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Makorra

Random drabbles set after the end of LoK and before "Korra's Theory". Some parts are toeing that T/M-rating line again, so read at one's own risk.

"Once, after the maybe the third time when they had finally let all that awkwardness of the action itself and other things—Asami; the fact that after three times, this wasn't an "accident"; the aftermath of her final Avatar victory over Amon; Mako's belief that he hesitated because of selfless feelings for and loyalty to Bolin; that they were still teammates; that they weren't dating and doing this whole 'I like' thing by the book—stop being such monumental things...

The Aftermath

Mako had started staying close to the radio whenever he knew she was going to have a press conference. It wasn't like he didn't know what was going on with her or he had really gotten into politics all of a sudden. It was because it seemed like the reporters were better at asking the questions he wanted to ask her himself.

And she always seemed like she was more willing to answer to them than him.

For example, when asked if she would be leaving Republic City and returning to the South Pole or to the other nations and kingdoms now that Amon had been defeated:

"For now, my place is in Republic City," she sounded much more confident than the first time he had ever heard her voice coming through the speaker. "Yes, Amon is defeated, and there are problems that need my attention in other nations. But the Equalist threat isn't over here, and there still isn't equality for both Non-benders and Benders. I can't say my job is done or move on to help others elsewhere until the equality I promised to give here is available to all..."

He could act like he wasn't disappointed in her answer, but he had hoped that he had become more of a reason for her to stay than just politics.

Teammates

They were all re-training now that the Pro-Bending season was starting up again. The Fire Ferrets were going to win the championship this year—that much had been clear. He had plays in his head that they could try out, new formations to test...when he wasn't distracted.

He'd been staring at her a little too hard. It had been hard not to. She had been working out and giving the same energy as him and Bolin, sweating just as hard. Her pelt was gone, tossed aside, and her shirt kept riding up, but he was used to that. It's just...he had looked over at her at one point during the first cool off and kept watching her fan herself by lifting up her shirt, the material rising and falling over and over and over and over and over and overandoverandoverandover again. Brown skin, curves, flat stomach, with a bit of sweat trickling down towards her belly button. And her turning her back to him was even worse because that meant he could see that the particular pair of pants she wore today hung a little lower than usual and that she had dimples right above where her ass began. Her entire body seemed to be glistening with sweat in the ten o' clock sun that was streaming through the windows.

And he had started imagining...things. And then he decided he had to try to change those thoughts because they were dangerous. So he started thinking about dating and taking her out and then getting her back to his room. And her somehow climbing into bed, his bed, and him putting his hands over all the places on her that he could was only able to see—

Okay. Okay. So he was still a hypocrite and even bigger one that Bolin because even though his little brother had liked her and was probably just as aware of her body as he was, he could clearly hand Korra a bottle of water to help her cool off, agree that Toza needed more powerful fans, and not gape at her like an idiot. He, on the other hand, was standing on the other side of the training room, trying his hardest not to turn red, and jumping from thoughts of touching her to dating her to making out with her.

The only thing that was saving him was knowing that no one else could hear his thoughts right now.

Asami

He was staring up from his glass of bubble tea at her reaction, her laughter, in confusion at what did she had meant in asking him why he would tell her he wanted to date Korra before telling Korra herself? "...I figured I should tell you to your face because...you deserve better than to just hear it in the news with everybody else."

And there it was, more or less: him admitting over the last of their dessert that he still felt bad about what had happened, even after all this time—eighteen months and counting.

She sobered and started hitting the side of her ice cream bowl with her spoon, making a slight clanging sound. She was getting her thoughts together. "...What's the point in me holding a grudge when part of me started knowing it was true after a while? And when everybody was secretly rooting for you two?" She reached out to squeeze his shoulder in comfort. She was beautiful as always, but different now that she kept her hair in a side bun, a bit more mature in appearance. Like "The New Asami" that the newspaper always talked about in the Business Section. Restored heiress and rebuilder of the Sato Empire who had a packed schedule, and wore dark-colored dresses or business suits to meetings and impromptu lunch dates.

"I know I never said this because I was mad and hadn't forgiven you yet, but...sometimes, when you and I were a thing, I thought she was a better fit for you. And I know I pointed out physical things a lot, like how you were always ending up beside her and the way you stared at her, but it's more than that. You were always the first or strongest to react whenever something happened to her, or when you guys were just around each other.

"...If I hadn't come along, it probably would have been you two anyway. So just go and make it you two now." He didn't say anything as she put her spoon down and lifted her finger for the check.

Selflessness and Loyalty

"What?"

