[Korra's not sure how long she was unconscious. Her entire body screams with pain as she pushes herself back to her feet. She grabs a clean handful of snow to try and rinse the bitter taste of copper from her mouth.
The man in the strange mask is long gone.
DAMN IT!
There's nothing she can do about it now, except go home and recover. She's not looking forward to explaining this one to Bolin.
Slowly, she limps down the fire escape back down to the street.]
[Bolin is not Korra's keeper. She's her own person- she's the Avatar (despite what Amon did to her, he will always think of her as the Avatar) -and she can take care of herself. She's still a capable fighter. Heck, she's made a lot of progress already, even with three out of the four elements sealed.
And, being Korra, she does what she wants.
What she wants occasionally includes disappearing without any explanation. For extended periods of time.
So yeah, while Bolin may not be her keeper, he thinks he's allowed to show some concern over what shenanigans she may be getting herself into.
Which explains why he's out on the streets, hair disheveled (from raking his hands through it, tugging on it in indecision- should he look for her? should he give her more time? is he being ridiculous?), calling her name every so often. Pabu scouts on ahead, and it's Pabu who locates the errant Avatar first. His insistent chirping gives Bolin all the indication he needs to understand that their search is over. His steady gait becomes a jog, and once she comes into view, he draws in a sharp breath.]
[He isn't sure if he would rather hug her or shake her. He settles for raking his hands through his hair again, then waving one of them almost wildly.]
Let's skip that part and proceed directly to the explanation.
[KORRA YOU ARE GONNA MAKE HIM GO PREMATURELY GRAY. He rushes forward to catch her because it looks like she's about to fall over. There must've been a fight. A fight with a guy in a mask...what was it with guys in masks????]
But not Amon? [He shakes his head.] Right. I've made an executive decision- we'll discuss particulars later. I'm gonna get you home, first.
[Korra does not fall over, thank you very much. She is perfectly capable of walking on her own. She shrugged off way worse injuries than this back in Republic City.
Of course, it doesn't really occur to her that bodies need time to recover, time that she hasn't been giving hers. Those old injuries she shrugged off before are going to exacerbate any she gets here. So you might want to stick close, Bolin. Just in case.
A spike of fear and adrenalin jolts through her when he says Amon's name, helping her hasten her steps home.]
No, not Amon. [She didn't think so. It hadn't even occured to her at the time -- his mask had been so stupid looking, and he didn't use bloodbending.] He attacked me with some sort of gas, and then I chased him and he electrocuted me. [Those were Equalist techniques, though. Her voice gets just a little uncertain as she speaks.]
[Yeah, don't mind if he does stick close. He's even more inclined to do so now, what with the talk of gas and electrocution. Not good. Perhaps foolishly, he'd allowed himself to believe they wouldn't have to deal with Equalist nonsense here, but how many times had trouble found him when he wasn't even looking for it?]
I'm a trouble magnet. [He sighs, completing his own train of thought aloud. It's only after he says it that he realizes how weird it must sound to someone who isn't on the train. Oh well. Back on topic!!!] Did he have one of those modified gloves?
That would be you. [He runs a hand over his face and sighs. Korra's beat up, but in one piece. Could've been worse. A lot worse.] Next time you go running off in search of danger, remember we're a team, okay? [He jabs a thumb at his chest.] Wingman!
[It's weird. She and Bolin have hardly talked since he's come back to the City. Korra's just been so occupied with physical therapy, and...okay, maybe a little awkward too. It's been over eight months since she's seen him -- just about as long as she's even known him. It makes everything really weird.
But he's her best friend, even before Chekov. So she makes her way (with some difficulty) to his bedroom and taps on the door.]
[It is weird. He hasn't been actively ignoring her, necessarily, but she's had a lot of time to settle into a groove in the City- heck, she's built a life here, completely separate from the one she's living back home. (And wouldn't it be the same for him, if the deities never kicked him out?) So maybe part of him wonders how he fits in with this Korra as opposed to the one he left behind. (But thinking like that only gives him a killer headache, so he doesn't do it all that often.)
Anyway, he's sprawled out on the floor, teasing Pabu, when he hears the knock on his door.] The door's open, mysterious caller, please don't make me get up. [Not like he knows it's Korra out there, anyway.]
Hey Bolin. [She opens the door and peeks her head inside.] Mind if I come in?
[It's silly to think he would. They're friends. And yet somehow, she's still a little nervous about it. (Then again, she's been nervous about pretty much everything since getting shot. She just doesn't let other people see it.)]
Yeah, don't be a- [Oh. OH MAN.] -stranger. [He attempts to sit up rapidly, which results in a lot of very undignified flopping about and an incensed Pabu- look, he doesn't care for getting beaned by flailing limbs, thank you very much, so he scurries up Korra's body and settles on her shoulder because she is civilized.]
