Authors note: Another chapter, yea! So, I built the last up with a cliffhanger and the revel will probably be a little anticlimactic. Sorry if it disappoints anyone. I am so happy so many people are still reading my story after Korra has ended. Long Live Legend of Korra. One of my two favorite shows ever (Lost is the other one). I feel like TV can never be as good again.
Randomness over. Hope you all enjoy.
The dining room table was filled with an overabundant assortment of food. A tall, heavily decorated candelabrum held long candles whose lighted wicks made prisms dance through the cut crystal wine glasses currently being filled with a deep red wine. Mako came behind Asami and kissed her cheek as she made the finishing touches for dinner.
"Everything looks great. You may have overdone yourself with the food though. Do we really need that much, it will end up going to waste."
"I think you forget how much Korra and Bolin can eat." Asami turned and gave Mako a kiss on the lips which he, placing his hands on her slim waist, happily accepted.
The door chimes resounded, alerting them that their company arrived.
"I'll get it." Korra's voice rang out, as her kitten heels clicking on the hardwood of the hallway floor, told them she was half running to get to the door.
Asami mentally double checked everything was in order as Bolin and Opal were ushered into the dining room. The party took turns giving hugs and saying their hellos. The last to embrace were the brothers.
"It's been so long." said Asami holding onto Opal's hands. "I am glad I can finally say congratulations on your engagement. And also to your mother, how is she handling the presidency?"
"Thank you. My mother is doing well. Running a country is a lot of work, but it seems to come naturally to her and she is happy serving her fellow countrymen." commented Opal "Speaking of my mother she would certainly approve of your taste. The apartment is beautiful, and in such a nice part of the city too."
"I picked it partly for the location. It's only a short walk to my company's main office. I also love that it's near the theater and art row." Said Asami "Korra likes that it has both an indoor and outdoor bending gym. However it has become rare to find a tenant who will spar with her anymore so it's a good thing Mako has moved in." She held up a wine glass "Would you care for a drink?"
"Yes, thank you." Opal took the offered wine flute, "I also noticed this complex has some serious security. That must also help you feel pretty safe."
"Yeah, she does live with a moving target for danger." Laughed Korra. "We were also thinking for the long term though. Like, for when we decide to have children."
A look of confusion passed Opal's innocent features. She was about to ask if they were planning on living together after they both married and had children. She knew they had become very close, but living together after having their families seemed a bit excessive. Opal, however, did not ask any questions as Korra inquired if she would like a tour of the condo and complex. Opal confirmed that she would and after asking her fiance if he would like to come, she left with the other woman when Bolin declined.
The brothers had been making small talk when the women left. A moment of silence filled the air as it seemed something left unsaid still hovered around them.
"Bro, you are looking great." said Bolin as he took note of his brother's healthy physique "How are you feeling?"
"Never felt better, thanks to Asami and Korra." Answered Mako, as he handed his brother a glass of wine.
Bolin accepted the glass, looking a little guilty "I'm sorry. I'm your brother, I should have been the one helping you to get better. You have always been taking care of me, and it seems like whenever you really need me I let you down. I intended on coming over every day to help, but Varrick's been running me ragged. I guess that's really not a good excuse."
"You don't need to feel guilty Bo. Neither of us have been making much time for each other, over the last few years, really. We have both grown into adults and we have our jobs and personal lives. I didn't expect you to drop your life to come and take care of me. But, we are brothers and we DO live in the same city for spirits sake, I should have made time for you. I'm sorry I haven't been around to answer your calls and...Bo are you going to cry?"
Bolin waved his hand "No!" he said, tears clearly visible in his emerald green eyes. "I am just so happy to hear you say that and that you invited opal and I over. I felt that maybe we had grown too far apart. Not just you, but Asami and Korra too. When we hadn't hung out in forever, but I found out you and the girls were making time for each other, it kinda hurt my feelings." Bolin gulped down his wine. "But here we are all hanging out, well once the girls come back, just like old times."
"Plus Opal" Said Mako, making sure to include his soon to be sister, as he refilled Bolin's glass.
"Yeah. Can't forget my perfect Opal. Man, I can't believe I am going to have a wife soon." Said Bolin, all starry eyed.
"I can't believe I am going to have a sister soon. I couldn't ask for a better sister though. You finally got it right with this one. Smart, pretty, and an airbender." Mako was being honest. He liked Opal a lot, and with Bolin's previous dating track record Mako hadn't expect him to end up with such a sweet girl.
"Yeah she is pretty great." Said Bolin beaming "Now all we have to do is find the right girl for you."
Dinner was a boisterous affair between Korra's and Bolin's overly animated stories and updates. Korra had ended up moving from between Mako and Asami to sit next to Bolin. Seemingly, so that the two of them could pat each other on the back for their amusing antics. The wine, of course, helped to make them a little more funny and less ridiculous to the rest of the group.
Asami found herself laughing at Bolin's stories about working for Varrick. "I don't know how you put up with that man full time." She said
"Aw, he's really not that bad." said Bolin "I'm even starting to know what he means sometimes when he says 'Do the thing'. I actually think he's easier on me than he was with Zhu Li as his personal assistant."
"I also can't imagine being his wife. Zhu Li is a saint just to have worked for him let alone marry him. Is he any different with her now that they are married?" asked Asami
Bolin slurped down a mouth full of noodles "Nah, he still pretty much barks at her all the time. Only now it's about making sure she is taking care of herself, resting, and having her do weird things that he thinks will make the baby born, healthier, smarter, and good looking. He checks up on her probably fifty times a day."
