Fong's on time."

"You rap, you dance, what can't you do Yuki?" Mako said and although he meant it, the use of her alias came off as mocking.

"I will meet you at the restaurant in an hour, as friends. Where we will have dinner and talk."

"As friends." He added with a small grin. She saw Bolin trying to his smile.

"Yes. Now excuse me boys." She said and walked between the two, eventually catching the redline up town to her apartment.

Closing the door a little harder than necessary, she dropped her stuff and took off her shoes. She hooked a finger into her handkerchief and slid it off her face, letting out a breath she was holding in. An angry breath. A shower was in the forefront of her mind but even the hot water couldn't hide her emotions. She hadn't asked him to be there. The group there knew Yuki so showing them an original dance was something she was happy to do. But for Mako to be watching through the window, seeing her solo debut, it made her feel like he had read her diary out loud in Millennial Park with a megaphone. He knew her through Bolin and through that mess of a rap battle but now he knew more about her than she had bargained for and the scales felt uneven.

She scrubbed the sweat off her body and tried to prepare herself for dinner with him, wondering how he would make her feel next while also trying to think of questions to make him feel as bare as she did. Nothing came to mind and she was so frustrated and angry, a shouting cloud formed in her mind like when you see a scuffle on cartoons.

With a frown on her face she dried her hair, braiding the two sides until they become one in the back, tying off the end of her hair with a simple black band and letting it rest just between the tip of her shoulder blades. Going to her closet she picked an outfit that reflected the cold weather. Halfway through getting dressed she thought to herself that maybe her outfit was too nice, too fancy. Too much for just a simple night out. Korra sighed and ticked around on her phone for a ride; she certainly wasn't going to change or get on a packed L on a Saturday night. She slipped on her ankle boots, grabbed her bag and coat, and locked the door before heading to the elevator.

She had only been to Fong's once but it was just as spectacular as she remembered. The bright red sign lit up the street which was packed with night seekers, the beautiful and costly apartments up and down the street above all sorts of jewelry shops and other expensive attire. Even the little corner shop was still there, though it has clearly been redone with all the foot traffic from Fong's.

Korra let herself out of the car and walked across the street to the main entrance. A man in a pressed white shirt and red vest held the glass door open for her. The smells and the warmth engulfed her the second her foot passed the threshold and she smiled; the comfort of it all making her a bit less temperamental. She spoke to the maitre d', telling him who she was meeting with. He nodded and led her to a small booth in the back, dim lit and private. The second Mako saw Korra he stood up, waiting for her to sit across from him. She took her seat while smiling to the maitre d', him taking the gesture as a nod to relive him. After he left Mako at down, clearly a bit anxious.

"Well, you clean up nice. From rap king to red carpet." She laughed, admiring his grey suit with a white button down and a red tie. And of course his red scarf resting on his shoulders.

"I could say the same thing." It was supposed to sound jokingly but it came out softly, almost shy. She shrugged off her coat and Mako blushed in the dim light. She had on a sleeveless scoop-neck dress that was a wonderful shade of teal. It was modest at her knees but still very sexy. She had her bracelet on from the night before with a necklace to match, making them look real, shinning in the light. His eyes were caught by her right arm though where a pattern was inscribed over her bicep.

"That's surprising." He said and pointed to her tattoo.

"Hm? Oh yeah. I usually keep it covered with a cloth band that looks a lot like it. The band is old but the tattoo is fairly new."

"I can tell, the whites and blues are still vivid." He paused. "Was it expensive?"

"Um… a little bit over priced but I'm happy with how it turned out." She admitted. She thought this was too easy-talking to him. It was as easy as talking to Bolin. "Do you have any?"

He let out one "Ha!" under his breath.

"Not that anyone's seen."

"Oh? Not even Bolin?"

"Why on earth would Bolin be looking there?"

"Looking where?"