I'll have no snide commentary from the peanut gallery. [Grumble, grumble. But at least he is in a sitting position now, away from the door to give her plenty of clearance. ] My palace is yours, dear lady.
[She laughs a little and scratches Pabu behind the ears.]
Thanks. [She shuffles in and settles down on the edge of his bed. (It'd be polite to ask first, but it doesn't occur to her because there's no way she could sit on the floor.) She then carefully moves Pabu from her shoulder (of course he'd choose the one that got shot) to her lap.]
I haven't had a chance to ask. How're you settling in?
[Fire ferret instincts aren't always top caliber. However, Korra's lap is just as agreeable as her shoulder, so Pabu curls up quite contentedly there. Bolin, meanwhile, has shifted around to face the bed, and leans his back against the dresser. Relaxes. Now that they're both in the same close quarters, this silly...whatever it was seems a lot sillier.]
I'm still getting used to the idea of the City again, you know? But I'm grateful I remember it- for my sake and for yours, too.
[At least she isn't alone, at least someone else gets it.]
It was pretty weird, Mako and Asami not remembering anything. [Not as weird as Mako arriving and thinking she was his girlfriend, though. She's still not entirely sure how to handle that.
She runs her hands gently over Pabu's fur, glad to have the little fire ferret back too.]
I'm ready to chuck away this stupid cane. [She hasn't told any of them much about what's happened to her in the months they've all been gone, but she did have to tell them about the shooting. Kind of hard to miss her limping around like an old lady.] But I'm okay. I've gotten a lot better at airbending. I'll have to show you some of my moves when I can really, you know, move again.
Hey now, your cane is the cane that will launch a new fashion craze, mark my words. And I will gladly bear witness to the airbending aficionado at work.
[There's a lot more he could say right now. Could continue cracking jokes, could pussyfoot around the heavy stuff and keep things light and...well, airy, but Korra is Korra no matter where or when or how, and she's his best friend. He can't imagine what she's gone through in the months without them- her being shot was bad enough.
Regardless, it's time to start acting like her best friend.
Abandoning his current spot, he kneels in front of her and takes both of her hands in his own.]
I'd hug you, but I don't want to jostle the injuries. Nothing wrong with a little improvisation, huh?
I'm not made of glass. [But she smiles, because he really is one of the sweetest, most genuine people she knows. She appreciates that more now that she's become involved with Hei and tangled up in his web of lies & secrets.] Get up here. It feels weird with you on the ground.
[Pretend she found out where he lives. Okay? Okay. So here is one short and sassy ginger witch who has had Quite Enough of this place and its shenanigans lately and kind of wants a slice of normalcy. She's banging on the door and it's just around dinnertime and— ]
Bolin, get your arse out here or I'm marching off to eat enough food for two people and don't think that I won't!
[Guuuuuuuuuuuuuurl, his memories may be hazy, but he remembers Hei. WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH HEI, KORRA. ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE BOLIN MORE HEART ATTACKS.
In any event, he does as she commands and joins her on the edge of the bed, resting his weight lightly against her side.]
...ALSO KNOWN AS A HOUSE ON THE BEACH. Because where else would the party animals live. Anyway banging on a door seems to be the preferred method of getting Bolin's attention in the City. GEEZ PEOPLE. YOU'RE LUCKY HE HAPPENED TO BE RAIDING THE KITCHEN WHEN YOU KNOCKED GINNY.
Once he recognizes her voice, he all but flings the door open and tumbles out.]
[IT'S A LONG STORY. That Bolin probably doesn't want to hear. At all. So it's a good thing he doesn't know about it to not want to hear it. Or something. Point is, yes, she probably is going to give him more heart attacks.
For now, she just rolls her eyes and lightly bumps him with her hip.]
[And she promptly hauls him in for a hug, because even though she's smaller than him, she's still got a surprising amount of... surprise... behind her and she makes good on all her promises. So here's a firm, lingering hug, which she draws back from with her hands on either side of his face, tipping it down to look at her, brows raised and expression brooking no argument.]
One hug: done. Dinner next. Never say a Weasley doesn't keep her promises. [AND TUGGING ON HIS ARM.] Let's go.
[Well. He knows she promised him a hug. But what she wound up giving him was a lot more than just a plain old hug. A lot more. So by the time she releases him and starts towing him off to who knows where, he is as red as a tomato and has two left feet.
CALL HIM CRAZY, BUT HE'S PRETTY SURE GIRLS WHO ARE FRIENDS DON'T HUG THEIR GUY FRIENDS THE WAY SHE JUST HUGGED HIM, OKAY.]
