A/N: Thank you so much to Sharpe, Auren02, Lightbrightfury, IrishDreamer4, AsahixMe, Black Dragon Master, CrazyPhenom, and devilfiredog18. I truly appreciate you all being such consistent reviewers :)

And here comes some Makorra!

19. Could I tell you this time how I wish you were mine

Korra comes home at the beginning of summer.

He meets her at the train station over his lunch break — because Asami is busy at Future Industries, Bolin isn't in town, and the airbenders are occupied — and he wants someone to welcome her home.

He doesn't have much time to spare, but he gives Korra a warm, firm hug, as promised — and Naga licks him from head to toe. They part with a pledge to meet at Narook's in two days' time, on his day off. She waves goodbye (temporarily, she stresses) with a light in her eyes; he restrains the words on the tip of his tongue.

Soon.

The time passes quickly, and before he knows it he's at a table in Narook's watching the Avatar slurp up two bowls of five-flavour soup and an unholy amount of seaweed noodles. Korra lets out a loud, satisfied burp once she's finished.

"Spirits, I've missed Water Tribe food," she moans. "None of the Earth states can do it right."

He can't help but chuckle at her petulance for the Earth states' lack of expertise with her home cuisine. Korra is a city girl at heart, but she never forgets her Water Tribe roots.

"How much longer do you think you'll have to be based in the Earth Kingdom?"

Korra sighs. "Who knows? It depends how well democratisation goes in the other states. Hopefully once we get a few more stable, momentum will take over and Wu and his committee can start handling the others without me." She shakes her head and tosses him a glance. "Okay, city boy, enough about me. Tell me what's been going on here."

"Well, General Iroh managed to get Raiko to agree to let the United Forces help guard the spirit portal, and he and Beifong have been coordinating a joint-protection perimeter around —"

Korra makes a scoffing noise. "Not Republic City, goofball. I already got all these updates from Tenzin. I wanna hear about you." She jabs her chopsticks in his direction.

He sets his bowl aside and leans back into his chair. "What do you want to hear?"

"Anything you wanna tell me. I'll listen."

So he spends the next hour talking about himself — a rarity outside Erin's office. He tells her about the bad things — his struggles, the traumas he's been hiding, his prior feelings of detachment and loneliness. He tells her about the good things — his brighter outlook on life, the support he's found in people around him, the progress he's made in recovery. He tells her about the everyday things — Erin's advice, Minsu's cheeky antics, Huan's upcoming art exhibition, Grandma Yin's delight with her new champagne glass.

He tells her everything except the most important thing.

When he finishes, Korra is silent.

"That's…wow."

"Too much?"

"No…I've just never heard you say so much in one sitting before." She grins at him, her eyes sparkling. "It's nice."

He reaches for his glass of water and takes several large sips. He isn't used to talking so long either, but he does agree that it's nice to be able to share so much with someone he knows will understand.

Korra arches an eyebrow at him and asks, "So, what else is on your mind? 'Cause you mentioned in your letter that you had something specific to tell me."

His heart rate quickens. He really can't put this off much longer.

He tells her, "Let's take a walk."

...

They end up at the docks of the pro-bending arena. Korra has not pushed him throughout the entire walk, sensing that whatever he has to tell her is something that will change things. Instead they have been enjoying the companionable silence and the occasional exchange of playful banter until they naturally come to a stop.

Whether by accident or fate, they're standing in front of the gazebo overlooking Yue Bay, where Korra impulsively kissed him that first time.

He doesn't know whether to hope for a repeat of that or not.

"Korra."

She turns to look at him, her gaze questioning. She sees the solemnity in his eyes and her own expression sobers.

There's no turning back now.

"I want to make it clear that I'm not expecting anything. I don't…want things to change. But I need to be honest, and I'm done keeping everything in. You said you'd listen, so just…hear me out?"

She says nothing, but nods silently. Her eyes are liquid crystal; he focuses on them, beholding the water in their depths, and he thinks how very like her native element Korra actually is. When enraged, she is a tidal wave crashing over all that stands in her way; when she sets her mind to a goal, she carves out her path like a swift river; but in calmer moments, like this one, she holds the serenity of a still lake. Like water, Korra runs deep.

And just like the water of the bay held him captive all those years ago, Korra holds his heart.

He escaped the bay's hold on him; but he will never escape Korra's.

It's time to tell her.

He takes a breath.

"Korra, I said always, and I meant it."

It takes a second for her to grasp his meaning, and her eyes — those gorgeous pools of water — widen. He stares into them, his voice earnest and sincere.

"I love you, Korra. I always will. Doesn't matter how much time passes, or what I go through — I'll always love you. I know you're with Asami now, and I'm not asking for another chance or anything like that. I'm happy to be your friend, if that's all we're meant to be. I want to be your friend. I just…wanted you to know. Needed you to know."

She blinks at him, her mouth open. The peaceful lake becomes a turbulent sea, then a glassy ocean. Inscrutable, unfathomable — full of depths he cannot see.

He has no idea what she's thinking.

"Korra? This doesn't have to change anything. I don't want it to change anything, I just…" He groans, threading his fingers through his hair. He averts his gaze from those impossibly blue eyes, that entrancing water.

Has he screwed up their friendship again?

But what was he supposed to have done? Bolin and Erin had both said he ought to be honest; Asami had implicitly given him permission; and he hadn't wanted to keep holding in the unspoken words. He's been carrying those words around for nearly four years; he'd needed the release.

Whatever happens now, the earth disc is in Korra's pro-bending zone. He's said his piece, told her what he needed to, and made it perfectly clear that he is content for things to remain the way they are. He can't do anymore than that.

Korra's hands reach out to rest on his shoulders. He looks up — and is instantly caught in her beautiful, shimmering liquid gaze. Her expression is gentle, understanding, accepting. She wraps her arms around him and holds him tight — and after a moment, he hugs her back.

She tells him, "Thank you for telling me."

He tells her, "Thanks for listening."

They don't kiss, because Korra is no longer the type of girl who does that sort of thing impulsively, and he is no longer the type of boy who is self-absorbed enough to accept it. He was not expecting Korra to drop Asami in absentia at his confession, and he's glad she hasn't. He doesn't want to be the cause of their break-up, and he doesn't want Korra to be that kind of person.

This hug — this friendship, care, support — this may not be all that he wants, but it is all that he needs.

He will always love Korra, but it no longer weighs him down. The words have been spoken, the truth has been released.

He embraces the water; he does not drown in it.

A/N: Lyric is from 'Water' - another Pentatonix song. For those of you keeping count, that's three Pentatonix songs I've used so far. The whole song is very apt for Mako's state of mind in this chapter. Not only does Korra = water, but key lyrics like 'timid heart, hide my scars', 'I just can't pretend anymore', and 'I'm scared of what I have to tell you' are very much what Mako is thinking. Also, Pentatonix are awesome.