"You heard me. Don't act like the reason why you and Korra aren't a thing yet is because you're trying to spare my feelings. Because I hate to bring up bad things that happened, but you're a little late. You were the one that told me that it wouldn't be a good idea to date her and then you kissed her. You weren't thinking of me then."

"Bolin—"

Bolin's hand rose to shut him up. "And you don't really have to think about me now. I'm still the most popular Bending Brother," he chuckled. "'Sides, me and Korra wouldn't have worked out; I would've figured out that she liked you more eventually. And then I would've felt bad anyway and she would've felt bad and say she hadn't meant to lead me on. So, just date her—you've got my blessing." The brothers stood in an understood silence for a few moments before Bolin broke the silence once more.

"Plus, you stare at her like an idiot during practice. A lot. She hasn't noticed because you do it when she can't see, but it's bad because I can see it. And Toza saw it too the last time. He wants to bet me that you'll get caught before the first match of the season so I install the new fans in the training rooms, instead of the mechanics. But I'll get fifty yuans if you last for another two months. So make me proud. Win me money." He gave his older brother a slap on the back and walked out, Pabu trailing behind.

Not An "Accident"

Korra had gone shopping recently. And he knew that because he had definitely had gotten her down to her panties a few times before now, and knew what style she liked to wear because it didn't seem to match with her personality entirely well—soft cotton in pastel colors he'd become an expert in recognizing. Like sherbert and rose. However, he had never seen the pair she was wearing right now ever: black and skin-tight, like he could peel them off of her. And they took this shape in the back that he would only continue thinking about if she told him it was the reason why her butt looked even better than usual tonight.

She was staring down at him staring at them, trying to figure out why he wasn't saying anything. "...Do you like them?"

He knew what this meant as far as Korra was concerned: that this change in their relationship, when late-night Equalist riots or training sessions kept her away from the island and in his bed for the night, was no longer an accident. They had skipped another series of steps again; he was aware that dating came before excuses to have sleepovers and sex, and he had shirked his responsibility to make sure the former had come before the latter...Not that he was going to fix that right now...

His hand reached out and made its way to her back and slid down her skin until he reached her new purchase, hooking his finger around the waistband. Korra had teased him once that his temperature rose whenever they were about to...y'know. It must've been true, because he could feel it happening this time.

"...Yeah."

Not by "The Book"

Mako had kissed Korra a lot—a lot—before it dawned on him that maybe he was going about acting on his feelings with her was still wrong. That Korra could and would get frustrated with the fact that what they were was the physical. Like the fact they had had sex a few times now and that every time he wanted to be alone with her, he came to the island, made up some kind of lies, and ended up dragging her somewhere he knew it would hard for other people to find them. All of that for kissing and sex, but no dates. He knew that eventually, things could go south because she could start to feel like he treated her like she was disposable instead of like the girl he liked and chosen over his ex and liked kissing. Like they were a secret still.

Of course, he wasn't good at bringing up things like relationships and dating up out of nowhere, so he waited until the most recent time they had kissed. He had eased into it like always, starting off with pressing his mouth on hers and then getting into it, sucking and pulling on her bottom lip, grabbing her hips. Her lips were soft like always, her arms draped around him, chest pressed against his and little whimpers coming from the back of her throat. She had gotten used to this, which wasn't good because it meant that she could probably would start getting frustrated but wouldn't call him out on it until it had built up and raged inside her—typical Korra style.

"Korra," he had said when they finally, slowly pulled away. "...I've been thinking that we should be dating like couples do—going places. Like the movies or out to eat somewhere. I know I've taken really long to say it to you..."

He had expected her to say something smug or stare at him all wide-eyed because he had confronted the problem early—not smile at him like she was trying not to laugh. "You know what's really crazy is that I thought the same thing sorta. That you'd think I was afraid of going out to places with you because, I don't know...You'd think that I didn't think that other people or newspapers would think you weren't worthy of dating me because I was The Avatar...I guess? Sorta? ...I was going to ask you out tonight, too."

...She had no idea how relieved she had made him.

The End of Monumental Things

This particular series of oneshots were inspired by a line in the first oneshot of this series: "Once, after the maybe the third time when they had finally let all that awkwardness of the action itself and other things...stop being such monumental things..." It just seemed really cool to give life to those things. I tried to make a challenge by keeping each section 500 words at most and 5 paragraphs long, can you tell (hahaha!)?

The hardest part to write was the less section. For some reason, making the moment Korra and Mako date somewhat believable is hard! I guess we haven't really seen it much in the series—I mean, there's lots of sexual tension. Most definitely. Romance, no. Not to mention I did it from Mako's POV.

I hope you enjoyed.