She'd been sleeping for hours. And even with the attention the healers paid to the cuts marring her face, arms, and sides, the marks were just beginning to fade.
As he gazed upon her sleeping figure from his chaired position beside the bed, Mako couldn't help the sense dread that filled his stomach.
'She could have died,' he thought, his eyes narrowing slightly and he watched Korra silently breathing. In and out, in and out, in and…
He had been so worried; more worried than he thought he'd be. It was different when it was Bolin; with Bolin he was more angry than upset because he was the one who had failed. It was his job to protect his brother, his job to make sure he was safe and the fact that he failed to do so wracked him more than the reasoning for why Bolin was in trouble in the first place.
But with Korra it was different because she was Korra; she wasn't supposed to get into trouble, she was the Avatar for Spirit's sake, she could handle herself. She was strong and stubborn and incredibly gifted and he knew that she would be able handle any situation. And he was utterly blindsided by the fact that she might not be invincible.
Mako shifts in his chair, eyes still focused on Korra's figure, watching her breathing slowly. In and out, in and out….
Gently, hesitantly, he raised a hand to touch her cheek where the fresh cut had once been. Despite the careful work the healers had done, the mark across her face was just beginning to fade.
'She could have died,' he thought brushing her face softly.
As he pulls away and quietly exits the room, he takes one last glance at the sleeping Avatar, resolve coursing through him.
'Never again,' Mako thinks, silently closing the door behind him, 'Never again.'
AN: Were probably going to see Mako in full protective mode in the upcoming eps. Without a doubt. This was originally a part of a drabble series that I was working on, but decided not to do. Review and tell me what you think!