"Bo," Korra whispered, gently shaking the slumbering earthbender, careful not to wake the others.
When he didn't wake, she huffed, moving a strand of hair that had fell on her face. She had her hair down, and was dressed in her usual sleeping attire; blue pants and a white top.
"Bolin," she whined, pouting annoyedly, while shaking him harder. She only succeeded in waking Pabu, who scurried onto her shoulders.
Korra didn't want to disturb Bolin, he finally looked peaceful. In the past few days, she thought, Bolin had taken the brunt of the stress, trying to keep everyone's spirits up... But she had to show him something.
" !" She whispered as loudly as she could, shaking him hardly.
He finally mumbled a curse, sitting up slowly. He rubbed the sleep from his tired eyes distractedly as asked Korra just what the hell was happening.
"I have to show you something," she whispered excitedly.
Korra was sorry to have woken him. The poor guy had bags under the bags under his bloodshot and tired eyes. Yet, he didn't look mad at Korra, he didn't snap at her or went back to sleep saying it could wait. He stood up with her and asked what it was.
"It's a surprise," she replied with a smug smile, immensily proud with herself.
Perking up noticeably at the word surprise, Bolin asked her if he should wake the others.
"No!" She all but cried, while shutting him up with her hands, only to retrieve a second later, embarrassed. "It's just for you," she said bashfully.
"Uh, ok then," he sighed, show me."
In response she took his hand and started walking out their room. Bolin closed the door gently, careful as to not wake Mako and Asami. Once out, Korra tightened her grip on his hand.
"Come on," she told him, producing a small flame with her free hand.
She led him outside towards the exterior deck of the airship. Just before they reached the double door that actually opened to the deck, she stopped, making Bolin chest hit her back.
She turned around, letting go of his hand. She wringed her hands together, looking uncharacteristically nervous.
"Close your eyes," she told him.
"If I close my eyes I might fall asleep," he joked tiredly.
She slapped his bare shoulder playfully. Like Korra, Bolin hadn't changed out of his sleeping attire. Unlike Korra however, Bolin wasn't wearing any pants, just boxers that showcased his amazingly muscled legs. She bit her lip, looking him up and down.
"C'mon close them," she said, smiling and chuckling.
Bolin finally obliged, sighed through his nose, but a smile present on his face nonetheless. Korra walked beside him, guiding him by the shoulders, which she had to reach up to reach now, and walked him out the door. Bolin had hit a growth spurt, and was now nearly as big as her own father. I guess his training has been going well, Korra thought to herself as she ran her free hand over his strong, defined arm. They reached a small raised platform on the deck, the cold night air blowing past them, and Korra stopped them.
"Don't open your eyes yet," she told him giddily
"Okay..." he replied hesitantly, but doing as Korra had told him. "Not opening my eyes."
He heard some cracking noise, like breaking ice. There was a particularly cold breeze that blew past him, waking his still sluggish system instantly. He heard Korra mutter something and then more cracking. After almost a minute later, Bolin heard Korra jog back to him. She slipped behind him and stood on the tip of her toes, to whisper in his ear.
"Ready?" she asked, mirth filling her voice.
"For you, always," came his reply, without hesitation.
"Alright, slowly now," she told him. She grabbed his elbows from behind, her hands oddly cold, almost freezing to the touch, pushing forward to make Bolin advance. She warned him of a small step, and once they both stood on the raised platform, Bolin felt the cold breeze more intensely.
"Korra, wha-" he was about to ask, but she interrupted him.
"Shush. Open your eyes," she whispered softly, letting go of his arms.
Bolin opened his eyes, and his sight was greeted by an immense ice statue that glistened and almost shone an unearthly glow under the silver light of the full moon. The statue stood in the middle of a small pool of water used for waterbending practise. The statue itself represented a warrior, taking a proud stance, a grim smile on his chiselled face. The warrior was clothed in traditional South Water Tribe armour. The armor was fitted to the warrior, fitting perfectly in every spot. Bolin could even see that Korra had bent ice for the thick stitches that held the chest and shoulder protectors together. His mouth hung agape, as his eyes took in the marvellous sculpture Korra had taken the time to create. Just for you, he recalled she had said, and a blush appeared on his face. The corners of Korra's mouth pulled up in a happy smile.
Bolin turned to Korra, his mouth morphing into his signature toothy grin. "This is amazing Korra!"
"Look again," she told him, eyes sparkling.
He turned his head back to the statue, looking over every detail, for the fur to the moon symbols on the chest plates. He looked intently at the wolf helmet the warrior held in his hand. Looking up at the warrior's face Bolin notice it bore a striking resemblance to his own.
"Uh, that's... he's... I'm..." He couldn't form a proper sentence, stuttering crazily, a wide smile appearing on his handsome face.
"Yeah, Nuktuk, it's you." She told him. "Waddya think?"
"What do I think?" he repeated, "It's amazing Korra, you're a wonderful bender, and sculptor! It's amazing!"
He enveloped her in his arms, giving her a bone crushing hug she gladly returned. She felt him shiver against the cold air, and chuckled. The two remained like that, staring at the statue. She felt Bolin's hand move to her face, lifting her chin up.
"I guess I have to give you something too," he whispered, lowering in for a kiss.
