Rating: K

So this was Republic City at night; Korra had heard stories from some of her more loosened up teachers and guards back at the compound. The city of a thousand-and-one lights, where anybody could be anything: the city that perfectly reflected her past life, Avatar Aang. And, spirits, this city was nothing like she had ever imagined. Korra had felt like she had stepped into the spirit world when she set foot on the harbour that hot summer night; the warm lights that glowed like fireflies in the warm breeze.

"This is all so..." she lost her words, walking through the crowds, snaking between citizens as no one recognized her. Her neck craned, her head turning this way and that in wonder; sure the Southern Water tribe had grand buildings that shone in the pale moonlit night, but... Republic City was so warm and alive. "... Wow..."

It was after nearly bumping into people for the third time that she remembered her purpose for sneaking out. You're not sightseeing yet, she told herself as she walked with more purpose, now hurry or you'll miss the match! And like that she was off, firebrand that she was, towards the arena; nobody paid attention, sights like this common on match nights.

A couple of people did comment on how "the arena's that way! Hurry, the match starts in ten minutes!"

Although the directions were useful, and Korra soon found herself at her destination; she soon realized that her lack of a ticket would be a problem. But she had been around the block before, and quickly found her entrance; some back window she could climb into.

Much later, Korra would realize the amplitude of her actions that night; and she would silently thank her lucky stars for that meeting from which the Krew was born. Who knows what might've happened had she never snuck out, had she never snuck in the arena.

This was how they met. Korra, never having to lie much - or even sneak out all that often from the compound - was at a lost for words again. The city seemed to have that effect on her. Toza, the old grumpy man, was demanding who she was and he wasn't buying her fibs. Then, he walked around the corner of the gym.

"There you are!" he greeted her like an old fried, as if the laws of hospitality were still a thing; his smiled wquirked into a warm and welcoming smile - so unlike the snarky, slick vendor smile she had been privy to before - his eyes twinkling in the evening's light and his pearly skin absolutely glowing. "I looked for you everywhere!"

You did? she thought, oh! You did! She smiled and nodded; and she was spared from having to formulate a coherent reply when Toza asked if she was with him. And then she heard the boy talk.

He fumbled a bit with his words; and her lips involuntarily wanted to split into a smile. Korra resisted the urge though, and killed the giggle short - he reminded her of her dad when her mom told her stories of when they were young.

"We're not together," she quickly told the old man. If anything, she would decide if their charade needed them to act like that. But why did she minded? Korra had played pretend a lot, heard many stories; she knew ruses like those were common place, or maybe... He had meant something else; she still wasn't used to city-speak.

"O-Oh, no, no I didn't mean to imply-"

"You totally did," she interrupted him; teasing the boy. Seeing someone else flustered for once, especially because she made him - the city boy - flustered, made Korra's heart beat faster. She could master this city yet, and the boy didn't seem like bad company.

His heart fluttered the more he heard her speak. Even her voice sounded beautiful, so when he turned the corner, it was all he could do to act - maybe he ought to become an actor, he wondered. She went with his act almost seamlessly; her polite smile and almost demure nodding along - Bolin knew that façade hid a strong rapids of a girl; there was no way that eyes that bright belonged to a quiet and introvert city-girl.

When Toza left with a grumble, he immediately offered her the best seat in the house; she more than earned it, after sneaking in the arena this far.

The rest of the night was magical; he didn't play his best, distracted by the Water Tribe beauty, and his brother managed his signature hat trick, but after the match...

She lifted him by the collar, bringing him as close as she could without their faces touching. "That was amazing!"

Korra had never seen anything like it! Even the announcer, as fantastic as he was, fell short in describing the intensity, the acrobatics, the crowd, the everything! Never had she even imagined an earth bender could move so lithely, almost like a water bender - in fact, Bolin moved very much like what Tenzin had been trying to teach her; it was crazy! True, Bolin's brother had been an impressive athlete, winning with an amazing hat-trick; but firebending had always been something she knew to be acrobatic.

But Bolin had truly impressed her; how could he manage to lift the earth with such speed and explosiveness and yet move like that - besides, Korra had totally not been staring at his butt whenever he flexed, about to move. Then he agreed to teach her some moves; and the best part? He wasn't condescending or in worship of her - at least not in the usual way; and she wouldn't genuinely know of his feelings for her until much later.

Immediately she was smitten with the boy; he was everything she ever could have asked for in a friend. A willing accomplice; a guide, a teacher; another animal lover; he reassured her when his borther or other people brought her down. Aside from Tenzin - and after that, the whole of Republic City, but she hadn't been looking - Korra had never seen someone with such fair skin; he looked to be made of ivory, or marble, for he was much too hardy for porcelain. And his eyes like peridots speckled with the greenest of greens, like warm grass under the midday sun.

Immediately he was smitten with the girl; she too was everything he was looking for - and even what he didn't know he'd been missing. She was tough; liked to play; she was a go-getter; she egged him on to do those crazy things, and become better in the process. Bolin had always seen waterbenders; both fair and darker. But Korra looked otherwordly; and her eyes... Their blue swirled with the torrent of her emotions, darker spots like deep trenches on the ocean floor. Dark, powerful, mysterious.

Yes, they were smitten with eachother. Made to compliment; like the sand dunes before an ocean. They were perfect. But she dated his brother instead.

A/N: I might not get to everyday of Borra Month 2016 (if you want to know more, go to the fuckyeahborraweek tumblr), but I will certainly do my best to get as many done as I can!

Also, I am working on I Never Wanted This; I have the beginning of the next chapter written, but it is possible I don't get to do much more work on it before the end of may.