The Jealousy Game (Part 3)

There was nothing but silence in the car during the first few minutes, not even Bolin was speaking. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife and the soon to be married couple seemed to be brooding.

Bolin took notice that Korra was tapping her hands together somewhat aggressively and that his brother had a tight grip on the steering wheel. And he wasn't too much liking the sharp and quick turns Mako was making. Maybe it was time for the earth bender to work his magic and better their moods.

"So…Pabu told me this really funny joke not too long ago…"

The Avatar spoke suddenly. "On and off the field, Mako? What was that about?"

"Me?" Mako turned to her with the same aggressiveness. "What about your 'private lessons' with Tahno?"

Or maybe it was time for Bolin to just sit back and relax for now…

Korra blushed. "He was just teaching me Pro-bending."

"Yeah, I bet he is a pro at bending…bending people over."

"And what's up with that? Why were you starting trouble by calling him a manwhore?"

"Are you kidding me? He was totally flirting with you…and he questioned my manhood!" Mako growled and then imitated Tahno's voice. "'I'd like to give you some more private lessons in Pro-bending if you still need help…because I know Mako isn't the best at it.'"

"I knew you were jealous."

"Don't make me laugh. You were the jealous one; you looked like you were about to rip Asami's trachea out her neck when she felt my muscles."

"What muscles?"

"Oh, so now you're insulting me?" Mako scoffed. "I knew this was a bad idea."

"You're a bad idea." Korra mumbled and crossed her arms like a defiant child.

"That's what I tried to tell him a while ago!" Bolin agreed.

Mako gritted his teeth and made another quick and sharp turn, that made Bolin's heart rate pick up speed.

"Nevermind, you're a good idea, Mako…"

"And you are the jealous one!" Korra continued the argument. "You yelled at Tahno and practically jammed a bread stick down my throat…which, by the way, did not feel good at all."

"He fed you! What was I supposed to do? Encourage him?" Mako turned and glared at his fiancée.

"…Mako…maybe you should keep both eyes on the road…you know, for safety…I like being safe…" Bolin said softly.

"No, but you didn't have to have Asami feed you!"

"Why not? I like my bread sticks with ranch!"

"You're impossible."

The person behind Mako blew their horn at him, which only caused the fire bender to stick his head out the window and yell 'Jerkbender!'. Korra was unfazed, still glaring at Mako but Bolin was staring at him, wide eyed.

"…I think you have a little road rage.."

Mako turned to Korra again as he sped off with no concern of the speed limit. "And what about that whole stealing money thing from a random shop with Tahno?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yeah right; Tahno said it was your idea." Mako made an incredulous face. "I can't believe you…forget Skoochy, you're probably who Jinora picked up her kleptomaniac ways from."

"Get off your high horse, Mako! Like you've never stolen something before…besides, I was young and bored."

"Young and bored? Go play a game. Go for a swim. Go to the zoo. You don't go steal!" Mako said. "And how were you bored anyway? You're the Avatar, for goodness sake! You could've been off saving the world or talking to Aang or something."

He swerved for no good reason causing Bolin to grab Pabu and close his eyes.

"Spirits, please don't let me die like this…"

"Forget that! Let's talk about you wanting little miss perfect singer's demo tape." Korra imitated Mako's voice then, but it sounded more like a Barney's voice. "Do you have a demo tape? I'd love to play it in the car."

"I was being nice…and I don't sound like that!"

Another swerve. Another horn.

"Pabu, if we don't make it out, I want you to know that you were my best friend…"

"I always said you could be a singer." Korra continued her imitation.

"I said I was being nice. What did you want me to say? 'I know you suck, burn all your demos and spare yourself the emotional pain?'"

"There's a start."

Mako gripped the wheel even tighter. "You're impossible."

Korra snorted. "Bolin, what do you think?"

Bolin reopened his eyes slowly and took his time answering her question. He wasnt quite sure what to say. "I think maybe your both jealous…"

"I'm not jealous!" The couple responded in unison.

"Okay, how about this…how about we stop talking until we get to the movies?" The earth bender suggested. "If we ever get there without being pulled over…or dying…"

"I've got a better idea! Let's all just stop talking until we get to the movies." Korra growled.

"Fine." Mako said, a little angry.

"Fine." Korra repeated.

"…that's kinda what I just said…but okay…"

There was then, again, nothing but silence in the car, which Bolin was grateful for. However the tension was still there and it showed by Korra's resumed tapping of the hands and by Mako's crazy driving. Eventually, though, they made it to the theater and saw Tahno and Asami waiting in the front for them.

