[ The scene is this: the outskirts of town, a quiet ravine that cuts around the main village to reach the shore on the other side, and Bolin, who is trying to extract a protesting fire ferret from his shirt to put in the water. The darkness is lovely here, soft and quiet away from the grim village. The stars are bright and the moon almost blinding, but Bolin's not there to appreciate any of it.
The thing is that Pabu can swim, and he plays around in water all the time, and yet somehow manages to maintain an intense hatred of baths. It's not really anything Bolin can comprehend, despite the bond that he shares with the rodent. ]
Pabu, c'mon! I haven't even eaten yet. Will you just—
[ It happens in quick succession. Pabu wriggling free of Bolin's hold, swishing his fluffy tail in the earthbender's face before leaping out toward the ravine, and Bolin, out of instinct reaching out for him, despite the fact that he was trying to get him into the water all along.
He does succeed. Sort of. In that Pabu does land gracefully in the water, a stark contrast to Bolin's ] BLAARGGHAR [ as he flails into the water himself after him. ]
[While the problem of a proper canine diet hasn't yet been hammered out, Riza has at least managed to rearrange her schedule to allow for twice-daily dog walks. Waking up to Hayate licking her face and neck had been nothing short of surprising but the two of them had shifted quickly into an easy routine. Hayate had taken to Odette immediately, wet nose constantly pressed to the ground as he took in all the strange and exciting new scents as they rounded city blocks each day.
One particular scent has him on full alert today, his small body going still for a moment before he bounds forward, sheer momentum tugging him free from Riza's grasp and allowing him to make a beeline for some unknown creature up ahead.]
—Hayate!
[The unanticipated run reaffirms Riza's wise decision to forgo skirts earlier that morning, and it's only a minute later that she catches up to her wayward dog, tail wagging happily as he yips at his new-found discovery. Her eyes go first to the strange red creature in the water, then widen as they fall on a stocky figure doing a good job of imitating a dead fish in the water.]
[ Bolin manages to get himself upright in the water, face submerged under the nose and looking rather disgruntled. ]
...
[ There's a moment of silence while he directs a baleful glare toward his peacefully swimming fire ferret, though his attention is all too soon snagged by Riza. ]
Riza!
[ He's surging out of the water then, waves rippling out with enough force to push Pabu further away, the sound of water dripping filling the otherwise quiet air around them. ]
Hey, what's up? Oh— [ He notices Black Hayate. ] Cute dog!
[Said cute dog wriggles happily underneath all this new attention, tail swishing from side to side even faster as he trots to his new friend and then takes a seat, tongue lolling out of his mouth as he grins up at Bolin.
(Pet me, pet me, pet me—)
All of Riza's attention is also on Bolin, but for entirely different reasons. Her voice is muted with suspicion as she briefly explains.]
ALASTAIR brought him from my world as a 'gift'. [But it quickly shifts gears towards concern as she takes in his disheveled appearance.] Are you okay?
[ Riza too. Just like Gilgamesh and Bolin. He guesses that it's kind of nice for ALASTAIR to drop friends of theirs into Odette. (Though as much as Bolin loves Pabu, he would've preferred to see his brother.)
Grinning at Hayate, he pushes himself up entirely so that he's standing in the water; it comes up to about his mid-thigh. ]
Yeah, I'm fine. [ Lung full of water aside. He combs his hand through his wet hair, pushing it back from where it had plastered over his forehead. ] I was just trying to give Pabu a bath.
[ Then, he nods his head toward the fire ferret, still swimming contently. ]
He's a friend from my world too. I guess ALASTAIR was feeling generous or something!
[Pabu's not the only one with a strong dislike of baths; at the word, Hayate whines, hopping up and slinking behind Riza with his tail low. Baths are for bad dogs that spend too much time playing in the mud, he's learned that much in his short time under Riza's wing. Still, he peeks out from behind her legs, dark eyes focused on the fire ferret paddling around in the water.
The knowledge of others with their own furry friends is new, and she folds her arms loosely over her chest, contemplative.]
That's one word for it.
[She'd woken up also to extra ammunition, a relief since she'd fired her last bullet some days prior at a wayward cutthroat, but she can't help but wonder if this is all a means to have them in ALASTAIR's debt longer.
Nothing any of the can do about it now, though, and she refocuses her gaze on Pabu. What a strange little creature, almost like a raccoon but red and far more slender.]
He seems to like the water well enough. Do you reward him after you give him a bath?
Bolin's pretty clearly exasperated now, hands on his hips but letting Pabu do as he pleases for now as he wades toward the shore, pulling himself up, unfazed by the water weighing down his clothes. He starts the process of taking off his shoes to wring the water out of them, and his socks. ]
We go swimming together all the time. [ He continues. ] But for some reason, whenever I say the word "bath" the water becomes his enemy.
[ He hesitates, considering her question. ]
I don't reward him though. Unless a pat on the head counts.
[Baths, the common enemy of all domesticated animals. Why that's so will be a mystery for the ages.]
You could try feeding him a treat, something tasty he doesn't get to eat otherwise.
[Food's always been a fairly good motivator for Hayate, who perks up immediately at the word 'treat'. (Food, tasty things?) Maybe it'll be the same for Bolin's little friend, though she has no idea what kind of treats the little guy would like.
Whatever else she might have to say on the subject's put on hold, Bolin's focus on wringing water out of his clothes prompting Riza into her own movement; she takes a step forward, frowning, then glances back at the town behind them.]
You should get dried off first though.
[And then they can embark on fire ferret training afterwards.]
[ They hadn't really been able to afford treats for Pabu back in Republic City, so the idea is sort of novel to him. He's not really sure what Pabu would even consider a treat. Berries, maybe? Ice cream? Pabu ate pretty much everything with gusto, so he could try just enticing him with food. (Except that Bolin is a softie and wouldn't be able to discipline him no matter how hard he tried.)
Riza's second suggestion has him shaking his head, setting his shoes to the side and sitting contently at the riverside, despite the discomfort of his wet clothes. ]
Nah, it's okay. Pabu's having a good time, so I'll let him swim for a while. [ Being extra soft after having been separated from his friend for so long. ] Your dog probably wants to swim too, doesn't?
