"Come in!" Mako called. He heard the old attic door squeak open and light feet pad into the room. He turned as the door swung shut. "Korra?" The avatar stood before him, head down, in her usual attire, except she was barefoot and she wasn't the usual happy, ready to rock n' roll Korra.

"Hi," she said softly, not looking him in the eye.

"Hey. Is everything alright?" he inquired, taking notice in the lack of eye contact, seeing how she stood awkwardly messing with her fingers. She nodded, still not look up. "Korra?" he said, walking over to her. "What's wrong?" He placed a hand on her shoulder and the other on her chin, pulling up so he could try to find some sort of answer in her eyes. He didn't see answers, but tears. Shining tears, filling and spilling over her cerulean blue eyes. "Kor-" He was silenced as she threw herself at him, kissing him deeply. She pressed her lips fiercely against his, sending a pleasant tingle down his spine and into his stomach. She pulled back abruptly, leaving his mouth mid-kiss.

"I'm s-so s-s-sorry," she blubbered, trying to wipe her eyes free of tears. Mako stared, confused, at the crying girl. "I… I'll j-just go," she said as another wave of tears flowed down her cheeks. She turned, wiping furiously at her eyes, and headed for the exit. She wanted to save what miniscule amount of dignity she had left. She had come to Mako to see if he could help her somehow, but now she saw it was a mistake.

"Wait," Mako murmured, placing a light hand on her shoulder. She stopped and turned to look at him. Her face was red and splotchy, tears were pouring unceasingly from her blue eyes and her hair was slightly mussed up. It was breaking his heart to see her like this. "Korra, what's wrong?" She stared at him a minute before rushing back into his arms. He wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her back gently.

"Oh M-Mako," she sobbed. "I'm s-so scared. Amon's in m-my nightmares all t-the time, a-a-all the equalists are after me for b-being the s-so-called avatar." She cried into his chest. "How can I even be the avatar? I can't even master airbending I feel like everything's crumbling at my feet and I have no idea where to go. I don't even know why I came here. You're still obviously head over heels for Mrs. Asami Sato," she said, bitterness lacing her tone. Mako's eyes widened at the mention of the non-bender, and then realization hit him like an earth disk in the gut. If he felt this strongly for Korra, if he enjoyed having his arms around her, if his stomach flip slopped every time she stepped into a room, if he loved the feeling of her lips on his, then there was no way anything else should matter.

"Korra," he whispered. "Oh Korra, I've been so stupid. No one else in the world matters to me as much as you do." He pulled away and looked at her. Her lips were trembling slightly as he cupped her face and wiped away her tears. "I am so sorry," he told her. "Can you ever forgive me?" She looked him, eyes wide in disbelieve and fear at what he'd just confessed. This is what she'd always wanted, right? To hear how much he needed her, how much he wanted to be with her? She smiled just a bit and leaned forward, kissing him in response.

"Yes," she grinned against his mouth, "yes, I can." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him eagerly, wanting more. She knew she finally had someone to lean on. Someone she could come to when she needed a shoulder to cry on. Mako kissed her back roughly.

"I… love… you," he whispered as he kissed her. Korra sighed against his mouth and tilted her head this way and that to kiss him better. The firebender felt her knees give way underneath and he hoisted her up around his waist. She wrapped her legs around his back and he cradled her back and pressed himself as close as possible to her. "Mm, Korra," he half moaned. He stumbled backwards blindly, bumping into the kitchen table. He felt his way around the room before finally finding the stairs to his and Bolin's rooms. Still supporting the avatar, he tripped his way up the steps and made it to solid ground, not breaking their heated lip lock once.

"Mmm, Mako," Korra murmured against his jaw as he laid her down. "Mako."

Mako. Mako, get up.

"Korra? What's that?"

Come on Mako! It's time to get up.

Everything was going fuzzy and getting darker by the second. "Mako! Get up! He opened his eyes and a bright, piercing light met his eyes.

"Korra?" he asked, squinting his eyes as he tried to see through his hazy vision. He saw a bright flash of white as someone grinned.

"Time to wake up, sleepy head," she told him as she walked to his closet. He sat up and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. He was at Air Temple Island. The war was over. It had all been a dream, a fantasy. He sighed and ran a hand through his ruffled hair. It was a simple image his subconscious had conjured up. He tried to push the dream away, but he couldn't help but think… what if? What if he had realized sooner how he felt for Korra? What if things had been different than they were?

"Are you alright?" Korra was standing next to him, a stack of folded clothes in her hands. He looked up at her and smiled.

"Yea, just tired," he reassured her, taking his clothes from her. Korra looked at him for a moment before nodding and sitting next to him.

"Aren't we all?" she said. Mako nodded in silent agreement, fingering a loosed thread on his jacket. It was just a dream. Korra scooted closer and kissed his cheek. "I'll let you get dressed. Breakfast's ready down stairs." She told him as she stood. The firebender reached out and grabbed her fingers suddenly, making her turn.

"I love you," he whispered, blushing softly as he stared into her ocean eyes. Korra smiled and kissed him softly.

I love you, too," she smiled at him. She leaned down and kissed his forehead before walking out of his room.

What if?

He tried pushing it to the back of his mind as he pulled his clothes on. There was no point on dwelling on it. It had just been a fantasy after all.