Good news: this fanfic is not dead! Well, actually it was, but it came back from the ashes to it's final chapter! Enjoy :)
That night, Mako could hardly eat dinner. A big lump formed in his throat since his previous meeting with Korra.
Korra…
The devastated look she gave him refused to leave his mind. Mako gave up on the food and threw himself on bed early, however sleep didn't come easily for him that night. His mind was too restless to shut down. A plenty of scenarios spun around endlessly inside his head - and most of them were not even a bit pleasant.
As soon as he closed his eyes all he could see was the mass of journalists knocking at his door or pursuing him at the Police Headquarters, filling him with questions and invading his and Korra's privacy; the familiar faces judging them, his co-workers throwing jokes at him, Chief Beifong scowl, Bolin's reaction, Asami's, Tenzin's (that wouldn't be a pleasant one for sure). Also Korra's parents, especially her father.
This if Korra really was preg-
Mako groaned and turned on his bed. He was unable to repeat the word even in his thoughts. A part of him still clung at the hope that it was all a misunderstanding.
But… what if it wasn't?
What if, at that very moment there was a tiny life growing inside Korra's womb, a life that was partially his, and hers. And it would grow and be born and would depend on them for the next eighteen years or so. Mako couldn't breathe. It was too much, too soon.
Both were too young for this kind of lifelong commitment. How would he pay for the new expenses with his low income? He had just gotten a steady job and already had the apartment rent and a bunch of other bills to deal with all by himself. Also Korra couldn't really have an ordinary job. She is the Avatar, and this already is far beyond enough. They couldn't afford a baby, definitely.
A baby. His baby. With Korra.
That crazy, impulsive girl who once attended his probending match and turned life how he used to know upside down. He wasn't prepared to have her on his life, or to fall in love with her; to still be in love with her even after she directly say they didn't work together…
And now there was this supposed child who wasn't even real yet and Mako can feel his personal world about to do another somersault - the kid got after it's mother, he thought.
The word "mother" hung in the air for a moment as Mako tried to picture Korra, the stubborn and brash Korra but also the amazing, compassionate and caring Korra, assuming that role. He already saw her a lot with Tenzin's kids, she had a great relationship with them but more like a big sister actually. To think about it, Mako - as Bolin doesn't get tired of point out - could act more as a mom than as a teenager to his friends and his brother frequently.
Mako turned to the bed next to his, where Bolin laid sprawled out, soundly asleep. He took a good look at his brother. Maybe he didn't do a bad job at raising him. He was visibly well fed and had grown to be a good-hearted person - a tad too naive and happy-go-lucky for his liking, but Bolin still was young and immature, with a lot of growing up to do yet. He hadn't the slightest idea of what his younger brother could be dreaming that moment, but it was probably not about becoming an uncle so soon.
Since their parents death, Mako tried his best to be the closest of a parental figure to Bolin, even if he himself had lost his references on this matter long ago. He was also only a child when the fateful night happened. Mako tried to remember his own father. He could remember that San was a good man, who woke up early every morning to go to work, but not without first reading the sports column on the newspaper; and he would often come back home with a bag of his children's favorite candy, much to his wife disapproval. Oh…and he had such a potent laugh, the kind that reveberate on the walls and fill the whole room. Just like Bolin, their father was the type of person who always tried to see the bright side of everything, even at the hardest times.
Mako also remembered how it used to opposite their mother's mostly quiet and serious manners. Not that Naoki was a grumpy person; her smile might be discreet but it was ever the sweetest. Mako could never forget the warmness always present in her amber-colored eyes as if they were made of honey. Or how her voice was soft and melodious as she sang to her children sleep.
Remembering about his parents made his thoughts fly back to his unborn child. How would it be? How would he or she look like? Images of possible combinations between him and Korra began to form in his mind. Maybe Korra would give birth to a little boy, who would have big and bright blue eyes just like his mother's, along with her even bigger heart. And he would be smart and curious, always eager to learn and to know more about the world. A waterbender, perhaps; even a non-bender, he wouldn't mind.
Or maybe they would get a little girl, with Korra's mocha skin but his jet black hair and his amber eyes; a fiery firebender. And she would be beautiful and bright and so full of life. A goof, lopsided grin would grace her face every time she got happy and her laugh would be contagious, lightening up the world around her. Mako caught himself smiling at that thought.
And he would teach their kid some firebending moves, take them to watch a probending match at the arena or to the amusement park near the docks. They would laugh and have so much fun. Korra would be with them, smiling as well, and for a moment all the hardships would cease to exist. They would be a family, like the one he lost ten years ago…
Mako jumped off of the bed and quickly changed his clothes. He hopped on his motorcycle and drove towards the bay. He didn't even care about what time it was when he reached the Air Temple Island. The stars were still up in the sky as he climbed the countless flights of stairs.
