Note: Arrrg…x/ ok, so I'm thinking about maybe making this more than 3 chapters :3 because you guys seem to really like this so far. This chapter is a little more angsty. ^.^ it was fun writing it. I really hope that everyone stayed in character. I have a feeling that they did but just let me know if you guys think anything is a little off so I know what to work on. I tried to make this seem as realistic as possible so that it blends into episode 10. I hope you guys enjoy it ^^

And thanks for all the comments and favs guys :3 It makes me happy to know that you guys are really enjoying it so far.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Legend of Korra.

Mako just sat there, never taking his eyes off of Korra, watching the slow steady rise and fall of her shoulders as she slept. He had never seen such a relaxed expression on her face, yet at the same time she seemed so tired, and that was something that he didn't like. If he could, he would just gather her up in his arms, anything to take the weariness from her shoulders.

He leaned forward the brush the pads of his fingers over the side of her face, relishing in the softness of her mocha skin. Amber irises scanned her features thoroughly and then made an abrupt stop at her hair. The nurses hadn't even bothered to untie her hair. He frowned at what he considered to be their lack of care and huffed with a groan. Then he stood, leaning over carefully and gently loosening her blue hair wraps. If no one was gonna care for her, then he would just do it himself. Holding the hair wraps in one hand, he used the other to lightly comb out her hair before he sat back down.

After a long moment of just watching her, Mako sighed, putting the hair wraps aside and leaning his elbows on the mattress. "I'm glad you're ok, Korra…" he muttered softly to the sleeping Avatar.

Little did he know that Asami, wondering what had been taking her boyfriend so long, decided to come up to Korra's room and check on him. She remained silent the entire time, refraining from stepping into waterbender's room, and there she watched him quietly. Mako, her boyfriend, was watching Korra like a hawk, like he was her protector or something. Since when had he ever been so focused on anyone? That was one side she had never seen from him before. Nothing existed except for him and the aqua-eyed watertribe girl.

She sighed and crossed her arms, leaning against the threshold. Her emerald eyes leered at the way Mako slipped his hand into Korra's limp one. Why was he still sitting there with her when the nurses had already announced that she was ok?

Then her ears perked as she heard him begin to speak.

The firebender's hand tightened on Korra's as whispered softly to her sleeping form. "You know…you really had me in for a scare there, Korra…" Eyes of topaz dimmed down to a flicker as he lowered his eyelids. "I thought I might lose someone important to me again…..when I found out you were…gone.." The last word came out with a quaver. He took a breath and sighed after admitting a personal truth of his. "…I felt so helpless…." His voice became quieter. "…like when I lost my parents…"

Asami couldn't bear to listen anymore. She didn't know whether to feel hurt, sympathetic, or enraged. All she knew was there was too much emotion here and she had to leave. His words alone made it easier to believe what Bolin had told her. She didn't want to believe it, but….she could see it now. There was no doubt in her mind that he had, in fact, kissed Korra and had an immense amount of feelings for her.

She didn't know what else the two of them did alone, but whatever it was, she wasn't going to witness it. With a turn of her heel, she turned away from the threshold and left the two alone in the bedroom.

Mako rested his forehead on the hand he was using to hold Korra's. Why did things have to be so complicated? Sure, he was with Asami, but…..he wasn't sure if he could really let go of Korra this time around. After suppressing his emotions for the Avatar for so long, trying to protect… who? Asami? Korra? Himself?….. He wasn't so sure, but he didn't think that he would be able to hold it back this time. He had thought that holding back would protect everyone and it wasn't until now that he realized that it was doing the complete opposite.

And he had gotten mad when Korra kissed him at the probending championships. She hurt his brother's feelings, but who was he to say that what she did was wrong? Who was the wrong one now? At least Korra had been honest with her feelings instead of continuing to lead Bolin on.

