restless

Mako knew Korra was a restless person. She radiated energy no matter where or what she was doing. She never seemed to stop moving or thinking or being and he couldn't help wondering if this was just an inherent part of being the Avatar. He'd grown up with this weight on his shoulders: the raising of Bolin, their survival. But he couldn't imagine living with HER burden. The fate of the world rested on the Avatar. She couldn't afford not to be restless.

The moon was high and full. A chill went through him at what it represented. If Tarrlok was such a powerful blood bender, what could have happened to Korra if it had been a full moon. The thought worried him more than he was willing to admit. He wondered if they'd been careless taking on the Equalists themselves. If they hadn't tried to fight outside the law then maybe he and Asami and Bolin wouldn't have been arrested. Then Korra wouldn't have confronted Tarrlok. He wouldn't have kidnapped her. None of this would have happened.

But he couldn't dwell on these facts. He didn't survive eighteen years of his life by dwelling on what he could no longer change. He could only move forward.

Korra had a favorite spot for reflection on the island. He'd noticed it weeks ago, before this all happened. She'd sit out on the cliff. Sometimes she would meditate, but it wasn't very effective so she mostly sat out staring at the water. Occasionally she would cry, though it was a rare sight and Mako didn't relish it. It was a painful thing for him to watch because Korra was so… Korra. Confident and strong and fearless and sometimes he forgot she was a seventeen year old girl. It was so easy to forget.

He approached her slowly. She seemed to be meditating, her hands joined in her lap and her head held high, towards the moon. The scar on her cheek was still bright and shiny. It served only to remind him that he wasn't able to help her that night. It bothered him more than he would probably ever admit.

"I can hear you breathing, cool guy." She said. There was a slight smile on her lips, but she didn't open her eyes.

He sat down next to her, a smirk playing on his face. "Clearly you're very deep in meditation."

"Haven't you heard? It's what I'm best at." Korra stated sarcastically, her posture deflating. She blew some strands of hair out of her eyes and shifted to wrap her arms around her knees. "So what are you doing out here?"

Mako shrugged. "Watching you."

Korra startled a little but recovered quickly. "That's not creepy."

Mako pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "I just—I noticed you come out here a lot at night. I wanted to check on you because… I just want to make sure you're okay." The words stumbled out in an uncertain rhythm. He couldn't really look at her and he hated that but it couldn't be helped.

Korra's face softened and she unconsciously touched the scratch on her face. "I'm okay, Mako. But thanks for checking up on me." She paused, studying him a long moment.

"So you can't sleep either then?" He shook his head. He wondered, very briefly, if he wasn't just as restless as she was sometimes.