"It's not much," I hesitated, before finally pushing the door to my apartment open. Who was I kidding. Bolin had already seen the leaking pipes as we transversed the stairs, had already spotted all the stains on the hallway floor. He knew this wasn't going to be a palace.

"That's OK! I slept in back alleys for most of my life, so a roof, is like, whoa! Living it up!" Bolin chuckled, following me in. He took his shoes off by the door like I did, and I shot him a look as I hung up my coat on a hook that just barely stayed attached to the wall.

"What?" I raised an eyebrow. I knew that Bolin and Mako didn't have much, what with living in the arena and all, but I didn't know they had ever been homeless.

"Yeah. Our parents died when we were little. I was six, Mako was eight," Bolin shrugged like it was no big deal as he set Pabu down on the floor. Poor thing was so bloated he could barely move. I frowned, concerned at Bolin's casual statements.

"I'm so sorry for your loss," I replied, tugging at my sleeve. It was awkward, comforting people. I didn't consider myself very good at it, and it always made me feel out of place.

Bolin shook his head. "No, it's OK. I didn't really know them that well – I can hardly remember them actually. For as long as I can remember, it was just me and Mako," Bolin shrugged again, and I could tell he needed a moment to talk about it. I smiled gentle, grabbed his wrist and led him to the two rickety wooden boxes on the floor that served as chairs, the large cable spool in the middle serving as a low table. As he sat, Bolin smiled sadly, reminiscing.

"Mako was more than just my older brother. He was the only family I ever had. We never had much - we were just kids. But he tried to keep me out of trouble. It was hard, back then. I can't imagine how hard it was for him," Bolin tugged at the fabric of his pants, and I shrugged, pressing my palms together.

"I don't know exactly how you feel – but I had a small family too, when I was younger." I picked at my cuticles, not meeting his eyes. I never told anyone about this sort of thing – the only person who knew was Korra, and even then, I don't think she really understood.

"My mom had me when she was really young. She wasn't married – I never knew who my father was. She always thought he would come back, always hoped for it, I guess. I was mostly raised by my grandmother. It was hard, growing up like that. I dunno, I guess I'm trying to say… you were lucky to have a brother who loved you so much," I shrugged. I didn't know if that was the right thing to say, but when my gaze swept over him again, he was smiling down at his hands, tapping his thumbs together.

"Yeah, I guess I was," there was an airy thoughtfulness to his voice, and we both drifted into silence.

It was serene, for a while, just sitting together. But after a few quiet moments, the awkwardness swept over me like a cool fog, as my mind drifted away from the conversation. My apartment wasn't the most inviting for guests – and not just because it was dingy and falling apart. I didn't have much in the way of disposable income – spirits, Bolin and I were currently sitting on old fruit boxes I had dug out of a dumpster, resting our hands on a discarded cable spool I had nabbed after the city ran new electrical lines to a building across the street. Besides those sorry excuses for furniture, there wasn't much else to the place. Cabinets in the kitchen, a stove and an old icebox. A wardrobe next to my bed at the other end of the room with a broken hinge.

My bed was the only thing I was proud of. When I bought the apartment, I sank the rest of my savings into that one, full sized bed. The fact that it was a full was what made it a real treat – I had an unfortunate habit of rolling around in my sleep, and the larger bed kept me from accidentally falling off it. This was wonderful for me, but for guests…

I bit my lip as I looked at Bolin. I had no couch. He certainly couldn't sleep on the boxes we were currently sitting on. And the floor was disgusting – I wouldn't even consider it. There was really no other option.

"Well, we better get to sleep," I broke the silence, standing up and stretching. I had to keep it casual. It's not a big deal. I used to have sleepovers with Korra all the time when I was little. It's the same thing. Pabu chittered at me as I stood up, scampering straight to the bed and burrowing between my two worn out pillows. I tried not to wince at the sight of the bed. "The Fire Ferrets have a big match tomorrow."

Bolin huffed, and the little curl that always rested on his forehead flopped with the movement. "Ugh. Not looking forward to it," he groaned, leaning back against the wall as his eyes finally swept over the apartment. He frowned, giving it another once-over, before fixing me with his gaze, a single eyebrow raised.

"Uh, you wouldn't happen to have a couch…?"

"Nope. You brought this on yourself," I crossed my arms, willing myself to not blush. It was fine! Friends! Sleepovers! Normal! Bolin sighed, dejected.

