Epilogue
The next day found Bolin sitting in the courtyard of the Air Temple with Korra, Asami and Mako. His brother smirked every time he saw the broken nose. Bolin refused to tell the girls how it had happened, and for a bit, Mako was holding his tongue.
Tenzin walked by the group and did a doubletake. "Bolin, aren't you supposed to be training with Chief Bei Fong right now?"
"Uh, yeah. That's not happening anymore," Bolin mumbled.
Tenzin frowned. "Care to explain?"
"It's a long—No. I don't." He hung his head.
Mako couldn't hold it in anymore. "Bolin's afraid to go because last night Bei Fong decked him and broke his nose!"
"Why in the world would she do that?" Tenzin asked incredulously.
Bolin stared pleadingly at his brother. He was so embarrassed. If everyone knew he had a crush on Lin, he'd bury himself in the ground and never come out.
Mako granted his brother this last scrap of dignity by answering, "I duuno. Bolin'll have to tell you. I'm sure it's a great story."
"Bolin?" Tenzin prompted.
Before the kid could answer, another voice called his name. To his horror, Lin Bei Fong walked into the courtyard.
"You're an hour late for your lesso. I hate to be kept waiting, you know," she growled.
"Did you really break Bolin's nose?" Korra shouted, stifling giggles.
Lin stared at the Avatar. Then she looked at Bolin. He was blushing worse than ever, and we wasn't meeting her gaze. "I didn't realize I hit you so hard. I apologize," she said finally.
Everyone stared. They had thought Mako was kidding.
"Lin, why—" Tenzin began before Lin cut him off.
"It was a training accident. I was showing him a fancy set of footwork, and he wandered too close. My elbow caught him in the face."
Bolin gaped. Why was she covering for him, and why was she still willing to teach him?
Mako was similarly confused. Did Chief Bei Fong return Bolin's feelings? The idea made him feel queasy.
No one else saw anything wrong with Lin's story. Korra punched Bolin lightly on the arm and laughed at his supposed carelessness. Asami looked amused. Tenzin chuckled and continued on his way.
Nervously, Bolin approached Lin. "Uh, I guess I'll come to practice then."
"Good." They walked to the dock and boarded the ferry that would take them back to the training gym in awkward silence.
Once the ferry left port, Lin turned to Bolin and simply warned, "You got a lotta spunk, kid. But if you ever try to put any moves on me again, I'll break much more than your nose."