A/N: Though I like the way this story came out I don't know how other people will feel. Also, I think I might make another chapter or two out of this but only depending on how the other prompts and ideas go.
I still don't own LOK maybe next lifetime lol.
It seemed like every Friday night was turning out to be the same for Korra ever since Mako started working for the police department. Normally it was their date night, and as his workload and her duty began to get heavy it started to wedge itself in between the two. They had been attached at the hip for months and while nauseating to most it was kind of a relief to just be Mako and Korra not Mako and Korra.
She hadn't seen a lot of Bolin since he was trying to revive the Fire Ferrets or Asami because she was trying to stop her father's business from floundering. Knowing that Asami most likely wasn't ready or plainly just too busy to see her, she thought to invite Bolin out for night of beer-bending and debauchery of the sorts. It was then that she picked up the phone and dialed up to Bolin's place.
"Hello." He answered in a bored tone. "Hey Bo, it's Korra! I was wondering if you wanted to go out to that new noodle bar downtown." Crossing her fingers, she was praying that he would say yes. There was a pregnant pause before he could answer. Korra felt desperate as he made her wait, hoping that he couldn't hear her holding her breath. "Sure. I'll meet you down there in an hour." Bolin replied. It was a short and simple answer one that she surely was grateful for.
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Xuan's was a very exciting and open place with tasty noodles and enticing drinks- It was still a bit empty for being a new noodlery. Korra was glad that she chose it though and that she thought to bring Bolin along. By the time they got to the second bowl of noodles it was time to chill out as he liked to call it. "Let's make our first night out in while worthwhile Bo!" Korra cheered. "And how you do you suppose we do that?" he asked confused at what she was implying. Bolin leaned forward to listen to her suggestion, resembling a small child who was listening to a tall tale waiting for the next sentence. "Let's get some beer and have a good time." Korra smirked. She really wanted to try the alcohol to see if it was as good as people claim it was and why not try it with her best friend. What's the harm in trying? She thought to herself as she ordered a pitcher of Xuan's best brew. "I don't know. I really don't know Korra. What about Mako?" Bolin really didn't want to get in to trouble even if he didn't live with his brother anymore. It was a tough decision, but really he was making it hard on himself.
"whatifigetdrunkandigetarrest edandmybrotherhastobailmeout anditllbealloverthenewsavata randacops probendingbrothergetcaughtdr inkingitup!" He pressed his lips together and started to feel paranoid as Korra sat with her mouth a gaped.
She blinked her eyes a few times and tilted her head, she could not believe she was hearing this right now and she had the better mind to just leave but she didn't. "Bo, come on it's just until the pitcher is halfway empty and trust me nothing is going to happen to you." she laughed. Bolin's worried look dropped slowly. I can only hope nothing happens.
"Avatar's promise?"
"Avatar's promise!"
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Upon the first sip of the bitter brew they both drew back, making disgusted faces. " Ugh, I now know why I do not drink." korra tightly closing her eyes as she took another sip. "I know what you mean. People get drunk off of this bleh." placing the mug down pacing himself slowly. "We might as well finish it. There is no use in wasting good beer." she relaxed in her seat and began to drink more steadily. He smiled and nod, it was the first smile she saw from him tonight, she couldn't help but smile back.
A few mugs and a couple of rounds later, they finally finished the beer and the conversation began to get stale. There was something in the air that neither wanted to talk about nor had the courage to bring it up. They both felt the effects of the beer, not slurring but the slowed reactions began to leer into changing of the mood. "Korra, I want to thank you for inviting me. I was feeling kind of out of it lately and this night out helped." he was half-lidded but still fully functional. Korra felt a tiny tinged in her heart, she missed that about Bolin – he was always thankful and considerate no matter the circumstance, not matter the situation. "Well, we all need a little rest and relaxation." she giggled remembering the time that he said that. Her cheeks flushed as they continued to talk and she really didn't care if it was the beer, it felt right. It was a nice feeling one she hadn't had plenty of.
