A bit of romance/drama.

Chapter 7 : Fire-benders have awful tempers.

Bolin and I were sat in the arena, playing a card game. Korra was too busy playing with Pabu, as she'd lost her winning to us almost an hour ago. Not Bolin and I were playing for some serious winnings: A comb (Korra's), three yuans (Bolin's), and a scroll full of Air-Nomad cooking (mine).

Mako came in, shaking the rain from his coat. He lounged on the sofa, complaining about a busy day at the Power Plant.

"Sounds like you need to unwind," I tell him, concentrating on the card game, mostly.

"Yeah!" Bolin jumps on this idea. "Come with us, later! We're going to get some Air-Nomad grub from the Island and enjoy the company of Bumi's family."

"You're welcome to come, Mako," Korra adds, still playing with Pabu.

"I can't," Mako yawns, stretching his hands over his head. "I'm meeting Asami, and I doubt she'll want to do that."

"What won't I want to do?" Asami was climbing the staircase into the brother's home.

Bolin blinked, and Korra looked stumped. I raised an eyebrow.

"You gave her a key?" Bolin looked at his brother.

"Yeah," Mako frowned slightly. "What of it?"

Asami kissed Mako lightly on the forehead, before turning back to the rest of us.

"What's the plan?" she asked, looking intrigued.

"We're grabbing some of Pema's cooking," I tell her, before laying down a card.

"Oh, boulders!" Bolin exclaims, flinging down his remaining cards.

"Pema?" Asami looks at Mako for help.

"Tenzin's wife," Korra says, her tone short and somewhat stubborn.

"Oh!" Asami sounds surprised. "Air-Nomad food?"

"It's the best!" Bolin remarks dreamily. "Sweet, soft noodles and rice with roasted vegetables… Mmmm…"

I half expected him to begin drooling. I stole a glance at Korra, who was still messing about with Pabu, but looking a bit put-out. I examined Asami carefully. There was something off about her… She seemed too… fake.

I shrugged; maybe it was because all the women I'd ever known were my family. And Korra. My Mum and sister were like soldiers, perfectly able to take care of themselves. Pema's a tough cookie, and will always defend her husband valiantly. And Korra's… well, Korra.

"You're welcome to join us," I say, looking at her with my stormy grey eyes.

Hers are a sea-green. She smiles confidently.

"I'd be glad to," she beams.

"You would?" Korra, Bolin and Mako exclaim.

"I'll call Oogi," I say, and I walked out onto the balcony, where I gave a shrill whistle.

Upon returning, I saw that Korra's face had soured, and Bolin now seemed a bit shy in Asami's presence. Mako seemed perfectly comfortable and loved-up, but he wasn't as much of a friend of mine, compared to his brother. A sky bison ride later, and we were strolling up to the house.

The children ran to Mako, Bolin and Korra; I had the sense to get out of the way. Meelo approached Asami carefully, before hissing at her, and running off. Jinora and Ikki followed their brothers, shooting Asami weird looks. I raised an eyebrow at their behaviour, but ignored it.

"It's okay, he'd always like that," Mako was assuring Asami, as we entered the house.

Pema greeted us jovially, and took the others' coats.

For once, we had our own table for dinner, as the children were with their parents at another. Jinora and Ikki kept whispering and glaring at Asami, something I found amusing. The girl was too busy admiring the Air Nomad tapestries that lined the walls.

"Fascinating," she murmured, touching one gently. "Such a wonderful culture."

"Mmm," I agreed vaguely.

Bolin and Korra looked bored, and Mako was still fawning over his girlfriend. She turned to me, however, and tried to strike up conversation.

"So, Bumi," she knew my name. Impressive. "I hear you've been travelling?"

I nod. "For about three years. However, my fourth time in prison led to me deciding it was time to stop. I don't think I'm welcome in the North Pole any longer."

Bolin and Korra are laughing, so Asami thinks I'm lying. Let her think what she wants.

Pema places the food in front of us, and we thank her gratefully. She smiles at us, and rets a hand on my shoulder before returning to her family. I pick up my chopsticks and tuck into the rice. But Asami's having none of it.

"I hear you're the best air-bender in the world," she tells me, her eyes glittering.

I put down my bowl. "Seeing as there are only about ten of us, that's not really hard."

She reaches across the table. "You've got some rice on your lip."

She brushes it off before I can back away, and I noticed everyone on our table watching. A piece of pepper drops from Korra's chopsticks. I frowned, and brushed my face once around with my hand. Mako looked a bit surprised, but changes the conversation.

"So, you guys got any tactics for our next match?" he asked Korra and Bolin, slurping from the bowl.

"Well, actually-," Korra begins.

"Didn't you play in a match with them, Bumi?" Asami asks, leaning across the table slightly.

And that's when I notice how she's undone her top, slightly. Just enough to make a guy like me lose focus completely-

Mako's noticed, and I snap out of whatever trance I was in. I see his jaw set, and decide to concentrate on my food. Korra's eyes have narrowed, and she tries to lighten the mood by talking about her opinions on their latest matches.

Mako and I say nothing more during the meal, and I think Asami finally read the atmosphere. It was another hour or so until we were all finished, and I offered to saddle Oogi in order to get them home safely. Eager as ever to understand Air-Nomad culture, Asami volunteered to help. Bolin and Korra exchanged glances.

I didn't understand why she kept bugging me. I'd been cold and inhospitable to her all evening, something Pema was sure to scold me for, and yet she was still following me.

Using air-bending to navigate around the sky bison quickly, the saddle was soon secure.

"And so you just tuck the straps under…" I showed Asami. "See? And then-!"

A kiss stopped my talking, and I pushed her off of me gently.

"Look, I'm flattered, but Mako's-," going to blow my head off with some fire.

I grabbed my staff and twirled it rapidly in order to dissipate the flames that came roaring towards me. Damn, he really liked her. I dodged and finally, ended up blowing the angry boy way with a wave of air, created by bringing my staff down over my head and slamming it to the floor. Bolin caught Mako, and held him back, pinning his arms behind him.

"You kissed her!" he accused, but the pain in his eyes said he didn't believe it.

Korra was about to deny the statement, but I stopped her.

"Yeah, I kissed her," I crouched by Mako; he was sitting in the sand, with Bolin kneeling behind him.

Bolin looked at me, as did Korra, aghast at my lie. Was it even right for Air-Nomads to lie? Right then I didn't particularly care.

"She's an attractive girl," I said, not trying to flatter Asami, but wanting to lessen Mako's pain. "It's your fault for not protecting her from lecherous old men like me."

Korra raised an eyebrow, but Bolin dragged Mako onto Oogi's saddle, and I helped up Asami. She looked at me coldly, and I returned the expression, as she clambered into the saddle next to them. Either way, she had a lot of explaining to do.

As Oogi flew off, Korra nudged me in the ribs with her elbow.

"Lecherous old man?" she laughed. "You're in your twenties!"

I laughed. "Too much."

She smiled, contemplating it. Then she shook her head.

"No."