Disclaimer: Don't own Legend of Korra (or the previous Avatar: The Last Airbender), which includes it's characters.

Rating: T

Not too much, but these guys need more love - takes place almost directly after Season 4's end.


"Ah man!" he breathed, plopping onto the bed, which bounced from the force. "Finally we get a moment to relax around here!"

Opal didn't say anything, but he did hear her footsteps, which a glance told him she was looking out the window... which by the way, meant 'gaping hole in the building from Kuvira's attack'. The wind pulled at her hair, but she barely seemed to notice - the sight both made him smile, and feel sad inside. Smiling because she looked so pretty no matter what, and sad because of what she was undoubtedly looking at from the hole; the devastation wrought upon Republic City, which included the wildly-awesome new spirit portal. They'd done all they could that day, of course, but so much still needed to be done.

Thankfully there was tomorrow.

He slowly sat up after a few moments. "Is the breeze too cold?" he asked, a little hesitant. "I could, you know, earthbend up a giant rock and fit it in the hole, even punch a smaller window in" he continued lightly, doing little motions with it.

"It's fine" she breathed, that same breeze pulling at her dress (she'd changed out of her airbender suit for the night). "But thank you, Bolin."

Worried, he quickly got up despite the aching feet, going straight to her side - the moment he got there, without saying anything, she just leaned against him. Relieved, he put his arm around her shoulder, holding her close, trying not to look too far past the spirit portal and the ruins.

"Are you gonna be okay?" he asked.

"More than anything, I'm just glad Kuvira's reign is over" she said, before looking at him. "But, every time we help out, I'm reminded of all the lives she's hurt."

Mmh, yeah, he still remembered how she'd initially pushed him away in that one town... only now did he understand she'd been furious with Kurvia and Bataar Jr, and just happened to project it onto him because he'd been working for them. Her anger at such characters was REALLY strong-

"Hey, come on, Opal" he said gently, rubbing her shoulders. "Like you said, it's over, and from now on, we move forward with the healing and the rebuilding. I mean, Mako's having his arm gradually healed by Katara, Korra and Asami are still taking that vacation, and Zhu Li is probably putting Varrick through his paces as his equal. It's gonna be a lot of work, for all of us, but we'll get through it together, with our friends and especially with the power of our love."

At that, she giggled. "It wouldn't hurt" she agreed, resting her forehead against his now. "Maybe we'll be tired each day for awhile, but we'll still have time to be alone, finally."

"I can definitely get along with that."

She held them there for a moment more, then pulled apart enough to look at him - and honestly, he didn't think he'd ever get tired of looking into her green eyes, especially this close.

She smiled. "I'm so glad to have you back with me" she whispered, very soft, before she glanced down: "And I don't think I ever truly apologized, for the way I acted-"

"What's to apologize?" he asked, smiling a little. "You were completely justified to be mad at me after what I did, and that hurtful-yet-true talk that no big gestures or affections would win you back so easily-"

"No, not that" she interrupted, but gently. "Before all that, when you thought you were doing the right thing" she continued, looking sad. "When you thought so, all I really did was push you away... and why? Because I saw you working for them, even misguidedly, as a betrayal. I couldn't take that well, but it's no excuse."

"...I don't think anyone in your family takes betrayal too well" he said after awhile, but sheepish. "But look, I get it, all of it, and I appreciate the apology. Even without it though, it wouldn't have made me stop loving you."

She slowly smiled back. "I know" she said softly, giving him a little hug, which he returned as well... but when she pulled away, something seemed to strike her.

"Oh! Your feet; I'm sorry for aggravating them" she said in a hurry, having him sit down.

"No really, it's fine" he said gently, watching as she got beside him, though he thought this was kinda a random time to bring it up. "I'm willing to brave all kinds of aches if I can comfort you, or better yet, be close to you."

The very slightest blush - ah, how he missed that, being rarer today than it was three years ago - but still she kept the smile. "In a way, you already have" she breathed, getting really close to him- he liked where that was going. And indeed, the kiss was great stuff all it's own, especially with her! He held her close as they kissed, laying side-by-side on the bed now, with the slight breeze blowing over them. Yeah, maybe he should have Earthbent that cover rock after all... oh well.

They pulled apart after about fifteen seconds, and she just rested her head. "Mmm" she breathed softly, "Bolin?"

"Yeah?"

"You still tired after today?"

"Well, I guess a little" he said slowly, before raising an eyebrow. "Otherwise, I think I'm good. Why?"

A faint blush came to her cheeks, then she slowly opened her eyes. "I'm just saying, there are things we can do, before we actually sleep" she said, very soft, even a little shy.

He quickly sat up. "Things?" he asked, to which she nodded, then he put a finger near his chin, thinking. "Things... things... things..."

During his 'thinking' mode, Opal slowly sat up beside him, a little amused at how he wasn't getting it - but otherwise happy he was being himself.

"Wait, are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"Yeah" she breathed, blush still there. "I am."

He was pretty sure he was blushing now, or maybe that was just the warmth- anyway, where he should have been nervous, there was just soft happiness. "Woah, I- Opal, that's just-" he tried to say, making a sound. "I'm truly honored that you trust me that much."

She leaned forward, kissing him again. "Just don't get ahead of yourself" she whispered against him, touching her side to his. "It isn't a free rein kind of thing."

"Oh, good" he breathed out quickly, relieved. "The last thing I want to do is cross even more boundaries, or make you mad - you're scary when you're like that."

"Thank you" she said, a little mild, but then she just kissed him again.

"Mmm... but, what exactly are the boundaries?"

"Obviously, any of the big areas are off-limits, for a long while" she said, a little shy, but still firm. "For both of us, but anywhere else is good."

"Still good spots" he said earnestly, meaning it, but then he was confused by the little look she was giving him. "What? Do I have something in my teeth?"

Merely shaking her head, she kept the look. "No, just finally giving into myself a little" she breathed, her fingers running up his chest. "Now that you're proven yourself."

Glancing between her fingers and her, he found himself a little speechless, and that was before the kiss she planted on him. Still, if she trusted him, how he could disappoint her now, after everything that happened?

Holding her back, he started by returning the kiss.


About time he's had a break - I've thought that as early as 'The Metal Clan'.