He had no idea how she felt about him but he damn sure knew how he felt about her. Asami was great yes, but she had grown to be just another person in his eyes. He had stopped noticing how pretty she was and she had become nothing more than a friend. Someone he held hands with. She even initiated their kisses now because he hadn't even thought to, hadn't felt the urge to.
Korra on the other hand, he couldn't get his mind off of. She was perfect. He would catch himself staring and losing focus during their training sessions lost in the way her body was bending in the true since of the word.
On days like these he watched as she practiced it all, working and switching fluidly between the four elements. Her face, focused and sure of every move, had his full attention while Asami and Bolin sat next to him in the bleachers talking, their voices a distant haze. He was lost in thought again thinking about his feelings for her and trying his best to deny them, though he'd long since given up. She was the Avatar! Why on earth would she ever have feelings for him? She could have any great and powerful leader of a nation with the twitch of a finger! She wouldn't pick him in a million years. Still he could dream right?
Her muscles flexed and she collapsed onto the floor. He was up and moving in that very second and came to her as her butt hit the floor of the training ground.
"Korra are you okay?" He half yelled the worry and panic in his voice seeping out even through his careful expression.
She looked up at him curiously and a little bewildered. "Yeah Mako relax. I've been at this for 3 straight hours. I can relax right!?" she rolled her eyes and smiled up at him only half asking the question.
"y-yeah" He stuttered feeling embarrassed now and glancing up towards his brother and Asami. "I just saw you crash and I don't know I guess I just wasn't paying attention. It looked like you fell." He said brushing it off, glancing back down at her quickly with the guarded expression and walking back over to where he was sitting before.
What was wrong with him she thought, staring at her shoes as she brought her knees up to her chest. She's never been more irritated yet so attracted to somebody in her entire life. Was that normal? I mean how can he care about her and her getting hurt in one second and then a millisecond later he's back to being the biggest ass on the planet! Walking away all cold and aloof like she was stupid for being tired and she wasted his time for him thinking she was hurt. And why was he always brooding!? What was up with that! He didn't pay attention to anyone when they talked... except maybe her or Bolin sometimes. Now that she thought about it he did listen to her more than anyone else but he would either comment on how dumb it was or roll his eyes choosing to not make a comment at all. He still listened though, she just now noticed. Unlike how he was completely ignoring Bo and Asami now as he sat there. She loved that about him, no one else ever listened to her. And then hated it too that he couldn't just be nice and open for once when he did listen.
They had beaten Amon weeks ago and though she'd thought many times about telling Mako she had feelings for him he was always with Asami and she didn't think that would be good for their friendship, hers and his AND hers and Asami's. Plus she knew he didn't like her, he was always mister cold and calculated, even with Asami!
"Hey! Korra are you done?" Bolin yelled from the bleachers. "I'm starving! Let's get out of here!"
She smiled and then looked up at him and the rest of them. She really did love them all; they were the best friends in the whole world. "Sure Bo I'm coming!" He smiled and then started climbing down the bleachers with Asami and Mako. She stood and stretched arms over her head and back arched, then headed for the locker room to shower and change.
Mako almost fell down the bleachers. He'd still been sneaking glances at Korra this whole time and when her arms stretched up towards the ceiling and that little sliver of tan stomach showed his blood ran hot. The way her back arched backwards and her breast pushed forwards didn't help either and he tripped on his own feet stumbling forward into Asami.
"Ow Mako! You're lucky I had a good grip on the railing or we'd all be face first on the floor by now. What's wrong?"
"Oh sorry! I just tripped and couldn't catch myself." He smiled sheepishly at her and she shrugged walking back down the stairs.
At Narook's Korra sat next to Bolin and Across from Mako. They were laughing and having a good time when Korra considered her question again. She figured if anyone was going to say yes it would be Bolin and they could just spring it on Mako later so he'd have to agree since it was already done. She looked at Asami and Mako having a conversation just between them for like the first time in weeks and took the opportunity to talk to Bo.