[ He shifts on his side then, grinning at Black Hayate. ]
Despite Bolin's nonchalance, Riza's thread of concern doesn't vanish. It does, however, take a neat backseat, willing to allow Bolin the autonomy of making his own decisions in the realm of his general health and well-being. Enthusiastic as he is, he's no child; it won't do either of them any good for her to treat him as one.]
His name is Black Hayate.
[Which, quite frankly, is an absolutely atrocious name, not that such a thing would ever be evident from the pride clera on her face. Footsteps easy, Riza accompanies Bolin at the edge of the river, though she doesn't take a seat next to him. Bolin's guess is accurate - Hayate follows right behind Riza, sniffing at the riverbank for a few moments before plunging himself into the water and paddling after Pabu. She watches him go, smiling.]
He's a very good dog even if he's still young.
[It's hard to miss the genuine affection in her voice, so rarely displayed in any other situation.]
[ Black Hayate sounds like the coolest name to Bolin, and he just smiles as he watches the dog run through the water after Pabu. Having Naga as a friend has at least acclimated Pabu to spending time with animals much larger than himself, so when he moves through the water to avoid Black Hayate, it's purely out of playfulness.
He leans back on his elbows, a little tired from wrestling with Pabu and now feeling the chill of his clothes against his wet skin. ]
He seems really well behaved. [ Without really thinking about it, he peers up at her. ] Is he your only family from your home?
[Usually not too harshly; after his first encounter with Riza's particular brand of 'discipline' he'd been pretty good about obeying orders. (Coincidentally enough, so had the rest of Mustang's little troupe, none of them eager to have the first lieutenant's gun pointing their way.) Riza doesn't think much of it. It makes her life easier, and that's what matters.
While Hayate paddles furiously in an attempt to catch Pabu, Riza tilts her head to the right, contemplative.]
You could say that. My mother died when I was young, and my father died many years ago.
[It doesn't particularly hurt to talk about it. She can't remember anything of her mother anymore, save for an image from a picture taken many years ago, and her father had left her nothing but the burden of his research, permanently etched across her back.]
[ He's starting to wonder if that's not something he should be asking so lightly, recalling how Mikasa had answered his question about her parents as well. He's already encountered one too many orphan around here, and it troubles him to realise that there might be even more.
All the more reason to make friends though.
A smile returns to his face when he looks at the animals again, enjoying their time in the water. ]
Black Hayate seems like a good companion though! [ Even if he couldn't make up for a parent. ] How long have you been together?
She doesn't comment on the slight shift in topic; her own history and personal experiences aren't things she usually brings up in light conversation, though she has few qualms about talking about them if need be. As far as she's concerned, the loss of her parents isn't anything that interferes with the person she is now.]
About half a year. Sergeant Fuery - one of the soldiers in my unit - found him outside in the rain one day and brought him inside but since his dorm doesn't allow pets, we had to find Hayate a different home. No one else was willing or responsible enough to keep him so I took him in.
[Her voice is fond as she recollects the story. At the reminder of Fuery - and everyone else in Mustang's little team - her smile turns wistful. Wouldn't it be nice to see all their faces again...]
[ Pabu is, at this point, floating serenely in the water, having acclimated to the temperature. It's a good thing, since Bolin himself is feeling the effects of his own dunk, clothes too cold over his skin and starting to give him chills. Some sun would be highly appreciated right about now. ]
Pabu seems to like him though! [ He glances up at Riza with a reassuring expression. ] So if you're ever busy or something, Pabu can look after him.
She doesn't say it aloud, even as she looks over at him and takes his stocky full-grown body and surprisingly boyish face. Likely he doesn't need any doting - and she's not the type to give it even if he did - but she remembers the warm with which he'd mentioned his brother a few weeks earlier and the immediate upset following that. In many ways, he seems young still, and she finds the thought of harm coming to Bolin surprisingly distasteful.
Despite the sober thoughts, she manages a small smile at Bolin's words.]
That's very kind of him. [Speaking of Pabu:] Does Pabu look after you too?
[At some point she should probably ask what exactly Pabu is, but for now she's content to watch dog and ....red squirrel thing paddle around in the river.]
[ That's a pretty good question, and Bolin doesn't even chuckle at it, instead turning his gaze upwards as he ponders his answer. Pabu is a good partner of his; he helps him out when he's a bind fighting alongside Korra, listens when Bolin's upset and Mako's too busy to be there. ]
Yeah, we look after each other. [ Remembering, rather fondly now, how Pabu had been sentenced to be pythonaconda food when they'd first met him.
He pulls one of his legs in, letting it press against his chest as he turns to face Riza more fully. ]
I mean, he doesn't really have anyone but us either - me and Mako. Even if Mako kind of underestimates him, Pabu's actually pretty capable.
She assumes from earlier conversations that Mako is his brother - there's enough affection for it, and he doesn't seem the type to call parents or older relatives by their given name. But instead of making her smile, the statement has her frowning, turning her attention away from Pabu and Hayate paddling around each other and back to Bolin, contentedly sitting on the riverbank.]
What happened to your own parents?
[From his good nature and enthusiasm, she'd imagined him as someone surrounded by a loving family - mother, father, brother, grandparents.... It saddens her now, to think that such might not be the case.]
[ The question seems to get Bolin to diminish, as if there's less of him in the space next to Riza. The exuberant air quietly fades, and the energy disappears as his expression turns inward, his posture tightening in toward himself. ]
Oh. [ He thinks about it for a second, though his response comes out without any hesitation. ] We lost them a long time ago.
[ He remembers. Memories of his father's stubbly kisses and wide hands; his mother's beautiful long hair and constant warmth. Before seeing that picture of the four of them, that Grandma Yin had been keeping, he couldn't even remember what they looked like, and even after seeing them at first he'd been shocked, startled to see the real faces unlike his fuzzy memories.
But now he knows, and they're as familiar as Mako now.
He leans back, mind shifting from his parents to his brother, as it often did. ]
I always had Mako to look after me though. I think he did a pretty good job.
