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.

Notes: An equivalent of Understanding, but centered around Korra.

Recovery

"Everything's so dark. Why? What happened? Last thing I remembered was... a fire, smoke, someone screaming...oh, Amon and the Equalists. Yea. But why is everything so dark? Where is everyone? Am I...am I dead! No, that can't be it. Maybe I was knocked out. Yea, that's seems logical. Ugh, c'mon Korra. You can do this. Wake up."

Bright blue eyes opened slowly, greeting the plain white ceiling above her. Turning her head, she winced, feeling a sharp pain pierce through her body. It didn't stop her from observing the room she inhabited though. The walls were as white as the ceiling, wood flooring, an ordinary window at the center of one of the walls, a door to her right, and a small table beside the bed she rested on. This wasn't Tenzin's house, not even close.

Korra moved her limbs, intent on getting up and out of the bed. Another pain shot through her body, sharper than the last. She let out a loud, anguished cry, small tears escaping her eyes. The bed sheet that draped over her fell slightly from her movements. It revealed bandages, many bandages, some stained with red, across her torso.

"What happened? Everything hurts"

Moments later, the door opened, revealing a very apprehensive Tenzin. He found Korra struggling to get out of the bed, and rushed to her side, pushing the girl down as gently as he could.

"Korra, don't move. You were injured badly, you're not even stable enough to move," the older man said firmly. Korra's brows knitted together in confusion.

"Tenzin," Korra began, "What…happened? Where am I?" Korra paused, horror creeping into her eyes, "Is someone else hurt? Did Amon and the Equalists take anyone's bending away?"

Tenzin exhaled, "No one was seriously injured, only you. The Equalists captured you and your friends last night while the four of you were out. Witnesses got a hold of Lin, her troops, and I soon as possible. We all got there before Amon can take away anyone's bending, but not soon enough. You were already on the ground unconscious. Lin's troops carried to the hospital, where the four of you got medical attention."

Korra listened, remembering everything that happened the previous night. She remembered Bolin's panicked expressions, Asami's screams as Equalists tried injuring her, and Mako giving his all in firebending. She also remembered one Equalist using a sharp knife instead of their electrical sticks. The object was to sharp, slashing shallow cuts around her body, but mostly her chest. It was such a terrifying experience.

"How are they?" Blue eyes filled with uncertainty, scared of hearing her friends' conditions.

"Asami and Mako made it out without much damage, Bolin sprained his wrist," Tenzin answered, "but you need to worry about yourself more. Your friends stayed here until the morning. Bolin went back to the island to get some proper rest, along with Asami."

"And Mako?" she countered, an eyebrow quirking up, "bet you had a difficult time getting him out of here, huh?"

"No, he's still here, and waiting outside. I'll get him," Tenzin stood up and turned to the door, "He's been so tense since we brought you here." and walked out.

Korra sighed; a dull pain poked her side, "Okay, no more sighing," Korra said to herself, tired eyes darting around the very boring hospital room.

"Come on, City Boy! What's taking you so long?" Korra muttered. Seconds later, her eyes widened. She had the sudden urge to sneeze. The girl gasped for air, dull pain repeatedly poking her sides. Sneezing, she jerked in a forward motion, tangled hair getting in her face. Korra struggled not to scream. "Oh, the Spirits like watching me in pain."

Knowing that moving her limbs would cause excruciating pain, she decided that blowing her hair back to place would work. Puckering her lips upwards, she exhaled, trying to get the dark strands back into place. Korra knew she looked ridiculous, but she didn't care; No one was watching, right?

Click

"Korra, I'm so glad you're…" Mako entered and saw Korra with the most unusual expression etched on her face, lips puckered and hair messed up, "awake." Korra jumped when she heard Mako's voice; the silence of the room grew on her too much.

Grinning, Korra turned to the firebender standing at the door, "About time, City Boy! I thought you would never show up!"

Mako walked into the room, and sat on the edge of Korra's bed. "You worried us back there," Mako muttered eyes on the floor, not caring if he greeted her properly or not.

The young girl cocked her head, "Mako, I'm alright. See? I'm awake and I'll get better!"

Korra heard Mako sigh, almost exasperated, "Korra, did you know what you did out there?" Mako didn't even wait for the girl to reply, "You just… ran up to those Equalists! No plan, no thought, just ran up to them!" Mako ended, his voice slightly raised. When Korra didn't respond, he went on.

