Tenzin insists she dresses up for the council meeting, telling her that she will appear well-spoken and respectable. Korra says that it shouldn't matter what she looks like, as long as she can carry her weight in an argument, and he has no response to that.
Later that evening, she stumbles into the gym with slightly watery eyes, wobbling on unsteady feet. Bolin is in the corner of the room, throwing heavy, experienced blows at a punching bag.
He stops his exercise to wave to her as she enters the training room, but the bright smile disappears from his face as soon as he notes her expression. Korra plops down on a bench and waves half heartedly at him, kicking her feet up unceremoniously and attempting to free her tired feet from the bindings of the heels she wears.
"What's wrong?" he asks, unwrapping boxing tape from his knuckles as he approaches. Korra shrugs, blows a wisp of hair from her eyes, and tries not to take her embarrassment and anger out on her teammate.
"Made a complete fool of myself in front of Tenzin and the council," she explains. Bolin raises his eyebrows with a hint of concern, and sits down next to her, bent over with his elbows on his knees.
The earthbender reaches a hand back over her shoulder, patting her briskly before realizing he hasn't yet showered, and doesn't want to mess up her dress.
"What happened?"
"Not much, actually," she sighs, waving her hand and pouting. "I can't walk in these things at all, so I ended up falling on my face in front of Chief Beifong and Tenzin and Tarrlok."
Bolin's not too sure how to react to this piece of information, but he does know how to make a girl feel better about herself. Korra doesn't even flinch as her friend throws a heavy, muscle arm around her shoulders, and even scoots closer to get more of his calming, refreshing presence.
"Well, at least you fell on your ass looking fabulous," he sasses, and Korra laughs at his tone of voice lifting with femininity on the last word.
She's lost in a gale of laughter, forgetting the night's mistakes and problems at what he says next.
"I couldn't pull off those heels."