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With Mako avoiding Air Temple Island post-breakup, Bolin was really beginning to feel antsy without his brother’s presence. He found a large, welcoming community with Tenzin’s family, the airmonks, the air bison, Naga, and two of his best friends, Korra and Asami, and they were all great. It was a welcome change from only Mako and him taking care of each other. But that was the thing: This was the first time in his entire life that Bolin didn’t have his brother around to take care of him. Sure, for a while he moved out of Mako’s apartment when he still had Nuktuk money, but Mako was still around. It was bound to happen eventually; Bolin wasn’t legally an adult yet, but he’s also not the same little kid that Mako always had to look after and keep out of trouble.
Bolin could just take the ferry and visit Mako in Republic City, but whenever Mako wasn’t working, the ferry wasn’t running anymore. He definitely wasn’t going to ask Tenzin to borrow a sky bison just because he was bored. And thanks to the spirit vines ruining Mako’s apartment and Bolin's newer one, Bolin wasn’t exactly excited about the idea of “sleeping over” when it meant sleeping on top of Mako’s work desk like it was a bunk bed.
After spending the morning working out on the island, Bolin wasn’t really sure what else there was for him to do. All of the chores were done and Tenzin’s family was getting groceries and spending time in the city together.
“Korra?” Bolin called out as he walked through different rooms and halls on the island, trying to find his friends. “Asami?” He had asked the airmonks if they had seen them, but everyone said that they haven’t seen either one since breakfast this morning.
Bolin’s pout became progressively more prominent as he came to the conclusion that his friends ditched him on the island. Some friends they were. Bolin can’t help but feel left out, although he understood that maybe there were just some things that they wanted to do together without a boy in the mix. "Girl things," as Asami would put it. If he had known that they went off to Republic City, he would have asked to come with Tenzin and his family to get groceries.
Sitting on the dock, Bolin was happy to see Oogi already nearing the island. He ran over to meet Tenzin’s family once they started to spill out with Meelo and Ikki zooming off first on air scooters first.
“Outta the way, I gotta pee!” Meelo yelped.
“Meelo I need to go first!” Ikki shouted, hot on his tail.
“Here, let me grab some,” Bolin said, coming forward to grab a couple of grocery bags from Pema and Kya plus a few more that Tenzin passed down.
“Thanks, Bolin,” Pema said, letting out a relieved sigh, holding a crying Rohan in one arm. “You can just follow Jinora to the kitchen, she knows where to put everything. Kya and I are going to put Rohan down for his nap.”
“If you two got it,” Tenzin said to Bolin and Jinora, “Bumi and I need to feed the air bison.”
“Roger,” Bolin said, managing to make a small salute despite the heavy bags of groceries he was holding.
“Did Korra and Asami go to the city with you guys today?” Bolin asked Jinora as they walked beside each other, the rest of the family splitting off for their respective tasks.
“No, they didn’t go on Oogi with us, but I’m pretty sure they took the ferry together.” Ugh. Maybe he should just ask them if he could tag along directly, next time. “Asami is teaching Korra how to drive.”
“Again? This is like, the fifth time they’ve gone out to do that this week, isn’t it?” Jinora couldn’t help but smile her I know something you don’t smile.
“You haven’t noticed?” Jinora asked as they got to the kitchen and put the groceries down.
“Noticed what?” Bolin asked as the two started unpacking the bags and putting things away. Jinora was full on smiling now.
“I think Korra and Asami like each other,” Jinora said, tacked on with an excited shriek.
“Of course they do. I mean, it would’ve made for an awkward Team Avatar if they didn’t like each other, even after all of that Mako drama.”
“No, Bolin,” Jinora said, leaning in like she was telling a secret although nobody else was around. “They like-like each other.”
“Whaaat?” Bolin said, his voice rising an octave, stopping what he was doing. “No way.”