[Clearly Bolin has never quite experienced Ginny Weasley at her finest because this is just how she rolls. Wildly affectionate, open, headstrong. And maybe she's flustering him but she's grinning as she approaches her waiting broom, hovering just at the edge where the forest meets the beach.]
Alright. [She turns to face him.] You trust me, right? [She releases him and swings a leg over her broom, waiting for him to climb on behind her.] I've never dropped anyone or anything. Promise.
[No, clearly he hasn't. And if she's not careful- this amazing whirlwind of a girl -she's going to find herself crushed on by an earthbending doofus who had his heart broken not too long ago. (He's over it- he has to be, since it's Korra. And his brother. Double ouch.)
In any case, the sight of the broomstick brings back a City memory with almost gut-punching clarity, which snaps him out of his awkwardness.]
Hey, hey, hey! I remember this! Flying lessons! You taught me all I know of the fine art of airborne broom travel. [He wipes away an imaginary tear, then clambers onto the broom.] Ginny, I trust you with my life.
[Her smile broadens, hands curling around the handle of her broom, pleased that once in a while the City actually lets these things turn out alright, lets friendships come back with memories. Too often, she's had to let the past go because someone's told her that they aren't who she remembers, that they can't be the same person. It's exhausting. The whole place is exhausting, so to have this reprieve helps.]
Then hang on.
[She pulls up on the handle and the broom rises into the air, a smooth ascent that brings them up above the treeline, and she brings a hand up to pull her braid over her shoulder so the wind doesn't whip it everywhere, calling back,]
[Mako can humor him a quirk of the corner of his lips. Aw, look at that.
But it fades almost as quickly.] There's something I wanted to do with you. Korra and I went over this posting, it was sort of like an introduction to this place... but it said there are some barriers we can't break to get out of here. I want to go check them out, and I'm inviting you with me.
Alright. I'll gather the supplies we might need, then we leave bright and early... when I say so. We can't exactly pick a day when the City's gone haywire.
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The man in the strange mask is long gone.
DAMN IT!
There's nothing she can do about it now, except go home and recover. She's not looking forward to explaining this one to Bolin.
Slowly, she limps down the fire escape back down to the street.]
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And, being Korra, she does what she wants.
What she wants occasionally includes disappearing without any explanation. For extended periods of time.
So yeah, while Bolin may not be her keeper, he thinks he's allowed to show some concern over what shenanigans she may be getting herself into.
Which explains why he's out on the streets, hair disheveled (from raking his hands through it, tugging on it in indecision- should he look for her? should he give her more time? is he being ridiculous?), calling her name every so often. Pabu scouts on ahead, and it's Pabu who locates the errant Avatar first. His insistent chirping gives Bolin all the indication he needs to understand that their search is over. His steady gait becomes a jog, and once she comes into view, he draws in a sharp breath.]
Korra! What happened?
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Hey Bolin. Didn't expect to meet you out here.
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Let's skip that part and proceed directly to the explanation.
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There was this guy. He had some kind of weird mask on.
[...did it start snowing again? Bolin's getting a little blurry...]
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But not Amon? [He shakes his head.] Right. I've made an executive decision- we'll discuss particulars later. I'm gonna get you home, first.
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Of course, it doesn't really occur to her that bodies need time to recover, time that she hasn't been giving hers. Those old injuries she shrugged off before are going to exacerbate any she gets here. So you might want to stick close, Bolin. Just in case.
A spike of fear and adrenalin jolts through her when he says Amon's name, helping her hasten her steps home.]
No, not Amon. [She didn't think so. It hadn't even occured to her at the time -- his mask had been so stupid looking, and he didn't use bloodbending.] He attacked me with some sort of gas, and then I chased him and he electrocuted me. [Those were Equalist techniques, though. Her voice gets just a little uncertain as she speaks.]
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I'm a trouble magnet. [He sighs, completing his own train of thought aloud. It's only after he says it that he realizes how weird it must sound to someone who isn't on the train. Oh well. Back on topic!!!] Did he have one of those modified gloves?
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[She takes a shuddering breath and thinks back.]
No, I don't think so. But I didn't get a good look at him. It was so dark and it all happened so fast.
[She's pissed with herself. She should've been able to handle this!]
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But we gotta find out who that guy is. I don't know what he was doing, but I doubt it was anything good.
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Anyway, I'm down for some detective work. We'll catch this masked joker red-handed! Or...red-masked.
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But he's her best friend, even before Chekov. So she makes her way (with some difficulty) to his bedroom and taps on the door.]
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Anyway, he's sprawled out on the floor, teasing Pabu, when he hears the knock on his door.] The door's open, mysterious caller, please don't make me get up. [Not like he knows it's Korra out there, anyway.]
