"I-it doesn't even hurt...that much," Bolin groans, cradling his blooded and blistering left arm against his equally as battered body, chunks of lava eating away at whatever flesh remains. He's trying to convince himself for his own sake, Mako knows, because the firebender can smell his brother's flesh burning, and even though he tries vainly to hide the damage, the blood is starting to turn a puss-filled yellow color, and he can't believe his brother hasn't gone into shock yet from fucking lava burns, and all Mako can really do is tentatively support him. Maybe, he thinks, that's all he's ever been able to do.
He should have protected him.
"H-hey, Mako..." Mako glances down at him. His green eyes are starting to turn glassy, and Mako's worry immediately spikes ten-fold. Almost instinctively, he starts bending down to pick him up, to catch him when he inevitably stumbles, because no way is Bo going to be able to walk pretty soon, but the earthbender is reluctant, "W-what do y-ou...think? The ladies'll say I'm h-hot now...or what?" And he swallows so tight that he grimaces, "H-hot as lava..."
And it pains Mako more than any stab of hunger to see his brother this way. He laughs, but really it's more for Bo's benefit because he feels like crying, and he's not really sure what to say, because for some dumb reason, Bolin has always seemed untouchable. Like he was better than the horrors of the world; like he was infinite, and so full of good that no bad could spoil him.
"B-bet'cha I c-could...fight'em with-with one arm..." and an ugly groan crawls from his throat, causing Mako to snap his gaze down with an almost panic-filled kind of worry. Before Bolin can protest, he's kneeling down and putting his arms under Bolin's legs; bridle style. His good arm draped across his shoulder, careful not to hurt him more. "...tied behind m-my back..."
If the situation weren't so dire, Mako would make a teasing comment on how he feeds him too much because he's so grown so big.
And Bolin would laugh.
But he moans again.
"Bo...
He would kill those bastards
"M-mako...S'tp. 'm fine..." He mutters, grimacing, as he attempts to budge out of Mako's hold and aimlessly pulls himself to his feet. And Mako actually has to stop running or he'll drop him-
"Bo- hey, stop-"
And his brother's eyes are so far away, it's like they're not even seeing him because gravity is too heavy and the world seems to be shattering, and before Bolin knows it, his head is banging hard against the concrete, black lurking so dangerously in the very corners of his vision that Mako is forced to rush forward, hands cupped delicately behind his head.
"M'ko..." It comes out a whisper. "Hurts..."
Mako rubs his hair delicately for a moment, "Shhhhh...I know...I know... " he pleads to nobody in particular, "I'm gonna bring you some place s-safe o-okay?" And he hates it, but his breath hitches, "To heal you right up. Just-" and Mako bites back the tears, "Just hang on."
Bolin nods, ever so slightly, and closes his eyes. The last thing he remembers are Mako's familiar arms holding him tight and voices whispering his name like a prayer. He swims in a world of lights and the melody of beeping sounds and pain that ebbs beautifully.
When he opens his eyes again, it's three weeks later, and he's in a hospital with Mako by his side. Half of him is gone.
And even though everything's faded to nothing more than a dull ache, it still hurts either way.