Title: Peace

Rating: K+

Summary: Makorra, post-Equalist war, between books 1 and 2

Word Count: 500

Mako looked at the clock next to him. He groaned at the early hour. One of the annoying parts of being a firebender was he always rose with the sun. He supposed it had something to do with his strength coming from the sun and probably something with the ancient dragons, but honestly he'd never paid much attention to all that Spirit World mumbo-jumbo before. That was more Korra's department.

Korra.

Had it really only been six months? Six months since Amon had fallen, and almost taken the love of his life with him. Six months since that fateful day at the South Pole when he saw her Avatar State. Since he said those three words to her. It felt like forever, and yet no time at all.

He glanced to his other side, to check in on Korra. She always slept in, which was fine with Mako, since it gave him time to make breakfast for both of them. She would complain about being spoiled, and he would say she was crazy, and they'd sit down to eat. Well, in theory. They'd both been so busy, him with his training for the RCPD, her with Avatar duties, that they never seemed to really get time to themselves. Peacetime was surprisingly stressful.

He loved little moments like this. She looked so peaceful as she slept. None of the mountains of stress from her everyday life were visible. She just was. Mako carefully laid a hand on her shoulder, rubbing a circle with his thumb. She stirred slightly, but kept on sleeping. Mako smiled to himself. That girl could sleep through a hurricane.

She looked so tired last night. She'd just come home from a journey to the Earth King, something to do with "Equalist hideouts in the mountains of Ba Sing Se." But that's all Tenzin told him, so Mako agonized for a month before she came back home. Back to him. Her hair was all frazzled, and she barely had enough energy to kiss him on the cheek before promptly collapsing on the couch in his, no, their apartment. He carried her to the bedroom, tucked her in, and slipped in beside her.

Mako loved it when he woke up with Korra in his arms. He knew that she was always so composed, since she was always "in charge" of something or someone. That's why it meant so much to him that she would let down those walls with him. She'd surrender herself to be protected by someone else. Me, he thought as he slowly got out of bed. Protected by me. As he got dressed for patrol, he thought about something he'd heard Katara say while they were at the South Pole. After the revelation of Korra learning to energybend.

She said an Avatar only falls in love once. And then it's that person, for the rest of eternity.

Hmm...forever..., he thought, sneaking a quick glance at his girlfriend on his way out. I can live with that.