"Did you know how scared Bolin was for you? Or Asami? Or Me?" Mako demanded, eyes glaring at the wall now, "Bolin and Asami almost threw up when they saw you bleed. Agni, I never saw that much blood. I don't know who you went after, or who went after you, but they got you good."

Korra never liked it when someone talked ill about her strength, "Well the guy didn't get me good enough. I'm still alive, and when I find him—"her voice is cut off by Mako's angered retort.

"Korra, you almost died last night. All that blood you lost… the doctors said a few more ounces and your body would've collapsed from your injuries."

An eerie silence crept up into the plain room. Gold and Sapphire irises met. Mako exhaled and adjusted in his seat, scooting closer Korra. Korra looked apologetic, eyes focused downwards on one of the many bandages that wrapped around her torso. Mako glanced at the girl before him, and closed his eyes, concentrating on calming down.

"I'm sorry," Korra said quietly, breaking Mako's state of concentration.

"I can't handle losing you. You, Bolin, and Asami are pretty much the closest I have to family. Well Bolin is family..." he trailed off, "But I can't take losing my girlfriend."

Korra now realizes how nerve-wreaking it must've been to be either Bolin or Asami, seeing their best friend close to dying before them, or Mako, seeing his girlfriend hold on to the little life she had. The way Mako described it, a lot of blood must've lost, and she got saw the proof. Some bandages were stained red and every muscle in her body ached.

Mako had his scarf up to his face, a habit he did when he grew nervous or anxious, Korra learned over time.

"Mako," Korra called, "You won't lose me. I…didn't mean for this to happen. But as the Ava—"Korra is cut off once again.

"As the Avatar, it's your sole duty to bring balance to the world, not kill yourself by just taking action," Korra have Mako a look.

"I'll think of a plan next time. I just got to do this on my own." It was Mako's turn to give Korra a look.

"I don't care if you believe you got to do this on your own, you're not. Asami, Bolin and I are here for you. Tenzin, Pema, and Chief Bei-Fong are here for you, too. Spirits, Avatar Aang didn't defeat the Fire Lord himself!" The firebender's golden irises are filled with seriousness.

"I know that…but sometimes I feel like I need to do something more different than Avatar Aang," Korra whispered, "Sometimes I feel like I'll never be able to be a great Avatar unless I do things on my own."

"Oh, you're lying," Mako swore, "Every single Avatar has achieved greatness, and you will too." He stops to think his words through, "You're not doing this alone, got that? Amon is planning something, and you shouldn't face him by yourself. No matter what, I'll always be here for you, like you're always here for me." Mako held a look of leadership.

Korra drank in his words, her heart pounded as Mako spoke with such passion. The young girl nodded, hair falling out of place again.

"I'll always be here for you, Tough Guy," Korra smiled, "From now on I'll try to think before I act. It's such a pain being bandaged up like this." Korra pulled the bed sheet lower, trying to show her bandages for affect. She actually pulled too hard, and the sheet fell all the way down, exposing her torso.

Mako blushed when he saw Korra's almost exposed chest. Clearing his throat, he looked back at Korra's face. The Avatar's face was also red, but she didn't care. It was her boyfriend after all; even if they didn't go that far in their relationship yet. Smiling shakily, Korra lifted a sore arm, reaching for the firebender's hand. Mako felt a tug on his body and he was soon face to face with those blue eyes he loved so much. Korra had pulled the man down, close enough for her to peck her lips onto his cheek multiple times.

After their antics, Korra moved over, giving enough space for Mako to lie beside her. Mako laid there, hands combing the Avatar's thick hair like the many times he's done in the past and murmured sweet nothings in her ear. It wasn't usually Mako's style of affection, but he didn't care. Korra like it, but she would never admit it out loud.

Korra laid there, eyes closed, and a small smile plastered on her face. The way she fought the Equalists the night before was unprofessional, and it took a lot of scolding from a worried boyfriend to realize that. It hit her, literally, that head on strategies weren't always going to work. The Avatar's going to need friends and family to support her, and that's what she got from Asami, Bolin, Tenzin, Lin, and especially Mako. Her smile grew wider, knowing that there will always be someone there to support and protect her (even if she didn't need it). When she thought of this, images of a red scarf, hooked eyebrows, and gold irises filled with love came to mind.

Special thanks to Andromedus Quasar for helping me fix previous chapters!

That takes a lot of work to catch my mistakes; I should pay ya! :P