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"A shocking occurrence ceases to be shocking when it occurs daily."
- Alexander Chase
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Korra and Mako spent their day in each other's company, walking hand-in-hand and visiting the many different shops in the main city. Together they even purchased a few things, which included a tiny Pabu-sized jacket at the store Bolin pointed out on their first day, new boots for Korra and a decorative baby tiger-wolf pelt for Mako. Korra flinched at the sight of such a young animal being killed for decoration. It still had it's head and everything, which made the avatar's stomach turn.
"That's disgusting…the poor little baby…" Korra pointed to the white cub pelt in Mako's bag.
"Says the girl who grew up with these things in her house." Her boyfriend sneered.
"Yeah…! But…who says I wanted to grow up with dead animals in my house?! They were from my dad's hunts…and they definitely weren't little babies!They were monsters that could threaten our village!"
Korra became defensive of herself.
Monsters. Or…at least that's what her dad would tell her when she was little. He would even make up an incredible tale for each hunt he brought home, framing himself as this great, valiant hero that risked his life saving the world every time he went hunting. Korra admired this, and it helped her with missing him while he and the other men from the tribe were gone for their hunting trips, because the story always gave her something to look forward to for when he came home.
"Heh…well…it could've grown up to be a monster…you never know!" He nudged Korra's side with his elbow.
"A cute little baby like that? A monster? Please." Korra rolled her eyes.
"All those bad guys' asses that you're gonna kick? They were all babies at some point, y'know…" Mako raised up the animal pelt, waving it in his girlfriends face.
Korra pouted, scrunching up her nose.
"Murderer."
...
Their day ended with a quiet gondola ride along one of the many man-made rivers that allowed for water travel within the city. Mako's arm was wrapped around his girlfriend's shoulder, while a man rowed their boat in the chilly afternoon.
Korra shut her eyes, enjoying the peaceful moment. This relaxation was great preparation for her training with her uncle tonight. She let out a long sigh, getting comfortable against the firebender beside her.
"Hey…hey…hey…hey…" he poked Korra repeatedly in the ribs.
She moaned, opening her eyes.
"What. Can't you see I'm relaxing here?" She shut her eyes again.
"Right, miss airbender…I just wanted to ask about your uncle. I know how you're gonna train with him and all, but…what exactly is he going to teach you about waterbending that you don't already know?"
She scoffed. "It's not just waterbending, Mr. Detective. I've already mastered it. He's going to help me develop spiritual connections and such. Maybe a few waterbending tricks here and there, too. My first lesson is tonight, actually." The avatar intertwined her fingers with Mako's.
"Ahh…I knew that…" he laughed.
"In all seriousness…I'm really kinda curious about what your gonna learn…or even what he could teach you. Us normal people don't really experience the spirits that much…" Mako squeezed her hand.
"Yeah…I've been thinking about that too. Though…I don't know how easy it'll be for me. It took me forever to get airbending right…which was all spiritual this and that. I think my uncle will teach me in a better way that'll help me learn faster than when I was training with Tenzin…"
Korra frowned, remembering how difficult it was to unlock her airbending. It took the most desperate of times for her to be able to do it. Balancing the spirit world…would it take a moment like nearly losing Mako for her to succeed? She's the Avatar. She better get the hang of it, if saving the world is going to be her full-time job.
Mako could see the stressed look on her face while she thought silently to herself, staring down to her reflection in the river.
"Korra…don't over think it. You've already mastered all of the elements. Just use what you know, and you're bound to get it." He smiled encouragingly into her eyes.
Her long face changed into a happy smile. She leaned up and pressed her lips to her boyfriend's, then pulled away and tousled his thick, black hair.
"I hate you."
She met with his lips again.
...
It was the early evening, and the happy couple returned to the palace, each carrying their own shopping bags.
"Where's Bolin…?" Korra wondered. The palace was eerily silent.
Mako shrugged.
"He was dead asleep when we left. Maybe he got up and decided to do something with his life." He chuckled.
The two were headed to their own rooms, Mako wrapping his arm around Korra's waist as they made it to the hallway.
They stopped in front of Mako's doorway, standing in each other's arms and looking lovingly into their significant other's eyes.
"What do ya wanna do now…" Korra blushed.
"What do you wanna do now…" Mako leaned down, kissing her nose.
She giggled, now wrapping her arms around his neck. "I could stand here with you all day…"
He kissed her again, now moving down to her lips as he gripped her waist.
"So could I. And I will. Watch me." He smirked.
"Not unless I bust your kneecaps…let's see you stand then." Korra smirked, finding a spot on her boyfriend's neck and biting it.