[Regret is not an emotion that Riza carries around inside herself any longer. There'd been too much of it in Ishval, all to no avail, and though she'll never claim to like Major Kimblee, she does still remember his words even to this day. For all that he'd committed atrocities with a freer heart that the rest of them, he'd had an oddly straightforward way of viewing things, completely free of the doubt and fear and guilt that had always plagued the rest of them.
She doesn't regret her question right now, even looking at Bolin's smaller form, tucked towards itself, but she does hurt, at the base of her heart where a little root of affection's stubbornly buried itself.
Silently, she slips off her coat and crouches down, flicking it out before settling it around him. It's far too small for him, barely managing to encircle his broad shoulders, but it ought to ward away the worst of the chill. One hand lingers behind on his shoulder, reassuring.]
Make sure you look after yourself here too. I'm sure your brother wouldn't be very happy to see all his hard work go to waste.
[ Riza doesn't have to worry too long, because Bolin doesn't have many strengths, but he does possess an incredible propensity for remaining optimistic. He doesn't have a positive spin for his parents' murder, and he'll never consider it a good thing, but that doesn't mean that he doesn't have immense appreciation for all that his brother did to look after him, even while he was still mourning.
He's always wanted to be part of a family, but that yearning never took away from how lucky he felt to have Mako.
The warmth of Riza's coat over his shoulders eases his posture. The jacket is small, but dry against his skin so he smiles at her as his hands go up to grab the sleeves, pulling it more tightly against his shoulders. ]
Don't worry about me. [ He winks a little, because in reality he's soaking up the attention. ] Are you trying to put the moves on me though, Riza? I have a girlfriend you know. [ Maybe. Sort of. He's not really sure what dubious state his relationship with Opal is in. ] How old are you anyway?
[That flippant comment earns him a laugh as Riza pulls away and straightens back up.]
Far too old for you.
[From any other person she might have taken the comments as serious flirtation - and thus might have replied differently - but she's found Bolin to be well-intentioned, if a bit of jokester. Plus, he doesn't seem like the sort of guy to cheat on his girlfriend. (She'd shoot him in the kneecaps if he did, in any case.)
Speaking of said girlfriend:]
Your girlfriend's very lucky to have you. What's she like?
[ He perks up quite visibly at the question, shine retuning to his eyes, and his shoulders lifting up with excitement. ]
She's the granddaughter of my all-time hero, and from the most famous family in the Earth Kingdom! Plus, she's one of the few airbenders in our world.
[ He goes on: ] She's really sweet to me too, and she cares a lot about her family. And—
[ He's kind of supposed to be on his way to rescue her?? ]
Uh.
[ There's hesitation. ]
Well, we were kind of on our way to rescue her and the other airbenders from these terrorists when ALASTAIR recruited me. We were only dating for like a few days when we went our separate ways, and now that I'm here... [ He winces. ] She'll probably be pretty mad.
[Half his comments are lost on her - Earth Kingdom?, all-time hero? - but it's easy enough to read the enthusiasm and affection in his voice. A little surprising, given his relatively youthful age and the short while they've been dating, but she supposes that's about the norm for most teenage romances. (Or at least teenage romances as written by Mike DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.)
That said—]
Terrorists?
[Her voice sharpens with concern, whatever other casual thoughts she might have had tossed out the window at this new threat. (He doesn't really seem like the kind of guy to be involved in serious crime.)
Hayate, hearing the tone shift, pauses in his paddling to glance over.]
[ (Ah dear Hayate, better not let your attention wander, because Pabu comes careening right toward the down in fiery, rodent-like triumph.)
And Bolin looks nonplussed by the shift in her tone, actually kind of puzzled as to why she would zero in on that, rather than take the opportunity that he'd presented to offer him some relationship advice. Riza is beautiful and kind after all, he's sure that she probably has a lot of experience to draw wisdom from.
Or, he guesses, they could talk about Zaheer. ]
Yeah, there are these terrorists back home that want to take out the leaders of the four nations. [ Had succeeded, in the case of the Earth Queen. ] I don't know why they'd target the airbenders though... They're the most peaceful.
[Sorry Bolin, she's married to her work and therefore not the ideal person to ask for relationship advice. Better go hit up Gintoki for that. Or Masamune. Any of the guys who have successfully gotten dates thus far.
In any case, national security's always been more of a priority for her than fleeting interpersonal relationships - kind of hard to date if you're dead and all that - and she takes his question a bit more seriously than she probably ought.]
As a scare tactic, most likely. [That's all terrorism ever is.] Or to draw as much attention as possible.
[There's little either of them can do from possibly all the way across the galaxy - only ALASTAIR truly knows where they are now in relation to their home worlds - but her face softens nonetheless.]
I doubt Opal would get mad at you for being unable to rescue her. This [spreading her arms to encompass their surroundings] isn't something that's under your control. Besides, if she's as amazing as you say, I'm sure she'll be trying to find her own method of escape.
[ He frowns anyway, thinking of Opal and the others taken by Zaheer. They were all new to bending, and he feels bad that their training would take such a start.
But they have Tenzin's family there at least. He has no doubt that they'll be all right. (And Korra hadn't mentioned anything along the lines of, "by the way, everyone dies" when they'd established that he's from the past, and she, the future.)
He rubs his eyes, watching as Pabu latches himself to Black Hayate's back and expects a lift, not unlike the kind he would get atop Naga's back. ]
She is amazing. [ Or, his week had been great. Opal was nice and pretty; easy going and incredibly strong. He did like her a lot, thought it felt like it had been months since he'd last seen her.
To distract himself, he quirks a glance toward Riza. ]
[That's a lot of amazings there.....she'll take his word for it though. Love's not really something that's been at the forefront of her mind for a very long time. She'd nursed puppy crushes before and found men reasonably attractive on a physical level. She's not a terrifying emotionless robot, despite what people might whisper amongst themselves when (they think) she's out of hearing.
