Title: In They Go
Word Count: 759
Summary: [They finally have their date. | Police!Mako. Firefighter!Korra. AU.]

Rating: K+

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prompt from multishippingexpert (on tumblr)· how about noodles?

Notes: Finally writing the would-be sequel to Chapter 25: It's a Date. Read it if you want a fuller picture on the characters in this AU, but I tried to make it not necessary to read.

-.-

The date doesn't go exactly as planned. He turns up late because of work and she ends up at the wrong restaurant altogether. It's a bit of a jam, but they finally manage to make the right plans a few weeks later, clearing their schedules, putting time off from their jobs in the city.

He picks her up at her place at eight, leaning on his station-issued motorcycle outside her stoop as she rushes out the door while trying to put her shoe on. She sits on the seat behind him, breathless, wrapping her arms over his chest as he navigates through the town. Her grip tightens and she tells him to go faster, grinning like a child as they round a tight corner. He finds an empty street and races down it, the engine roaring under his command towards the restaurant.

They arrive at Narook's fifteen minutes later and they're both chilled from the wind and breathing out white puffs into the cold air. She's still smiling from the ride; her hair a mess on her head and he holds the door open as she tries to even it out. They order a table and the waiter brings them glasses of water as they sort over the menu. For once, everything is going as they planned. It's a nice evening out.

Korra peels through the menu, deciding on what dish she'll have tonight. "So have you been busy down at the station?"

"A bit." He sighs, "I've been assigned to a lot of patrols the last few weeks; a lot of stuff going on." Mako runs his finger between the green seaweed noodles and the sea prune soup. Neither sound very appetizing at this point, but he'll probably go with the former. He's used to that, at least.

"Must be tough, being on the job so long." Korra says, putting her menu flat on the table. "We don't get that much down at the firehouse, we're only assigned a day or two of work a week. 24-hour shifts."

"And I get the escorts with you out of all that?" he grins. "I must be lucky."

"You wish."

"That must be nice though," he says, scanning through the list one last time. "Having all that time off."

"It gets boring quickly," Korra shrugs. "I work at the boxing gym as an instructor when I don't have a shift. It's decent, pays the bills."

Mako looks up, his interest peaking as he leans on the table. "I didn't know that. Which gym do you work for?"

"Toza's Boxing and Martial Art Ring. It's on the east side along the bay." She takes a drink from her water glass, her mouth feeling thick and dry under the hot lights.

"I might have to stop by sometime, get a workout in." he chuckles, taping his finger on the end of his straw. "So what are you going to get?"

"Seaweed noodles, they're my favorite."

"I was thinking the same."

"Great minds think alike." She smiles, haling down the waiter with the rise of her hand. They order the food, handing their menus back and leaning into their seats as the time before the meal ticks by in a crawl. With everything said about their jobs out there, Korra puts conversation on the gym, explaining the various sets and drills she does with her students through punches into the air. She hits him in the face, just once. They have a good laugh.

"Sorry, sorry!" she says between fits of laughter. "I didn't realize you were that close."

Mako suppresses his smile, tending his fingers on the end of his nose. "It's fine, really."

"Let's hope our food gets here soon," she says. "You might not last the night at this rate."

"Ah, perfect timing." He says, spotting their waiter coming to them with a tray in hand. "I think that's the meal."

The waiter sets their bowls in front of them, steaming full of green noodles. Just the sight of it makes his mouth water. Korra's still smiling, her tongue peeking between her teeth as she takes her chopsticks in hand. Then she reaches for her glass, raising it between the table. He follows suit with his, holding the slippery glass before hers.

"To a good meal," she says, clinking the edge of his glass. "Glad we finally got around to it."

"Yeah, me too." He takes a sip before setting it down. Takes his chopsticks and lifts a mound of noodles into his mouth. She does the same.

In they go.

:Fin:

Hmm… not sure what to think of this but I guess it'll do for now. :|

Also I'll make this clear before anyone asks (even though they won't) both the title and the last line are in reference to the fact that in this AU setting Mako and Korra don't know each other that well. They've only really met on the job, and even then it's rare and few times in between. This is one of the first times they would have been able to spend a long time along in each other's company, so they're going into this new relationship that could take any number of turns. (whew)