A/N: Hi! So, my creative writing class was given a bunch of pictures and we had to somehow incorporate something in the pictures in our writing for the day. My image was one of an open window, with the caption, "It all began when someone left the window open." I couldn't focus on anything but LoK, so this is what I came up with! I'm pretty sure this is the most fluff I've ever written but oh well!
Windows
The window was open. Her lights were visible from across the bay. From the top of the Pro-Bending Arena, he could see her movements in the shadows the light cast on the walls as she got ready for bed.
He didn't know what compelled him to move, but suddenly, Mako was running down the stairs, frantically trying to catch the last ferry to Air Temple Island. The man who ran the ferry chuckled at his disheveled appearance and waved him aboard.
The slow pace of the ferry was grating on his nerves, which was funny, because he didn't know why he was nervous.
He just couldn't sleep, right?
Right?
As the ferry docked, he realized he had absolutely no reason to be here that wouldn't be interpreted as an excuse to cover "improper" intentions if he ran into someone. Namely Tenzin. But he couldn't force himself to turn around and leave.
There was no way he could reach Korra's room from the inside without waking Tenzin and Pema. As good of a fire bender as he was, there was no way he could beat the master air bender in a fight. No, he was going to have to climb he trees next to her room.
Slowly, he began to climb, carefully placing his hands on the branches and pulling himself up. His arms began to burn with the effort as he neared the top - but with one last branch he was there.
Korra was asleep. Or at least, she looked like it. Mako wouldn't put it past her to be pretending, prepared to sneak out of the house the minute she was positive Tenzin was asleep.
Mako took a few seconds to determine that she was in fact asleep. Her shallow breaths that moved her bangs back and forth as they hung in front of her face captivated him. At that moment, something shifted in his heart. No longer was Korra just some girl, just his new teammate. She was someone he wanted to care for, someone he cared deeply about.
As he watched, her breathing became fitful and tears leaked from her eyes. She was having a nightmare.
Mako watched helplessly for a moment before he began to shake her. "Korra," he said, his voice just barely above a whisper. "Korra, wake up."
With a gasp, she awoke. Upon seeing Mako, her eyes filled with tears and she collapses into his arms.
"Mako!" she said, sobbing. "It was horrible! Amon took away my bending and tied me up. He made me watch him kill you and there was nothing I could do! I thought I'd lost you! I was so scared." She sniffed a bit, regaining her composure. Then, realizing that Mako was in her room, in her bed, in the middle of the night, instantly scooted out of his arms.
"How exactly did you wind up in my room?"
Mako responded with a sheepish smile as she suited forward and pulled a twig from his hair. "I couldn't sleep." he offered, shrugging.
"And I was your solution?"
"Well..."
She gave him a slight smile. "So, how much damage did you do my tree? And Tenzin will kill you for breaking the window, especially since he just-"
Before she could finish, Mako stepped forward and kissed her. "You left the window open." He said after a moment, smiling against her lips.
Years later, when people asked how they got together, Korra would laugh and Mako would answer, "It all began when someone left the window open."
A/N: Obviously, the attic Mako stays in is way too far away for him to have seen Korra's room, and I'm pretty sure Korra's room is on the first floor, but let's call it AU and be done. Poetic license, eh? Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it!
Peace and Love,
~ Tanna