What? Two updates in two days? Lucky bums

ATTENTION! the following chapter contains traces of Makorra. If you do not ship Makorra but wish to continue reading, you are not allowed to lose your sh*t in the comments. This is a hater free zone. You have been warned.

Dedicated to the reader who was wondering how Korra could go from being with Asami to loving Mako again.

Korra was meditating on the deck of the United Forces ship. The sun was setting when they finally entered Fire Nation waters. Their journey had been a smooth three days of sailing, and would be coming to an end in a few more hours. She wanted to try finding Mako through her energy sense one last time before they reached land.

She closed her eyes and exhaled, focusing in on Mako's energy. How it would usually tug at her subconscious more than anyone else's. How it felt like a small flame burning constantly at the back of her mind. How if it had a color, she was positive it would be a gold that matched his eyes.

His eyes.

It had been his eyes that had been what drew Korra in to Mako, far more than his bending skills. Those pools of scorching honey that she used to melt in. How they would soften only for her. How that particular shade of yellow had become her new favorite color.

Korra blinked her eyes open. She frowned and shook her head. She was getting off track. She was supposed to be trying to find her lost friend, not think about their relationship.

Korra took a deep breath and closed her eyes again. She tried to clear her mind of thoughts of Mako and just let her spirit find his. Flashes of their past played behind her closed lids. His eyes, his smile, the way it felt to be folded into his arms, the soft press of his lips.

Korra's eyes flew open. She blew her bangs out of her face and pouted. This wasn't helping. She flopped wearily back into the field of soft grass and threw her arms over her face.

Grass?

It took Korra a moment to register that the surface beneath her was not the hard metal of the ship's deck, but a lush meadow. This must be the Spirit World. Korra sat back up. A man was sitting cross-legged in the grass across from her. A patient smile stretched across his ancient yet timeless face. Korra immediately recognized him.

"Iroh!"

"Welcome back Korra," Iroh's smile grew wider. "What brings you back here so soon?"

"I'm not sure," the Avatar frowned. Was bringing her to the Spirit World her unconscious mind's way of telling her that she couldn't fix this on her own?

"Something is troubling you," Iroh stated.

"It's Mako," Korra said. Iroh nodded understandingly. "He went missing a little while ago, and no one knows where he went. I've been trying to use my energy sense to find him, but I either get nothing or start daydreaming about our past."

"Ah," Iroh mused.

"This is so infuriating! I can pick up everyone else no problem. But every single time I look for Mako," she blew raspberries, "nothing."

Iroh chuckled at the Avatar's frustration. "There appears to be something blocking you from finding your friend."

"Really? What do you think it is?"

Amusement shone in the elders' eyes. "You."

"Me?" Korra asked, bewildered. "What do you mean me? I'm making an effort to find him. Don't you think the block would be on his end?"

Iroh shook his head. "What was your relationship with Mako like?"

Korra blushed, looking down into her lap. "We butted heads a lot. It was fiery and tense," She smiled softly at the memories. "But it was also pretty amazing. I've never felt anything like what I felt with him." She looked back up at Iroh. "I loved him."

Iroh smiled. "And what about now?"

Korra thought for a moment. "It's about the same. We still blow up at each other." She remembered Mako's proclamation at the wedding, how he would always have her back. It made her heart swell. "But I still love him. I will always love him."

Iroh laid his hand on hers. "You are lucky to have a friendship that challenges you like that Korra."

Korra chuckled. "I used to think we were meant for each other."

"Maybe you were."

"What?" Korra asked. She really wished Iroh would just give her the answer instead of making her guess.

"What's blocking you from finding Mako is your inability to admit your connection to him. You were meant for each other Korra. You two are soul mates."

"Wait, what? No! No. I mean, no we're not. Mako and I aren't soul mates. I don't think of him like that. We aren't together anymore. We haven't been romantically involved in years. We're just friends!" Korra rambled, blushing furiously.

Iroh shook his head. "Soul mates don't always have to be romantically involved. But think about your history with him. Whether he knows it or not, Mako has accepted his role in your life. He will be your friend, your guardian, and your support. Lovers come and go. But the Avatar needs someone who means so much more than that."

"But we're so opposite. And we've grown apart," Korra tried to hold her argument.

"Opposite in many ways, but similar in many others," Iroh recited calmly. "Your friend is lost in the same way you once were. You two are more connected than you think. But you have to let go of the regrets or embarrassments you feel about this, because right now your friend needs you."

Korra opened and closed her mouth, trying to come up with a response. Iroh waited patiently, letting the realization sink in.

Korra considered this for a long time before speaking again. "Okay. So if we are soul mates, how come I can't find him?"

"You must not fight it," Iroh said. "Instead of trying to burry those feelings, use them to help guide you to him. Find the string that binds you to each other. Relax. Think about him. Let your heart guide you. Your spirit will follow."

Korra followed his instructions, crossing her legs into Lotus position and placing a hand over her heart. She focused on Mako. Everything he had ever said, everything he had ever done.

"Let your heart lead the way," Iroh's voice floated through her mind.

Korra focused on her heartbeat. She let it pulse in her ears.

A small ember appeared in the darkness. It increased with every beat of her heart. The light grew and grew until there was a blinding flash of familiar gold.

"Mako," Korra breathed

"Korra," Mako jolted up from his sleep. He didn't know what had suddenly woken him, or what had compelled him to say Korra's name.

Mako didn't remember dreaming. He had closed his eyes, than was surrounded by blue.

At first, it was the calculated ice blue of lightning. The electricity had crackled and sparked into fire, the same blue fire he had created. It was soulless and evil, like the man who taught him.

The fire burned at Mako's subconscious, threatening to engulf him. He thrashed around in his sleep, trying to fight off the flames in his mind. The fire had almost won; burning him from the inside out, when suddenly there was a cooling sensation.

It was as if he was lying in the sand by Yue Bay, with the waves gently lapping against the shore. Each swell brought the healing water higher on his body, dousing the wicked flames. When the wave finally reached his head, there was a burst of aqua behind his eyes, and Mako had awoken with Korra's name on his lips.

His chest heaved with heavy breath and his forehead was damp with sweat. Mako rubbed his face and lied back down, staring at the ceiling. What brought this on? He hadn't thought about Korra in months, and now she plagued his dreams.

Mako couldn't go back to sleep. He was too awake. He got up and paced the small room, hoping to burn off his restless energy. On his third treck, Mako tripped over something. He kicked the object out if his way. There was a rustling noise, like paper fluttering. Mako ignored it, continuing his relentless pacing. Something sticking to his foot finally made him stop. Mako peeled it off and froze.

In his hands was a picture of him and his friends. It was taken the day he graduated from the Republic City Police Academy. Mako in uniform with his fathers' scarf tucked into the collar of his jacket, Korra with her arms wrapped around his waist and her head resting on his shoulder, Asami leaning on his other shoulder, and Bolin flashing a thumbs up. Big smiles were painted across their youthful faces. Those were better times. Back when they were a team, a family.

Mako suddenly felt guilty. He had barley thought of his friends since he left for the Fire Nation over a month ago. He didn't reach out to anyone to let them know where he was or if he was alright. It was selfish. This whole thing was selfish. He wasn't helping anyone by running away and messing around with criminals.

Mako realized how much he had distanced himself from the person he once was. He didn't know if his friends could accept him now.

He looked back down at the picture, his eyes lingering on Korra.

For some reason, hers was the only opinion Mako was worried about. It was ridiculous, but he feared what she would think about his little 'adventure'.

Don't mind me and my OTP :D

Emmy