Thirty thousand yuans. It was too much. Bolin had his ideas about Pabu and circus tricks of course, but I was too worried to take him seriously. I waved my brother off with something about the power plant and wandered off to think. It was an impossible sum. Legitimate work was a start, perhaps, but I'd never manage to bring home anything close to the amount of money we needed. We couldn't go to the triads. I'd fought too hard to get my brother away from them to risk everything now. I knew the answer, even if I couldn't admit it to myself yet.

Bolin hadn't known and I wouldn't ever let him find out. There were ways for a young, attractive boy to make a lot of money without much work. I'd never liked it, but in the desperate times it was better than starving. I could wave Bolin off with stories about odd jobs and menial labor, and he always believed me. We ate the food and hoarded the coins and I tried my hardest to forget how I'd earned everything.

Once we made it into pro-bending I thought those days were behind me. We didn't have much money, but it was enough. There was always that goal to reach for. We were going to become famous, win the tournament, have everything we ever wanted or needed. This was our one big chance. It had never been certain we'd ever win a place in the tournament at all, and with Korra on our team we maybe even stood a chance at winning. We couldn't afford to let this go. I'd always meant to save for the tournament pot, but the money always trickled away one way or another. If it had been something smaller, we could have found a way to make it work, but thirty thousand yuans-

The cheap makeup was something I'd stolen from a market stall when I was younger. Somehow I'd never thrown it away, only buried it deep underneath my other belongings. I slipped it into a bag, left my scarf on my bed and headed out before Bolin could ask me where I was going. After walking for some time, it only took one secluded alley to make the transformation. In the tiny, dusty mirror I put on the rouge, the eyeliner. Hopefully nobody would be able to recognize the pro-bender behind the makeup. I slid out of my jacket and tucked it into my bag, continuing on in just my undershirt. I went through quiet back roads and ducked between buildings, heading for the place I'd visited so many times before.

I didn't recognize any of the other men I passed on the street, but gave them wary nods as I found a place to settle against a wall and wait. Some of them were beautiful. Some had been beautiful once. I tried to take deep breaths and relax. Several men and a woman passed, but none of them had eyes for me. It was hard to remember everything, the looks and mannerisms that had to seem natural. At the sound of a Satomobile, I straightened. That meant money, serious money.

I strolled up to the edge of the road. As the Satomobile came closer, I stared down the driver through the glass of the front window. All I had to do was make him want me. The vehicle slid to a stop. The driver, a man with pale eyes and a long, dark mustache, leaned out and asked, "How much?"

Deep breath. Confidence. "Two thousand yuans."

He looked me up and down, and laughed. "You're nothing so special, boy."

Despite myself, I flushed. "You wouldn't regret it."

"Sorry, you're nice enough, but I don't feel like being cheated. We'll be going-"

A voice came from the back seats. "He'll do."

"He'll do? Amo- Sir, he's asking far too much. It isn't worth it." There was no answer, and he sighed but beckoned me around to the back door. "I think you will find that my employer has some little peculiarities, but for the rates you ask I think you can put them aside."

That didn't sound good, but two thousand yuans was an excellent start. Still, even with the driver's warning I hadn't expected the mask. It was unsettling. It would have been easy to focus on the design, the bright red circle, but I couldn't look away from the sharp eyes watching me. I'd been feeling confident, but those eyes worried me. Focus on the money.

I slid into the seat next to him, letting my leg brush against his and resting a hand on his thigh. "What should I call you?"

"I don't think we need to worry about that. I'm more curious how a promising young bender like you ended up working the streets like this." It took a moment for the words to sink in, but I stiffened and tried to pull away. He held my wrist in a grip that was painfully tight and laughed. "Now, now, don't be hasty. If you leave now, I think the world of pro-bending just might be swept by a wonderful scandal. It would be a shame if someone were to leak this to the newspapers."

"It doesn't matter," I hissed. "You're going to tell everyone anyways."

"Not necessarily." He pulled me closer, until I was barely an inch from the ceramic of his mask. "You'll just have to make me a very happy man, won't you?"

I couldn't answer, but managed a weak smile. The first caresses were more mechanical than conscious. This hadn't been something I was looking forward to, but I now I just wanted it to be over. He seemed content to sit where he was and let me move around him. I was on the floor between his legs as we drove down main street and watched people walk by as I rode him, praying that the glass was dark enough to hide me from them.

It was a struggle to get him to come. I could practically feel him smiling as I tried to remember every whore's trick I'd ever learned. When he buried himself in me, his fingers digging into my hips and leaving marks that would surely bruise, all I could feel was relief. I dressed myself while he silently sat and watched me. When the driver pulled over to the side of the road and gestured me out of the Satomobile.

I hesitated, turning to the man. "Ah, yes. Of course. He counted the bills out slowly. I could feel him watching me, but I didn't take my eyes from the money. This was only work. It would all be worth it. His last words to me were, "I do look forward to seeing the Fire Ferrets' next match."

I fled, not pausing until I'd put a few blocks between me and that man. I counted the money again. Two thousand yuans! It was a better start than I'd had any reason to hope for. Maybe, just maybe we'd be able to do this. In fact, before I went home I could stop to buy Bolin some dumplings. I could have been nicer earlier. I'd tell him that the power plant was hiring and we could just have a nice quiet evening together. Perfect.