Still blushing from the entire situation, Mako marched back to the hut they were staying in. Lord knows this will just make things around Korra a thousand times more awkward. When he walked into the hut, he plopped down in a sleeping bad next to Bolin and tried to fall asleep. About a half hour later, Mako heard the footsteps of Korra nearby. She slipped into her sleeping bag and fell asleep. Why was he such an idiot?
In the morning Mako and Korra didn't say a word. At breakfast, Mako sat as far away from Howl and Korra as he could. Thankfully, neither of them were bringing it up. Howl had been very understanding, and wasn't talking to Mako about it at all. He was still being super friendly, just like always. Korra just wasn't saying anything. She'd give a nervous glance over to him every now and again.
After breakfast, Korra and her parents went out for some quality time. Katara was doing something in the healing huts so it just left the three boys to themselves. Mako didn't know if he'd ever felt so awkward. Luckily, Bolin filled the silence.
"So Howl, you're a guard here?" Bolin asked, trying to fill the void.
"Yes, I started when I was 16. It's an...interesting job," he smiled.
"Interesting? How so?" Bolin asked. Mako was starting to get interested, maybe he would say something about Korra.
"It's just dealing with some of the people. A lot of the guards give me a hard time because I'm kind of young," Howl sighed.
"I see. Sooo how was Korra when she was younger," Bolin said. It was like he read Mako's mind.
"Korra? Well, she was a bit of a trouble child. They thought it would be a good idea to have someone around her age to guard her. I mean, I wouldn't want some creepy old man watching me all day. But, after a couple of years, I was to join the other guards. Every night. Every freakin' night, she would come up to the watch tower and throw my helmet out the window," Howl laughed at the memory. Mako kind of felt bad for thinking so lowly of Howl.
"So, what about you guys? Pro-bending huh? I listen to you guys on the radio all the time!" Howl smiled. "Are they working on the arena?"
"Yeah, they're fixing that place up. Not sure if I'll be doing it though, I'd like to find a better paying job," Mako said as nonchalantly as he could.
"Yeah, times are tough, can't say I blame you. It's a bit of a gamble staying as a pro-bender," Howl agreed.
After a few minutes of discussing favorites to win, other than the fire ferrets of course, and what training was like, Mako started to feel good about being around Howl. He wasn't so bad after all.
"I'll be right back you guys, nature calls," Bolin smirked before sauntering to the bathroom. The sea prunes from last night must have been bothering him.
Sitting there alone with Howl made Mako feel bad. He felt compelled to apologize for last night's...incident.
"Look-" Mako began.
"I'm really sorry about last night. I that was a little awkward for all of us," Howl cut in. He wasn't mad at all?
"Yeah, that was...yeah," Mako said, his face turning red as he remembered Korra's curvy and toned body. No, no. Stop it, Mako.
"I'm sure you were just looking for her," Howl smirked.
"Yeah, thanks for understanding," Mako sighed. He felt kind of bad about being so rude. If he really was Korra's fiance, he was going to have to get used to him.
"So, uh, how long have you and Korra been...you know...together?" Mako asked awkwardly.
"What do you mean by...together?" Howl asked. He didn't seem to get what Mako was implying.
"W-well, you know. The whole necklace thing-" Mako began.
"W-wait I think you're-"
"OK guys, Bolin's back! Please, hold back your cheers," Bolin yelled interrupting whatever it was Howl was going to say. Mako and Howl both shot Bolin a look. Bolin, however, didn't seem to notice.
"Anyways, I'm starving. Are we meeting up with Korra for lunch?" Bolin smiled. It was nearly impossible to get mad at Bolin. He was such a loveable guy.
"Yeah, she said something about the four of us having a picnic," Howl stated.
"But, it's freezing out," Bolin complained.
"You'll be alright, just dress accordingly," Howl laughed.
