Work Text:
“I mean, don’t get me wrong, Korra. Y’all aren’t as cute as me and Opal, but…” Bolin chuckled and shrugged as he propped himself on his elbows against the bar, trying to signal Bumi’s attention so they could order more drinks. “Y’all do make a pretty cute couple.”
Korra could hardly even hear what he was saying. She was too busy watching her girlfriend lean over the pool table, glancing up to find Korra with her sparkling green eyes before winking and sinking an impossible shot. Korra felt her own lips curve into an amused smile when she heard Opal exclaim in exasperation from across the room - “you’ve got to be kidding me!”
Like the autumn leaves falling down like pieces into place , Korra knew beyond a shadow of a doubt - Asami was meant to be in her life, for the rest of her life, for the rest of forever. The falling of leaves each year was always a magical thing for Korra. She’d sit for hours on a brisk, windy day, watching the leaves drift across a brilliant blue sky. Sometime in the past year, Asami had drifted into her rightful place in Korra’s heart. Korra had never seen her coming - but she knew she’d never be the same.
Eyes never leaving her love as Asami laughed with Opal’s good natured teasing, Korra spoke with wonder. “I’m going to propose to her, Bo.”
Sometime while Korra had been transfixed on Asami, Bumi must have dropped off their usuals. Bolin had just taken a sip of his beer and did a movie scene worthy spit take, the drink dribbling down the front of his sweater. Slowly, his head turned to face Korra, fixing her with a wide-eyed gaze . “ What ?”
Even still, Korra couldn’t stop staring at Asami. It was becoming a problem, really - especially on the drive here, when she’d almost run a red light , too busy stealing glances at the woman next to her to notice it change. Asami had laughed that knowing laugh, and Korra was just as enchanted by the sound as she was on the very first night she’d heard it.
“If she’ll have me, I’m going to ask her to marry me.” Korra sighed as she admired Asami in Korra’s own blue striped sweater - the one she’d taken off of Korra with that familiar fire in her eyes earlier that day. Asami had quickly learned that Korra would do anything she said - as long as she said it with her hands . This afternoon, Asami’s hands had a lot to say. Afterwards, when they were (reluctantly) getting redressed, Asami had locked eyes with Korra as she slipped the soft blue sweater over her own lean frame, as if to say - what are you gonna do about it ?
Let you keep that sweater til death do us part , Korra had thought as she grinned back, not even the slightest bit sorry about having to find something else to wear. Korra tried to not blush now at the thought of all that they had done together, but held dear the intimate satisfaction of knowing that only Asami knew - and from the blush that dusted her cheeks when she caught Korra staring at her, she had a sneaking suspicion that Asami may have been thinking about it, too.
Bolin’s spluttering brought Korra back to the present. “What? Like, tonight ? With just no thought? Do you have a ring? Have y’all talked about it? Is there a plan?” Bolin looked panicked as one hand smoothed down his hair, as if he were the one that was going to have to come up with the proposal speech. Korra noted out of the corner of her eye how his other hand went involuntarily to his pocket.
Instead of saying anything, Korra looked pointedly at his pocket, then back up at him, then down to his pocket, then back up at him, unable to contain the excitement in her expression. “Are you -”
Interrupting her suddenly, Bolin grabbed her arm and spun her towards the bar so that their backs were to their girlfriends. “Dude, play it cool , okay?” He spared a quick glance over his shoulder to make sure that Opal hadn’t noticed the exchange. Luckily, Asami was trying to explain what appeared to be the physics of pool. When he was satisfied that Opal’s attention was elsewhere, he relaxed marginally. “I… maybe bought a ring.”
Korra couldn’t help it. Bolin was her best friend, and she was ecstatic to the point of wanting to pick him up and shake him around in a huge bear hug - but she did her best to contain it for his sake. For now. “When - how - so happy for you - spill . And not your drink,” she snorted as she passed Bolin some napkins for the few spots he’d missed from earlier.
Once he’d finished wiping down the bar, his fingers began drumming against the side of his glass, as if he were having a hard time containing his excitement, too. “I was walking downtown, and you know that pawn shop - the one that I sold my best belt buckle to when I needed money for college? Shady Shin’s?”
