Korra and Mako watch Prince Wu shuffle off towards the dance floor, the funny man singing to himself with a goofy grin on his face. The Avatar and her friend then look back at one another, each with a slight smirk upon their lips. As they find themselves staring into each other's eyes, though, their amusement at the funny prince quickly fades, to be replaced with the somber realization that this is the first real chance they'd had to talk since the kidnapping at the restaurant, all those days ago. It's their first opportunity to talk alone since Korra's return after her reclusive disappearance and three years of shutting him out.
Neither can find the words to speak. Yet, both feel like they need to say so much.
Korra stares into his hazel eyes, then lowers her gaze until she inevitably takes in the hurtful sight of his wounded arm. The healing will take time, she knows, and it tears her up inside to know that he was injured so badly because of a problem that she had allowed to happen. If she hadn't taken so long to return to the world, if she had been able to get past her problems more quickly, Kuvira would never have conquered the Earth Kingdom and caused so much death and destruction.
As the Avatar lifts her gaze back to his, her heart twists further with the guilt she feels for shutting him out for those three years. She still loves him, even more than when they first became a couple. Throughout her convalescence, she had read and reread every letter he wrote her, yet she could never muster the strength to reply. Words failed her then, as they do now. She still feels like an absolute failure. What she and Asami had confessed to one another in their letters makes her feel even worse as she looks at the man who still means everything to her, just as much as Asami does.
While the woman he loves stares so silently at him, Mako can only watch her, trapped in his own prison of remorse and regret. He feels like a fool for how he had completely mishandled his botched relationships with both Korra and Asami. But all the same, he's hurt and angry at the young woman standing before him for not writing to him for those three years.
Still, his feelings for her haven't changed or dulled. No, if anything, he is even more in love with her.
What's worse, he feels the same way for Asami. Just as with Korra, he's fallen even more in love with her than when they first met. What kind of an asshole does that make him, he wonders, to love two women so deeply and yet have hurt them both so much?
As the seconds slip by and the silence starts to grow awkward, Mako clears his throat and tries to force a smile, only being partially successful. "So, ah," he begins hesitantly, suddenly thinking of a way to break the ice, "it's pretty amazing, isn't it?" Korra furrows her brow in confusion as Mako's smile now starts to bloom in earnest. "How everything turned out okay, in the end?" The beautiful woman standing next to him blinks a few times, still not following him, lost in her own sea of despair for what she had allowed to happen.
Stepping closer to her, he smiles widely and gestures out at the wedding reception party they stand on the edge of, the area before them filled with people laughing, dancing, and just being happy. He explains, "just a few days ago, an army and a giant mech were rampaging through the city, causing death and destruction." After a brief pause, he adds, "now look out there." She gazes out at the crowd as he indicates. Mako watches her as she studies into the joyous scene in silence. He points out, "people are safe and happy. The threat is over, we're rebuilding, and you opened another portal to the Spirit Word." The young woman continues to silently study the joyful crowd, her face somber as she considers his words.
"You made all this happen, Korra," he tells her, quietly and earnestly, watching her face as she takes in the blissful, peaceful wedding celebration. "The world is better off, because of what you did." The young woman continues to gaze at the scene before them, then she turns her head to look up into his eyes. She stares at him, then sighs heavily, her gaze falling to the floor, shaking her head.
"I couldn't have done it without the help of everyone else," she tells him sullenly, protesting further, "and if I hadn't disappeared for three years, Kuvira's rampage would never have happened". Mako winces at her self-deprecating response. Her gaze lifts to take in the sight of his wounded arm, adding, "and that wouldn't have happened to you…"
With a sigh, he wraps his one good arm around her shoulders and pulls her close, hugging her as best as he can. Korra sighs heavily, leaning in against him while wrapping her arms around his waist, squeezing tightly while being mindful of his injured arm. The last thing she wants to do is cause him further pain while he's comforting her for her failures.
"That wasn't your fault, Korra," he protests, hugging her to him. "None of it was."
She doesn't agree, but she also can't summon the energy to argue, either. Sensing her refusal to accept his words, he sighs heavily, then presses his lips to her forehead. When she feels him kiss her, she can't help but close her eyes and smile. As confused as she is about how she feels about both him and Asami, she does still love him. For this brief, fleeting moment, she can at least enjoy the thought that maybe he still loves her, too, in spite of everything that happened.
The two linger in their embrace, the noise of the party filling the void of their silence. Korra takes comfort in the strength of his arm about her shoulders, trying to ignore and forget everything else. Her heart is heavy with regret for all the times they hurt each other and how it all went so wrong. She suffers with her complete and utter confusion about what to do about Mako and Asami both, and she cringes inside at her fear about what the future holds, with how much work she now has to do as Avatar, to clean up her own mess. Her arms tighten around Mako's waist, squeezing him to her. Lost in her own world, she forgets to consider his wounded arm, the sudden closeness causing him grunt in pain.
"Oh!" she cries out, pulling back enough to look up at him remorsefully, though he keeps his good arm wrapped about her shoulders, preventing her from going too far away from him.
"I'm sorry," she quickly apologizes, looking up into his eyes.