“You don’t see it?” Jinora said, tugging his sleeve as if she was a child asking her parents for money to buy candy. Well, technically Jinora is a child, but when she wasn’t squirming about romance or fighting with her siblings, she’s actually pretty mature for her age.
Bolin thought it over. They do spend a lot of time together, but tons of friends do that. And they always sit next to each other at the table during meals, but tons of friends do that, too.
“I dunno, I don’t see it,” Bolin said, still tapping his chin and trying to rack his memory for any details that might indicate their interest in each other. "Are you sure you haven't just been reading too many of your romance novels?"
“I would if someone actually returned them," Jinora said, giving Bolin playful side eye. What? He's bored!
"Hey hey, I'm still reading the one about the princess that jumped into a volcano to prove her love to the prince!" Bolin defended, looking around to make sure nobody else could hear them. "You were the one that suggested it to me!"
"No, I mentioned it in a passing conversation and then you stole it from my bookshelf."
"I'll give it back to you when I'm done! Anyways, no, I don't think Korra and Asami like each other."
"Wanna bet? I can prove it at dinner tonight,” Jinora said with a glint in her eye and an outstretched hand. “Loser has to clean the bison caves.”
“Oh, you are so on,” Bolin said, shaking her hand.
Too easy, Jinora thought to herself as Bolin accepted the bet. Sure, Korra and Asami were trying to be sly, and they obviously didn’t know about the other’s feelings yet, but Jinora had a gut feeling, and her gut was rarely wrong. Jinora was glad that she could confide in Bolin either way, since she didn’t really have anyone else to talk to. Meelo was too immature to hold onto a secret like that, the entire island would know within half an hour if she were to tell Ikki or her Uncle Bumi, the last time that her mom got involved in Korra’s love life ended up being a disaster, and her dad would probably be weird about it altogether. He was a little too overprotective when Mako and Korra first became a couple. He tried to follow them when they left the island for their first real date before Pema put him on baby duty. She did tell her Aunt Kya, but she just smiled and told Jinora not to spread it around. But Bolin could keep a secret, right? … oh well, too late to dwell on that now.
Jinora had to admit, she was much more excited for a potential relationship between Korra and Asami than she was for one with Korra and Mako. When she first heard about a “handsome firebender boy” that Korra liked, Jinora was over the moon with excitement for her big sister to be in her first relationship. Of course, that blew up in everyone’s faces when they all caught onto how much the two argued. “They won’t last,” Pema said to Jinora and Ikki after the third time Korra and Mako had an argument during dinner. Asami has already seen the worst parts of Korra and it has never deterred her once. Jinora had a good feeling about this.
Once dinner rolled around, Bolin slid into the chair beside Jinora, giving her an exaggerated wink that made her face palm. Korra and Asami sat next to each other on the other side of the table from them. Jinora had switched their chopsticks around so that they were next to each other instead of both of them being on the right of their plates.
Jinora leaned towards Bolin, covering her mouth as she whispered into his ear. “Watch when they reach for their chopsticks.”
As expected, when Korra and Asami’s hands brushed while grabbing their chopsticks, both of them blushed before turning away from each other and nervously laughing. Jinora turned to Bolin and arched a brow, both of them silently communicating with their expressions.
See? Jinora tilted her head towards them.
Psh, that doesn’t mean anything, Bolin communicated with a shake of his head and a wave of his hand.
Jinora rolled her eyes and held up a finger. Just wait.
Surely enough, as everyone broke into their own conversations around the table, Korra and Asami began their own.
“Thanks for the driving session again, Asami.” Korra said before stuffing her mouth with some food.
“Of course. Like I said, the avatar should learn how to drive. I think you’ve made a lot of progress lately.”
Jinora elbowed Bolin. Pay attention!
Bolin threw his hands up and then rubbed the spot that Jinora elbowed. Okay, jeez! Your elbow is so bony!
Bolin watched them for a few seconds before turning to Jinora and shrugging. Seems like a normal conversation to me.
Jinora pointed to her eyes and then smiled and pointed at her mouth. Look at how they look and smile at each other!
