The Meeting of Leather and Flame||@redmako

badass-barmaid:

Her eyes were weary as they focused on the roaring storm outside her window. Tifa was used to the howls of thunder—her bar, although well built, wasn’t very sound proof. Each crackle, each snap, everything could be heard with ease in her bedroom. Every once in a while, she would stir under her sheets while she slept. But tonight, she was wide awake. So thunder and lightning did little to startle her as she sighed, wondering if the storm was effecting Mako in the same way.

Doubtful, her mind mused as she fluffed her pillow in slight aggravation. He looked so exhausted and troubled before bed. He probably passed right out. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was a very heavy sleeper. Picturing him sleeping, looking as innocent as a young boy with his eyes closed and his face smooth—it brought a small smile to the barmaid’s face in the dimly lit bedroom. Maybe he’s like Cloud, and smiles in his sleep…

She lightly slapped her cheek with a soft hiss under her breath. Stop thinking that way! He’s not even from around here! He will leave in the morning, and your ogling will not make things any easier.The sad reality that the feelings she harbored, albeit odd and unexpected, would go unnoticed did make her feel melancholy, and she twisted and turned within thick blankets as a frown forged its way along her lips.Was Yuffie right? Do I have feelings for a stranger? That can’t be right. It can’t be possible. And he couldn’t possible share the sentiment.

But Tifa couldn’t help but reminisce on how their conversation had made her feel important. Accepted, even. It was fun and informative, and the banter they shared was innocent and sweet. She wanted to know so much more about Mako and where he was from. Would she lose out on that chance the moment he stepped out of Seventh Heaven in the morning?

Heavy knockings ripped her from her thoughts, and she turned to see shadows beneath her door. “Mako—?” she whispered, wondering what had him so upset from the beats of the knocks. She rushed to the door, opening it with a look of worry and confusion; her thoughts still caused a slight blush to remain along her cheeks. There was a brief moment of nothingness as she stared into his eyes. They were filled with emotion and darker than before. The look on his face confused her further, but it also caused shivers to run down her skin from its intensity. As her lips parted to ask him what was wrong, she felt them silenced by his own.

The connection felt like liquid fire as the heat from his mouth coursed through her own flesh. It was unlike anything she had known before. There was a force behind the gesture that overtook the barmaid’s senses. She felt like she had just been dropped into a vat of lava, but it felt so wonderful that she couldn’t have cared less if she suffocated in the heat. There was passion, and desire, and longing in how Mako’s lips moved alongside hers, and she thought she could hear his heart pounding. Or perhaps that was just the thunder crackling behind them. 

As he finally drew back, Tifa remembered that her body required oxygen, and she was left panting as her mind raced to be coherent again. Crimson fazed into a deep chocolate color as her own wants and feelings burst through the fragile dam she had attempted to build all night.”I want you, Tifa…”His voice was husky and deep. Commanding yet gentle and pleading. She could see the desperation in his eyes, and wondered if that was how he felt the entire evening in the bar. Did he feel the same as she did?

A slight smile grew at the corner of her mouth before he took her lips with his again. Her hands, still trembling, clung to his arms as she returned his level of ferocious need with her own. Her feet moved on their own, retracting as her back hid the door and shoved it open. Any thoughts of hesitancy or fear were swallowed by the storm as she pulled him further inside her bedroom.

Read More

Confrontation || redmako & earthbender-bolin

earthbender-bolin:

His whole life, Bolin hat sat in the shadow of the fabulous Mako. The ‘always good at everything’ guy, or ‘the much better pro-bender than Bolin’ guy. True, his love for Mako was strong; his feelings on today were not the same as they had recently been in past years. Sick of feeling inferior, Bolin’s thoughts swirled around his head as he laid in the dark, empty room. A lone fire ferret was the only thing in the room that offered any sort of comfort, or even a break from the malicious, and painful thoughts that threatened to overtake Bolin’s actions.

It just wasn’t fair. Then again, when was it fair? Dating back to when he was younger, most girls agreed to go out on dates with him just to see Mako, and get a chance to plead their cases why they should consider their offer of a partnership. Whenever he saw Mako get something that he wanted- his pulse quickened. Shaking, his body almost denied him the right to carry out functions. The pools in his eyes threatened to overrun with salty tears that would discolor his skin as they fell. Even when it go so bad, the dual dragons of anxiety and jealousy would win him over, causing him to gnaw off some of his nails, or even try and get back at his sibling someway.