"Hello floor, my old friend…"

I rolled my eyes at him and punched him in the shoulder.

"No, you idiot, I'm not making you sleep on the floor. Here-"

I hopped to the wardrobe that served as my closet and brandished an old, moth-eaten blanket. With a few quick whips, it transformed into a long roll, and I stripped back the sheet and blanket on my bed to set down the blanket-roll-barrier at the exact center point.

"There. You'll sleep on that side-" I pointed to the side closest to the floor, "-and I'll sleep on this side." I gestured to the side pressed against the wall. "And neither of us will cross the blanket barrier. It's like the great wall of Ba Sing Se."

Bolin raised an eyebrow at me. "Really? You don't… mind?"

I scoffed at him, crossing my arms and trying to look offended. We were friends! It was fine! We had already shared our family trauma! And I was not going to have Bolin sleep on the nasty, hard ground when he had a big day tomorrow and would need to be in peak bending shape. No sir.

"It's fine! I'm fine!" I replied, rummaging through the wardrobe for some clothes that were comfortable to sleep in. I found some cotton pants I had snatched from the dying facility and an old, dark undershirt. That would have to do.

"Now, get ready for bed. It's already way too late," I nagged. I pointedly did not look at Bolin as I marched to the bathroom, locking the door behind me. Spirits. What had I gotten myself into?

I changed clothes as quickly as possible. I didn't want to allow myself any more time to consider what I was going to have to do. I didn't want to dwell on the phantom feeling of his hands on mine, since just the thought sent a swarm of butterflies fluttering in my stomach. I didn't want to think of Bolin that way! He was – he was Bolin! He was goofy and stupid and a ridiculous show off-

And his hands were warm and big and his smile was the sweetest thing I had ever seen, and I still couldn't get the images of his bending out of my head –

I bonked my head against the cleanest wall I could find. Oh spirits, could I do this? I steadied my breathing, shaking my head and pushing myself upright. I created a triangle with my hands, like I had done so many times before, pressing away from my body as I exhaled, willing the nerves out of my body. I let my hands fall to my sides, then slide up, willing my heartrate to decrease, for the blood to stop pounding in my ears. Bolin was a friend, and nothing more. I didn't know what was going on right now, but whatever it was, I couldn't let it get between our friendship. He just had his heart broken – and I couldn't even comprehend my own emotions right now. All I should be doing is providing a friend with a safe place to stay for the night. That was it.

I cracked the door, peeking out.

I shouldn't have looked.

Bolin was taking off his outer tunic, messing with the front closure before he slipped out of the sleeves. The outer shirt slid off slowly, revealing strong shoulders, a toned back still covered in his undershirt –

Whatever I had done to calm myself was practically thrown out the window as I choked on my own spit, coughing harshly, leaning against the doorframe to catch myself as my body tried to self-combust rather than face the reality that was Bolin.

"Taro? What-are you OK-?" he stepped forward to lend me a hand and I held one out in front of me, a single finger extended, telling him to wait.

"Nope-" I coughed, catching my breath, "I-I'm good. Fine. I'm fine!" I coughed a little more, but used the distraction to my advantage, lumbering my way to the bed and flopping down onto my side. Pabu chittered a protest as my weight displaced him, scrambling out from under the pillows to air his grievances to my face. That, at least, provided me with a welcome distraction.

"Oh, come on now, Pabu, calm down," I chided, scratching between his ears. He offered one last squeak of protest before crawling to the end of the bed and curling into a ball at my feet.

I reached to snatch the blankets and pull them up, but Bolin made no move towards the bed. I shot a glance at him. He looked nervous, concerned, his bushy brows scrunched together as he shuffled his feet.

"Are you sure about this? I swear I can sleep on the floor if you-"

"Bolin, shut up and lay down." I wasn't letting him sleep on the floor, dammit!

Bolin looked terrified, but he gingerly slid into bed, tucking his legs under the covers as I pulled them up. Pabu rearranged himself, nuzzling against Bolin's covered legs as he got comfortable.

I was too busy watching Pabu being cute, that I didn't even notice one crucial detail about my bed before Bolin had entered it.

"What the – " Bolin wiggled in his spot, and pulled a stuffed polar bear-dog our from under his shoulders. He raised an eyebrow as I blushed hard.

"You-! Oh, give me that!" I snatched it from him, and he quirked a half-smirk.

"You sleep with a plush polar bear-dog?" he chuckled, adjusting himself under the covers. I shot him a glare.

"Oh, you're one to talk, Mr. bosco bear!"

Bolin's eyes shot open and he scoffed, throwing a hand to his chest, he was so offended.

"Who told you that?"

Oh shit! Right! I had been snooping! Think fast-

"You, just now!"

It was Bolin's turn to blush, and I giggled at his embarrassment. He pouted at me.

"Touché," he grumbled, narrowing his eyes at me as he pulled the blankets up to his chin. I snorted at him, finally snuggling in myself, my plush in arm.

"Well, uh, goodnight?" I stuttered. This was so weird.

Bolin chuckled a little, sighing as he turned away from me.

"Yeah, goodnight."

X

I woke to the sound of some asshole yelling across the street. I groaned soft. It was early, and the light streamed through my broken blinds, hitting me right in the face. I scrunched my eyes together tighter, willing myself back to sleep. I was tired, and I didn't need to get up yet. Instead, I snuggled closer against my pillow, the comfort and warmth of my bed.

But. Something was a little different. Pillows didn't move. My heart flew into my stomach as I opened my eyes a little wider to survey my situation.

Sometime during the night, I had evidently broken through the blanket wall of Ba Sing Se, and my head was not resting on a pillow. Rather, it was resting on Bolin's chest, which was rising and falling softly under me. I could feel the blanket that was supposed to separate us crushed under my left leg. My right arm sprawled across the rest of his chest, my right leg pressed against his thigh. I froze.

What should I do? Should I move? Would that wake him? Would not moving wake him? Spirits, I was so stupid to think a single blanket would be able to stop Taro, notorious starfish-sleeper.

I wanted to panic, but I found it difficult with Bolin's soft breathing in my ear, the gentle rise and fall of his chest under my cheek. Compared to his, my own heart was beating so loud and fast inside my ribcage.

I hadn't been this close to anyone in such a long time. And he was so soft, and warm. He practically radiated heat under my hand, and the rhythm of his heart soothed my nerves in a strange way. Where before I had been terrified, I now found myself wondering if I could steal a few more minutes like this, tangled up with him. It was so peaceful, so easy.

My eyes fluttered closed, and I pressed myself just a fraction closer, savoring every moment. I never imagined a man's chest to be so soft, so comfortable. My thoughts drifted, and I found myself falling into sleep once more.

Until someone knocked on the door.

Half asleep still, I groaned, waving the hand on Bolin's chest as if that would make the noise go away. The noise didn't go away, as another knock rang out in the apartment. And this time, it didn't just bother me.

Bolin stirred, and I realized it a second too late as he froze under me. I froze on top of him. We stayed like that, petrified, for a fraction of a second, before I came to my senses and physically threw myself out of bed, stumbling as my feet tangled in the blankets. Pabu screeched in protest as his own sleep was disturbed, skittering after me as I righted myself.

"Uh- door!" I called, rather eloquently, as I scrambled for the door to the apartment. Pabu hopped on the counter, then to my shoulders as I tugged on my tunic.

"Would you get down?" I aimed the question at Pabu as I tried to arrange my hair into something that wasn't a complete snow rat's nest. Pabu chittered at me, offended, and I rolled my eyes. "Fine, stay there," I huffed, as the mystery guest continued to bang at my door.

I unlocked my deadbolt, only opening the door a fraction. It was probably my landlord, since it was nearing the end of the month. I wasn't forbidden from inviting guests overnight or anything, but I still didn't want her to see a strange man in my apartment and get the wrong idea.

"Ye- Mako!?" I squawked. My face turned to flame. Oh good spirits, no.

Mako rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Finally. Have you seen Bolin? He didn't come home last night."

"I-uh-" I sputtered. Oh no. Should I lie? No, I haven't seen Bolin, no, not at all. I couldn't just tell him that his brother was in my bed – even if it wasn't like that –

Before I could come up with any response, Pabu decided to make himself known, squeaking happily at the sound of Mako's voice and skittering to my visible shoulder to make himself known.

"Uh. I might have seen him," I spat out. Mako raised an eyebrow at me, and promptly barged into my room, shoulder checking me as he did so. I sputtered, aghast that he would just barrel into me like that.

"Bolin!" He called, hands on his hips. Bolin already had his tunic on, thank the spirits, leaning against the bathroom door, wearing an expression I had never seen on him. He looked pissed – his mouth set in a hard line, his gaze steely. Mako groaned and rubbed the bridge of his nose again.