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[It's silly to think he would. They're friends. And yet somehow, she's still a little nervous about it. (Then again, she's been nervous about pretty much everything since getting shot. She just doesn't let other people see it.)]
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I'll have no snide commentary from the peanut gallery. [Grumble, grumble. But at least he is in a sitting position now, away from the door to give her plenty of clearance. ] My palace is yours, dear lady.
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Thanks. [She shuffles in and settles down on the edge of his bed. (It'd be polite to ask first, but it doesn't occur to her because there's no way she could sit on the floor.) She then carefully moves Pabu from her shoulder (of course he'd choose the one that got shot) to her lap.]
I haven't had a chance to ask. How're you settling in?
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I'm still getting used to the idea of the City again, you know? But I'm grateful I remember it- for my sake and for yours, too.
[At least she isn't alone, at least someone else gets it.]
Never mind me, though, how are you?
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She runs her hands gently over Pabu's fur, glad to have the little fire ferret back too.]
I'm ready to chuck away this stupid cane. [She hasn't told any of them much about what's happened to her in the months they've all been gone, but she did have to tell them about the shooting. Kind of hard to miss her limping around like an old lady.] But I'm okay. I've gotten a lot better at airbending. I'll have to show you some of my moves when I can really, you know, move again.
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[There's a lot more he could say right now. Could continue cracking jokes, could pussyfoot around the heavy stuff and keep things light and...well, airy, but Korra is Korra no matter where or when or how, and she's his best friend. He can't imagine what she's gone through in the months without them- her being shot was bad enough.
Regardless, it's time to start acting like her best friend.
Abandoning his current spot, he kneels in front of her and takes both of her hands in his own.]
I'd hug you, but I don't want to jostle the injuries. Nothing wrong with a little improvisation, huh?
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surprise action what
Bolin, get your arse out here or I'm marching off to eat enough food for two people and don't think that I won't!
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Bolin, you in there?
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In any event, he does as she commands and joins her on the edge of the bed, resting his weight lightly against her side.]
Yes, my lady. Whatever makes you happy, my lady.
OH GEEZ HIS BODY WASN'T READY
...ALSO KNOWN AS A HOUSE ON THE BEACH. Because where else would the party animals live. Anyway banging on a door seems to be the preferred method of getting Bolin's attention in the City. GEEZ PEOPLE. YOU'RE LUCKY HE HAPPENED TO BE RAIDING THE KITCHEN WHEN YOU KNOCKED GINNY.
Once he recognizes her voice, he all but flings the door open and tumbles out.]
One Bolin, present and accounted for! [salute!]
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For now, she just rolls her eyes and lightly bumps him with her hip.]
I'm glad you're back. I've missed you.
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Cups his hand around his mouth and. Whispers loudly. Through the door.]
You shall not paaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaass.
COME HERE BABY
One hug: done. Dinner next. Never say a Weasley doesn't keep her promises. [AND TUGGING ON HIS ARM.] Let's go.
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Come on, it's important.
HERE I AAAAAAAAAAAM
CALL HIM CRAZY, BUT HE'S PRETTY SURE GIRLS WHO ARE FRIENDS DON'T HUG THEIR GUY FRIENDS THE WAY SHE JUST HUGGED HIM, OKAY.]
Um. We- yes. Yes! Let us. Away.
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What's the magic word?
bolin honestly
Alright. [She turns to face him.] You trust me, right? [She releases him and swings a leg over her broom, waiting for him to climb on behind her.] I've never dropped anyone or anything. Promise.
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he's not used to girls doing that to him ok
In any case, the sight of the broomstick brings back a City memory with almost gut-punching clarity, which snaps him out of his awkwardness.]
Hey, hey, hey! I remember this! Flying lessons! You taught me all I know of the fine art of airborne broom travel. [He wipes away an imaginary tear, then clambers onto the broom.] Ginny, I trust you with my life.
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just screaming and flinging clothes oic
Then hang on.
[She pulls up on the handle and the broom rises into the air, a smooth ascent that brings them up above the treeline, and she brings a hand up to pull her braid over her shoulder so the wind doesn't whip it everywhere, calling back,]
Right, then, you pick where we go.
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I expect my fresh and steamy payment to be delivered within the week.
[Leaning against the door frame.]
So what's up?
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But it fades almost as quickly.] There's something I wanted to do with you. Korra and I went over this posting, it was sort of like an introduction to this place... but it said there are some barriers we can't break to get out of here. I want to go check them out, and I'm inviting you with me.
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How kind and considerate of you to include your devoted younger brother in your illicit rendezvous with our City barriers, Mako. I'm touched.
[GRIN.]
Of course I'll go.
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