Harbor City Outskirts, South Pole
170 AG (9 AB)
Bolin revved the engine of his snowmobile as the snowfall started to grow heavier. He crested one final hill before Harbor City came into sight. He hit the brakes on the top of the hill and his stomach dropped at the scene playing out before him. The damage to the city was much worse that he had had fended off the Equalist attack at the compound without sustaining too much damage, and they had all hoped that they would leave the city alone, but Bolin realized that was expecting too much. The Southern Water Tribe hadn't made any aggressive moves toward Republic City and Hiroshi Sato, but the city was filled with waterbenders and the tribe was protecting the Avatar. That was enough to make them enemies of the Equalits. Flames were still rising in the air and from his vantage point, it looked as if not one section of the city had been spared from the bombs and benders. Korra would not be happy with what he would have to tell her.
Bolin pushed his thoughts from Korra to the burning city before him. He would deal with the Avatar later. Right now, he needed to get into town and do what he could to help. He adjusted his goggles and hit the gas. It took him just a few more minutes to reach the city gates and from up close the chaos was much more palpable. Bolin recognized that it was an organized kind of chaos, though. Teams of waterbenders were moving in squads from one fire to another. The damage was great, but everyone in the city was working together to get everything fixed as quickly as possible. Bolin sighed in relief, they would be fine.
Bolin parked his snowmobile, removed his riding goggles, and pulled his scarf down. A shiver went down his spine as he was suddenly exposed to the freezing air. He was certain that Korra's father would be somewhere around organizing the cleanup effort, so he decided to look for him. He would want to know that Korra and the White Lotus Compound was fine. The attack had only happened a couple of hours ago, and Bolin was the first person allowed to leave the compound since then. He need to let Tonraq know that in spite of the severity of the attack everything was alright on their end, too.
Bolin wandered the streets. He occasionally stopped to help some of the waterbenders if they needed a wall to be raised up or a bomb crater to be filled with dirt. It was the least he could do and each time he asked about Tonraq's whereabouts, but nobody seemed to know. After helping another clean up team remove debris from a collapsed house so they could check for survivors he heard a familiar voice call out to him.
"Bolin?" He turned around and saw Korra's mother.
"Oh, hi Senna. There you are."
"You were looking for me," she said as she closed the distance between them stopping directly in front of him.
"Well...I was actually looking for Tonraq. But you'll work too," Senna lifted a eyebrow, "I mean, Korra just wanted to make sure everything was alright over here. I figured Tonraq would be the best person to ask about the situation, but I'm sure you're up to speed on it, as well."
"I am. We're fine and you can pass that along to Korra. How is she?" Senna's face was a mask of motherly love and worry.
"You know Korra," Bolin said laughing somewhat insincerely, "she was glad to finally see some action today, but she's really worried about everyone over here. I'm glad I can tell her everything is fine."
"Me too," Senna agreed. "Are you sure Korra is fine," she pressed, "the last time we spoke she seemed really down." Bolin tried to act casual and look away, but Senna caught him in her stare.
"I don't know if I should talk about this...I mean I know your her mom and all, but it's not my place to get in the middle of this. Just come to the compound and try talking to her again."
"Bolin, I'm her mother, you're her friend. There are some things that teenage girls want to keep from their mothers, but not from their friends..." She let the words hang in the air.
Bolin caved, "She hasn't said much about how she's feeling...but yeah, she had been really down lately. She just wants to help people and do her duty as the Avatar. The Equalists are becoming stronger every day, and the White Lotus can't hide how bad the war is anymore. Now that she knows what's going on, she just wants to do her part. It seems to me like she's feeling pretty useless right about now..."
"I see. Thank you for telling me that, Bolin. I'll make sure to head to the compound soon, so I can have a chat with her."
"And maybe Tonraq, too? I know he's busy with his chiefly duties, but I think Korra would love to see both of you."
"I think we can manage that," Senna said and smiled. Bolin thought it looked like a pretty sad smile. "See you later."
"Bye Senna," Bolin waved and headed back toward the city gates. He was sure he had seen more than enough to satisfy Korra, and the snow was starting to fall even harder now. The last thing he wanted was to get stuck outside in a blizzard. It took him not time at all to make it back to his snowmobile since he didn't stop to help anyone this time. He pulled his goggles back over his head, tightened his scarf around his face, and turned the key in the ignition. The vehicle sputtered to life and Bolin revved the engine a few times to warm it up before speeding into the thickening snow.
...
Korra stood at the top of the gate guard tower, a pair of binoculars glued to her face. She was scanning the horizon for any sign of Bolin. The flurries that were falling when he'd left a couple hours before had turned into a full blown blizzard. She knew that Bolin had never become accustomed to the cold climate, preferring to spend most of his days inside curled by the fire. He couldn't be happy right now. Her brows furrowed in worry.
