Bolin and Mako arrived around noon the next day pumped and hungry. "It's so nice of Pema of to invite us over for Brunch before the tournament." Bolin smiled, patting his stomach.

"Yeah, but I wonder why Korra didn't I mean she does live with them." Bolin inquired. Mako shrugged, "Beats me, probably catching up with her Guard Friend." I never got to get down to who this 'Guard' is. Mako felt uneasy as they walked into the temple. Korra was seated across Jinora and Ikki, her face flushed and dream like. Happy. It was a new look on Korra and Mako liked but was unsettled by it. Why does she look so… happy?

"Hey Bo, hey Mako." She greeted them smiling. Bolin greeted everyone and sat down next to Rouzan, wetting his lips smelling the meal being cooked. Mako greeted everyone absentmindly having this feeling that her smile wasn't aimed at seeing him or Bolin. Pema came, her hand behind her back as she waddled in. They ate in excited chatter except Korra who was shoveling food her mouth quickly. "Whoa, Korra you hungry or in a rush?" laughs Bolin.

Korra chews, her mouth full, "This sure is great Pema!" She swallows and gets up, "Well I'm going to feed Naga."

Ikki whispers to Jinora who nods knowingly, "tragic really." Rouzan overhears the whisper somehow and chuckles, "It's not even spring time…" He sips his tea as Pema and him discuss Pai Sho and possible baby leans back on his arms, patting his full belly. Mako leans over to Ikki, "what's so funny?"

Ikki claps her hands excitedly but closes her mouth and shakes her head, "Nope! Not saying!"

Jinora gets up, along with Ikki, "Mom, we're going to go play now." Pema nods and the two spies for Mako leave. Mako's uneasiness gets the better of him. New Guard. Happy Korra. Innuendo comments from everybody. What's going on here?

"I'm going to walk around." Mako stands as Rouzan turns to him, "Mako, I hope you enjoy your walk." This guy knows too much.

Mako stuck his hands in his pockets and tugged on his scarf as the cold air bit onto his cheeks. He had feeling he knew why they were all connected but for his selfish reason, he wished they weren't. He hoped for his sake that none of them were related the way he thought they were. The stable came into view and Korra's silhouette. She was wearing a Sentinel's helmet and dodging the uncapped Guard's prying hands. As he neared he could hear what they were saying, "Korra- c'mon please! This isn't funny. It's cold! I'm going to get in trouble." The Guard's voice groaned. "Which one is it? Trouble, cold or funny?"

Mako heard Korra laugh, a pang of jealousy and realization hit him, I have never heard Korra laugh like that. Mako had never seen Korra mess around like that either. His chest eased up to know she was alright but he still felt troubled to know why. The Guard missed again.

"Jeez, Howl, you're such a baby!" Korra took off the helmet and placed it on the Guard, named Howl's, head. As Mako closed in, he stopped, he felt like an intruder interrupting a private scene. He felt jealous and uncomfortable as he watched as Korra smiled up to the Guard. Mako was about to turn when Korra called him, "Oh, hey Mako! This is the guard I was talking about yesterday." The guard turned so smile at Mako.

"Nice to meet you." The Guard doesn't even look at Mako that long because he's saying something to Korra. She grins and tells him, "I'll see you there then. Go back to your post before I get your helmet again." Howl shook his head laughing before trotting over back to the temple. Korra's eyes were a different blue as she watched him go. "Has it always been him?" Mako blurted out.Everything was connected, it seems. And Mako wasn't in it.

Korra's smile faltered, "huh? Watta mean?"

Mako stepped closer, this is ridiculous, "All this time, it's been him huh? Always."

Mako understood finally how Korra must've felt whenever he was with Asami. Did the permanence and infinitive slice at Korra as much as it hit him? He knew Asami was just a girlfriend but he knew he didn't look at Asami as Korra looked at Howl. "Mako, I don't know what you're talking about." She turned around but Mako could see her blush. "We've got a match to go to." It was like a ribbon was pulled out of his grasp delicately. He enjoyed holding that ribbon and almost admitted to love holding that ribbon that annoyed him so. That ribbon brought him to peace in mind with all its spikes. And most of all, He didn't want to let it go.

During the duel

"Council man Tenzin!" Mako and Bolin were done ushering out the citizens and running up to the bending man. Tenzin threw off fleeing equalists with some much anger that it was unnerving. Mako and Bolin looked up to see the last portion of the fight. "She'll break through the glass!" Bolin yelled. Korra flipped the lieutenant off the building as the glass broke out from under her. "SHIT! KORRA!" Mako looked around frantically for a way to save her as she plummeted into the smoky abyss. As Chief Lin Bei Fong snatched Korra up and as they landed Mako was already running. Hugging her and having being hugged by Bolin concluded Mako's train of thought. He cared for Korra deeply. He wouldn't fall back now.

[since they hardly show any previews, so requestss are appreciated at times like these]