Well, it'd been a month since the equalist fiasco ended, but finally the chaos settled down enough that Bolin and Mako could get a couple days off to find a new place to live. Mako held a newspaper with home adds while Bolin held a Republic City map and list of names his mom gave to them. The map had many areas in the city marked off, meaning that they were off limits for not being very police-friendly areas. The list was composed of known scam artists (with their aliases) that have worked in the available districts.
"Alright, here's one." Mako dragged the map over to the right to get a better look, "It's in a good area, being rented out by a guy named Kang. That on the list?"
"Let me see...nope. We're good to go." They headed downtown, to a red brick building with a green roof. After a tour, they found it to be a little small for their liking, but for the price Kang was asking, who could complain? And the best part was, they could move in tomorrow morning, with plenty of time to get ready for the city's grand ball.
…...
"Well, that's the last box." Asami said with relief as the job was done, which just meant that everything was in the apartment, if not in it's proper place. But they had plenty of time, it was barely ten o'clock, "So, go clean up get your uniforms on. I'll be back in a little while." Both boys had been accepted into the police academy, to the surprise of no one, and to show off they decided to wear the uniform instead of a formal suit. It was supposed to be a celebration of moving forward, after all. The Council said that they not only wanted to thank their avatar for a job well done, but make an announcement that would change the Republic for the better.
Asami's idea of 'a while' turned out to be much longer than most peoples'. With each passing moment, Bolin sat idly by as his brother get more and more jittery. After about five and a half hours of watching his closest relative slip further and further into madness, they both were saved by a knock on the door.
"There you are Asami." From the way Mako spoke, Bolin would've thought that Asami had gotten lost...in Triple Threat territory. The man sounded like he hadn't expected to see her ever again, "What took you so long?"
"Mako, please." Bolin said in a snobbish voice with a matching smile, "A look like that doesn't happen instantly." He let out a whistle, "Lookin' good, Asami."
"Thank you, Bolin." Asami said gratefully, but with a small hint of annoyance. Shouldn't her boyfriend be the one to appreciate what she had to put into such an outfit?
"I'm sorry. I just...you look beautiful, Asami."
"Thank you."
"Bo, could you go out for awhile? We were going to...we need some alone time." Mako turned as red as the fire he bended. Only one scenario came to Bolin's mind,
"But...won't you mess up your cloths?" And bring out the wrath of a very protective badgermole?
"That's why we need you to leave now," Asami stepped up to help her embarrassed boyfriend, "...in case we need to make ourselves presentable before the gala." Her best friend blinked,
"Umm...wow it got hot fast didn't it?" the youngest of the trio tugged on his collar, 'Mom's gonna kill them if she finds out about this. Well, that's why you won't let it slip, you dunderhead' , "Ah, just be safe, okay? Bye!" and he made a swift exit. There was someone on Air Temple Island that he wanted to see before the party anyway.
"We don't have a lot of time." The woman smiled, clicking on the radio and finding a slow, romantic song. Taking Mako's shaking hand into her own, she got them into position "Alright put your right hand on my waist. Slow dances are very simple."
...
"All set for the gala tonight, I see." Bolin's friend answered her door in formal Water Tribe cloths and seemed to be ready for a night of high society and celebration.
"Yeah." All set, except that there was one thing that Tenzin told her to expect during this event that she was in no way prepared for.
"So...you got an escort for the night?"
"No," a lot of people offered, but she turned down every one of them, going by herself was the safest bet, "I want to go alone." Five words. That was all it took to make a Beifong's heart sink. He'd been prepared to be thwarted because another guy beat him to the punch, it was a bit late to be asking after all, but not to be shot down for nobody? It stung a little.
"Keeping your options open, huh?" He put on a brave smile.
"Yeah."
"Me too." Awkward replies brought awkward silences, "You, my friend, look like you got something on your mind."
"Oh," she'd been caught, "it's nothing I can't handle."
"Hey, didn't we talk about this before? It's okay to get help from a friend." Actually, with such a downcast mood and the 'keeping options open' line, Bolin thought he might know what her problem was, "...Did the guy you wanted ask someone else?"
"No." She wasn't giving any specific information, and without info he could only take more guesses, "You having trouble asking someone for a date tonight? I can help. I'll stand behind the door and tell you what to say." then he thought about it for a second, "And if the jerk says 'no', I'll break his legs. What's a little jail time between friends?" Well, he got her to laugh.
