bolincredible | IC INBOX • EACHDRAIDH

[ well idk about mako but bolin just finds his validation in being a people-pleaser and usually doesn't have to handle his own problems of this nature so. ratsquirrel.

also he's probably kind of pulling a face at that. not like a mocking face. like a mildly disappointed face. ]

...yeahhhh, that was kind of what I was leading into there. Actually. Because I think the thing is that. Maybe... you don't? Or not that you don't, or even that you wouldn't, but that you... also just sort of haven't. Strictly speaking.

[ hey guess who doesn't like the way this line of conversation is going?

if you guessed korra you're right. ]

Bolin, just get to the point.

[ she says, arms crossed, eyebrow quirked, mouth drawn in a thin line. it's a sudden change from the relaxed position she held not two seconds before. korra's immediately getting defensive, ready to fight for her position and any choices she made in the past instead of actually listening. in the distance, naga comes padding up behind korra, looking a little harried for chasing around the lawkamercymes and letting the children play on her. ]

[ Uuuuuugh, but he hates getting to the point.

Mako would totally get to the point right now. He's a huge point-getter-to-er. And so's Kaldur. But he guesses Kaldur also kind of has faith in his ability to maybe become a fellow point-getter-to-er?? I repeat

uuuuuuugh ]

Okay, so, you know how you ended up out in the middle of enemy territory a while back? And, uh. Also ran into your past life's super crazy enemy?

I'm not going to forget that any time soon.

[ which is to say, "yes."

and now korra really doesn't like the way this is going. ]

Okay, okay, good to know. [ Pabu's fuckin out of this, though, he's going to exit the shirt fortress and scram for the nearest Naga. Bolin takes a steady breath and actually kind of already feels less terrified now that it's too late to stop the momentum.

You can't wonder if you'll be able to move a really big rock after you pushed it downhill, right? ]

See, the thing is, you're really great, you know? And I get that you're really great! You can handle yourself better than anybody I know. [ Which is true enough to merit half a smile while he says it. And then he kind of deflates because he's basically a sad balloon. ] But I guess I don't... get why you wouldn't tell me about ending up there, or running into your crazy enemy, exactly. Or, you know. Why you wouldn't tell Mako and me.

[ aaaand there it goes: the point. korra's first instinct is to tell bolin to let it go and just move on because that was in the past and she really doesn't like talking about what happened. her eyes track pabu as the ferret makes a bolt for naga's head, like it's going to distract everyone from the conversation at hand — and when it doesn't magically go away, korra lets out a huff. ]

Because I didn't think I had to.

[ her arms tighten in their cross on her chest. the temptation to say "mako would have told you" is strong, but she's not that kind of girl. she takes responsibility for her actions; she doesn't pass the buck. ]

There was no reason to get the both of you worked up about it.

[ If he were having this conversation with Mako, this is around when he'd just say "okay" and make his retreat. If he got this far at all in that hypothetical conversation, anyway. Of course, that might just come down to the fact that Mako's been saying that stuff for more than ten years now. No point getting you worked up, it was just easier for me to handle it myself. It gets frustrating, but it's Mako, and Mako's usually right anyway, and he doesn't know how he'd even bring this... for-your-own-good, kid-gloves thing up with him.

Coming from Korra, it just kind of... makes him sad. ]

But we're your friends. [ Which he always figured was as good a reason as any. ] Anything happening to you is worth getting worked up about, isn't it? I mean, I know we're pretty, but it's not like we're delicate.

[ that was it.

the worst and flattest mood-lightener in the world. ]

[ ... looks like she's not going to be able to get out of explaining this one, so how's she even going to put this to words? a little clumsily at first, because while korra has evolved into a fairly eloquent public speaker, in conversations like this she has to put words to how she's feeling and thinking instead of just acting on it. and it's still tough, trying to tell people instead of simply being how she feels. ]

When I told Mako about it, he practically dropped everything to try and make his way over to me, and I didn't want that. There was no use getting both you and Mako involved and in danger, not when we were so far away and I wasn't going to sit there waiting for you.

