Of course Mako was enraged when he found out that Meelo was taken to a heavily guarded fire nation prison; but he quickly cooled off. He had that kind of aloof personality that allowed him to easily create lightning. Although, he had never created lightning in front of Team Avatar, but he never really needed too. Zuko was telling the story of Meelo the great fartbender. He was still gawking at the keen ability of the 5 year old. He moved like a bender, but he just couldn't figure out why. The last couple of days back at the air temple weren't that fun for Mako, he looked at Katara and she smiled he smiled back. Flashback…..
"So who is this Korra girl, I've never seen her in the south or north pole." Katara said glaring at Mako.
"Ummmmm" Mako had to think of something vague and true quickly. "She grew up in the south pole."
"I grew up in the south pole." Said Katara with an emphasis, pointing out his lie.
"What I meant was….. she's a waterbender…..so ummmm." He couldn't say that she was the avatar, "Her parents wanted to keep her safe, they kept her secluded from anyone. She had never been out of the South Pole in her life, until she ran away. And that's…. How we met."
"Mhmmmm" said Katara glancing at Toph. Who looked back at her assuredly, he was telling the very vague truth. Mako breathed, He wished that there would be no more questions. Katara opened her mouth as if to ask something but she was interrupted.
"Mako," said Jinora."Has anyone seen Meelo?"
"He might've gone fishing with Sokka and Zuko." Katara said simply.
It took a couple seconds before Jinora gasped and pulled Mako aside. "What?" he asked.
"This is no ordinary fishing trip. Gran-Gran told me…. This is a rescue trip to the boiling rock prison in the fire nation!"
Mako jerked out a big burst fire. He failed Korra, He failed the Kids, and He failed Himself. He sat down and ran his hand through his hair. Jinora simply comforted him, while he glanced at Team avatar, still in shock from Mako's outburst of fire. Jinora barely flinched. "It's okay, remember how Meelo took out those equalists, I'm sure he'll be fine."
Mako settled himself. He looked up to see Katara glaring at him. She hated fire. She hated firebending. It brought back those horrid memories for her. She didn't believe Mako's story one bit. Toph might've believed him. But he could be like Azula. A good liar, Like most firebenders. Mako walked up towards Katara and said "you may not believe me, but it's the truth about my parents. I lost both of them. The only person I had left is my brother. I had to grow up with no home, or no one to take care of us. I could only take care of him."
Katara became enraged "So where is your precious brother now?" Mako froze, Bolin, He missed him so much. "Did you get tired of him always in your way and just had to kill him for being an earthbender? And that girl Korra, did you just lose control with her too?"
She had gone too far. Mako wasn't a person for strong feelings but this time he couldn't hold back the tears. He would never kill Bolin, ever in his whole life .He loved Korra so much, the thought of killing her appalled him. He stalked off knocking down a pillar with such force it crumbled.
Katara gasped. She wasn't fond of Mako, but she had really gone too far. She looked at Jinora and Ikki. Looking at her with a certain shamefulness. She had just lost it. She hadn't felt so bad before. She ran after him, she had to make it up. "Mako, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to go that far."
"You didn't mean to go that far, doesn't mean you take it back." Said Mako, with a solemn attitude.
"I do take it back. I….. I just…." She couldn't find the words "The fire nation has done so much, and I'm not quick to trust. I've been betrayed before and I didn't want the same to happen. Some people think I'm paranoid but…"
"You're just being safe." She looked at him "Yeah… I know the feeling." Katara came up beside him and sat down.
"I'm so sorry Mako. I understand what it is to lose someone you love, and then to hold on to the one thing you still have left." She said gripping her necklace "I'm sure that your brother is still out there. And that girl….Is really lucky, if she has someone like you looking after her. The way that you care for those kids really means that you're a trustworthy guy. It doesn't matter that you're a firebender , if I can trust you."
Mako smiled; oh how he wished those words had come out of Korra's mouth. "You remind me of her." He said, "You remind me of Korra. Sometimes we would fight and she would get angry like you just did. But right now it feels like she will never accept me."
"I mean she'll come around in a while, it's not like she won't because I did. And then she has too, cause if she didn't, then it would be good." Mako looked confused.
"What I'm trying to say is that I accept you for being a firebender." That was it, it had clicked. He was finally accepted.
End…
Things had finally worked out. That night they all sat around the fire telling tales. Everyone was back together in harmony. The children laughed and played. Some people gave bending demonstrations. Even Mako shot a lightning bolt into the air. Everyone was getting along except for Zuko and Katara.