Chapter Ten

When Korra woke up, she was flooded with a mix of emotions - confusion, fear, and panic flooded her system as she realized she was alone, but wearing Mako's shirt, and her wound was neatly bandaged.

She'd been discovered.

This realization was followed sharply by the one that Mako must have seen her naked.

She didn't know which one was worse.

Her face burning red, she took stock of herself. Obviously the pain meds Mako gave her were sleeping pills, and she was extremely angry that he'd done that, but not angry enough to have to wonder why. She'd been in bad shape, and if he hadn't, she probably would have fought him to exhaustion. Then they'd have to call a medic and her secret would really be in jeopardy.

She was strong enough now to use her water bending to ease the dull throb as she continued to try to sort out her thoughts.

At least she was dressed, though it was painfully obvious she was a girl without her wrap. And she had a place to stay, at least for now.

"Hey, you're awake."

Korra jumped and looked guiltily up at Bolin.

"Um, yeah." She didn't know what to say or where she stood with him, even if she was pretty sure he'd already guessed. "Where's Mako?"

Bolin's eyes flickered to the side and Korra felt a twinge of pain. "That bad?" She asked.

"Just give him some time," Bolin said. "I'm sure he'll come around."

"I'm sorry," Korra said, fiddling with her hands. "Really. I was going to tell you both, I just didn't know how."

"I know."

She gave him a sidelong look. "Why aren't you so surprised, by the way?"

Bolin chuckled. "I had my suspicions pretty early on, especially after I met you as yourself. You really are one of a kind, Korra, and I don't think even a sibling could replicate that."

Korra blushed, looking down at her knees. "Thanks, Bolin. You're an amazing friend."

He shrugged. "I do what I can."

Smiling weakly, she ventured to ask. "Did Mako have any idea?"

"I don't think so. I don't think the possibility even crossed his mind."

Korra blew out a puff of air. "Is he furious with me?"

"I don't know, you'll have to talk to him."

"Am I getting kicked out?"

"Definitely not," he was adamant. "I won't let him."

"Thanks."

"So. Do I get to hear the whole story?" He smiled warmly at her.

"I'll be happy to tell you whatever you want to know." Korra confessed, "It'd be a relief not to think up any more alibis or stories."

They spent the next hour talking about Korra's crazy adventure and how she ended up dressed as a boy living a double life. Korra couldn't put into words how good it was to get it all off her chest, even if the hardest part was still to come - telling Mako.

—-

Korra didn't know how he did it, but Mako managed to avoid her for the rest of the week. She heard him come in late that night, but he didn't approach her and she didn't say anything for fear of him still being too angry at her.

He was gone before she woke up the next day, and didn't return until she'd gone to bed. He repeated this day after day, and when Korra asked Bolin how long Mako was going to keep this up, he simply shrugged and said he didn't know.

The two of them still practiced during their time slot, though Korra was forced to take things easy thanks to her wound. It was healing quickly, but she wasn't back to one hundred percent yet.

The night before their next match, Mako finally came home before midnight. Bolin was already asleep, but Korra was still up, reading up on their opponents. He looked weary, with bags under his eyes. He sat down at the table, exhaling loudly, and said, "So. The match tomorrow. Are we still competing?"

Korra sprang up. "Of course we are!"

He fixed his golden eyes on her, his face flushed. "Really?"

"Did you turn me in?"

"Of course I didn't," he scoffed.

"Then there's no reason we shouldn't." She said simply.

"Your injury - "

"Is fine. Like I said, I could heal myself. I'll be good as new tomorrow."

"I don't want you to push yourself," he began to say.

"Mako," Korra walked over to stand directly in front of him with her hands on her hips. "I'm sorry I lied to you. I'll tell you whatever you want to know, but you're not allowed to get all weird on me because you know I'm a girl now. I can still fight like Kor, and for all anybody in that arena knows, I am Kor. You just have to trust me."

Mako's look grew intense, and he didn't say anything.

