The first time Mako sees Korra drunk is not exactly the most pleasant memory for either of them. They are somewhere between the North Pole and the Eastern Air Temple, fairly close to Ba Sing Se, and it's the dead of Winter and he has her well and truly pissed. It's their first argument, well, their first real argument anyway, and it makes them both so angry that they're practically sick to their stomachs. So angry that not even Bolin can calm either one of them...and all because of one stupid, seemingly innocent comment.

"Mail!" Bolin yells as he walks into the small house the three are renting from one of the locals. "Just came by messenger hawk," he informs them, dropping a couple letters in Mako's lap. The firebender picks up the first one, opening it as Bolin removes his coat and Korra walks in from the bathroom, attempting to run a comb through her damp hair.

"Who's it from?" she asks, quickly giving up on the comb and using her firebending to dry her hair.

"It's from Asami," Mako informs them, obviously surprised. It wasn't that often that they heard from the dark-haired beauty now that she had taken over running Future Industries.

"Really? What does it say?" Bolin asks excitedly, walking over to look over Mako's shoulder.

"She talks a bit about the city's reconstruction, Beifong's reinstatement as Chief of Police, some of the remaining Equalist protests," Mako pauses, reading a bit farther down before his face lights up. "They're re-opening the pro-bending arena!" Bolin lets out a whoop of happiness as Korra walks past them into the small kitchen.

"Let me see," the earthbender snatches the paper from Mako's hands and begins reading the letter out loud. " 'The re-building is going faster than expected and the arena should be ready for its grand re-opening by the end of next month. I spoke with the committee and they agree with me that a commemorative match between the best pro-bending teams would be a great re-opening ceremony. Was hoping to hear your opinions on the subject and maybe see you soon.' Oh man this is great!"

"Yea, great," Korra remarks bitterly, causing both brothers to look at her.

"Something wrong Korra?" Mako asks, standing up.

"Nope." Mako raises an eyebrow, looking at his brother, but Bolin just shrugs.

"Korra?" he tries again.

"What?" she snaps.

"What's bugging you?"

"Nothing's bugging me." Her words are short and crisp and both Mako and Bolin can tell that she is lying.

"Come on Korra. I think all of the cold weather may finally be getting to you."

"What is that supposed to mean?" he can tell she's just looking for an argument now.

"Exactly what it sounded like; you've been in a bad mood ever since it started snowing here."

"Well if you're so sick of all of the cold," she bites out, "maybe you should just go home to your precious Republic City."

"Stop being ridiculous."

"Is it so ridiculous?"

"If you've got something to say, then just say it Korra, and stop talking in circles."

"Guys, I really don't think you want to do this," Bolin interjects weakly.

"Stay out of this Bolin!" they both shout.

"Fine, you want me to say what's on my mind, Mako? Then tell me this: what do you really miss? Pro-bending, or something else? Or should I say someone else?"

"You're not really trying to make this about Asami."

"You said it, not me."

"I don't believe this!"

"Why not? It's not like it hasn't happened before!"

"That has got nothing to do with this!"

"Whatever," she scoffs, pushing past him and grabbing her parka; she slips it on over her head as she opens the front door.

"Korra, where are you going?"

"OUT!" she shouts, slamming the door behind her.

"Korra!" he lets out an angry shout and turns around to find Bolin giving him a pointed look. "What?"

"Dude. Not cool. Go after her!"

"And have her even angrier at me? No thanks bro."

"Mako, she's insecure!"

"You do know that this is Korra we're talking about, right Bo?"

"Yes. Korra. The seventeen-year-old girl who literally has the weight of the world on her shoulders. The girl you love. The girl who loves you. The girl whose only real friend before she met us was a polar bear dog."

"She just needs time to cool off; she'll be back soon enough," Mako states, more to reassure himself than his brother.

.

.

An hour later and Korra hasn't come back; two hours later and still no Korra. It's not until she's been gone for three hours that Mako starts getting worried and he pulls on his jacket, pulling open the front door and heading out to look for her.

.

.

He finds her in a pub almost ten blocks away; she's sitting at the bar surrounded by about twelve empty glasses and nursing another almost half-full one of some kind of foul-smelling alcoholic concoction in her hands, her cheeks sporting an oddly charming rose-colored blush.

"How long have you been here?" he asks quietly from where he is standing next to her.

"Why d'you care?" she slurs.

"Korra..."

"Just go back to th' damn City Mako. Know y'want to." Mako sighs.

"Come on Korra, we're leaving."

"No'm not. Haven't finished my drink."

"I think that you've had enough to drink." She glares at him and he knows this can only end one of two ways. In the end, he chooses the lesser of two evils and grabs the glass from her.

"Hey!" she protests, but he downs the drink himself before she can say anything else, wincing slightly as it burns its way down his throat, and he can feel the slight aftertaste of cactus juice behind the alcohol.

"We're leaving," he repeats. She pouts at him but complies, grabbing her parka off of the stool next to her before following him out of the pub. They only manage to get maybe two blocks before Korra stumbles and Mako holds out an arm to catch her out of instinct.

"Don' touch me!" she snarls, pushing him away and stumbling backwards. "You're a jerk, tha's wha' you are! You're nothin' but a-a great big jerkbender! So jus' go! Fly off to your big bright city where i's warm and bright and be the shiny knight in pro-bendin' armor on your stupi' fire ferret with your stupi' lil damsel in distress! I don' need you! I don' need anyone! 'm the Avatar! I can handle bein' alone!" Mako's eyes go wide as he realizes that Bolin was right; for all the strength and power and confidence that she exuded, Korra had her insecurities. He lets out a breath he hadn't even realized he was holding and reaches out, pulling Korra into his arms despite her struggles and protests.

"Stupid girl," he murmurs in her ear, making her freeze, "don't you know by now how much I love you? Don't you know by now that I would never leave you behind?" His grip on her loosens and she takes a step back. "I'll follow you to the coldest ends of the North Pole and back." There are tears welling up in her eyes and Mako thinks that maybe, just maybe, he managed to reach her through the alcohol fogging up her senses. And then she bends at the waist and throws up all over his shoes and he realizes that she is well and truly smashed and he'll probably have to repeat himself in the morning after he has carried her home and she's done complaining about what is sure to be a killer hangover; but somehow he finds that he really doesn't mind repeating himself to her.

.

A/N: Ok. This is my first Avatar Fanfiction, my first Legend of Korra Fanfiction, my first 100 themes challenge, and my first Makorra piece. So no judging.

I really honestly did not mean or intend for this to be that long. Just a short one-shot based off an idea I had of Korra getting drunk after a fight with Mako. But it took on a life of its own and next thing I know it's 1,292 words.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy and comment. But no flames. Flames will be used to roast s'mores.