Mako's relationships

This page is comprised of Mako's relationships with other characters in the Avatar World. Though Mako's troubled past has left him scarred and slightly cynical, he is capable of immense love and sacrifice toward his intimates.

Parents
"'This scarf was my father's. And it's all I have left of him. I just feel like... like it keeps me safe.' - Mako to Asami Sato in 'The Voice in the Night'."

It is suggested that Mako was close to his parents, particularly his father. When he was eight, he witnessed a firebender mug murder both his mother and father, leaving him orphaned on the streets with his then six year old brother Bolin. His only remaining relic of them is his father's scarf that he can almost always be seen wearing. He feels as though it keeps him safe, and is shown to be rather attached to it.

Bolin
"'Bolin's the only family I have left. If anything happened to him...' - Mako to Korra in 'The Revelation'."



When Mako's parents died, he was left on the streets with his brother. He began working for the Triple Threat Triad by running numbers so he could survive and provide for Bolin. Later, when questioned by Korra about this, he justified this by saying he was "doing what [he] could... to protect [his] little brother." At some point in time, Toza discovered Mako fighting on the streets and invited the brothers to live in the attic of the Pro-bending Arena, and work odd jobs to pay rent. The brothers accepted, and together they formed their own pro-bending team, the Fire Ferrets.

Even though Mako's serious, brooding personality conflicts with Bolin's funny, happy nature, Mako loves his brother, and is very protective of him. Before the quarterfinals of the Pro-bending Tournament, he confronted Korra for admitting her feelings for him, and after being rejected, going on a date with Bolin as he did not want his brother's heart to be broken. Later, when kissing Korra in front of his brother, he shouted at her and then ran after Bolin to comfort him. Despite being called a "brother-betrayer", they were able to reconcile during the semifinals, restoring their good bond.

Korra
"'As much as you drive me crazy, I also think you're pretty amazing.' - Mako to Korra in 'The Spirit of Competition'."



When Mako first met Korra, he thought she was just another one of Bolin's "crazy fangirls" and practically ignored her. Even after he discovered she was the Avatar and joined the Fire Ferrets, he was still rather tough on her. When Bolin went missing, Mako was reluctant at first to accept Korra's help in searching for him, but he eventually complied. The two got along quite well, and when Korra asked about the fate of his parents, Mako felt comfortable to tell her the truth. Later, they fell asleep against each other, and felt embarrassed when they woke up. However, when infiltrating into an Equalist rally, Korra put her arm around Mako's to look more casual, which he only allowed because she stated that they would attract less attention that way. He also allowed Korra to wear his scarf which was the only thing he had left of his father.

When Bolin asked some time later what Mako thought of Korra as a girlfriend, he thought the question was about him and Korra, and said she was great, but then took it back when he realized that Bolin meant the question for himself, saying that she was not girlfriend material and he should not date a teammate. That night, Korra confessed her feelings for him after they won the game by saying that she thought they were "meant for each other". Unsure, Mako gently rejected her and told her that he did not feel the same way and he was with Asami. However, when his girlfriend walked in and he took her to the side, he darted a sad look while eyeing Korra and Bolin glumly after she had accepted to go on a date with the earthbender.

After the end of their date, Mako confronted Korra and accused her of playing games with Bolin only to get back at him. Korra saw through his facade and remarked that he was jealous, which he strongly denied, using his relationship with Asami as an excuse. After a particularly rocky match, he went out to talk to Korra and confessed his true feelings by saying while she was infuriating and drove him crazy, he still thought she was pretty amazing. However, despite admitting that he had deep feelings for Korra, he also had such feelings for Asami, leaving him confused and unsure of how to handle this. Korra immediately followed this statement by impulsively kissing him; he was stunned by this, but kissed her back with equal enjoyment. Despite their mutual affection for each other, they acknowledged that taking their relation further was causing much friction between them and everyone else, agreeing to for now just maintain a casual friendship.

Mako appeared to be very protective and concerned for Korra's safety throughout the championship match and Amon's sudden attack on the arena, defending her from a three-on-one attack after she was knocked down and asking her to be careful when she set off after Amon during his escape. After being saved by Chief Beifong from falling to her death from the arena ceiling, he was the first to run over to hug her and told her he was "so glad" she was okay.

Mako and Korra's relationship hit another snag when Korra began suspecting Asami's father, Hiroshi Sato, of working with the Equalists. Mako stood up in his girlfriend's defense, threatening to break off his friendship with Korra if she did not drop her investigation against the Satos. When Korra refused to drop her claim and stated that she was sorry, Mako gave her a disgusted look and walked away with Asami.

