Author's Note: Okay, here is the Mako POV... and I think I managed to lose steam in there somewhere. Sorry guys! Let me know what you think, either way. Suggestions, critiques, general gushing is okay. Flaming is not. Okay, ookkkkaaaayyyyy!
You don't have to protect me, she'd said. He'd thought about it a million times since that day. Practically every time he saw her. It drove Mako crazy. With that one sentence she'd managed to force herself past his walls like she did with anything in her way, breaking them down and sweeping the completely out of her way.
The worst part wasn't how much he thought of her. It was how he thought of her. She was his. And only his. Even Bolin stepped into that deadly territory, crossing some boundary by simply being his open, flirtatious self. This wasn't how things were supposed to be. Not after Mako had spent his whole life for his younger brother.
For now he could only hold her at arm's length. She wasn't what he needed. What he needed was his life in order and his head clear. Being with her was the farthest thing from that.
So why had he agreed to this? She'd come up to him right after a practice match (her hair was mussed, cheeks flushed, and a fire in her eyes that he absolutely loved) and asked if he would practice with her. Well, the avatar had just… he couldn't say no. Before he'd even thought it through he was agreeing, seizing the chance to be alone with her.
That was another reason Mako didn't need her. She made him stupid, ruined any attempts at rational thinking.
Either way, he said yes and only thought later. Now, a day later and just early enough for the streets to still be clear, he was in a training room with the waterbender. When he'd strolled in her whole face had lit up and his heart did this odd stutter. Her dimple popped into being as she grinned. "Hello, Korra."
"Hey, Mako," she said and folded her arms over her chest… just under her breasts. He felt his cheeks flush slightly and quickly turned away. "Ready to get started? I already warmed up, so you may wanna do that, first…" She trailed off and he wondered if she'd noticed how awkward he was acting.
Mako knew it wouldn't matter if he stretched or not. In fact, doing that would just make this even worse… So instead he looked at her and said, "Or… we could just… start!" With a grunt he swung his foot around in a blazing arc.
Korra barely blocked with her wrist and swung around to slam her fist into his back. The firebender gasped and drew back, pulling his arms into his chest. Suddenly it didn't matter how he felt about Korra. The only thing that mattered was their sparring, the dodging of punches and kicks.
Before long, sweat was rolling down his back, making his white shirt cling. He was hot and tired already. She really was an amazing bender but Mako had been training as a pro-bender for years and he still had a few tricks up his sleeve. When she had just thrown a punch, he took advantage. Spinning to dodge and managing to slam his forearm into her back she went flying and barely managed to regain her feet. From a safe distance away, he watched the avatar take up her stance again…. And was distracted by her blue eyes lingering on his chest and biceps. Not in the way an opponent looks, either.
Something in him had loosened with the hard workout. However he felt about her he couldn't resist teasing. So, straightening, he pulled off his shirt and enjoyed the slight blush that crept onto her cheeks when she noticed she'd been caught ogling. "Enjoying the view, Avatar?"
"Please," she said and shrugged out of her own form. "Don't get too full of yourself, Hotman."
Any questions he could have asked (Hotman? What era was she in?) were silenced when she untied the knots that held up her pelt and let it fall before stripping off her shirt. He had to swallow at the sight of Korra standing there in her bindings. She was all lean, tone muscle and dark skin.
"Well, are we going to stand here all day?" Her smile was cocky, one that both annoyed and captivated him at the same time. She was already sinking back into her stance, ready to start. Ready to win. And he wasn't ready to let her.
Mako shook his head and waited for her to take the first blow. He used his experience and height to his advantage. In one quick move he was behind her, knocking her off balance before sweeping her into his arms.
This hug was different from the one they'd shared at the pro-bending Tournament. Then he'd been able to pass it off as being ecstatic, caught up in the moment. Now he could only wonder what was wrong with him. Why was he drawn to the one thing that made him unable to care for his brother? Why did it have to be her that felt this good in his arms? And, why, in Agni's name, would he want to let her go right now, with their bodies pushed together as they were?
With a frustrated grunt he let go of here, nearly pushing her away in his confusion. Later he'd wonder how he could ignore the look of rejection and pain on her face, her beautiful face, and walk out. But he did. And he also knew the answer. He'd said it before. She was The Avatar and he was an idiot.