"Mako, I can't tell you how bad I feel about lying to you. But I'm not sorry I did what I did. Pro-bending is in my blood, you can see that. It's not fair that girls aren't allowed to compete, let alone watch. We're not allowed to do anything but sit around and look pretty."

"That's not true," Mako said, his voice gruff.

"It is, but you can't see it. You don't know because you're a man, you can go where you please without sleaze bags whistling at you, and you can get any job you want. Mako, the world is open to you. That's all I want, too."

"But you're the Avatar."

"Which makes it even more difficult. I'm taught everything there is to learn, but I'm not allowed to use any of it. I'm given the best bending teachers there are, but I'm not allowed to fight."

He turned away and replied softly. "I had no idea."

"No one really does," Korra gave him a weak smile. "But I need you to know that my gender was the only thing I lied to you about. Everything else was me." She looked down at her feet. "I really like you. I don't want this to change that."

"It changes everything."

Korra's head shot up at the coldness is Mako's voice. "But -"

"Korra, I have to question everything I know about you now. We can't just pretend that nothing happened."

She felt her shoulders slump. "Do you want me to move out?"

"I don't know. I'm not going to kick you out, but I don't want you to stay if it makes you uncomfortable."

"You haven't been here all week. I have a feeling that has something to do with me. I don't want you to feel like you can't come home."

"That didn't have to do with you as much as it did with me. Don't worry about it."

"Still. I think it would be best if I moved out after tonight. Asami said I could stay with her. You know, if you need to reach me."

"You don't have to go."

"No, I think I do. At least until after the tournament." She paused. "Are we going to be okay?"

"Eventually. We're teammates. Nothing changes that."

She smiled at him, and fighting the urge to give him a hug, went to bed, pulling the blanket up around her shoulders. She listened to him climb up to his own bed, the soft whispers of blankets and clothing echoing through the attic.

She laid there a long time, wishing he wasn't so far away.

—-

The next evening, Mako didn't have anything to offer for a pep talk. The Buzzard Wasps were a formidable team, and the Fire Ferrets were not at their best.

Korra looked at the forlorn faces of her two teammates and decided that if a pep talk was going to come from anyone, it would have to be her.

"We can't give up before we've even begun," she said fervently, getting their attention. "I know we're going through a rough time, but we're still a team and we can still do this."

Bolin offered her a smile, but Mako wouldn't look at her.

"Alright folks," the announcer's voice rumbled through the arena. "It's time for our semi-final rounds! I hope you're ready for an exciting night because these two teams are sure to put on a show."

"Guess that's our cue," Korra said, trying to sound light-hearted. "Let's get out there and do this!"

Despite her best efforts to buoy her team, they were a mess.

Mako seemed to be shadowing her every move, and collided with her more than once. Bolin tried to cover for them, but over-corrected and hit Mako hard in the shoulder. When Mako turned to shout at him, the Buzzard Wasps knocked them both of the ring.

In the second round, the three of them managed to stay on their feet, but only barely and as the third round began, they'd be out of the tournament without a knock-out.

"Well," Mako said with slumped shoulders. "It was nice while it lasted."

His pessimism spread to Bolin as well, who hung his head and said, "There's always next year."

"You can't give up already," Korra insisted. "There's still one more round!"

Mako just looked at her, his face blank.

She frowned defiantly at him and repeated, "There's still one more round."

"Come on, guys," Bolin said nervously, sensing a fight. "The last round's about to start."

They took their places.

And in the end, it was Korra who saved the team.

Mako moved to take her hit - yet again - and found himself knocked off his feet and into the drink by the Buzzard Wasps' waterbender. In the last minute, Bolin and Korra were both standing, fighting with all their might, but the firebender and waterbender teamed up on Bolin and after a painful disc to the shoulder, he too found himself in the water.

Korra refused to give up, even as the Buzzard Wasps leered at her, confident in their impending victory. They still had a player in each zone, and believed she didn't stand a chance.

Instead, she narrowed her eyes and lined them up, taking all three out with one powerful blast.

There was a moment of shocked silence followed the splash that echoed throughout the arena.

