Korra smiled and waved a hand. "It's alright Bolin, really..." She knew he liked her and she wanted to let him down gently... she sighed. She wasn't in the mood to do it today.
"R-really? Because your friend looked pretty angry or, he seemed angry. I couldn't see because of the mask." The Pro-Bender scratched the back of his neck, "But I just wanted to tell something, if you're not in a hurry..."
"No, he was just nervous... What's up, Bolin?" She asked, tilting her head.
"I understand if you don't feel the same way towards me." He said, brows creasing. "But I really miss spending time with you, Korra. You've been far away lately, and I don't know if it means anything to you but with Mako and Asami always h-hanging out..." Bolin began to sniffle. "It's just..." Tears came to his eyes. "Oh whatever!" He cried, bursting into tears and embracing Korra. "I'm so alone! I have no purpose. Why doesn't anyone like me?"
Korra bit her lip. "Bolin... Hey, if you want to go hang out, I'm free today. How about we go for some noodles or something?"
"You are?" Bolin looked up at Korra, his eyes glistening with tears. "Y-you would?" He whined, hugging her tighter.
"Of course I would. I need a break..." She laughed and smiled. "Come on!"
"O-okay." Bolin smiled, "Let's just stay like this for a minute. I need to hug you."
Once he drifted away from sadness, he and Korra went to Republic City to browse about. "You and Akito should have tagged along with us; we blew it all! Asami got new dresses, Mako was fun for a change and there was so much good food being handed out. For /free/! Can you believe it? Best festival ever."
"Yeah, sounded pretty fun, but me and Akito just went to Memorial Island to watch from there..." She lied. She did that a lot lately.
"What? You guys totally missed out." Bolin shook his head and clapsed Korra's shoulder. "Next time, I'm treating you guys to all the best food places-Korra?" Bolin looked around, finding no sign of his friend. He was just holding her! Korra was pulled into an alley.
Korra shouted in surprise. "Woah! Let go!" In her mind, she kept hoping it was Ping or Koh.
It was neither, but Amon disguised as 'Akito' and let go to calm her down. "You and I need to talk, Avatar."
Korra stared at him for a moment before sighing. "What happened to not wanting to be involved with me anymore?"
Amon was speechless, not saying anything as he turned his head away from Korra. "I lost control of my emotions. I hadn't noticed until calming down later that I've said hurtful things towards you... And I'm sorry."
"...Well, I'm sorry too..." Korra rubbed her arm. "I'm hanging out with Bolin right now... Will you meet me at Memorial Island tonight?"
"Bolin." Amon repeated, recognizing the name. Oh, of course! The lover boy's brother, or wouldn't Bolin be the lover boy? Whatever. "The young brother of Mako; smiles a lot when he's not envious. Bring him."
Korra gave him a look. "What? You want me to bring Bolin?"
The Equalist leader nodded, "Yes."
"...What are you up to, /Akito/? You realize he thinks you're mute, right? If you want, I can just get him now..."
"Then do it, and make sure his hands are clean if you've gone to any restaurants. I don't want him greasing the interior of my carriage."
Korra gave him another look before leaving the alley. "Hey Bolin! Akito is taking us somewhere!" She waved him over.
Bolin was frantically looking around until Korra's voice called to him, and he spun around to face her. "Dude, you're going to give me a heart-what? Akito's here?" The boy looked around as he ran over and saw a carriage stop beside them, with Akito approaching it. "Where exactly is he taking us?" Bolin looked at the mysterious masked man.
Korra snickered. "He didn't say. But I'm guessing it won't be any place bad. Come on!" She pulled him over to the carriage.
Bolin climbed in the carriage hesitantly and sat himself down beside Korra, across from the disguised Amon who said nothing.
Korra settled into her seat and looked up at Amon. "Akito, how's Ping? Is she doing okay now?"
Amon kept his act and remained not to speak, nodding to answer Korra. Bolin made a face. "Who's Ping?" He turned to Korra.