He blushed and she silently cheered for herself. She trapped him. He could either struggle or accept defeat. He chose to struggle.

"How do I know that's the only one you have?" He asked, pointing to her arm.

"You don't." She said very simply, refusing to be driven off track. "So what is it? A name? A verse? Oh! Is it flowers?" She smiled and laughed.

"I think if you can't see it it's not a topic right now?" He tried to make a final statement but it came out like a question under pressure. She rolled her eyes.

"Look, you've found out more about me today that I had planned on."

"It was just dancing Korra."

"It was my dance. My physical manifestation of how that song made me feel and you got to see that without knowing me that well. It's just as bad as reading someone's diary or going through their texts. So I feel that our situation is unbalanced."

"So what, you're trying to even the scales?"

"Yeah. I want something on you that you weren't expecting me to know so quickly."

He sighed and just as he was about to speak, their waiter came for their order. They paused and agreed on an appetizer each rather than dinner and they each ordered a hard drink, Korra thankful that the drinking age in the city had changed. As the silence settled when the waiter left, Mako was deciding what to tell her.

"Fine." He decided. "I'm a lightweight."

She raised an eyebrow. "How light?"

"Like, this-is-my-first-drink-this-year-and-for-the-love-of-god-only-let-me-have-one, light."

"What happens if you have more than one?"

"I usually can't stop and then I can't remember."

She paused and looked at his face. He seemed uncomfortable and embarrassed. She sighed to herself, feeling bad for making him confess like that, even though that was what she initially wanted.

"Okay." She said with a nod and he copied, understanding the scales were balanced again. His features softened and she relaxed further into her seat. She glanced at him and spoke while shoving her coat completely off and to the side.

"It's not all that great anyway. Depending on what you have it's either a night eraser or can let you make stupid decisions."

He let out a deep short laugh. "Sounds like you know firsthand."

"Wouldn't be my first time around the block." She added dryly.

They shared a silent, sad smile and the waiter came back with their drinks but no food. She looked down and raised an eyebrow.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"I'm debating. I haven't eaten since noon… but I really want a buzz…. I'm trying to decide who to be I guess."

"Have you been stressed or something?" He asked and tilted his head a bit. "Why would you need to feel loose? Isn't all of the exercise enough to ease off the anxiety?"

She paused and discomfort painted her eyes.

"Dancing, training, running - no matter what I do to my body, my mind is always occupied with having to be the Avatar. When I was a kid I loved the idea of being special. I owned it. But that was a long time ago. "

"Before the war." He added, not asked. She nodded and looked down. "You were what, 10? 11?"

"I was 10. When it was over I was 14. These last 4 years have been peaceful but that doesn't change what happened. It doesn't change anything."

It was silent between them and then he sighed out of nowhere.

"When it all started I was only 12." He offered. She looked to him and he continued. "I barely knew what was happening. I was too busy making dirty money to feed Bolin to notice. I got a newspaper every now and then… I remember seeing you on the cover one day."

She nodded and let her finger trace the rim of her double whiskey. "That was the day it ended. The battle of Adelaide. That's where I used to live."

"If it makes you feel any better, the 16 year-old-me thought you were both badass and beautiful."

She laughed freely, thinking he was ridiculous.

"No really!" He defended himself, laughing with her. "I remember saying to myself that I pitied and guy that tried any shit with you. Instant death sentence."

They both laughed again and Korra held a hand to her stomach, feeling lighter that she had in months. In their calm that followed, their food arrived and Mako looked to her.

"Looks like your decision has been made for you."

"Looks like it." She smiled and took hand from her glass and grabbed her fork instead. They ate for a while in silence before Korra decided there was enough food in her stomach to eat away at the alcohol. She reached over and took a sip, which turned quickly into a gulp, draining nearly half her glass. She set it down and looked up to him.

"Oops." It was genuine and a smile tugged at her lips, like she was caught with her hand in a cookie jar. He took his glass and smirked at her, raising it to her in a silent cheer and drank as much as she had to make her feel better.

