Korra didn’t even have to ask although it cemented his teetering thoughts. Originally, he should have went, he had been planning to go as he believed it correct to do so. It was about time for him, time for a change for the better. A change away from the Triple Threat Triad. Those three words from her were enough to change his mind significantly. It was still necessary for him to be here yet this time, not for selfish reasons.
Her arms around him, his around her, grasping as if their lives depended on each other. Grip was almost deathly as if either could disappear within a few seconds, just hoping they wouldn’t. Please don’t go. “ I won’t go. If you don’t want me to, I’ll stay. “ She was enough reason for him, to convince him to stay right here with her. If she was still in need of him, he would not deny her that. Leaving could wait until if ever she no longer wants him around. For now, just for her, he’d stay in place.
After all, he was devoted to her, he always had her back since their relationship had significantly increased. If she didn’t want to be here by herself with the Triple Threat Triad, he wasn’t about to hand her over to that fate.
Korra couldn’t believe it when she heard Mako was leaving the city. Not everyone knew ( Zolt would surely have some CHOICE words for his protege, if he knew ) –– only Korra and the couple of guys they hung out with regularly. She had heard it from Ping, but he was a NOTORIOUS LIAR. She wouldn’t believe it. No –– –– she couldn’t make it in the Triple Threats without him. He was her ROCK. He was the only one who knew her ( and not just for her title, but that was a part of it too ). He understood her: Both had lost their families, spent their lives as criminals, and still somehow remained UNBROKEN. She had to know for herself.
When she finally found him in the dimly lit basement of their headquarters, she could immediately read the expression on his face; it was true –– he was leaving. Hurt hit her all at once, almost like when Ghazan had slammed rock after rock at her when she was learning to earthbend. Most of the time she would deflect them, but when one hit her, IT LEFT A MARK.
Without a word, he strode over and wrapped her in his arms –– a gesture that was immediately returned. SHE WOULDN’T LET GO. She wouldn’t let him leave her, as if she meant nothing to him. Why didn’t he tell her earlier? Why could he leave her so easily? –– “Please don’t go,” she murmured into his chest, face buried in his scarf. It smelled like ash, which was oddly comforting.
“I won’t go. If you don’t want me to, I’ll stay.”
Relief washed over her at his words, but she didn’t trust it. Korra didn’t understand how three words, MUMBLED and hard to make out, could make him change his mind just like that. Arms tightened around his shoulders, fists grabbing the back of his jacket before she pulled back from him. Blue eyes met his gold for an instant, and suddenly she pressed her lips to his. Desperate, pleading –– her hands wound in his black hair, pulling him to her. Dropping from her toes, she broke the kiss as fast as it had begun. “Please don’t leave me, Mako,” she began, her voice weak, “I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”
