Title: With the Weight of the World
Summary: [She's still a kid, younger than he is. She shouldn't have to hold the weight of the world on her own. He won't let her. Mako & Korra. Post Ep. 9]
Word Count: 482
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be-the-peaf · Prompt 006 – Just a Child
"Children don't grow up. Our bodies get bigger. But our hearts get torn up."
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-With the Weight of the World-
-7/27/12-
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Oogi flies swiftly through the air, arriving at Air Temple Island just as night darkens the city. Mako takes Korra from her place on the saddle, lifting her sleeping form carefully; he walks down the shadowed halls of the island.
It's quiet in the house, and he sees that Pema and the children have gone to bed in Tenzin's room. As he passes their door, he sees that the children huddled close together and it makes him tense; they were probably up most of the night, worrying about Korra. He looks down to the sleeping girl in his arms, and half-wonders what would have happened if they hadn't brought her home.
He continues the rest of the way to Korra's room and Tenzin is already there, waiting for him. He takes Korra from his arms and sets her down in the bed, removing her hair bands so she'll be comfortable on the pillow. Tenzin looks down at Korra one last time before turning to Mako. Giving him a slight nod, Tenzin walks out of the room and leaves Mako alone with her.
He sits next to her, watching as she sleeps.
It amazes him sometimes, how young she actually is. She's rash and hotheaded and stubborn and that's all it takes to remind Mako that Korra's still just a kid younger than he is, slightly older than Bolin. But he knows that no matter the difference in age she'll always be fighting something or bringing peace to the some place in the world.
She's the Avatar, that's what it means.
But sometime he forgets that.
There are times on the island where his eyes are open and he's wide awake, the white light of the moons straining on him and he gets out of bed, planning on walking his way to sleep. It's only happened once or twice, but every time he turns to her corner of the island he always finds her, sitting on the roof above her room, looking out to the stars or the ocean or Avatar Aang's statue. He watches her from the distance, never approaching, as she is perfectly still and comfortable, looking out to the horizon.
He wonders what she is thinking about and one of these days he'll have to build up the courage to go up and ask but he knows that now it not the time because he blinks and he's back in Korra's room, watching as she sleeps and tracing the lines and scars of her skin with his eyes. She has so much of the city, the world, on her shoulders and she's still a kid, still just a child.
He doesn't think it should be that way.
He sits by her bedside till dawn wakes through the windows. He takes her hand in his and speaks to her with his mind.
I'm here.
He won't let her do this alone.
:Fin: