The mask we'd seen on the stage had been new to Korra and Bolin. Not to me. Even if I' d somehow managed to forget the design, I would have known that cold, level voice anywhere. He had been intimidating when he was at his ease in the back of a Satomobile, but up seeing him there was a different experience altogether. Preaching, rallying the mob behind him, taking their bending- If my brother hadn't been up there, I would have run.

I gave myself a day to stay at home with my brother, but then I had to get back on the streets. There were still 30,000 yuans looming over us. 28,000 now. That one day of rest had been an indulgence we couldn't afford, but I would have been useless out there. Amon had given me chills before I knew what he was, but now- My hands had started shaking as soon as I realized who my customer had been. He shouldn't have seen me. I'd been one face among hundreds, and then just a shape in the fog. He couldn't know that I'd been there.

Still, logic couldn't put me at ease. I didn't want to go back to the street where he'd found me once, where he could find me again. I toyed with the idea of going around to the factories looking for jobs, but I already knew it was the wrong season. We had lost two days where I could have been out working, and we couldn't lose another while I wandered aimlessly about. I had to go somewhere where I knew I could bring home money.

"Bo, I'm heading out."

"I think I'll look around the construction sites today. They might have some earthbending work."

"Sounds good, but remember: stay away from the Triads. It's even more dangerous than it used to be.

I did my best not to dawdle as I headed across the city. This was unpleasant, but it was all for our future. If we could just make it big in the tournament, I'd never have to do this again. I was still nervous, but able to put up a decent front when I got to the street. The last few days had made me edgy, but this street had hardly changed from the first time I came here. Faces might change, but this place never did.

It was too early to expect much traffic, but this way I wouldn't miss a single possible customer. Anyone coming by at this hour would be more likely to have the... unusual interests that brought the higher rates. I had to remember that even if Amon had paid my 2,000 yuans, very few people would be willing to do the same. But I needed to not think about him now.

The hours passed without anything interesting happening. I spent my time trying to recall all the subtleties of body language that I had tried so hard to forget. I was the merchandise, and I couldn't expect anyone to pay for me if I didn't sell myself well. The motions were coming back to me, but the eyes had to convince them. Remember, it wasn't for long. After the tournament I could pretend this had never happened.

I jumped at the sound of a Satomobile, but then I laughed at my own nerves. Plenty of rich people drove. The odds of it being Amon on this street again, this early in the day... I needed to stop being silly. I had to focus on the money. I was already at the curb waiting for the Satomobile to pass by before I started to imagine I recognized the vehicle. No. Surely not-

I looked for some door or alley I could slip into, but there was nothing. I was back against the wall, turned away from the road, but I still heard the Satomobile brake in front of me. The driver called out through the window, and I pretended not to hear. It was harder to ignore the looks from the other men on the street. I shouldn't draw attention to myself but I couldn't, couldn't go with that man again.

The driver paused, then continued, "Boy, I know enough to make your life very unpleasant. I think I'll begin with talking about your brother-"

"Stop." I walked over to the Satomobile. I just needed them to leave without making a scene. "You can't afford me. My rates have gone up."

"How much"

"Five thousand yuans," I said recklessly.

His eyebrows shot up, but he nodded. "Get in."

"What? No, I don't- There's no chance you think that's a reasonable price."

"Of course not. If you thought you had any chance of finding a customer willing to pay that much money, you're more foolish than I thought. I've been ordered to bring you in. Things might get unpleasant if you keep being difficult."

I hesitated. There had to be a way out. "That means you aren't going to pay me."

"Oh, you'll be paid. Get in the Satomobile. Now."

I climbed in through the back door, expecting to see that mask waiting for me. But the seats were empty. The driver turned to look at me. "He's waiting for you. Somewhere a little nicer than this." From so close he looked familiar. Had he been there that night? The man with the electrified kali sticks? If he was a nonbender, perhaps I could take him. He must have seen the look on my face because he grinned and said, "Don't even think about it. I'm more than good enough to take someone like you out."

