A/N: I decided I wanted to continue this, yeah. I have a vague idea of where I want to go with this one, more so than I do for my other chaptered story, so hopefully that means I'll be updating more regularly ahah. I guess this kinda takes on a bit of a darker tone, but I'm trying to keep it as light hearted and Bolin-esque as possible so don't be too afraid!
And I know, two updates in the span of a day? Unheard of! I mentioned this once before, but I write a lot better when I'm not in a good mood aahah I'm also going to be pretty busy the next couple of days, so I wanted to get this out there before I lost my mojo. The next bit probably won't be for a little while, unless I get really inspired by political science textbooks or something, but I will do my best to have another chapter in a reasonable amount of time.
Again, please let me know what you think! I'd love to hear your feedback in particular on this chapter as I'm not super confident about the direction I'm taking this in ahah. Thank you and I hope you enjoy!
Something wasn't right, and not in the usual sort of ominous bad vibe sort of way. It was more tangible, like his center had been thrown off or misplaced; like a heaviness had been infused into his blood. At the same time, Bolin felt strangely light, like his head wasn't connected to his hands or his feet. He hadn't told anyone about it, after they'd gotten Korra back and he'd first realized the difference, there'd been too much going on. Too many were injured and there was Korra to worry about, Bolin was fine. He was fine, honest.
It was just that there was a tremor beginning in his left thumb, a strange sort of off tempo twitching that he couldn't control. It was just that he always felt just slightly on the side of too warm constantly, sweat dripped from his forehead sporadically and he felt suffocated. It was just that when he slept, his dreams were too bright and too fast, and he woke up gasping for air in strange places; he'd started sleepwalking, in the few short hours he did actually sleep.
Mako knew something was wrong too, but like everyone else, there was too much to do to sit around talking about feelings. Bolin couldn't hide the rings under his eyes, or the hollowness of his cheeks, but he found reasons to smile and that seemed to be enough for everyone. Everyone was okay, more or less, and everyone was home. Korra would live, which was the most important development.
Opal had taken to holding his left hand, but if it was because she noticed the trembling, she didn't say anything.
The Earth Kingdom was a complete disaster zone, there were fires, and starving families, and broken hopes everywhere. Tenzin might never walk right again, Korra didn't even speak for the first week after she woke up. Bolin could stand a little heaviness, he was stronger than that. Instead, he kept himself busy. Helping out where he could with sending supplies out to people, lending a hand where he was needed, going for long walks with Opal whenever chance he could.
And the tremor continued.
"Bolin, you're a lavabender!"
He turned to his brother, grinning from ear to ear. The day was saved thanks to Captain Bolin.
"No need for applause citizens, just doing my job." Korra hugged him, Asami hi fived him, Opal suddenly dipped him over her knee and kissed him.
Mako looked proud, a teary smile on his face, and everyone looked whole. "Mom and Dad would be so proud of you, Bo," he said.
"You saved the day, thanks for stopping the Red Lotus, Bolin!" Korra said.
And everyone was smiling, Bolin felt so relieved. A new voice echoed towards him, he looked over his shoulder to see his parents and Mako smiling and clapping. Bolin blinked and his thumb was twitching.
His thumb was twitching and there was lava racing towards his parents, a wave swarming behind them and they weren't moving. His thumb was twitching and suddenly Opal and Asami melted away into pools of red heat, Korra smiling obliviously in front of him. His thumb was twitching and he couldn't move, his feet sunk down into molten light. He couldn't speak, or think, beyond an unending stream of panic. It was too hot, his brain was melting away in front of him. Bolin sunk down farther, Korra was laughing, tears streaming down from white, glowing eyes. Mako was enveloped in a wall of fire, clapping, even as he burned away. Bolin was screaming, he was screaming but it sounded like laughter and-
He gasped awake, his breath catching in his lungs, leaving him hunched on himself as coughs ripped through him. He couldn't breathe, his lungs were closing up like smoke pouring down them, his throat was narrowing he could feel it. "-lin! Bolin, listen to me! You have to breathe slower. Come on, Bo!"
Bolin abruptly registered the feeling of someone shaking him, and he gulped in a breath. He tried to slow down, concentrating on the voice and the hand on his arm to pull him away from the lava and the fire. As his breathe returned to him, he registered the voice as Opal's. She'd been staying the night after a long night of moving supplies and scouting the Earth Kingdom, they must have fallen asleep after settling back on the couch.
Bolin's shoulders unclenched, his breath evening out and the coughs finally subsiding. He managed to uncurl slightly, and squeezed his eyes shut. "'M sorry," he mumbled, energy abruptly depleted. Cold sweat was drying on his skin, he felt disgusting. Opal brushed a hand through his tangled hair, hushing him softly.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He felt her shift, and lift his head into her lap, still winding her fingers through the knots in his sweat soaked hair. He exhaled, and looked up at her. She looked exhausted, but her concern was palpable. "Just a nightmare," he shuddered slightly. "Lots of drama lately, you know?" Bolin forced a chuckle, shivering slightly once more. Opal hummed in response, and leaned down to place a gentle kiss on his forehead. "You've been pushing yourself too hard," she said. Bolin made a move to shrug, and he realized his entire left arm was numb. He frowned, pulling himself up from the couch. Must have slept on it wrong.
"Opal, I'm fine. I promise. I've just been moving boxes, no big deal! I'm just a little... worried I guess." He shot her a pout. She cocked an eyebrow back at him and sighed to herself. "I know, I know. I'm worried too." She seemed to deflate a little. "Just, promise me you're taking care of yourself." Opal moved to stand, grabbing a glass from the counter and heading over to a nearby sink.
Bolin smiled fondly at her, before rubbing a hand over his tired eyes. In many ways over the past couple weeks, Opal had become his rock. She was so level headed and kind hearted it was hard to be anything but confident and optimistic around her. She brought out the best qualities in himself, and boy, she was sure pretty to boot.
He started to tell her so, but was cut off by the sound of shattering glass and a sudden intake of breath. Opal was staring at him, pale as a sheet, with a hand over her mouth. Bolin's heart dropped. "Opal...?"
She shook her head minutely at him, and Bolin lifted an arm towards her. Or rather, he tried to. His left arm didn't seem to want to listen.
In confusion, Bolin looked down at himself, and felt the blood rush from his face. His thumb wasn't twitching anymore, his whole arm was seizing.
It was like an out of body experience, his hand was clenched impossibly tight but he felt nothing. The muscles along his arm rippling and shuddering in a way he knew should be painful.
And suddenly, a feeling of liquid heat rushed across his chest and down his spine. The breath was punched out of his lungs, and his eyes began to roll, as a riptide of heat wove into every fiber of himself.
He faintly heard Opal scream, before his chest spasmed. A sound like a tea kettle boiling over filled his ears as his limbs flailed and a scalding pain clawed through his brain, and then everything went dark.