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There were no more noodles and no more beer to pass around so naturally it was time to go home. Korra didn't want Bolin to go back to his place in his state and he didn't want her walking alone in hers. Time they got back to Mako and Korra's it was 1 am and still no sign of Mako. "He's pulling another all-niter I guess." her voice dejected and somber, she hugged herself and walked over to the couch where Bolin is sprawled across the cushion. "Korra it's o.k. you know he's working hard and doing what he loves." he sat up right trying to make himself comfortable and give Korra some space. "I know but it's just like h-" Korra frowns harshly trying to find the words to say. "I don't know I wish it was just different." she lamented. "I feel the same way." he interjected. "I miss us being a team; I miss living with my brother. I missed opportunities to say and do things." he was exasperated and just flat out sad by the way things were in his life. He felt like a terrible team captain, he lived alone; team avatar was not as fluid as it could have been, and he had no girlfriend. She just looked him and began to feel bad but she couldn't help that things happen the way they did. "I'm sorry Bo." she started. "I-I." she didn't know what else to say.
"There is a lot I never got to say to you." He leaned his head back into the couch and let out a loud sigh.
"Like what Bo?" Korra was curious but weary of what he was going to say.
"I never...I never truly got over you. I wish I could but it's something that has been tearing me up for a while."
He let out a sigh of relief, he finally let go of what he had been hold on to for almost a year. He turned and looked at Korra, who by now was just quiet. She stammered and looked down at her feet. Bolin began to panic inside.
"Korra say something."
"How am I supposed to face you when you tell me something like this?" she grumbled and walked away from the couch, "What about Mako? I'm with him you do know that?"
"I know." He resigned. He couldn't stand to see her turn her back towards him again. It was as painful now as it was the first time.
"When I see you I still get that feeling I had the first time I saw you in the Arena." he stood up and put his foot down. "We could have been if you didn't chase around my stupid brother. That night you kissed him when I saw it...I felt beside myself. I was on top of the world that night but then you and Mako took that away. I loved you then and I still do now." realizing what he just said he quickly placed his hands over his mouth. He truly didn't mean to disrespect her or his brother but watching them gallivanting around Republic City and Air Temple Island like two school children for this long was enough to make him close them off and be to himself, worry about himself and not care about friends except Asami. "What?!" Korra muttered in disbelief. "What are you implying Bolin? That I would have been happier with you?" she crossed her arms and waited for him to put his foot in his mouth again.
"For the record you would have been happier, no one would have gotten hurt, I could've been your friend and your lover Korra." He fell to his knees with the notion to give up. "I'm just as good as Mako, you don't know how it feels to always come in second for everything and your affection is one. I'm not gonna guilt trip you, that would be wrong but I'm not going to let my feelings for you be swept under anymore." He looked hard pressed with angst.
That was the last time I would ever drink two pitchers of beer with someone I'd been holding emotions for.
She looked at him and pitied him for acting this way but felt even worse for not asking him how he felt after all this time. Watching him letting out these pent up feelings was enough to make any other woman just turn and walk away but she couldn't do that. She walked in front of him, slowly dropped down to his level and put her hand on his shoulder. "Bo you should have told me this a long time ago. I don't know why you held on to this." Korra reasoned with him and began to think about the what-could-bes. Her hand trails to his neck; she can feel the heat of his anger drifting off him like a fire. Bolin trailed his head back up to her face, not afraid to show off his now tear stained eyes and scowled face, he hugged her fiercely.
Between the argument and the moment of her consoling him something happen that could not be explained, it was unknown as to who kissed who first but it happened.
The kiss was filled with passion, his lips entangled into hers and hers intertwined with his. His hands slipped slowly under the hem of her shirt and her hands raked across his back. Things quickly progress as they could not keep their hands off each other; he moved himself from her lips and continued to kiss her neck as they moved from the floor to the couch. She clawed at his jacket and undershirt removing both with a sense of urgency. The feel of her soft skin drove him mad as he climbed on top of her. "Korra" he threw kisses on her shoulder as he lifted her shirt and she invited them with warmth and candor. "Bolin." she whispered into his ear.
"Are you sure?"
