A/N: All right. If you follow me on tumblr this is it, this is the beginning of the Bolin Cancer AU. Shout out to kwong's who's helped with the outlining and and everything and is awesome and is helping edit and is awesome and really comes up with amazing ideas and does way better descriptions than I do. Also thank you to fireferretfuzzies for reading this over (and unintentionally reminding me why I should not write at 11 pm at night). Also: all medical advise is coming from a nurse practitioner fyi. This will come more into play in the next chapter.

Here we go.

Disclaimer: I don't own.

Bolin laughed nervously. "You know, this really should be easy. I mean I've just been feeling a little off and Mako's the one who's worried." He kicked his feet against the examination table. "Should just be a bad case of the flu or something. It hasn't really messed with my earthbending."

The doctor nodded but continued to go through the questions on her screen. "Exactly how long have you been feeling this way?"

"Almost a month I think? I'm only here because it's getting to the point where I can't go to work and coach."

The doctor scribbled something onto the chart in her hand. She set the chart down, pressing her hands to the side of Bolin's throat.

"Have you experienced any aches or pains?"

Bolin shrugged. "I have been kind of sore, but it's probably just from the extra practices. I did see the gym's waterbending healer too."

"And this has persisted?" Bolin nodded. "Where do you have soreness?"

"Around here," Bolin said, motioning to his hips. "I've been teaching the kids this cool move where you're on your back and you can leap up but I guess I've been demonstrating a little too well …."

"Have you noticed anything else? Changes in weight? Have you had regular bowel movements?"

"Uh …. everything's fine, I guess," Bolin chuckled nervously. "But the other day, I did put on my girlfriend's pants by accident."

The doctor stared.

"I looked great in them."

"Okay …" She scribbled another line on the chart, closing the metal folder. "Well, it doesn't look like the flu. We'll have to collect some samples and run a few tests."

"What do you think it could be, doc?"

"It seems like it might just be an infection but it's hard to tell right now."

Bolin knew he was running late. He knew that but he'd still stayed on that Skype call with Opal for longer than either of them knew was best. That was one of the problems with having a girlfriend who travelled for work: phone dates became a thing. A lot of the call had been telling Opal there was nothing to worry about with the tests the doctor ran. So what if he hadn't gotten the results yet? Maybe a lab was backed up or something (considering how often Mako complained about the forensics lab being backlogged. Bolin assumed a medical one would be too).

He ran through the back door to the gym and threw his bag into the corner of the office. "I'll put this away later," he called to Toza as he shocked his jacket off and threw it on top of the bag. "I have to go warm up!"

"Your bag is vibrating!" Toza called as Bolin rushed down the hallway towards the gym. He stopped and turned around. It had been three days since his doctor's appointment and he should at least check to see if its the doctor. He ran back and dug into his coat pocket for his phone.

"Hello," he answered a little breathlessly, pleased he didn't let it go to voicemail.

"Hello, is this Bolin?" A female voice said.

Bolin hesitated. He'd received the odd fan call since he'd done the Nuktuk movies as a teenager but they were few and far between. "This is he," he finally said.

"This is Jin from Dr. Song's office."

Bolin relaxed. "Oh hi, do you have my results?"

"I do but Dr. Song thinks it would be best for you to come in and talk about them. She has an appointment available tomorrow at 10 am-"

"Look I have to go teach a class and I have a private lesson scheduled for tomorrow at that time, do you think it would be possible to just tell me?" He walked into the hallway, he didn't want Toza overhearing.

"The doctor would really like to talk to you about it."

"Do I need some kind of prescription? I can pick it up tomorrow before the lesson and ask the pharmacist about it," he offered as he paced. "Whatever it is, I'm sure it's nothing."

"The doctor wants to see you-"

"Look I'm busy, just tell me why she wants to see me and then I'll figure out my schedule-"

"Your blood test came back abnormal."

He paused. "Abnormal how?"

"Dr. Song wants to take some more blood, do another test. It could be nothing but she wants to rule out certain diseases."

"Like what?"

She took a breath. "Well there are a number of things that it could be - like stress - but she specifically wants to rule out something more serious like tuberculosis or possibly leukemia."

He sank to the floor. "Aren't I too old to get that?"

"No," she replied.

"I've only heard of kids getting it," Bolin argued.

"It can affect people of all ages. If you can come in tomorrow we can get the next tests underway," Bolin barely heard her as he pulled the phone away from his ear and stared at it. "Bolin, are you there?"

He brought the phone back to his ear. "Uh, yeah. I...I need to teach my class…"

"There's also an appointment tomorrow afternoon at 2," Jin offered.

"Yeah, sure, sounds good."

"Don't worry. This is to rule out the major diseases. It's probably nothing," Jin reassured. "We'll see you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow, bye." He pulled the phone away from his ear and stared at the screen until it went black.

"She said it could be nothing," he told himself. "It's probably nothing."

"Bolin your class," Toza called gruffly.

He shook his head. "Right! I'll be right there." He quickly stood and put the phone in his bag.

Bolin stopped before entering the main gym. His intermediate earthbending class was waiting and he needed to put on a smile for them. It wasn't a sure thing that he had something terrible. Just a possibility. Nothing really.

