Keiki and Korra barely talk as they clean up from their evening meal, but it's a comfortable silence. There is not much work to do, and Keiki finds herself relaxing, as the all-important meeting went off without a hitch. Or so she thinks.
Korra on the other hand is silent as she is sizing up Keiki, a smirk planted firmly on her face. She's no competition, she thinks as she watches Keiki attempt to put a clean glass back on the high shelf. She's struggling, as she is petite and even stretching as much as she can, and using the counter for leverage, she can barely reach the second shelf, let alone the highest one. Korra offers her a smile, and reaches her hand out for the glass. Keiki returns a sheepish smile, giving Korra the glass, and moving so she can reach the shelf. Korra places the glass with ease, then turns around and leans on the counter, taking in the clean table. What a dinner.
Keiki has lain down on the couch right outside the kitchen-dining area, and Korra surveys her from her perch on the counter. The small girl is quite a contrast from Korra, small, fragile, pail. But she is witty, smart, and doesn't back down from a challenge. Much like Korra. Maybe that's why Bolin likes her so much, Korra reflects, she's just like me, but less intimidating, and she needs someone to take care of her. Her grin widens, he's still caught up on me; he's just into her because she reminds him of me.
Keiki turns her head and notices Korra is staring. She gives a small wave to the avatar before turning back to the ceiling and letting her mind return to wandering.
Of course Korra has a mini-heart attack, thinking Keiki caught her staring, she snaps out of her train of thought. What am I doing!? She turns, placing her palms on the counter; she just stares at them for a while. Bolin is my friend, but I'm with Mako. I don't care why Bolin likes her, I only care that he's happy, that he's found someone… I have Mako, he should be free to have someone too. She turns back, Keiki is a great person. I'm glad he met her. Korra smiles as she walks to Keiki and takes a seat next to her on the couch, but in the back of her mind she knows she's still jealous of this new girl in Bolin's life. However, she'll do everything she can to put that aside and make her feel welcome.
Keiki has realized that Korra has sat next to her, but she's still in the middle of her thoughts. Korra is really pretty, she notes to herself as she follows a nonexistent pattern in the ceiling, I hope Bolin tells me more about her, she seems like an interesting person. She sits up, realizing she should probably take the opportunity she has to talk to her.
"Hey, Korra?" She asks, using her small foot to nudge the dark girl in front of her.
"Yes Keiki?" Korra turns to face her, pulling one knee onto to couch.
"What do you think of Bolin?" Keiki leans her head on her knees, twiddling her feet as she waits for the Avatar to respond. But Korra is too dumbfounded to come up with a response. Keiki notices her confused expression. "I mean, you've been friends for a while right?"
"Yeah," Korra doesn't know where this is going.
"And he's had fangirls I guess in the past… do I…" Keiki readjusts her seating. "Look, I know I'm not a bender, and I'm really small, and I'm probably nothing like his normal type… I know this… but… I really like him, and you know him really well… so…"
"So?"
"So should I be worrying about him? I mean, he probably still has girls throwing themselves at him… and I'm not that type of person… and I'm not the jealous type or anything, but should I be worrying about him and his loyalty? I really like him Korra…"
Korra smiles, but on the inside she's cursing herself. Of course, she's a great human being, I can't believe I've been jealous of her all night. Nothing could ever happen between me and Bolin; he deserves her, and she deserves him. I couldn't do anything to jeopardize this… and neither could Bolin. Korra is not used to heart to hearts girl-talk, she has never had many girl friends, just Asami, and they can't talk about anything like this because of Asami's history with Mako. She touches Keiki's hand as she's seen Pema do to Jinora when she's worrying, "Bolin's a great guy," she reassures. "He's faithful and devout. He's never let me down, and he's never going to let you down. You shouldn't worry."
Keiki suddenly hugs Korra, "Thanks!" she exclaims. "I'm really happy to have met you. You made tonight a lot less intimidating. I hope that Bolin and I stay together, and I hope that we can become friends."
It takes Korra a moment, but she hugs her back. "I'd like that," she decides. Though she knows that it'll hurt to see Bolin with her, it would hurt to see him with anyone. But that's not Keiki's fault. And if it has to be anyone, I'm glad it's her. "It'd be great to have you as an addition to our group."
Keiki pulls back to look at her new friend, "I'd love to be added." She giggles slightly and Korra grins.
"Ehemmmm!" Bolin interrupts, suddenly appearing in the room a few feet from Korra, the girl he's always loved but didn't want the position of being his, and Keiki, the girls who's been happily filling that position for over a month. Both girls look at him with smiling faces.
"Oh hey Bolin!" Keiki runs up and hugs him.
"What's going on in here?" The surprised earthbender asks as he wraps his arms around the lovely girl embracing him.
"Just getting to know the new girl in your life," Korra stands from her place on the couch and smiles.
"Yeah!" Keiki releases Bolin to go back by Korra's side, and Mako climbs back through the window and into the room. "We're going to be friends!"
This is not going to turn out well…Bolin forces a smile onto his face and shares a look with Mako who joins his side. "Wow!" He turns his attention back to his love and his girlfriend. "That's so great!"
Mako goes to Korra's side and the three important people in Bolin's life engage in a conversation. Bolin just stands and observes.
Korra notices Bolin's distance and shares a look with him, meaning to convey that he should join in. But Bolin can see past her encouragement and her enthusiasm, can see past her excitement at making a new friend, down to the longing and jealousy she's trying to subdue and hide.
Korra is brought back to the conversation when Mako wraps one arm around her and says something that makes her smile and laugh. Bolin observes for one more moment. Although no one can see it, the feelings of longing and jealousy that Bolin saw Korra trying to hide, he also feels himself every time he sees Korra, whether or not Mako is around. And now she and Keiki are going to be friends? He joins the conversation, taking the chair next to Keiki and putting in his own opinion of how a turtle-duck would do as a pet. But, as soon as his comment is made, he looks from Keiki to Korra, and Korra returns a smile. And all Bolin can think, is oh spirits, I'm in trouble…
Sorry guys, I know, once again it's short... and I realize it's a little dull, more interesting stuff is coming in the next chapters, just be patient.
Also, not much bending/fighting will happen in this story. Some people have been asking about that. I'm really bad at fighting sequences... there will be some quarrels, but other than that, not much physical violence. Anyway... thanks for reading! It means a lot to me!
