The Fluffiness cometh. I am glad you are enjoying the story! Only a few more chapters to go, and the brofeels. They will INTENSIFY.
Barely a moment had gone by without Mako thanking Jinora through thick tears. Before they boarded the lift, Jinora had quickly sent a message to Asami though her spirit, to let her know what had happened. Since then, Mako had not let go of her hand. Jinora was blushing.
"So, what happened in the spirit world?" asked Tenzin, in between Mako's trembling thanks. The elevator moved smoothly and slowly.
"Korra and I found Bolin's spirit, but it was tricky. The vibe was thin and I had to get some of the spirits living there to help us, but they were scared. They did point us in the right direction. Bolin was in a forest of vines, like the ones here in the city, but they had been tainted by the energy from the weapon's explosion. He was completely surrounded and they were choking him. I couldn't believe he'd lasted as long as he had, the condition he was in. Korra and I fought them off but they beat Korra back and she wasn't able to stay in the spirit world. I had to get other spirits to help me but they were either too afraid or not strong enough, although some did try. I nearly lost him...he was almost gone...but..."
"But what?" asked Tenzin. Jinora turned her eyes to Mako, and her face became serious and emotional and slightly confused all at once.
"He...heard you," she said. The lift doors opened and Mako, Amara, Tenzin, and Jinora scrambled out. Dr Kai Yin was standing outside of Bolin's room, talking to several staff and Korra. The group approached him. He immediately raised his hand before any questions could be asked.
"Bolin is fine. Or at least, he will be. He is going to need some time to recover, and the process will be slow. He's resting right now. Still feverish but nothing unmanageable."
"Doctor, I-" Mako started, but the doctor looked at him over his glasses. When he spoke, his face was stern but his voice was not unkind.
"Mako, we knew the risks going in. I am glad your brother survived. I had to make the best decision for my team.'
"I know," said Mako. "I know. Doctor...thank you. Thank you so much. Is your waterbender okay?"
"Oh, yes, he's fine."
Mako pursed his lips. Bolin was right behind the door. Alive. "Can I-"
"On one condition."
Mako blinked. Dr Kai Yin looked at him plainly.
"You are to go home and rest. I do not want to see you for 24 hours."
Mako blinked again. Dr Kai Yin smiled, surprisingly warmly.
"Mako, you did very well. I promise you, Bolin is going to be fine, but he needs rest and so do you. If you do this, when you come back you may have unrestricted visitation," Dr Kai Yin put a hand on Mako's shoulder. It felt very heavy, but it was only because Mako suddenly realized how tired he was.
"I'm just worried..." his voice trailed off as he fought back a yawn.
"Asami is on her way," suggested Jinora. "Can she stay until Mako is allowed back?"
"Of course," said the doctor. "And Amara will be here too." Amara nodded. Mako was relieved to find trust in them.
Mako nodded. He longed to see Bolin, he ached for it, but the doctor was right. He needed sleep. Lots of it. And a shower. He put a hand on Bolin's door, and sent him a thought.
See you soon, bro.
With that, Tenzin, Korra, and Jinora escorted him downstairs. He didn't really want to go to Asami's house. His large extended family, love them though he did, would pressure him for news and Mako could barely stay awake. They were lovely, but loud. And, with a jolt of remnant anger and guilt, Wu was there. And Grandma would make him be nice to him. It was agreed that Korra would take news of Bolin to Asami's house, and Mako would spend the night on Air Temple Island.
"I wish I could see him now," he murmured as Oogi the bison floated down. They all climbed aboard.
"This is for the best," said Tenzin. "You need to get some sleep."
"I'm not even really that tired," protested Mako.
Mako fell asleep on Oogi's back on the journey.
The next day, after sleeping dreamlessly for a very long time, Mako felt a thousand times better. He dressed in clean clothes Pema had laid out for him, and ate three helpings at breakfast and lunch. He counted down the hours until he could go and see Bolin. Ikki and Meelo were thrilled to hear all the details, but reliving the story only made him more anxious. He helped the children and Pema made a care package for Bolin and thank-you gifts for the staff, but it ate up only a fraction of the time. Time did, however, pass, and soon enough, after an excrutiatingly slow sky bison ride, he found himself outside Bolin's door. It was dinner time, and the hallways were quiet. Mako took a deep breath, and opened the door.
He stepped into a jungle.
Flowers were stuck into every available space, and the scent was almost overpowering. It seems the news about Bolin, famous mover star of Nuktuk, being in the hospital had finally been leaked. Varrick, probably. At either rate, the room was a veritable garden, with warm evening sunlight streaming through the window, and onto Bolin.