"Mako-"

"No, it's fine. Best to be on equal ground."

She nodded and they continued to eat until their plates were empty and glasses dry.

"That wasn't much of a dinner." Mako said, feeling a little lightheaded.

"Still good though. Fong's makes some of the best soup. Order some and take it home for later." She replied, barely buzzed, just relaxed.

"Honestly, I want another drink."

"Mako, not half an hour ago you told me not to let you have more than one."

"Yeah well it's been a rather rough week." He said and hailed their waiter.

"You'll regret it. And I'll be there to tell you how stupid you were tomorrow!"

"Have another with me."

She paused as the waiter came to their table. She wasn't sure who was talking to her at the moment, Mako or his bourbon. It was simple sentence but for some reason it has a certain smolder to it that caught her off guard. In her hesitation Mako ordered two more drinks and she shook her head when the waiter left.

"As much as I would love to drink you under the table, I really think this is a bad idea."

"It's only a bad idea if you remember it."

"And Bolin said I have a problem." She scoffed, earning a sloppy eye roll.

"Fine, we'll finish this last drink and in exchange I'll take you to one of my favorite places."

She pushed her lips out and wondered what on earth he could mean. He calmly waited for her answer, not breaking eye contact when the full glasses were set on the table. She took in a breath.

"Last one." It wasn't a question, it was a cut off. He smiled and raised his glass to her. She mirrored him and before she knew it their glasses were dry once again, the familiar burn on the back of her neck feeling so comforting. Mako asked for the bill and though she had more than enough money to cover all of the bill or at least split it, he insisted on paying the entirety. Korra only agreed if she were allowed to leave the tip and Mako amended. She put down a considerable tip and grabbed her coat, being led out into the city.

Mako hailed a cab expertly and asked to go not very far from where they currently were, an address just north of the pier. The ride was silent but comfortable, most likely influence induced. Her brain was trying to figure out just what type of person he was but the scraps of information couldn't click together correctly, even without the fog in her mind.

When the cab stopped he grabbed her hand and lead her out, closing the door behind her. She laughed to herself that he seemed to be more impulsive when under the influence because they were standing in front of a karaoke bar.

"You can't be serious." She laughed out loud. "You said no more drinks!"

"You can have more but I got to see you dance so you get to see me sing." He said, face red with a confident smile.

"Oh? You call that singing?"

"I sing, I really do! Come on." He held the door open for her and lead her into the smoke and alcohol stench. They walked past the crowded area hearing different people singing loudly, flat, sharp, and wonderfully to a smaller area in the back with private rooms for parties or events. Evidently, if you have enough money you could just walk in and take one. Korra hesitated at the door after the cash was exchanged.

"Mako… isn't this a little too private?"

He paused, not really thinking about the implications of dragging her back there, borderline drunk, with a door to close and a soundproof room. He turned an even deeper shade of red and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Oh, I didn't really think about that. I just wanted to…" He stopped and ran his fingers through his hair, a nervous habit she noticed. "I'm sorry Korra. We can leave." He said softly and waited for her answer. She was curious about him but also didn't want to be alone with him like that.

"Is there a semi-private option?" She suggested.

"Oh yeah, I forgot! There's a room down the hall that is completely open, no doors or anything, just an open room."

"I'm up for that." She smiled.

He smiled wide and grabbed her wrist again to lead the way. She was going to have fun recalling this night to him tomorrow. How smooth he wasn't and how quirky he was instead. Dork. They turned the corner and it was more of a nook than a room; no wall where they entered, a large area with a table, mic, screen, and a huge couch. It was actually very nice. She smiled and tossed her coat onto the couch, picking up the phone on the wall and ordering a few drinks for herself while Mako set up the equipment. When her order was placed and she hung up the coil corded phone she sat on the couch with her arms on the back of it.

