A/N: Big thank-yous to SailorPrende, AsahixMe, Black Dragon Master, Lightbrightfury, IrishDreamer4, CrazyPhenom, devilfiredog18, and Aquamirra for reviewing chapter 14! Thanks for the reassurances about the story length :D
Time check: in my head, the final showdown with Kuvira occurred sometime in midsummer. We're in spring now, so around 9 months since Book 4 ended.
16. Spring is coming and it won't be long now; it's just about here
He's the lookout when Pabu leads Bolin to the site.
The second the newly-21-year-old earthbender emerges from behind the thicket of bushes, following the fire ferret's bushy tail, they all exclaim as one: "Happy Birthday!"
Bolin stops short at the sight of the picnic set-up and the group of friends, and his eyes sparkle with pleasure. "Awww, you guys…"
"Thank Opal," Kai says, gesturing at the airbender in question. "She came up with this."
"We were thinking of celebrating at Yu Dao Eatery," Asami says, "but Varrick caught wind of the plan and started talking about glitter and trumpet bands and goodness knows what else." She shudders.
"So we decided to just skip the restaurant and have a picnic here in the park." Opal pats the ground beside her; Bolin obligingly comes over and gives her a firm, affectionate kiss.
"You are the best girlfriend ever!" Bolin proclaims exuberantly. "Mako, have I ever said thank you for pointing me in her direction?"
"You're welcome," he replies with a smirk, remembering how utterly clueless his brother had been about Opal in the beginning.
Jinora starts distributing plates, grinning fondly as Bolin's eyes widen with delight at the dumplings.
"Aw, yeah! Are these from Fan's?"
"Yes." Jinora pops the lid on a basket and withdraws several macaroons. "And these are from my mom."
Bolin squeals happily, and they take that as their cue to dig in. The air is soon filled with the scents of delicious food and the chatter of light conversation.
He relaxes into the atmosphere, enjoying everyone's company. It isn't often that they get to gather like this. He and Asami have faithfully kept to their Friday lunches, and those are great — but he doesn't see the others nearly as often. Kai and Jinora and Opal mainly keep to Air Temple Island when they're not on a mission for the Air Nation, and Bolin isn't even in Republic City half the time these days. He's glad Bolin's found a job that doesn't rely on ridiculous mover plots or the whims of a tyrannical dictator, but he does wish his brother were around more often.
Despite all that, however, he no longer feels lonely. As today proves, everyone is more than willing to take the time to come together when their schedules permit. They may be apart physically, but he knows they remain close emotionally — and that makes occasions like today special.
Even though not everyone is here.
"This is from Korra." Asami passes Bolin an envelope and a small wrapped parcel. "She couldn't get away from the Gaoling elections, but she sends her love and says she'll see you when you and Varrick head over there."
Bolin accepts the items with a wide smile, then turns to feed Opal a veggie wrap. Across the picnic mat, Kai picks up a macaroon and casually plops it into Jinora's mouth, causing her to blush lightly and return the favour.
He observes the scene before him, feeling warm and happy. Bolin was born in the spring, and he's always thought that matched perfectly with his cheerful, lively little brother. Like the first flowers that poke through the winter frost, Bolin is a ray of sunshine, a herald of better things to come. Bolin was the one thing that had kept him going through the harsh grim years on the streets, his one source of hope and joy.
Bolin had brought Korra into their lives and everything had changed.
Looking back, despite the turmoil and danger and darkness, he doesn't think he would change anything of the last few years.
…all right, so that's not entirely true. He would, for example, have preferred to skip over all his despair and loneliness.
However, like Korra, he has been shaped by the challenges he's faced; now he is healing, coming out stronger than he was before. He would have liked not to have suffered so much — who wouldn't? — but he has to wonder if he would be the person he is today without those experiences.
He doesn't believe one has to suffer to become a better person, but he does think that such moments teach lessons.
If he hadn't felt so lost and alone, would he have allowed himself to admit he needed help? If he hadn't been forced to reach out, would he have learned to rely on his friends and trust that they would be there for him? If he hadn't nearly drowned, would Minsu be on the RCPD? If he hadn't almost died in that warehouse, would he have begun his recovery?
One thing he is absolutely certain of: if he hadn't had Bolin, he wouldn't be here at all to ponder any of these questions.
Spring is here in all its glory, and he couldn't be more thankful for his little brother.
"Hey, Bo."
Bolin looks up, tilting his head quizzically.
He smiles gently. "Love you."
Bolin beams like the sun. "Love you back, Mako."
A/N: Lyric from 'Spring is Coming' by Steven Curtis Chapman.