But there'd never been the time after she'd enrolled in the academy (despite all of Rebecca's urging) and then there'd been no interest after the war, her heart incapable of loving herself, let alone another person. And even if she'd come to terms with her own inner demons since then, part of that acceptance had also included a sacrifice of sorts of her own happiness, at least until a point where Amestris (and ideally the world) would be rid of the bloodshed and cruelty that had plagued it so much before.
None of that's really appropriate fare for this conversation though, so she settles for the lighter (but no less true) reason.]
No. I'm too busy babysitting my superior officer to have time to go out on dates.
[She doesn't sound very bothered by that fact though.]
[ Bolin is about to slide in an awkward "Or girlfriend?" as an add on to his initial question, but Riza's answer pretty much sums up everything that he might've wanted to know. Whether or not Riza's reply is boring has no real effect on the conversation though, and he just grins at her in response. ]
You're kind of like my brother. [ Save for the "babysitting" bit, probably. ] Ever since he really got focused on his work, he hasn't been able to keep a relationship going.
[ Among... other reasons. The brilliant mess that were his relationships with Asami and Korra being chief among these. ]
Thankfully the comparison doesn't bother her any, mostly because the fact of the matter is that it's true. Even without having to keep a watchful eye on the Colonel, evenings and full days off have always been rare. (Most of them end up being sucked up by work anyway, the Colonel demanding a drunken ride back from this place or needing a fake 'date' for that espionage mission. That asshole.) If anything, Bolin's brother sounds like quite the responsible young man and someone she'd like to meet.
No doubt he'd make for perfectly good relationship material if Bryke hadn't completely and utterly ruined most of Book 2 of Korra. But we're getting ahead of ourselves here.
She looks over, curious.]
What's his line of work?
[The fewer questions about her lack of relationships, the better.]
[ Bolin goes along with Riza's underhanded ploy to avoid discussing her own life without even realizing it, leaning back on his hands now so that he can stare up at the sky, which is available in plain view due to the clearing that the creek provides. ]
He's a cop. [ Which sounds a lot more exciting that it is, when Bolin remembers how much paperwork and reading Mako has. But his brother is dedicated, and passionate about his work (which can be sometimes a drag), so Bolin has no complaints or sincere criticisms about the career choice.
Just like Mako, if he's honest. ]
Which is pretty funny, since we used to be crooks. But I guess that's what makes him so good! He really knows how the underground works.
[ Well, sort of. They had been just kids when they worked for the Triple Threat. ]
[Automatic bonus points to the absent Mako for working in law enforcement. Double bonus points for being a good sport about paperwork and reading, given that it's really 99% of the job despite how things might sound otherwise.
She starts at the mention of their less-than-savory past. It stands at such contrast with Bolin's current personality, all good cheer and open honesty. It doesn't suit him, the life of a criminal. Whatever the catalyst might have been to lead him off that path she doesn't know, but she's grateful for it.]
It's always beneficial to have inside knowledge. [She shifts her weight, leaning on her left leg instead of her right.] I take it you're not a cop though?
[ He's seventeen and "still finding himself". It's a pretty awful cliche, but it's pretty much true. There's no point in returning to pro-bending without Mako, and even though filming the mover had been fun, it's not exactly something he wants to pursue, when his friends are out there making real changes in the world.
For the most part, he likes helping Korra, because whatever the Avatar's mission is, it has to be worthwhile.
But it's not exactly clear if Team Avatar's going to be a permanent thing. ]
[She accepts the topic redirect easily enough, not questioning Bolin's motives for doing so at all. Whatever he wants to tell, whenever he wants to tell it, is enough for her. To pry and ask for anything more when she's always been so reticent herself would be hypocritical, and her her list of crimes is long enough without the extra addition.
It's a question that requires a modicum of thought, though her voice flows easy and smooth as she answers.]
Not when I was little. My father never liked the military much and I preferred reading over picking up a stick and pretending I was a soldier.
[The image is laughable, really, and quickly dismissed. Truth be told, she doesn't remember what her dreams of the future had been back then. Every waking moment had been lived with her father's dreams imprinted on her rather than her own.
But since they seem to have settled into an odd back-and-forth, she opts to fire another question back at him rather than elaborate on her own answer.]
[ Riza's too quick for him, since Bolin had just been about to ask about her reply when she abruptly asks him a question instead.
It's a thinker.
Bolin had dreams when he was little, he's sure of it. But his earliest memories are of living on the street with Mako, and his dreams had been odd; ricocheting between being absurd and predictable. Sometimes he wanted to a rich business owner, living in a house with a pool and a giant dining room for him and Mako, and all the family that they'd find one day. Sometimes he wanted to be a spy, so that it would be easier for them to sneak in and out of restaurants to steal food.
Sometimes he wanted to be older; older than Mako so that he didn't always have to listen to what his brother told him to do. So that people would talk to him instead of Mako sometimes.
None of those were real dreams however, and as he'd gotten older he'd started dreaming less and less about the future, and more about how they were going to survive the next day, the next week, or year. The status of their home and possessions had always been tenuous, he never really thought of anything beyond that.
And he's always assumed it was the same for Mako. ]
I dunno. [ He answers honestly, as pathetic as it is. But unlike Riza, he's willing to elaborate. ] I mean... my brother and my best friends back home, they all have these huge goals. Korra's the Avatar, so she's basically responsible for the entire world, Mako wants to be Police Chief, and Asami owns her own company.
His dreams are valid ones, even if they aren't ones she shares, and she can't fault him for wanting to achieve something big and grand as all his friends have. Bolin's strong and kind and possessed of an incredibly large heart. She can't imagine he won't find something of his own soon enough. In the meantime...]
You're helping a nation here refind peace. [Whether or not that'll be met with success is another story, but—] That sounds like a pretty big goal to me. Maybe it's not something to call your own yet, but it's a step towards something.
[In any case, they've both been sitting on the shoreline for awhile, Bolin in his still-wet clothes, and both Pabu and Black Hayate are crawling back to shore now, shaking water droplets off their fur.]
You won't be able to do any of that if you catch cold though. You should at least head back and get a change of clothes.