In lieu of an answer, Korra wrestled back an internal onslaught of smartass comments. She had fought hard for years to not tease Bolin about that belt buckle. It had been gaudy enough to stop traffic on numerous occasions, but during his teen years, that belt buckle had been his pride and joy.
Bolin must not have noticed Korra’s struggle, because he never even skipped a beat. “I decided to stop in last week to see if he still had my beloved belt buckle. Opal never believed me when I told her how big and beautiful it was, so I was going to buy it back to show her. Maybe even… show it off for her, if you know what I mean,” he muttered with a suggestive waggle of his bushy eyebrows.
Korra made an exaggerated gagging face before nodding for him to go on, admittedly now very amused. This sounded exactly like something Bolin would do - though she’s sure Opal might take one look at it and think it was all a big joke. Poor guy might get his ego bruised.
“So anyway, he sold it already. But while I was there,” he said as his voice lowered, glancing one more time over his shoulder to make sure that he was in the clear before reaching into his pocket to reveal a ring. It was a bright green, round emerald set between two smaller diamonds on a thin, gold band. “I found this. And I just knew it was meant to be hers.” Under his breath, he mumbled something almost unintelligible. “And it… may or may not be the color of my eyes, which I know Opal loves to stare into from… time to time.”
Korra softened. “You big ole softie.”
“Don’t tell Mako,” he huffed as Korra laughed.
“Fuck Mako,” Korra scoffed. “And make me your best man.”
Bolin coughed a laugh, conceding with a nod. “Asami might not be able to handle you in a suit.”
Korra grinned crookedly, subconsciously casting a glance over her shoulder towards Asami, who looked like she was about to break out her pocket protractor. (And funnily enough, Korra knew her to keep one in her purse at all times.) “And you wouldn’t deny her that opportunity, now would you?”
“Fair point.”
“So, when? I mean, since you have it with you, are you doing it tonight?”
“No, no, no,” Bolin shook his head. “I’m, uh… still trying to work out some details.”
Korra turned towards him to slap him on the shoulder. “Whatever I can do to help, just let me know, okay?”
“About that,” he said timidly as he suddenly became fascinated with an old sticker on the bar countertop. “There’s… something I wanted to run by you.”
Korra nodded, encouraging him to go on.
“Opal loves it here,” he said, eyes never leaving the idle work of his finger. “She says it would be a dream to settle down here. That we could get married. Have ten kids and teach them how to dream. ” When he spoke about Opal, his whole countenance softened with affection. “You know. Just live the simple life, grow some roots.”
A slow smile spread across Korra’s cheeks. “And that’s what you’ve always wanted, too - right?”
“Well, yeah.” Bolin took a breath, as if to steel himself. “But I can’t propose to her until I have the plans in place to be able to give her the life she deserves. She needs to know my love for her is solid as stone - but that our future together will be just as safe and sound .”
Korra nodded, urging him to go on. Inwardly, she thought of how serious Bolin must be - usually, he lived by the seat of his pants, relishing in the unexpected, forever going with the flow. For him to be worrying himself over plans for the future? It was out of character in the way that signaled that Bolin really was maturing into the steadfast kind of man that she knew Opal was deserving of.
“I work hard, Korra. And I’ll keep working hard until I can give Opal the life she is amazing enough to have,” he spoke with determination and conviction. “But, building a house, buying land… it’s just, a lot. I’ve got some savings and stuff, but at this rate, it’ll be a few years until I’m there , you know?”
She knew that Bolin rented a small house on the outskirts of town, and while it was enough for him, she had to admit - Bolin had a point.
“I just can’t propose until I know what I’m gonna do. How I’m going to build the foundation for our future. And Korra… I know this is awkward. Shoot me right down if this isn’t okay and we never have to mention it again.”
Korra gave him a reassuring smile. She knew what he was hinting at. “Go ahead, Bo.”
“Given the opportunity,” he paused to clear his throat. “I might… ask you about the possibility of buying a few acres of your land with as much as I can put down now, and then a strict payment plan that you know I’ll honor. Just… to build a house. To make a life. With Opal.”
“Don’t forget your ten daydreaming kids,” Korra teased to let him know that this didn’t have to be a serious conversation. Korra didn’t have to think twice. Of course Bolin and Opal could build a house on her land. The thought of keeping them close warmed her heart.
