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     Mako ate his lunch silently, trying to ignore the situation at hand. Bolin was out chasing a fan girl, and Asami was at lunch with her friends. As result of these absences only he himself and Korra remained on the island. He didn't even look up when she tried to strike up a conversation.

     "So...how's it goin with Asami?" Korra dove into a particularly touchy subject.

     "Good" Mako mumbled into his noodles. Korra sighed at him, and the feeling was mutual.

     "Okay, that's good to hear. Um... what do you do when you're bored?" she hadn't really been alone with Mako this long, and to her it felt like an awkward date.

     "Nothing."

     "Come on, you don't do anything at all ever just to have fun?"

     "I pro-bend."

     "Yeah, to pay the bills! That doesn't sound fun to me!"

     Mako stood up and his knee hit the table, adding to the effect. The plates and bowls clinged and clanged on the table. She looked up at his knit eyebrows and could see the fire in his eyes. "Don't ever," he almost yelled, "talk to me about money!"with that, he stormed outside. Korra sat there, watching him go. She didn't have to follow him though. The Avatar knew exactly where to find him.

     Korra took her time as she finished her lunch. (She couldn't help it that she was starving) She began walking across the courtyard. She could have noticed the fluffy clouds in the blue sky, or the perfect little breeze that wasn't too cold. She was not outside for the weather but for her friend.

     Korra followed the rock path to the gaze end where she found him sitting. As she stepped closer, her foot cracked a twig and his ochre eyes snapped open.

     "Korra, I just wanna apologize for exploding on you back there." Mako said seeing his error.

     "Its fine, and I'm sorry I brought money into this."

     "No you're right, I don't have fun. It's just growing up with Bolin, I didn't have time for it. I worked, fought, and stole so he didn't have to. So he could have fun." The thought of raising a younger brother seemed fun for Korra, it seemed like they plated and messed around all day. Republic City's secrets seemed to get worse as she uncovered them.

     "Well, I could show you what it's like to have fun."

     Mako looked at her. "That's fine, Korra, I don't need your help."

     "Pleeeeeaaaseee?" she whined.

     "Seriously, Korra I don't-" he melted. She was giving him those puppy-eyes that Bolin would. No matter how hard he tried, Mako couldn't say no to those big blue eyes.

     "Fine, when do we start?"

     Korra's face lit up immediately. "Right now! Let's go grab some towels and an umbrella. We're going to the beach!"

     "Whatever you say." was his response. However, Korra took no mind at all to his lack of energy. She ran up to the airbenders home, and he walked after her.

     Just as he reached the house, Korra stepped out, fumbling with the oversized load. Blue and red towels were in her arms and an umbrella was dangling off of one finger.

     Mako quickly ran up and hopped up the stairs to her aid. He took the towels as she gingerly maneuvered the umbrella into a more comfortable position.

     "Oh thanks."

     "No problem. So where's this beach?" Mako was nervous about being seen alone with a girl beside Asami.

     "Don't worry," she sensed his agitation, "it's a small secret beach I found on the island. Ikki and Jinora don't even know where it is. I think." Korra said with little less confidence than she liked.

     "Okay, then let's go."

     "Alright, follow me!" Korra exclaimed, happy to be on their way. Mako sighed and rolled his eyes and, as commanded, followed her.

     "The beach is like a mini paradise. It's about twenty feet wide with the softest, whitest sand you'll ever find. The best part is that it has a rocky over hang so its invisible from above." Korra continued describing its every detail.

     Mako was lost in thought, still shocked he said yes to this ridiculous endeavor.

     "We're here."

     "Wait wait?" Mako was startled, "What did you say?"

     "We're here." All of the sudden she grabbed his wrist and jumped off.

      "What are you doing?!" Mako screamed. He felt his lungs in his throat as they lost altitude. At the last possible second, Korra pulled a pillar of sand to catch their fall. Surprisingly, they alighted softly.

      "A little warning next time." Mako asked

      "Aww... was city boy scared?" She teased.

      "Whatever. Just a warning, okay. All I ask for." he blushed indignantly. "So now what, fun queen?"

      "Well usually we set up the umbrella and towels." she whipped her towel  out. Meticulously she settled it perfectly on the sand. Mako clumsily imitated her. In the end, Korra Korra fixed his towel problem while he set up the umbrella. After he popped it open and stabbed it in the sand, he sat on his towel, facing Korra. He took his boots, shirt, and scarf off. He wasn't trying to impress her, at least that's what he told himself.

      Mako sat there as Korra removed her boots and pants. They revealed her small feet and long, beautiful legs. Korra, realizing she had an audience, took even slower taking off her shirt. A smug smile spread ear to ear as she saw him gauking at her. Mako finally noticed that his mouth was wide open and shut it. Then he said, "What next?"

      "Well we could lay here and tan on the towels or we could go swimming."

      "Let's try swimming."

      "Okay, sounds good." Korra ran through the sand. A cloud of white settled on him, and Mako shook it off just in time to see it. To see her. He watched as Korra gracefully jumped into the water. Using waterbending, she sent sea spray everywhere. The brackish liquid covered Mako, and he watched the foam come in with the tide. Mako mumbled something like a theat.

      "What?" Korra

      "I said that you're on!" Mako raced toward her, and kicked up water to her. Korra put her arms over her face and blocked it with a wave.

      "Hey! No water bending!"

      "Okay, okay." Korra agreed/ She pushed the water at him, and he turned his back on it. He whipped around, using his arms to spread water everywhere. n the water, he lost his balance, colliding into Korra. His body crashed into hers, and they went underwater.

      Mako tempted to make a water tossed lip lock, but her drilled it into his mind that he had a girlfriend. Just then Korra pushed him off her.

