I apologize once again for the long time between updates. I was devoting some of my focus to my new story You'll Go Far, which is another Bolinora fic. Its a shall we say prequel to this story so check it out. I hope everyone enjoys this long luxurious chapter. Leave me some love and feedback or else more may not be in store. Thanks guys! Enjoy!
He had found the ring in an antique shop that he stumbled into one day after training. It had him perfectly mesmerized. The band was a twisted spiral of yellow and white gold. The center was a sapphire framed by an emerald on each side. He knew it belonged to Jinora and that he had to have it for the day he would ask her to share the rest of her life with him. He knew it was preemptive and a ways off, but it was perfect. He kept it safely in his apartment in the back of his closet where Jinora would never dare wander. He pulled it out one day a few months after he bought it to admire it and contemplate when he might gift it to his beloved when his brother caught him with the ring. Mako was thrilled for Bolin, but he (and Korra, who had to know everything), were bewildered as to why he was waiting. At first he wanted her to finish school, then he wanted her to settle in, and then he wanted them as a couple to talk about their future. The excuses kept coming, but the time never felt right.
Tenzin had pulled him aside the night of Jinora's 23rd birthday to talk to him about his intentions with his daughter. Everyone knew they were in love, but Tenzin needed to know Bolin's thoughts. Bolin did confess that he already had a ring, but he intended to ask for her hand when the time was right. Tenzin told him there was no need. Bolin was scared out of his mind when Tenzin stated that, thinking Tenzin wouldn't permit their marriage. The airbender really was just insisting that he approved of their relationship. He went on to tell Bolin to stop beating around the bush, but that he and Pema were happy for the couple and blessed their relationship.
Bolin had even planned the proposal a number of times. Some occasions he would back out; other times it was Jinora's fault—like the time she broke her left hand and all of the fingers sparring with Skoochy, or the time that her book publishers interrupted their plans of a weekend together with editing questions, or something of the sort. Bolin tried to keep up with the goings on of her reference book writing, but he had difficulties. He was going to propose after the Pro-Bending Championship tonight, but Jinora burned her hand messing around with his teammates. The burn went up her entire left arm. The healer said she would be fine with multiple healing sessions, but for now she would have to take it easy. He was beginning to think the spirits did not agree with their union in spite of all of the humans who agreed they were the perfect match.
"I was gone for twenty minutes and you get catastrophically burned." He was holding her as they relaxed in the arena. It was empty for the time being; the impending match wasn't for several hours. He stroked her hair lovingly, shaking his head against hers unbelieving at the situation.
"Jet didn't do it on purpose. He thought I was paying attention. I turned away and I got burned. It happens." She shrugged, but winced at the motion. Her injury was going to seriously impede her movement and expression which irritated her more than the pain.
"I know he didn't. It still doesn't make me happy that my teammate burned you. I have to trust him. Third degree burns don't exactly instill a vote of confidence."
"You have this championship in the bag. Your strategies are solid. Your techniques are perfected. Your team's chemistry is legit. Keep your focus and you'll keep your title." She told him matter-of-factly.
"At least someone is confident." He sounded mildly downtrodden.
"I may have a handicap, but I'll still kick your earthbending ass if you continue to be down on yourself."
"I have myself a feisty girlfriend today, don't I?" He buried his face in her hair kissing the back of her neck.
"Yes, sir you do!" She giggled as he tickled the back of her neck. The stubble on his chin was just long enough to be soft and when he it lightly hit the back of her neck it sent her squirming. Not one of his best ideas when she was injured and he had to be careful of her flailing limbs but the smile on her face was worth every second. Their moment of happiness was interrupted by Zane, the waterbender for the Fireferrets.
"Bro, we need you for prep and interviews! Sorry, Jinora, we gotta steal him."
"I'll send him on his merry way."
"Thanks!"
Jinora let out a deep sigh. She sat up to let her boyfriend up so he could go be the Team Captain.
"I'll be in the box waiting for you after the match. Good luck tonight." He kissed her full on the lips.
"I love you."
"I love you too. Now go get pumped to kick some tail! I wanna see a good match tonight."
"Only the best for the best, and you're the best." He yelled with a wink as he trotted towards his duties. He was so good to her that she didn't know what to do with herself. He should have been furious about her arm; she should have been more aware. The team healer said that it would be fine in the long run after a few sessions with Korra everything would be tip-top. He had been amazingly relaxed lately especially leading up to the match. She was just glad he was letting his hair down a little bit.
"Jet!" Bolin yelled at the boy when he saw him in the locker room. " I oughta slug you hard for the damage you did to Jinora's arm. I would too if we weren't about to have a match!"
"I told you I'm sorry I don't know how many times!"
"A few more couldn't hurt, but geez man, I was going to propose! Did it have to be the left arm? She can't even look at her fingers until her next healing session tomorrow. Let alone wear her ring until it's healed in who knows how long!"
