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"I'll follow you into battle no matter how crazy things get. I've got your back, and I always will."
Her heart warms. The firebender had always been a straight shooter with his words, just like her. She realises she's stared for too long without saying anything back when Mako shifts uncomfortably and gestures to the bar. "I'm going to get a drink, do you want something?"
"Mako," she reaches for him, but her arm drops before it touches him.
Even though his gaze holds hers, there is a veil over his eyes. Even though he's just professed his loyalty and love to her, there is hurt there. She senses it. It makes her heart ache.
"You mean so much to me, you know that, don't you?" she says, her voice barely above a whisper.
His jaw twitches. A flicker of hope dashes across his face. Mako nods his head, but there it is again, that veil.
"No, you don't get it." She wants to grasp his fingers, but takes to pulling at hers instead. Mako arches a brow at her comment.
"I didn't answer your letters because I couldn't." She takes a breath, and somehow she can't meet his gaze anymore. "It didn't seem fair to pull you down into the depths with me. We weren't together anymore, we had established it multiple times. It took me time to get over it, get over us. It was so difficult. You seemed to be fully over it by the time Zaheer happened. And you seemed happy, at ease again." She swallows a lump in her throat. "I wanted so badly to write to you. But it didn't seem fair to force you into that role of emotional support, especially given our history. It felt too intimate. And also, somehow I just felt our friendship was affected by our dating history, even though we tried not to let it. Yes, we could be friends, but we couldn't be close because it felt too reminiscent of our time together. I couldn't write to you because it didn't feel right for our friendship at the time."
She looks up at him. His eyes are searching hers, pouring into hers. "I'm sor-"
"You have nothing to apologise for." He places a hand on her elbow. "Korra, If all you needed from me then was to read my letters, I would gladly do it all over again. If all you need from me now is to be one of the Avatar's guards, I will gladly do it. You and I, our friendship isn't straightforward, like you said. Honestly, I don't know if it'll ever be." Mako pauses, about to say something else, but seems to decide against it.
"What?" Korra nudges.
"What?"
"You were going to say something else."
He shakes his head and pinches his eyes shut. "It's not helpful."
Korra raises a brow. Now she's curious, and annoyance stirs within her, positioning her to be ready to fight. She finds she likes it, this feeling. It reminds her of how they used to be. But she can't be yelling at him, not here. Deep breaths, Korra.
"You know I'm going to keep asking you about it now."
"Fine."
She waits, and gapes when he turns abruptly on his heels and saunters off with his hands in his pockets. "Mako!" She starts after him and this time, she grabs his arm and starts pulling him away from the party.
"Hey!"
"Sorry, excuse me, pardon me, we'll just slip through…" Korra smiles sheepishly as they weave through the bodies on the wedding dance floor. They end up at a gazebo overlooking Yue Bay. Letting go of his arm, she crosses hers. "Spill it."
He glares at her. Softening, Korra bumps him lightly. "Please, Mako. I'm ready for whatever you need to tell me." He turns away from her, staring out at the water. He's not going to budge, she realises. He's far too noble for her own good.
Sighing, she follows his line of sight. The bay looks beautiful, even more so at night, she thinks. To be here, safe, with her loved ones, with Mako, makes her feel all the more grateful to be alive. What was he going to tell her, she wonders. Why is she so bothered by it? Did she want him to say something in particular?
A cold hand cups her chin suddenly, cutting off her thoughts. Before she can register what's happening, warm lips gently touch hers. She starts, but doesn't pull away. Mako. Something curls in the pit of her stomach, and she deepens the kiss. I want this. She pours everything she didn't know she was feeling into her kiss, willing him to hear what she doesn't say aloud. I miss you. I need you. Mako. Mako. He kisses her back with just as much fervency, pulling her flush against him. Then he pulls back abruptly, much to her chagrin, and rests his forehead against hers. "You are on my mind as often as you were before we got together, when we got together, and after we broke up. I don't know if this will ever change, Korra. That was what I wanted to tell you."
Oh. Happiness, relief, fear, longing, and grief for all the lost time slams into her, one after the other and all at once. A tear spills down her cheek. "I missed you," she whispers, her knuckles whitening from clutching onto the front of his jacket. "Don't leave me."
Mako's arms tighten around her. "I love you. I'm not leaving."