Later that evening Monica sat petting the fire ferret at a noodle restaurant. After having apologized approximately 20 times to its owner, Bolin, he told her not to worry about it and invited her and Leah to lunch at his favorite restaurant. Mako and Korra ended up buying the tree sculpture and were gonna put it on Air Temple Island. When Monica asked how much Leah had settled on as a price, she replied with a grin that it was "just enough to get you some more canvases!" Now all 5 of them were seated and attempting to order food.
Leah got a spicy stir fry with extra hot sauce, Mako and Korra got a large ramen bowl to share, Bolin ordered 2 bowls of Lo Mein, and Monica settled for Bulgolgi. After the waiter left, Leah started talking to the avatar about the recent equalist disturbances while Mako listened and commented, and Monica sat shyly holding Pabu.
"Pabu really likes you," Bolin said. His green eyes reminded Monica of the tree leaves in the park, and she had to resist the urge to comment on how pretty they were. He must already think I'm weird, seeing as how I pretty much kidnapped his ferret and acted like a fan girl…
"Really?" Monica asked as she looked down at the ferret curled on her lap. He was all but purring.
"Totally! He only sleeps like that when he's really comfortable. I think he knows that you like him so much," Bolin laughed, causing Pabu to look at him. "What? Of course I was talking about you." Monica had to laugh when the ferret gave a squeak then returned to sleeping on her lap, facing away from Bolin.
"Aww, come on Pabu, don't be like that! It was a compliment!"
"He's so fluffy…" Monica murmured as she stroked his fur again.
"I have to give him a bath every couple days so that he stays that fluffy, otherwise he's as stinky as a wolfbat!" Bolin exclaimed while flapping his arms.
Monica couldn't help laughing again, he was just too funny. "So are you a bender too?"
"Of course! I am the most important component to the team."
"Team?" Monica asked, confused. Was there a team against the equalists or something?
"Haven't you heard of Pro Bending?" Bolin asked, shocked.
"Errr…. No, not really. I'm new in town, I just came up from the Southern Water Tribe so everything is new to me." Monica replied, a little embarrassed.
"In that case, we'll just have to show you! I'm on the Fire Ferrets with Mako and Korra. Our next match is tomorrow if you want to come, I'll even bring you in the VIP section."
"You mean the locker room?" Korra laughed as she interrupted. "Don't worry, I'll be there too, and they won't be stripping or anything. Just getting on the extra gear."
"You make it sound so uncool that way!" Bolin replied with a dismayed expression.
"Do you want to come too, Leah?" Mako asked the metal bender.
"Tomorrow?... Oh wait, No can do. Lin said she needed my help tomorrow. You have my support though! I'll try to catch the next one." Leah replied with a scowl. The waiter appeared with their food and handed everyone their orders as well as their chopsticks. The group was quiet for a while with the exception of slurps and chewing noises before a tall, lean guy walked up behind Bolin. His hair hung in his face as he leaned over next to Bolin's ear and whispered "What's up, loser?"
Bolin jumped in his seat, nearly knocking over his bowl and choking on his noodles. Mako stood up and grabbed the guy by the front of his shirt. "What do you want, Tahno?"
"Easy flame-boy. Just coming to give you my condolences for tomorrows match." The stranger smirked.
"Oh, you shouldn't be giving us condolences, Tahno." Korra replied as she put both hands on the table and stood up. "You're the one who's going to be running with your tail between your legs tomorrow."
Mako dropped Tahno. The man smoothed out his shirt before replying. "You know, Uh-vatar, that invitation for private lessons is still open." Mako's face turned bright red in anger before Korra held up a hand.
"Oh Tahno, that's so sweet. Do you remember my friend Naga?" Korra went to put her whistling fingers in her mouth before Tahno grabbed her wrist.
"Don't worry, there's no need for that. I need to get going anyways… Beat you later, losers."
After they had paid for their food and left the restaurant, Mako and Korra split from the group. Apparently Mako had this whole date scheme planned out. Leah suggested Bolin walk with them since he lived close anyways, and both he and Mako looked grateful. Pabu returned to his owners shoulder for the walk, and Monica walked next to him as Leah walked a few steps ahead.
"It sure is nice out." Monica said as she inhaled the warm night air.
"Not as nice as me though!" Bolin replied with a grin as he held an arm out and flexed. Monica shook her head and smirked.
"Nice one."
"Thanks, I like to show off my guns." It was quiet for a minute before Monica broke the silence again.
