author's note: this is my first korra fic, so don't judge me too harshly. i'm a makorra fangirl, what can i say? i'm really hoping for a stupendous avatarstate!Korra moment in which Mako sees Korra's transformation. for some reason, i want him to catch her when/if she falls or be there to snap her out of it. there seem to be a few kataang parallels interwoven into the series at different points, so i have this headcanon where something like this happens.

shades of blue
mako/korra

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001. shade the first

While she watched as his body convulsed under the bolts of lightning, she could only scream his name, helpless as tears cascaded down her cheeks, wrists bloody from the chains which encircled them, preventing her from saving him.

(Take me. Take me. Leave him. Please.)

She could see, behind that mask, the cruel smile he wore.

He knew.

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002. shade the second

There was light behind her eyes, the color of the brightest sky on a day when there were no clouds. Inside her chest, her heart accelerated, beating to the rhythm of her gasping breaths.

She could not see the initial fear on his face, or the wonder as she became something other than human.

(Is this what it feels like? Every past life, every bit of strength-is this what I am?)

She could not hear him calling her name.

The villain would not win.

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003. shade the third

As the light faded and the world righted itself, the Avatar's body fell, lifeless and spent.

He caught her in his arms, and they both tumbled to the ground.

She remained still, unmoving. His attempts to wake her seemed futile, useless.

(Korra. You can't leave me. You can't. Don't be stupid. Korra.)

Azure met gold.

She was shocked at his tears making contact with her skin.

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004. shade the fourth

He had insisted on being traditional, despite her protests otherwise.

(You're a firebender. You know you don't have to conform to all the Water Tribe customs.)

(I want to do this right. For you.)

As she walked towards him, arm hooked in her father's, she clasped the light blue pendant with her right hand, feeling the smooth glass between her fingers.

She felt his stare and when she touched his hand-

(In sickness and in health, until death do us part.)

his heart blended with hers and they both promised to never let go.

(I will never leave you.)

fin.