Even with her silence, just by the look on her face- the way her jaw is set, the push of her lips and the furrow of her delicate eyebrows-can he sense she is distressed. He's had a lifetime of experience with his brother to know what kind of body language signals something is wrong when Bolin does not openly say what is troubling him and wishes to brood. He is the first to admit he is not very good at feelings and can be rude or insesensetive- but it is something he is working on. Often times he wished he had the emotional awareness of his brother and the ability to be insightful without having to wonder and guess why in the world a person said "this" or "that", or how in the world could they feel that way when he had no idea?
But with Korra, it's like he just knows with her. It's so natural. He doesn't feel so emotionally inapt with her. He doesn't have to guess and wonder and ask, "What's wrong?"
They are the same flickering ember. The same flame. The same heartbeat.
All of which is why when she is still staring out into the waves that surround the Island with that far away look on her face, does he ask if she is homesick.
When she turns to him, a small, sad smile turning her lips, and a longing in her eyes, does she answer, that, yes, she is. That she hasn't seen her parents in months and she misses the exhilarating chill of the Arctic and the smells of the food and her home.
He can only sympathize with, never having any of those things to miss in a long time. He thinks it must be nice to have people waiting for you when you return.
The waves lapping is the only sound eating up the quiet of the evening as the last minutes of daylight shine. It is a good kind of quiet, though. The kind of quiet where they don't need to say anything to be comfortable and to just hold hands as she leans her head on his shoulder.
He sighs and smiles, placing a kiss to her temple, listening to her breathing. The sun's setting rays are shining on her, highlighting the curve of her jaw and the fly-aways in her hair.
It is the little things. It always has been.
He knows he's waited all his life to be with this girl.
Waddling on the sandy shore, turtle-ducks squawk and call, being fed by their mothers.
The familiar sound sends him back to a happy time. He is filled with a vague memory; he is about five and his mother and him are at the park. He is giggling and sitting in her lap as she breaks apart pieces of bread and throughs it at them. He giggles more and more as each one swims closer, wanting the treat. They circle in the water with their little tounges sticking out. Then the big one, the mother, calls for them, and they all fallow down the pond.
"Wait! Come back!" he calls, "Where are they going, Mommy?"
His mother smiles down at him with big, emerald eyes that are the same shade as his brother's. "They're going home, sweetie. They have families, too. Their daddy turtle-duck is probably waiting for them."
"Why? They're just silly turtle-ducks." he asks with a question in his eyes.
"Because, sweetie. Even though they're just animals, they are just like us. Every creature has a heart and a family and a home. A home doesn't have to be where you live."
Her words swim into him with meaning.
"It doesn't?" he asks and looks up at her, "Then where is our home?"
"Your home," she tells him with a big kiss to his cheek, "is where your heart is, darling. Never forget that, okay, Mako? As long as you know that, you will always know your place is with the people you love, no matter where you are."
He blinks and it's gone. He tries to wipe away the tears before she sees.
He feels his heart swell and his eyes gleam.
He has to tell her. She has to know.
Finally ending the sweet silence, he gently takes her cheek and turns her to look at him, eyes meeting.
"I know you miss it, but you don't need to be in the South Pole to feel you belong, Korra. Someone once told me that home is where your heart is. That when you are surrounded by people that you love, then you truly know your place and that is where you belong."
Her eyes shine, and for a moment, he can see tears threatening to escape them.
"Then," she whispers, "I guess my home is wherever you are."
He blinks, and smiles down at her. "I know that's where mine is."
Then she buries her head in the crook of his shoulder, closing her eyes once more. The waves crash like a lullaby, lulling them to sleep.
He just gazes at her sleeping face for a moment, feeling the unusual sensation of peace wash over him. Letting all worries go and just breathing in this moment, he feels the last rays of sunlight leave his face as the color disappears over the horizon.
He closes his eyes then, knowing he is home.