Love.
One simple thing that can make or break you. It's not something to underestimate.

True love.
There's a perfect person for everyone. Maybe your best friend or a classmate or maybe even your waiter for the night; it could be anyone. It does not necessarily mean that it is always recognised, however. In some case, it is unrequited love.
A one-sided affair.
The cruelest kind of love.

It was this kind of love that Korra had been cursed with since she met Mako in the pro-bending arena 5 months ago. From the moment Bolin introduced her to him and he passed her off as just another fangirl, only to later find she was the Avatar, he unknowingly had all of her. And as the new Team Avatar eventually ended Republic City's anti-bending revolution, she only found that it grew stronger. How she longed for it to be her that he kissed when they were all finally reunited after Amon was defeated, not Asami. To be her that he loved, not Asami. She would never admit this to any of her new friends though, and only confessed this to Naga, her most trusted best friend.

Mako had been the only one who was slightly aware of her feelings since she abruptly kissed him, however just not exactly how much. Korra always encouraged him to be with Asami, and he in return tried not to make her feel uncomfortable when she was around them. They were all great friends and cared about each other, which was why Korra decided that she would betray her feelings. She wanted her two best friends to be happy.

Being the Avatar, selflessness was a necessity and so she was all too used to making sacrifices for other people. She had to give up having a normal childhood at the age of 4 in order to become the Avatar. It's true, that was much easier for her than this, but she chose to think of it positively. She was the Avatar. Balancing her duty to the people and a love life would have been too difficult. She couldn't afford to have any distractions; she still had to master airbending and the spiritual side of being the Avatar, something that wasn't easy for someone with a personality like hers.

After her bending had been returned to her, they had all returned to Republic City. Korra was still living on Air Temple Island with the airbenders, while the rest of the gang stayed until they could find their own places.

-x-

"It won't work. Not as long as the Avatar is alive." A timid voice said. There, in the corner of the room, was a familiar small girl. The moonlight shone through the only window in the small room, falling on her petit body. She looked young, around 16, with a soft and innocent face. Her unusual dark grey eyes shone with fear and were brimming with tears.
"Tell me then, who is the Avatar?" A deep voice said from the shadows. When the girl didn't reply, he stepped forward and into the light. He was tall and well built with sharp features. His green eyes were filled with power and malice.
"I-I-I don't know." The girl said, looking at the ground.
"You're lying." He said calmly. Suddenly his hands were ablaze, "I thought you learned your lesson the last time."
The girl gasped and shielded her self. She let out a small squeak, "K-Korra! Her name is Korra."
The man cracked an evil grin and made his way back to the door he came in through. The girl look out of the window and sighed with regret.
"I think it's time we pay the Avatar a little visit." He said as he walked out and the door slammed shut.

Korra's eyes shot open and her brows furrowed. Of late, she'd been having similar dreams to this one. Every night she found herself in that same dark and depressing stone room with the single window. Every night she saw the same young girl, sitting in the corner, frozen with fear. The only thing different about this night was that she finally saw her captor.
The early morning rays poured into her room as she got out bed before walking over to a table in front of one of the windows. She splashed her face with the cool water and looked outside, deep in thought. He had green eyes. Earthbender eyes…yet, he could firebend. Korra frowned at this. Before, she never thought much off her dreams but recently, she learned that her dreams were sometimes messages or premonitions.
"Morning, Korra! Breakfast is ready and Tenzin wants you in the courtyard in an hour. I guess he decided it's time to resume your airbending." Bolin said from the door.
"Ugh, alright. I'll be there in a minute." Korra sighed as Bolin walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him.
She walked over to the small wooden chest of drawers and changed into her usual water tribe clothes. She gave herself a once over and stopped at her hair. With a groan she tamed her hair into her usual hairstyle and left her room. Stupid dreams making wake up early. Stupid Tenzin and his stupid airbending training. Stupid hair.