But the gesture was lost to Bolin. What? Look at your mouth? Bolin stared at Jinora’s teeth before making a circular motion in front of his mouth and gave her a thumbs up. You don’t have any food stuck in your teeth, you’re good!
Jinora’s eyebrows scrunched together. Okay, maybe this telepathy thing wasn’t working out as well as she thought that it would. She leaned up to his ear again and covered her mouth as she whispered, “Look at how they look and smile at each other!”
When Jinora leaned away, Bolin gave her a disbelieving look before he shrugged and turned to them. His eyes slowly widened as he took in the sight before him: Korra and Asami laughing, Asami’s hand laying on the inside of her elbow, Korra blushing, and Asami jerking her hand back, playing it off by tucking her hair behind her ear. Slowly they looked back at each other at the same time, both exchanging shy smiles. The way that they looked at each other… Neither of them have ever even looked at Mako that way.
Bolin’s expression was less than subtle when he turned to Jinora with his mouth wide open. OH MY GOD, THEY TOTALLY LIKE EACH OTHER!
Jinora smirked in victory and returned to finishing her dinner. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Bolin shuddering and deflating at the realization that he had to clean the air bison caves.
For weeks after that dinner, Bolin and Jinora watched from the sidelines in frustration. There were times when they thought that Korra and Asami would finally realize that they have feelings for each other, like when Korra surprised Asami after work by using her waterbending to wash her car. Or the multiple times Asami came back from work in the city, bearing a new present for her crush because it “reminded her of Korra.” How long were these idiots going to pretend that they don’t like each other?!
When they finally figured out their next Avatar mission to crusade around the Earth Kingdom, Asami brought them an entire freaking airship, obviously trying to show off in front of Korra. She literally waited at the door in a not-so-subtle pose like she was trying to market herself instead of the airship. When Korra marveled at the airship and said “It’s great Asami, thanks!” Asami blushed and beamed, looking after Korra like she was the source of all of the light in the world. As cute as they were, this was getting painful to watch.
“Do you think that we should try something again?” Bolin asked Jinora as they watched Korra and Asami spar on the airship deck.
Bolin and Jinora have been pulling strings behind the scenes, trying to get the two stuck with each other as much as possible. Whenever Pema asked one of them to do a chore, Bolin would suggest that the other accompany them. Soon enough, they started to do chores together without question, even when Pema had only asked one of them to do it. Whenever Korra went to the city for meetings with President Raiko or for clean-up efforts, Jinora convinced Asami to tag along with Korra for “moral support.” Asami agreed without argument as if it made the most sense, despite her arguably having the most work out of everyone on the island and Korra having multiple other options for people that could accompany her. When they came back to the island and it didn’t seem like anything had changed between them, Jinora and Bolin reconvened, though they were starting to run out of ideas. For normally being such sharp people, Korra and Asami were totally oblivious to each other’s feelings. Useless, they’re both completely useless.
“Like what?” Jinora asked, giggling when Asami landed on top of Korra and they hastily broke apart and awkwardly apologized to each other.
“I don’t know, force them into a room together and tell them to work out their feelings?”
“I don’t think that would work. Them spending time alone together wouldn’t really be anything new.”
Their thoughts were interrupted when Mako joined them to hang out on the deck. “Hey guys, what’re you doing out here? Just catching some air?”
Bolin perked up when he suddenly thought of an idea and turned to Mako. “Hey bro, have you noticed that Korra and Asami have developed a certain chemistry?”
Jinora, catching onto the idea, excitedly airbended to hop over Bolin and stand on the other side of Mako. Mako just looked between them in confusion. “What do you mean?”
Before Bolin could make a joke to prolong Mako’s confusion in amusement, Jinora spoke up, too excited to hold back any longer. “They like each other! Like, like-like.”
Mako scoffed. “What? You guys are insane.”
“Just watch with us,” Bolin said, lightly hitting Mako’s arm with the back of his hand before pointing in their direction.