"It's time to go home, Bo," Mako ordered, taking a step towards Bolin. Bolin took a step back, mirroring Mako's movements.

"Why, because of our match? Why don't you just get Korra to play for me," Bolin countered, venom in his voice. Even I winced.

"She is playing. As our waterbender. Come on bro, I-"

"Don't call me that," Bolin growled, stepping back once more. "You aren't even going to apologize? You're just going to show up and act like everything's alright?"

Mako scrubbed his face with his hand, shaking his head. "We don't have time for this right now. We can talk about it after the match, but right now I need you. Korra needs you."

Bolin hung his head, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes. I still stood by the door, dumbfounded at all of this. When Bolin lifted his head again, he looked at me sadly, before turning to Mako and sighing.

"Fine. But I'm not forgiving you," he countered, pointing a finger at Mako. All Mako did was sigh – a long, rattling thing that spoke of years mediating fights, years comforting his brother. I thought I had helped Bolin reconcile with part of this last night, but apparently not, as he trudged out behind Mako, dragging his feet and barely sparing me a passing glance except to say:

"Thanks for letting me stay."

All I could reply with was "no problem," in a shaky, bewildered tone, and as quickly as Mako had arrived, they both were gone.

X

This was the least excited I had ever been for a pro bending match. I popped the collar on my tunic just to try and hide my face as I scampered through the hallways.

I was a wreck. I still hadn't apologized to Korra – and she hadn't apologized to me. I still had no idea what kind of emotions I was feeling when it came to Bolin – and Mako! I ducked further into my tunic. Mako had seen Bolin at my place! I had no idea what he thought he saw, but what if he told Korra? And what if Korra thought I was jealous? What did Bolin even think of me at this point – were we friends? Did he – did he like me too?

I slapped myself in the face as I waited outside the Buzzard Wasps' locker room for the match to start so I could commandeer their viewing platform. If I had been nervous to see the Fire Ferrets last match, this match, I wasn't showing my face under penalty of death.

I tried to get my mind off of my wreck of a personal life, but the outlook in the ring wasn't much better. The Buzzard Wasps were good, and it would take a huge upset for the Fire Ferrets to win. I couldn't imagine the team working together well today – Korra had reason to feel guilty when it came to both of her teammates, as did Mako. And I highly doubted that Bolin and Mako would have made up by the time the match started. I groaned. This was the end for them, wasn't it? Hopefully we could all salvage our friendships, at the very least.

The bell for the first round sounded, and I had never been so upset that I was right. The Buzzard Wasps were a well-oiled bending machine, stringing together perfectly choreographed combos, working off of each other beautifully. Meanwhile, the Fire Ferrets struggled just to stay on their feet, much less work together on a team combo. It was every man for themselves, and despite the extensive one-on-three training I had put each one of them through back when I was helping coach Korra, none of them looked like it had stuck.

They fell back, first to zone two, then three. I bit the pad of my thumb as I stared down the clock, willing them to just stay on their feet –

Saved by the bell. I exhaled harshly, shaking my head. This was pathetic. It was actually hard to watch. And it only got worse, as the bell for round two rang, and Mako immediately inflicted friendly fire on his brother. I flinched, cringing away at the bending as well as the deeper implications of that blunder. The round consisted mostly of me desperately screaming for the Fire Ferrets to get their crap together, and my friends falling all over themselves.

Round three. The only thing that would win the match was a knockout. Mako and Bolin sank into their opening stances with little energy, their shoulders low. I knew the stance well – it was the same way that Haku would begin every match – defeated. I groaned. They were right to be upset, to be pessimistic, but I wished they wouldn't give up hope. Korra looked like the only member who had any fight left in her.

Mako was hit left and right, and Bolin was bombarded so heavily that he fell back to zone two almost instantly, followed quickly by his brother. I wasn't shocked, judging by their attitudes at the start of the round, but it still hurt to see in real time.

But the bad luck didn't stop there. Bolin barely had time to adjust to his new position before their earthbender fired a barrage at him, one of the discs turning midair. I saw it crack into his shoulder, but more than that, his scream echoed in the din of the arena.

"No!" I shouted. Spirits, that looked like it hurt, and right after Mako flew into the drink, leaving only Bolin and Korra to win the match.

