Pairing: Makorra
Words: 739
Song: Im With You - Avril Lavigne
A/N: Korra chops her hair and Mako catches
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She hadn't been out of her room in weeks, and Mako couldn't contain his worry any longer. Korra didn't eat, he knew she couldn't sleep, she just kept herself locked up… sometimes he could see her looking out the window. But she was always alone, with dark bags under her eyes that slowly pulled the life out of her natural blue ones.
He made his way down the hall, and stood out front of her room, unsure if he should knock. He hadn't been around as much as he wished he could. Work had been weighing him down, but also it hurt seeing Korra this way, it broke his heart watching her cry, watching her wheel herself around, helpless.
Suddenly he heard frustrated yells from in her room, and he didn't even hesitate to burst in. She sat in her wheelchair by the window, tears burning her eyes as she roughly yaked scissors through her dark hair, chopping off whatever she could reach.
"Korra!" Mako went to her side and caught her wrists, stopping her next rash movement.
She tried to jerk her arm away, but failed. "Let go of me!" Korra said as tears streaked her cheeks. Her strength to fight against him was weak, and he looked into her eyes, seeing pure exhaustion written all over her face. Her body shook slightly, and she dropped the scissors into her lap.
Mako grabbed them and put them onto the side table. When he turned back to her, he noticed her new, badly chopped haircut, her long, silk, chestnut hair now uneven and limp on her head.
What was she doing?
He kneeled down in front of her chair, "Korra, hey. What's going on?"
She didn't say anything, just kept looking at the floor, her mouth and eyes closed. Her face was pale.
"Korra please, you need to get out of this room, go down to the water and relax. You're doing more harm to yourself locked up in here alone."
He waited for her to say something, but when he knew she wouldn't he sighed and looked back at her hair. He'd always loved her hair, how it flowed down her shoulders when let loose, or how it would splay out like a halo on the pillow while she slept… how he could run his fingers through it like it was the most natural thing in world… And now it was a tangled, disoriented mess. His heart nearly broke.
Cautiously, he reached a hand out, tucking an uneven piece of hair behind her ear. She didn't move.
Suddenly he had an idea and turned to pick up the scissors. He was no hairdresser, but maybe he could touch up her mistakes.
He looked at her watching him, and wiggled the scissors, "Um… do you mind if I…?"
Korra gently shook her head, and Mako walked behind her chair. The back of her head wasn't nearly as uneven as the front, since it was harder to reach, so evening it out was easy. He pulled some strands up and trimmed them gently.
They were in silence, only sounds being the snipping and smooth inhales and exhales of their breathing. Minutes went by, and soon he cut the last piece, then softly pulled a hairbrush through it. It felt like ages since he touched it, he didn't want to let go.
Mako moved back around her and placed the scissors back down on the table. He smiled as he kneeled down and held up a small mirror. "I like it."
Korra looked into her reflection and saw Mako's handy work. Her hair was now cut to her shoulders in a small bob, outlining her soft face features and seeming to make her eyes brighter.
She nearly smiled. "Thanks."
Mako took her hands in her lap, and gave them a small squeeze. "You're never alone, Korra. We'll always be here for you. I'll always be here here for you."
The corner of her lips turned up slightly, but then turned back to a frown. She wove her fingers through his and pressed their palms together, swallowing nervously. "I missed you." she said faintly.
Mako frowned. "I know, I'm sorry. Works been pretty busy, I haven't been able to come visit."
Korra looked at him, her big blue eyes pulling him in like they always did. "You're here now."
He squeezed her hand, never once breaking eye contact. "And here I'll stay."