"Man, they didn't waste any time." Said Korra, her elbow on on table with her chin propped on her hand "How pregnant is she again?"
Bolin was counting on his fingers trying to do the math when Opal answered for him. "Six, months. She is tiny too, you would hardly know she is pregnant."
"I hope I carry like her during my pregnancy" said Asami absently. "I know it's vain, but I prize my figure. Though I suppose to have a baby you have to make sacrifices. I can't wait to have a little baby girl that I can dress up in lace and bows."
"you're probably going to end up with a boy making statements like that." said Korra, earning her an 'oh really' look from Asami.
Mako hoped Asami wasn't implying she was ready for a baby already. Or that was what it meant when Korra had said she was ready to move their relationship to the next level. "let's not rush things. You are only twenty two, there is plenty of time before babies."
Opal and Bolin gave each other a glance that didn't escape the rest of the parties' notice.
"Oh man," said Bolin "I guess I have to take you to that boring opera now." The earthbender tipped his chair back and placed his hands behind his head in a gesture of defeat.
"Bolin!" said Opal in exasperation, hoping he wouldn't say anything to implicate them further.
"What? You definity won the bet I think." Replied Bolin, not understanding his fiance's tone.
"Bet?" Asked Korra.
"I'm Sorry." apologized Opal, clearly embarrassed. "It was rather rude of us, but Bolin and I were betting on which one of you, if either, Mako was dating. Bolin thought Mako and you Korra were a couple and I thought that Asami and Mako were together."
"It wasn't just us. Your family, Tenzin's family, and Varrick and Zhu Li were also taking bets." added Bolin; his comment earning him a jab in the ribs from Opal's elbow.
"Ow! well it's true." said Bolin defensively as he rubbed his ribs. "I mean how are people not supposed to make assumptions when the three of you are hanging out so much and then, after a lengthy rehabilitation stay, Mako officially moves in as of two weeks ago. It's all everybody is talking about."
Opal's face grew even more flushed "Bolin makes it sound so bad. regardless we should not be speculating or spreading rumors about your personal lives. I cannot apologize enough for everyone involved."
After a moment of silence in which no one really seemed to know what to say, Korra starting laughing "Mako it's your stipulation, you might as be the one to tell them."
Mako's cheeks grew as red as Opals. "Well, uh, you are both right. I..We, Korra, Asami and I are in a relationship together. But," he continued in a rush "We are telling you two in confidence. Bolin I have been avoiding you, because eventually our secret would have got out if we all hung out regularly. Korra and Asami, and even me now to some extent with my government job, are always under the scrutiny of the public eye. If this got out I don't know what type of effect it would have on our professional lives. It's just, you are my brother and I didn't want to hide anything from you anymore. In keeping this from you I was also keeping you out of my life and I don't want that."
"WE don't want that." Said Asami and she touched Mako's back, lending her support.
"Korra and I know how important you, Bolin, are to Mako. We too love you like a brother, and sister." she said nodding her head to Opal. "That is why you two are the first we are telling about this. We know this is a lot to take in, and apologize for springing it on you like this."
"Wow!" said Bolin, his hands signing an explosion from his head "Mind blown. It makes sense though. Mako, you never could seem to make your mind up about Korra and Asami."
"Well, actually…" Mako began, but was unable to finish his thought as Opal cut in.
"I'm sorry," said Opal with her arms crossed "This is not OK."
"Opal?" Questioned Bolin as Opal placed the front of her palm in front of his face to silence him. Her anger and attention however, was directed at the firebender.
"Mako, you are a chauvinistic pig. I don't know how you managed to get both of these woman wrapped around your finger but it's underhanded and sickening." Her features softened somewhat as she looked at Korra and Asami in turn "I just don't understand how two such accomplished women can become domicile and placative for a man who doesn't have the decency to be faithful to one woman. Korra you are the Avatar and Asami you are the singularly most successful business woman of our day. How can you two put aside your pride to share this man who can't share his heart with just one of you."
"I can see where you are coming from" said Korra "Someone is definitely unable to choose between two people and would have probably been unfaithful in their relationship for the third person. However, you have the wrong person pegged as the chauvinistic pig; it's me."
"I..I don't understand." Said Opal, her features still scrunched heatedly.
Korra, with Asami's interjections now and then, explained to Opal when and how they slowly fell in love and when their feelings surpassed that of friendship. She then detailed how Mako came into the picture again, and how their tumultuous relationship had grown, over the last five months, to this point. Korra was glad to note how Opal's hardened features slowly smoothed back to it's usual pixi like innocence as the story progressed.
"I'm sorry Mako, that I insulted your character and I apologize to all three of you that I didn't hear you out first." said Opal as she looked at her lap "I still think in any other situation, involving any other people, I would think two people were being subservient to the third. But I know your heart is true Korra, and I think your heart is too big just for one person. I also believe now that the three of you truly love each other, but that Korra is the center. If all of you are happy, then I am happy too."
Mako felt a weight come off his shoulders. He was glad their first confession ended with their friendships all intact and that he no longer had to hide anything from his brother.
"Thank you Opal," said Mako "and I accept your apology. It means a lot to me, to us, that you support our unconventional relationship." He turned his attention to his brother. "Bolin, we haven't actually heard what you think of this."
Bolin shook his head. "I think this sounds like a Varrick mover", he said laughing.