"Bolin, bail! Bail!" I screamed. No match was worth his shoulder, and by the way he was holding himself, it looked badly hurt. But he didn't stop. It would have been impressive if I hadn't been so worried, the fact that he was still standing, still bending. Spirits, he really was a force of nature. But he was giving me heart palpitations – I couldn't watch this. I needed to be there – to tell Mako to pull his idiot brother out of the ring, to heal Bolin when he eventually took a dive – I didn't know, and I didn't care. All I did know was that before I could stop myself I was sprinting into the hallway, the announcer ringing through the halls as I booked it to the opposite end of the arena. To the Fire Ferret's viewing platform.

I ran as fast as I could, and when I emerged on the other side, Bolin was nowhere to be seen. I leaned over the platform, and there he was, paddling towards Mako, who was waiting in the elevator. I sighed in relief – at least he had gotten out of there before he had been injured even worse.

But even with Bolin safe, that meant that Korra was their only hope. I slumped against the railing. I didn't even want to look. She was the only one left, and –

And when I looked up, she was ducking and weaving, in a low stance as she searched for her opportunity, and I gasped.

She was owning a one-on-three.

X

"Why do we even need to practice this. It's not like one-on-three's are common," Mako grumbled as I directed the Fire Ferrets into position. I scoffed at him.

"They may not happen often, but that's one of the reasons why they're important," I countered. I stood opposite the Fire Ferrets as they stared me down, elements at the ready.

"And Mako, I would hate to think that you dislike one-on-threes. You're actually pretty good at them."

"I am?" he asked, an eyebrow quirked in a rare display of emotion.

"Wait, he is?" Bolin added, his own goofy confused expression painted across his features. I rolled my eyes.

"Of course. A one-on-three is first and foremost, about patience, and Mako has plenty of that. In the second or third rounds, your opponents are going to be tired, and if you wait long enough, if you dodge long enough, you can tire them out," I smirked. "Now, show me what you got."

Korra grinned, and the boys shrugged, before they leveled the combo they had worked on earlier that day straight at me. It was easy to dodge because of its predictability, but they still looked impressed, as I continued to talk while I dodged.

"As Korra would say, you need to be the leaf-" I chuckled, and Korra giggled too. I ducked under an earth disc, and continued. "You dodge everything they throw at you. It's not cowardly to dodge," I was panting now, under the strain of the barrage as they grew beyond their combos, freely giving me everything they had. "It's survival. You wait, and you watch, and when you finally see an opening-"

Mako switched stances, and before he could set his foot down, I shifted my weight, pushing through as I shot a blast of water at him and knocked him clean off his feet. Korra and Bolin stopped bending, shocked at Mako's sudden demise.

"Usually you don't have to take down all your opponents during a one-on-three, you just have to wear them out. Take your time, and don't take chances. They will make a mistake. And you're all smart enough, and quick enough, that you'll see it, and then-" I grinned, falling into a new stance, and pushing forward with both hands. Water flew at Bolin and Korra, who both screamed as they fell to the ground.

I laughed, and they joined in. Even if they would never use it, at least we had fun learning it together.

X

But Korra was using it. She dipped and flowed, watching, waiting. She danced through the barrage, waiting for her moment to strike. She picked out their weak points – a misstep here, a falter in stance there, and gradually she started to push them back. First one, then another, until one Buzzard Wasp occupied each zone. I bit my non-existent fingernails, eyes flitting to the clock. She was doing well – so well, so unbelievably well – but would it be enough?

Then, I saw it. A shift, a step to the side as Korra dodged another fireblast, and then – they were lined up like turtleducks.

"Now!" I screamed, and Korra tore through them, one swift, clean, strong shot, and the water crashed into each of them, knocking every single one of them off their feet and into the water.

"Oh my- yes! Yes!" I screamed, barely noticing that Bolin and Mako's elevator had reached the platform. I was transfixed. They had won? They had won!

I was still staring out at the ring in wonder when I heard Bolin cry out in pain. I whipped my head around, and Mako was grinning, ruffling his brother's hair as Bolin pouted at him and rubbed at his shoulder. I laughed even louder.

"You're going to the finals!" I sprinted over to them, giving Mako a big high five that he returned with gusto and a half-grin. But my gaze turned serious when I looked at Bolin.

"Are you alright?"

"Am I alright? I'm better than alright!' The Fire Ferrets are going to the finals-ah!" Bolin raised his arms to cheer and flinched away as soon as he moved. I rolled my eyes at him, smacking at his good shoulder until he took a seat on the bench.

"Not about the match, you idiot, your shoulder!"