As soon as Bolin got out of the car and into the movies, he dropped to his knees and began kissing the ground.

"I'm alive! Safety…finally to safety, I love you safety…I'm so happy I'm alive…"

Tahno stared at the earth bender, an amused smile still plastered on his face, and then turned to the couple. "It took you guys a while to get here…we were starting to think you bailed on us."

"Sorry, it's Mako's fault." Korra blamed him immediately. "He decided to drive like a maniac and get us a ticket."

"It was an accident," The fire bender hissed. "I didn't realize I was over the speed limit."

"How could you not?" Bolin asked incredulously.

Before anybody else had the chance to question or say anything else to Mako, the fire bender walked forward. "Let's not waste time; what movie did you all want to see?"

"Something funny!" Bolin shouted louder than needed.

"Oh, something romantic!" Asami voiced her opinion.

"How about something scary?" Tahno suggested, a sly grin on his face.

"Good idea Tahno, I vote scary." Korra said, staring directly at her fiancée.

"Asami doesn't want to see something scary." Mako said, looking back at her.

"Actually, I change my mind, I do." She said with a smile. "Scary is always awesome and there's bound to be romance somewhere in it."

Mako sighed, irritated Korra and Tahno got their way. "Fine."

"It'll be okay Mako, I'll protect you if you're scared." Asami teased and grabbed hold of his arm.

Fire flared in Korra's eyes but she suppressed her urges to burn her to a crisp. She hadn't even noticed Tahno had moved right beside her.

"And I'll protect you." He whispered to the Avatar, startling her a bit.

"Awe…what about me? I don't want to see scary…who's there to protect me?" Bolin whined a bit. "And don't say Pabu…he'll be scared too…"

The group chose a random scary movie, paid for it (and a few snacks) and then went in to take their seats. They each agreed to sit in the far back to get a better view, however the seating arrangement became a problem.

Bolin sat down near the end, placing Pabu on the left side of him and on the right side sat Korra. Mako went to sit next to her but Tahno sat in the seat before him with another sly grin. Not wanting to sit next to Tahno, Mako allowed Asami to and then sat on the other side of her. As you could see, some people were happy with the arrangements while others weren't.

Not long after, the room darkened without warning and Asami immediately leaned closer to Mako.

"The dark really gets to me sometimes…" She said softly.

"Understandable." The fire bender nodded.

"Shhhhh!" Korra shushed them even though they weren't loud. "Some of us are trying to watch the movie."

Mako glared at her. "The movie hasn't even started yet."

"Yeah, well, when it does, I want to be able to hear it."

Mako rolled his eyes and ignored her while Asami just chuckled to herself at their bickering. Korra frowned and leaned back in attempt to keep her eyes on the two, however, Tahno leaned back, blocking her view. He grinned at her and managed to get his arm around her shoulder as before.

"Korra, I just realized I haven't asked you about yourself. How's life treating you?" He said in his smooth voice.

She smiled. "Good for the most part. Now that Amon's no longer a threat, life's been really good. "

"That's good to hear. I could say the same…if I had someone on my arm as beautiful as you."

Korra was thankful for the darkness then because if it wasn't, Tahno would've seen her blush again. She was beginning to question herself; why did she keep blushing involuntarily? Maybe it was his voice…

"Oh, well thanks…but I'm sure you have plenty of girls fawning over you."

"Oh, I do; especially since I'm Pro-bending champ." He started playing with her hair innocently. "But I said 'as beautiful as you'…."

Korra was flattered but she was about to tell him that maybe he should back up a bit. He was getting a bit too close and a bit too touchy…

Bolin spoke before she could though. "Psst, Korra…I think Mako wants your attention…he's staring over here like an angry Komodo-Rhino…"

Korra looked and saw Mako was staring at her furiously. Korra then saw that Asami seemed to be even closer to him, almost lying her head against his chest. This made Korra glare at him back and then she turned away from him and back to Tahno.

"Thanks Tahno, I appreciate that." She said louder than needed.

Suddenly Mako excused himself to Asami and stood up with fire in his eyes. He walked over, grabbed Korra's arm and pulled her with him as he started to leave.

"Where are you going?" Bolin asked.

"Bathroom." Mako grumbled.

"Together? Is now really an appropriate time?" Bolin raised an eyebrow.

The fire bender didn't respond but instead, yanked his fiancée all the way to where the snacks were being sold. When he got there, he let her arm go and glared at her with the intensity of the sun. Korra made a face and then jabbed him in the chest with her finger.

"What's your problem?"

