As Wu walks away, Mako knows that this is it.
This is the moment he's waited three years for.
Ever since Korra came back, he has wanted to say something. To tell her how he feels. That he meant it when he said always. He wants to ask if she meant it when she said always. Because it has been a long time since he's been sure of that.
If she meant always, why didn't she write? If she meant always, why is this the first time he's seen her since the day they took down the Colossus? If she meant always, why hasn't she been her usual brash self? He's been waiting for her to broadside him like she did all those years ago when she blurted out that she thought they were meant for each other.
But Korra hasn't.
And as she stands there, trying to thank him, Mako realizes that maybe he's been focusing on the wrong word.
It's not the "always" that's changed. He can feel that.
Maybe it's the "love" that's changed. Because he knows he still loves her, but he also feels like this is enough. Both of them being alive is enough.
So he cuts her off, letting her know that he will always be there. Because when she needs him, he will be. The look in her eyes tells him that it was the right thing to say and he feels relief. This is it. This is exactly what they both needed hear.
And then, he lets her walk away. That feels right too. No need to dredge up old feelings he's not even sure he should reexamine.
Because this love is enough.
And it always will be.