Bolin was sleeping peacefully. He still had a slight fever, so there was a cool cloth on his forehead. But his skin was already a bit less ashen. His breathing was even, though still somewhat strained, and he was only connected to one bag of softly glowing water. Mako stepped quietly over. Bolin was wearing soft green hospital pajamas, just the edges of fresh new bandages peeking out of the collar. Since his fever was down, he had been given a thicker, fluffy blanket that lay on him, comfortably heavy. Bolin's eyes twitched, and slowly opened. Mako felt his stomach flip over, expecting more fearful screaming, but Bolin just smiled, looking tired but excited to see his big brother. He was lucid.
"Mako!" he said, voice small and rough. He immediately tried to sit up, the cloth sliding off his face, but Mako stepped forward.
"Oh no you don't," he said, gently pushing Bolin back by the shoulder. He reached down and raised the bed into more upright position. Bolin coughed, and Mako's stomach tightened. Bolin was alive, and out of danger, but far from health. The doctor was right; the road to recovery would be long.
"Mako," Bolin croaked. He sounded terrible but his exhausted face was bright with a spark of his usual self. Mako placed the cloth on the side table, and put his hand on Bolin's cheek.
"Bo...I'm...I'm so glad you're okay," Mako felt tears welling up. Bolin strained with effort, but managed to lift one of his own hands-bruised from needle injections-and place it on top of Mako's as it held his face. His warm green eyes shone.
"I'm so sorry, about everything. The doctor told me what...what I did...and I-" but Bolin had run out of breath. He coughed, a little harder this time, his hand dropping to his lap. Mako stroked his cheek with his thumb, feeling Bolin's warm-but nowhere near as hot-skin. Mako refreshed the cool cloth and dabbed Bolin's forehead, making a soft, soothing noise-he wasn't even aware of it-as Bolin's eyes drooped again.
"Sshhh, don't speak, just be still," Mako cooed. "You did nothing wrong. I'm the one who should apologize. I was a terrible person. A terrible brother."
"Oh, Mako," Bolin sighed. Suddenly, the door creaked open, and a nurse came in with a tray and something steaming.
"Sorry to interrupt, but it's dinner time," she said cheerfully. Bolin tried to lean up again, but quickly gave up as he winced a bit. The nurse laid the tray on Bolin's lap and began to sort out the things on the tray.
"Thank you, I can manage," he said kindly.
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"Oh, yes, thanks. Smells good!"
The nurse looked quickly at Mako, who shrugged softly. She smiled and let herself out, the breeze from the door ruffling some of the bright flowers like a breezy summer wind. Bolin pulled the spoon out of the napkin and dipped it in the thin, steaming broth. He raised it, shakingly, to his mouth, and downed it, and lowered his hand, but the spoon splattered into the dish before he could place it back. He stared at it before turning his eyes, glistening, to the ground. He was clearly shaking from the effort.
"Bo, it's alright," Mako touched his arm. Bolin didn't look up, and Mako watched a bead of sweat-or was it a tear?-slide down his cheek. Bolin's breathing was getting heavier. The task of feeding himself was, at the moment, arduous. "I'll help." Mako picked up the spoon.
"No, Mako, don't, I can.." but Mako had already slid one arm under Bolin's shoulders and another dipped the spoon into the bowl. Bolin's stomach rumbled and Mako smiled. Even after being so violently ill, so close to death, Bolin was back, and so was his appetite. Bolin opened his mouth and Mako spooned soup into it. Eating wasn't painful for Bolin, but somewhat uncomfortable, so finishing the bowl took some time. Bolin ate in silence, blushing. Mako watched, the bowl emptying, as Bolin grew more and more tired and began to drift. Not in a heaving, crushing, exhaustive way, but a soft, soothed manner. The bowl was almost empty, and Bolin could barely keep his eyes open.
"There, that's enough for now," Mako said quietly, clearing the tray. He helped Bolin drink some cool water before laying him back down and lowering the bed. Bolin's forehead, when Mako brushed against it, was a little cooler still, so Mako pulled the blanket right up to his brother's chin. Bolin was almost snoring. Mako was about to leave, to sit in the hall for a while, so his brother could sleep undisturbed, when he heard Bolin mutter in, half-asleep.
"You're not a terrible brother...you're...you're the best brother. My...my brother..."
"Bo?"
But the only response was a heavy snore.
Mako sat by his bed until the sunlight was almost gone, just a last stream of orange sunlight streaking across the room and landing in the vast swathes of flowers. He kissed Bolin, incredibly gently, on the forehead, his forelock curling around Mako's nose, before standing and stretching. He walked towards the door, when something caught his eye.
The last, fierce sunbeam of the day illuminated a single red and orange flower. Everyone seemed to have either sent green flowers to the earthbender, or blue and white ones in honour of Bolin's Nuktuk days. But this single, scarlet flower seemed to burn in the sun. Mako picked it up. It was a single firelily. They were rare. It shimmered and sparkled, creating the burning illusion it was famous for. Mako picked up the card and read it.
To Mako.
-Wu.