Knock, knock, knock
"Tenzin, dear," Pema called, "could you get that please?"
"Yes love," he replied. Tenzin walked to the large oaken doors and opened one. "Mako? What are you doing here?" he asked the teenager in front of him. Mako rung his hands behind his back as he faced the airbending master.
"I'm here to see Korra, sir," he told him nervously. Tenzin's eyes narrowed slightly, but he away from the doorway and motioned to hm.
"Of course. Please, come in," he said, holding the door open. The young firebender nodded to the man as he walked in.
"Thank you." Tenzin nodded and the two walked into the kitchen.
"Who was it, Tenzin?" They heard Pema ask from the dining room.
"Just Mako, dear," he called back. At that moment Pema walked in.
"Oh hello, Mako!" she walked over and pulled the boy into a hug.
"Hello Pema!" He said cheerily. "How's the baby?" he asked as he pulled back. She laid a hand on her swollen belly and smiled.
"Very well. It's been kicking up a storm. I guess I'm not the only one who want the child out." She laughed lightly. "So, I guess you're here to see Korra?" she asked him.
"Yes ma'am," he replied, smiling slightly.
"Well, she's upstairs in her room. You can go on up if you like," she told him. He nodded once and headed to the stairs.
"Thank you, Pema!" he said, "Tenzin," he nodded to the older man and hurried up the stairs trying to avoid his stare.
"That boy's going to end up being a lot of trouble, Pema." Tenzin muttered to his wife, watching the boy hurriedly climb the stairs.
"And my parents used to say the same thing about you," Pema turned and kissed him on the cheek. "He's a sweet kid and Korra likes him very much." She told him gently. "At least give the child a chance." He rolled his eyes at his wife's wisdom, but decided he might as well try it.
"Korra!" someone called from the door. She poked her head from out behind the shower curtain.
"Come in," she yelled. She went back to washing the conditioner out of her hair. Mako entered her room and looked around. He didn't see the girl he was looking for, but did see steam rolling out of the bathroom door. "I'll be out in a minute." Korra called. The firebender silently walked around her room. It wasn't too big, and was fairly simple. She had a few shelves, a nightstand, a set of drawers, and small vanity. He walked over and down next to it. He noticed carvings all over the light wood. They were water tribe symbols and pictures. He was tracing his fingers along the wood when he heard the water from the bathroom shut off. He stood and began to walk towards the bathroom when a silly idea struck him. He went to her closet and quickly opened the door and slipped inside. He crouched down and cracked the door, watching as Korra walked out of the bathroom into her room. Mako tried to keep his imagination under control as he saw her in only a towel.
"Pema? Tenzin?" she said, "kids?" She walked around the room trying to find who had come into the room. She finally shrugged her shoulders, presuming they had left. Mako snickered to himself as he watched her go through a drawer in the vanity and pull out a hair tie. She pulled it all of her hair back into a messy bun. Mako smiled from his plave in the closet as a few loose strands fell from the bun and framed her round face. "Where did I put my robe?" she mumbled to herself as she walked around the room. Mako looked around the cramped area, praying it wasn't in the closet. Crap, he cursed himself silently. He stood up slowly and took the robe off its hanger. He waited until she turned back around, and tossed it out into the floor. "What the? How did it get on the floor?" he her heard her ask once she found it. Mako breathed a sigh of relief. He turned his head as she changed from the towel to her robe. He turned back once she finished, and found her sprawled out on her bed. He opened the closet door slowly and crawled out stealthily. I guess that's one good thing about growing up on the streets, he thought, you learn the art of being sneaky. He stayed crouched down and made his way over to her king sized bed. He crawled to edge and squatted there. He was about to leap up and scare her, but paused when heard a light humming come from the bed.
"Love you always… hold you in my arms," Korra was singing softly. He pounced. "Ahh!" Korra screamed and tried to jump up, making her hair come loose. She tried to firebend her attacker but whoever it was had grabbed her wrist and covered his mouth… with their own? She pulled back disgusted. "Just who do you think you are!?" she yelled, shaking her head to get the hair out of her face.
"I think I'm your boyfriend," the attacker answered. She blew the rest of her away from her face and stared at the person above her.
"Mako!" she cried. He grinned and let go of her wrists.
"The one and only," he laughed as she launched herself at him and tackled him in a hug. She got up and sat crisscross in front of him.
"What are you doing here? And how'd you get in my room?" the avatar asked as she redid the bun on the back of her head.
"You told me to come in." Mako laughed at the hopelessly confused look on his poor girlfriend's face. She set her eyebrows in thought for a moment until all the pieces fell into place.
"Ohhh." She realized what he'd done. "That was a dirty trick." He chuckled and kissed her cheek. "Eh," she shrugged her shoulders, "You're forgiven." He threw his head back and laughed. "So what's you come over for?" she asked conversationally as she stood up to go change into her clothes.
"Just thought we could hang out." Mako said. "That okay?" Korra turned and smiled at him before disappearing behind her small privacy screen to change.
"Of course it's okay." She told him. He saw her toss her robe to the floor. "Did you have any place in mind?" she asked as she pulled on her underclothes. Mako was staring at the faint shadow behind the screen, not hearing a word. "Mako?" she said. She poked her head around to look at him. He shook his head and blushed.
"Oh…I-I, uh, well," he stammered, trying to hide his face, "I didn't have any place in, uh, in particular. We could stay here if you like." He managed. Then blushed even harder as he realized what his statement could have implied. "I didn't mean here, here. I meant here, as in the island, here." He tried explaining, his voice rising in desperation. He smacked himself in the face. I'm such an idiot, he thought embarrassed. Korra laughed as she pulled her blue shirt and pants on.
"I know what you meant," she said, still giggling, as she came out tying her fur wrap around her waist. She walked over and placed a light kiss on his forehead, making his cheeks flair up again. "If I'd known it was this easy to make you blush, I'd tease you more often," she chuckled as she watched the redness spread from his sharp cheek bones to his ears.
"Hey!" he cried indignantly. "I can't help it! I've never been much good with this stuff." He trailed a hand agitatedly through his black hair and stood up. "Always taking care of Bolin was my main priority, not girls." Korra grabbed his hand before he could start pacing back and forth.
"Mako." He stopped moving as she whispered his name. "It's okay. I promise," she smiled and leaned up and kissed him gently. He returned the kiss and tried to calm down.
"I'm sorry," he murmured as he rested his forehead against his. She kissed his nose and hugged him close.
"Don't be sorry," she said into his chest. "Keeping your brother safe and happy was the important thing back then." She pulled back. "But not," she grinned up at him, "he's a big boy and can watch over himself." She giggled, "Even if he's a bit naïve." The firebender snickered in spite of himself.
"You're right," he confirmed. "He can take care of himself." Korra beamed and grabbed his hand.
"Good," she said steering her boyfriend to the door. "Now, come take a walk with me through the gardens." Mako followed behind as she sprinted down the stairs.
"As you wish."