"She's a friend of mine that got really hurt recently... Akito lives with a bunch of people and Ping is one of them, so he'd know if she was okay... I saw her last night and she didn't look too good, but she's tough." Flawless half-truth teller Korra.
"Man, that's too bad. I hope she's okay - what does she do anyway?" Bolin asked, and Amon almost jumped to speak of a quick lie. He resisted the urge to speak, looking at Korra. He really needed to start bringing a notebook he can write on.
"She teaches martial arts." Korra said quickly. "She's really nimble. But she ended up losing an arm in an accident recently, so she can't really do it anymore."
"That's... not good." Bolin stared at 'Akito'. The guy was giving him the creeps; with that mask and all. Amon could only laugh from within.
Korra looked at Amon and tilted her head. "You're up to something. I just know it. Are you going to let him in on everything or something?" She said vaguely.
The Equalist leader turned to stone, snapping his head at Korra's direction while Bolin put on another expression of bewilderment. "Uhm, what's going on?" He looked between Korra and Amon.
Korra giggled. "I'm teasing, /Akito/. No need to get riled up."
"So uh," Bolin began twidling his thumbs. "How'd you and Akito met?"
Korra blinked. "...Uh... We met before the arena was raided. Akito was there that night and that's how he lost his voice." Please buy it, please buy it.
As Korra mentioned the Equalist raid weeks ago, Bolin sat straight up. "Really? Man, you're lucky to be alive!" He looked at 'Akito' who shrugged silently.
"Akito is really good at fighting, so his voice was all he lost. He's quite good at martial arts. He and I sparred once and he trounced me."
"What?" Bolin didn't think it was possible for Korra to be defeated. "If Akito is that good then he should join our team; Team Avatar! Huah!" The boy punched the air. "But man, you getting beat Korra? I can't imagine that. It must've been a really long fight."
Amon shrugged innocently again. It was hard pretending to be mute. He wanted to say things but uttering a word would blow his cover.
"Yeah, I got a few good licks on him, but this guy is way fast. He can dodge better than Mako!" Korra grinned, casually winking at Amon.
Bolin's smile disappeared, and settled down. The only person he knew who could dodge faster than Mako, or Korra was someone unfriendly. Then again there was a lot of people in the world that could probably avoid an attack as fast as Akito, or even faster. Bolin shook his head. He was over-thinking way too much, which he rarely did.
"You okay, Bolin?" Korra began to inwardly panic. Did she screw up?
"Huh?" He looked up at Korra and smiled. "Oh sorry. I was just thinking about what Mako and Asami are doing."
"You want us to drop you off at home and you can hang with us some other time?" She offered giving him a worried glance.
"I'm fine, don't worry about me, Korra." Bolin gave her a thumbs up, but inside he grew suspicious of Akito. Why /was/ Akito wearing a mask? It just seemed... mysterious, abnormal even.
Korra frowned. "...Are you sure, Bolin? I'm sure Akito won't mind taking you home..."
Bolin shook his head, not wanting to be rude. "I was just zoning out for a moment, honestly. You guys have /nothing/ to worry about. Though I do have a question." He rubbed his neck, "... Why does Akito wear a mask? It's kind of unsettling, no offense."
Amon turned his head a bit, wondering if Bolin was onto his disguise.
"He wears it to creep people out." Korra laughed softly. "Don't let it bother you, Bolin."
"Well, I'm definitely creeped out." Bolin pouted, trying not to stare in which Amon just started back at him. The boy shivered, "Okay, you can... stop looking at me now. Please. Akito, sir."
Korra giggled and waved a hand at Amon. "Be nice, Akito... Don't scare my friends."
As Amon settled down, Bolin gulped and hugged his knees to his chest. "So uh, where /have/ you guys been going?"
"Here and there... He's shown me this really cool place, and this restaurant I didn't know about." Korra tried to pull away from the subject and she patted Bolin's arm. "I promise, it's safe, okay?"