"We need to go out there and find him." Korra said to the White Lotus sentry standing closest to her.
"He'll be back soon Avatar Korra. We can't afford to send anyone after him. There could still be Equalist ships about hiding above the clouds."
Korra narrowed her eyes and started to storm out, "I'll find him myself then." As soon as her hand touched the door knob the other three sentries in the tower were on their feet. The sentry who she had spoken to before grabbed her gently by the wrist.
"Avatar Korra, you know that's forbidden." Korra took her hand off the knob and yanked her wrist from the man's grip. She looked around the room and eyed the four sentries. She was the Avatar, she knew she could take them four on one. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths to calm down. These were her allies, and fighting them would do her no good. That didn't change the fact that more than anything she just wanted to punch someone. She was so tired of being told what she could and couldn't do. She was the most powerful bender on the planet, or at least she knew she had that potential. Why should anyone be trying to stop her from achieving her destiny? At this moment that meant doing what she wanted and going after Bolin, but no one seemed to trust her. They were always protecting her. She wanted to do the protecting. She grit her teeth.
"Fine." She finally said after the long moment of regaining her composure. "But if he's not back so-" She was cut off by the creaking sound of the gate opening. "Bolin!" She yelped excitedly and ran down the tower stairs and to the gate. Two of the sentries were fast at her heals, but she paid them no mind as she was used to having one or two of them with her at all times. Even inside the compound the snowfall was making it hard to see, but there was no mistaking Bolin's stocky frame as he pulled the snowmobile into the garage. Korra kept on running and followed him inside. She laughed at him as he dismounted the machine and shook the loose snow from his clothes like a dog. He still looked like a snowman. Korra didn't care about the cold though and she jogged up to him and gave him a tight hug. "Finally," she said breaking the hug, "I was starting to worry about you."
Bolin removed his goggles and scarf and unzipped his heavy outer jacked and hung them all on a coat rack at the back of the garage. Korra could see his cheeks were flushed. She figured it was partly the cold and partly the hug. They were the only two teenagers at the complex and Korra had long suspected he had feelings for her, but she chose to ignore all the signs. She was the Avatar, and right now the world needed her help, she had no time for romance. She was sure Bolin understood this because he never made any more moves on her after his first failed attempt. Korra laughed inwardly, remembering that awkward moment. "What?" Bolin said smiling ear to ear, "you were worried about me?" He flexed his muscles, though it was tough to see them through his other several layers of clothes , "nothing the mighty Bolin can't handle." Korra rolled his eyes at him.
"Uhu," she agreed with him jokingly before completely changing her demeanor, "but seriously, is everything okay in the city? Were you able to find out if my parents are okay?" Before Bolin could answer his stomach growled so loudly that it echoed in the garage.
"I'll tell you everything, but let's get somewhere warm and eat some dinner."
Korra was anxious to hear what he'd seen and done in town, but when Bolin was cold and hungry it was impossible to expect him to sit down for a long conversation. "Okay." Korra agreed knowing that it was really her only option and she was honestly starting to feel pretty hungry herself, plus if something had been really bad, Bolin would have already told her about it.
"Let's go," Bolin said as he practically ran out of the garage and toward the dinning hall. They entered the dinning hall and fell into line just like everyone else. It was very crowed in the hall now as it was just reaching the peak of dinner hours. Bolin's teeth were still chattering a bit from cold as he jabbered on with the sentry in front of him. Korra wasn't listening to the details of their conversation and as soon as they both got a heaping helping of seaweed noodles they took their typical spot closest to the fires that ran along the center of the room. Korra took a long slurp of her noodles and soup and it warmed her up instantly. She guessed it was having the same effect on Bolin because he unzipped one more of his layers. "Ahh!" Bolin leaned back and stretched before taking another huge portion of noodles into his mouth. "Dis is good," he said with a still full mouth.
"Yup," Korra agreed. They ate the rest of the time in silence. Bolin got up to get a second helping as usual. When Korra finished her meal she bussed her tray and went back over to Bolin, "I'm going to say hi to Naga. When you finish, meet me in her pen, okay?" Bolin nodded in understanding as his mouth was bursting with noodles and broth again.
Korra walked out of the hall, but broke into a run when she felt the sharp cold on her face. Even by South Pole standards this was turning into a bad blizzard, she hurried to Naga's pen. She knew some cuddles from Naga would warm her up quickly. Naga was waiting for her like a good girl as always and when Korra entered the pen Naga greeted her with a warm nuzzle that lifted Korra off her feet. "Hi, girl!" Korra said happily. Nothing cheered her up more than spending time with Naga. After a few more pets, kisses, and scratches behind the ears, Naga settled down and Korra leaned into her friend's side. Today had been a long day. It had been her first battle with Equalits forces, and while the fighting itself had been exhilarating the worry that came after didn't seem worth it. Now, with a stomach full of food and a warm fuzzy poler bear dog blanket around her, she felt her heavy eyelids start to overcome her.