"Why are you letting him touch you?" Mako demanded, not caring who heard their conversation.

"Because I can," She yelled right back at him. "Why does it bother you? Asami touched you and I didn't say anything."

Mako stared at her for a few seconds before lowering his voice. "Is that the game you want to play, Korra? Because I guarantee you won't win."

"Is that a challenge?"

"Take it how you want…but I'm warning you, you're not the only one who can play this jealousy game."

Korra made another face. "Challenge accepted."

"You brought this on yourself." Mako pointed at her.

They stared at each other for a few more seconds before turning away and storming back to their movie. When they made it in, the other three party members seemed to be able to feel the tension between them...especially when they both sat back down in their seats with a 'thud'. They hadn't even noticed the movie had started.

"I take it you're bathroom experience wasn't as good as you hoped..." Bolin said in a soft voice to the couple.

"Korra, are you okay?" Tahno asked, face full of mock concern; he knew what was really going on. "You look mad. What happened at the bathrooms?"

Her thoughts still elsewhere, Korra didn't hear him completely. "...huh? Yeah, bathrooms...bad plumbing...no toilet paper..."

Asami resumed her spot on Mako when he sat down. "What's wrong? Did something happen at the bathroom?"

"No," The fire bender exhaled deeply and tried to think of something to excuse his frustrations. "it's just that all the stalls were full and stuff...no soap at the sink..."

"Oh...well, try not to leave again; the movie started and I had no one to hold onto..." She grinned at him as she latched onto his arm.

Mako smirked at her after a few seconds. "I thought you were supposed to be the one protecting me."

"That's true...well how about I meet you halfway and say we'll protect each other?"

She snuggled up against him and Mako would've told her that she was kinda pushing the limit with all the touching and stuff...but Korra just had to insist on playing this jealousy game, so he didn't. He was going to win and prove her to be more jealous and Korra was going find that out the hard way.

Instead, Mako smiled at her again. "Deal."

Korra's eye twitched as she listened to their interaction and then she gritted her teeth. He was not going to win this game...she wouldn't let him...

Tahno, seeing the perfect opportunity to make a move, was about to but Korra spoke to him first.

She leaned closer to him. "So Tahno, what's this movie about anyway?"

He grinned. "Basically a serial killer is on the loose and the police try to figure out who and where he is before he kills everyone in Ba Sing Se."

"Oh, it sounds scary." Korra said just as the serial killer killed some random guy on the street. "...and looks it too...you have to keep me close just in case I get scared, Tahno."

She said the last part for Mako's benefit of course, but she couldn't see him clenching his teeth and fists.

"In case you get scared?" Bolin looked at her incredulously and shivered. "The movie is called 'The Earth-Bender Serial Killer'...how do you think I feel?"

Korra's eyes got low as she watch Bolin stare at the big screen while squeezing the life out of the fire ferret in his hands. "Um...Bolin..."

Without warning, the earth bender leaned over and latched himself onto the Avatar's arm. "Ah! ...hold me Korra..."

Korra couldn't help but chuckle. "Bolin, you're over exaggerating; it's just a movie."

"You say that now, but when you find my body in his hideout then you'll be sorry..." Another killing scene came on and Bolin released Korra's arm and covered his mouth. "I think I'm gonna be sick..."

"Bolin?" Mako and Korra said at the same time, a bit concerned.

The earth bender suddenly used his powers to help him get out of the theater quicker. He ran to the bathroom where he proceeded to regurgitate his noodles.

Tahno rolled his eyes. "Awe, come on, put on your big boy pants."

"Don't talk to him like that!" Mako hissed at him.

"It looks like someone else needs to put on his big boy pants too." Tahno smirked.

"Listen you..."

"Leave him alone Mako, he was just joking around." Korra cut him off as she leaned onto Tahno again. "If you have a problem, move."

Mako glared at her again but then nodded. "Okay, I will...come on Asami, I know those two water benders are being loud and obnoxious so let's move down a few rows."

Korra silently cursed herself for giving the suggestion and watched in frustration as her fiance and his ex moved away from them.

"Glad they moved," Tahno whispered to her. "more alone time for us..."

"Yeah, because we need more time without Mako acting like a jealous cow-hippo." Korra said, much louder than a whisper.

"Ignore them, Asami...some people just don't know how to act in a theater..." Mako said as he helped Asami sit down, unnecessarily.

Korra fumed and sat back, leaning against Tahno as she racked her brain, trying to think of stuff to do that would really get to Mako. As she did that, Mako grinned to himself, knowing he was turning the tables in his favor.

Oh my goodness...who was going to win this game?