"No. Thanks Bolin. You don't have to break any legs. Dates aren't the problem." So maybe Korra did want to see what mysterious stranger could steal her heart at the gala tonight. That narrowed down the list of things that could be wrong, but he was still tired of guessing.
"Then what's up?" The direct approach made her smile fall and a growl escape,
"I can't dance." She finally admitted.
"...They didn't cover that in Avatar training?" He just couldn't help it.
"No! They didn't!" And she, as the avatar, did not want the entire city to know that she couldn't move a single step to music, "Don't tell anybody."
"No problem, we just need to find a radio. Come on." The poor avatar wasn't given the chance to argue as Bolin grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the room. They found one and set it up behind the women's dormitories, "Alright, we just got time for slow dances. They're the easiest to learn. Okay lesson number one, position. Right hand in mine, left hand around my shoulder." Hands hesitantly moved into position. "Good. Lesson number two, movement. You'll know where to move by me pushing you." He pushed his left hand forward, "That means 'move your right foot back', okay? Let's try it." He counted off to help Korra along as they went through the song.
"Okay. Where'd you lean to dance?"
"I grew up around Asami." that alone should explain everything, "When we weren't playing 'avatar', I got to be the dance partner during lessons, or got dolled up as Asami's fashion model. Ouch!" He made her laugh, causing her to miss a beat and step on his toe.
"Sorry!" She jumped back.
"It's alright. It happens to everyone." With outstretched arms, Bolin beckoned her back, "And I became a great makeup artist if I do say so myself."
This was unacceptable! They could make her spend a night with a bunch of pompous politicians and trust-fund invalids, they could make her come as a guest and not the head of security, they could 'advise' her to wear the most restricting dress that Asami could con her into trying on...but Lin Beifong had to draw the line somewhere...and she would not be latched to the arm of one of these imbeciles. Let alone the owner of Cabbage Corp!
Just because she came to the gala unaccompanied did not give the Fire Nation Representative the right to play matchmaker! Just as Lin was going to let her inner Beifong go berserk on her behalf, she saw one of her oldest friends, and the current head of security mouth 'don't cause a scene'. And if Lee, who usually got a kick out of watching her rage on, was telling her not to blow a gasket, she had no choice. If she followed her instincts, Lee would have to deal with her. His loyalty to such a violent psychopath would cause the city's elite to scrutinize every step he'd ever make. 'You owe me for this one, Lee', she thought as she steeled herself and tried to sound polite,
"I am waiting on my date, but thank you for asking Lau." Damn it! Why did she just say that? She didn't waste her time with lies, especially dumb lies! There was only on possible explanation. Bolin. It took the boy over a decade, but he was finally starting to rub off on her.
"Oh, our Chief of Police has been holding out on us." The Councilwoman smiled with no ill intent, which only succeeded in annoying Lin more, "Who's the lucky man." Who indeed?
"Good evening." What perfect timing the airhead had. Yes, he had his wife with him and therefore wasn't an option, his brother on the other hand was unattached and a decent company when he wanted to be and...Lee owed her so much.
"Bumi." She glided over and looped her arm through his. A few hours with the shaggy lunatic was much better than dealing with with a guy who kept on and on about 'his cabbage corp', "You're late." He was a maniac, but he caught on pretty quick, leaning down he whispered a quick 'you cover me, I'll cover you'.
"Sorry about that. See Tenzin, I told you I had a hot date waiting for me." Almost everyone waited for the airbender to turn red and blow up at seeing his ex on the arm of his brother. But firstly, he'd been encouraging her to find a special someone for years. Secondly, this had to be a scam. Now normally he would call out his brother's ridiculous stories, but this time he had Lin in on it, so he kept his peace.
"Mom!" Oh no. Her son came in with Mako, Asami and Korra at the wrong moment. "You're here with Uncle Bumi?!"
"The Boiling Rock has just froze over." Mako said as they all stood their, flabbergasted,
"What can I say?" Bumi stuck out his chin, "I just know how to lay on the charm." Oh, there was absolutely no way Lin was going to let the shaggy man get away with that.
"He begged." She deadpanned with a sneer, "I only said 'yes' so he'd stop crying." Everyone started to crack up. She gave him a look that clearly said 'beat that', followed immediately by one that said 'if you do beat that, I will kill you'.
"Don't worry, Uncle Bumi. I'm sure your charm had something to do with it." Bolin patted his uncle's shoulder sympathetically, "I mean, Mom doesn't usually respond positively to begging."