...
Bolin bounded down the stairs into Naga's pen only to find Korra fast asleep. The sight of her sleeping form took his breath away and he smiled. Even in horrible times like these he couldn't help but have some level of affection for her. He would endeavor to help her in whatever way he could, even if she didn't love him like he loved her. There was still love there in the form of friendship and Bolin valued what they had now.
He considered letting her stay there resting, but he knew Korra wanted this news more than she wanted rest. Naga looked up at him as he approached. "Hi, Naga," he said scratching her head. He kneeled down next to Korra and shook her lightly, but there was no response. He understood her feeling as he was exhausted, too. He shook her a little harder, "Korra...Korra!"
She jumped awake, grabbed him by his jacket collar, and pulled her fist back ready to strike. "Whoa, whoa whoa," Bolin said holding his hand up in the protective position over his face.
"Oh," Korra's eyes flashed with awareness, "Sorry, Bolin, you surprised me."
"No problem, Korra," he said laughing nervously and tugging on his collar, "I'm glad you realized it was me, that punch would've hurt." He sat next to her and launched into his story without her even asking a question. He had made her wait long enough, "so the city was hit pretty hard." Those words were enough to darken the mood. Korra leaned forward and wrapped her arms around her legs pulling her knees to her chest. Her eyes narrowed in thought. Bolin continued, "but don't worry. You're tribesmen were already getting the city back to normal. I was able to help a little bit, too." He smiled and pointed to his chest. His antics didn't seem to be cheering Korra up much though. "So I talked to your mom. She said that she'll come to the compound with your dad to visit soon." A small smile played on Korra's lips when she heard that. "That's really about it. I had to leave pretty quickly because the storm was getting stronger."
"I see," she said with her eyes still narrowed and focused on the front of the pen, "thanks for checking that out for me." There was a stark silence.
"You're planning something, aren't you?" Bolin asked breaking the silence. Korra looked over at him seriously.
"Bolin, this was the Equalists first attack on the South Pole, but they are getting stronger. There'll be more after this. I get the feeling there'll be a lot more." Bolin nodded, keeping his eyes fixed on hers, "we need to take the fight to them."
Bolin felt a knot form in his stomach. He wanted nothing more than to take the fight to the Equalists, too. Then he could see his brother again, and everyone could live in peace. "Korra, you're the Avatar, but you're still just one person, what can you do alone?"
"I wont be alone, will I?" She said placing a hand on his shoulder, "I was hoping you would come with me."
"Still, what can just the two of us do?" He felt old emotions rising up. He thought of Mako and all the other members of the bending resistance back in Republic City. When Lin offered him the chance to come and train with the Avatar and help protect her, he couldn't turn it down. If he agreed to go with Korra now, he'd be breaking his promise to her and she had been like a mother to him. Could he really let her down like that? Korra's eyes bore into him. "Korra we have to do this the right way."
"What's the right way?" She stood up and yelled, some fire escaping from her fists in her rage. "I've been told what to do my whole life." She stared down at him. Her rage bubbling up even more. "I'm tired of it. I'm the Avatar! I can do what I please." She turn away from him and crossed her arms.
"Korra," he said standing up. "I'm with you, but we'll need help. Not only that, you need to master airbending." Korra looked back at him and gave him an angry stare. Bolin gulped, realizing he had said exactly the wrong thing. "Just hear me out Korra. The White Lotus keep telling you that you cant join the war effort because you aren't a fully realized Avatar yet, right? Well, if it's for the sake of mastering airbending, they might let you leave the compound. Tell them that you need to visit the air temples. That would be a start at least." Korra kept her back turned on him. She was taking deep steady breaths. Bolin knew that these breaths were a part of her airbending training, it was a kind of meditation. He waited quietly until she was finished.
"Alright," she turned around. "That means we need to convince Tenzin first. How should we do that?"
"You let me handle Tenzin. For now, you just rest. I promise you in a week I'll have him convinced that this trip is necessary for your training. And if Tenzin asks you about it just say that you had a vision of Aang telling you to go to the air temples."
"You're a sly one, Bolin," Korra said with mischievous smile.
"And you love it, rest well Korra, I'll see you tomorrow." He ran out of Naga's pen to find Tenzin right away. He did his best to seem confident with Korra, but even with the lie about Korra's visions of Aang he knew Tenzin wouldn't be easy to convince. Bolin had confidence that if anyone could sway him it would be him.
Author's Note: Lot's of Borra friendship in this chapter. Woo! As you can see Bolin is still goofy, but he's a lot more mature because Lin raised him. I think it adds an interesting dimension to his personality. Of course, he'll successfully convince Tenzin and their trip to the air temples should be exciting. If you have any questions/comments feel free to talk to me via PMs or reviews. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Back to Asami and Mako in the next one.