A/N: Sorry for my procrastination. This chapter is mainly a set up chapter for the next.
Mako watched as Korra walked up the stairs of Air Temple Island. She had a splint on her left arm, the arm that was fractured, and was using Bolin as support to help her walk up the stairs. Korra was discharged from the hospital early that morning. Her health improved a lot and she was able to leave. She was still a little weak, but some rest would fix that. The sun was rising over the Republic City skyline. Mako was sitting by the edge of the cliff with his arms wrapped around his legs. He had been out there almost all night. Mako looked at Korra, she looked happy with Bolin, they were both smiling and he was making her laugh. He looked away; he couldn't stand to see the girl he loves with someone else. As much as he wanted to be strong, he felt like he was breaking into a million pieces. He promised himself that he wouldn't let this break him, but each day was getting harder and harder. If there was ever a time when he really needed his father's scarf, now would be that time, but he didn't have it anymore, it was lost, along with Korra.
All Mako wanted to do was be there for her, but she was denying him of that. Mako looked back at her. As much as it hurt him, he loved seeing her happy, even if it wasn't him making him happy. As they walked closer, Mako got a better look at Korra. He could see that she was carrying the flowers that he brought her. He let out a little smile, but it soon died down when he realized that she probably thought Bolin got her them. As they walked closer in Mako view, he could see her smile as she smelt the flowers in her hand. Mako's spirits dropped at the thought that she may never know the truth. He got up; he just needed to get away, to be alone. He was walking back to his room in the men's quarters when Bolin caught up to him and stopped him.
"Hey bro, wait up!" Mako winced and reluctantly stopped in his place, still turned around from Bolin. "Guess who is back from the hospital." Bolin announced in his usual cheerful tone.
Mako turned around and faked a smile. "Hi, Korra."
She stood there silent for a moment then looked away. She didn't want to acknowledge him. "Hey." She let out fast, trying not to show any emotion.
"Bro, you look like a mess." Bolin pointed out, referring to the dark circles under Mako's eyes.
"Yeah, I haven't gotten much sleep lately." He turned to Korra. "Um, Korra, how are you? Are you feeling better?" He asked with concern.
"I'm fine." She still hadn't turn to look at him. She was cold towards him, Mako and Bolin could both see it.
"That's, uh, good." He ran his fingers through his head as he tried to figure out what to say next. "I was, um, I was worried about you." He admitted as he lowered his head.
Korra quickly turned her head to look at Mako. "Why would you worry about me?"
Mako lifted his head in surprise; He saw that Korra was angry with him. A part of him really wanted to tell her the truth, he didn't really know any other answer as to why he was hopelessly worried about her besides the fact that he was in love with her, but he knew that telling her wouldn't help any of them. "I- uh- Because you were in an accident and you almost died, that's why I was worried."
Korra glared at Mako. "Really, because I thought you would be too busy with Asami to worry about me." Bolin stood there watching the two in shock. He knew that Korra was angry with Mako but he didn't know she was this angry.
"Korra, no one has told you? Asami and I broke up."
"Oh, well whatever. I still don't get why you would worry about me. It's not like you actually care about me or anything!"
"How could you say that?! Korra, I lo-" He fumed, almost giving away his secret before he caught himself. "You know what, I don't have to explain myself. I am leaving!" He turned around and started to storm off. Bolin lowered his head in regret.
Ikki and Jinora ran over to Korra and Bolin. Mako was just close enough to still hear their conversation. He slowed down a little bit as he walked so that he could hear the whole conversation.
"Korra you're back!" They said in unison as the hugged the girl.
"Yeah, I am." Korra said with a smile.
The girls pulled away and noticed the flowers in her hand. "Ooh Korra, who gave you those Moon Flowers?" Jinora asked.
"Bolin got them for me." She announced as she lightly hit Bolin on the shoulder. Mako lowered his head and walked away so that he couldn't hear them anymore. He quickly fell back into his pit of sorrow.
Bolin jumped in surprise. "No I didn't. I thought Tenzin got them for you as a get well gift."
Korra turned to Bolin. "They aren't from Tenzin. The card said it was from 'the one who truly loves you,' so I was guessing that was from you."
"I'm sorry Korra, but I didn't buy you those flowers. I didn't really think you were into flowers."
"Then I wonder who did get them for me. I don't remember telling anyone that my favorite flower was the Moon Flower, but my memory hasn't really been at its best lately."
He lowered his head. "Yeah, I wonder." Bolin lightly said to himself, knowing who really did send her those flowers. "It doesn't matter. Why don't we go put them in some water?" He suggested as he guided her into the temple.
It was around lunch time. Korra awoke from her nap and Bolin set up a little picnic for the two of them in the courtyard. Mako was roaming the island, trying to clear his mind. He couldn't sleep, he wasn't hungry. He felt numb. He was passing by the courtyard when he saw them. They didn't notice him. Bolin had brought them take out from their favorite Water Tribe restaurant, Narook's. She was leaning on him with his arms around her, comforting her. She was smiling. She left his embrace and kissed Bolin on the cheek. Oh how Mako missed the feeling of her cold lips on his skin.
