Turning Pages

Summary: Korra and Mako are an unlikely couple, yet it doesn't stop them from being together. They bicker, joke, and live through the good and the bad. They do this because in the end, they know it's going to be worth it.

Ties in with my other story: Mother's Day

Understanding

Korra woke up to footsteps trudging down the hallway outside her room. The young woman glanced at the window, trying to determine how late she slept in that day. She squinted, eyes not yet used to the light emanating from outside. Korra turned her attention back to the footsteps, wondering who would be making that much noise so early in the morning. Getting up from her bed, Korra dragged herself to the door, hands on the doorknob when she heard talking coming from the other side.

"Bolin, stop making so much noise," Korra heard Mako scold; "You're going to wake someone up."

"I'm sorry! I'm just a little nervous," Bolin retorted, anxiousness weaving in and out of his voice.

"We're just going to the cemetery, nothing to be nervous about," Mako grumbled back.

Korra's brows scrunched together, a confused look on her face. She heard more footsteps and decided to get a visual on what was going on. Korra crouched down and opened the door slightly, enough for one of her eyes to look through. There, she saw Bolin pacing back and forth in the living room, fingers tugging at each other. Blue eyes darted to the other side of the living room, and saw Mako tugging his shoes on. At the middle of the living room was a wooden table. On that table were two bouquets.

"Huh? What's that for? And cemetery?" Korra thought.

Korra didn't notice that her balance was failing from crouching too long, for she shouted in surprise when her feet gave way, causing her to smack her face on her slightly open door.

"Ahh! Oww! My nose! Sheesh!" Korra cried, eyes closed shut as she rubbed her now red nose.

Mako and Bolin jumped at the sudden disturbance and found their attention to a very mad Avatar. They looked at each other and smirked. The brothers walked to the girl until they were a foot apart from her. Korra noticed the sudden shadow looming over her and glanced up, seeing the smirking faces of her boyfriend and one of her best friends. Korra flushed, and got up, questioning them before they questioned her on eavesdropping.

"What are you guys doing with those flowers?" she asked, darting her eyes from one brother's face to the other.

The two's faces changed in seconds, now a little sad. Bolin and Mako nudged one another, hoping the other would explain what they were planning to do for the day. Mako sighed, deciding that it would be best for him to explain to his girlfriend.

"Korra, do you know what day it is?" Mako questioned.

"Uhm, it's a Saturday!" Korra said with full confidence.

Bolin tried not to laugh, but couldn't resist getting a few snickers out. Mako gave his brother a look, which immediately shut up the laughing earthbender.

Turning his attention back to Korra, Mako tried again, "I mean do you know what event is going on today?"

Korra thought for a moment before snapping her fingers, signaling that she figured out why the brothers were leaving.

"It's Mother's Day! Oh…it's Mother's Day…." She trailed off.

Mako and Bolin nodded their heads, saying, "Yea, we're gonna go now. They said it's going to rain later on." and "We'll see you later."

The two brothers walked from the hallway and opened the main entrance. They walked several feet outside before Korra ran to the door yelling, "Hey! Do you guys want to use Naga? I think she can make the trip quicker!"

She saw Mako wave his hand in a "no" motion while Bolin turned around and yelled back, "Don't worry, we'll be fine using the ferry! Besides, we don't know how to steer Naga!"

Korra nodded her head and stood there, watching the two brothers' walk farther away, holding bouquets for their deceased mother.

Mother's Day takes place here.

The rain poured, heavy and almost blinding. Korra sat on her bed, waiting for the brother's return. Asami kept her company for a couple of hours before deciding to help Pema with the kids.

"I knew they should've used Naga," Korra whispered to herself, worried that the brother's got caught out in the storm.

Moments later she saw the ferry come into contact with the pier, dropping off two very soaking men. The young woman got up and ran to the main entrance, wanting to greet the brothers. Mako and Bolin ran, using thier hands as protection from the rain. They ran quickly, and arrived at the front where Korra waited. They smiled, getting under the hangover roof.

"Should have taken Naga," Korra teased.

Bolin nodded his head and gave Mako a look. Mako shrugged his shoulders and turned to Korra.

"Mind helping us out? We don't wanna get sick," Mako suggested, tugging on his wet scarf.

Korra raised her hands, bending the water from both the brothers' clothes and hair. Bolin smiled, thanking her for drying him off so quickly. Mako stayed silent and stepped back inside the house to the living room, younger brother in tow. Bolin stretched his arms and back, yawning. He exited the room, saying something about taking a nap. Korra and Mako were left in the room, silent. The Avatar grew irritated and coughed, in a fake manner.