"Bolin, you've been trying to propose for the past year. This is getting ridiculous. You always have an excuse, some more legitimate than others. You just have to do it. Stop trying so hard to make it special. It's never going to be perfect. You are trying too hard." Jet was so frustrated with him always building up to ask her and it never happening. It was annoying and ridiculous. The ordeal was starting to wear on him and he wasn't even in this relationship.
"This isn't just another question, or some piece of jewelry. It has to be special." Bolin was beyond consolation.
"You know she is going to say yes. She isn't going to tell you 'This isn't special enough. My answer is no. Try harder next time.' She going to cry, kiss you and say yes." Zane pointed out astutely.
"Zane, don't they propose with necklaces in the water tribes?" Jet inquired of the water bender.
"I'm from the city, why do you assume I know these things and yes they do."
"Because you always do. Bolin, what if you gave her the ring on a chain? She could wear it once her hand healed, and you could get it over with." Bolin mulled Jet's suggestion. It would make his life easier. Maybe she would even find it charming and endearing. There was just one problem.
"I like this idea I do. But I don't have a chain."
"Bolin. Use. Your. Head. You. Are. A. METALBENDER! For Agni's sake, that girl has you so wound up you can't even think straight." Fumed Zane.
"Okay, fine. So where should I get this metal?" That question had both Zane and Jet stumped for a few minutes. Until Zane, the guy with all the ideas, suggested that he take it from the Championship trophy. Jet was incredulous as was Bolin. Zane tried to explain himself.
"She's just as much a part of this team as anyone else. She's here for training all the time. She gives us tips and feedback after watching us train and sparring with us. She gives Bolin up so we can have him whenever we need him and doesn't complain like many of the other girlfriends. She cooks dinner for all of us when we train late and you just irreparably damaged her arm. She deserves this too."
"He's right. We owe her. She's part of the team. Hell, if they'd let us have an airbender she would be on the team." Jet heartily agreed.
"Group Hug!"
"No!" The pair said in unison.
"You two are no fun. But really guys this means a lot to me but you know what?" There was silence. "There isn't going to be a trophy if we don't get ready." In the moment of serious conversation and bromance the trio neglected their real purpose of the day and ran for their pre-match interviews.
Jinora as always knew better than to leave the house without a book, there is too much downtime that shouldn't be wasted.
Two hundred pages and a few hours later Asami and Korra found her in the area.
"There you are Jin!"
"Korra, this is where I always am before a big match. You say it like you spent forever looking for me." Jinora rolled her eyes and turned to face her friends.
"What happened to you?!" Asami shouted as her and Korra rushed over to her.
"Jet, burned me in practice earlier. The team healer said I have to get it looked at every day for the next week or so, but it should heal almost entirely with time."
"You've got to be more careful with these guys, Jinora, especially if the burn is that bad." Asami said with worry blatant on her face.
"At least they don't take it easy on me like Mako and Iroh do. They offer a challenge."
"We do not take it easy on you. I take offense to that." Iroh said as he and Mako came to meet their significant others. "Oh, Agni! What happened to you?!" Jinora sighed loudly. She thought about making a sign so people wouldn't ask her that question again tonight, but she knew it was going to keep coming.
"I got burned in a spar. I lost focus; Jet thought I was paying attention. It's not a big deal. I just have to see a healer every day for a while."
"Seriously? I never had a burn that bad and I play with fire." Mako said his voice and face incredulous at the amount of damage had been done and the amount of pain she had to have been in.
"I have. It's not going to be a pretty road to recovery Jinora, even with a healer's aid. However that should help with the scarring immensely. The pain will be there either way. There are some herbal teas that can help with the pain, but they can only do so much." Iroh never talked about his activities with the General Forces, most of his missions were classified anyways. But to find out he was burned that badly was no doubt a result of something that happened abroad.
"Awesome. You are no longer allowed to talk to Bolin. If you dare tell him how much pain I am in or anything about your past burns you will die. If he knows he'll never let me in this arena again. It took me this long to not be a dainty flower and you can't screw that up. The rest of you better keep your traps shut."
"Aye, Aye Captain." Korra offered complete with a salute. That broke the tension and got the gang laughing.
"Where is everybody else?" Jinora asked, wondering where her family was.
"Tenzin, Lin, Meelo and Skoochy were doing security checks with the guard. Everyone else was wishing the team good luck. They'll be letting everyone in soon. Best we rounded everyone up and got to our box." Korra suggested. There was a box at the area particularly for their family because at the time that they rebuilt the arena Mako, Korra and Bolin were still Pro-Bending. Over the years the family members would bring friends to matches and now and then the Order of the White Lotus guards would use it as well. It came in particularly handy when championships came around so the whole family could sit together and they wouldn't lose anyone.
The minute that they announced that the Fireferrets held the title once again, Jinora squeeled and raced from the box to the arena floor where they were interviewing the benders left and right about the match. Other friends and family members of the various benders were making their way to the floor as well.