“Right. And the kids. Maybe a dog. Kinda always wanted a ferret, though. Who knows?” Bolin chuckled nervously.
“Bolin,” she said, trying to meet his eyes. When he looked up, his eyes were hesitant - but with a spark of hope. “Let’s grab supper soon. Talk some details.”
“Korra, are you shitting me ?” His whole demeanor exploded like a firework. “You’ll consider it?”
“Consider it considered.”
Where nerves had been before, Bolin’s attitude had been replaced by sheer giddiness. “Phew! Now that that’s off my chest,” he breathed a huge sigh of relief. “You’re sure about Asami, too?”
Korra turned around fully, only to find Asami’s eyes already on her, curiosity all over her face. Upon their eyes meeting, Korra winked. Asami turned to look behind herself, before gesturing silently in a way that communicated, who, me ?
Bolin noticed the exchange. “You seem pretty sure.”
“Never been more sure,” Korra breathed into a sigh. “I can’t imagine a life without her. Look, all I know is we said hello, and…” Korra searched for the words. “Her eyes looked like coming home. Even when all I knew was a simple name, just Asami - I knew everything had changed. ” Korra couldn’t hold back her vulnerability. “ All I could feel in my stomach was butterflies - the beautiful kind, making up for lost time. Just… taking flight, making me feel like - I just had to know her better, Bo.”
Korra stopped for a moment to consider her next words as Bolin’s eyes turned towards Opal. “Thinking about the future, a future with them … it just feels like standing on holy ground , doesn’t it?”
“That’s an…” Bolin cleared his throat, trying to cover that he was getting choked up and emotional. “Accurate assessment.”
When Korra noted how Bolin shook his head back and forth slightly, as if to make himself get a grip, she knew a topic change was incoming.
“Do you -“
“No, no ring yet,” Korra finished as Bolin nodded understandingly, clearly relieved to be stepping away from his deeper emotions for now. “It has to be perfect.”
His eyes fell onto Asami, on the way that she looked to Korra as if she were her very sense of gravity, before turning back to Korra. “Look, dude,” he started. Korra was listening, but her eyes were glued elsewhere - on the blush-tinged, freckled cheeks framed by wavy, lovely, dark hair at the far end of her gaze. “I know Asami likes shiny things, but I’m pretty sure she’d marry you with paper rings. Or a twist tie off a loaf of bread. Or a gumball machine ring from the arcade.”
Korra looked at him askance, never knowing what Bolin might say once he’s gotten on a roll. She wasn’t disappointed. “ Or like, some kind of ring made from a meteorite from an alien planet that you find buried in your hayfield that’s been there for millenia, and then the aliens come back when you’re like 42 years old or something and want it back, but then they see how lovely it is on Asami’s hand, and then they have no choice but to leave it right where it is because that’s clearly where it belongs, and then you will have single handedly and inadvertently saved the planet from an alien invasion,” he finishes while gesturing animatedly with his hands, eyes bright with childlike imagination. Korra notices the way Opal looks at him when he talks like this - even the way she’s noticed his wild gesturing of his hands now from the other side of the room - and it’s the kind of way Bolin deserves to be looked at. Full of fond love and endearment.
Korra slowly shook her head with silent laughter, but she knew Bo was right, amidst his outlandish hypotheticals. “What a love story that would be,” cracking a grin. “But I mean, maybe so, but still. I want to give her something she’ll treasure.”
“You already have,” he said as he clapped her on the shoulder before making his way back towards the pool table. “You.”
Korra followed just a few steps behind him, back towards Asami’s side. Upon her approach, Asami turned her whole body in her direction seemingly unconsciously. Korra wrapped her arms around her waist before leaning up slightly to kiss her cheek. It was soft, but Asami caught onto the intentional, focused emotion behind it. She didn’t say anything, but instead silently communicated with her eyes while moving her hand to the small of Korra’s back. You okay?
Korra responded in kind by nosing her cheek, her arms forever a state of grace . Tell you later.
Asami grinned, placated for the moment, before leaning down to whisper into Korra’s ear. “Hey, could you run out to the jeep and grab my protractor?”