Thank BG-13, whom without I would never get these stories running. Check out Loss by her too!

Korra's POV

I didn't remember falling asleep. I opened my eyes and found myself in a white room instead of that old dirty mattress I always slept on. I heard something beep and I turned around to find all sorts of machines around me. I tried to move my arms and legs but I was tied down. Panic rose inside me and I let out a scream.

I didn't know why I was here or what these people wanted from me. An elder woman came inside and calmed me down, saying I was in a hospital that someone had found me and brought me there.

My breathing started to regulate and I began to remember. I remembered escaping, cutting my wrists and someone finding me. I remembered the concern in his eyes, him picking me up and then him being here with me. The woman, Katara as she was called, tried to place a hand against my cheek but I moved my head away. I didn't want anyone touching me.

The door opened and I looked to find the man who had found me standing there, his left arm bandaged and in a sling. He smiled at me right before I turned away from him. He was the reason I was still alive. I had wanted to die but he had stopped me. I didn't know how I felt towards him.

"Hey," he greeted. "It's me, Mako. Remember?"

"I don't think it's a good idea for you to be here," Katara said. "She isn't stable."

"Just give me a minute with her."

"Do you want me to leave you two alone?" she asked, turning to look at me. I looked at her and then at him before turning my head away again. She sighed and left the room.

I expected him to come closer but he didn't. I turned to find him in the bed next to mine, a small smile on his face. I looked at his hand which had two roses: a yellow one and a white one. He also had a stuffed toy. My gaze finally settled on the sling.

"I just got this bandaged," Mako said, playing with the sling. "We raided the warehouse where you were. The other girls are going to be sent home."

My heart began to race at this. I had felt guilty for leaving them behind but I'd had to get out and if I had untied them they would have made too much noise. I was glad they had been found and freed. That's the least they'd deserved.

"I'm sorry I couldn't catch him," he said quietly, snapping me out of my thoughts. I didn't say anything, somehow I knew he wouldn't. I would never be safe from those bastards. "I will get them though," Mako continued. "I promise."

I looked up at him when he said that. He was the one person who had kept their word in so long…somehow I knew he was telling the truth. He would get them. I hoped he did.

I felt my body shake again with need and I actually let out a whimper at this. I hated myself for wanting those drugs. I wanted to get rid of the feeling. I wanted to get rid of all the pain.

"Hey Mako, can I talk to you for a minute?" a raven haired girl asked, opening the door. I recognized her, she'd dragged another man in here earlier. By the looks of it her and Mako were friends. This made me nervous.

He gave her a nod and smiled at me before putting the flowers on the night stand. "Can I put this next to you?" he added, gesturing to the toy. I didn't say anything but he carefully and slowly approached me, setting the stuffed toy on the bed.

I looked at the white polarbear toy and slightly lifted my hand up to put it over one of its paws. I had liked stuffed animals when I was home…when I was still pure. Now I wasn't. I was dirty, I would never be clean again. But in my mind there was some part of my old self that still liked them, and I let it comfort me.

Asami's POV

Katara had informed of the situation concerning the girl's future and I didn't like it one bit. Neither of the options would help her. I'd bet the whole Sato Company my dad owned that she would be dead in less than twenty four hours if she went to either place. She needed someone to be with her and help her cope and neither of those would do that. They both said one thing and one thing only: rejection.

I got Mako outside the room because I needed to talk to him. The girl had a bond with him already and he was her best bet. The question was whether or not he would want to take her under his wing.

"Have you considered caring for her?" I asked. "I mean until she opens up and tells us where she's from?"

The Firebender sighed and leaned against the wall before nodding. "I don't know Asami," he said. "She's hurt, she isn't talking and I don't even know if she wouldn't want to-"

"You're the only person in this city that she trusts," I said, cutting him off.

"You keep telling me that but I don't see it!" the Firebender snapped.

"Look at her hand," I said. He looked around me and his eyes zeroed in on her hand and saw what I did: she was holding the stuffed toy.

"That doesn't tell me anything. She's scared and she's young. She's going to want to hold on to something."

"You really don't get it, do you?" I asked. "She's either going to rehab or an orphanage. I can tell you right now she will be dead before the day is out if that happens."

"What if she doesn't want to go with me?" I smiled and made a move to go inside. "What are you-? Asami, no you'll scare-" It was too late. I was already inside.

The girl's heartbeat began to race at my presence. I gave her a soft reassuring smile before taking a chair and sitting next to her. I could tell I was making her very uncomfortable but at the moment that was the least of her problems.

"You're very brave, you know," I began. "The withdrawal symptoms are not something people can resist but you, you're trying your best to hide what you feel." She stiffened at this. "I read people's emotions," I explained. "And right now I can tell you're scared and you don't like me one bit." She didn't say anything, just stared blankly at me. "But him, you have no problem with," I finished gesturing to the Firebender.

"Asami, leave her-"

"She needs to know her options," I said told him before looking at her again. "Right now you're looking at either being sent to rehab or an orphanage." Her heart rate began to increase at this. "You won't tell us where you're home is because you're-"

"That's enough, Asami," Mako said sharply. "Don't torment her."

"I'm letting her know what her options are," I countered. "I'm going to be honest about the reality she's in. She needs to hear this."

"Don't," he repeated. I could tell that was my last warning but I had to do this.

"You're scared," I continued. "I know. But we're giving you the option here. Either you go to the orphanage or to the drug rehab. Either way you won't be receiving what you need."

I could see the fear reflected in her eyes. I was pushing her buttons I knew it. But I was pushing someone else's. I was never a fan of pressuring someone into something they weren't ready for but Mako had that look. I knew he was ready. I knew what he wanted, but he was scared, just like her.

"There's a third option though," I said. The fear in her eyes flickered, increasing. "Do you want to live with Mako?" There was the one hundred Yuan question.

Her gaze shifted from me to him. I could see how puzzled she was and I didn't blame her. A complete stranger had saved her life and was now saving her from going somewhere where no one would care for her.

"I won't hurt you," Mako told her softly. "I swear on my parents' graves. I'll make sure you get everything you need and I won't force you to talk until you're ready."

The girl's gaze was still on him and I could already tell she had made her decision. I couldn't help but smile. "Okay, so I'll tell Katara and see when she's going to be released though right now they're doing dialysis to clean her blood so it might be another day or so," I said, standing up like I'd just been discussing a business deal.

"Asami, she hasn't even made up her mind," he said.

"She just did," I countered. "Didn't you?" The teen looked at him and then back at me. That was all I needed. "See? She chose you."

I walked out of the room and he followed, grabbing my arm. "You're really pushing her," he said, anger in his voice. He seemed to be mad at me a lot today. Go figure.

"You wanted to take her with you," I said. He opened his mouth but I cut him off. "Don't deny it."

"I don't want to pressure her into anything."

"You didn't," I said. "I did and with good reason. Now call Bei Fong and tell her you're taking custody of the sixteen year old you found."

Mako blinked a few times. "Sixtee-? Bei Fong? How do you-? How do you know this?!" he exclaimed.

I gave him a smug smile. That was a good question. The answer; "I just do." He sighed, letting go of my arm. "Once you're finished get back in there so you two can familiarize yourselves."

"She doesn't talk, Asami," the Firebender reminded me.

I smiled again. "Maybe not, but she listens," I told him before going to look for Katara.

Yep, Id been right. This was going to be very interesting.