"Okay." Bolin nodded and dropped his legs. He took a quick glance at 'Akito' before twiddling his fingers again. He knew there was something fishy about Korra's friend, but Bolin couldn't put his finger on it quite yet.
Korra let out a quiet sigh and she looked up at Amon. She kept trying to figure out what he was thinking.
When the carriage finally stopped, Amon was first to climb out, waiting for Korra and Bolin before stalking off towards a certain direction of a fancy building.
Bolin stared in awe at the bright lights. "Akito, you're rich?"
Korra looked over at Bolin and smiled before catching up to Amon, leaving Bolin just out of earshot. "Are you alright?"
He nodded. "I wouldn't want to blow my cover now, would I? I wish I brought a notebook... I'll remember to the next time around." He checked over his shoulder for Bolin who was still looking around. "Maybe it wasn't a very smart idea to bring Bolin along. Your friend is very sensitive."
"What were you planning anyway? I was surprised you asked me to get him..." She gave his arm a light squeeze.
"It's Ping." Amon revealed finally, "She's been miserable. Not even Koh's horrible gourmet cooking hasn't been encouraging her to speak up. I thought that your friend Bolin would be the solution. But right now, I'm not so sure." He sighed. "His enthusiasm may be too much."
Korra looked back at Bolin. "I'm sure it'll be okay... They're a lot alike, so..." She nuzzled his shoulder lightly. "Don't worry... But are you sure? You're going to have to come clean eventually..."
"That's why I have to be careful." Amon chuckled, walking on as Bolin eventually caught up again.
Korra smiled at Amon and looked at Bolin. "Would you like to meet Ping?"
Bolin raised his brows in a curious manner, "Ping?" He looked at Amon, and then Korra.
"I mentioned her earlier, remember? She's here. Want to meet her?" Korra asked again. "Akito thinks you might be able to cheer her up."
"Oh, that's right!" Bolin regained memory of their earlier conversation, and nodded. "Sure. I guess I can give it a shot; not sure if I'll be her type though. Does she like Pro Benders?"
"Well, she thinks I'm awesome, so I guess so. You're a funny guy, Bolin, I'm sure she'll like you. Just make her laugh." Korra smiled.
"Suh-weet! Alright, alright. Does she like food; noodles maybe? Because I /love/ noodles!" Amon gave Bolin a nod, and the earth bender fist pumped the air. "Awesome! I can see us getting along already."
Korra turned her smile to Amon and moved closer to him. She looked to Bolin and laughed. "Perfect match, if you ask me."
Bolin ran ahead and entered, startling a few of the uninformed Equalists hanging about, however, when they saw Amon and Korra they instantly regained their calm composure and let go of their hidden electrocution gloves. "So, where is she?"
Amon pointed to one of the girls sitting by themselves.
Ping had let her hair down, and she wasn't wearing her usual attire of pants, scarf and long sleeved turtle neck sweater. Tonight she was in an attire much like Asami's, but with the jacket cutting above her knees, her emerald boots partnered by a green headband that sat over her long silky hair.
Korra pulled away from Amon and led Bolin over. "Hey, Ping... This is my friend Bolin. Akito and I brought him to visit you." She placed a hand on Ping's shoulder. "Feeling okay?"
Amon pursued them and watched silently as Ping took a moment to compose herself before speaking, or nodding as it seemed. "..." She looked up from the tea she was drinking, and smiled softly at them with a wave of her lone hand.
Bolin smiled softly too and sat beside her after Ping made space for him.
Korra clapped her hands together. "Well, we'll leave you two to get to know each other." She smiled and took a step back to stand by Amon. She looked them over and thought they looked cute together.
As soon as Korra stood away from them, Ping was already matching Bolin's voice that was the loudest in the room yet. "You like noodles too! Oh my gosh, what kind!" Ping had even forgotten she had a severed limb. Amon breathed a sigh of relief.
Well, that was easy.