(the legend of korra — romantic! mako x kyoshi warrior! reader)
all you need is a sparring partner and you can’t get anyone better than your former pro bending boyfriend. unfortunately, things don’t go to plan. but hey, what’s life without a little chaos?
a/n — a mako x reader that isn’t angst?? who am i?? but really, kyoshi warrior mako lives in my head rent free, it should live in yours too ! enjoy :) (ps once i write a sokka x reader on this page it is over for you all)
"what?! you didn't even know what i was going to ask you, mako." you huffed, crossing your arms.
"i don't need to know. the makeup and uniform tells me everything." he smirked, laying a hand on his door before shrugging. you gaped slightly, pointing your finger in the air to argue. when your mind ran empty, you sighed.
“mako, please! asami's on a date with korra, and bolin is out with opal! i could really use the practice." you pleaded, grabbing his hand. he grimaced, adjusting your headpiece.
"you're already great y/n, what more practice could you need? you're the best warrior i know." he admitted, his fingers lingering on your painted cheeks. you nudged his shoulder, flustering.
"i'm the only warrior you know."
"my point still stands. now, what are we doing out here again?"
"i could use the practice. mako, i wouldn't have come out to see you in my uniform if i didn't mean business. it doesn't hurt you to know i miss my boyfriend sometimes. what more fun would it be than to spar? just like old times!" mako nodded, and closed the door. your eyes widened, and you knocked.
“you could have just said no, you know! i would have been perfectly fine with that!" you exclaimed, tapping your foot impatiently. you flailed your arms in the air, and you had begun to walk away when you heard his door open with a click. turning around, you come face to face with mako, who was carrying a duffle bag. you were stunned into silence, and he raised an eyebrow.
now situating yourself in the gym of the probending arena (that you both totally didn't intimidate the manager into using), you looked over to mako, who was now clad in a green kimono. he shuffled around, trying to apply the makeup you insisted he wore ("come on, you're already in uniform, which was already a surprise in itself. what's a little paint gonna do? if anything, i think it'll make you look hot.") when you spoke.
"where'd you manage to find a uniform that fit you anyway? we rarely train boys. last i heard suki trained sokka after he begged with her and that was the end of it." he avoided your eyes as you stretched and blushed.
“it's uh, asami's." he admitted sheepishly. you laughed.
"no way! and it fit you?"
"no y/n, it's completely suffocating me from the inside" he joked, smiling as you walked over to him. you tilted his head to take a look at him. red paint was stuck under his eyes, and white was smeared poorly onto his blushing cheeks. you couldn't help but let out a giggle.
"you're doing it wrong, here. let me just-" you dragged him over to a bench. your tongue stuck out in concentration, wiping and smearing paint onto his face as though he were your canvass. he stared at you with doe eyes and a gaping mouth the whole time. though you were too entranced by your lovely work to notice. you clapped your hands and gave him a peck on the lips.
"you look great! let me just put on your headpiece and we can start. do you have one or do you wanna use my training one?" you asked, he shuffled through the bag.
"uh, i'll use your training one. what if you break your headpiece though?" you waved him off.
“i've been training my whole life, i have full faith my headpiece won't break anytime soon. my word has never failed me before." you shrugged, getting up to stand behind him as he still sat.
"that's what you said about the time you sparred with asami and she broke your arm." he hummed when you ran your fingers through his hair. you rolled your eyes.
"okay, well that was because i didn't expect her to go all the way when i asked. but you and i wore matching casts for six weeks! it was worth it if you ask me." you worked your way into tying the headpiece. smiling, you smoothed everything out before hugging him from behind. resting your chin on his shoulder, you wore a smug smirk.
"so, do you need a basic training session before we spar or are we ready?"
“you forget i was a probender sometimes, y/n. bring it."
you couldn't help but smile every time mako threw a punch at you. you really had underestimated his ability to adapt in the kyoshi uniform. you knew it'd help him flow easier when sparring with you, but the probending part of him jumped out effortlessly. he gave you his all, and it surprised you immensely. you'd be lying if you said you didn't want to surrender right then and there.
not that you'd ever say that out loud.
however, in the midst of your thoughts, mako had stopped to check on you. your mind, still in warrior mode freaked out when he was about to lay a hand on your shoulder. deflecting his hand, you took his wrist, pushing him away from you. your sudden movement frightened him, and flames burst through the room. however, the impact of your push was a bit harsh as mako fell on his rear, pulling you down with him.
thank the spirits for your makeup. you felt the heat rushing to your head, and you let go of his wrist quickly. he had been ready to stand when you pulled mako back down, taking him into a sweet, gentle kiss. he stumbled into him, placing his hands to your head, caressing your hair. pulling away, he smirked.
"business, huh?" he asked, and you trailed your finger down his cheeks. you grimaced.
"i also said i missed my boyfriend, you just have selective hearing." you whispered, and his eyes widened. you were in for it now.
as you ran around the gym, mako chased you. when he found you, picking you up from behind, your giggles filled the air. when you saw a black wall, you gasped. hitting mako's arms, he put you down.
"oh my gosh, they're going to kill us." you pointed the wall of the gym, which was now scorched thanks to mako's firebending.
“me? you're the one who wanted to train here!"
"i'm not the one with bending." you frowned, and he sighed.
“okay okay, we'll be okay. we just have to leave before they find out."
"but we're still in our uniforms y/n." he retorted.
"mako, there's no time! we can always change at your place." you countered, swiftly grabbing mako's duffle bag. taking his hand, you didn't wait for a response as you two ran out of the arena. you made it out, and managed to get back to mako's place in record time. wrapping your arms around his torso, he swiftly opened the door. you didn't think you could stumble into any more surprises until you spotted a certain avatar, her pretty business gal, a wide eyed earthbender, and his smiling girlfriend.
bolin snorted, falling into opal as he tried his best to keep his joyous tears at bay. the girls looked to you in amusement. immediately, you looked to your boyfriend.
"not a word about this. ever" he deadpanned.
"so, does this mean we run to the nearest food place and eat there until they've calmed down?" you whispered.
“only if you're paying and we find a way to change before they find us again."
"don't i always? come on, a bowl of seaweed noodles is waiting for us. eat now, worry later." you grabbed his hand, waving bye before running off again. sure, he wasn't in ideal clothing and his friends would never let him hear the end of it, but your pure joy about the situation made everything a little easier to handle.
