Korra had always been a fast paced, adrenaline-motivated person who hated sitting still. She'd been like that since she learned to walk, and never looked back for anything. That didn't change into her adulthood and when she started to really complete her duties as the Avatar by traveling from place to place, her high energy helped more than she could imagine and she was grateful for it.
But when she became a mother and that energy was needed to keep her little one in check, she had the most bizarre feelings of being tired and worn out all the time. The little boy was a fraction of her size and weight, and yet he could run faster than either she or his father could. At least it seemed like it when he had an entire bag of rice upturned on the kitchen floor in half a second.
She found herself looking forward to the moments where she could sit and relax instead of having to be on the go all the time. Usually she'd last ten minutes before falling asleep to catch up on all the sleep she needed and wasn't getting due to her precious child.
By far her favorite time came when Ryu had his second autumn with them, the first he'd been a baby in arms, but now he was walking around and running through the falling leaves with his father while she trailed behind them, smiling and walking slowly. It was an odd reflective mood, and Mako had picked up on it, letting her be for a while before he came over while Ryu was occupied with the pretty leaves he found.
"Are you alright?" He smiled down at her, his amber eyes alight with happiness. He always looked like the happiest man in the world when he played with Ryu.
"Fine." Korra sighed and rested her head on his shoulder. "I was just thinking it was autumn when we met."
"It was." Mako agreed with a grin, wrapping an arm around his wife while his eyes moved to their son. He never took his eye off of him when they were together. Maybe it was normal parental concern, maybe it was paranoia, but he didn't care, he wanted to keep Ryu safe and never have to grow up like he did.
"It's my favorite time of year." Korra found herself admitting it before she'd entirely processed it. It was true; she loved the autumn, but had never considered it her favorite until this moment. This moment where she and her husband had bundled up themselves and their son and were wandering through the woods of Air Temple Island was perfect.
"Next year it'll be the four of us, right?" Mako's smile widened and he pressed his forehead to hers. "I love you, Korra."
"I love you too." She tugged on his scarf to tighten it around his neck before the short kiss that took their eyes off of Ryu for a second. "Oh, Mako!" She pointed as he'd taken off and Mako sprinted after him to wrestle the little boy away from a 'little boy magnet' –mud. She laughed as he pulled Ryu up quickly, but his little shoes had already been splattered with brown.
"Great, bathtime." Mako turned his son toward him, the frown on his face melting away at his son's laughter.
"Then let him go." Korra laughed. "We've got to clean him anyway."
"Alright." Mako conceded easily, the boy in him wanting to play in the mud too. As soon as Ryu was on his feet again he pounced into the mud, throwing leaves in and stomping at them with his little feet.
When they got home they'd have to clean him up, but for now, in the cool air of autumn, Korra was happy to let their son go. She was thrilled to watch her boys play in the mud. Her boys.