Chapter One - Confusion


Bolin's POV

Yesterday Korra returned Lin's bending. I swear, she's more amazing every day. Those crystal clear eyes... BO! Focus! Okay... Today we're getting packed up and ready to head back to Republic City. Korra and Tenzin will be spending the next few weeks restoring order to the city. You know, returning bending to people like Tahno... Heroic stuff! Mako and I will be herding the crowds and spreading the word. Iroh, Asami, and Lin will be working on catching remaining Equalists. All in all, we're going to be working together to clean up the city.

But something has been really bugging me. I can't get my mind off of her. She's driving me crazy and she doesn't even have to try. Ever since our date, I've just KNOWN that we belong together... Not her and Mako. I love my brother. I do. But I love Korra. A lot. Maybe even more than I've ever loved anyone. And that kiss... That stupid kiss. Dammit, I just can't handle it. I thought we were going somewhere, I thought we were going to be something. And then Mako had to ruin it... I've had my fair share of fan girls, but Mako... He's the manager in the 'sweep-'em-off-their-feet' department.

So I decided... It's time that I speak up for myself and get what I want for a change. I'm going to talk to her - I'll try to make her understand that we could be something amazing.

"Hey, Bo, have you started packing yet, bro?" I jumped in response to Mako's sudden appearance in the doorway. I didn't even hear him coming...

"Not yet... I'm just trying to wake up, you know?"

He cocked his head to one side and concern crossed his face. "Bo, you're never tired when you wake up... Is the cold getting to you?"

I sighed and shook my head. "Nah, I'm fine... Hey, is there breakfast? I'm hungry..."

"Yeah, Katara has some mangos cut and lychee juice made. You might wanna hurry, though, Korra will wake up soon. She eats almost as much as you do..." He chuckled and walked back towards his room.

I cringed at the thought of the two of them together. My heart can't really handle it... I got together my clothes and threw them in my knapsack. I pulled my shirt on before admiring my muscles. I needed all the confidence I could get...

"Hey, Bolin, have you seen Mako?" A chill ran down my spine and my heart raced. Despite the cold, my palms began sweating. The only person who made me feel this way was...

"Korra! Uh, hey... No, I haven't seen him... Hey, since we're not leaving until tomorrow I was, uh..." I fumbled over my words, nervously. Nobody has ever made me feel more weak in the knees than her. "Well, if maybe you would, um, go... Penguin sledding with me...?"

At first her face was blank, but her lips turned up into that familiar, beautiful smile that makes my heart melt. She grabbed my hand pulled me down the hallway, excitedly. "Of course! Penguin sledding is like the best thing ever! You'll love it so much!" She was practically screaming - kinda like how those fan girls scream at the pro-bending matches.

As we passed Katara I saw a wise smile on her wrinkled face and I knew she was thinking of something... We screeched to a halt at the door, where Korra thrust a water-tribe jacket into my hands and yanked on her boots.

"Have fun, you two... I remember when Aang and I went penguin sledding..." Katara's smile faded into a sad, bitter-sweet look of nostalgia. But I saw a twinkle in her eyes when she looked at Korra and I...

It was seconds before we were out the door and dashing through the snow. Korra was yelling excitedly about how fun it is, the dos and don'ts and her favorite penguin as a kid. I looked back at a sad Pabu waiting in the doorway. I waved to him and turned back to Korra, nodding and 'mhmm-ing' at the right time. In all honesty, I was just mesmerized by her passion for the penguin sledding and the beauty of her smile.

We stopped and stared at the large crowd of penguins before us. I looked over at her and took in the sight of the girl that I someday want to call mine. And, without even thinking, I grabbed her by the hand, leaned in, and kissed her. And at that moment, I felt a spark. And I'm sure she felt it, too, because her eyes shut and she leaned into me, the kiss deepening. My dream girl was kissing me back, and I swear, it was the most amazing thing I had ever experienced in my life.