[ her voice has started to ~~eskalate~~ escalate in volume so korra takes a step back, not wanting to lose her temper but also not wanting to go through this whole conversation again. ]

... I had to keep you two safe. I couldn't concentrate on keeping myself and Bilbo out of trouble if I was constantly worrying about where you were and if you were okay.

Why couldn't you tell me that? [ Keeping people safe is a thing of hers. He gets that, too, he does. Either he really really does, or he's great at telling himself he does. It gets the job done either way. ]

I guess I just. I don't understand. And don't get me wrong, because it's not like Mako ever thought he should mention it either? But. You just kinda have to say the word if you're in big trouble, and I'd do whatever you told me helped you the most. I'm not... [ I'm not a kid? I'm not stupid? Only he knows better than that. That's not how Korra thinks. Bolin holds his hands out from his sides, sort of an open shrug. ]

I don't know. I mean, I'm not mad. I know I'm not the first guy anyone should probably go to with a secret or a math problem or something. I just wish you didn't think you needed to keep me safe from knowing stuff, either. [ Both of you. ] We wanna keep you safe, too, you know?

[ this thread is a hot mess of eloquence wow ]

Edited (that was not the icon i wanted EVERYTHING IS RUINED) 2014-08-13 19:07 (UTC)

[ and now those walls start to come down, the hyper-defensiveness gradually melting away because bolin's big wide eyes and what korra perceives as a hurt tone actually succeed in making her feel bad. which probably wasn't the desired intention but korra knows that bolin's right, and that all of this would have been a better way to go about it. her hands relax at her chest; her posture soon follows with a sag of her shoulders. ]

... I was kind of pressed for time, Bolin. [ and she hates admitting this because it's actually admitting just how dire the situation was at the time even though she liked pretending that she could handle it. ] I'd been thrown across the world with a friend of mine but no food and no supplies. We spent a day walking in the wrong direction before we ran into Azula.

[ and it stings, even now, saying her name, and korra feels her stomach lurch. ]

[ Oh no, making her feel bad is the opposite of what he wanted. Not that he's... sure exactly what he did want to come out of this, he guesses. It's a really new territory. This falls really far onto the side of Negative Stuff, and he's normally fine not to be over here, because it's not like he really has much to complain about.

But he's not Hannah Montana. No one can just constantly have the best of both worlds. ]

Yeah. Yeah, sorry. You're right. [ He saw the general damage, when Appa made it back to the castle. It obviously wasn't an easy trip out for the scenery. Anyone would've been hard-pressed to find time for running commentary. And they found out after the fact, at least, which is... still something. (And he's not going to ask if she'd have mentioned it at all if they hadn't been to the Royal Audience, because he thinks he'd probably not want to know that answer.) Bolin rubs the back of his neck. ] If there's a next time something like that happens, maybe... maybe just call a rain check and tell me later?

[ Because he's pretty easy. The when doesn't really matter as much as there being a when. ]

I was going to tell you.

[ the words are honest because korra doesn't know how to lie except by leaving details out. she tries her best not to do that because she doesn't like being manipulative or twisting things to fit her needs. she'd rather present everything up front unless it's to protect the people she cares about. ]

I didn't have time. [ buuut she had time to tell mako, at least. and maybe part of her had hoped that mako would tell bolin so that she wouldn't have while at the same time thinking it was best bolin didn't know. she can't quite remember every little detail back that far — everything is kind of a blur. ] When we got back, when we were out of danger, I was going to tell you.

[ So you know how I said he's pretty easy? Yeah, he's actually kind of super easy. The worst part's over with, if you ask him: that being the part where he mentioned the thing at all and Korra seemed like she might get mad.

