Eh, guess I'll just make this a series of oneshots. They'll go in order, probably, but no real plot. Just a few one-shots. Mainly centered around Mako because lets face it, firebenders are just the best.

Korra returned from exploring the Spirit world with Asami about a month ago, and in all honesty, it was a bit of an awkward reunion. For Mako it was, anyway. Two girls he had dated (technically dated twice) were now dating each other. Bolin had simply rolled with it like he always does. Mako had tried to return to work after he recovered from his concussion and could move his arm again without it hurting like hell, but ended up getting in an argument with one of the more experienced officers, who when questioned, accused Mako of fire bending at him.

"Fire benders shouldn't be cops! Metal benders are more level headed!"

The senior officer had then planted false evidence in his own office and house to make it seem like Mako had attacked him. When questioned by Lin, Mako had insisted he had been home that night, passed out on the couch. She later talked to him privately, saying she believed him and knew he wouldn't attack another officer just because of some stupid comment, but that he should take some time off until she can work it all out, because otherwise they would think she was showing favoritism. Mako had not taken that very well, and so for the past few days, he had sulking around his apartment and not doing much of anything besides trying to regain strength in his scarred arm.

Bolin, Opal, Korra, and Asami were having lunch together.

"Where's Mako? We haven't seen him since the day after we got back." Korra asked Bolin.

"Sulking in his apartment and I think occasionally going somewhere outside the city to burn things." Bolin shrugged nonchalantly. "Forced vacation that he isn't happy about. He won't say much more than that about it though, so I leave the topic alone. All I know is he has several weeks to basically do whatever he wants, and he does nothing."

Korra was quiet for a few minutes. "Well, I've been thinking about traveling around the world for a little to learn a bit more about the different cultures. At least, that's what I told Tenzin. Maybe you guys should come? You might be able to find your mom's side of the family somewhere in the Fire nation!"

"That sounds great!" Bolin agreed. "I'll tell him about it tonight. When are you leaving?"

"Probably tomorrow morning."

"We'll be there!"

Later that night…

"I don't want to go the Fire nation!"

"But-"

"No buts! I'm not going."

"All you've been doing is sitting around, you might as well make use of the time you have off!"

"I am making use of it!"

"How?"

"Catching up on sleep and regaining strength in my arm."

"You can do that on the way to Fire nation. And everywhere else."

"No."

"Please, Mako!? What if we go to the fire nation and find our mom's family and then there's our other grandma-"

"Why do you have this idea in your head that grandma tears are automatically going to make me say yes?"

"Because you're a big softy, and I know it."

"I am not!"

"Then why didn't you bring Pabu back to the pet shop while I was sleeping that night?"

"Because we would get in trouble for breaking into his shop the night before."

"Why did you secretly help pay for his food?"

"I didn't."

"Yes you did. I was there you split the money, and you would put extra in my pile."

"That's because you're my brother. It has nothing to do with Pabu."

"What about all those times you said you hated him, and yet you would always call him up to lay with you at night after you thought I was sleeping? And on the rare occasions I would wake up before you, you were always cuddled up with him?"

"…"

"Exactly. Softy. So, back to what I was saying." Bolin cleared his throat and got on his hands and knees in front of Mako, holding his hands together for dramatic effect, and then continued in a rather whiney/begging voice, "Pppllleeeaassseee Mako? What if I meet our other grandma and she asks me where Mako is and I have to tell her he was being a brooding young adult and wouldn't come out of his apartment because he was pouting about his forced vacation?"

Mako sighed and leaned his head back. "I really hate you sometimes."

Bolin grinned. "Just like you hate Pabu."

Pabu poked his head up at hearing his name, and ran across the room, jumping on Mako's shoulders like the loyal little fire ferret he was.

The next morning the brother's met Asami, Opal, and Korra on Air Temple Island. Mako was expecting to see an air ship, but instead, there was just Opal's snot-faced flying bison.

"We're not taking that thing, are we?" He asked Bolin quietly.

"Well, it got us to and from Zaofu alright." Bolin shrugged. Mako groaned. The boys approached the girls, who were throwing their stuff up onto the saddle.

"Just throw you stuff up there and we'll be ready to go." Korra said, smiling. The brothers did as they were told and climbed on after it. Korra and Opal used their air bending to get up easier, and then they reached down to help Asami.

"Are we really going to ride a bison the whole time?" Mako asked.

"Trust me, I would rather take an airship too, but Tenzin says it'll be more 'avatar-like' to travel on an animal. And Naga can't go as far or carry as much as a bison." Korra explained as Opal urged the bison up.

For a few hours, Korra and Asami showed Bolin some of the places they planned on going to. The Fire nation was first, and then Kioshi Island, Omasho, revisit the water tribes, a few air temples, maybe head back to Ba Sing Se for a while. Meanwhile, Mako was leaning back against the saddle, eyes closed as he tried to catch some sleep. There really wasn't much point in it, since he had been sleeping a lot since he went on his 'forced vacation'.

