Mako watched Korra go through the fluid motion of waterbending. She was training for the Championship game, working harder than even Mako. Korra had beaten both of the brothers to the training ring every day this week, despite mornings being evil.

He smirked a little at the memory of her knocking him over. Only Korra had ever managed to do that—take him completely off guard. Strike him down. Take his breath away.

Asami.

Mako clenched his jaw, forcing himself to think of his girlfriend. Asami was great, and he really did like her. She was beautiful, and smart, and kind. She was gentle, the way she touched him was soft.

"Ha HA! Take that you pompous Wolfbats! I'll show you what losing is!"

Mako snorted as Korra shouted and danced around the ring. She had hung up pictures of Tahno and his teammates as targets for practice, and had just ripped them all to shreds.

The firebender almost smiled as Korra spun, her beautiful blue eyes lighting up as she beamed.

That smile, Mako thought, as he emerged from the shadows. That stupid grin has got me all messed up.

"Nice shot, rookie," he called to the Avatar. Korra paused in her celebration to glanced at him, and grin embarrassedly.

"I've got a few tricks myself, you know," she informed him, smirking.

"I know," he replied. "I've been on the receiving end of some of those tricks."

Korra smirked, "Yeah, and you've deserved every one of them."

Mako rolled his eyes as she drew closer to her. Korra was sweating slightly, a sign that she'd been there for at least an hour, and training hard the entire time. Mako admired that about her, her determination. She had the same drive he did, the same calling to never stop.

"Hey, maybe if you didn't have such a huge temper, I wouldn't "deserve" it," mocked Mako.

"I think my temper is the perfect size, thank you very much," snapped Korra.

"Oh?" Mako asked, sarcastically. "Is that why you're so brash? Why you're always jumping into things without thinking first?"

"Excuse me?" Korra snapped, annoyed now. "Whose the guy who wanted to chase down a bunch of gangs on his own?"

"Who wanted to try and face Amon on her own?"

"Yeah, well who tried to drink an entire bottle of firewhiskey, by himself!"

"I was drunk, that doesn't count!"

"Oh yes it does!"

"Ugh, how can you be so infuriating?" Mako shouted. Korra glared at him. "You're to stubborn and-and ridiculous and loud! It's the most annoying thing in the world that I still like you despite all of that!"

Korra, whose mouth had parted to shout back at him, closed. She stared at him the those wide, brilliant, ocean-blue eyes, something akin to hope, happiness, and pain flickering through them all at once. Mako continued to glare at her.

"I can't believe you told me you liked me," he muttered. "I can't belie you kissed me!"

"You kissed me back!" Korra shouted at him.

"I'm with Asami!" Mako yelled. "I'm with her and I'm happy! I didn't think I would have to deal with all these—all these—,"

"These what, Mako? Feelings? Yes, I know it's hard to deal with those, being a heartless jerk!"

"I shouldn't have to deal with any of this!" Mako interrupted, angrily. "I have too many other things going on. With the Championship, and taking care of Bolin, and Asami. And I have to deal with you and your stubbornness and your…your Korra-ness!"

"What? " Korra shouted, eyes flashing dangerously. "You have too many things going on right now? Mako, in case you haven't noticed I have to deal with Championship, too! And my airbending training. Oh, and let's not forget Amon! You know, the big, bad man stealing people's bending? I am the Avatar! You think I want to deal with you and my stupid feelings?"

Mako's anger abruptly died as Korra's temper went out. Somewhere along the way of her shouting at him about training, her fire had gone out and her voice had cracked, and now she just sounded sad.

"Don't do that…" Mako whispered.

"Don't do what?" snapped Korra, turning away from him to hide her suddenly full eyes. "Yell at you? That's they way anything gets through that thick head of yours."

Mako ignored her insult and looked at the young woman before him. Korra's back was to him, but he could still see the tension, the fear, the hurt, and the sadness in the curves of her body.

"Don't be sad," he whispered, in a voice one could only describe as longing.

Korra flinched, startled. She turned slightly, surprise in her eyes.

"Korra," he whispered, and she came to him, and then they were kissing again but this time it was mutual. Their lips came together at the same moment; Mako bent slightly, Korra's lifted up.

Mako's rough hands caressed her face as Korra's fingers clutched at his jacket. When they broke away, Mako realized that Korra was crying. He saw, for the first time, just how afraid she was, just how hard this must be for her.

"Sh," Mako whispered, kissing a tear away. "It will be all right." He kissed another drop. "I'm here for you." His lips touched hers once more. "Everything will be okay."

And Korra's tears flowed freely, and Mako kissed them away.

There was no Asami. There was no Bolin. There was no Championship Match.

Korra fell apart, and Mako rebuilt her, and they were together, just for one moment.

Yesssssss.
I loved how this one came out.
It's loosely based on the Friends episode "The One Where Ross Finds Out."
Which I do not own, by the way.
And I still don't own Legend of Korra, either.