She stopped and stared at him as he got up and sat down. With his face in his hands he couldn't believe that he was about to make the mistake of having relations with his brother's girlfriend. "I can't do that to Mako and neither can you." The anguish in his voice was clear. Bolin was torn between doing the right thing and doing what his heart wanted to do. Korra sat up and began to feel guilty. "I know it's not right. What does that say about me?" She sighed. Not thinking to put her shirt back on, she put her hand over Bolin's. Korra didn't want to him to have feelings for her and she sure as hell didn't want to reciprocate them either. It wasn't good for them. "I'm sorry Korra. I don't know what's gotten into me tonight. I wasn't right. This isn't proper." Bolin looked back at Korra; she was nearly topless and sitting with one leg over the other. He wanted to kiss her again but he couldn't move himself to do so. Korra noted the loving look in his eyes, he wanted her. Bolin wanted to be all the way there with her. He wanted more than just a drunken romp, he wanted her mind, soul, and body but he couldn't be with her. "I want you so bad Korra, I just can't. I need to go." he reached for his jacket and undershirt but felt a hand instead.
"Don't leave." Korra wouldn't sleep with him but she wasn't going to let him go out there in his current state. Wrapping her arms around him she knew he would feel safer that way. "I love you Bo." there was honesty to her words that made him feel calmer. In her heart that fluttering feeling had reach for her again as she looked at him. Her eyes told him everything.
You are making this hard for me.
"I'm not going to ask you to wait Bo. But if things don't work out with Mako..." She kissed him chastely on the lips. He pulls her away and shook his head violently. "No. I don't want that. I'm not going to wait and I'm not going to hurt my brother." he affirmed.
"You need to stop acting like I'm the bad guy here when I have just as much mix emotions as YOU."
So you're admitting that you feel the same way.
He was making her angry. "You shouldn't dump your affections on me. I have a hard enough time with Mako but you kissing me, telling me you love me and still love me after all this time is just mucking me up." she huffed. "And I don-" He kissed her and carried her back to the couch. This time the kiss was deeper, more frenzied. They both wanted to stop but their bodies, their hearts, told them no. "We can't keep doing this" she groaned as he rubbed against her. It felt so good to be in the arms of someone. Her loneliness was going to be the end of her and she at this point didn't care or maybe she did. "Let's go back into the room" he whispered into her ear. She complied and led him to her room...the room she shared with Mako.
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The next morning she woke up alone with a throbbing headache. She heard the shower and hoped that she didn't do anything she'd regret last night besides drinking too much. Pulling on her robe she got up out of the bed. Her stomach was in knots as she walked up to the bathroom and knocked on the door. "What!" It was Mako's voice. She was relieved that it was just him. "Good Morning." she rushed. As she gathered herself together she stuck her hand in the pocket of her robe. Feeling a piece of thin paper in her hand she looked at it, it was a letter from Bolin. She walked into the kitchen and read it:
Korra,
When you and I went to the room last night, I was still fighting my emotions. As we were kissing, the feeling still lingered. I still wanted you and honestly at this very second I still do, but you fell asleep and I knew then that it wasn't meant to be. So I tucked you into bed and slept on the couch. I still love you Korra but I understand if it was meant to be it will happen when it's supposed to and not because we had a little outside help, ha ha.
Love,
Bolin
P.S.: I am never drinking with you ever again.
There were words that could never express at this moment she felt her troubles being alleviated. She took the letter and put it in the sink lighting it with her firebending. As it burned she thought about how she almost went too far but she knew she had already messed up by kissing Bolin and telling him that she had feelings for him too. It was a mess but it was her mess to fix. She knew she had to make it up to Mako and he would have to know the truth sooner or later. As she pondered this Mako walked up to her and surprised her. "Hey. I didn't mean to scare you." he hugged her close kissing the side of her face. "It's ok." she cleared her throat. "Was that breakfast? If so, I gotta run." he joked pointing at the charred mess in the sink. "Oh no, no, no." Korra laughed but she grew quiet quickly. She turned to him and told him to take a seat.
"What's wrong Korra?"
"Mako we need to talk."