"Who was that guy at the restaurant, by the way? He wasn't very nice."
"Who? Tahno? He's a jerk just because his team, the Wolfbats, are the reigning champs this year." Monica wanted to ask more about pro bending, but Leah had stopped in the middle of the side walk.
"What's up?" Bolin asked as he peered around her. Up ahead was a group of people in dark uniforms. Their faces were covered, but they were facing towards their group. The leader had on a glove that began to spark with electricity. "Oh… no. Not these guys…" Bolin said, taking hold of Monica's wrist and pulling her up closer behind Leah.
"Wha-"
"Shhhhh!" Leah hissed. "Bolin, I need you to take her to the arena and keep her safe until I come for her, do you understand?"
"Aren't you coming?" He asked, shocked.
"I'll be along as quickly as I can, but this is a problem for the police. Lin would kill me if I allowed you two to be captured."
"She'll be just as angry if her little sister gets abducted, I think." Monica whispered. All of a sudden, many things happened at once. The mob started running at them in a wave, and a police balloon appeared in the sky. Metal benders began dropping down amongst the mob and taking down as many as they could. Leah pushed Bolin and Monica in the opposite direction as Lin appeared beside her. Still holding her wrist, Bolin started running through some roads Monica hadn't been down yet. He didn't slow until the sounds of fighting could no longer be heard and he was sure no one was following them.
"You think they'll be ok?" Monica gasped as she tried to catch her breath.
"Most likely. The police force is pretty badass." Bolin replied, also trying to catch his breath.
"That was… scary." Monica said, as she straightened up.
"Yea… I've been abducted by them before. They mean business. If it hadn't been for Mako and Korra, I'd be just some ordinary hot guy now instead of a hot earthbender."
"You're an earthbender? Can you bend metal like Leah?" Monica asked, intrigued. She had heard that was extremely hard to learn metal bending.
"Never tried. I've asked Leah to show me sometime, but she's always busy. Whether it's art or police work, that girl's almost never free." Bolin said as he started walking again.
"I didn't know that she worked on the squad with Lin too…" Monica remarked.
"Aren't you guys friends?"
"Well yea, and I am staying at her place in the time being, but I've only been here a couple days."
"Maybe she didn't want you to get in trouble if something were to happen to you…" Bolin replied thoughtfully. "Leah's pretty badass though, almost as scary as her sister at times." He added as he rubbed the back of his head.
They were quiet for a few minutes before Bolin pointed at a large building up ahead. "That's the Pro Bending arena. Mako and I live in an apartment above the training area."
"Are you guy's roommates?" Monica asked as they entered a large glass door. It was kinda dark inside, but Bolin headed towards a door to their right.
"Oh right, I forgot. Mako is my older brother. He's been taking care of me since we were really young…" Bolin drifted off.
"Can I ask what happened to your parents?" Monica asked cautiously.
"They were killed by a firebender." Monica stopped in the middle of the hallway they had been going down, and after a few steps Bolin turned around.
"I'm so sorry." She replied, looking into his eyes. They were a little sad, but he brightened up quickly.
"Don't worry about it, like I said, Mako's been taking care of me all this time. What about you? How'd you wind up in such a beautiful city as this?"
Monica told Bolin about how she had met Leah back home as they started up some stairs. Around the part of the story where she got to her parents, she had to stop and describe how hard it had been to get her father's approval even though she was already 18.
"Do you have any siblings?"
"No, it's just me."
"He was probably worried about you, the city is crazy and you are his only child." Bolin pointed out as he started up a ladder. "Here we are! Bolin's spectacular pad!" Monica started up the ladder but stopped halfway. This was a boy's house. There was no one else around. She had never done anything so reckless before…
"Hey, you coming?" Bolin asked peering down. "Are you stuck?"
"No," Monica replied as she headed up the rest of the way. She'd run if she had too, but for now, hesitating was just rude. Bolin threw up his hands and gestured to the loft as she entered the space.
"Behold!"
Monica burst out laughing and Bolin dropped his hands. "What?" He asked, confused.
"You're just such a charismatic, funny guy. Reminds me of how I was back home." Monica replied as she looked around. It wasn't very messy at all.
"Really? I think you're still that way, just shy at first." The earthbender replied as he walked across the loft to a stove. He didn't see it, but his comment made Monica blush a little. "Hmmm, Mako usually lights the stove… I'd offer you tea, but if I try to start up a fire with matches I'll probably burn down the arena."
