bend_it_like | Deerington: 2010 Howard Hill

[ Korra watches him for a moment, then sighs, dropping down onto the floor in front of him, sitting cross legged. ] Yeah? What boy?

[ Mako hesitates, then meets her eyes. ]

I don't know. He was a little older. Got us in with the Triple Threats. He knew everything. All the secret ways around the city, the best places to get food— and I wanted to... be exactly like him.

[ Wow this is really embarrassing to talk about. ] That's what I thought. I'm realizing that it was, uh. A little more. Than that. But you didn't do that with the Triads, and I didn't exactly have time to focus on anything but keeping us in Zolt's good graces, so.

He doesn't have any power over you now. Or anyone.

Honestly, Mako, that's sort of how I felt about Asami. I didn't know if I wanted to be her, if I hated her, or if I just really, really liked her. I think it was all three at different points, there. [ Korra shakes her head with a laugh. She definitely hated Asami for a minute there when Mako and her were dating. Maybe she hated Mako a bit too, for getting to be with her. ]

So, you have always sort of liked boys. [ She prompts him gently ]

[ Mako lets out another slow breath, his mouth twisting. ] ...yeah. But I just. Made it stop. I didn't let myself. I know there can't be anything that wrong with it, in theory, but—it didn't seem like a thing that people could just do until, uh. Until you and Asami. Honestly.

[ Korra nods, and reaches out for his hand, helping him unclench it. She thinks about what she wishes people would say to her and takes longer than she normally would to answer with: ]

Then what's stopping you now?

[ Mako's grateful for the tiny amount of contact, unclenches his fingers just enough. Korra, at least, does her best not to judge. For all that this seemed like it was easier for her, Mako knows that there's a lot resting on Korra's shoulders, and that she deals with the same thing he does in a lot of ways: wanting to live up to her own expectations, and to the expectations of everyone around her.

It can't have been that much eaiser, and the fact that she's even willing to talk about it is—good. Very good.

He shifts a bit closer, lifting his head with a somewhat lost look on his face. ] It'd be... pretty final. I haven't thought about it for a while. Haven't had to.

Why would it be final? You'd go on a David, see if you like him. If not... well, it's no big deal, right? [ She gives him a small smile. ]

[ Mako snorts and actually smiles at her. ] Have you ever known me to be casual about dates?

Maybe you could try it. [ Korra laughs, squeezing his hand. ] So: do you like him enough to go on a date?

It doesn't—we're in a nightmare spirit world, I shouldn't even be thinking about this.

[ WHO's deflecting? Not Mako.

He does, though. He thinks. The feelings are so wrapped up that he isn't sure whether it's romantic or some kind of kinship because David's a detective too or just admiration. Like Korra said: it's hard to tell. Mako's never been the best at puzzling through his own feelings. ] What finally clicked, for you? With Asami?

Remember, I haven't actually dated her. Which is... kinda disappointing. [ Korra shakes her head. ] It was weird, reading about it, and you telling me about it, after I'd thought about it for so long.

Again, Mako: if you don't want to do it, just say no. Don't leave him on the hook. It sucks, trust me.

[ Mako... groans. A little bit like the teenager he used to be, none of the world-weariness holding it down, just pure why is my life this energy. ] I think I want to.

Great! [ Korra grins at him, and snatches his Fluid from his hand, dashing back a few steps. ]

[ Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no.

Mako lurches up off the couch with alarm clear on his face, once again lunging for the Fluid. ] Korra.

[ She pushes him back with a blast of air with one hand which she types with the other, grinning hugely. ] Nope, nope, stay over there.

Korra if you're sending him a message—! [ She's blasting their couch into the wall, sure, but Mako ducks out of the stream of air and goes for her knees in a straight-up tackle. ]

[ Air bending is handy. She airbends onto an air scooter and whizzes against with a cackle of laughter.

Being sleep deprived has some bonuses, like thinking that texting David is a great idea. ]

[ This has turned into nonsense, is what is happening right now, and Mako is exhausted and confused and frustrated, but—he just goes with it, darting in front of Korra's trajectory to cut her off. ]

[ She outruns him around the lower floor of their house until she finishes her text and sends it off. Then she tosses the Fluid back to him. ] There. Done. Don't back out.

What did you do.

[ It is with a vague and growing sense of dread that Mako opens his Fluid back up and reads over what Korra wrote and then without hesitation, shoves both hands over his face, Fluid and all. ]