Bolin opened the door to their attic apartment, his eyes widening as he saw Korra in the doorway. "What are you doing here?"
"I saw them leave together," she said as she blinked her blue eyes, and he stared, his mind rushing faster and faster as he tried to understand why the bright blue was suddenly swimming.
Korra didn't cry. She got angry. She hit things. She kicked ass. She did not cry.
Bolin went into overdrive, ushering her into the room and sitting her on the chair, finding something for her to cry into if that was what she needed and then he hovered uncontrollably around her.
He wasn't equipped to handle this sort of thing. For one thing, he had grown up with just his older brother- his older brother who didn't date girls. Then, all the girls Bolin dated were just fans, gushing and screaming about how great he was.
There were never any tears to deal with.
A few minutes ticked by in silence before he hesitatingly asked, "Do you mean…Asami and Mako?"
"Of course I mean Asami and Mako! I mean, she's just so beautiful and perfect, and so-so girly!" Her voice suddenly quieted and all he could do was watch her shoulders quake. "She's everything I'm not, Bolin. I just-"
She sounded defeated.
Korra never sounded defeated.
Bolin didn't understand how that girly comment really mattered, but obviously it did to Korra. He gulped and slowly patted her on the back after she threw herself into his arms.
"You know, just because you aren't…girly," Bolin was awkward. He could praise and flirt with the best of them, but to be truthful and raw like this was…hard. "But you're great, Korra. You're really beautiful, too, just in a different way. Is there-Is there something else bothering you? Because I'm sure that Asami wouldn't mind helping you-you know, shop for dresses and stuff." After all, she was wearing one on her date, so she knew how to do that stuff.
"I don't want her help with it!" And then Bolin felt the rush of fire come out of her mouth as he dodged out of the way.
Great, out with the tears and into the flames.
He patted her shoulder and then he finally said, "I don't think it will last."
Bolin didn't have to say what he meant, but Korra's faint smile told him she understood.