If Korra's saying it, he'll believe her. So that's the other thing he was kind of worried about already answered. ]

Royal audience kinda knocked the wind out of your sails there, huh?

[ at that, she nods. in retrospect it was probably a good thing that she was able to talk to solais, mako and bolin all at the same time because not only did it relieve her of the burden of keeping things from the both of them, but it also cleared her mind for the rest of the trip home.

silence blankets between them for a moment, and korra takes a breath in — ]

Did Mako tell you Aang was here?

--no, he did not. A lady on the network mentioned it once, though! Yeah, I was gonna ask you guys if he was around, but then things got all crazy, annnnnd, you know. I forgot.

[ SHRUG. No seriously, he completely forgot about it until now. Presidential hero, ladies and gentlemen. ]

How about we go find a noodle place to save from those creepy shadow dudes and you can tell me what he's like in person?

[ ...! oh. well, she was going to go on to explain why she felt like she had to handle azula on her own (because aang left, and thus the avatar duties fell to her), but... ]

I'd like that. [ and she offers bolin a lopsided smile, stretching her arms out in front of her to pop her back. ] —Hey, Bolin?

[ Oh did I say really really easy when I meant like bordering-unnaturally easy...... Korra will tell him the thing in the future and he still can't read people well enough to realize she she was leading into something there.

Life is nice. And Mako raised him to follow up serious conversations with food. (Plus even if they can't score free heroic noodles, he's probably got enough money from Pabu's tricks to buy them. Speaking of, he goes ahead and leans down with his arm out to summon the nearest fire ferret.) ]

Yeah?

[ yeah, she'll tell him the thing while they're eating their lunch.

for now though, she waits until bolin stands up before wrapping her arms around his shoulders and drawing him into a hug, placing a light kiss on his cheek. ]

Thanks. [ annnnd there's that lopsided smile again, and korra takes in a slow breath from the base of her lungs. ] I didn't realize how much it bothered me to keep that in, and now .... it's weird, but it feels like a weight's been lifted.

[ korra, what did tenzin tell u with regards to talking about stuff.

don't bottle it up. ]

So... yeah. Thanks.

[ aaawwwwwWWWWWWWWWWWW ]

[ BRING IT IN HERE FOR THE HUG, AVATAR, EXCELLENT CHOICE IN THANK YOUS. ]

Hey, don't even worry about it! [ You're not mad, he's not mad, he didn't have to be carried out of a noodle bar by John or Kaldur because he ruined a friendship. This day is now only mildly disappointing. ] Why do you think I'm always saying stuff, huh? Works wonders!

[ because you don't fuckin know any better. ]

[ OH WOAH okay we're seriously hugging now, and korra laughs as she casually lifts bolin off his feet so they can head back toward the main road and find a place to eat.

just don't mind that mischievous smirk of hers. ]

Mako's always saying it's because you don't have a filter.

[ Legend of Korra's arms damn. ]

Yeah, I've heard that a few times. [ He's heard it so much, probably. ] But Mako's kind of like a giant walking filter? So I like to imagine he's either jealous or he approves and it just gets lost in translation before it hits me.

[ bolin's got a front row ticket to the gunshow. at least until korra puts him down on the road, absently kicking her foot at one of the large-ish pebbles beneath them. ]

It could be both?

Could be. You know me, though. Hate to make him feel insecure about this stuff when he's got his own merits. [ Like landing two relationships where both parties actually wanted to be in the relationship! Being tall. Understanding taxes. Having impulse control.

Little stuff. ]

Aw, that's so nice of you.

[ she bends down to pick up one of those pebbles, feeling it out with her fingertips since she can't use her chi, a devilish look coming over her. she lets bolin get some yards away from her before— ]

Hey, Bolin? Think fast!

[ aaaand chucks the pebble at his head ]

IC INBOX • EACHDRAIDH

action. korra's been a ninja all along...

action. her secret is revealed, that's really what the white lotus trained her for.

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action 1/2

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