Mako smiles and shakes his head. "It's okay, Korra," he tells her softly, pulling her back to him again, hugging her tightly. The young woman hesitates for a moment, but then she melts into his embrace again, unable to resist. Again she tightens her arms about him, this time taking more care to be mindful about his wounded arm.
How she'd missed this since they broke up. How she'd missed him these past three years. Breathing in deeply, she takes in his scent as she rests her head against his shoulder. She sighs happily, closing her eyes. As wonderful as this is, she yet feels an undercurrent of misery that churns in her stomach. Thoughts of Asami hover around in her mind, spoiling her contentment with guilt.
Sensing the tension within her, Mako asks quietly, "how about we get away from the crowd and go and sit outside?" She hesitates, then again pulls back just enough to look into his eyes. Looking back at her, he can see her hesitation and the conflict written clearly across her face, which he simply ascribes to their breakup and the lengthy silent treatment. Smiling warmly at her, he asks gently, "maybe you could tell me about what you went through for the last three years?" Her jaw clenches and her brows knit together as she feels the knife of her guilt twist at his words.
Wincing as he realizes the folly what he just did, he panics and quickly amends, "I,uh, I'm sorry! I shouldn't - you don't …"
"It's okay," she quickly interrupts him, leaning in to hug him tightly. "You deserve to hear."
He smiles happily as he wraps his arm around her again, squeezing her to him. He doesn't move, he just enjoys her closeness, the scent of her hair as he rests his cheek on her head, the feel of her body against his. Spirits, how he's missed her. The young man continues to linger with one of the women he loves for a few more moments, neither of them wanting to end this precious moment. The din of the crowd fades in their ears as each focuses more on the sound of the other's breathing and the warmth of their nearness.
Finally, Mako starts to step away. "Let's go," he says, meeting her gaze with a warm smile as she looks up at him. His hand slides across her shoulders and down her arm. She reluctantly releases her hold on him and he captures her hand in his. "I want to hear everything," he tells her affectionately, staring deeply into her blue eyes. The young woman smiles gently back at the man she loves, squeezing his hand in hers. She sighs happily and nods, allowing him to lead her away. They walk around the perimeter of the crowd as they party roars on, with everyone else oblivious to the couple.
Everyone except for the dark haired young woman who is sitting at a table about ten yards from where Korra and Mako been standing, that is. Asami had been watching them both, with crossed arms and one knee over the other, ever since the Earth Prince walked off. Her brow furrowed deeply while she watched the scene play out, her lips turned down slightly in a frown. The sight of the two being so tender together had twisted her gut in an all-too familiar and very nasty blend of both envy and jealousy. Yet, at the same time, she had felt a measure of contentment to see the two people she loves most in this world find comfort with one another. She had seen the hurt on their faces before they embraced, then watched as the closeness of one another lessened their pain. The entire time, she sat still and watched, her mind a tumultuous storm of conflicting emotions, her heart wrenching with anguish, longing, and frustration.
Watching the two walk off and away from the party, the young heiress stares after them in silence. Her frown deepens as they disappear. She's been here before, more than once, and it hurts even worse now. What she and Korra had shared in their letters makes the knife of betrayal twist all the more sharply.
Something has to change, she thinks. The way she and Mako and Korra keep hurting each other like this must stop. Her mind turns the problem over and over as she struggles with her options, all of them bad. She glances over to see the newly wedded couple dancing excitedly in the middle of the floor, Julie and Varrick so very happy together. A sharp pang of envy cuts through her like yet another knife.
That's all she wants. To be that happy with the one she loves.
The problem is, she doesn't love just one person. No matter how she tries to fight it, she loves both Korra and Mako, even after everything that happened between them. Her heart sinks as she realizes that will never change.
Sitting in her chair, she watches the happy newlyweds dance and laugh together as their friends dance and talk and laugh around them. Drawing in a deep breath, Asami sighs heavily. She decides right then and there, that enough is enough. Looking away from the joyous sight, she stares off into the distance, thinking and thinking about the dilemma she shares with her two closest friends, her frustration building.
She blinks suddenly as an idea pops into her mind. Her back straightens and her frown dissolves as the thought takes hold. At first, she almost discards it as ridiculous, but then forces herself to consider the option. Slowly, she turns it over and over in her mind, thinking about what it could mean while also considering how difficult it will be. As she ponders her idea more and more, her lips slowly turn up into a smile and her eyes start to fill with hope.
After a little while, she's positively beaming. Her smile stretches wide, with her heart bursting at the possibility. Could this solve everything? She realizes it's an incredible long shot, but what do they have to lose at this point?
Drawing in a deep and relaxed breath, she closes her eyes and decides that's what they have to do. Now, comes the hard part.
The beautiful, shapely young woman uncrosses her arms and unfolds her legs, gently putting her foot down as she gracefully stands up from her chair. She takes one more glance at the happy newlywed couple as they dance so joyfully across the floor, their friends spinning and moving along with the music together. Her smile and determination grow as she looks away, turning to follow after her friends. Silently, she leaves the party, walking after Korra and Mako.