He laughed, trying to push Korra off. His neck was his most ticklish spot, and the avatar was always smart to get it when he wasn't careful to protect it.
"Psssssst…" A sudden noise was heard behind them.
The couple jumped, both surprised. Their romantic mood was destroyed in that second.
Peeking out of his own doorway, was Bolin. The look on his face was a mix of fear, nervousness, panic…and just about everything else.
"Guys…!" Bolin whispered harshly. His face was the brightest red either of them had ever seen. What's up with him, Korra thought to herself.
The young couple approached the earthbender, both concerned and curious about what he was doing.
"Bro…you look like a sweaty pig-bear…you okay?" Mako pouted.
He hid behind his door, looking frantically from Korra, to his brother. Mako crossed his arms in front of his chest. This couldn't be good.
"Shh…! Stay quiet…! I don't anyone to hear…!" He almost looked like he was in tears.
Korra pouted, becoming worried.
"Fine…just tell us what's happening…"
He took a deep, shaky breath, trying to collect himself.
"Okay, so…today…e-…Eska and I…we went out-…on…on a date today…" Sweat dripped down the side of his face.
"Way to go, Bo!" Mako shouted, grinning widely and raising his arms in the air.
"SHHHH…!" Bolin frowned.
"Sorry…" Mako whispered, sullenly sinking into his jacket.
Korra smiled. "Bolin…that's wonderful. Why are you freaking out, then? You should be happy."
A tiny smile grew on Bolin's face.
"I am. It-…it's just…this day just…wasn't what I expected…" His smile became bigger.
"Well…why don't you come with us to your brother's room and you can tell us more?" Korra bounced on her toes excitedly.
Bolin hid himself further behind the door. "Well…I-…I just need to tell you this now…"
The earthbender paused for a long moment.
"…she kissed me."
Both Korra and Mako's faces became wide with shock, their smiles both matching.
"Bolin…!" They both squealed. Mako himself, was especially happy for his brother. Finally…his first real girlfriend. First real kiss. Good job, Bolin.
"I SAID SHUSHHH!" Bolin pressed his finger to his lips.
Korra jumped. "We need to celebrate, Bolin! You have absolutely nothing to hide!"
Mako nodded.
"Korra's right. You should be proud to have a girlfriend. Not embarrassed."
Bolin looked down. "…y-…yeah. I-…I guess I-…just…don't know what to say…" he stood up more confidently, now coming out of the doorway. He appeared to be a little disheveled. A nervous wreck. Mako pat his brother's shoulder.
"…I'm proud of you, bro."
Korra beamed, also very proud. She knew he'd already forgotten their…previous date…but she hadn't entirely forgotten it. She'd broken his heart. Badly. Seeing him now with a girlfriend definitely helped her to feel better. Even if it was her cousin.
"What a relief…I thought you guys would freak out on me or something." Bolin rubbed the back of his neck, hardly meeting their eyes.
"How could we be mad? Now we can do all sorts of fun things without you being an awkward third-wheel. Ah…no offense. Like double dates…ooh! Or bending tag…" Korra elbowed Bolin in the gut.
"That sounds cool…heh…" he took a deep breath. "All that nervousness really made me…have to go…" the earthbender pointed to the bathroom door down the hall. "I'll…be back…" Bolin squeaked, slinking down the hall and into the bathroom.
Korra turned to Mako slowly, her face glowing. "Well…! I surely didn't expect that…"
Mako chuckled. "Neither did I. I'm so glad. He's never had a girlfriend before. Only flirting here and there…"
The avatar sighed. "…poor Bolin…all sweaty and nervous to tell us…" she laughed. "Kinda reminded me about when we were telling my father that we were dating. You were so scared." She slapped her boyfriend's chest.
"Whatever you say, almighty avatar." Mako rolled his eyes. He lifted a bag in his hand.
"I'm going to go put this coat on Pabu to surprise Bolin…I'll meet you in my room?" Mako smirked.
"Sure thing." Korra leaned forward on her tiptoes and kissed her boyfriend, then entered the neighboring door down the hall.
...
Mako sighed, smiling and shaking his head. He was so, so very proud of his little brother. But still, he better keep an eye on them. This is his first real relationship. As his older brother, he needs to make sure that he doesn't hurt Eska, or that Eska doesn't hurt him.
Mako could hear Pabu chirping behind the door. Bag in hand, the firebender pushed aside the pelt curtain and entered Bolin's bedroom.
Nothing prepared him for when he saw a naked Eska, laying fast asleep in his younger brother's bed, with Pabu the fire ferret licking her nose.
...