He's been avoiding her.
She knows it. Whenever she needed a bodyguard, he used to volunteer. But now it's somebody she doesn't know. Not that she needs the bodyguard, she is the avatar, after all, but it was always nice to have him nearby. Now...
It's because of her birthday. Because of what she said- because of what she did. He hates her because of it. He can't stand the sight of her. He...
Two months she's been waiting. Two months she's put her all into firebending and tried to forget about Howl. About how much she likes him.
He was the only one to remember her birthday, besides Katara and her parents.
He was the only one to buy her a present.
He was the only one to know about her spot on the ledge.
He was the only one.
So she goes to confront him one day, at his shift in the watchtower.
"Korra?"
"Hi," she says tentatively.
"What are you doing here? You're not supposed to come up here."
"I'm not leaving."
"Korra, you can't just-"
"Howl, you're avoiding me."
"I'm not. We just can't hang out, okay? I have a job. To protect you." He lowers his eyes.
"Then protect me! Be near me! I- we can just be friends. I miss you. Why do you hate me now?"
He looks up, eyes wide. "Korra, I don't hate you. I could never hate you. I'm- I'm scared."
"Don't be."
"I'm scared of how much I like you, Korra."
He lets that hang in the air for a moment before continuing.
"I can't get in the way of you and your destiny. You're the avatar. You can't be with me. I just... it's for the best, okay?"
"Howl, you know how I feel about you!"
"No." He turns away. "Korra, you've got to go."
"Howl!" She walks to his side.
"Korra, I-"
"Look at me."
But when he does, he can't stop himself. He takes her face in his hands and kisses her.
She's surprised at first, of course, but then she wraps her hands around his waist and kisses him back. Is this- is this him agreeing? Could they, after all this time, be-
He pulls away and staggers back. "I shouldn't have done that. I really shouldn't have done that."
"Wanna do it again?"
He nods wholeheartedly and she pulls his face back to hers.
She eventually needs to breathe, so she steps back and leans against the ice rail. "That was-"
"Korra, we-"
"I know. But can't we at least try? You're my best friend, Howl."
"And clearly more than that. I've missed you, Korra. But you have your duties. I have mine."
"I told you, the best way to protect me is to... well, to protect my heart. Please."
"I really want to."
"Let's just try. And if it doesn't work out..."
"Okay."
"Really?"
"I want to. I want to so much. And you..."
"We don't have to tell anyone."
"Of course not. They would all be furious. Your teachers..."
"Would fry me. Literally."
"You should go."
"I'll come back tonight."
"Korra..."
"Howl. We've barely spoken in two months."
"Like we're going to do a lot of talking tonight," he says with a sly grin.
"Howl!"
"Kidding. Okay. I'll see you then." He wraps his arms around her waist for one last, lingering kiss. "Now go."
"I missed you," she whispers, before leaping over the side of the tower.
He watches her go. Man, he's in trouble with that girl. Deep trouble.
A/N: God, okay, that was sappy. Seriously sappy. My apologies for all the random stuff. But I had to get them together sometime because this story was going nowhere, and, well, I had to get the gooey fluff out of the way. I hope you enjoyed. (and eww, gooey fluff? That sounds disgusting)