七

[anatural]

[action]

[After a week gone, Korra finally has her head screwed on straight -- sort of. She still doesn't feel ready to face her friends, their worries and their questions, but she knows she can't put it off any more.

She sneaks into the apartment, hoping that nobody's there.]

[voice]
H-hey Chekov. Sorry I've missed our sessions. Can we meet up later this afternoon?

[Korra tries to turn off the device, but accidentally flicks the video on. For a few seconds you can see her -- her eyes are dark and sunken, and there's a gray cast to her skin, a subtle loss of color that anyone who's known the City dead would recognize.

She quickly closes the device.]

Comments

[action]

[anatural]

[If you keep touching her like that, she's either going to cry or she's going to kiss you. She doesn't want to do either of these things.]

Dead is dead, Mako.

[action]

[firesneeze]

[ His fingers apply a brief pressure. ]

I'm not going to believe that! I already lost Bolin, I'm not going to lose you either.

[ Korra and Asami are the only ones he has left in this place. It frightens him to think that should something happen to either of them, he'll be left alone. That's the last thing he wants. ]

I'm going to find a way, Korra. I don't care what it takes, you'll be whole again. I promise.

[action]

[anatural]

[She doesn't say anything, just holds him tighter.]

[action]

[firesneeze]

[ Mako's not ready to let her go. He keeps thinking that the longer he holds on using his body heat, the better of a chance she'll have to actually warming up. ]

...I missed you. I missed you so much.

[action]

[anatural]

I missed you too.

[It's traitorous to say. She should pull away. But she can't resist his warmth, his smell... just him.]

[action]

[firesneeze]

[ It's a really traitorous thing to say. ]

Korra...

[ It would be a REALLY traitorous thing to do... getting closer than they already are. Mako's still not pulling away. ]

[action]

[anatural]

[Damn you, you're going to make her do it. It takes more strength than she knew she possessed to pull herself away, and she's left feeling empty and colder than before.]

I should...find Asami.

[Your girlfriend. Remember her?]

[action]

[firesneeze]

[ Oh. ]

She's... [ Dammit. ] She's usually out in the garage around this time of the day.

[ Unable to help himself Mako reaches out to snag her by the elbow, stopping her from going anywhere further. ] Korra... [ He can only imagine how Asami is going to react to having her back. She had missed their Avatar friend as much as he had. ]

It's good to have you back.

[action]

[anatural]

[She gently pulls her elbow free.]

Thanks.