First off, thanks again to everyone for all of the reviews and feedback. I got a request from kmc995 to do a continuation of sorts for the last drabble that centered around the Makorra kiss/subsequent fight in episode five, so instead of the fluffier oneshot I promised, this is coming first. The next one will definitely not be so heavy, that is a garuntee, but I hope you all enjoy this nonetheless.

*Contains major spoilers for episode five, so if you haven't seen it and don't want to know what happens, I'd hold off on reading this. As always, usual disclaimers apply. Read, review, revel in the Makorra agnstiness, whatever floats your boat~

~Sacrifice~

I can't believe I'm doing this.

Mako lingered at the edge of the tiled walkway, hands shoved deep in his pockets, mind in absolute chaos. Golden light spilled out over the path like a reflection over water, illuminating the figure slouched against a pillar at the far end. Just seeing Korra there sent a tidal wave of emotions cascading over Mako, from anxiety to joy to anger, and most of all, guilt.

Their quarter-finals match had been a disaster. It'd been sheer luck that Bolin had come through for them at the last second, otherwise the Fire Ferrets would've been out of the tournament for good. Mako'd been so focused on his argument with Korra before the match that he'd been a sitting turtleduck, and he could tell the Avatar had been no better off.

The three of them barely had a chance to celebrate their victory afterwards before Korra'd disappeared, making up some halfhearted excuse about needing fresh air. Anyone who'd cared enough to pay attention would've noticed she was still pissed off, so while Bolin had dashed off to Spirits-knew-where, Mako decided to follow their teammate outside.

Finding her had been easy enough, but now Mako hesitated, unsure whether seeking her out had been a good idea. He wanted to patch things up with her, ease at least some of the tension between them so they wouldn't have another catastrophe like tonight. But she was stubborn, especially when she thought she was right. He knew the only way their fight would be truly forgotten was if he confessed his feelings for her.

And he didn't like it one bit.

It wasn't that it wasn't true, — he did like Korra, that much he was certain of — but so much could go wrong if he admitted it. There was Asami to consider, who'd been nothing but kind and generous to him since the moment he'd met her. And then there was Bolin. Mako knew for a fact that Korra liked him, and if he told her the feeling was mutual, no doubt she'd run wild with it and want the two of them to be together.

If Bolin found out, it would break his big, loving, all-too-fragile heart.

Just get it over with, Mako. It'll be better for everyone in the long-haul. I hope.

Heaving a sigh, the firebender strode towards the girl with her back to him, footsteps echoing in the silence of the night. His resolve hardened the closer he got to her; they needed to settle this once and for all. No more beating around the bush.

Korra showed no sign that she was aware of his approach, and if she was she chose to ignore him. He halted a few feet away from her, another pang of guilt seizing his chest as he wondered what could be running through her head at the moment.

"We need to talk."

She shifted a fraction to show that she'd heard, but otherwise kept her body facing the waters of Yue Bay, probably to hide her expression from him.

Mako took that as an invitation to continue. "Look, sometimes you can be so infuriating, but I —"

"Save your breath." Korra's voice was low, defeated. She still refused to look at him, but Mako could imagine the dejection that must've been in her eyes; it was enough to make him want to kick himself for being so stupid. "You've already made it clear how you feel about me."

"No, I haven't." Not by a long shot. "What I'm trying to say is, as much as you drive me crazy… I also think you're pretty amazing."

It was almost painful, the way Korra instantly perked up when the words slipped from his mouth. He wanted her to know the truth, and he couldn't deny how his heart skipped a beat when she finally turned to him, hope glittering in that ocean gaze. But some small part of him was screaming sense at him, and it was impossible to quash the feeling that he was betraying his little brother.

"So… you do like me?" The hope was in her tone, too. She wasn't even trying to hide it. Mako wasn't sure whether he wanted to cry or start grinning like an idiot.

"Yes, but…" There was no backing out now. Hopefully Bolin would understand. "I like Asami, too. I don't know, things are complicated. I'm feeling really confused and —"

His speech was cut off by the unexpected pressure of soft lips against his. Mako's entire body froze in place, shock overriding every other emotion as his pulse hammered in his ears.

Gradually, it dawned on him that Korra was kissing him, and a warmth like he'd never experienced before washed over him. It hummed in his chest and seeped into his bones, and suddenly he was kissing her back, his head tilting of its own accord to give them a better angle. Everything else faded out of existence, — his worries, his confusion, everything — until it was just the two of them left in the world, locked in that one perfect moment.

Korra was the first to break away, ending the kiss much too soon for Mako's liking. He blinked open his eyes to be met with two pools of the deepest blue, glittering in the light of the building behind him. Her cheeks were slightly flushed beneath her dark complexion, and he decided rather dazedly that the color looked spectacular on her.

A heartbeat passed in silence, both of them absorbing what had just happened, when abruptly Korra's face fell. Mako needed only a glimpse of the regret darkening her features to realize what she must've seen over his shoulder.

Whipping around, Mako's heart dropped into his stomach when he confirmed his own suspicions. Silhouetted against the golden arena, Bolin stood still as a statue, a bouquet of pink roses in his hands and Pabu on his shoulder. Even at a distance, the hurt in his expression was evident, tears swimming beneath bright green irises.

Before either Korra or Mako had a chance to speak, Bolin spun on his heel and fled, his sobs ringing through the night and piercing his brother like shards of ice.

"Bolin, this isn't what you think!" Mako called desperately, but the earthbender just kept running, the flowers falling from his grip and hitting the ground with a sense of finality.

Mako's breath hitched in his throat as something inside of him shattered into a million pieces.

Fury exploded beneath the firebender's skin, destroying every shred of the happiness kissing Korra had spawned. He rounded on the Avatar, eyes blazing with the fire that threatened to burst from his fingertips. "Great! Look what you did!"

"You're blaming me?" Korra demanded, matching him glare-for-glare.

"You kissed me!" Mako yelled exasperatedly, jabbing an accusing finger in her face. Some dark corner of his mind wondered if he was being unfair in pushing all the blame on her, but in admitting that he was at fault, too, he would only increase the guilt already eating away at him tenfold.

"You kissed me back!"

Rather than give her the satisfaction of a full-on screaming match, Mako simply snarled at her and stormed off, racing in the direction his brother had gone. There were a few places he knew of Bolin might have run to, and Mako resolved to go check those first to see if he could catch up with the earthbender and explain the situation.

He just hoped Bolin could find it in his heart to forgive him.