"I hope you have deep pockets Home Field. I ordered top shelf."

He paused at that remark and shook his head. "I'm not worried about it. I can always add it to my tab if it's too bad."

"You're here so much you have a tab?" She asked, shocked and amused. He nodded, his attention on the mic stand.

"Why do you keep calling me that?"

"Hmm?"

"Home Field. Is that your nickname for me?"

She blushed and looked down.

"Kind of?" The words were stretched out. "It's like when the Sox play here. Home Field Advantage. You're from here and I'm not… so yeah, Home Field."

He smiled and adjusted the stand to his height. "I thought that was just a spit of fire on stage."

"I came up with it then, but it just kind of stuck in my head." She said and looked up when woman came in with a tray of drinks and ice. She placed it on the table in front on Korra who said her thanks before the woman disappeared. She leaned forward to grab a drink and crossed her legs as she sat back, putting her other arm at her side.

"So what, are you going to serenade me?" She joked and he laughed.

"Not intentionally." He said honestly, taking off his grey suit jacket and scarf, tossing them onto the couch with her coat.

"Man, you are so full of yourself." She laughed and took a sip, more amused than irritated. He laughed with her, searching through the songs and loosening his tie.

"I just want you to know you're not the only one with a range of talents."

"Oh, so you brought me here to show off?" She raised an eyebrow, poking fun at him.

"I just love singing." The innocence in his voice made her heart skip a beat and she took another sip, feeling the burn in her cheeks just as equal as her throat. He chose a song finally and she knew the song within the first measure. She couldn't believe out of all the songs in the world, he chose this song. He closed his eyes and smiled, nodding his head to the beat as if he had been performing for years. She was frozen, watching him take in a breath before the lyrics spilled out from his lips, still smiling.

"I'm packed and I'm holding! I'm smiling, she's living, she's golden-She lives for me. Says she lives for me - Ovation, her own motivation, she comes round and she goes down on me. And I make her smile, like a drug for you. Do ever what you wanna do, coming over you. Keep on smiling, what we go through. One stop to the rhythm that divides you."

He took the microphone from the stand and started to dance in place, putting the stand to the side.

"And I speak to you like the chorus to the verse; chop another line like a coda with a curse. Come on like a freak show takes the stage. We give them the games we play, she said-"

Korra joined in with a smile from the couch.

"I want something else, to get me through this Semi-charmed kinda life, baby, baby I want something else, I'm not listening when you say good-bye!"

Mako laughed and pointed to Korra.

"You're not supposed to sing!" He said, letting the song continue in the background.

"I'm sorry! I love that song! I didn't expect you to pick something so nostalgic." She put her empty glass onto the tray. "Besides, that was half rapping minus the Chorus! This one doesn't count."

"Are you asking me to pick another song or would you like to demonstrate how to actually sing?" He asked, drunk and twirling the mic mockingly in his fingers. She still took it as a challenge and shot up, coming to him and ripping the mic from his hand. He laughed and took her place on the couch, flopping his body without a care in the world, taking off his tie and undoing the two top buttons of his shirt, a bit warm. She ran through the choices and picked a song she both loved and demonstrated actual singing. She left the stand to the side and gripped the mic tighter as the song began.

"How? Ho-o-o-ow? Ho-o-ow?" She paused and smiled softly.

"I can't believe what you said to me; Last night when we were alone. You threw your hands up… Baby you gave up, you gave up! I can't believe how you looked at me with your James Dean glossy eyes. In your tight jeans with your long hair and your cigarette stained lies."

Mako blushed, never imagining the range she could have had. How every word came so easily from her lips. He was lost in her voice.

"Could we fix you if you broke?" She sang softer. "And is your punch line just a joke?" She loosened her grip on the mic and sang the chorus tenderly as if it were a confession. "I'll never talk again. Oh boy you've left me speechless. You've left me speechless, so speechless. And I'll never love again. Oh boy you've left me speechless. You've left me speechless, so speechless…"

Mako watched as she poured so much emotion into the rest of the song, switching from tender to strong so easily it ironically left himself speechless. He didn't even move until she got to the bridge, pouring out her heart.

