Slight Bolsami :)


She doesn't know who, or what she's looking for, or frankly, what she's expecting to find, when her footsteps take her to the Air Temple Island one evening.

She wants someone to talk to, or maybe, just to listen to anything that can take her mind off of her own troubles.

Maybe help Pema take care of the kids, help her cook, or something...

Whatever. She doesn't really care.

What she finds is Bolin, splayed out on his back in the grass under one of the many abundant trees, nearly fading into the earth beneath him. To a passerby, he would seem asleep, but she can clearly see his green eyes uncharacteristically boring wholes into the leaves above him, an unnatural grim frown on his face that she knows is out of place. Has she even see him by himself before, she wonders. Her friend sensors kick in.

Walking over, she sits down beside him without a word, taking care not to crush the dandelions that take home in the fuzz of grass by the tree's roots.

The wind rolls by across the courtyard, as if the great Avatar Aang himself were making his love known and caressing them in comfort. She sighs, breathing in the quiet and glancing at her friend; his face still and distant, and her brows furrow in concern. For the billionth time in her life, she wishes she had a younger sibling.

She rips up a few blades of grass, and lets them fall on his face.

"You look happy." she states sarcastically, as his nose scrunches up, face twisting, and the grass falls from his cheeks with a pout, "Is this some new kind of meditation exercise, because I'm pretty sure you're doing it wrong."

His eyes flick to her now, and his lips curl up slightly, "Hey, Asami," he says quietly, "Sorry, had a bad day. Was just thinking."

She tries to be the cheerful one for once, because Bolin of all people deserves it, and she's tired of being bitter, "Careful, don't think too hard or your face will stay like that. What would your fans say?"

He swats her arm playfully, "Very funny, Sato. I'll have you know my face is a 'Bolin Original'; nothing can hurt its awesomeness."

"That's more like it." she smiles, with a chuckle. Then, "Bad day, huh? Not like you to be all by yourself. Wanna talk about it?"

He seems to consider for a moment, but as she was expecting, waves it off, "Thanks for asking, but, no, not really."

"Okay, if you're sure." is all she says, not pressuring him, because she knows that sometimes it's best just to handle things yourself and not force things out, besides, he has Mako to talk to.

"So, lovely lady," he sits up and their shoulders touch against the tree trunk, "what brings you hear this fine evening?"

"Don't really know." she muses, eyes locked on the ground, her fingers absent-mindedly plucking strips of grassy fuzz from the ground like roots, manicured nails turning green because, you see, Asami, we have to take away the old roots so new flowers can grow. When one life ends, another begins.

"If...if I ask you something that doesn't really make sense...," she mumbles and his eyes lock on her, intent and sincere, "would you think I'm crazy?"

"No." is his instant replay, "I'd say you're human. And that you're one of the only friends I've ever had, so tell me anything and everything you need."

Her heart quickens, she wasn't expecting that anser. But then again, Bolin was many things, earnest and open being palpable, "Do...do you ever really feel like you need to say something? I-I mean...or feel like you just need to scream, but you don't know how and can't find the words? And even if you could, no one would listen to you?"

She dares a glance at him, and she finds he is looking away from her now, eyes half lidded and flickering with a distant sadness.

She realizes in that silent sadness, that Bolin knows and understands and feels a lot more than he lets on; he just chooses not to express his pain like most people.

It is then that she hears the loudest silence in her life.

"Yes." he says in a quiet voice, turning back to her, "I really do."

The leaves fly by, as seconds roll with words yet to be shared.

Her heartbeat flutters in her chest as she realizes Bolin is the one that was always ready and willing to listen, but never asks for it in return. That he would let her scream in his ears until he was deaf and not get the slightest bit annoyed.

"I don't know whether to love or hate him." she whispers, fists baling in her lap.

"Asami..."

"-And don't tell me 'I should', or 'I shouldn't because he's my dad'. I've heard enough of that from the press! I know he's my dad," she exclaims, throughing her hand in the air, "But sometimes I wish he wasn't! Sometimes, I wish he had died instead of my mom." her eyes are clamped shut, and she can feel her throat burn.

"Asami." A warm hand on her shoulder makes her look up, and she finds that her eyes are wet.

"Go on." she spits, "Tell me that that makes me a horrible person."

He shakes his head, "No, it doesn't; again, that makes you normal, and human. That makes you hurt and lost and angry- all of which you have total right to be.

"In the end, it's your choice. No one can blame you for your feelings." his eyes look straight into her's, "'Hate' and 'love' are very powerful. You can feel one or the other, and sometimes, you're going to feel both at the same time and there is nothing wrong with that. Don't let anyone ever tell you what to feel, or that you picked the wrong choice to go against him, because you made the right one. You are one of the strongest, most beautiful people I have ever met, Asami, and I'm honored to be your friend. You can come to me any time, even in the middle of the night and whack me silly till I'm awake, and I'll be there for you to listen to whatever you need to talk about, not matter what it is, okay? You're not alone. The three of us are here for you."

Her mouth drops open, eyes blinking. She really is at a loss of words now, "T-thank you, Bolin..." she mutters, wiping her eyes, "You're my good friend, too."

He rubs her shoulder, and smiles, "Anytime."

She sniffles, and sighs and finally smiles back. The fading sun casts a yellow and purple glow, spreading its warmth on them for the last moments, the dimming rays of light dancing off the leaves.

"Hey." she says.

"Yeah?"

"I'm tired of feeling down." she stands and reaches her hand out to him, "Let's go get some friendship dumplings."

He blinks, then grins once more and grasps her hand. The happy, enthusiastic boy she knows, is back, "Alright! I know the best ones ever! They're filled with meat and shrimp and extra crispy! One time, Mako and I..."

And she fallows next to him, he tugging her along as he vehemently explains the story of the first time he ever tried The Greatest Dumplings in the World when Mako had snatched a few when he was twelve.

She feels lighter than she's had in a long time.

She knows she's made the right choice, and for now, she can be with her friends, because she's not alone.

For the first time, she realizes that family doesn't have to be blood related.

Today, she feels like a garden.