Mako didn’t mean to do this to him; Bolin knew that. It was a recurring item, like a horrible bad dream. A dream where he never woke up from, causing him to live with harbored jealousy. Surrounded by a green sea of envy, Bolin’s tiny vessel threatened to overturn one of these days. Today, of all days, his boat took on large bucket fulls of water. And Bolin drowned.

Korra; the model figure of his dreams. She was stunningly beautiful, courageous to a tee, open-handed and big-hearted- Korra was everything that Bolin had ever sought after in a partner. And now, his fingers extended for her, grasping out for her as she drifted away. Drifted away into the arms of him- of Mako. It wasn’t fair! Korra had been his first! Mako hadn’t even payed a second thought to her until Bolin expressed his feelings for Korra. Yet, there she stood. Next to his alleged idol; his supposed guardian, hero, best friend. On this day, he was none of that. All he was, was Mako- true thief of the only girl Bolin has ever felt so jovial, and blissful to be around.

Bolin continued to lay in his bed, peering across the room as he allowed tiny, salty tears to run down his face and free fall onto whatever positioned itself below them. The only comfort of the dark, quiet room was Pabu. At lest Bolin knew Pabu loved him. He tried to hold back the tears, only opening the floodgates even more for more tears to make their way through. He knew that he shouldn’t let his feelings about Mako and Korra get to him; and granted, it was really none of his business… Still, he was sick of existing if he had to harbor his greatest secret in him.

Enough. Bolin’s bulky figure raised out of bed, leaving his comfort to fall asleep on the heat induced bed. As he made his path through the hallways of the men’s side of the island, he earned curious and worried side glances at him, quickly darting away like fish once they made contact. Stopping outside a room, Bolin looked up to the door, an smile becoming evanescence until it no longer existed. Briskly, he made his way through the door, into the room of Mako- the brother betrayer.

His brother’s room remained empty. Bolin assumed he was off on another date with Korra. Letting out an unnoticeable sigh, he positioned himself in the middle of the room. When his brother got back from his little escapade, Bolin was finally going to let everything free from his system. Then, maybe his boat could resurface from the sea of envy.

The day ended with a sweet kiss of goodnight and a reluctant separation. The clock had ticked to nine and the sun was long gone by the time they decided to call it a day. There were many exchanges of banters, some affectionate gestures, but mostly the hesitation of escaping the perfect date. Although they’ve had plenty of dates before, this one just happened to be a little different. It was as if they couldn’t get enough of each other, like they wanted to endlessly replay the day.

Of course, who could blame them? After Mako became a cop, they barely had enough time for a proper conversation. The fire bender endured many hardships that came with the job, late nights, extreme workouts, and a good scolding from Chief Beifong. It was a wonder how he tolerated it, being the born leader that he usually was made it an odd environment to get accustomed to. Nevertheless, he withstood the obstacles with one thing in mind: Bolin. Despite having to go through all of the adversity, the job gave a good pay and a good pay meant better living for his brother.

However, establishing his role as the cop is still an inadequate reason for the lack of privacy that the couple suddenly has. Two weeks, it took him two weeks before having enough time to give Korra the attention that she deserves. They took the time by the head and didn’t dither to cease the day with each other’s company. So to say that the day ended flawlessly is an understatement. It was perfect, complete, absolute, and just the solution to their growing longings.

“Do you really have to go?” Korra grumbled, endeavoring to keep the fire bender just a tad longer. Her whines were rare and he found it endearing. With a crooked smile etching across his lips, Mako glanced at the girl with a pout, noting the creased brows. “As much as I want to stay…” He wanted to stay, he wanted to lay down with her and sleep with her on his arms. He wanted to wake up with her next to him. He wanted the day to continue. He wanted to stay with her. However, there are responsibilities to be met regardless of his yearns. “…I have to go home” Mako expressed, tone coated with bittersweet. Sighing in defeat, Korra nodded before giving her final gesture of valediction. Amber eyes observed as the young avatar made her way to the air acolyte’s home. Upon seeing her entering her room, the fire bender then took the leave and went his way.

It took him thirty minutes before arriving to their flat. After getting his first pay check, Mako decided it’d be for the best if he and Bolin found themselves their own apartment. The fire bender appreciates that they were welcome to stay in Air Temple Island but he didn’t want to burden them. They were kind enough to let them stay and as much as possible, he didn’t want to be a problem to Tenzin and Pema. Plus, Mako reckoned that being in a relationship with Korra and staying under the same roof was inappropriate. Needless to say, when he got his first pay, the first thing he did was look for a new home.