"And after all the drinks and bars that we've been to, would you give it all up? Could I give it all up for you?" She paused and took a breath, the alcohol really taking her under. "And after all the boys and the girls that we've been through… would you give it all up? Could you give it all up? If I promise," She got so soft, "boy to you." She took another breath, her face very dark and meeting Mako's eyes for the first time since she started singing. "That I'll never talk again… and I'll never love again." She got heavier. "I'll never write a song-won't even sing along. I'll never love again." She came through the rest of her song like she was a pro until the last lines which were delivered playfully. "Why you so speechless, Oh-oh, oh?"

She smiled and rested the mic on the stand behind her, coming to sit next to Mako who was suspiciously silent. He couldn't take his eyes off her, almost turning his whole body when she sat next to him.

"What?" She asked with a laugh, grabbing another amber-filled glass.

"That. Was. Incredible." He said each word differently and they both blushed. "I didn't think you would have that kind of range or vibrato. What are you, an alto?"

"Should I be offended at that comment or take it as a compliment?" She asked with a smirk.

"Definitely a compliment." He smiled and felt proud for some reason. "But what ever happened to the scales being balanced? You got up there and totally blew my performance out of the water!" They shared a laugh.

"Screw it." She said before knocking back the rest of her second drink, which in reality was her fourth all night. She pointed to the mic and smiled. "Your turn."

He looked to the mic and paused, like he was mulling something over. He suddenly took a dink in his hand.

"Mako-no!"

"I really don't care." He said before she could stop him from taking the whole thing, letting the liquid run down his throat like a waterfall. He made a noise between a grunt and a scoff as he put down his glass. "Besides," he took a breath, "I don't get to go on dates often." He stood to take the stage, Korra completely red but also not protesting to the idea that this was in fact a date. It didn't take long for him to pick a song and Korra laughed.

"Jay Park? Really Mako?" He ignored her, a permanent smile on his face, his body moving to the music, letting his hands talk with the lyrics.

"Girl pardon me I don't mean to be rude, but I got some paper wanna spend it on you. All I wanna do is kick it with you. Bottles on deck for you and your crew, baby swing by girl you should come through. All I wanna do is kick it with you." Korra laughed again, even a snort escaping her as she watched him dance which was surprising getting better the more he drank. Mako took the mic off the off the stage with him and sang along still, coming toward her and smiling the whole time.

"Oh girl look at you baby almost looking' flyer than me. And I got that gold Rollie with the bezel and Louis Vuitton on my body. And I know that shit don't impress yah, so no bull shit girl nothin' extra. Girl I ain't with playing' games. I wanna take you home I'm just being frank. I've been fantasizing about you girl all night." He made his way back to the stage. "Put your put your panties to the side, if it's alright." He jumped right back into the chorus again, the rap verse, the bridge, the chorus, and ended with a smug grin. Korra couldn't stop smiling.

"You are such a peacock." He laughed and put the mic back on the stand, stumbling just the slightest. Korra frowned slightly and tapped her finger on the couch.

"I think we should get you home - you've had too much."

Mako wanted to protest but couldn't think of how to do so without sounding like a child. He sighed and nodded.

"Okay but we take the same cab. I want to make sure you get home safely."

"Mako, I am more sober than you are!" Not by much. "You don't need to worry."

He picked up his jacket, tie, and scarf, lips in a hard line, dead set on his decision.

"It's called being a gentleman."