Mako gave a weary sigh, and Korra's hand gave a light twitch. He immediately picked his head up and stared at her with wide eyes. Was she waking up? He anxiously dragged his chair closer and sat up, keeping a firm grip on Korra's hand. Focusing on her face, he waited to see if she would wake up. His heart beat rapidly in his chest.

Korra shifted in her sleep. A distressed groan escaped her throat and her brows flexed.

Mako noticed a hitch in her breathing and scooted to the edge of his seat. "Korra?"

"No.." She gave a slight jerk and curled into herself, tightening her grip on his hand.

Was she having a nightmare? He could have sworn he remembered her talking about sleepless nights and nightmares once. He could tell she was in distress by the sudden tug of her brows and the tension in her shoulders. He had to wake her up, this was not something he wanted to see. If only he could reach her in her dreams…. "Korra…. Korra, wake up."

Her scowl deepened, a tear drifting down her cheek. "Tarrlok, no!" Her eyes shot open with a hitch in her breath as she instantly sat up, panting rashly and allowing aqua eyes to meet with topaz. "Mako.." she breathed dubiously. The waterbender flushed lightly, abruptly wiping the tear from her face and suddenly falling back into the mattress with a cringe. "Where's Naga?" she panted warily, seeking the comfort of her polarbear-dog and turning her eyes away with embarrassment. As long as Mako was there, she had to hold back on her fear, too proud to express it in front of him.

He spoke gently. "She's fine. Everything's ok. You're safe now." He gave her hand a light squeeze and then added his other hand.

Her gaze hesitantly drifted over to their hands and she slightly eased, giving him a weak smirk. "Thank you for being here…" Then she respectfully began to withdraw her hand. He was with Asami, she reminded herself.

The firebender refused to let go of her hand and his brows drew forward with sudden anticipation. "Of course…" He hesitated. "So, how are you feeling? Does anything hurt? I'm here for you, you know-"

"-Mako…" she cut him off and laughed lightly. "I'm ok." Her voice had a tired rasp to it, and she raised her brow. "Gee, what happened to that controlled composure of yours, Cool Guy?"

The corner of his mouth gave a light twitch as if to stifle a smirk. He frowned quite playfully. How dare she ask such a question as if it were that incredible. "Well what do you think? After hearing about how you blindly ran off, completely out of idiotic impulse and your overconfident will, storming with eyes closed into Tarrlok's grasp instead of being patient….." his jaw tightened as he trailed off with a loss of breath, his mood swinging from playful to angry.

Korra was about to fume with rage, until she noticed how tightly he had increased the grip on her hand. "Mako…" her eyes softened to that of a placid ocean, but she knew she shouldn't take his concern as anymore than that of a friend. Uncomfortable with the emotional intensity, she changed the subject and awkwardly cleared her throat. "Where's Tenzin? I need to tell him what happened at Tarrlok's cabin." She began to sit up and Mako instantly put a hand on her shoulder.

"Now, hold on a second. Stop being so quirky." He locked her confused gaze. "Why don't you just relax for a bit." It was a statement, not much of a suggestion at all, but more like a command. He didn't want her to go yet.

She frowned. "Look, it doesn't matter how exhausted I am, it's important that I speak with Tenzin." She had the urge to move again and Mako held her still.

"Would you be patient for once." He scowled deeply.

She shrugged away form his grasp. "Would you quit touching me!"

"Why? Did Tarrlok touch you?" He raised his voice tensely.

"What? Touch me?- No, gosh no." She returned the frown.

"Well you never had a problem with me touching you before!" He leaned forward, expressing his ire and feeling offended.

"Yea, well you never really touched me much before!" She also leaned forward, sporting an angry pout on her lip.

"Says the girl that kissed me!" He lightly curled his lip.

She flushed feeling embarrassed and repulsed. "We're not talking about this! Back off!" She shoved him back in his seat.

His chest flared with anger and a little excitement. "So you can touch me and I cant touch you?"

She leaned toward him aggressively and poked him hard in the chest. "Deal with it!"