Their home isn’t as luxurious as the Sato mansion nor is it as traditional as the Air Temple Island. The walls were wooden as well as the floors. They have minimal furniture, just enough to make their home a smidge presentable. It’s unimpressive but they still had a place that they can call home.

With vigilant steps, Mako made his way to the hallways of their flat. He figured that Bolin must be sleeping by now and he didn’t find the need to wake him up. After finally reaching the front door of his room, he then twisted the knob and headed inside only to be baffled by the presence of his brother. Carefully closing the door, amber eyes then took a glance at the boy who stood in the middle of his room. Mako arched a brow while an inquiry settled on the tip of his tongue.  “Need something Bo?” 

Coming Home|| RedMako & KorraProbender

korraprobender:

Korra was ecstatic to finally have Mako back home, but she could tell that his mind was elsewhere. Even as the walked back through the temple and into Mako’s room, she could tell he was immersed deep within his own pensive mind and she couldn’t help but look at him with a worried glance. As he spoke to her, voice stuttering, Korra put herself to work, reaching behind Mako and pulling off his metal armor, stripping him down until she reached the tattered white undershirt he always wore and the cotton trousers underneath his padded uniform.

“You wanted to hug me?” She spoke quietly, laughing lightly, and wrapped her arms up and around his neck, burying her head in the crook of his neck. “What’s up with you?” She murmured, voice muffled by the material of his shirt, “Did something big happen at work today? I know you’re still working on that case.” 

Mako had been working on this big, important case down at the station for a few weeks now. Turns out there are still big anti-bending movements going on around the city. People meeting up in the darkest alleys, swapping information, plotting. The police force, Mako included, have rounded up many of the suspects, but new ones always keep turning up. They’re like some sort of disease, spreading like wildfire in the city. A majority of nonbenders completely dropped the anti-bending revolution upon finding out that their leader, Amon, was in fact a waterbender… a bloodbender, to be precise, but they’ll be back as the find out that more nonbenders are standing for the cause.

Korra pulled Mako over to the edge of his bed and sat him down, “You need to relax once in a while.” She spoke quietly, concern biting at the edges of her words, “All this stress can’t be good for you.”

Slowly, tentatively, she leaned forward and kissed him behind his ear. “Loosen up, City Boy.” 

It was nice feeling the island breeze brush against his bare skin. Being inside that uncomfortable armor, or uniform, was dreadful and he didn’t know how he managed to handle it. It was nothing more but a big nuisance and if it weren’t for Lin’s specific orders of wearing it, he would no doubt burn it if he had the chance. Maybe turn it into a melted pile of metallic blob – at least it’ll be called abstract art work. With a sigh escaping his lips, he let Korra press her body against his as he slowly wrapped his arms around her.

The fire bender took a sniff of Korra’s hair, noting the same familiar aroma. Lilac and jasmine with a bit of sea salt water. Her scent always staggered him, making the fire bender wonder how she can smell like that despite being out in the sun all day. Nevertheless, Mako continued to enjoy the warm gesture. The pubescent nodded with the inquiry, letting his cheek rub against her silky hair as he gave his affirmation. It wasn’t something that he wanted to talk about, nor was he even aloud to tell it to other people but surely informing the avatar about it wouldn’t be too bad.

The thought of finally having peace in republic city would’ve been nice, if not for the new gangs that started to arose. They started out like microscopic parasites, gradually multiplying under the task force’s radar. By the time they caught on, it was too late and they were required to do something quick. Needless to say, the overtime became more and more frequent than how he hoped it to be.

Though he strained to hide his stress from Korra, she still somehow managed to see right through him. The fire bender would’ve wanted to give her the attention that she deserves and his heart that she solely owned but the predicaments that’s manifesting throughout the city proved to be a good obstacle. As she dragged him to the edge of the bed, he could only comply while he let his feet drag across the wooden floor. They settled with a share of skin ship proximity.

“Korra, you shouldn’t do that…” Mako stated after receiving her gesture of affection. Amber eyes turned to gaze at the mischievous girl, only to see her play an innocent façade. Granted that he enjoyed the gesture, it still didn’t hide the fact that he just came home from work. “I still reek of sweat from work…” He mumbled as he tried to disengage himself from her. After successfully detaching himself from her, he gave her an apologetic smile.