A/N: Gosh, it's been a while! Sorry for disappearing; real life kind of caught up with us and we've been neglecting this collection. But that shall be remedied now! Have a new chapter! Happy readings!

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to Mike and Bryan.

Chapter III: First Date

Mako had never been so nervous in his life.

"What reason do I have to be nervous?" He thought to himself, walking beside Korra on the streets of Republic City, on the way to the restaurant he had selected as the spot for their first date. His usual cool-under-fire style seemed to have gone out the window the moment he laid eyes on her waiting for him outside the newly renovated Probending Arena.

"Sure, she's the Avatar and your girlfriend; you declared your love for her not too long ago, and this is your first date. No pressure."

The girl beside him seemed to pick up on his troubled state of mind.

"Something on your mind, City Boy?" She asked, turning to look at him. Her blue eyes seemed to cut right through him.

"N-no, just..." He sighed, knowing that she'd see through any attempt to lie and indeed, the look on her face said don't try and lie to me. "Just nervous."

A blush appeared on her cheeks and to his surprise she answered, "Yeah, I am too."

Mako's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Is that so? Stubborn, headstrong, take-on-all-challenges Korra is nervous about dating me?"

She glared at him slightly, but the blush intensified to his satisfaction.

"Well yeah, I mean I've never done anything like this before." She answered with a slight huff.

"Really? You went out with Bolin once during the Probending Championships." He mentally kicked himself twice: once for the tinge of jealousy that entered his voice at the mention of her going with his brother, and the other for bringing up a horribly awkward situation during an already awkward situation. Korra however took it all in stride.

"If that was a date, I didn't notice, I thought he was just being a good friend."

For the second time in one night Mako's eyebrows rose.

"Wow, I am an idiot."

"This is true."

They smiled at the private joke and continued the trek to the restaurant in comfortable silence. Upon reaching the eatery and being led to their seats, Mako's mental warfare started back up with a whole new barrage of thoughts. "Is this place not classy enough? I mean she's the Avatar, she should be wined and dined; I'm underdressed, what am I doing?"

This time, a slight pressure on his hand snapped him out of his reverie, Korra had placed her hand over his from across the table, and she looked genuinely concerned.

"Hey, Mako, you okay?" Her voice had that same softness that it had when she had returned his feelings in the South Pole. He sighed heavily, but tightened his grip on her hand.

"It's just, I feel like I should have done better, saved up some money and taken you out to some place fancy. I mean, it's what you deserve after all."

Mako saw her blue eyes harden and prepared for the worst.

"Now let's just get this straight, Cool Guy," Korra said, her voice dangerously quiet. "You said you loved me irregardless of the fact that I was the Avatar."

"I do, but..."

She pressed on not letting him continue

"So you should know that you could take me to an upscale restaurant, like Kwang's, or a regular place, or even a road side dumpling cart, and I wouldn't think any less of you. I don't care that you can't afford to take me to the best places right now, I'm fine with that. You just keep being you and everything else will work out in the end."

Though she started out harsh her voice had softened, as had her eyes, which pleaded with him to get her point, and he did.

"You know, you're something special, Avatar Korra." He smiled when she blushed again. Then, her smile morphed into a smirk

"Of course once we win the Probending Championships and you've got some money... some fine jewels would be nice." She teased.

"Only the best, sweet- ...OW!" A boot made contact with his leg from under the table and his outburst had several diners turning in their seats to look for the source of the noise.

"Do NOT call me that." Her voice was deadly serious.

"OK, we're not the 'cutesy-nickname' couple; noted," He said, rubbing his leg. "Don't worry, though. I'll think of something."

Korra groaned.

During dinner, Korra decided to ask Mako something.

"So how did you know about this place?" She wondered.

Mako paused, pushing the noodles around on his plate.

"Bolin and I used to come here as kids, before...," He paused and swallowed. "...It happened." Korra's eyes widened and her grip on his hand tightened.

"Oh, Mako, I'm so sorry."

He shook his head, slightly. "No, it's okay. I chose this place 'cause I normally associate it with bad memories, but I wanted to make new ones." This earned a blush from both parties and Mako decided to shift the conversation. "So how are Tenzin's kids?"

"Same as always. Little Rohan is showing signs of being an airbender. The other day, he sneezed and sent me flying. I smacked stright into the wall."

Mako nearly choked on his food, trying to contain his laughter.

"I think I still have the bruises to prove it," Korra muttered, the tiniest of smiles on her face.

They continued laughing and joking during the meal, with many the occasional blush. At the end, Mako and Korra both stubbornly insisted on paying the check, but it was Mako who finally won.

"I still wish you'd have let me pay," Korra said almost petulantly, as they headed for the ferry back to Air Temple Island.

"Oh, no no! We may not be the traditional couple, but the guy always pays for the first date." He said, gallantly.

"Why, what a gentleman. Thanks, Cool Guy."

"No problem, Korra. Anything for you." Mentally he smacked himself. "That was so cheesy."

Korra giggled and her statement seemed to echo his thought.

"Wow, you are hopeless." She laughed softly and he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Yeah, sorry about that, I'll try to be less sappy from now on."

She elbowed him slightly.

"Ah, there's nothing wrong with it once in a while, but don't make too much of a habit out of it," She teased.

"Deal." He said. They lapsed back into silence and as they walked Mako decided to try something. He wrapped an arm around her as they walked and she stiffened slightly, which alarmed him, but then she relaxed into it. Mako smirked, slightly.

"We'll draw less attention this way." He said, eliciting yet another giggle from the Avatar. He decided then and there that he loved that sound.

They approached the ferry soon and Mako and Korra separated, neither one sure how to end the night. Finally Korra, in her usual style, took charge.

"Thanks Mako. I had a really great time."

He smiled "Yeah, me too."

Korra leaned up to kiss him one last time before hurrying onto the ferry that was slowly departing. Mako watched the ferry until he could no longer see it and set off for home with a smile etched upon his face, thinking about the Avatar and their wonderful evening together. And somewhere, across the waters of Yue Bay, Korra was doing the same.