This will probably be a one-shot (unless you REALLY want me to try and continue it)

Please review if you can :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Legend of Korra (not quite yet :3)

Takes place after Episode 6 "And the winner is..." on Air Temple Island

Of course she was thankful that Lin had helped her. I mean, she may had not lived if Lin hadn't wrapped the metal cord around her and saved her from falling when she did.

But it doesn't mean it didn't hurt.

It must have been past midnight. Korra had the bottom of her shirt lifted up, exposing her midsection. The skin around where the metal had coiled was very badly bruised, in a mirage of blue and purple.

She lifted up her hands and brought up some water from the bucket next to her. She held it to her midsection and the water just started to glow when a voice jarred through the silence, making her drop the water all over herself. She looked up to see the culprit who had now caused her to be completely drenched.

"Korra?" he repeated, stepping out of the shadowed doorway and into the dimly lit room. He walked closer, noticing how she was completely soaked and how her shirt was lifted up to her torso, exposing the nasty blue and purple bruises that viciously wrapped their way around her.

"You're hurt" he said in more of a statement than a question.

"It's nothing, Mako."

"It sure as hell doesn't look like nothing" he said, grabbing a towel from the table and closing the remaining space between them. She was frozen as he kneeled down and draped the towel around her.

She stayed silent for a while and they sat together, sharing the silence, until she whispered, "How am I supposed to stop Amon?"

"Korra-"

"As the avatar it's my duty to stop him, but tonight I failed AGAIN. People were hurt, the stadium and your home were destroyed, and he got away without a scratch even though he was right in my reach!"

"Korra, if you weren't there more people would have been hurt, and he didn't get away without a scratch. Do you know how many of his men you took down?"

"Only because Lin helped me!"

"You can't be expected to do this all on your own"

"But I'm the avatar"

"Even Avatar Aang had help. And besides, you gave us a new home by letting us stay on the island."

"But it wasn't enough!" she yelled, raising her voice in frustration.

"Korra, trust me when I say this. There was nothing else you could have done. Amon had surprise and numbers on his side. And to be honest I think the person who was most hurt tonight was you" he said, brushing his hand gently over the fresh bruises. She winced in pain and withdrew slightly. "Sorry" he said sympathetically.

"It's fine"

"Here, let me help you" he said, helping her off the floor and onto the couch. This room was one of her favorites, a big empty room spare a couple of couches and chairs, but with a comfy window seat and breathtaking views from almost all sides of the room.

"Mako, it's okay. You don't have to do this." She said quietly, turning away from him.

He ignored her and continued, lifting up the bowl of water to the spot next to her. "Do you think you can, you know, heal yourself?"

"Yeah, that's what I was doing before you came..." she said as she lifted the water from the bowl and held it once again to her torso. She sighed in relief as the water glowed and melted away some of the pain she had been experiencing ever since the metal cord had wrapped its way around her, saving her yet hurting her at the same time.

"Do you feel any better?" he asked, placing his hand gently on her shoulder.

"Yeah, although it's probably going to take a couple of healing sessions to completely go away" she said, lifting her hands once more to continue healing. Mako closed his hands around hers and brought them back down.

"Don't overwork yourself. You've done enough for one day."

"Why are you being so nice to me?"

"I care about you, Korra."

"Yeah but you have Asami-"

"It doesn't mean that I don't care about you. And can we not talk about Asami?"

"Did something happen..?"

"It just doesn't feel like we are ever really together. At first it seemed like a fairytale, like everything was perfect, but then I realized I was just going along with it because it was safe and easy, and suddenly now I don't want that fairytale anymore. I don't know, I'm really confused right now. Ever since we lost our parents the only person I've had is Bolin, but then I met you, and then Asami."

"You don't usually let your guard down like this, do you?"

"No, sorry, I shouldn't have even-"

Now she put her hand on his shoulder. "It's okay to have feelings, you know"

"I have feelings!"

"Well you're not very good at expressing them-"

"And you're such an open person yourself, Avatar Korra" he said in a mocking tone

"Yes, I'd like to think so" she shot back in a mimic fancy voice. They both laughed and leaned back into the couch. She winced again slightly at the pain from the laughter.

"Mako, really it's fine" she interjected before he could even ask.

"It's late"

"Yeah" she said, although she made no effort to get up.

"You need help. Here," he said, getting up and offering his hand.

"No, I'm okay. I've been able to walk all day." She said, pushing herself off the couch. Mako was actually surprised when she was able to walk by herself despite the severity of her injuries. That was, until she tripped and fell about five steps later.

"Need my help now?" He asked with a sly smile, making his way over to her.

"I guess the healing must have taken more energy out of me than I would have guessed." She said, looking down in defeat and taking his hand.

"You know Korra, it really is okay to accept help. Like I said before, even Avatar Aang wouldn't have been able to do anything that he did without the help of others." he said while he wrapped her arm around him and helped her out of the room and down the hallway.

They stayed silent as to not wake the others until they reached her room. Mako pushed open the door and helped her down to her bed.

"But I don't want to have to burden others with MY responsibility." she said, responding to Mako's statement from before.

"You can't have the whole weight of the world on your shoulders. Anyways, we can think about that tomorrow. Right now you should get some rest." Mako said, ending her trail of thought and leaving them in silence. He brought the blankets over her and made sure she was comfortable.

"I feel so pathetic. I'm not a little kid."

"Stop worrying about everyone else. Are you going to be okay for the night? If you need anything, you can knock on my door."

"Your room is down the hall" she sighed, referring to the bruises.

"Do you want me to stay until you fall asleep?"

"I mean, I guess..." she said, now blushing and clearly embarrassed.

Without needing any more consent he sat himself down on the chair adjacent to her bed.

"Thanks Mako, for everything," she whispered sleepily.

"Yeah Korra." After a couple of minutes he spoke up again, "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something, before you-" he started, but found that she had very quickly fallen asleep.

He smiled, looking down at her peaceful, sleeping form, so different from what she when she was awake. He waited awhile, making sure she was truly asleep, before getting up. He softly pressed his lips against her forehead and whispered, "Goodnight Korra" and left to try and get at least a couple of hours of sleep before the sun rose on the new day.