Not even five minutes later, Mako was already convinced.
“Holy crap. My exes like each other,” Mako said in disbelief. It was a wonder that three people were all watching Korra and Asami for so long, yet the pair never even noticed them. It’s possible that they didn’t mind the audience, but it was more likely that they were too lost in each other to worry about anyone else.
“How do you feel about that?” Bolin asked his brother, worried about his reaction.
Mako hummed in thought and considered it for a while. Bolin and Jinora’s eyes darted to each other in concern before Mako finally spoke up. “I think it’s great.” He shot Jinora and Bolin a smile to let them know that he was being genuine.
“Really? It isn’t weird to you?” Jinora asked.
“Mmmm, kind of,” Mako said with a shrug. “It might take some getting used to. But it makes sense, actually. They’re perfect for each other. And I think that I’m the most qualified person to say that.” Jinora and Bolin hummed in agreement. “But they’re not together yet?”
Bolin and Jinora sighed at the same time. “They’re both too oblivious to realize that they like each other,” Jinora said.
Bolin smirked. “But I have an idea.”
Mako was weirdly invested in getting his exes together, they all had to admit. Part of him felt like he owed it to them since he had messed up with the both of them multiple times. Now that they’re all in a good place with each other, Mako just wanted them to be happy. He wasn’t in love with either of them anymore, but he’ll always love both of them.
And so, Bolin’s plan went into motion: For the next few days, Mako did whatever he could to make both girls jealous, with the occasional direction from Bolin or Jinora. Mako would switch between sitting next to Korra and Asami at dinner, stealing a seat with one of them with either Bolin and Jinora on the other side before the other had a chance to sit. And it got a rise out of them every time.
The three of them would convene at some point in the day to gossip. “Did you see how red in the face Asami got when Korra laughed at my joke?” “I saw Asami head up to the deck looking all angsty. Maybe you should head up, too. Make it sound like you might still be interested in Korra.” “I can’t believe I thought of a good plan for once!”
It took less than a week when things finally reached their boiling point the day that Korra pulled Jinora away while Asami pulled Bolin away. Before heading into the airship at the end of the day, the three of them stayed behind to talk to each other first.
“Bumi and Tenzin put me in the middle of their arguments the entire day,” Mako groaned, rubbing his temples. “If Korra and Asami don’t figure things out soon, I’m going to lock them in a room together and tell them myself.”
“I don’t think that’ll be necessary,” Jinora said, barely able to hold in her squeals. “Korra admitted to being jealous today.”
Squealing a little too similarly to Jinora, Bolin excitedly yelled, “NO WAY!” Jinora looked around to make sure Bolin hadn’t just attracted attention and revealed their position while Mako flicked his forehead. “Ow!’
“Not so loud, idiot,” Mako said.
“Asami admitted the same thing,” Bolin said smugly. Jinora gasped and jumped in excitement, easily shooting at least three stories up.
“Tonight,” Jinora said. “I bet you that it’ll happen tonight.”
“Mako is getting his plate together at the same time as them,” Jinora whispered to Bolin. The both of them were already seated at the dining table, catching front row seats to the action.
“Asami looks really mad. What if this ends up tearing them apart instead?” Bolin whispered back, eyes darting up every few seconds to watch the three of them.
"No, I don't think so. I just have a gut feeling."
“Why don’t you ask Mako to do it instead?” they heard Asami say angrily, making Bolin and Jinora gasp at the same time. When Asami glanced their way, they ducked their heads, suddenly very interested in their food.
“Uh… okay? Mako, could you pass me a fork?” they heard Korra ask.
“Ohhhhohoho, things are heating up!” Bolin said once Asami looked away, hitting Jinora’s arm excitedly.
“Bolin, I’d really like to enjoy this without my arm falling off,” Jinora said, airbending his hand back to slap himself in the face.
“Ow! Jeez, sorry,” Bolin said, rubbing the side of his face.