I couldn't keep up my nagging for much longer, though. Almost as soon as I had Bolin sitting down, his face lit up and he jogged over to see Korra, a huge grin plastered across her face.

"Korra, that was the coolest thing I've ever seen!" Bolin cried, and I smiled, a little sad. My heart did some kind of weird pathetic flip, but it turned anxious as soon as Korra looked at me, her smile faltering for only a second.

"Well, I did learn from the best."

She scooped me into a big hug, and I didn't even know how to react. It took me a moment, but I hugged her back, and when she pulled away, she sighed.

"Listen, I'm really sorry about those things I said. You were right – I was being selfish." Korra hung her head, and I shook my own, smushing her cheeks with my hands.

"Yeah, you're right about both of those things, but who cares? Did you see yourself? You made those Buzzard Wasps dance! I'm so proud of you!" I squeezed her tight, lifting her well off the floor as I hugged her. It had been a stupid fight anyway. I shouldn't have been so offended – and I probably wouldn't have been, if she hadn't been a little bit right. But she didn't need to know that, at least not right now.

"You really had our backs out there Korra. Thanks for believing in us," Mako added, as soon as I released Korra from my hug.

"You're welcome," she replied, with a soft, gentle smile. Then, after waiting a beat, she looked from Mako, to me, and chuckled. "I know things were kind of crazy the past couple of days, but… I hope we can still be friends."

"Definitely," Mako replied, and he and Korra shared a look that told me maybe they wouldn't be just friends forever.

That was the perfect, soft and emotional moment for the Wolfbats to enter the platform. I made a face. Spirits, I hated them. Luckily, my team had never had to take them on, but I had heard rumors. Horrible rumors.

I decidedly ignored them, instead herding Bolin back to the bench as soon as they stepped onto the elevator. Asami flounced onto the platform, and I sat down next to Bolin.

"Now, what did you manage to do this time," I joked, tugging at his sleeve. Bolin looked at me, incredulous.

"What did I do? It wasn't me, that jerk of an earthbender-" I giggled, and he noticed, pouting at me. "You were joking, weren't you."

"Yep. I definitely was," I chuckled more, enjoying the familiar banter. But the smile he shot me after I laughed made my heart flip. Oh spirits, get it together, Taro.

"Bolin!" Korra called, joining us on the bench. "Let me help."

I raised an eyebrow. When I was training with her, Korra had always hated healing, but I shared a look with her, and I immediately understood. This wasn't about the physical healing, so much as the emotional sense of things. I nodded, moving to Bolin's other side and pushing a bucket of water closer to Korra.

"Hey, hey wait a minute-" Bolin pouted, looking from me to Korra. Korra touched his shoulder and he yelped. "Ouch! Haven't you hurt me enough, woman?"

I snorted despite myself, and Korra laughed too, settling down next to him.

"Relax, I'm a healer. Taro and I both learned from Katara. You know, the best there is?"

Korra gathered up the water into a tight ball, the liquid already glowing. Bolin shot me a terrified look as he eyed the glowing ball of liquid, scooting closer to me. But I wasn't letting him get away. I placed a hand on his shoulder, shot him a sarcastic smile, and held firm.

"No no no no-!" Bolin shook his head as Korra directed the water to his shoulder, but almost as soon as the water engulfed him, he relaxed completely, leaning into the treatment. "Oh- hey, actually, that's pretty nice…" he sighed, leaning back. I stifled a snort.

"Bolin…" Korra began, swirling the water rhythmically between her fingers, "I'm so sorry I let things get so out of hand, and I never wanted to hurt your feelings. Are we… gonna be alright?"

Bolin shot Korra that thousand-watt smile, and I felt myself soften. "Yeah, don't worry about me. I'll be fine. But we had fun together, right?"

"Oh, so much fun. Bolin, you really are one of a kind."

I felt like I shouldn't really be sitting in on this, but I really was glad that Korra and Bolin had reconciled. The past week had been crazy, and it was so refreshing to see everything start to go back to normal again.

I didn't have time to consider the awkwardness, because just then, the game bell sounded.

"Your winners, the Wolfbats!"

All of our eyes flew open, our eyebrows shot to our hairlines. "What?" we all shouted in unison, jogging to the edge of the platform.

"There's no way that was over so fast!" Korra exclaimed. And normally, I would be inclined to agree, but… over the railing, the match looked like a massacre. The opposing team was being carried away on stretchers. I shot a concerned look at Bolin, and he returned my gaze, looking just as scared. What were these people?

