When she's eight, she moves to Republic City. Most children would be scared of the change, scared of a new school and new kids and new teachers, but not Korra. Korra can't wait for new everything.
On her first day of school, she sits next to an energetic green-eyed boy and offers to trade her snack with him. He won't trade, but he'll share if she shares her cheese crackers, and they're inseparable after that. Her now best friend, Bolin, has just turned seven, which makes her older than him, which means she gets to decide on their games during recess ("Duh," she tells him, hands on her hips). He doesn't seem to mind.
During her first play-date at Bolin's house, she meets his mom, a graceful, stunning woman who gives her an extra cookie after they're done playing pirates outside and has the sweetest, richest voice she's ever heard. She meets his dad, who makes her think of a mountain, with his peaked hair, giant shoulders and booming laugh a lot just like her own dad's. And she meets his brother Mako, a boy with golden eyes who is one year older than her, always wears a red scarf, and pouts a lot for someone who's nine. He sneaks an extra cookie away for his brother when his mom isn't paying attention (but Korra is) and she decides he's nice, but kind of weird.
And kind of cute. Kind of.
Mako reluctantly starts playing with them during recess, and he's still quiet and sort of weird. He begrudgingly pushes her on the swing one day and Bolin whines about Korra stealing his brother, but she just laughs as she flies higher and higher. Korra is pretty sure they're soulmates (he just doesn't know it yet).
On a Saturday afternoon, Korra sits at the kitchen table with Mako as Bolin plays with the new red-orange tabby kitten his dad just brought home (Bolin's been asking for a pet for ages and names him Pabu before Mako even gets a chance to suggest anything).
Mako's mom hands him a juice box, a new wildberry flavor, and Korra watches with interest as he stabs the little plastic straw into the pouch. Mako eyes her wearily (because she may have pulled a prank on him once before, smashing his juice box in his hands as he took a sip and watching it explode all over him), before setting his drink down.
"Do you want to try some? It's pretty good."
Blue eyes wide, she nods and he slides it across the table. She takes a sip of the purplish drink, barely paying attention to the sweet and tangy flavor, before sliding it back to him
"Thanks for sharing your juice box with me."
He glances over at her and takes another sip, kicking his feet back and forth under the table.
"My dad says that means we're married."
His eyes widen and he coughs, spitting purple liquid all over the table. Korra practically falls out of her chair laughing because it was only a joke (kind of) and prances to the living room to play with Bolin and Pabu.
Seventeen years later, when he gets down on one knee, hands her a wildberry juice box, and asks if they can "make it official" whilst blushing like a madman, she practically falls out of her chair laughing again, toppling him over, and covers him in kisses.