"So I'm thinking about moving off of Air Temple Island." She said smiling at Bo casually. "As much as I love Tenzin and his family I'm getting tired of waking up to screaming kids and then having to meditate ever morning before breakfast."
"That's great Korra! Are you planning on moving here in the City or far away though now that Amon's gone?" He looked kind of sad at the second idea and her heart strings pulled.
"Ah Bo you know I'd never leave you…" and Mako she thought. "I'm thinking about moving into the City but I honestly have nowhere to go and no money so I'll be probably living with Tenzin for at least a little while longer, until I can work on those minor details." She made a face and shuddered for good measure and to drive the point home.
"Hey you can come live with us!" Bo said excitedly. "You have to sleep on the couch obviously, but me and Mako, on normal days don't get up until like 10 and then we immediately eat breakfast. No screaming kids and no pre-breakfast work! What do you say?"
Yes she thought patting herself on the back for getting Bolin to offer. Mako aside she honestly did want to stay somewhere else and was desperate for a good 8 hours of sleep without hearing a high pitched wail. "I don't know Bo, are you sure Mako would be okay with that?"
Bo glanced at Mako and smiled "Psh I don't care what he thinks, the Avatar is in need of a good night's sleep every night to keep this city under wraps and she also happens to be my best friend so of course you can stay, no matter what Mr. Grumpy thinks."
"Wow that's great Bo! I'm excited now! I don't have much stuff just my bag and Naga but Naga can stay at Air Temple Island like always. She loves the kids and has her own area out back."
"Then it's settled your moving in with us effective immediately."
"What's!?" They heard both Mako and Asami say at the same time.
"Korra's going to sleep on the couch for a while." Bolin said enthusiastically. "She's tired of Tenzin's kids and I offered her a solution. She's moving in tomorrow." With that last part he glanced at Korra and she nodded that that would be okay. He then smiled up at Mako and Asami like nothing was wrong even though he knew full well that they didn't agree.
Korra smiled to herself looking at Bolin. Sometimes he played dumb but knew exactly what was going on. He came off all innocent and good hearted when honestly she knew he selfishly wanted her to stay there and make the decision without his brother just to piss him off. She had to love Bolin for his sneakiness at that, and she wondered if Mako had caught on to it after living with him all these years.
"Bolin I don't think that's a good idea." Mako said discouraging it. "And I..."
Bolin cut him off. "I don't care if it's a GOOD idea or not Mako. Korra's our friend, she needs actual sleep, and I already said yes she could live with us, so that's the way it's going to be." Bolin smiled like the nicest guy in the world through saying all of that and Korra stared at him in wonder. She would never be able to talk to Mako like that and keep a smile like they weren't arguing at all.
Mako looked just as bewildered but before he could get mad or carry on, that voice that shot tendrils of electricity through his blood spoke up.
"Look I don't have to sleep on your couch if it's going to be a problem for you guys. I don't want you to fight or to be in your way. Me and Bo were just talking and he offered and it sounded like heaven to sleep in till 10." Korra said innocently looking up at Mako the way she just observed Bolin do it.
Mako swallowed hard looking at her all innocent and tired he just now realized, made his resolve crack. He sighed "No Korra I can see you're tired and I guess it'll be okay as long as you don't bring your entire girly freak parade with you. I don't want to see six types of hair goo, shampoo and whatever else you girls have all in my bathroom. Get it!?"
"Got it!" She smiled. Bolin has mastered the art of Mako she realized. She'd have to pay more attention to that.
"Good!" He grumbled. Already knowing that this was a bad idea and that if he couldn't keep his eyes and mind off of her when they spent all day together, what would happen if he spent all night with her? Mmmm all night with Korra, he shivered getting rid of the nasty ideas in his head. He noticed how quiet Asami had been then on this discussion and he looked at her, her eyes down at her food picking at it absentmindedly. Uh oh he knew that look. They'd have to talk soon. Strangely however, that didn't bother him and he didn't feel nervous at all about what he'd have to say to her. He knew that he didn't feel anything for her anymore and was tired of pretending he did. It wasn't fair to her and he had to be honest about it.