Korra carried the basket of leftovers to where she told the boys to meet her. They had so much leftover from the feast her mother and master Katara had prepared. Last night. Boy, that was...something. Korra really couldn't think of way to put her feelings of last night. The guy she had the biggest crush ever on, saw her in her underwear. Well, it wouldn't have been that bad if Howl hadn't rushed in. It made the situation look like something completely different than it really was.
When Korra reached their meeting place, the boys were already there setting up. Everyone seemed to be getting along, even Mako and Howl. Korra felt a huge wave of relief pass over. The last thing she wanted was her best friends hating each other. They must have talked things over.
Korra walked over to her friends and sat down on small table Howl had set up.
"Alright guys, this is pretty much just a bunch of leftovers. I can't cook and I'm not going to pester anyone to do it-"
No matter how hard Mako tried, he couldn't seem to get that image of Korra out of his mind. Mako's face began to get hot and he could only assume he was blushing.
Korra stopped her rambling and noticed her fire bender friend's red face.
"Mako, you alright? Your face...it's kind of red," Korra asked. He wasn't getting cold was he?
"Uh yeah, um I'm just a little cold," Mako lied. He was a pretty bad liar, but Korra didn't seem to notice.
"Are you sure? You were all red last night too. You're not sick are you?" Bolin asked. Way to make things awkward.
"Uh..anyways, got any steamed sea prunes?" Mako coughed. Why did Bolin have to bring this up now? He could hear Korra laughing at him. He felt his face getter hotter and hotter "Korra stop!"
"Sorry," she giggled and she covered her mouth. Howl looked as if he was holding back a laugh as well.
Korra had never seen Mako so flustered. Well, except for the time she told him to admit his feeling for her. But, that was a different kind of flustered. Korra gave him teasing look. He looked like he wanted to say something but instead he just pulled his scarf over his nose. Bolin just shrugged at his brother's sudden fit and grabbed as much food out of the basket as he could.
After a long day of shopping, eating, and even penguin sledding, the trio headed back to their hut to get some rest.
"Ah crap you guys. I think I left my new parka at the restaurant. Korra, you mind if I take Naga back to go get it?" Bolin asked. Korra happily complied and lent him her parka. Even if it was only a few miles away, the south pole was still freezing, and Korra didn't want her friend to get sick.
Once Bolin left, the air seemed thicker to Mako. Even if Korra didn't feel it, he was still feeling bad about last night.
"Korra, look. I'm...really sorry about last," Mako managed to say.
"Oh...uh yeah...that was um. I mean, it's ok," Korra said. She wasn't expecting him to bring it up.
"I was going to apologize for yelling at you earlier, but then that happen," Mako said, rubbing the back of his neck. He wasn't very good at this.
Korra didn't say anything in response. She just nodded her head in acknowledgment. She took her parka off, revealing her tightly fitted blue shirt. Mako noticed how it hugged her curves in a very complimenting way. Before he could stop himself, Korra gave him a look.
"Uh...do you need something?" Korra asked awkwardly. Mako noticed he was staring at her taking her clothes off.
"Oh uh no, just lost in thought," Mako croaked. He quickly looked away, but he could still feel Korra's confused gaze.
"Ok, whatever city boy," Korra muttered to herself. She reached behind her neck and took the necklace off. Many of the women slept with their necklaces on, but it was very uncomfortable for Korra. She never really was one for jewelry, but this had sentimental value.
"So, Korra. Um...how long have you and Howl been-" Mako started, wanting to get to the bottom of the whole necklace thing.
"I'm back!" Bolin shouted, once again interrupting Mako's question. "Turns out, someone grabbed it on accident, but they returned a few minutes later. My money was not wasted!"
"Well that's good news," Korra yawned. "What were you going to ask Mako?"
Bolin looked over at Mako, curious to what he was going to say, "N-nothing...I forgot."
"Ok," Korra said as she yawned again. "I'm exhausted, see you in the morning."
"Yeah," Mako said, slightly irritated. He sighed into his pillow. He heard Bolin slip into his sleeping bag. Bolin was obviously tired too because, within five minutes, he heard loud snores coming from his brother.
Mako sighed one more time before falling into a light sleep.