AN: I decided to do another AU. This one is set so that Korra grew up with the bending brothers. I've seen a few photosets of this idea on Tumblr and I thought it was beyond adorable. Plus, this kind of harkens backs to the first episode of ATLA, so it was a nice nostalgic piece for me to write.
Anyway, upwards and onward, right?
PSA: I promise that no penguins were harmed in the writing of this fanfic.
Requested by Jokermask18
Korra and Bolin go penguin sledding
"You know, you're brother is kind of a wet blanket." Korra noted disdainfully, clutching at Naga's fur. The young polar bear dog padded at her side, making a path through the snow. Korra, not a day over thirteen, melted the tall drifts of snow in front of them; it was mostly for something to do. She'd been learning a lot of new fire bending techniques recently and she wanted to try them out.
Bolin shrugged, smoothing back an unruly hair. He'd recently been introduced to the concept of styling product and had been experimenting quite a bit. He hadn't quite got the hang of it yet. "I guess. But, you know, he's just looking out for me. We don't exactly have the whole White Lotus around to protect us." He noted uncertainly. Her fire bending made him a little nervous. It shouldn't have. Mako was fire bending all the time. He wondered if the wound would always be raw.
"Ah, you gotta stop worrying about stuff like that. I'm not gonna let any thugs from the main village mess with you guys. I am the Avatar, after all." She gave him a cocky smile and blasted through a thick snow drift. Her grin was cherubic as she watched the steam drift upward from where the snow once stood.
"Avatar in training." Bolin pointed out with a smile. She merely rolled her eyes in response.
"Pure technicality, really." She waved a dismissive hand and began to climb a ledge. Naga stayed on solid ground, watching her carefully. The polar bear dog wasn't yet accustomed to sharing her just yet. "Ah, yes, there they are!" Korra cried out gleefully, waving for Bolin to climb the ledge and join her.
He followed dutifully and peered over the plateau where she pointed. Stretching out for miles were hundreds of penguins. The land dipped and fell, the snow spreading like sand dunes and endless shoots. Bolin thought of the ancient city of Oma Shu and wondered if it looked anything like the natural formations of the south pole. Somehow he doubted it.
"Woah." He breathed. "How do we catch one?"
Korra sighed and pulled something from the bag on her hip. "Easy. Bait." She held the dead fish aloft, grinning maniacally. Bolin blanched, receding from the stink of death. He'd never actually seen a dead fish before. It was always cooked by the time he set eyes on it. His green eyes zeroed in on the fish's cold unthinking ones and he felt his stomach heave.
Someday he might have a stronger constitution.
Korra vaulted over the ledge and slid down the ice fearlessly, whooping excitedly on the way down. Bolin wavered and then followed, fear filling up his throat briefly before giving way to euphoria. He let out a child-like laugh and fell face first into the snow.
He came up cold but giggling.
"Hey guys! Look! Dinner!" Korra called out to a group of penguins. They turned mechanically on their little legs. When they registered what she held in her hands, they came running at top speed (which wasn't particularly fast for them). They congregated around the young Avatar, leaping for the fish. She laughed and relented, easily grabbing hold of a pair of them. "Come on, Bolin. It's time you experienced the REAL south pole." She giggled as the penguins squirmed in her grasp.
Bo grinned and ran to her, grabbing one of the penguins around the middle. He had to admit, the penguins were almost as adorable as he was. "You sir." He declared, staring deeply into the penguins face. "We could be twins."
Korra laughed and shook her head. "You're such a goofball." She waved, directing him toward one of the many natural slides and shoots the snowy landscape produced. "Come on. Let's ride!" She and her penguin leaped toward the shoot, disappearing like lightning. The penguins might not have been fast runners, but boy could they slide.
"Come on Naga!" Bolin called over his shoulder, taking off down the shoot after his companion. The polar bear dog howled and bounded after them, tail wagging all the way.