"I can't believe it, folks," the announcer cried out, "But with the amazing come from behind, the Fire Ferrets are going to the finals!"

Korra sagged with relief, but grinned proudly. She'd shown her worth beyond a doubt. No one would ever be able to say she didn't deserve it, or wasn't strong enough to be a probender.

She basked in the deafening cheers for a long, long moment.

"What was that?" Korra demanded as she stepped off the platform to the holding room.

"What was what?" Mako asked stubbornly.

"You wouldn't let me fight! You kept jumping in front of me, trying to take my hits and block for me. I don't need you to go all protective on me now! You almost lost us the match!"

"Guys," Bolin said nervously, "Maybe we should take this conversation elsewhere."

It was just as well, too, because Tahno and his team walked in just at that moment. As much as Korra wanted to throttle Mako, Tahno would always be on the top of that list.

"Well, well, well, look what we have here," Tahno drawled. "A team of wannabes."

His teammates chuckled as the Fire Ferrets seethed at him.

"We'll see who the wannabes are in the finals," Korra said defiantly.

"I look forward to it," Tahno sneered, putting on his helmet. "I also look forward to seeing you out of the arena, newbie."

Bolin held her arm, and Korra resigned herself to glaring at the Wolf Bats as they got on the platform that took them to the ring. Then she turned back to Mako.

"As I was saying," she began again, but Mako cut her off.

"Knowing who you are now," he hissed in a low voice, "I didn't want to see you get hurt, okay?"

"Because I'm a girl? Nice Mako." Her voice was cold as ice. "Glad to see you have so much faith in me." She turned on her heel, refusing to listen to anything more he had to say.

The boys were left alone in awkward silence, save for the announcer's narration, neither one quite knowing what to say.

After only a matter of minutes, though, the ending bell rang, "Well today has been a day for the papers, folk! The Wolf Bats win with a one round knockout! And a brutal one at that. I hope the Fire Ferrets get their rhythm back by the finals or they'll be in for a painful night."

Bolin crossed his arms and looked pointedly with a frown on his face at his brother. They both knew it was up to Mako to fix things.

He sighed. "Don't look at me like that, Bo. I'll go find her."

"You better. And be nice."

"I'm always nice," he grumbled, sulking out before Tahno could gloat again.

He checked the attic first, without much luck. Her uniform was there, which meant she must have stopped long enough to change, but it also meant Mako didn't know if he was looking for Korra or Kor. Frustrated, he briefly looked through her things - just to see what she might be wearing - and he spied that cursed wrap thrown carelessly in the corner. So, Korra it was.

Running his fingers through his hair, he tried to think where she might have gone - and not dwell on the wrap or what it had covered or what he had seen. A task he'd struggled with this past week, and part of the reason he'd spent so much time away from the apartment. The only way he could even look at her without turning bright red was by remembering how hurt and angry and confused he was.

But back to the matter at hand, Asami was most likely still at the match, so she was out unless Korra wanted to draw more attention to herself. The only other place he could think of was Air Temple Island. Their conversation about Naga came to mind, and Mako was convinced that Korra went to see her best friend, no matter the consequences.

He raced to the ferry, wishing he could just swim the bay like she could, but not knowing if he could actually make it. If the ferry didn't leave in the next ten minutes, though, he'd be willing to risk it.

Luckily, the ferry was only a couple minutes from departure, and Mako quickly boarded, pacing the entire trip. His mind raced with what he would say to her once he saw her. Apologize? For what, though - that was the question. He wasn't sorry for trying to protect her. He wasn't protecting her because she was a girl, but because she was Korra. It tore at his heart to see her hurt. Logically he knew she could defend herself, but emotionally… it was simply instinct to do whatever he could to keep her out of harm's way.

But how could he explain that to her without revealing his feelings as well? It was too soon, the emotions too raw to take that step. They were both too angry and too hurt.

He exhaled heavily, no closer to an answer when the ferry docked. But he knew he was close to finding her. He didn't know why, but he could feel she was near. The acolytes were still calmly tending to their own duties, and Mako had a feeling that if Korra had been to the temple, things would have been a bit more chaotic. She must have snuck in.

