As he feared, Asami wasn’t welcoming any touch that she did not initiate herself. Mako decided not to try again for now, having already pushed his luck more than enough. Once more she had brought up his attraction to Korra, something he couldn’t deny, but she had also brought up Korra’s uniqueness by downplaying herself to prove her point. Yes, Asami couldn’t bend, but that didn’t mean he didn’t see value in her. She had already proven herself a friend to the Fire Ferrets and a capable person, bender or not. To bring it up again in such a somber tone had killed him more inside. Even a girl as incredible as her could have her share of insecurity.

[color=CD853F][b]“I know you c—“[/b][/color] It was the briefest flare, but beneath Asami’s face appeared a sudden burst of flame, seemingly out of nowhere. Peering down, all he saw was her balled fist. Could he have imagined it somehow? [color=CD853F][b]“Asami…did.. did you—“[/b][/color]Again, from the palm of her hand, now cupping it with the other, Asami had generated flame from nothing. That should have been impossible for all but two people: Korra, and a fire bender. Asami’s revelation was confirmed by her own words. She was the latter. She was a fire bender all this time. 

His jaw dropped in awe. This reveal hadn’t stopped her from continuing to express herself, and to prove he was taking this very seriously he had to meet her eyes again. Difficult considering what his formerly non-bender girlfriend had just done, but he gave it his very best effort. Asami didn’t care for sorry and he couldn’t blame her for not settling for it. In an instant, the flames disappeared from her hands, and she reached out for his own. From the shared connection, Mako could feel the warmth that they had left behind. More importantly than confirming that his eyes didn’t fail him, that he wasn’t just imagining things, she had taken his hands in his own, a gesture which he did not hesitate to return.

[color=CD853F][b]“Asami, I swear, I just thought Korra would be easier to talk to without hurting. I already rejected her, I just didn’t think she’d translate it into me liking her,”[/b][/color] Mako explained. He would not deny his hand in that kiss being made possible, but his intentions were not as secretive as she’d like to think. If it came between Korra and Bolin, he would rather have a bad discussion with Korra. It helped, unfortunate as it was, that he had already had a bad discussion with her prior to that one.

Mentioning owing Bolin the truth of what happened tonight had brought a greater sinking feeling into his chest. She was right, but for once he wished she wasn’t. If there was a shred of good in Korra—and he knew for a fact there was—then she might have thought that confessing to what happened was the best plan, too. But that didn’t change what he did--what the two of them did. It would hurt Bolin, he knew that, but sitting on the knowledge of what he did was much worse for him to bear.

[color=CD853F][b]“I… I know, you’re right,”[/b][/color] Mako conceded, looking off to the side. [color=CD853F][b]“Asami… I… I’ll admit that I think Korra is attractive,”[/b][/color] he faced her again, [color=CD853F][b]“but I [i]swear to you[/i] that being the Avatar or even a bender has [i]nothing[/i] to do with it. You don’t want to hear it, but that’s the truth, and I’m telling you because… because you deserve to hear me admit it. But I don’t want Korra, not like I want you. I need you to believe that, please, just… just try and believe me, even if it’s tough.”[/b][/color]