"So Mako…" Korra tried to bring him into the conversation. "How's work going?"

"I don't want to talk about it." He grumbled. And that was the most they got out of him for most of the day.

Once the girls had gotten distracted talking about something else, Bolin moved over to sit by Mako, who looked like he was sitting on a nail.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"I'm fine." Mako shrugged.

"No you aren't. You look like you're sitting on a nail."

"So?"

"So what's wrong?"

Mako sighed. "I have to go to the bathroom. But we're on a flying bison over the ocean."

"Ohhh….One or two?"

"Would it matter?"

"Not really, but one is harder to hold than two."

"One." Mako paused. "Why are we even talking about this right now? It doesn't matter either way."

These were the kinds of things that Mako didn't like to talk about. He didn't feel like it should be anyone business when someone else needs to use the bathroom or not. He rarely ever told anyone when he had to go, unless it turning one of the 10 minute intermissions during pro-bending matches, or if they were out to eat somewhere. Bolin was much more open about it, but Bolin was more open about everything. Mako watched with a slightly confused expression as Bolin crawled forward and over to Korra.

"When are we stopping for the night?" He asked.

"Soon. Why?" Korra asked.

"Mako has to pee."

"Bolin!" Mako scowled.

"What? It's true." Bolin shrugged at his brother. "I don't know why you're so touchy about it. It's not like you're the only one on the planet that has a bladder, Mako. Everyone has to go at some point."

"This coming from the guy who won't go if there's someone within hearing distance." Mako snorted.

"That's different!"

"How?!"

"Well for one, we were in a prison cell with strangers all around us." Bolin pointed out.

"We lived on the streets with strangers around us for years." Mako countered.

"Yes, but I was younger then."

"You still act the same age, so I don't see much of a difference."

"Hey!"

All the while they were lightly arguing, Korra and Asami watched them go back and forth with amusement. Opal poked her head between the other two girls and put her hand out, grinning. Korra and Asami sighed, digging through their pockets to put some money into the air bender's hand. Before they left, the girls had made a bet. They had all agreed that it would be one of the boys who needed to go to the bathroom first, because girls were simply better. Asami and Korra had said that Bolin would be the first to complain about having to go. Opal said it would be Mako. Opal won.

About an hour later, it was clear as day that Mako had to go. He had his knees drawn up and was bouncing one leg, finding it hard to sit still. Thankfully, they would landing soon to give Juicy a break. Bolin was sitting next to Mako, using his brother's shoulder as a pillow. As an island came into view, the snotty bison started to descend. Mako shook his brother awake as they got closer.

"Get up, Bolin."

"Mmmm, five more minutes…" Bolin muttered, snuggling closer to Bolin.

"I can't wait five more minutes. Now get off me." Mako gave him a little shove, remembering an almost identical time when they were younger, before they met Korra. Except that time, Mako had been the one sleeping on his brother's shoulder, and Bolin had been the one who needed to use the bathroom. Mako had done the same thing: wanted five more minutes of sleep, but had been gently shoved off. Bolin lifted his head, his hair sticking up in every direction, and stretched his arms up.

"Whats going on?" He asked sleepily. "Why do I need to get up?"

"Because we're landing." Korra answered. Almost as soon as the bison touched the ground, Mako jumped off and hurried off into the small clusters of trees, no doubt to relieve himself. The others couldn't help but snicker a little. It was so rare to Mako anything but calm and collected. They jumped down on the opposite side Mako had gotten off of, since the trees were thin and they figured he would probably want privacy.

Once Mako came back –looking much more relaxed than he had for the past few hours- they started to unload their stuff and Korra and Opal used their air bending to take the saddle off Juicy.

"We'll camp out here for the night, and get moving again in the morning." Korra said. The others nodded and once everyone was unpacked, they gathered some sticks and Mako lit a fire for them to heat up some dinner. They didn't stay up too much longer after eating, since they were all a little exhausted, but it was clear who were the most comfortable camping out. Mako and Bolin had no problem whatsoever falling asleep with nothing but a thin blanket and their backpacks as pillows. Then again, that was probably more than what they had when they lived on the streets. Opal and Asami on the other hand had both been raised in more wealthy homes, and while they didn't complain, it did take them a while to get comfortable enough to fall asleep. Korra was the neutral in the group –while she wasn't as quick to get comfortable and fall asleep as the boys, she was more comfortable and quicker to fall asleep than the other two girls. In the end, Asami ended up leaning on Korra's shoulder and falling asleep there. Opal was sleeping next to Bolin, using his chest as a pillow and the steady rhythm of his breathing to lull her to sleep.

Mako was curled up not too far from Bolin, with Pabu stretched out over his chest and stomach, the fire ferret fast asleep. Below them, a giant creature slowly paddled through the water, massive body big enough and old enough to have a full grown forest growing on it's back. Yellow eyes filled with wisdom, it headed toward the warmer waters of the Fire nation, the very nation it had first given the gift of fire to.

Maybe this would be considered more like a normal story, but with no real plot line for me to follow? I dunno. You decide. Please review!