[ Whatever it is that Korra's doing, she's about to be abruptly interrupted, and the heavy sound of Bolin's footsteps against wood is her only warning as he barrels toward her room in the inn. Best hope that she's at least not in a state of undress as Bolin smashes through the door into the room with an enthusiastic ]
KORRA.
[ Real enthusiastic.
But that's not all. Without even registering Korra's own surprise or irritation at so rudely finding herself in company, Bolin's already pushing forward, and within a second he's holding a very familiar red rodent out toward her. ]
[After some finagling, and possibly some extortion from the Abel Inn keeper, Korra's got the okay that Naga can stay in her room sometimes. The only tip off she has before Bolin's practically in her face suddenly is Naga's wagging tail.]
Bolin!? Wh- [She's going to remind about privacy and how it's super important to knock fi-]
Pabu! [Okay, so she has a soft spot for the fire ferret. Much like Naga does, who suddenly thinks she can dance on two legs without her head being away from her furry friend in crime.]
How did you find him? [Waiiit.] ...You didn't lose him when you first got here, did you?
[ Korra, the amount of faith you have in him is astounding.
Bolin frowns at her accordingly, shoulders raised in exasperation that she would even ask such a question. ]
What? Of course not!
[ Pabu slips out of his grasp then, leaping from Bolin's hands to land briefly on Korra's shoulder before continuing on toward Naga, reuniting with his friend with a series of excited chittering.
Undeterred by the adorable scene, Bolin continues with purpose: ] He wasn't with me when I first got here, and now he is! Don't you know what that means?
[ Oh. Bolin had gotten rather close in the midst of his excitement, hadn't he? Casual smile still in place, he takes a sliding step backward so that Korra has actual access to her magic necklace.
He stares, intently, waiting for the verdict of her findings, and looking for all the world that he could like to stick his face right next to hers to peer at the necklace alongside her. ]
[It's k, Bolin. She forgives him for virtually everything because cinnamon roll.
Now that she's got it out here blue eyes go from side to side quickly as she scans for either Mako or Asami's name. When the end of the list of usernames comes up, her hopeful expression falters a little as she looks up to Bolin.]
Sorry, Bolin. Looks like it's just us fire ferrets. [But she reaches out to scratch Pabu's chin and of course has to do the same for Naga when she lifts her head.]
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riza.
[ The scene is this: the outskirts of town, a quiet ravine that cuts around the main village to reach the shore on the other side, and Bolin, who is trying to extract a protesting fire ferret from his shirt to put in the water. The darkness is lovely here, soft and quiet away from the grim village. The stars are bright and the moon almost blinding, but Bolin's not there to appreciate any of it.
The thing is that Pabu can swim, and he plays around in water all the time, and yet somehow manages to maintain an intense hatred of baths. It's not really anything Bolin can comprehend, despite the bond that he shares with the rodent. ]
Pabu, c'mon! I haven't even eaten yet. Will you just—
[ It happens in quick succession. Pabu wriggling free of Bolin's hold, swishing his fluffy tail in the earthbender's face before leaping out toward the ravine, and Bolin, out of instinct reaching out for him, despite the fact that he was trying to get him into the water all along.
He does succeed. Sort of. In that Pabu does land gracefully in the water, a stark contrast to Bolin's ] BLAARGGHAR [ as he flails into the water himself after him. ]
poor bolin
One particular scent has him on full alert today, his small body going still for a moment before he bounds forward, sheer momentum tugging him free from Riza's grasp and allowing him to make a beeline for some unknown creature up ahead.]
—Hayate!
[The unanticipated run reaffirms Riza's wise decision to forgo skirts earlier that morning, and it's only a minute later that she catches up to her wayward dog, tail wagging happily as he yips at his new-found discovery. Her eyes go first to the strange red creature in the water, then widen as they fall on a stocky figure doing a good job of imitating a dead fish in the water.]
Bolin?
his life is suffering
...
[ There's a moment of silence while he directs a baleful glare toward his peacefully swimming fire ferret, though his attention is all too soon snagged by Riza. ]
Riza!
[ He's surging out of the water then, waves rippling out with enough force to push Pabu further away, the sound of water dripping filling the otherwise quiet air around them. ]
Hey, what's up? Oh— [ He notices Black Hayate. ] Cute dog!
it sure is
(Pet me, pet me, pet me—)
All of Riza's attention is also on Bolin, but for entirely different reasons. Her voice is muted with suspicion as she briefly explains.]
ALASTAIR brought him from my world as a 'gift'. [But it quickly shifts gears towards concern as she takes in his disheveled appearance.] Are you okay?
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Grinning at Hayate, he pushes himself up entirely so that he's standing in the water; it comes up to about his mid-thigh. ]
Yeah, I'm fine. [ Lung full of water aside. He combs his hand through his wet hair, pushing it back from where it had plastered over his forehead. ] I was just trying to give Pabu a bath.
[ Then, he nods his head toward the fire ferret, still swimming contently. ]
He's a friend from my world too. I guess ALASTAIR was feeling generous or something!
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The knowledge of others with their own furry friends is new, and she folds her arms loosely over her chest, contemplative.]
That's one word for it.
[She'd woken up also to extra ammunition, a relief since she'd fired her last bullet some days prior at a wayward cutthroat, but she can't help but wonder if this is all a means to have them in ALASTAIR's debt longer.
Nothing any of the can do about it now, though, and she refocuses her gaze on Pabu. What a strange little creature, almost like a raccoon but red and far more slender.]
He seems to like the water well enough. Do you reward him after you give him a bath?
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[ Despite being a fire ferret. Pabu, you weirdo.
Bolin's pretty clearly exasperated now, hands on his hips but letting Pabu do as he pleases for now as he wades toward the shore, pulling himself up, unfazed by the water weighing down his clothes. He starts the process of taking off his shoes to wring the water out of them, and his socks. ]
We go swimming together all the time. [ He continues. ] But for some reason, whenever I say the word "bath" the water becomes his enemy.
[ He hesitates, considering her question. ]
I don't reward him though. Unless a pat on the head counts.
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You could try feeding him a treat, something tasty he doesn't get to eat otherwise.