If he found Naga, he was sure he'd find Korra.

"Excuse me," he asked the nearest acolyte, a woman who smiled serenely at him. "I've heard the Avatar brought her polar bear dog with her from the South Pole. I've always wanted to see one, is there any way I could get a quick peek?"

The woman's smile froze. "I'm sorry, but I can't help you," she said stiffly. "We don't keep such dangerous creatures on this island."

Mako frowned. "Are you sure. Korra said -"

"I'm sure you must be mistaken. Now if you'll excuse me," she hurried off, leaving Mako to stare after her in confusion.

Then he scowled. He could understand a simple no, but such an evasive answer was odd.

He felt a slight tug on he jacket a looked down to see a young girl with short brown hair dressed in the oranges and yellows of the air temple, flanked by an even younger girl with her hair in two buns. "Yes?"

"Do you know Korra?" she asked, her gray eyes wide.

Mako knelt down to their height. "Yes. Have you seen here today?"

The girl shook her head, "I haven't seen her in weeks. Is she okay? She disappeared and Dad was really mad but wouldn't tell us anything. I'm Jinora, by the way. This is my sister, Ikki."

"She's fine, I think, but I made her angry. I'm trying to find her to make things better. I think she wanted to see her polar bear dog."

Ikki's eyes lit up and she answered excitedly. "Naga? I can show you where she is, but I haven't seen Korra. Do you know what happened?"

Mako sighed. "I do, but it's pretty complicated. I don't know how much Korra wants to share."

Jinora's shoulders fell. "I understand. We'll take you to Naga, though, and maybe we'll both find her. Naga was staying in Korra's old room, but when Korra didn't come back, she got really anxious and made a mess. They're keeping her in the sky bison caves now. I'll show you the way."

He followed the girls across the island, but hesitated when they reached the caves. He wanted - needed - to talk to Korra alone.

"She's in there?" He began.

"Naga is," Jinora confirmed, and Ikki bounced on the balls of her feet.

"Hopefully Korra, too!" She said. "I can't wait to show her the marble trick I learned."

Mako bit his lip. He hated to disappoint these girls as well. "Ikki, I know Korra was really mad when she left. I should go talk to her first."

Both girls' faces fell, but Jinora recovered quickly. "It's okay. We just want to make sure she's okay. We have lessons soon, anyway, don't we, Ikki?"

The younger girl pouted. "Fine. Tell her we miss her though, okay?"

"I promise," he smiled gently at them, then watched as they ran back to the temple.

He steeled himself, climbing over the rocks and into the cave.

The first thing he saw was the giant mass of white fur curled up in a corner, its long tail wagging happily.

Just as Mako let out a sigh of relief, he heard sniffling. Was Korra crying?

"I missed you so much, girl," Korra's soft voice carried through the cave. "You don't think I'm weak."

Mako wanted to protest right then, but hesitated to interrupt. In that moment, Korra continued to confide in her best friend.

"I don't know what else I have to do prove myself. And I don't know what to do with Mako to make him understand."

He stiffened when he heard his name.

"He won't listen to me without getting defensive. He won't let me fight my own fights. He still doesn't trust me."

Mako wanted to shout to defend himself, but realized he would only be making a bad situation worse. He sunk back behind the rocks, hiding from sight. It was true his trust in her had been shaken, but he still cared about her. He needed to sort out his feelings before confronting her. His emotions cooled as he listened to the girl murmur to her pet words he couldn't make out.

She hadn't meant to hurt him. That much was clear. But did it mean she wouldn't inadvertently hurt him again? Could he give his trust to her again?

He left the cave without an answer and without speaking a word to Korra.

Hope everyone has a safe and happy new year! See you next year!

Also, to answer a few question: this fic will be about 15 chapters long. I do post teasers on my tumblr on Thursdays. I have watched and love She's the Man, Mulan, and there will be some Ouran Host Club references coming up as well. I might work in some Hana Kimi if I can, too. I love this genre. :D

Thanks again for your reviews! I love and appreciate every one!