When Korra went with Tenzin, Lin Beifong, and members of the Metalbending Police Force to look for Hiroshi's secret factory, he wanted to go with her, but was told to remain with Bolin and Asami, being watched by a metalbending officer. Before Korra disappeared down the tunnel, she cast a sad look back at Mako. He looked down out of guilt and shame because of accusing her of formulating lies earlier. Mako heard the platinum wall close, and cleverly tricked the metalbender cop watching the three of them by sneezing out fire. The three made their way underground to save the investigating party. Mako and Bolin found Korra and the others unconscious, about to be taken to Amon on Hiroshi's orders. The brothers attempt to get them to safety. While Bolin went to get Tenzin, Mako made his way to Korra, hoisted her onto his back, and started to help his brother drag Chief Beifong, but they were discovered by Hiroshi Sato and some Equalists. However, Asami's intervention allowed them to escape to the police airship with the group in tow.

On board the airship, making their way to the Republic City coast, Mako apologized to Korra and admitted that she was right. Korra accepted the apology and invited Mako, Bolin, and Asami to live on Air Temple Island in addition to advising him to comfort his girlfriend in her time of need, despite her feelings for him.

When Mako learned that Korra was missing, he grew angry and refused to believe that she was gone. After coming to his senses, he became very determined to find her, almost beating up an Equalist in order to obtain a lead to Korra's whereabouts. When Naga returned with Korra on her back, Mako pushed Lin and Tenzin out of the way, demanding that they "[gave] her some space." He carried Korra in his arms and told her how worried he was about her and how relieved he was that she was okay. Korra returned his sentiment and rested her head against his chest, while he carefully carried her atop Oogi. He laid her down, emphasizing that she was safe now.

Asami
"'She's great! But I think it makes more sense for me to go for Asami.' - Mako to Bolin on how he thought of Korra as a 'girlfriend' sort of way in 'The Spirit of Competition'."



Mako met Asami after she hit him with her moped. Initially, he was angry at her due to her lack of attentiveness to other people on the road, but immediately forgot his train of thought the moment he laid eyes on her. After she invited him to go on a date as an apology for the incident, he, lovestruck, accepted gladly. Their relationship hit off immediately, and they spent a lot of time together. While enjoying a romantic carriage ride through Republic City Park, Mako entrusted in Asami that his red scarf was the only memento he still had of his deceased father. After Asami told him that she had lost her mother at a young age as well, they locked in an intimate embrace.

Even when training for the big Pro-bending Tournament, Mako made time to go out on dates with Asami, and she was present after every match to congratulate him and the team. When Korra confessed her true feelings to him, Mako turned her down, using his relationship with Asami as an excuse.

Asami invited Mako and his teammates to stay in the Sato estate after the Pro-bending Arena was closed down following the Equalists' attack. When the Satos were investigated on Korra's suspicions, Mako defended Asami against the Avatar, even going so far as ending his friendship with Korra if she continued to berate Asami. After it was proven that Hiroshi was working with the Equalists, Mako comforted the distraught Asami on Korra's advice after they left the Sato estate.

Amon and the Equalists


Mako, alongside Korra, first encountered the Equalists when they were searching for Bolin, who had been kidnapped while working for the Triple Threat Triad. Mako and Korra, on their search for Bolin, saw the latter being taken away in a truck and followed it. They lost the truck when two Equalists turned around and fought them. The two Equalists, after blocking Mako and Korra's chi, took off. After this, Korra and Mako went to the park in search of the protestor Korra had met when she had arrived to Republic City. They met the man and found out about a "revelation" that Amon was having that night. Using the fliers the protestor had, Mako and Korra found out where the rally was taking place. They went to the building and witnessed Amon taking people's bending away. Bolin was in line to get his bending taken away, but Mako, with Korra's help, managed to grab Bolin in time and the three of them managed to escape.

Hiroshi Sato
"Sponsoring our team, supporting the Avatar, it was all just a big cover."

"Yes, and the most difficult part was watching my daughter traipse around with a firebending street rat like you!" - Mako and Hiroshi Sato in "The Aftermath".



When Asami nearly ran Mako over with her moped, she invited him to dinner, where he discovered she was the daughter of Hiroshi Sato, the creator of Satomobiles. After Asami told her father about Mako's situation, he agreed to finance the Fire Ferrets, giving them the thirty-thousand yuans the team needed to compete in the tournament. Mako later learned that Hiroshi was helping the Equalists, upsetting him deeply.

Hasook
"'You did more harm than good out there. You almost cost us the match!' - Mako to Hasook in 'A Leaf in the Wind'."



Hasook is the former waterbending member of the Fire Ferrets. During tournament qualifying against the Golden Temple Tigerdillos, Hasook was continually attacked by his opponents, being slow to react. In the third round of the match, he was hit early and knocked into Bolin. Both were eventually sent out of the ring, and although Mako won the match with a hat trick, he chastised Hasook for his poor play. The waterbender, frustrated by Mako, threw his helmet on the floor and walked out of the arena. He then failed to show up for the final qualifier, nearly forcing the Fire Ferrets to forfeit before Korra took Hasook's place.