Couldn't figure out how to end this. :/ So yes, this is one of those plot bunny drabbles where you feel like you could make an awesome story with it but don't know how you want to work with it. If that even makes a gluon of sense.

Oh, and thanks for the review ksalxo! I'm trying not to clog things up with author's notes and I can't PM you, so sorry about that. ^^

Korra tilted her head slightly against the dirt wall, curious like the young child she was, as she passed the water in between her fingers. It looped around her fingertips like an endless circle, defying gravity, defying nature itself.

Or at least, that's what their dictator Amon said. He had been in control since Korra was born.

The girl sighed and leaned back on the lumpy, uncomfortable mattress, but she didn't let the water go. Water was so pretty. It glowed sometimes, when she wanted it to, like right now. So pretty…

Why did Amon say it was bad, then? Bending made Korra feel good. It helped her and Mako and Bolin survive all the time, especially in the dark alleyways of Republic City, where benders were persecuted and punished for practicing their element.

But eight-year-old Korra didn't truly realize the severity of this. She just knew that it was her, Mako, and Bolin, and they all used their bending behind the Equalist Police's back in order to get food and water and shelter, even though they weren't supposed to.

They were breaking the rules just by bending. But Korra didn't mind breaking the rules. She didn't really like the Equalists or Amon, if only because they didn't think bending was pretty, but dangerous.

"Korra?"

She lifted her head at the voice and smiled widely when nine-year-old Mako walked in, scarf and all.

"Is Bolin doing any better?" he asked, looking at the seven-year-old earthbender.

Korra deflated a little, sending her circlet of water into their large supply jar with a flick of her wrist.

"He still won't wake up," she told the firebender, bending over the lumpy mattress to look at Bolin, who was sleeping on the other, slightly more comfortable mattress. The younger brother coughed lightly in his sleep.

Mako just stared at his brother for a few moments before sighing and shaking his head. The firebender boy turned around and fixed the tattered white sheets that hid their small home. Mako pulled off his gloves and tossed them onto their tiny, three-legged table, shoved his oversized boots under, and promptly collapsed on the space next to Korra.

She looked at him, surprised. Usually the trio slept on either side of Bolin.

"His sickness—it's contagious," Mako said, not bothering to water it down for Korra; he knew enough to know that he would have to tell her the blunt truth, or else she would go ahead and ignore him anyways.

"It means if we stay near him too much, we'll catch it too, and then none of us can get food and water, and it'll make us vulnerable, so the Equalists can find us and take away our bending," he added in at Korra's look of confusion.

Korra scooted a little farther away from Bolin at this, looking wary.

Mako just sighed again, tucking his face into a half ripped-open pillow and curling up on the mattress they had stolen the month before.

The girl of the trio looked between the two brothers thoughtfully. A question popped up into her mind, and she blinked once, twice before turning to Mako and spontaneously voicing it.

"Mako, why do the Equalists want to take away our bending?"

The firebender boy looked up, surprised.

"I dunno," he said truthfully, sitting up again despite his aching bones. "Maybe they just don't like benders."

"Are they jealous because we can bend?" Korra asked with wide, innocent eyes. "Is that why they took away our mommies and daddies, too? Because they don't like that?"

Mako slowly cocked his head at Korra, blinking once, twice before looking down at his lap.

"Do you think that if we went to the Equalists, they would take care of us?" Mako suddenly asked, foreign doubt and uncertainty seeping into his voice. "They could heal Bolin and maybe we could all be a family, but happier and safer, and you guys won't have to hurt anymore."

"No!" Korra nearly shouted, making Mako and Bolin jump, even though the latter was still asleep.

"No, 'cause then they'd take away our bending and—"

She grabbed Mako's wrist, startling him into making a small ball of fire.

"—how would you feel if you couldn't do this anymore?"

The fire flickered, and Mako stared at it. How would he feel?

Like… a part of him was gone?

That's what the un-benders told him when he asked. They felt empty. Like life had lost its meaning. To Mako, that would be like losing Korra or Bolin. He wouldn't be able to bear it.

"Okay." Mako looked up at Korra with a slight, but rare smile. "I know now."

"Well good!" she said defiantly, and the firebender boy had to suppress a laugh at her expression. "You remember that all the time, 'kay!"

"Yeah."

And Mako would remember that night, that reason for keeping such a secret, until the day benders could roam free once more.