[Food's always been a fairly good motivator for Hayate, who perks up immediately at the word 'treat'. (Food, tasty things?) Maybe it'll be the same for Bolin's little friend, though she has no idea what kind of treats the little guy would like.
Whatever else she might have to say on the subject's put on hold, Bolin's focus on wringing water out of his clothes prompting Riza into her own movement; she takes a step forward, frowning, then glances back at the town behind them.]
You should get dried off first though.
[And then they can embark on fire ferret training afterwards.]
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Riza's second suggestion has him shaking his head, setting his shoes to the side and sitting contently at the riverside, despite the discomfort of his wet clothes. ]
Nah, it's okay. Pabu's having a good time, so I'll let him swim for a while. [ Being extra soft after having been separated from his friend for so long. ] Your dog probably wants to swim too, doesn't?
[ He shifts on his side then, grinning at Black Hayate. ]
What's his name?
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Despite Bolin's nonchalance, Riza's thread of concern doesn't vanish. It does, however, take a neat backseat, willing to allow Bolin the autonomy of making his own decisions in the realm of his general health and well-being. Enthusiastic as he is, he's no child; it won't do either of them any good for her to treat him as one.]
His name is Black Hayate.
[Which, quite frankly, is an absolutely atrocious name, not that such a thing would ever be evident from the pride clera on her face. Footsteps easy, Riza accompanies Bolin at the edge of the river, though she doesn't take a seat next to him. Bolin's guess is accurate - Hayate follows right behind Riza, sniffing at the riverbank for a few moments before plunging himself into the water and paddling after Pabu. She watches him go, smiling.]
He's a very good dog even if he's still young.
[It's hard to miss the genuine affection in her voice, so rarely displayed in any other situation.]
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He leans back on his elbows, a little tired from wrestling with Pabu and now feeling the chill of his clothes against his wet skin. ]
He seems really well behaved. [ Without really thinking about it, he peers up at her. ] Is he your only family from your home?
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He's scolded when he misbehaves.
[Usually not too harshly; after his first encounter with Riza's particular brand of 'discipline' he'd been pretty good about obeying orders. (Coincidentally enough, so had the rest of Mustang's little troupe, none of them eager to have the first lieutenant's gun pointing their way.) Riza doesn't think much of it. It makes her life easier, and that's what matters.
While Hayate paddles furiously in an attempt to catch Pabu, Riza tilts her head to the right, contemplative.]
You could say that. My mother died when I was young, and my father died many years ago.
[It doesn't particularly hurt to talk about it. She can't remember anything of her mother anymore, save for an image from a picture taken many years ago, and her father had left her nothing but the burden of his research, permanently etched across her back.]
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[ He's starting to wonder if that's not something he should be asking so lightly, recalling how Mikasa had answered his question about her parents as well. He's already encountered one too many orphan around here, and it troubles him to realise that there might be even more.
All the more reason to make friends though.
A smile returns to his face when he looks at the animals again, enjoying their time in the water. ]
Black Hayate seems like a good companion though! [ Even if he couldn't make up for a parent. ] How long have you been together?
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She doesn't comment on the slight shift in topic; her own history and personal experiences aren't things she usually brings up in light conversation, though she has few qualms about talking about them if need be. As far as she's concerned, the loss of her parents isn't anything that interferes with the person she is now.]
About half a year. Sergeant Fuery - one of the soldiers in my unit - found him outside in the rain one day and brought him inside but since his dorm doesn't allow pets, we had to find Hayate a different home. No one else was willing or responsible enough to keep him so I took him in.
[Her voice is fond as she recollects the story. At the reminder of Fuery - and everyone else in Mustang's little team - her smile turns wistful. Wouldn't it be nice to see all their faces again...]
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[ Pabu is, at this point, floating serenely in the water, having acclimated to the temperature. It's a good thing, since Bolin himself is feeling the effects of his own dunk, clothes too cold over his skin and starting to give him chills. Some sun would be highly appreciated right about now. ]
Pabu seems to like him though! [ He glances up at Riza with a reassuring expression. ] So if you're ever busy or something, Pabu can look after him.
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She doesn't say it aloud, even as she looks over at him and takes his stocky full-grown body and surprisingly boyish face. Likely he doesn't need any doting - and she's not the type to give it even if he did - but she remembers the warm with which he'd mentioned his brother a few weeks earlier and the immediate upset following that. In many ways, he seems young still, and she finds the thought of harm coming to Bolin surprisingly distasteful.
Despite the sober thoughts, she manages a small smile at Bolin's words.]
That's very kind of him. [Speaking of Pabu:] Does Pabu look after you too?
[At some point she should probably ask what exactly Pabu is, but for now she's content to watch dog and ....red squirrel thing paddle around in the river.]
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Yeah, we look after each other. [ Remembering, rather fondly now, how Pabu had been sentenced to be pythonaconda food when they'd first met him.
He pulls one of his legs in, letting it press against his chest as he turns to face Riza more fully. ]
I mean, he doesn't really have anyone but us either - me and Mako. Even if Mako kind of underestimates him, Pabu's actually pretty capable.
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She assumes from earlier conversations that Mako is his brother - there's enough affection for it, and he doesn't seem the type to call parents or older relatives by their given name. But instead of making her smile, the statement has her frowning, turning her attention away from Pabu and Hayate paddling around each other and back to Bolin, contentedly sitting on the riverbank.]
What happened to your own parents?
[From his good nature and enthusiasm, she'd imagined him as someone surrounded by a loving family - mother, father, brother, grandparents.... It saddens her now, to think that such might not be the case.]
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Oh. [ He thinks about it for a second, though his response comes out without any hesitation. ] We lost them a long time ago.
[ He remembers. Memories of his father's stubbly kisses and wide hands; his mother's beautiful long hair and constant warmth. Before seeing that picture of the four of them, that Grandma Yin had been keeping, he couldn't even remember what they looked like, and even after seeing them at first he'd been shocked, startled to see the real faces unlike his fuzzy memories.
But now he knows, and they're as familiar as Mako now.
He leans back, mind shifting from his parents to his brother, as it often did. ]
I always had Mako to look after me though. I think he did a pretty good job.
