Bolin doesn't like to brag, but he thinks he's pretty awesome for bringing Korra out of the depressing fissure in her life that she'd fallen into in the past few weeks. His heart had practically broken in half when he'd caught her sobbing, most likely from her abduction by Amon. He wasn't sure exactly when he'd fallen in love with her – with the Avatar, he sometimes has to remind himself – but he doesn't really care.

He really only wants her to be happy. If there's one person in the entire city that deserves to be happy, it's her.

So he takes care of her in the only ways he knows. He tries to make her laugh, keeps her on her toes during practice, reminds her how amazing and beautiful she is (maybe not in those words), and tries to convince her that fear is just another part of life - it's not weak to fear.

But even Bolin fears things.

And when Asami dumps Mako, he fears he'll lose Korra – knows he'll lose her.

It's not a huge secret, and Korra isn't too vague or careful with her emotions. She's never been the type of girl to sit around and do nothing while the object of her affections pines away after another, and it's something that Bolin likes about her. She's headstrong, willful, and so incredibly amazing.

Why wouldn't any other guys be interested in her?

Bolin figures he shouldn't be surprised when he catches his older brother and the girl of his dreams locked in a world of their own after practice one day. He stares for just a little too long, noting the way that Korra melds herself against Mako, and he quickly becomes entranced with the way her eyes flick behind the lids.

He wishes her fingers were tangled into his hair, or it was his hand cupping her dark jaw.

She must notice his presence, because the two suddenly wrench themselves away from each other. Bolin blinks at the movement, eyes still locked on Korra – or, more specifically, her slightly swollen lips and tousled, chocolate hair.

It hurts.

That's the first thing he realizes. It hurts. More than the time he was knocked from the arena and broke his leg on the side of the platform, more than the time he took a flying disc to the side of his helmet. His ears had been ringing for days afterward, and his vision blurry for hours after the match.

Now, Bolin feels sick to his stomach. His stomach churns, and the butterflies that once fluttered there are now turned to ash at the look Mako gives Korra before turning to his younger brother.

"Er, Bo, um, it's…not wh-" he begins, but Bolin forces himself to grin, and cuts off his brother with a wave of his hand. His arms feel suddenly heavy, and he just wants to sit down, maybe even to lie down. He doesn't feel well, and there's something funny going on with his chest.

"Spirits.Finally!" he announces, quirking an eyebrow suggestively at his brother before marching towards the door with a dramatic salute. "I'll leave you crazy kids alone," he cheeks, trying his best to keep the sullen expression from his face.

If this is what Korra needs to be happy, then who is he to stop her?

Bolin pauses at the doorway just long enough to watch the flaming, embarrassed pink sweep up the sides of Korra's pretty face. He twists himself around, forces his feet to take steps towards the arena's exit. Only when he's walking down the dimly lit sidewalk does he let a few bitter tears this

He doesn't really feel like crying.