Hidden by the shadows of the night, Mako made his way to the girl's dormitory, a path he already knew from other times. He tiptoed until he reached Korra's bedroom window. With his voice barely above a whisper he called for her once, twice, thrice… and nothing. He forgot she was a heavy sleeper.
Without really thinking, he opened the window and broke into her room. However, once he planted his feet on the floor he stumbled on something furry and enormous. Apparently he also forgot that Naga always slept beside Korra's bed. Mako slapped his face as the big animal started to howl.
"What's wrong Naga?" came Korra's sleppy voice from behind him, "you will wake up the whole island that way!"
She looked throught half-lidded eyes towards her pet to - much to her surprise - find her ex-boyfriend kneeled next to the polarbeardog. The curtains swayed slightly in the evening breeze, casting blue shadow over them. Outside it was still dark.
Korra sat up on her bed with a startle. "Mako? What are you doing here?", asked the confused Avatar.
"I know I shouldn't be here but we need to talk."
"And does it has to be now? Spirits! What time it even is, Mako?" she rubbed her sleepy eyes fighting back the urge to punch him on the face. "Can't it wait 'till tomorrow?"
"No, it can't." he stated. The seriousness in his voice making her eyes widen.
Still on his knees, Mako gave up on his attempts to calm Naga and turned to Korra. He crawled to her bedside and grabbed her hand between his. Korra stared dumbfounded at him. If not for the situation, it was because he looked like a mess. His hair was disheveled as if he had just rolled out of bed. The bags under his eyes showing that perhaps he hadn't even slept.
"Look, about yesterday…" he took a deep breath before continuing. "I- I felt so bad about the way I reacted. It kept me awake the whole night. I couldn't stop thinking about you. I needed to talk to you." Korra eyes widened even more before going back to it's normal size, "I was jerk and I'm truly sorry for it."
Korra snorted. "Yes, you ARE a jerk but I'm pretty sure I told you to forget about it and-"
"No! I can't forget it and I don't want to." Korra felt her breath gets caught in her throat at his words and how firmly he said them.
"Look, we can go to see a healer tomorrow morning if you want and if there really is-" he took another breath and pressed his palm on her still flat abdomen, "if there really is a child in there we'll face the consequences together."
Korra froze, speechless. Mako could see tears forming in her eyes by the way they glistened in the soft moonlight glow.
"I know it won't be easy but we'll get through this, I promise." he brought her hand closer to him while the other still stroked her belly, "I love you Korra, and of course I'll love our child."
Korra let out a strangled sob and lowered her head.
In a quick motion she freed her hand from his grasp and shoved him away, Mako falling backwards onto Naga's soft fur.
"Dammit, Mako!" Korra chided. A few tears rolling free on her face, just to be wiped roughly by the back of her hand.
"I won't see a healer because I don't need one, okay?"
Mako just looked at her puzzled.
"I got my period last night after dinner." Korra explained further, visibly embarassed. "There is no baby, Mako. It was just a scare."
After a beat of silence "Oh" was all he managed to answer. Mako just let himself slump further on Naga's fur while his brain processed the new piece of information. His lungs finally taking the breath he was holding since the previous day.
"Korra, I…", Mako tried speaking again, he felt he needed to say something but wasn't sure what. He never was good with words, anyway.
"It was for the best, I mean, we- us… it wasn't the right time and-"
"Yes," she simply agreed, interrupting him. "now you don't need to worry about me anymore and we can finally move on with our lives."
"Korra…" He leaned forward, trying to reach her again.
"You should go," she said so firmly it actually hurt, "I need to sleep. Training with Tenzin in the morning."
"Yeah, sure. I really should get going." Mako stood up with some difficulty. His legs faltered, and he felt tired - the sleepless night taking it's tool on him.
Korra threw herself back on the bed, turning her back at him, almost disappearing under the thick blue blanket.
"So… see you around, I guess?" He looked back at her before lifting his other leg over the windowsill. Korra didn't answer this time though he knew it was impossible for her to be asleep again so fast.
"I'll always worry and care about you, Korra."
Mako confessed to Korra's covered figure who remained silent, and he wondered if she really was listening.
Pink streaks of sunset stained the sky while Mako was on the boat back to Republic City. In his chest there was an odd felling he couldn't quite place - if it was relief or disappointment, or a mix of both. "It was for the best. You two just got off easy in this one" he kept repeating for himself. He shouldn't want this scenario to be flipped. So Mako pushed his fellings aside, like he was so good at doing and took one last look to the island. There probably would be no more visits to the place, and there won't be another nightly encounters with Korra anymore for sure, but another work shift was about to start in a few hours and he should be ready by then.
Aaaand this is the end. I'm not really happy with the direction this chapter took - it was a bit too dramatic? - especially in the end (writing dialogues definitely aren't my thing). So Korra wasn't pregnant. That wasn't my first idea on the previous drafts but I got a little lost with the plot and thought it was better not to extend this fic anymore. Thanks a lot for reading! Reviews are appreciated :)