With the thought of the Wolfbats and their terrifying win in the back of my mind, I fidgeted constantly as the Fire Ferrets gathered their things and headed home. I was so focused on pacing, I didn't even notice how slowly Bolin was packing his things, until I heard a pained yelp.

His helmet was on the floor, and Bolin was still clutching at his arm. When he caught eyes with me, he chuckled. "Taught by the best, huh?"

I snorted. "Truth be told, Korra was always more into the fighting side of waterbending."

"You don't say – hh!" Bolin winced again as he tried to pick up his helmet. I batted him away from it.

"Will you stop that! Spirits, even if Korra had healed you fully, you can't just go around straining it the whole time. Here, sit down." I grabbed the bucket again, feeling the water between my fingers as I readied another healing ball. Korra was an amazing healer, even if I did joke about her preference for fighting. She had just gotten distracted by the Wolfbats before she could finish the job.

"Normal water healing won't completely fix your shoulder," I mumbled as Bolin undid the latches of his tunic again. I ignored it. Ignored it! I warmed the water by sloshing it back and forth before passing it through Bolin's shoulder, and he groaned, his whole body relaxing.

"What do you mean? Can I still play in the finals?" Bolin panicked, and I chanced healing with one hand to flick him in the forehead with the other.

"Stop moving around so much! And no, even with normal water healing, you'd be healed enough to play, but…" I quirked a smirk at him. "I've got something a little better."

I gathered the water and deposited into the bucket. Bolin tried to twitch a smile at me in return, but he just looked concerned.

"And that is…?"

"Well, there's this form of healing I developed myself. I've never used it on anyone else before though," I admitted, and now Bolin was truly scared. I smiled soft at him. "Do you trust me?"

He took a moment to search my eyes, before replying.

"Absolutely," he said, not a waver in his voice as he met my eyes.

I tried my very best to ignore how that made my heart flip in my chest, and instead focused on the healing. I had to be calm for this to work at all, and that meant I couldn't be distracted by whatever dumb feelings I was having.

"Alright, I need you to breathe in time with me, and relax."

"Aren't you gonna grab the water and… you know?" Bolin feigned some waterbending at me, and I shook my head.

"I told you, this isn't normal water healing. Now breathe with me."

Bolin hesitated, but only for a moment before setting his jaw and trying to relax his shoulders. I set my hands gingerly on his injured shoulder, breathing loud and obvious so that he could follow my pace. He did, falling into a slow pattern with me, and as our breathing matched up, I moved my hands gingerly over his shoulder. It was more of a sprain than anything, as I felt it closely, with a large bruise surrounding it.

"This is going to feel weird. Don't stop breathing with me." I closed my eyes, concentrating on the wound. I pushed and pulled, concentrating hard. I had never even healed something this complicated on myself – usually it was just bruises and inflammation. But wasn't a sprain just one step higher than that, anyway?

Bolin's breath caught as I slid my hands across his shoulder. This had to feel so weird, for someone who had never experienced it before, but I wanted to help him. I wanted to be… a good friend.

I exhaled one last time, removing my hands from his shoulder. When I did, the bruising was gone.

"Try it out," I offered, gesturing to his arm. Bolin blinked at me, and gingerly rotated his shoulder – until he felt the difference and put more effort into the movement, his mouth falling open.

"That-that's amazing! How did you even do that?"

I blushed, scratching the back of my head. "I don't know, exactly. I've always been able to heal myself like that. This was my first time trying it out on another person, especially on something that serious."

"Well, it looks like you're gonna give Katara a run for her money, with healing like this!" Bolin grinned wide, posing with his newly healed shoulder. I tried not to spend too much time looking at how his tunic draped over him, how his right arm flexed as he posed. Spirits, I needed a slap in the face.

"Alright, now don't get ahead of yourself. You still need to rest for a few days. Go light in practice tomorrow, save it for the match," I pointed a finger at him, and he pouted. I made my way to the door, but before I could leave, Bolin called out.

"Hey Taro!"

I peeked back inside, to see Bolin securing the latches of his tunic, a gentle grin on his features, that same sincere one he had given me the night before.

"Thanks."

I felt my cheeks heat. It looked like I could use some special healing myself.

"Don't mention it – oh, and no weight lifting!" I pointed at him, narrowing my eyes. He only laughed, and I left wearing a dopey grin. Maybe things were looking up after all.