Look - I updated this! It's a Christmas miracle!

No, actually I'm truly sorry for not touching this in so long. I was writing this just before the series finale and then, for obvious reasons, I had a major writer's block when it came to Makorra. I was really uncomfortable to even write about them for awhile, just based on the constant toxicity in the fandom, but I'm cool now! Just because my ship wasn't cannon doesn't mean I can't write about them and express myself!

So tah-dah! Hope you all enjoy this! I had fun writing it!

Reviews, favorites, and follows are much appreciated~

"This is so stupid," Korra muttered bitterly, tying an apron around her waist.

The apron belonged to Mako, and they were both currently standing in the kitchen of his apartment. It was late – a bit past midnight – but Korra had only just gotten back from work an hour ago. She was exhausted and tired and cranky and just wanted to eat dinner and go to bed, but this wasn't going to be the case with Mako.

He was determined to teach her how to cook, and frankly Korra didn't get a say in the matter.

Right when she'd gotten home Mako started slamming his fist against her apartment door, demanding that she come over to his place so that he could show her what "the culinary arts were really all about."

Korra had tried to ignore the man's persistent knocking, but after a while it became unbearable and she gave into the game he was trying to play.

And now she was here – staring blankly at Mr. Master Chef as he rummaged around in his cabinets for the appropriate pots and pans they were going to use for the lesson.

"Did you hear me?" Korra piped up, leaning against the counter and watching him. "I said this is stupid."

"Really? All I can hear is 'I'm insecure about my cooking skills so I'm trying to hide it with aggression'," Mako fired back nonchalantly, straightening up and kicking a drawer shut. He turned, arms crossed, and looked down at Korra with solid amber eyes.

Korra flushed, her fists clenched. "You are so annoying," she seethed, failing to think of a proper comeback.

Mako, for the first time she'd known him, flashed an amused smile. "Glad you think so." He motioned for Korra to stand beside him in front of the cutting board. Korra reluctantly ambled over.

"So what are we making, Captain?" Korra asked sarcastically.

"Vegetable soup."

"… What?"

Mako looked over at Korra, who was sticking her tongue out in disgust.

"Is there a problem?"

"Yeah, there is," Korra stated, glaring at the array of vegetables he had laid out on the cutting board. "I'm a waterbender, and in the Water Tribe we like to eat… well, meat." She grabbed a carrot off the board and waved it flimsily in her hand. "Pork, beef, seal jerky, arctic hen… get the picture?"

Mako nodded, plucking the carrot from her grasp. "And I'm a firebender, and in the Fire Nation we're also fond of grilling meats…" He placed a hand on Korra's forearm, indicating for her to back up a bit. When she did he grabbed a knife and started cutting the carrot with swift and even precision. Korra watched him, her eyes widening.

… But I don't use my cultural background as a limitation," Mako continued. "I think you should be open to all sorts of foods. Including," he scooped up the carrots and dumped them into the simmering pot on the stove, "vegetables."

Korra groaned.

"Why don't you try?" Mako suggested, stepping aside from the cutting board. "I promise – it's important to learn how to cook stuff like this. You can't just eat arctic hen every night, Korra."

"What, now you're concerned about my diet?" Korra snapped, taking the knife from his hand and placing a carrot in front of her. "I thought you were just annoyed that I kept setting things on fire."

Mako visibly blushed, and Korra smirked. He looked cute when he was flustered…

Wait, what? Focus, Korra!

"Well… I, uh… yeah, that part is obviously annoying too… but I care about you," Mako stuttered. "You're my neighbor," he added quickly before Korra could interject. "It's important that we look out for each other, that's all."

"Hmm, if you say so, Chef," Korra said, slowly cutting up the carrot. Her pieces were uneven and sloppy and she noticed Mako watching in distress.

"You're doing it wrong."

Korra's hand was caught in midair as Mako moved behind her. She went still as he positioned his fingers around hers. He helped hold the knife steady and also grasped her hand that kept the carrot in place.

"What are you doing?!"

"Helping," Mako stated, moving their joined hands together. They started cutting the carrot up into slow, even pieces. "You're going to cut yourself someday if you don't learn how to properly do this."

"Hmph," Korra grunted, but did not push away from the firebender. She let him guide her hand and grew accustomed to the rhythmic movement of the knife against the vegetables.

After a few minutes, Korra realized that Mako had released her hands and had stepped back. He was now leaning against the counter watching her.

"You're doing well," he commented.

"… Thanks."

Once she was finished she scooped up all of the cut pieces and dumped them into the pot.

"Now I need you to measure some things out," Mako said, handing her a jar of tomato sauce.

Korra stared at him blankly.

"We don't only put vegetables into vegetable stew, Korra… that'd be… ugh." He shuddered at the thought.

"Well excuse me – I don't know how your fancy Fire Nation dishes work," Korra snapped, snatching the jar from him and prying it open.

"It actually originates from the Air Nomads."

"Whatever."

Mako chuckled at her frustration and the two set to work measuring out the correct ingredients to add to the stew. They passed the time in silence, and Mako was surprised to find that it wasn't uncomfortable like he figured it would be. Despite her horrible past attempts at cooking, Korra wasn't actually bad at it. With proper instruction, she did well.

Twenty minutes later Mako was pouring the stew into two bowls while Korra was rummaging around in his cabinets for proper silverware. He set their food on the table and they both sat down, facing each other.

Korra swirled her spoon around in her bowl of stew, looking down at it distrustfully.

"Try it," Mako urged. "I think you'll like it."

Korra grimaced before she scooped some of the stew up and brought it to her lips. She swallowed the food and Mako waited with an amused smile on his face.

She hesitated before placing the spoon down and looking up at him. "Well… um… it was fun to make, at least…"

Mako blanched. "What? You don't like it?!"

Korra shrugged. "Sorry, it just tastes… bad."

"I grew up with this dish, it can't taste bad," Mako snapped, scooping up some of the stew and tasting it as well.

He nearly choked.

"See?" Korra said cockily over his desperate coughing as he reached for his glass of water. "It's really bad!"

"I don't understand," Mako groaned, jumping to his feet and inspecting the remaining stew that sat in the pot on the stove. "We cooked it exactly like the recipe said." He opened the fridge and checked to see which ingredients they had recently used.

He froze and his eyes widened.

"Korra… come here," he said, calling her over. When she joined him he pointed to the red bottle sitting near the front of the shelf.

"What's wrong?"

He pulled the bottle out and handed it to her. "Did you… put some of this into the stew?"

"Yeah – you told me we needed ketchup…" Her breath hitched. "Shoot."

Mako placed the bottle of hot sauce back into the fridge. "You had one job, Korra," he moaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Hey, it's not my fault!" Korra snapped, standing on her tip-toes to get on his level. "You were rushing me!"

"Rushing you? No I wasn't!"

"Were too!"

Mako was about to shout back, but his stomach beat him to the punch. It growled furiously and he cursed.

"Okay… look, no hard feelings," Mako muttered, sticking his hand out to Korra awkwardly. "We both messed up. Truce?"

Korra pouted, but shook his hand nonetheless. "Truce." Her stomach growled as well, and she blushed and wrapped her arms around her torso. "I'm starving."

"Same…"

Korra checked the clock on the stove. "It's already one in the morning… what's still open at this hour?"

Mako thought for a moment. "Narook's?"

Korra's eyes lit up. "Noodles it is then!"

"We're not going to make eating out a regular habit, though! It defeats the purpose!" Mako yelled to her and she ran out the door to get her things in her apartment.

"Yeah, yeah!" She called back.

Mako sighed and turned to the untouched bowls of stew on the table before smiling.