It was infuriating, really, how he deliberately bumped his knee against hers as he sat beisde her for dinner with Tenzin and his family at Air Temple Island. And if that wasn't enough, the subtlety with which he took her hand in his under the table made her jump and and glare at him for tormenting her. A triumphant smirk was spread across his handsome features which incensed her.

But the minute he winked and smiled at her, she couldn't bring herself to be angry with him anymore.

Korra had always assumed that Mako's upbringing had left him far too serious to ever goof off or just do something for laughs... And she was right for the most part, but in the four months they'd been together he'd surprised her more and more with little gestures like literally sweeping her off her feet with a tight embrace or simply sneaking in little pecks and kisses whenever he gotthe chance.

His demeanor almost seemed... playful.

And it was his playfulness that had brought on the little wager in the first place.

Two days ago, Pema had caught them in the middle of a steamy makeout session by one of the few spots that Korra thought was secluded. They were thankful that her only reprimand for them had been to be more careful.

"You! This is all your fault!" she groused, even though she wasn't actually annoyed at him.

"Me? How's this my fault?" he chuckled.

"If you weren't such a good kisser, I probably wouldn't have been distracted! I would've been able to tell if someone was approaching!" she snapped.

"So you admit I'm good!" he said triumphantly. Too triumphantly.

"Take it easy, City Boy! You can't let go of a chance to get a kiss from me, so... don't even start!"

"Oh yeah? Well, I'll bet you wouldn't last a week without a kiss from me!" he declared.

"Getting cocky, are we? Wanna bet?"

"You're on! What're the stakes?"

"Whoever gives in first... will have to do whatever the winner wants... for a week," she said with a smirk, although surprised he'd been so ready to take the bet.

"Okay, then... We need to have some rules," he insisted.

"You and your rules!" she snickered. "Fine... let's hear 'em!"

"Kissing on the cheek... should be allowed," he smirked.

"Ok, but... nothing below the jaw. Deal?" she asked, extending her hand.

"Deal," he said as he shook it.

Before he knew it, she'd dragged him towards her and kissed him until the need to breathe forced them to break apart.

"We start now," she declared with a smirk as she walked away, leaving him stunned.

The first day went by with Korra keeping herself busy with Airbending training and Council meetings while Mako busied himself at the Police Academy. It went fairly well until he got home. His usual routine was to find Korra by the Baguazhang gates and spend some time alone with her before heading inside for dinner. His feet automatically took him to the training area and he didn't even think of what they'd do for the next two hours before they had to head back inside.

He found her finishing one last round by the gates with flourish as her eyes darted to where he was standing. She smiled as she ran towards him to give him one of her rib crushing hugs which he never tired of. But instead of kissing him senseless like she usually would, she settled for an extra tight hug that nearly winded him.

"Hi," she said after what seemed like ages. He simply hummed.

He let her down just after she kissed him on the cheek and winked.

"Keeping it together, are we?" he asked her.

"I'm not losing this bet," she said.

"We'll see," he whispered as he trailed kisses from her earlobe to her jaw.

She stiffened, knowing full well what his intentions were.

"I... need to go take a shower," she stammered as she reluctantly wriggled out of his grip.

"Yeah, uhm... me too," he said, clearing his throat.

The next morning had been full of close calls. Deliberate close calls. Subtle touches while deliberately taking a longer time to finish their usual walk around the Temple before she had to go train for the day before dinner. By the time she had to go train, they'd both almost lost the bet quite a few times.

So they ended up at the dinner table with Tenzin and his family a few hours later with Mako subtly bumping his knee as he sat beside her and subtly took her hand, making her jump. He winked at her as she glared at him, loving how she tried not to soften while he was annoying her so. He tried to make up to her by simply kissing her temple before going to his room.

As she watched him go, she realized how... free he'd been since they'd returned from the South Pole. So instead of going to bed herself, she snuck past the hallway that led to the men's dormitories and slid the door to Mako's room aside. He was already asleep, so she simply sat there to watch him. She sighed and wondered what happened to the broody, uptight, reserved teenager she'd met almost a year ago. She smiled at the memory of how he'd brushed her off when they'd first met... How did that guy turn into this goofy, playful, idiot?

"Mako... Mako, wake up!" she whispered.

He stirred as she gently ruffled his hair. At first he smiled as he realized who it was, but then he shot up and stared at her.

"Korra! You can't be here! What'll Tenzin say?" he hissed.

"Relax... I came here to ask you something," she said as she took his hands in hers.

"What? What happened?" he asked in a dazed tone.

"Were you... I mean when we first met you were less likely to take a bet than I was to stay quiet when someone challenged me to a duel," she chuckled. "But... ever since we came back, you've... been different."

"I... Well, I've... never been happier," he said with a smile. "Is that... bad?"

"No! No! I mean... I'm glad you're... happier and... I don't mind the grouch, either, but still... I was just wondering what changed," she shrugged.

"You," he said as he sat up and pulled her close. She was shocked at his admission.

"Mako, I... don't want to change you! I mean... I just... I-" he'd cut her short by kissing her.

"You just make me happier. Now is that so bad?" he asked her.

"No..."

"And now... I'm just trying to think of how you're going to make me pay for losing the bet," he snickered.

"Let's just call it a draw," she said as she kissed him again.