"So how was the cemetery?" Korra asked, tilting her head to the side. Mako looked away, ignoring the girl. Korra noticed his movement and felt worry grow in her gut.

Take a couple steps closer to Mako, Korra put a gentle hand on the man's tense shoulder, "You okay, City Boy?" she asked gently.

Mako kept a hard look, "Yea."

"No you're not. C'mon what's wrong?" Korra insisted.

"I said I'm fine. I don't want to talk about it!" Mako retorted, a little mad that the girl next to him wouldn't drop the subject.

Korra sighed and grabbed Mako's hand, "C'mon. We're going to my room to talk. Besides, you need to rest for a bit."

Mako got pulled away in the direction of the Waterbender's room, anger silently consuming him.

The young couple entered Korra's room. Korra went straight for the bed, lying on her back to face the ceiling. Mako took off his shoes and removed his coat, before lying down on the soft bed with the girl. Korra moved her head of rest on Mako's chest and Mako sighed, wrapping an arm around her. The two stayed silent for a moment.

"Can you tell me about your parents or your mom? And what happened?" Korra whispered, unsure if Mako will be more upset with her request.

Mako took a deep breath and looked down Korra, and began his story, "My parents were amazing. They would do anything for us to be happy. Bolin and I obviously came from a mixed heritage. My father was big, built; you can imagine Bolin if you wanted. Anyways, he was a firebender. So powerful, so strong. My mother was very lean, short, had strong features. I got my looks from her. She was an earthbender.

"I remember going to the park with them often, or just hang around in the yard. My mother was the one that was with Bo and me the most though. My dad worked a lot to get money, pay all the bills and keep the house, ya know?" As Mako talked, Korra listened intently.

"My mom cooked anything we wanted, read us stories, taught us manners, everything," Mako took another deep breath, "One day Bolin got sick. We didn't have any more medicine in the house. My dad took a day off from work, too, since he caught a little of Bolin's sickness. My mom suggested that she should go out and buy some meds. My dad volunteered to go with her, and I don't even know why, but he just did. I just tagged a long, incase dad wanted to go back home, I can at least keep my mom company.

"Well we left; Bolin was sleeping his sickness away. It was a pretty cloudy day, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but the streets leading to the medicine store was blocked by some construction. Earthbenders wanting to fix up roads, ya know?" Mako asked, and felt Korra nod against his chest.

"My mom didn't want to give up, not with Bolin and my dad sick. I remember her tugging us into a different way, where all the alleyways were. We took that path and got to the store with no problem. We took the same route back, but ran into trouble." Mako paused, trying not to give so much emotion.

"There was this guy hiding behind some trash. He jumped at us, yelling something about money or whatever expensive thing we had. Both my parents refused. He guy got angry and started fire bending. My mom pushed me behind some trash piles." A pause. Korra lifted her head to see Mako with a pained expression. Korra moved upwards and kissed Mako's cheek, drawing comforting circles on his chest. Mako gave a soft smile and continued.

"I could only see what was going on from a tiny opening. My dad tried to firebend back, but since he was so sick he couldn't do it properly. My mom tried fighting back, too, but the guy was too good. After a couple minutes, it got really quiet. I started to panic. I….I crawled out of the pile of trash and saw both of my parents lying on the ground. They weren't moving, breathing, nothing.

"The guy took all of dad's money, and mom's jewelry. He left the medicine, though... I… came home with the medicine and gave it to Bolin. It was so tough explaining what happened. It was so…. I don't even know how to explain it. Everything after that was a blur. Korra, I don't think I can do this anymore…" Mako trailed off, closing his eyes. No tears escaped his eyes, but anyone can tell that he's trying his best to hold in his emotions.

Korra quietly replied with, "Anything you want, its okay." and snuggled into his chest, closing her eyes as well.

Mako's arms tighten around Korra's waist, "Thank you," he whispered back.

"Sorry for making you talk about it, must've been difficult. Just to let you know, I'll always be here for you." Korra affirmed, lifting her head up to give Mako a look, telling him that she was telling the truth.

"It's just so hard talking about this thing, and I'll be sure to remember." Mako replied, kissing the top of the girl's head for reassurance.

The couple continued to lie on the soft bed, listening to the pitter patter of the rain outside. Mako heard soft snores from the girl laying on him. Glancing to his chest he saw that Korra had fallen asleep on him, again.

"Why does she always sleep on me?" Mako thought, a light smile on his face.

Mako didn't care though, for he focused on his new understanding. He understood that there will always be that one special person to listen, encourage, and cheer him up. That special person will be there in his best of times and worst of times. That special person's name is Korra, and he was damn lucky to be with her.

Ahhh, not my best ending, but it's okay.

More to come :)