Bolin had never known anything like this before.

The tingly feeling that seeps through his veins whenever she laughs is completely foreign, as is the creeping warmth in his cheeks when she smiles at him.

It lights him up from the inside and Bolin wonders if this is how firebenders feel. It is a living inferno burning his heart to charred crisps. Bolin is suddenly glad he is an earthbender.

Bolin had never been so emotionally invested in anyone other than Mako.

When he was younger, Bolin was always able to pick up on Mako's moods and imitate them. When Mako was happy, Bolin was happy. When Mako cried, Bolin cried.

But when Korra was happy, Bolin was ecstatic at the grin that crept across her face. When Korra laughed, Bolin secretly envied whoever had caused that beautiful sound to pass her lips. And when Korra was heart broken-as she was now- Bolin could feel his own heart wrenching into a million bloody pieces.

And now-staring at a pair of shuddering, blue clad shoulders- Bolin knew he had never seen a sight so sad.

Bolin had never been the protector. He'd always been the protected.

Bolin had never been the comforter. He'd always been the comforted.

Bolin had never been the shoulder to cry on. He'd always been crying on that shoulder.

But even though he had never been any of those things, Bolin could still try to comfort the woman he loved.

So Bolin did the only thing he knew how.

He sat down next to her and wrapped two muscular arms around her in an embrace, just as Mako had always done on the coldest winter nights. Then he pulled her into his lap, as his father had always done to chase away the nightmares. And then Bolin sang, singing the songs his mother had used to lull him to sleep night after night.

As the sobbing subsided to sniffling, a small gurgling noise could be heard.

"Bolin, shut up. Your singing stinks." Bolin glanced away, hiding his hurt from her sight. A soft, cool hand cradled his cheek, turning his head towards heated cerulean eyes. "Bolin..."

"Yeah?" His voice was stiff and he stifled his mixed emotions as her eyes watered again.

A soft sigh, a feathery whisper of lips over his cheek.

"Thanks."

Bolin had never known anything like this before.