For the rest of dinner, they strained to listen in on Asami and Korra’s argument until finally:
“Why would I want space? What did I ever do to indicate that I wanted space?” Korra asked in a pitch high enough to stand out from the rest of their conversation.
“I didn’t think that it needed to be said!” Asami was raising her voice now.
“That what needed to be said?”
“That you wanted to have time with Mako by yourself without his ex hanging around!” The rest of the room dropped silent, save for Bolin, who couldn’t help himself and laughed before Jinora elbowed him. Mako slyly smirked before pretending to be caught off guard, though it looked more like he had just gotten hit in the balls.
“...What.”
“I’m just gonna… um…” Mako got up and shot Bolin and Jinora thumbs-ups behind Korra and Asami’s backs. When Korra and Asami got up and the door to the deck closed behind them, Bolin and Jinora waited exactly two seconds before abandoning their dinners to run after them. Jinora went straight to the windows and the door while Bolin called his brother over first.
“Can you guys hear what they’re saying?” Bolin asked as they eavesdropped in the darkness. “Can’t you astral project yourself closer or something?”
“No, they would see me. A glowing blue girl outside at night sounds like something that would attract attention. And I would never do that, it’s an invasion of privacy!”
“I’m pretty sure this is already an invasion of privacy,” a voice said from behind them all. The three turned to find Tenzin and Bumi with their arms crossed behind them.
“Daddy! Uncle Bumi! Uh… We were just…” Jinora started.
“Move aside,” Tenzin said. Mako, Jinora, and Bolin, caught in the act, all stepped aside hanging their heads while Tenzin and Bumi pushed themselves closer. “We wanna see, too.”
And so, for the next few minutes, Tenzin, Bumi, Jinora, Bolin and Mako all pushed themselves against the glass in the dark, watching but not being able to hear anything. Bolin filled in the silence, trying to read their lips.
“‘Yeah, can we never poo on that head? It was a hairball,’” Bolin said slowly, squinting. “Uhhh, something something ‘honey bend either.’ What is honey bending? We can bend honey?”
“I’m sure that’s not what they’re say –”
“SHHH!” Bolin cut Jinora off, not looking away. “I need to focus! Okay, ‘Sewer in the Mako anymore?’ ‘No, no sewer in the Mako anymore.’”
“I think she said that she’s not into Mako anymore,” Bumi chimed in, earning another shush from Bolin.
“Hey, who is the one reading the lips here?!” Bolin said, glaring.
“Guys, Asami just grabbed Korra’s hand!” Jinora gasped.
“Dang it! I missed it,” Bolin said, squinting again to read their lips. Suddenly, Bolin gasped like he was sucking in all of the air in the hall. “KORRA SAID THAT ASAMI IS THE ONE THAT SHE WANTS!”
He turned to everyone excitedly, but they all just stared at him. “What, you guys don’t believe me?”
“I don’t think there was ever a sewer inside of me, so I’m withholding excitement,” Mako said.
“Yeah, are you sure Korra said that? Asami is laughing right now,” Jinora said, pointing.
Everyone turned and remained silent, pressing their faces against the glass again. And then, Asami grabbed Korra’s face, and they kissed. Everyone in the hall went absolutely insane, screaming into their hands, jumping in the air, and pumping their fists in silence. When Korra and Asami started to turn towards the door, everyone ran back to the table in a panic, trying to look like they were still eating casually. They couldn’t help it when Korra and Asami finally walked in; everyone turned to smile at them like they were about to congratulate them for winning the lottery. In a way, they did.
“What?” Korra asked, blushing while Asami had a huge smile that she couldn’t wipe off of her face.
“Odd time to be trying on Asami's lipstick. Are you trying to impress us?” Bumi teased. Asami, still too giddy to be embarrassed, took a cloth out of her breast pocket to wipe a flustered Korra’s mouth while Mako, Bolin, and Jinora raised their waters to clink against each other, a cluster of “cheers” exchanged between them.
Finally!