You Kissed Me Back

Pairings: MakoKorra

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a/n: please do not be alarmed that i'm trying my hand at an LOK fiction. when i heard korra say this [the title], i got the plot bunnies. besides, everyone's doing the shipping thing in this fandom, i had to get on board with this, ahah. but earnestly, i just want to give people the same interesting stuff to read that i had the pleasure of reading myself a few days ago, that's all.

oh! something to include. From 10 to 6, if you notice, it is my intention to put the story more in mako's focus, and then it'll get to korra. hence the obvious titles.

. Insert Disclaimer .

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Vignette 10: Spitfire

It was the bead of sweat that surfed down the curve of her neck that caused him the injury.

In all honesty, sure, maybe he wasn't paying attention. Practice between the Fire Ferrets went without any problems as usual, the picture of a steady team balance. Mako practiced on Bolin, Bolin practiced on Korra, and Korra practiced on Mako. It was this balance that always led them to success in the ring.

But Mako made the slight mistake of lifting his head mid-attack to get a glimpse of Korra's face. Sweaty, slick, and panting Korra. Korra with precious beads of sweat slipping down her neck, that gave Mako a blissful moment of awe for the Avatar's beauty. All the while, Korra dug her feet in for a killer blow that left Mako totally exposed to the brunt of the water's force, knocking him on his butt in a clear daze.

"Hey, you okay Mako? Looks like Korra got the better of you, again," Bolin sing-songed, taking off his helmet while striding over to him.

Mako grit his teeth together and said nothing, but winced slightly as he sat upright. Korra too had taken off her protective helmet and her blue eyes were widened full of worry.

"Are you okay? That one looked a bit rough," she said, walking over and extending a hand. Begrudgingly, Mako accepted it for a full stand, as Bolin absently brushed off dirt from his shoulders.

"I'm fine, a splash of water doesn't hurt much." he said slowly and with purpose. Korra's face immediately scrunched up in annoyance, and her warm hand dropped from his like a hot rock. He resisted the strange urge to take his hand up in hers again.

"Water doesn't hurt much, huh?" She repeated mockingly, pushing her legs apart for a better stance and swung her fist at him. "You'd rather I blaze you with fire instead, Cool Boy?"

It wasn't initially what Mako had in mind, picking a fight. But there was no way he was going to passively let Korra's challenge go, and there was definitely no way he was going to admit to staring, so the match was decided.

Bolin raised up his hands. "Guys, we don't have time for this. Have your lover's quarrel some other ti—"

Mako barely spared Bolin a look. "Stay out of it, Bo," Mako said, readjusting his helmet on. He decided he rather liked the cocky smile on Korra's face—almost as much as he wanted to replace it with a taste of humility.

The match lasted only a few minutes. Korra became immediately fixated on trying to blaze Mako with her fiery kicks and punches, and though Mako was doing a good job of a duck-and-weave routine, he just couldn't help but take notice again.

A stubborn drop of Korra's sweat that dripped its way down from her forehead, to her nose, and slid itself right onto pink lips, almost like a hydrating balm. It caused her to lick her lips and bite them together in response, and he forgot to brace himself.

Mako completely missed the fire emblazoned side-swipe that knocked him off his feet and back onto his backside. He heard Bolin stifle a laugh from a corner of the room, and watched as Korra took her helmet off again and nonchalantly swept wet strands of brown hair back from her eyes.

"So, how'd that taste?" Korra said teasingly, as she leaned over him, bright eyes shining.

"Salty," he groaned.

She blinked. "..Huh?"

Oh gosh, posting this makes me nervous. Please review; I need some feedback .