Mako lowered his head and looked away. He turned around then walked away. He walked back to the edge of the cliff and sat down. There he could be alone; the cold wind blowing on him helped him clear his mind. For the past few days Mako's mind and dreams were haunted by her. Every time he closed his eyes her face appeared. The same scene would play in his mind over and over again; the scene was from his first date with Korra.
It was late night; they were walking in the park after dinner. Mako held her in his arms as they walked though the dim lit park. They stopped walking when they got by the fountain. She wrapped her arms around his neck and his around her waist. The held each other close enough so that there was no space between them. Mako looked at her with the most endearing expression, the light from the street lights reflected off of her eyes when she locked eyes with him. They both smiled. Mako moved one hand to her cheek. He cupped her head with his hand, slowly moving his thumb so that he was gently rubbing her soft skin. Korra cheeks turned a light shade of pink at his touch. She closed her eyes and lightly smiled. Mako moves his face closer to hers. Mako's lips barely touched hers before they felt water droplets falling from the sky. Korra and Mako both looked up, it started lightly raining. Mako started to pull away so that they could get cover from the rain, but Korra grabbed his arm, pulling him closer. She wasn't afraid of a little water. She grabbed his head and pulled him into a kiss. It started raining harder. They pulled away. Droplets of rain were running down their face, they looked almost golden from the reflection of the gleaming lights. Mako wiped away a few droplets from Korra's face before she pulled him into an embrace. They held onto each other, with their arms wrapped around each other, like the only thing they needed was each other. Korra rested her head on Mako's chest and Mako rested his head on hers. Both of their eyes were closed so that the only thing that they could sense was each other. Mako began to lightly hum the tune to one of his favorite songs and slowly swayed them back and forth. "You know, I will always love you." she whispered. He smiled and kissed her lightly in her forehead, then went back to humming the song. They stayed like that for a few minutes until they continued to walk through the park back to Air Temple Island.
That scene kept repeating in his mind over and over again. That small part of their first date that started everything was haunting him, forcing him to not forget. It kept him up at night and prevented him from sleeping. Knowing that he could never feel her like that or share a moment like that with her again occupied his mind, tormenting him. Her words now seemed distant from him, reminding him if the loss he was experiencing. Something that once made him so happy now brought back memories of the good times that he knew would never come again. He lived in the past, never wanting to let it go. He hid his face in his crossed arms that were rested upon his knees. He was almost in tears when Asami found him.
"Mako," She called out to him. "Is that you?"
Mako lifted his head. She walked closer to him and sat down next to him. "Hey, Asami." He said in a defeated tone.
"Mako, are you okay?"
Mako turned his head away from her. He couldn't let her see him this shattered. "I'm fine." He lied.
"Mako, that was a trick question. I know you're not okay." Mako turned his head back to look at her. "How are you feeling?"
"I don't know. I feel like shit. All I want to do is just forget about her but I can't. She haunts me. There isn't a moment when I am not thinking about her. I just want to go back to the times when we held each other in our arms, when we spent every hour together, when we comforted each other, when she smiled at me, when she loved me but that is impossible. She doesn't love me anymore, I need to accept that and move on but I can't. Each day is worse. I'm going crazy without her."
"Because you love her."
"Yeah, I know. I mean, I am happy that she is happy with Bolin, but every time I see them together I feel like a part of my heart rips apart. I am nothing without her. I just can't stand to see the person I love have feelings for someone else. You don't know what it is like to love someone who loves someone else." After a moment he realized what he had just said. Asami lowered her head. "Oh, wait, you do." He lowered his head. "I-I'm sorry."
Asami looked at Mako. "Don't be. It isn't your fault that you developed feelings for Korra. I mean, would have I rather it not be while we were dating, sure, but you still couldn't control your feelings."
"Yeah, but now I know how you felt. You saw me develop feelings for Korra the same way I am seeing Korra develop feelings for Bolin. You helplessly watched as the person you cared for shared those feelings with another and I'm sorry."
"It's okay, everything worked out for the better. You truly love Korra and Korra truly loves you, I know it."
"Well, she doesn't love me anymore. You've seen her with Bolin."
"She does love you; you just have to dig down to find those feelings. Mako, there are only two things that you can do in a situation like this. You can either fight for her or let her go. See, I let you go. It all depends on whether or not you are determined enough to fight for her or strong enough to let her go." She got up and stood next to him. "It is one or the other; there is no both in this situation. If you let her go, you will lose her forever, but if you fight for her there is still a chance you will lose her but there is also a chance that you won't. What are you going to do?" She asked, leaving before Mako could answer.
Mako sat there, silent, contemplating Asami's question. He thought about it, about both options and what could happen, but then Korra popped back into his mind.