"I cant…" With such close proximity, he grabbed the hand she had poking at his chest, and tugged her forward, locking lips with hers and closing his eyes. His hot anger flared into something more wistful and passionate, and Korra tensed in his grasp. What was he doing? As much as she knew it was wrong and as angry as she was, she didn't reject it, the warm tingle in her chest was intoxicating, and her heart was beating too fast. The moment his other hand cupped the back of her neck, she knew it was over. Her eyes drifted close and the feel of his lips whelmed her, gently moving against hers, coaxing her to give in. This was what she had been wanting and to his surprise, she gave in. With a small hitch of her breath her lips aggressively pushed against his as if trying to restrain an impulse that had been held back for so long.

She was gripping the front of his cloak, hungry for him, gently taking his lower lip into her mouth and feeling it with her tongue. He moaned and pressed forward causing a rush of excitement to waver and tingle throughout her body. "Mako…" She gave a slight gasp and he continued on, only allowing her that small intake of oxygen as he impatiently covered her lips once again. The sound of his name coming from her lips so breathlessly, made him even more excited. His hand tangled in her hair and massaged the back of her neck as he climbed halfway onto the small twin bed without thinking.

Suddenly Korra was pressed down into the pillow as his tongue began to demand entrance. Mako was losing his cool controlled composure and it was her fault….her and that alluring oceanic scent, only unique to a waterbender. He couldn't lose her again. She made a small shy sound and his pressed his body into her, pushing her into the mattress until a rush of heat shot directly from her chest to the spot between her legs. She jerked unexpectedly and broke the kiss, forcing a hand against his chest as she panted with wide eyes. "Mako! Wait…"

His amber eyes met hers, hooded and flickering like embers of topaz. That lusty look in his eyes was not something that she was used to, neither was the heat that radiated between their bodies. She couldn't think. She needed to think. What was going on? Her heart beat faster and she slightly panicked.

"Korra…" Concern dripped in his voice and his eyes became shy and hesitant. What was he thinking?

"What are you doing?" She avoided his gaze, still slightly out of breath. "We can't do this. This would hurt Asami so much…" She bit her bottom lip with hesitation, the soft flesh still swollen from kissing the firebender. The tip of her tongue swept across it, the taste of him lingering still.

Suddenly, flare in his eyes dimmed completely. He cleared his throat. "I'm sorry." He got off the bed and sat back in his chair, looking off to the side and scratching the side of his jaw with his index finger. How could he be such an idiot? Could her impulsiveness be rubbing off on him, or was he seriously that drawn to her?

She slowly sat up and brushed back her bangs. "I should talk to Tenzin now."

With lowered eyes, the fireneder nodded and fingered the material of his scarf. He couldn't bear to look at her after what he'd done. He was sure it was just hurting her more. He was so stupid. His brows flexed scornfully. "Korra…"

She looked at him as if nothing had happened, a simple change in her irises that seemed to have hidden the true emotions that she felt.

"About what happened…."

"Don't worry, I wont tell Asami. We'll pretend this never happened."

He raised his brows with anticipation. He didn't want to pretend. It was real to him….very real….but that irrefutable look in her face told him that she wanted nothing of it. That was the apparent end of that conversation.

She found her hair wraps and began to put her hair back up again.

His expression went back to its normal seriousness and he watched as she tied up her hair. Each fluid movement of her hands just reminded him more and more of what made her such a great waterbender, and with that he mentally sighed. The more he was with her, the more he couldn't stop admiring her. A girl that amazing deserved a guy just as amazing. If he wanted to prove himself to her, he was going to have to figure out what to do about Asami.

Korra finished her hair and stretch out her arms. "Let's go talk to Tenzin. I'm starving." She gave a put of disappointment and huffed.

Mako nodded and stood from his seat.

o.0 errrr…. i know it sucks that Korra and Mako arent together yet but at least he's finally thinking about how to get rid of Asami lol go Makorra! As for the rest, Korra just isnt sure how to react to everything. She's too overwhelmed. Hope you enjoyed. :3