Getting Warmer

Chapter 5

Korra fingers dug into the fabric of Mako's shirt. His gentle hands rubbed her back while she sobbed quietly.

"I'm not safe here...", she murmured.

"Yes, you are.", Mako told her. "They won't come back here. You'll always be safe with me."

Korra glanced up at the firebender. His eyes looked down at her's somberly.

"I can't stay here much longer...", she quivered.

Mako's eyes widened. And then she felt him pull her as close as he could to her. This is the longest she had stayed with him. And he didn't want her to go. Not ever.

"Korra it's dangerous out there.", he whispered into her hair.

"I'm putting you in danger here.", she retorted.

"No, you're not!", he exclaimed. "You can't go!"

And with that, she was struggling out of his embrace. She marched out of his room, him following her right behind. Trying to grab her wrists and stop her. But she walked on.

"So you're just gonna swim off, in the middle of the night?!", Mako shouted.

"My parents must be worried about me! I have to make sure they're ok! I have to make sure you're ok too!", she explained. "I have to end this war anyway! I have to train! I can't run around this little island and be caught up in you!"

Mako stopped in his tracks. They were on the shore now. Her feet barely in the water. She turned back to him and just stared.

"I can help you.", Mako spoke. "I want to help you end this war. And I can protect you, and me. And if you think I'm gonna let you leave like this then you better think again. Because I was caught up in you the day I found you."

Korra's eyes began to fill with tears again. The first person she ever felt like was her only friend, and someone who she would do anything for, would do anything for her. Before she knew it, her heels were digging into the sand and her hands were gripping his firm neck, and pulling his lips down to hers. Only briefly, before he could wrap his arms around her, Korra pulled back and whispered,

"I'm sorry."

She ran before he could catch her, and she was gone in the waves. Mako knew he would never catch up, but he knew how he could.

Korra's technique for going back wasn't too different from how she would get to Mako's house in the first place. The air bubble though, was harder to do in the dark. And looking around for fire nation guards, she already knew would be a challenge. But if it meant making sure her parents knew of her safety, and she knew of their own safety, it was worth it.

She realized that being distracted by Mako and his affection would have made her stay longer and maybe even forget about her life back home all together. She'd stop training, and maybe she'd stay hidden with Mako and his brother for the rest of her life. But she wasn't going to be a secret. And she wasn't going to keep the people she loved a secret either.

The water temperature crept downward the farther she got. But she stopped in her tracks once she saw a bright light.

The border. A light house must be in it. Korra's teeth began to chatter from being in the chilly water for so long. Now she was thinking maybe staying with Mako wasn't such a bad idea.

She gulped, trying to come up with a back up plan. So far right now, it was to use whatever strength she had left to swim back to Mako, and give him one hell of an apology.

She moved her hair out of her face and the skin of her hand was almost numb from the cold. She was about to duck her head under the water to turn back, when she turned to the sound of a motor. Up ahead, riding at full speed, was a white boat. Making it's way towards her. And as she squinted, she could see who was steering it. Bolin.

"You sure she's out here?!", he shouted.

"Positive! She usually-wait! Stop here!"

That son of-how did he even get Bolin out here? Bolin was supposed to be having dinner and proposing to Asami.

A ladder fell onto the side of the boat. Mako began to climb down on it. Korra gazed up at the young man who found her in no time.

"Korra! Come on!", he shouted.

She didn't respond. She was in a daze at him. All her exhaustion began to kick in. The cold feeling from the water began to disappear. Her eyes began to close slowly.

"No! Aw shit, Korra!", Mako shouted before he dove right in. She could hear the water splash as he swam over to her. He wrapped her up in his arms and began to swim back over to the ladder. Her arms around his neck, her head resting on his shoulder. Bolin began to pull them up on the ladder, but then he seized.

"Mako! The light's coming over here!", he warned.

Mako did the only thing he could think that the guards would leave him and Korra alone for.

"Mako?", she groaned.

He'd apologize for his actions later. He pressed her back up against the boat, and began to kiss her. Korra's eyes shot open in shock. Now wasn't really the best time for this...

But as the light came along, she realized his plan, and when along with it. She kissed him back, her hands running through his wet hair. As the light shown on the both of the from the light tower, it stopped. Then an intercom came on.

"Hey love birds! You're out of bounds! Move back to shore!"

Mako pulled away as the light moved on. He glanced down at Korra who was still chattering. He could hear Bolin laughing at their cover up before he came back over to hoist them up on the ladder. Mako grabbed onto the ladder while holding Korra close.

"Are you really sorry now?", he asked.

"Please don't kick me out.", she shivered.

Mako only smiled. Then he snuggled her into his chest before he pecked her forehead.

"I won't, as long as you don't run away."

"Deal.", she agreed before she kissed his cheek.

He scooped her up in his arms once they were on the deck. Bolin turned the boat around while Mako brought her down into the boat.

He brought her into a small room where a bed laid. He placed her on the soft blankets, and grabbed more to wrap her up in. She watched him move around the small room before he came and sat in front of her on the bed. His clothes were dripping, and his black hair that was usually in a spike, was dripping over his forehead. She found it a little cute.

"Is getting lost at sea, and me rescuing you a hobby of yours?", he chuckled.

She didn't reply. She only let him began to wrap her around in a blanket. But her stilled his hand. He looked at her, confused.

"We're still going tomorrow.", she stated. "I have to make sure they're ok."

"Korra it's too dangerous."

"That's what people said before I came over here, but I'm sitting here, talking to you."

She had a point. She'd been sneaking over and back for the past year, just to escape and visit him, and no one had suspected a thing until today.

"Alright. I'm coming with you though.", he told her. "And please...don't ever scare me like that again. I almost thought I lost another person I cared about at sea."

Korra's eyes fell, remembering how his parents died together, fighting on the ships.

He gently grabbed her chin and tilted her face up. She leaned forward before he did, and chastely kissed him. She lingered this time, savoring in the moment. Then her kisses became less chaste. She bit lower lip, and then their tongues made contact. Her fingers traveled to the edge of his shirt, and began to pull it up. She could feel his tight muscles under his skin as her hand grazed against it. He broke the kiss as she pulled it over his head. He only looked at her, waiting for her next move.

She reached onto the edge of the shirt he gave her earlier and pulled it up and over her own head. Then she scooter closer, almost into his lap. and wrapped her arms around his neck. She kissed his forehead before she came back to his eye level and murmured,

"Keep me warm."