She rolled her eyes and grabbed her coat, in too good of a mood to argue. The crowd in the main part of the bar was even louder than before and more crowded. They tried to part the mob of people much less sober than themselves with slow success. When the chilly city air finally hit her face, she was overcome with refreshment she didn't know she needed. When had she gotten so hot? Mako grabbed a cab and she sat next to him with her coat in her hands. Their ride from the bar to her apartment was calming somehow. From the moments she remembered, she caught Mako staring at her more than once with a weird look on his face, a beaming smile. She, on the other hand, watched the traffic zoom by mostly with a silent mind. When the cab stopped in front of her building she turned to Mako to say goodnight, only to find him dead asleep against the back of the seat.

She reached over and gave his shoulder a shake. "Mako."

His eyes opened slowly and looked in her direction but looked right through her.

"Mako!" She yelled and gave his face a small slap. Not enough to hurt, just enough to try and jolt him awake. He didn't move. She sighed and pulled two twenties from her bra, handing it to the driver.

"Keep it." She said and grabbed Mako by the arm. By the time she had him out of the cab and standing upright he looked like a zombie. He finally opened his eyes and questioned why he was at her place in a slur of odd sounds, turning to watch the cab drive away.

"Because I'm calling Bolin to come get you." She said, annoyed, as she held her phone to her ear. She waited and got his voicemail.

"Damnit!" She said and hung up. "He must have it on vibrate."

"He's probably already asleep." He said, blinking slowly. Korra sighed and grabbed his arm.

"Just crash on my couch. You're gonna have a massive hangover."

He didn't argue, too drunk to care. The elevator ride was quiet, Mako leaning against the wall until they were up. She dragged him to her door and pushed him against the wall a little too rough.

"Ow." He winced, delayed and flat.

"Shush." She said with her keys in her hand and quickly unlocked her door. She dragged him inside and slammed the door shut behind them, letting him lean against the door. She dropped her coat, his jacket, tie, and scarf, her bag, her keys, and slipped out of her shoes; leaving them in a pile on the floor. She took his arm and walked him over to her futon, letting him drop down like his body had lost the will to stand. He let his head fall backward instantly, closing his eyes. She rolled hers.

"You're hopeless."

"Yeah." He said like he was in a dream.

She shook her head and leaned down to take his nice pressed shirt off for him, seeing a tank top through the few buttons he had already undone. After she undid two buttons he suddenly reached out and pulled her down, kissing her with a heat that she had never felt before. At first she squeaked in surprise, then she leaned into it, enjoying the burning sensation it was causing through her entire body. It wasn't until his tongue ran over her lip she broke the kiss and jolted straight up.

"Nope. Nope. We're not doing this."

"Why?" He asked, his voice much, much lower than she remembered and it sent shivers down her spine. She gulped, realizing her legs were between his knees, even though she was standing.

"You're drunk." She gave in reply.

"So?" He said and his voice was husk-drowned, turning her on. But her common sense told her a thousand reasons to say no.

"You can't give reasonable consent right now." She said softly but firm.

"Sure I can." God he was making this hard.

"We've known each other like, what, two days?" She tried to reason.

"One night stands are common."

"Mako!" She pushed him in the chest and almost growled at him. "This is not happening." She gripped his shirt and tipped him over to lay on the futon. "Sleep. You're gonna feel like an ass in the morning."

He made a grunt and an unintelligible complaint before she left him there to take a shower. The hot water helped calm her mind but not her body. She was frustrated in more ways than one and hit her head against the tile wall a few times. When she was clean and dressed in old clothes, she checked on him one last time for the night. He was passed out on the futon, dead to the world. She shook her head for the millionth time that night.

Lying in bed, her mind mostly sober, she blushed and tried to push off her reaction as just an instinct, which was a lie to herself. Love and hate ran a thin line and she wasn't sure how long she was allowed to walk it. She tried to tell herself she wasn't attracted to him, nor had any feelings for Mako, but this was also a lie on some plane of reality. Considering their worlds were going to collide more often, she wasn't really sure what to do with herself as she settled into a restless sleep, the last reading of the clock at 3:52am.