      "Sorry, I didn't mean to-" Mako apologized, try desperately not to blush. His effort was to no avail, Korra laughed back at him. "It's fine. You need to stop apologizing so much. This stuff happens!" she teased.

      "Oh, okay, it's just- I mean-," he stuttered, "never mind." Korra continued laughing at him. She gave him a friendly shove. When he regained his balance, she slipped her hand into his, and intertwined her fingers in his. Mako kept his hand in hers to be nice. Because that's what he was telling himself. He tried to ignore the warm feeling inside of him. A feeling he didn't have with Asami. A feeling he shouldn't have. At least not with Korra.

      Korra was glad when he didn't pull his hand away. She knew he liked her a lot, it was obvious when they found her after the kidnapping. She also knew that Asami liked Mako a lot, and it gave her a very guilty coincidence that she was stealing him from Asami.

      "So now we tan?" Mako asked as he sat on the towel, next to her.

      "If you want, it's more of a girl thing, but you could use some color."

      "Um... thanks?"

      "That's not really a compliment" Korra laughed. Mako watch her gasp for her air, and couldn't help himself. He laughed. Immediately Korra stopped. She looked at him, with a sparkly in her eye.

      "You laughed. I win!"

      "Congratulations. And what exactly did you win?"

      In a flash Korra grabbed his scarf. "This!"

      "My scarf? What would I have won?  An armband?"

      "Probably." Korra laughed again, he reached out for the scarf, but her reflexes were too fast.

      "Hey! I get it until sundown.!"

      "Fine..." he agreed. "What next?"

      "Well, as soon as we're dry, I'll show you how to play Redemption."

      "What's that?"

      "It was created by Avatar Aang, when he was ending a feud between two clans. So it's a rectangle field with two gates at the ends. The ball starts in the middle, and you try to pick it up before the other team. The first team to take it through the other team's post wins. Got it?" she explained.

      "Yeah, kind of."

      "Don't worry, it's easier than it sounds." Korra assured him.

      "Alright, let's go then!"

      When they got to the dearing in the forest, Mako was surprised. He saw the boundary walls and gated earth-bent in position. "You did all of this... for me?"

      "Yeah, I wanted to make you smile that badly." she said.

      "Thanks... I guess."

      "You're welcome! Now come on, let's play!" Korra ran over to the field and put the ball on the middle dividing line, where she got in a running position. "Oh and by the way, no bending." Korra added. Mako nodded as he walked over to the line opposite of Korra's.

      "Hey, Korra."

      "Yeah?"

      "Do we tackle each other for the ball or do we just take it from their hands?"

      "You have to knock it out of their hands." she confirmed.

      "Okay." he got in a ready position.

      "Ready when you are."

      "One... Two... Three... Go!" Korra leaped out of her stance and ran toward the ball. Mako reacted a little late, but as he pumped his arms back and forth, he could tell he would get there first. He reached down and scooped it up, but before he was fully standing again, it was knocked out of his hand. Korra took it from him, side stepped, and took it to his gate.

       Mako stood there, watching as her long hair blew in the wind and he realized that she looked good running away. Really good, he corrected himself.

      "I won again!" she smiled, "Mako are you off today because you are 0," she made a circle with her hands, "- for 2!"

      "I'll play you again in Redemption!"

      "Okay, best out of three. Loser pays!"

      "For what?"

      "You're taking me to dinner, and paying!" she bragged.


      "We'll see about that!"

      "One... Two... Three... Go!"

      This time Mako decided to play a defensive game. Korra picked it up but he wasn't worried. Mako back peddled in front of Korra aster ahead. Suddenly he stopped and stuck out with his left arm and punched the ball out of her grasp. He bobbled it before catching it, and he dove down field.

      He could sense Korra behind him, and the feeling of being chased tingled inside him. Mako remembered being chased as a kid, from vendors or regular citizen he stole food or money from. But today wasn't about the past. It was about fun he thought as he brought the ball through Korra's gate.

      "Now we're tied."

      "Good strategy, but I've got some tricks up my sleeve."

      "You don't have sleeves!" Mako pointed out.

      "You know what I mean, they both laughed. Mako hadn't laughed in a while and it felt good.
      "Ready?"

      "Yeah, are you ready to pay?" he teased.

      "Nope! 1...2...3...Go!" Korra scrambled towards the ball. Mako slipped and was late getting there.

      Korra ran past the ball but Mako thought it was just a trick. He kept running toward her. When he got to her, she pushed her lips against his softly. Mako felt something inside him burst with...... excitement? it couldn't be. He stood there for a moment, confused. Korra pulled away from him and stepped back.

      "Korra... what was that?" Mako mumbled as he watched her pick up the ball. Then she ran past him, not looking back.

      "Korra are you okay?" he asked. She crossed the gate and then turned around slowly.

      "I'm great! Especially because you're paying!" she laughed at him and tossed the ball on the ground.

      "Hey that was cheating, he said, "you... you kissed me."

      She just kept laughing, "And it worked."

      "Whatever." Mako was blushing again, even though on the inside he felt more anger than embarrasment.

      "Okay, i'm gonna clean up and then we are going to the city for your last two lessons." Korra added, "And you might wanna clean up too because you smell like dog crap."

      "I don't smell that bad, and what are the lessons?"

      "You'll love them! First, we are eating dinner and then we are goin dancing in a club!"

      The protective Mako flared up, "Those clubs can be cray."

      Korra gave him a teasing look, "That's why I have a big handsome firebender boy to keep me safe."

      Mako smiled at the compliment as he walked back to his room. He found too much satisfaction in the joke, though. He liked being called strong and handsome. That wasn't new to him.

      The thing that was bothering him was the best he could explain it was that Korra said it.

      "I'll knock on your door at seven-thirty," he called over his shoulder.