The drive wasn't long, but the turns and streets we took were unfamiliar. I tried to remember how we'd come, but if I had to run I would be completely lost. I was escorted out of the Satomobile and through a series of doors and hallways without being given a chance to examine my surroundings too closely. I'd braced myself, but it was still a shock to see that pale mask and I could feel every muscle in my body tense.

"Ah, Mako," Amon murmured. I shifted. My name wasn't part of this. The driver bent in close to whisper to him. "Five thousand?" I smiled uneasily. It was completely unreasonable. He'd refuse to pay and I could leave. "Fortunately I have deep pockets." The smile fell from my face, but Amon was already nodding to his driver and before I could react we were alone and the door was swinging shut.

He took a step closer. "We do keep running into each other, don't we?"

"You're the one who sent your man for me."

"Very true, but I was rather speaking of the very determined effort you made to ruin my rally. You know, I thought the young earthbender had looked familiar, but it was quite a surprise to see you there, making a mess of things."

I took a deep breath. "If I know what you are and you know who I am, why would you bring me here?"

"It's nicer than a Satomobile, isn't it?"

"You know that's not what I mean," I snapped.

He reached out to touch my cheek and I tried not to flinch. "Perhaps I like beautiful things. Perhaps you've somehow found a person willing to pay you five thousand yuans. I want to buy things that you have to sell."

I wanted to edge away, but his fingers had crept around the back of my neck and he pulled me forward. At least I wouldn't have to kiss him. It was easy to let my hands roam over his body as I tried to buy the time to compose myself. Getting this over with would be easier than trying to run now. Five thousand yuans. Do it for Bolin.

He didn't let me delay for long and he was too impatient to be satisfied with just my mouth. Soon I was naked on his bed, on hands and knees as he took me from behind. I could make the right noises for him, moan at the right times. I could arch against him and be sure to gasp with every little movement he made. But when he tried to touch me, I couldn't pretend that far. I grabbed his hands and held them in mine as he thrust against me. He took his time, just like he had before, and by the time he came I was more than ready to leave. I only let him take a few breaths before I slid out from under him and found my pants from among the mess on the floor.

He lay there, propped up on one arm and watching me without moving as I dressed. I shifted uneasily. This was all. Why wasn't he paying me so I could leave? Finally, I said, "That was what you wanted, wasn't it?"

He looked pointedly at my pants. "There's nothing else you want?"

"I gave you what you paid for."

He sighed, then stood and took a few steps to a desk in front of a narrow, dusty window. He opened a drawer, pulling out a massive stack of bills and counting a smaller pile out before holding them teasingly out to me. "I suppose you don't want these, then?"

It took a supreme effort not to snatch the money from his hand. Instead I took it graciously and quickly counted them before tucking them safely away. "Should I show myself out, then?"

He opened the door and I jumped to see the driver standing immediately in the hallway outside. "Lieutenant, please escort the young man back to his residence. The probending gymnasium, I believe."

"N- No! Just put me back on the main streets. I can find my own way home."

Amon bowed mockingly. "As you wish. I can only hope your prices don't continue to rise. At this rate, you'll be one of the highest paid prostitutes in the city."

I ran without a reply. I had seven thousand yuans to put toward the tournament, but this couldn't continue. I'd rather sell myself three or four times a day for the rates I could reasonably charge than sell myself to this man one more time. Never again. I was distracted as the driver led me back to the Satomobile. I couldn't go back on the streets with this much money on me, but it was still only early afternoon. Could I go home and then go back to work? I was trying to think through the possibilities when I realized the man was taking me back to the gym.

"Hold on! I said you can stop anywhere. Just let me get out here."

He sighed, but pulled over to the side of the road. As soon as I was out of the vehicle, he accelerated away. I looked around, getting my bearings. It was the market district, but I couldn't have said how we got there. Still, I recognized the bus just across the street. Unless I was mistaken, that would have me back at the gym in twenty minutes. I ran out across the street, hoping to catch it before the driver pulled away. I could hear an approaching motor, but it didn't sound like anything large enough to be a Satomobile. Just wait until Bolin saw how much money we were saving up.