Korra couldn't swallow everything that has just happened. Slowly it all started to process. It's her birthday. Her parents are here in Republic City. And now, her very best friend, perhaps more, is standing a few feet in front of her, holding flowers.
Mako grimaced. This White Lotus guard called her "Korra". Not, "Avatar" or "Avatar Korra" like all other White Lotus guards referred to her as. Mako didn't know why this bothered him so much. Mako was about to go introduce himself, make himself known to this new guy that, "Hey, I'm here now. She doesn't need you." but something held him back. Asami squeezed his hand lightly. Sometimes, when thinking about Korra, he completely forgot about Asami. She deserves more, so for now, he decides he will stay silent. Besides, how long could this guy be staying?
Korra stood silenced just feet in front of Howl. Their eyes locked, neither knew how to break the silence. Howl was the first to break their eye contact to look down at her panda lilies, "I got these for you." He held them up to her. "I know it's not much, but its all I cou-" Korra threw her arms around him and dug her face into the crook of his neck. He felt her warm breath on his collarbone, "You talk too much." Howl light placed his hands around her hips and pulled her against his body and squeezed tightly. "You don't know how much I've missed you Korra." he whispered into her hair. He inhaled deeply taking in the smell of her hair. The scent he missed so much. The scent that he loved. It didn't take him long to realize that the South Pole wasn't home, this was. Korra, wrapped up in his arms. This is his home. He was ripped back to reality when he felt a warm wetness on his neck. "Korra," He pulled back to look at her face. "why are you crying?"
She heard the concern in his voice. She laughed quietly, "I guess I didn't realize how much I really missed you." Howl put on hand on her cheek, smiled, and wiped the tears away. He pulled Korra into one more quick tight hug before finally letting go of her. She didn't want him to let go. His arms felt bigger, stronger, around her than they used to. She could have stayed there hugging him forever. "So," she put one hand on her hip looking up at him. Did he get taller? "how'd you manage to let the other guards let you come?"
He smiled at the ground, knowing very well why Korra would think the other guards wouldn't want him to come. They had a personal history. You're not supposed to be emotionally attached to the Avatar. But that never mattered to Korra. He truly didn't see Korra as the Avatar. He saw Korra as, well, Korra. He met her eyes, "That would be your parents doing. They personally requested me to accompany them on their journey to see you."
Korra completely forgot she had an audience behind her. As soon as she saw Howl, everyone else disappeared. She turned around to her parents for an explanation.
Senna and Tonraq exchanged a look, and then faced their daughter. "We knew that you and Howl were friends back at the compound," Senna said happy that Korra loved her present. "And we figured that you'd want to see the only person that considered you Korra, and not the Avatar, other than us from home." Tonraq finished for her.
"Thank you so much!" Korra hugged her parents another time. Come on Howl, I want you to meet everyone!" Korra grabbed Howl by the hand and pulled him behind her sprinting to her friends. Howl felt his cheeks warm, as they always did with her touch. He didn't look behind him, he didn't look where he was going. He kept his eyes on her. The way her ponytails bounced when she ran. The way she'd occasionally look back at him, anticipation in her eyes, smiling ear to ear. Her hand gripping his, wishing she'd never let go.
They made it up to two boys and a girl. Howl stood up straight and stuck out his hand to the taller of the boys, "Hello, I'm Howl. I'm part of the Order of the White Lotus, and my job is to protect Korra. It's so nice to finally meet Korras friends!" Mako and Bolin eyed "Howls" hand. Mako didn't want to be nice to this guy. "Protect Korra"? Where was he when she got captured? Asami, trying to break the tension, took Howls hand. "Hi, Howl. So nice to meet you, I'm Asami!" Howl nodded to Asami and then stuck his hand in front of Mako. Asami, elbowed Mako, annoyed with is rudeness.
Mako grunted, grabbed Howls hand and squeezed hard, "Mako." Howl didn't seem to notice his force, and just moved on to Bolin. "My names Bolin! Mako is my brother, and Asami is his girlfriend!"
Howl smiled at Bolin. "It's so nice to meet you all. I was afraid Korra would have a hard time making friends in Republic City." He side eyed Korra with a smirk. "Let's just say Korra is quite… a handful." Howl chuckled.
Korra blushed and put a hand on Howls shoulder. "You're not a perfect little White Lotus Guard if I recall correctly, Mr. Howl. You used to sneak out of the compound with me all the time!" Korra giggled remembering the time that Korra convinced Howl he needed a break from his midnight post to go listen to Korras day. "Come on, Howl. Let me show you the rest of the island!" Korra grabbed his hand and pulled him in to a run again.
Howl just chuckled and blushed, as he always did with her touch