"Well," the gala host saved Bumi from anymore embarrassment, "I'm glad I caught so many of you here. The press is simply dying to get a picture of all of the city's most important people on the dance floor." The entire world ended for two people. Another three couldn't care, two people were annoyed at the idea...and then there was the crazy uncle, who couldn't wait to show off his moves, "I told them I'd have you all on the floor for the next dance. So if you would please join the others."
"Actually, I don't have a partner." And for one brief second, Korra thought she'd gotten out of it. But the older man's eyes lit up,
"Then Avatar Korra, it would be my privilege to join you." He offered his hand with a bow.
"Don't worry, you don't have to do that." Bolin smiled at the host as he offered Korra his arm, "I'll be her partner."
"Yeah, he'll be my partner," the couples began heading to the the dance floor, "thanks though."
"Don't worry." Bolin whispered into the avatar's ear, "I promise not to show any pain when you step on my feet."
"...thanks." she laughed nervously, knowing that no good could come from this.
And no good came from it. Tenzin and Pema did fine, nothing fancy but if anyone could do slow formal dancing right, it was them. Bumi and Lin did good, one partner tried to convince the other to pull off harder moves to show off, but was quickly threatened into submission. Bolin and Korra weren't doing very good, Korra did step on Bolin's every other second and while he didn't show any pain, they lost their pace and had to start over. But at least they didn't fall, taking their partner,three other couples and a dessert table down with them...like Mako.
"Poor guy." Mako's little brother shook his head sympathetically, "He's never going to live this down."
"If everyone would move into the dinning area," the mortified host caught everyone's attention, "we will be serving the meal."
"But on the bright side...no more dancing." glares surrounded him, "Okay...shutting up."
Formal dinners. Why anyone would turn something so easy into something so complicated was beyond Bolin. Table manners weren't enough, now he had to watch every little move he made for fear that he might 'damage the family reputation' according to Asami's teachers. Now according to tradition, toasts were supposed to be given. And as the guest of honor, Korra was at the receiving end of every one of them.
"To Avatar Korra." the Fire Nation Representative stood, "Thank you for working so hard to bring peace between the benders and non-benders of this city. I don't think I'm stepping out bounds by saying that you would make Avatar Aang very proud. I wish for you, a long life." The woman smiled as she raised her glass for the toast.
"...Avatar Korra, you are truly Avatar Aang's legacy."
"...and may you be as renowned as your predecessor."
On and on they went. You'd think Korra would love the attention, but to tell the truth, Bolin thought that she looked like she just wanted to leave. Everyone kept talking about Aang. How great he was, how they hoped that she would be just as wise as him, just as powerful. Aang was a great avatar, he saved the world. Korra hadn't done that yet, so he bet she felt like she didn't measure up.
"...since Avatar Aang defeated Ozai-"
"Terrific toast, Admiral Fang." Lin stood and interrupted. The man didn't argue that his speech wasn't finished, just stuttered a polite 'thank you' before taking his seat, "I knew Avatar Aang. He was the first friend my mother had." she swayed the glass in her hand slightly, "I remember, when he became bedridden, my mother took his hand and said, 'I'm going to miss you, Avatar Aang'." She, with Tenzin and Bumi smiled bittersweetly at the memory, " That was the first time my mother ever called him that and he wouldn't put up with it. With a raised fist he said, and I quote," she was joined by the brothers "'That's 'Twinkle Toes' to you, Rock-Head'.'" She waited for the laughter to die down, "I don't think my mother had ever laughed so hard. He was a good friend. The man was on his deathbed, and he was trying to make everyone else feel better about it." By now everyone was wondering where she was going with this, "Avatar Aang was kind, selfless, patient and humble. He was a damn fine avatar."
"Here, here."someone shouted, and everyone raised their glasses. Korra slunk down in her seat.
"But he's gone now." she said solemnly, "Our new avatar is a stubborn, arrogant, hotheaded teenager." You could have heard a pin drop.
"Lin!" Tenzin rebuked. His eyes wide with disbelief.
"Shut it. I got something to say. You've all been telling the kid all of the hopes you have for her life. From what I gather, your only hope is for her to be just like Aang. So here are my hopes for her." Lin turned her focus to Korra, "I hope that you will use your own strengths to help the world and not waste time trying to be someone you're not. I hope that you never feel sorry for not living up to any stupid expectations. And most of all, I hope that you somehow manage to step out of Aang's shadow and be accepted for who you are, not for who you used to be." Then she raised her glass, downed the alcohol in one gulp and left the table.