The Fireferrets were in a team huddle around their trophy. It was their signature; they wanted a moment to themselves to enjoy their victory and congratulate one another before the chaos ensued. Today however in the huddle amongst the merriment the trio helped Bolin craft a chain that matched the ring's spiral band.
"No, that's not twisty enough."
"No, that's too thin."
The opinions went back and forth until a chain of four spun strands was formed and trio agreed it was perfect. Bolin threaded the engagement ring onto the chain and slipped it in his pocket.
"Good luck bro!"
"Like he needs it."
They broke the huddle and as soon as he turn around Jinora ran into him. He picked her up bridal style and spun her around careful of her bandaged arm. They kissed chastely and he set her down.
"That was amazing! They didn't even stand a chance! You were brilliant."
The rest of the 'family' had arrived on the floor and he knew this was his chance.
He held her hand and stepped back from her.
"Jinora." She turned and looked him straight in the eye. "I love you. There is no one else in this world who could put up with me and do it with a smile. I love the way you can read your book in the middle of chaos. I love the way you make me chase you around and let me catch you because I will never run as fast as you. I love that you are so smart and yet you can be so dense and stubborn sometimes. I love the way you kiss me to get me to stop rambling. I love the way you assumed we would get married even when we had never talked about it. I love you. I will always love you. You will always have my whole heart. Jinora, will you spend the rest of your life with me, letting me love you the rest of our days; Nora, will you marry me?" He dropped the ring attached to the chain. The chain was looped about his ring finger as he held it out to her the ring spinning around letting the light and flashes glint off its emeralds and sapphires.
The arena had ceased movement. His declaration of his love had stopped the reporters and cameras. All eyes were on Jinora. The entire arena and any part of the world listening to the radio or television broadcast heard. Everyone was listening, waiting for a reply. The only eyes and ears Jinora was aware of were Bolin's. They were beginning to tear up; hers were already overflowing. She began to nod profusely and managed to say yes beneath the tears. He stood up and kissed her swiftly. When he pulled away he gazed at her face when she said, "I love you. I will always love you. Of course I'll marry you." She kissed him again and the arena burst into cheers and applause. "I cannot believe it took you this long and that you did that in front of the entire world!" She slapped him on the shoulder with her good hand and he laughed good-naturedly. He stepped away from her and held out the ring and necklace for her to examine. "It's gorgeous. I wish I could wear it properly, but it would seem you've thought of everything. Will you put it on me?"
"It would be my greatest honor my love." He hooked the chain around her neck and settled the ring just below the hollow of her throat. "I'll have you know that I made that chain just for you from our trophy. The guys wanted me too; the idea was their actually. I won't take all of the credit." Jinora's eyes swelled up with a second round of tears for the endearing thought of the gentlemen that were her fiance's teammates. She turned to find Jet and Zane, luckily they weren't far and had just finished another interview.
"Congratulations little lady!" Offered Zane. She hugged him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. She did the same with Jet only his kiss was punctuated with a punch to the arm.
"That's for my arm."
"I deserve that."
"A rather astute observation. I'd let you have more of a piece of my mind, but you just won a championship and I just got myself engaged. I am far too happy to cause further violence."
"You might want to get that in writing Jet. Especially for once her arm heals up." Meelo suggested as he and the rest of the family joined the group in the congratulations of the lovely couple.
"Congrats Bro." Mako told Bolin with a hug. "It only took you a year after you got the ring."
"You've had this for a year!" Jinora exclaimed astonished at her fiancé while Mako came over to her to hug her as well.
"He's been working up the courage ever since. He even planned it all out a few times they would never work out for one reason or another." Mako told her when he hugged her tightly. Korra joined in the hugging as well.
"He's been carrying it around 24/7 ever since he bought it." Korra divulged with an ecstatic smile.
"What can I say I wanted it to be perfect?" Bolin offered this excuse which the group took as endearing.
The whole family had hugs and congratulations to offer to the team and the lovely couple. Pema and Tenzin both shed a few tears for their oldest child was growing up. Skoochy was pale and quiet after offering Bolin his congratulations when Bolin told him that he was next. Jinora just giggled as she overheard. She could see Skoochy and Ikki together and getting married but they were both too childlike to do so anytime soon. Meelo would probably marry before her; he never lost his rambunctious nature, but he loved Jerita with reckless abandon. As the well-wishing died down so did everyone's energy. It had been a long day with much to celebrate, but for now it was time to head home.
"Hey Babe!" Jinora turned around as Bolin called out for her. "You staying with me tonight?"
"I just might be so inclined." She said lightly with a wink.
"Wait for me?" He asked before he turned to the locker room to get his belongings.
"Always have."
"Always will."
So I didn't write the scene of the match. Its like quidditch in Harry Potter there are only so many ways before its a bore and I feel like my writing would not do a match justice. Review or PM. Love you guys and Thanks!