He managed to keep positive through the entire class and even give an extra demonstration at the end. It helped keep his mind off things. By the time he got to his car, however, the thoughts crept back into his head and he started going over everything that could go wrong.

"I could have cancer," he said softly. "I have to tell Mako." He started the car and let it idle. "How am I going to tell Mako?" He didn't want his brother to really worry but there was a part of him that really wanted Mako to come with him to the appointment tomorrow. An incredibly stupid idea came to mind but, well, it could be worse. He put the car into gear and drove to the nearest grocery store.

The bakery had sheet cakes on display, some with balloons and some with just confetti. Bolin picked out a chocolate cake with buttercream frosting and confetti.

"Do you want something written on that?" The bored teenager behind the counter asked.

"Uh, no. I think I'll do that myself." He went and got a tube of red frosting, specifically because that was Mako's favorite color. In the parking lot he opened the cake box on the hood of his car. 'Surprise! I might have cancer! Can you come to my blood test tomorrow?' It was a little sloppy and a little cramped at the end but Bolin liked it.

His stomach churned the entire drive home. This might be a terrible idea but he remembered these stupid cakes making Mako happy when they had nothing.

He parked in his (sort of) space in the apartment complex. He'd almost officially moved in with Opal at this point but Mako always said Bolin could have a room if he needed it.

"Mako?" He called as he entered the apartment. It was clean and there was a pile of Bolin's mail on the table by the door.

"I have to leave soon," Mako said as he walked into the living room of the apartment. "What is it?"

"I got you a cake," Bolin said as he offered the plastic bag to Mako.

"Thanks, what's the occasion? You proposed to Opal?" Mako teased as he took the bag.

"Well, no, but you should have a piece now."

Mako eyed his brother. "Okay..." he drew out the word. "You want a piece too?"

"If you want to share." Bolin followed Mako into the tiny kitchen. "But take a look at it."

Mako put the bag on the counter and carefully took the cake out. He looked down at the messy words on the cake. "Is this a joke?"

"No. My next appointment is tomorrow at 2, can you come?"

"I'm working the evening shift but I'm off tomorrow."

"Good, good. So. Are you going to say anything?"

"Which cancer?"

"Possibly leukemia but it could all be stress. I just want my big brother with me," he said softly.

"This isn't some joke?" Mako asked.

"One time I faked the chicken pox and you have to keep bringing it up," Bolin complained.

Mako held up his hands. "Just checking. You know I'll go with you, Little Bro." Mako hugged his brother. "I have to go to work," Mako said as he walked out of the kitchen.

"You should take a piece," Bolin shouted as Mako slammed the door closed on his way out. Bolin sighed and cut himself a piece, careful to leave the corners for Mako (his favorite part) and took a bite. "This is good," he told the empty apartment.

Mako looked around before pulling up the WebMD, page again. His head was beginning to swim with phrases like "five-year survival rates" and "remission rates". He currently had a mental list of things to ask the doctor tomorrow: which type of leukemia, what's the treatment, should he get tested to see if his bone marrow matched Bolin's, should he get tested too, and so forth.

"Your brother brought you a piece of cake," Lin's voice jolted Mako back to reality and he quickly minimized the window.

"Thanks chief," he said. The corner piece had the squished word 'tomorrow' on it. Mako felt tears well up in his eyes. This wasn't happening.

"I have to go on my lunch break," he said quickly. He stood and escaped to the break room.

Luckily it was empty. Mako opened the fridge and took out the dumplings he picked up on the way over. There was an extra bag in there for Bolin that he'd have to remember to take home.

The plastic chair creaked as he sat down. He leaned back and covered his face with his hands and groaned. He just had to get through this show and get through the appointment. It was going to be nothing, he told himself.

"You forgot your cake," Lin said. He took his hands off his face and saw Lin sitting next to him. "Is the cake that bad?"

"Bolin might have cancer," he said. He felt his eyes water again. "My baby brother might have cancer," he repeated softly as the tears started to fall.

"I'm sorry kid," Lin said as she patted his back.

"He can't. He just can't" Mako said firmly. "This isn't supposed to happen."

"I know."

"I didn't work so hard to keep him safe when we were kids and to make sure he had at least something to eat for this! I can't protect him from this!"

"But you can be there for him. He's going to need you-"

"Sorry, Chief, but now is not that time for platitudes."

"Good because I really hate giving them but it's what you're supposed to do. Are you going to need some personal leave?"

"I don't know. Maybe? I'll fill out the paperwork tonight." Mako ran the back of his hand over his eyes. "Sorry for crying."

Lin held her hands up. "Please, you're not the first person to cry in this room nor will you be the last. And, kid, your reasons for crying are better than most."

"Thanks." Mako took the saran wrap off the piece of cake. "Do you want some?"

"Sure." Lin stood and got out forks for them. "Do you think he's told my niece yet?"

Mako shook his head. "I think I was the first." He took a bite of the cake. "He got my favorite chocolate cake."

"Of course he did. I'm sure everything is fine." Mako nodded. He had to keep telling himself that. Lin left after a few minutes and Mako finished the cake himself.

'Everything will be fine' he repeated throughout the rest of his shift and all the way home. He could hear Bolin's snores coming from his room.

"Just fine," he told his dark room as he wiped away his tears.

There's a line I'm so sorry for.