After a strenuous day of training, Korra had been ready to take Naga for a relaxing excursion around Republic City. But on the way to the docks were the greenhouses, and when she heard thumps and crashes coming from one of them, she knew she would have to investigate.
"Stay here, girl," she commanded Naga, then sauntered into the glass hut. The hums of a laughing little boy told her all she needed to know.
"Korra!" Meelo bounced from atop a hanging plant, knocking it to the ground. He seemed oblivious to it as he grabbed the girl's hand, guiding her to the far-left corner of the building. "Korra, look!" He thrust a fistful of chard and spinach into her face.
"Um... great," Korra spit a leaf from her mouth, "Should you be in here, Meelo?"
"I'm making a bouquet for the princess," Meelo replied, gently arranging the leaves in his hand.
"A bouquet? A bouquet of vegetables?" Korra paused for a moment before answering herself, "Oh yeah, winter." In a community of vegetarian monks, food came before flowers during wintertime. "So... you're giving Asami... vegetables?"
"Yep," Meelo bobbed up and down on his heels, "because she's pretty, and pretty girls like pretty things." He stopped, concern suddenly filling his face. He eyed Korra and asked, "Asami will like it, right?"
Korra smiled, "Of course she will."
Meelo looked thoughtful. "If she doesn't like it, she can always eat it. Do pretty girls like to eat?"
"Yes, pretty girls love food," chuckled Korra, "Want me to help you?"
A quick nod told her that, yes, Meelo would like some help, and Korra began pawing through different greens. Truthfully, she was doing this for Asami as much as she was for Meelo; the girl had gone through so much recently, and guilt still twisted in Korra's stomach every now and then for her hand in Asami's troubles. So if she had the opportunity to help a little boy bring a smile to Asami's face, she would take it.
Meelo, as it turned out, had great aesthetic sensibilities, and it wasn't long before Korra found herself simply picking leeks and beets and celery as directed by the boy. As Meelo, his tongue tasting his upper lip, meticulously arranged the vegetables, Korra pondered what made this hyperactive nutball sit so still. Asami brought out the best in him, not simply by her beauty, but by her kindness. She was the sort of person who took the time to get to know people, even a wild five-year-old airbender like Meelo.
When he had finally completed the bouquet, Korra accompanied Meelo to meet Asami. They found her by the bay, and when she turned looking disconsolate the knots in Korra's gut wrapped themselves even tighter than before.
But the way Asami beamed when Meelo handed her his gift made the guilt ease just a little bit.
fin.