Disclaimer: I don't own Legend of Korra, or any of the characters used in this fic. They all belong to Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. I only own any of my original characters that I choose to include, as well as any of my own original plot ideas.
They Don't Know
A/N: Following episode 5; for a community on LJ; prompt was "Bolin tries his hardest, his true blue hardest, to convince himself that Korra is the one for him. The truth? Bolin's hurt and jealously completely revolve around Mako."
It wasn't at all that he didn't believe her. She'd apologized after all, and meant it, but he wanted to know how he could have been so stupid. They were friends, so he should have been able to see what was going on. How she looked, how she sounded, when they talked about their training, their team strategies.
When they talked about Mako.
Maybe he was imagining it now, but Bolin thought that maybe she'd always had a bit of a spark in her eye when she talked about his brother, and that it wasn't a new development like he'd hoped.
Pabu brushed his tail against the side of Bolin's face, his tiny feet walking up onto his shoulder, squeaking. The little fire ferret wasn't just an animal, but Bolin's friend, and was always the first to show affection when things weren't going so hot.
Bolin raised a hand to rub behind Pabu's ears, still lying on his bed in the apartment as he stared out the window.
But maybe he was at fault, too. For believing that her saying yes to dinner, to a date, meant that they were going to be together as more than just good friends. He buried his face into the pillow. Maybe he was stupid, even childish for feeling the way he did, but he'd felt something when they'd first met. Something he'd never felt for any other girl before.
"Just admit it: You don't give a damn!" he heard Mako shout from downstairs. "Since you got here, you've only cared about being the Avatar! About making a spectacle of yourself! You don't care about my brother!"
Why couldn't they argue someplace else? Someplace where he wouldn't have to hear them?
He could almost see her, standing on her toes to stare Mako in the eye as she barked, "Well, how would you know about me? Do you have all the insight into my soul? You were cold and... and... And a jerk to me right off the bat! I think that says a lot more about you than it does about me!"
What if it wasn't just the two of them. Maybe he was at fault, too. For believing that her saying yes to dinner, to a date, meant that they were going to be together as more than just good friends. He buried his face into the pillow. Maybe he was stupid, even childish for feeling the way he did, but he'd felt something when they'd first met. Something he'd never felt for any other girl before.
She was impulsive, opinionated, and a little oblivious, but he couldn't help liking it. Korra was just so much different from any other girl he'd known. Not at all obsessed with her appearance, or with being perfect and making a good impression. She was just herself. Just another ordinary person.
Even if she was the Avatar.
Bolin sighed into the pillow, realizing that he hadn't been able to be as true to himself as she had. He must have looked so utterly stupid when he had brought Korra those things. A cupcake and bouquet flowers. And again when he'd run off in tears after having seen her kissing his brother.
He couldn't hate Mako, or Korra, for what had happened, but Bolin sure as hell wished that he'd been the one she wanted to kiss.