"It's ok, I appreciate the thought though. Can I sit on your couch?" Her legs were killing her from that mad dash for their lives… well, maybe not their lives, but their bending.
"Of course. Make yourself at home, I'm gonna turn on the radio and see if there are any updates on that fight or any Pro Bending matches." Bolin said as he turned on the machine. He turned the nob through the white noise until he found the announcer for the Pro Bending matches announcing a rerun of that night's game. Once he was satisfied that there was barely any background static he came to sit on the couch with Monica.
"Is it weird? Having your teammates dating?... and not only that, but your brother is dating the avatar." Monica asked. Bolin flinched and looked at the ceiling.
"I guess… a little bit. I mean, I'm happy for them…. But I… I don't know. I liked Korra first, and she rejected me in favor of him. I thought he was interested, but he broke up with his girlfriend so he could date Korra. I thought… we were perfect. But one day after our first date I found her kissing Mako." Monica didn't know what to say. She had never had a relationship with a guy so she didn't know how to console her new friend.
"That's terrible. I can't even imagine..." Monica replied. She looked over at Bolin just to notice a tear forming in the corner of his eye. "Please don't cry!" Monica said, throwing her arms around his neck. "I'm sorry I brought it up, I won't do it again!" she continued before Bolin started talking against her arm. "What did you say?"
"I said 'I can't breathe'!" Bolin said with a chuckle. After a minute he continued. "I needed that though. I haven't been able to talk to anyone about the whole thing so I was kind of bottling up my emotions, so… thanks."
"Anytime, you're my friend, Bolin. If you ever need to talk, just find me." She replied.
She must have fallen asleep because at some point she was woken up by Bolin shaking her shoulder. "Hey. Hey Monica. Leah's here…"
"Huh?" the waterbender replied as she looked towards the ladder. Leah stood there holding a couple canvases.
"C'mon sleepyhead. Sorry it took me so long, Lin needed me to fill out a report then I went and got these from that vendor. I just caught her before she locked up."
"How'd it go?" Bolin asked the metal bender while Monica rubbed her eyes then stretched.
"Fine enough, Amon wasn't with them though and half of them got away… But Lin seems satisfied with this for tonight. Can I ask you a favor?" At a nod from Bolin, Leah continued. "Keep a close eye on her tomorrow. She's only been here a couple days and she'll need a guide… and probably a body guard. Things are getting tense out there."
"Sure thing, she's my friend." Bolin replied as the two female benders headed down the ladder. "I'll come pick you up at your apartment tomorrow, ok Monica?"
Monica nodded, even though she was half asleep. It was the only part of her friend's exchange that she had caught. When they got home though Monica was wide awake again. She took the canvases from Leah with a thank you and put them in her room. I don't want to sleep yet… I'm not tired anymore. Instead, she set up her paints and propped a canvas up against the window. She couldn't think of a subject so her mind wandered to Bolin. He was such a great fiend. Funny, kind, sensitive… Monica thought of how Korra had just completely broken his heart. Why did she do that? That's just sooooo…! In a flurry of movements, Monica started whipping colored water at the canvas. No one deserves to be treated that way! She thought as she slammed another tendril of water at the canvas. When she had to stop to catch her breath, Monica looked up at the canvas and… froze. In her anger she had unintentionally painted a beautiful portrait of Bolin. The colors were mixed into soft earthy tones and his features were all in his perfect likeness. His hair looked like it was being softly caressed by the wind, and he was laughing. Monica's face got hot, and she was sure there was a brilliant crimson blush all over her face.
"Hey Monica?" Leah called as she knocked on the door.
"Just a …second!" Monica practically yelped as she grabbed the portrait and shoved it behind her dresser without leaning the wet surface against it. She quickly bended the water that had sprayed onto the floor and walls back into the cups and opened the door. "Yes?"
"Uhhhh… Were you… painting in here?" Leah asked, pointing at the ceiling. Monica turned back and gave a gasp. There were indeed paint splatters beginning to dry on the ceiling.
"Crap!" She said as she swept her hands back and forth to begin bending the water off the ceiling.
"Anyways… I have to go back to the police headquarters for a little bit. If it gets too late I might stay, so I am gonna lock the door. Will you promise me to keep that door shut until Bolin comes to get you tomorrow?"
"Uh, uh… yea sure!" Monica exclaimed as a blush crept onto her face again. With a shrug of her shoulders, Leah headed out of the room and shut the door.