Pairing: Makorra, ~book 1.5

Word Count: 930

Summary: True love was a blessing that not many had the chance to experience in their lifetime, but it seemed that when it struck, it certainly needed all the help that it could get.

Unfortunately for Mako, Jinora was today's help.

Author's Note: A series of one shots based on any Legend of Korra characters, any genre, any universe, any pairing. Just send me a one sentence prompt with the characters you want, and I'll see what I can do!

Prompt from It's 10 to 1: "Catboy Mako?" I hope my take on your suggestion is okay. :) Jinora is the ultimate shipper and Mako is just so easy to tease! Please leave your thoughts and/or prompts in a review.

If there was anything in Jinora's eleven short years of life that she was certain of, anything at all, it was that no matter how completely, totally, and utterly meant for each other two people were, sometimes their destinies weren't always perfectly aligned. She saw this in her well-loved historical sagas about star crossed lovers who spent their entire lives searching for their other halves, only to perish in the process. She saw this in the young air acolyte couple living on the island who always had sweet words and a kind smile for her, and who would have made wonderful parents but couldn't conceive. She saw this in her parents, who would have missed their chance at a life together if it hadn't been for her mother's decision to confess her feelings to her father.

Yes. True love was a blessing that not many had the chance to experience in their lifetime, but it seemed that when it struck, it certainly needed all the help that it could get.

Unfortunately for Mako, Jinora was today's help.

"But Mako, if you'd-"

"Jinora, look. I appreciate you wanting to help, but I already told the others I wouldn't be coming along. I've got a few cases piled up on my desk at the office and Lin will have my head if they're not done by tomorrow."

"Everyone's going though. You'll be the only one gone, and we'll miss you!" Jinora clasped her hands to her chest and looked beseechingly up at the cop with big eyes. "Please?"

"You don't even enjoy these sorts of things!" Mako reasoned. "Wouldn't you rather stay home and read a book or something anyway?"

"Yeah but… I just thought we could all have some fun." Jinora pouted and shifted her gaze to look forlornly down at the ground, where her toe scuffed the dirt. "It's been so long since we've done something together." she replied wistfully.

Mako shook his head. "This isn't… I mean… you know I don't even have a costume."

Jinora perked up.

"I can help you with that!" she said excitedly. "We've always got extra stuff lying around, I'm sure we can whip something up in no time!"

Mako sighed, running a hand through his hair as he considered. He really did have some work to catch up on - that wasn't just an empty excuse (and Lin truly was a force of nature when she was angry) - but the kids, and Jinora especially, were so excited about this festival…

"Plleeeeaaasseeee?" Jinora urged feeling his resolve crack, and laid on a pout for good measure.

That did it.

"…nggh, fine." he yielded. He always caved to the pout, even with Bolin.

"Ooh! Oh, this is wonderful! Oh I'm sure the others are going to be so excited that you're coming, this is going to be so much fun, thank you so much, Mako!"

Mako shuffled his feet and cocked an eyebrow at the young airbender floating circles around him in glee, then shrugged. Obviously if she was this excited about it, he could afford to cut work a few hours short. Besides, maybe a night out with friends would be a good break for him. Jinora was right, they had all been caught up in their own business recently and it had been a few weeks since they'd truly had the chance to spend some time together.

"So, uh, what exactly did you have in mind for my costume?"

Jinora whirled to a stop in front of him.

"Oh!" She analyzed him for a moment from head to toe before allowing a slow smirk to make its way onto her face.

"Don't worry about that. I've got just the thing." A suspicious glint entered her eyes as she pulled Mako away by the arm.

And really, this should have been Mako's first cue that something was wrong.

The snug black ensemble paired with the cat ears that Jinora somehow convinced him to wear should have been the second.

"Jinora, I'm not sure about this. Seriously, what's with these ears?"

"Don't worry, Mako. The theme for tonight is animals, see? I'm a winged lemur, and Korra wanted to be an otter penguin, and Asami's going to be a dragonfly bunny spirit. You'll fit right in!"

"But these pants are so… uncomfortable."

"That's spandex. Embrace it."

They drew nearer and nearer to the dock, where Mako could see the group in costume already gathered and waiting for the ferry that would take them to the mainland.

"Uh. It's just, doesn't this costume seem a little…"

"Yes?" Jinora prodded.

Mako's ears turned red as he considered how to put this.

"Uh, doesn't it seem a little… mature?"

"Oh. Well, yeah."

Mako choked. "What?!"

Jinora quickened her steps just slightly. "Of course it is. I mean, how else do you expect to impress Korra tonight? Besides, I think the whole 'cool guy' routine is starting to get old. You should really try a different approach."

Panicking, Mako scrambled to grab a hold of the young airbender. "JIN- you - this is-"

"Oh, hello everyone! Look who decided to come!" Jinora called out eagerly, darting quickly out of Mako's reach and onto the dock as everyone turned towards them in greeting before slowly taking in his appearance.

Mako felt like he was on fire, from his cat ears to the tip of his furry black tail.

And it only took him one look at Asami's mouth wide open in surprise, and Korra's barely suppressed fits of laughter to decide that he was never - ever - going to trust Jinora again.