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She doesn't regret her question right now, even looking at Bolin's smaller form, tucked towards itself, but she does hurt, at the base of her heart where a little root of affection's stubbornly buried itself.
Silently, she slips off her coat and crouches down, flicking it out before settling it around him. It's far too small for him, barely managing to encircle his broad shoulders, but it ought to ward away the worst of the chill. One hand lingers behind on his shoulder, reassuring.]
Make sure you look after yourself here too. I'm sure your brother wouldn't be very happy to see all his hard work go to waste.
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He's always wanted to be part of a family, but that yearning never took away from how lucky he felt to have Mako.
The warmth of Riza's coat over his shoulders eases his posture. The jacket is small, but dry against his skin so he smiles at her as his hands go up to grab the sleeves, pulling it more tightly against his shoulders. ]
Don't worry about me. [ He winks a little, because in reality he's soaking up the attention. ] Are you trying to put the moves on me though, Riza? I have a girlfriend you know. [ Maybe. Sort of. He's not really sure what dubious state his relationship with Opal is in. ] How old are you anyway?
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Far too old for you.
[From any other person she might have taken the comments as serious flirtation - and thus might have replied differently - but she's found Bolin to be well-intentioned, if a bit of jokester. Plus, he doesn't seem like the sort of guy to cheat on his girlfriend. (She'd shoot him in the kneecaps if he did, in any case.)
Speaking of said girlfriend:]
Your girlfriend's very lucky to have you. What's she like?
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[ He perks up quite visibly at the question, shine retuning to his eyes, and his shoulders lifting up with excitement. ]
She's the granddaughter of my all-time hero, and from the most famous family in the Earth Kingdom! Plus, she's one of the few airbenders in our world.
[ He goes on: ] She's really sweet to me too, and she cares a lot about her family. And—
[ He's kind of supposed to be on his way to rescue her?? ]
Uh.
[ There's hesitation. ]
Well, we were kind of on our way to rescue her and the other airbenders from these terrorists when ALASTAIR recruited me. We were only dating for like a few days when we went our separate ways, and now that I'm here... [ He winces. ] She'll probably be pretty mad.
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That said—]
Terrorists?
[Her voice sharpens with concern, whatever other casual thoughts she might have had tossed out the window at this new threat. (He doesn't really seem like the kind of guy to be involved in serious crime.)
Hayate, hearing the tone shift, pauses in his paddling to glance over.]
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And Bolin looks nonplussed by the shift in her tone, actually kind of puzzled as to why she would zero in on that, rather than take the opportunity that he'd presented to offer him some relationship advice. Riza is beautiful and kind after all, he's sure that she probably has a lot of experience to draw wisdom from.
Or, he guesses, they could talk about Zaheer. ]
Yeah, there are these terrorists back home that want to take out the leaders of the four nations. [ Had succeeded, in the case of the Earth Queen. ] I don't know why they'd target the airbenders though... They're the most peaceful.
[ And they always get screwed for it. ]
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In any case, national security's always been more of a priority for her than fleeting interpersonal relationships - kind of hard to date if you're dead and all that - and she takes his question a bit more seriously than she probably ought.]
As a scare tactic, most likely. [That's all terrorism ever is.] Or to draw as much attention as possible.
[There's little either of them can do from possibly all the way across the galaxy - only ALASTAIR truly knows where they are now in relation to their home worlds - but her face softens nonetheless.]
I doubt Opal would get mad at you for being unable to rescue her. This [spreading her arms to encompass their surroundings] isn't something that's under your control. Besides, if she's as amazing as you say, I'm sure she'll be trying to find her own method of escape.
[Fuck knights in shining armor, tbqh.]
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[ He frowns anyway, thinking of Opal and the others taken by Zaheer. They were all new to bending, and he feels bad that their training would take such a start.
But they have Tenzin's family there at least. He has no doubt that they'll be all right. (And Korra hadn't mentioned anything along the lines of, "by the way, everyone dies" when they'd established that he's from the past, and she, the future.)
He rubs his eyes, watching as Pabu latches himself to Black Hayate's back and expects a lift, not unlike the kind he would get atop Naga's back. ]
She is amazing. [ Or, his week had been great. Opal was nice and pretty; easy going and incredibly strong. He did like her a lot, thought it felt like it had been months since he'd last seen her.
To distract himself, he quirks a glance toward Riza. ]
So... do you have a boyfriend?
i don't know how to take this tag seriously
But there'd never been the time after she'd enrolled in the academy (despite all of Rebecca's urging) and then there'd been no interest after the war, her heart incapable of loving herself, let alone another person. And even if she'd come to terms with her own inner demons since then, part of that acceptance had also included a sacrifice of sorts of her own happiness, at least until a point where Amestris (and ideally the world) would be rid of the bloodshed and cruelty that had plagued it so much before.
None of that's really appropriate fare for this conversation though, so she settles for the lighter (but no less true) reason.]
No. I'm too busy babysitting my superior officer to have time to go out on dates.
[She doesn't sound very bothered by that fact though.]
it's 100% heartfelt?
You're kind of like my brother. [ Save for the "babysitting" bit, probably. ] Ever since he really got focused on his work, he hasn't been able to keep a relationship going.
[ Among... other reasons. The brilliant mess that were his relationships with Asami and Korra being chief among these. ]
i don't believe you
Thankfully the comparison doesn't bother her any, mostly because the fact of the matter is that it's true. Even without having to keep a watchful eye on the Colonel, evenings and full days off have always been rare. (Most of them end up being sucked up by work anyway, the Colonel demanding a drunken ride back from this place or needing a fake 'date' for that espionage mission. That asshole.) If anything, Bolin's brother sounds like quite the responsible young man and someone she'd like to meet.
No doubt he'd make for perfectly good relationship material if Bryke hadn't completely and utterly ruined most of Book 2 of Korra. But we're getting ahead of ourselves here.
She looks over, curious.]
What's his line of work?
[The fewer questions about her lack of relationships, the better.]
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He's a cop. [ Which sounds a lot more exciting that it is, when Bolin remembers how much paperwork and reading Mako has. But his brother is dedicated, and passionate about his work (which can be sometimes a drag), so Bolin has no complaints or sincere criticisms about the career choice.