Korra was greeted with the smell of freshly made bread and sweet noodles. As if on cue, her stomach let out a monstrous grumble. She took at seat next to Jinora and dug in.
"Good morning, Korra. Would you like some tea?" Pema asked, carrying Rohan in one arm and balancing a pot of tea in the other. Korra nodded with her mouthful.
"So, I heard Asami was going to move in with you and Mako. Is it true?" Ikki asked Bolin.
"Yeah, we figured it would be easier to find a nice place if there were three people to split the rent." Bolin said, "Although, her and Mako seem to be getting pretty serious so I dont know if i want it to happen. If you know what I mean."
Korra eyes widened as she forced down the food in her mouth before she choked and Pema cleared her throat, glancing at Ikki and Meelo. Bolin turn a light shade of pink and apologied. Jinora glanced at Korra expectantly and was given a curious look in return.
She sat in silence for the rest of breakfast just stuffing her face. This didn't go unnoticed by Pema and Bolin, however. She would usually be complaining about how early she's up and the fact that her month of holidays had finished.

Within half an hour, she was done with her breakfast and got up to go for a walk before she had training. She left the dining room and walked down the hall until she reach a door that went out to the garden. Korra walked along the path that wound itself through the huge garden behind the Air Temple.

She stopped at a large pond and sat on the edge as she watched the koi fish swim around in the sparkling blue water. Being from the water tribe, the presence of water always made her feel secure and at peace. It reminded of home and her family. She wondered what her life would have been like if she wasn't the Avatar. She wouldn't have the excitement and adventure that she loved so much in her life. She also wouldn't have met some of the people she now called her closest friends; Tenzin and the airbending family, Katara, Bolin, General Iroh, Asami, and of course, Mako. She would never have heard that voice that could calm her, or seen those eyes that made her heart melt, or that smile that took her breath away…

"Korra, what are you doing here? I thought you were having breakfast." A voice brought her out of her thoughts. She looked up to see the very person she was thinking about just moments ago.
"I was just uhm, clearing my head…you know, since I have training today." She bumbled and looked back at the pond, "If I don't Tenzin will make me meditate in the gazebo until I can focus properly, and the last time he did that I was there the whole afternoon."
"Right." Mako said quietly.
"So I heard you guys found a great place in the city…" She said awkwardly, still refusing to look at him.
"Yeah, Tenzin helped me to look for one. He also put in a word with Cheif Beifong so I got a job with the police." He said.
"That's great. When do you start?" Korra smiled at him.
"Monday." He looked at her and paused, "Korra, are you okay with me and Asami living together? Because the last thing I want is for it to be awkward for you."
"It's fine, Mako. You're the one making things awkward." She chuckled. She kept her attention on the fish in the pond, on one fish in particular. It was the only black and white one among the white and orange.
"Are you sure, Korra?" He asked, sounding almost desperate for her to object. He watched her intently staring at the fish. She could feel his stare on her and shifted uncomfortably.
"I'm sure, Mako." She sighed and rolled her eyes. She hated feeling like the one who was spoiling everything.
"Okay, then." Suddenly, an idea popped into her head. Sure, it was stupid and there was no guarantee he would believe her, but it was worth the try.
"Listen, Makooo…" she said with big smile.
"Yes?" He a raised his eyebrow suspiciously.
"I have something to tell you…" She said, twiddling her thumbs. Mako motioned for her to continue, "I-I've been seeing someone."
"You've been seeing someone?" He repeated, trying to hide an amused smile. Shit, he's onto me.
"Did I stutter?" Korra asked, making her voice sound more confident.
"Uh, no." He was a little taken back. As soon as she saw this, she had little smirk on her face, " So, you're serious?"
"Of course, I'm serious." She lied. He studied her face for a moment, as if to see if he could tell whether she was lying. Oh come on, it can't be that hard to believe that I could like someone else. Korra rolled her eyes.
"So who is it?" Mako asked after a moment of silence.
Oh crap. Korra froze. She hadn't thought it through that far. She didn't expect him to believe her so easily. All she saw around her were air acolytes as she tried to subtly find someone as her alibi. She considered saying it was Bolin but Mako of all people knew that the two of them were like brother and sister.
Then, standing in the gazebo, someone caught Korra's eye. Perfect.
"General Iroh." She said.