» “Can You Imagine?” - A MaKorra fanfic/headcanon

Korra’s body twisted once, twice, sending two thin streams of water towards the net hanging on the gym’s East wall. She gritted her teeth in frustration as both passed through holes in the net, striking the wall and making tiny flakes of paint flutter off the poorly-kept coat of grey.

She wanted to work on her fine control; she’d noticed that when she was using water during the matches, her Bending packed plenty of power, but was sort of…wild. If Korra added a bit of aim, of accuracy, to it, maybe she could try and knock over the other players in future matches with less energy lost, less speed…just- keep herself from getting tired as fast.

Of course, this was all her idea. It certainly wasn’t anything Mako had mentioned to her in yet another of his snide remarks he pulled out when she teased him about Asami.

Certainly not.

One, two. One, two. She shot four more thin whips of liquid from the large jug she’d brought in for practice, using quick jabs of the wrist to send them out successively. Korra had decided that if she could cut through individual ropes of the net, she would have improved her accuracy to a sufficient level.

“Y’know, we don’t have another match until next month.”

The water once again splattered against the wall, leaving the net wholly intact. Korra gave out a small growl, looking in anger at Mako, who was crossing the gym floor, evidently having just walked down from the loft to go out the front door and into the city below.

“You totally messed me up!” Korra protested, crossing her arms.  “Do you know how hard this is?”

Mako shrugged, finishing tying a knot in his trademark red scarf. “Hey, I’m all for practicing, but we’ve earned a break. Bo’s upstairs working on tricks with Pabu; you should get out and do something fun.”

Korra lifted up a blob of water and broke it into three, kicking each towards the net with a spiraling kick. “Pro-Bending is fun for me.” None of them cut the ropes.

“Yeah, but all you’ve done since you got here is Pro-Bend, Airbend, and deal with the whole Revolution thing. Go and…swim. Isn’t that what you do down at the ‘Pole?” Mako asked with a snarky smile.

“What are you doing, then, oh Team Captain?” Korra countered playfully, blushing. She did like to swim, but Mako didn’t have to know he was right. He blushed back, scratching his hair in what seemed to be guilt.

“Oh, uh…Asami and I were gonna, uh- she’s got…she’s got a race, today, y’know? On…on her bike, and I was gonna go cheer her on,” Mako explained, as if apologizing. “We’re getting fyjji-berry shakes after.”

“Oh,” Korra responded silently, rubbing her other arm. Both young Benders stared at the ground, wishing the moment would just evaporate away. Above them they could hear the faint sound of Bolin clapping and congratulating a squeaking Pabu.

Mako coughed finally, “I really gotta go.”

Korra shook her head, putting her hands out. “No, that’s no problem, that’s- you don’t wanna be late, after all, right?” Mako nodded and began walking out, hands swinging at his side purposefully.

Not knowing what made her do it, Korra called, “It’s a good thing you’re with Asami. I wouldn’t know what to do at all…on a date. I’d probably try and, like, teach you Airbending or something.” She forced herself to laugh and make a joke out of the suddenly absurd idea of a date with Mako. “Can you imagine?”

Mako’s voice drifted back into the gym, getting fainter as he walked down the hall, a reluctant, insincere chuckle accompanying it: “Yeah…good thing…”

Korra watched the empty doorway for a good thirty seconds before turning back to the net. For the next hour, despite every effort she made not to, she couldn’t help but try and brainstorm things to do on a date with a certain Firebender while she threw torrent after torrent of progressively less-controlled water at the net.