"I'm happy."
No she wasn't.
Korra should be happy.
She defeated Amon.
She could finally airbend.
She activated the Avatar state.
She had a boyfriend that truly cared for her.
So she should be happy that she got everything that she had wanted. Korra should be happy that she was in Mako's arms right now.
She should be happy.
But she wasn't.
There was something….wrong. Korra never had relied much on her instincts – that much was certain. Usually she was oblivious to everything but the obvious. It wasn't that she was stupid, she just tended to be… preoccupied with more immediate things. Like focusing on her airbending lessons (Tenzin insisted that despite the fact she had unlocked her ability to airbend, she still had not yet mastered the element). Or, you know, her blossoming relationship with Mako. Her boyfriend.
Boyfriend.
Korra leaned into her sleeping boyfriend's chest. The word was so strange, even to think about. She stilled her breath and listened carefully to the dull pulse of his heart.
Mine
Mine
Mine
A small smile spread across her lips. It was creepy, but she liked to look at him when he slept. His face looked so serene, almost childlike. In this rare moment, Mako looked completely peaceful.
And vulnerable.
Her smile slowly twisted into a mischievous grin. Without warning she launched herself on him. His eyes shot open in shock.
"Korra – MMPH."
She covered his mouth with hers, grinning at his wide-eyed reaction.
"Morning sunshine."
Mako let out a surprised laugh. He gripped the back of her neck and drew her head back towards his lips.
"This girl is crazy." he muttered, his grin matching her own. She kissed him again, and he responded by deepening the kiss, his tongue gently slipping into her mouth. One of Korra's hands began to wander up his shirt.
Instinctively, Mako broke the kiss, and he pulled back. Korra looked at him, confused.
"What's wrong?"
He did not meet her eyes. "We…we can't do that here. What if Pema hears us?"
Korra shrugged, "She's busy cooking dinner. She won't hear us."
Mako simply shook his head and gently pushed her off of him. "No." he told her quietly.
The rejection stung. He had been like this ever since…well, ever since she had told him that she was a virgin. Mako had insisted that he wanted to make her first time "perfect". Honestly, Korra could have cared less. Sometimes Mako could be more of a girl than she was. She didn't care about when or where – she wanted him now. But he kept telling her to wait. It was annoying. Mako should have known by now that patience was never her strongest trait.
Korra furrowed her brows at him. "When, then?"
He kept his back to her, "Oh, I don't know Korra. Maybe when we aren't in a place where the entire airbending population won't be able to hear us?"
She rolled her blue eyes and flopped down on the bed, glaring up at the ceiling, "Tenzin is still in Republic City. And Bolin keeps the kids busy. Why not now?"
Mako turned, glancing at her, "What about Katara?"
Korra sniggered. It was true, Katara heard everything, and had absolutely no qualms about embarrassing the young couple in front of everyone. The old waterbending master got a kick out of making Mako blush.
"She would probably congratulate you. In front of Tenzin. With cake. One that said 'Congratulations on taking the Avatar's virginity (even though I did it first)! Flameo, hotman!' Or something like that."
Mako winced at the thought, "You're joking, but she probably would."
It was true. There was nothing more Katara enjoyed than making Tenzin and Mako, feel as uncomfortable as possible. She loved to embarrass the two stoic benders whenever possible. It was hilarious.
Korra looked at her boyfriend. He was stringing his red scarf around his neck. "Where are you going?"
"I'm just going to check on Bolin. He's probably outside with the kids, freezing his butt off. I'll be back soon."
"You better."
He looked at her, eyes softening, "Hey," he murmured, stroking her cheek with one hand, "Soon, okay?"
Korra smiled, "Promise?"
Mako nodded, "Promise."
He left.
Korra sighed and shut her eyes. There it was again. The feeling that something was wrong. What was it?
Her stomach growled. Food. Yes, that would be a good distraction. Korra rolled out of the bed and made her way to the kitchen.
They had all been staying in the water tribe for a few months now. The White Lotus had insisted that the Avatar had a few more duties to complete before she returned to Republic City. Tenzin had agreed with them; she needed a rest before she returned. Bolin and Mako had agreed to stay with her to keep her from getting lonely.
While it had been a pleasant vacation, Korra longed to return to the city. It had been nice to see her parents and Master Katara, yes, but she missed everything about Republic City. The pro-bending matches, Satomobiles, Air Temple Island.
Korra sighed. Soon enough she would return.
Opening the kitchen door, she was greeted by a startling sight. Pema sat at the table, head in her hands, shoulders shaking uncontrollably. At the sound of Korra's approach, she lifted her head. Her eyes were red and puffy.
"Tenzin…" she croaked, "He…he was kicked off the Council…"
Korra's eyes widened, "What? Why?"
Pema struggled to get the next words out, her body still quaking with sobs, "He objected to some of the new laws…someone thought he was a threat. They 've replaced him with Shin."
Shin. Korra frowned. She remembered a rather annoying acolyte on the Air temple who was constantly buzzing around Tenzin. He had replaced him? How?
She shook off the thought. Right now, Pema needed her. Korra embraced her shaking figure. "I'm so sorry, Pema. I'm sure that there must have been some kind of misunderstanding."
The tired woman shook her head, "That's not all…he's disappeared. Right after Hiroshi Sato's trial. Just –gone. Completely."
Pema looked at her, and for the first time Korra realized how much she had aged.
"Lin…she was investigating the Air Temple. She sent me this…she found something in our bed – it's-" She couldn't bring herself to continue. Pema thrust the papers at Korra.
Korra looked at the photograph in her hands. She froze, her appetite immediately disappeared at the hideous sight.
It was a…body. Or, at least it used to be a body. It was gruesomely disfigured – bones jutted out at unnatural angles. As if it had been starved to death. It's clothes – Korra felt nauseous - they were Airbending clothes. And the face –
Korra's breath caught in her chest.
The corpse wore Amon's mask.
"Impossible." she whispered.
Then her eyes focused on the blurred background of the photograph.
The walls donned a simple message inked with blood:
Missed me?
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
So. I wrote Makorra. How in the seven hells did this happen? I'm just kidding. I have nothing against Makorra shippers . But just a warning for future reference – this will be mainly Tahorra based. A very one-sided, darkly portrayed Tahorra. Anyways, I already have half of the next chapter written. I hope to have it up soon! And, don't worry – there will be more Tahno soon, I promise!
Oh, and I really enjoy the idea of Katara constantly making innuendos to embarrass Mako. If there is one thing I want in season two, it is Perverted!Katara.
Thank you for taking time to read. Again, reviews are nice if you have the time. If not – then thank you anyways!