Just like Mako, if he's honest. ]
Which is pretty funny, since we used to be crooks. But I guess that's what makes him so good! He really knows how the underground works.
[ Well, sort of. They had been just kids when they worked for the Triple Threat. ]
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She starts at the mention of their less-than-savory past. It stands at such contrast with Bolin's current personality, all good cheer and open honesty. It doesn't suit him, the life of a criminal. Whatever the catalyst might have been to lead him off that path she doesn't know, but she's grateful for it.]
It's always beneficial to have inside knowledge. [She shifts her weight, leaning on her left leg instead of her right.] I take it you're not a cop though?
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[ He's seventeen and "still finding himself". It's a pretty awful cliche, but it's pretty much true. There's no point in returning to pro-bending without Mako, and even though filming the mover had been fun, it's not exactly something he wants to pursue, when his friends are out there making real changes in the world.
For the most part, he likes helping Korra, because whatever the Avatar's mission is, it has to be worthwhile.
But it's not exactly clear if Team Avatar's going to be a permanent thing. ]
Did you always want to be in the military?
[ Back to Riza now. ]
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It's a question that requires a modicum of thought, though her voice flows easy and smooth as she answers.]
Not when I was little. My father never liked the military much and I preferred reading over picking up a stick and pretending I was a soldier.
[The image is laughable, really, and quickly dismissed. Truth be told, she doesn't remember what her dreams of the future had been back then. Every waking moment had been lived with her father's dreams imprinted on her rather than her own.
But since they seem to have settled into an odd back-and-forth, she opts to fire another question back at him rather than elaborate on her own answer.]
Is there anything you'd like to do?
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It's a thinker.
Bolin had dreams when he was little, he's sure of it. But his earliest memories are of living on the street with Mako, and his dreams had been odd; ricocheting between being absurd and predictable. Sometimes he wanted to a rich business owner, living in a house with a pool and a giant dining room for him and Mako, and all the family that they'd find one day. Sometimes he wanted to be a spy, so that it would be easier for them to sneak in and out of restaurants to steal food.
Sometimes he wanted to be older; older than Mako so that he didn't always have to listen to what his brother told him to do. So that people would talk to him instead of Mako sometimes.
None of those were real dreams however, and as he'd gotten older he'd started dreaming less and less about the future, and more about how they were going to survive the next day, the next week, or year. The status of their home and possessions had always been tenuous, he never really thought of anything beyond that.
And he's always assumed it was the same for Mako. ]
I dunno. [ He answers honestly, as pathetic as it is. But unlike Riza, he's willing to elaborate. ] I mean... my brother and my best friends back home, they all have these huge goals. Korra's the Avatar, so she's basically responsible for the entire world, Mako wants to be Police Chief, and Asami owns her own company.
[ He looks at Riza, not jealous, but wistful. ]
I guess I want to be like that.
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no jk—
His dreams are valid ones, even if they aren't ones she shares, and she can't fault him for wanting to achieve something big and grand as all his friends have. Bolin's strong and kind and possessed of an incredibly large heart. She can't imagine he won't find something of his own soon enough. In the meantime...]
You're helping a nation here refind peace. [Whether or not that'll be met with success is another story, but—] That sounds like a pretty big goal to me. Maybe it's not something to call your own yet, but it's a step towards something.
[In any case, they've both been sitting on the shoreline for awhile, Bolin in his still-wet clothes, and both Pabu and Black Hayate are crawling back to shore now, shaking water droplets off their fur.]
You won't be able to do any of that if you catch cold though. You should at least head back and get a change of clothes.
korra.
KORRA.
[ Real enthusiastic.
But that's not all. Without even registering Korra's own surprise or irritation at so rudely finding herself in company, Bolin's already pushing forward, and within a second he's holding a very familiar red rodent out toward her. ]
Korra! Look! Pabu's here!
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Bolin!? Wh- [She's going to remind about privacy and how it's super important to knock fi-]
Pabu! [Okay, so she has a soft spot for the fire ferret. Much like Naga does, who suddenly thinks she can dance on two legs without her head being away from her furry friend in crime.]
How did you find him? [Waiiit.] ...You didn't lose him when you first got here, did you?
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Bolin frowns at her accordingly, shoulders raised in exasperation that she would even ask such a question. ]
What? Of course not!
[ Pabu slips out of his grasp then, leaping from Bolin's hands to land briefly on Korra's shoulder before continuing on toward Naga, reuniting with his friend with a series of excited chittering.
Undeterred by the adorable scene, Bolin continues with purpose: ] He wasn't with me when I first got here, and now he is! Don't you know what that means?
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He followed you- somehow? [But that's impossible.] ALISTAIR had something to do with it.
[Who else is accidentally grabbing people from their world anyways.]
That's it, right?
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[ Get with the program!
He reaches forward to empathically grab her shoulders, all up in her space the way that he often is when excited. ]
Pabu wasn't here before, but then he randomly showed up! Doesn't that mean some of the others could be here too?
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You think so? [Okay. Now she's excited at the possibility, but doesn't want to hype herself up over potentially nothing.]
Okay. Maybe we should start checking the network to see- [She's about to reach into her collar to fish out her necklace but, uh,] Bolin...?
[Eyebrows up because she doesn't want to accidentally bap him with her water tribe necklace ALISTAIR gave her.]
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What?
[ Oh. Bolin had gotten rather close in the midst of his excitement, hadn't he? Casual smile still in place, he takes a sliding step backward so that Korra has actual access to her magic necklace.
He stares, intently, waiting for the verdict of her findings, and looking for all the world that he could like to stick his face right next to hers to peer at the necklace alongside her. ]
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Now that she's got it out here blue eyes go from side to side quickly as she scans for either Mako or Asami's name. When the end of the list of usernames comes up, her hopeful expression falters a little as she looks up to Bolin.]
Sorry, Bolin. Looks like it's just us fire ferrets. [But she reaches out to scratch Pabu's chin and of course has to do the same for Naga when she lifts her head.]