Borra :: The Cure

"How's she doing?"

"She'll be fine. It's nothing too serious. You can go in and visit her if you'd like."

He nodded and then dipped his head to Pema in thanks before walking into the room, immediately heading for the bed where Korra laid, cool water splashed all over her face to calm her fever. She was still awake, but just barely. He could see her deep blue eyes were only open halfway or less, but he expected nothing more. She'd gone out in the middle of the night a few days ago on a walk all alone because she needed to think and she hadn't brought her coat or any kind of weather protective clothing with her. It was no surprise that she'd gotten sick, especially with the way the temperature had been dropping and rising so oddly lately. One day it was freezing even without snow and the next day it was scorching hot. There wasn't much they could do about it except try to dress appropriately for the weather. But of course, with how stubborn Korra was, she refused to admit that even the Avatar could get sick.

As the earthbender sat down on a stool next to her bed, he wrapped his hands around hers, holding them tight as concern swam through his eyes. When their hands made contact, the Water Tribe girl turned her head to look at him and smiled a little, causing him to smile right back at her. No matter what she did, he always felt like smiling at it. She was just so incredible and amazing. Well, except for back when she broke his heart, but he'd gotten over that. Sort of anyways. He forgave her for that, cause he'd always love her. There was no way he couldn't.

"How are you?" he asked, leaning his head forward so that she wouldn't have to talk too loud. Korra scrunched her eyes shut for a moment before opening them and giving him another small smile.

"I'm fine. I'm sure if I just rest a bit more..."

Their fingers intwined and Bolin released his hold on one of her hands, using his (now) free hand to brush her bangs off to the side so that she'd feel less hot. His fingertips grazed over the flaming hot coco skin of her forehead and he almost gasped at the feel of it, pulling his hand back almost as soon as the contact was made. "Nothing serious", huh? Somehow, he didn't believe that now. At the widening of his bright green eyes, the girl in front of him simply laughed a little, causing his attention to focus on her again.

"Korra, are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine, Bo. It's just cause I'm a firebender, among all the other elements, that my fever seems so hot. Don't worry. I'll be okay."

His eyes narrowed back down to their normal width and the earthbender nodded, figuring she knew more about it then he did. After all, Mako had never let him take care of him when he was sick before, or even get near him for that matter. His older brother was just that protective of him, that he didn't want him to catch the illness too. And putting that aside, Bolin was usually the one to get sick, not Mako, which was a bit odd to think about considering Mako had always been the one to run outside and do work while he just sat around in their little hideouts and waited. Maybe he was just more prone to sickness than his brother was; That made sense, right?

"So, are you doing some cool waterbending thing-y right now to heal yourself?"

"Haha, no. It's a bit harder for me to heal myself than it is for Katara or somebody else to do it."

He glanced down at the ground and let out a breath before bringing his gaze back to her face. "You know Korra, you should be more careful. Next time, just take a jacket. At least then we'll think you used it."  The two of them laughed a little after he said that and Korra nodded. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Thanks for the advice." He smiled at her and she smiled right back and for a moment, he was stuck staring into her magnificently blue eyes. They were so beautiful, with so many different hues of blue flecked all over the irises. There was even some types of blue that he hadn't ever seen before until he saw her and stared into the depths of her mostly cerulean orbs. His brother was one lucky guy, having such an amazing girl. Sorrow clouded the earthbender's vision as he thought about it and he stood up, letting go of her hand and turning around in preparation to leave.

When their hands broke apart, something akin to sadness as well as confusion crossed her face and her eyebrows knitted together as she watched him turn his head back to look at her one more time before leaving, his words ringing in her ears even after he'd already walked out of the door.

"I'll just leave you to rest. Mako wants to come in and see you, so..."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Are you sure you can't do anything else? She seems really sick, Katara."

"Well, there is one thing that hasn't been tried yet. But I can't do it. One of you boys will have to do it."

Both Mako and Bolin stepped forward, waiting for her to give more information on this 'one thing'. "Well, what is it?" Mako said, extending his hand as a gesture to better express himself.

"Well... I'm not sure if you'll be willing to do it."

"Just tell us! I'll do anything for Korra!" Bolin said, about to get on his knees and beg her to stop teasing them and just tell them what to do. His words seemed to do the trick and Katara smiled, stepping towards him and placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Alright, the decision is made. Bolin, you'll do it."

"What?! Why not me?" Mako said, stepping forward.

"You didn't say the magic words." Katara said, giving him a side glance before returning her attention to Bolin. "Now Bolin, here's what you have to do..." she said, whispering the rest of the words. Almost as soon as it processed in his head, the earthbender stepped backwards, his bright green eyes wide.

"How will that help?" he asked, disbelief clear on his face as if he thought his ears were deceiving him.

"Just try it." Katara responded with a smile, causing him to glance down at the ground, giving the faintest of nods.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Hey Korra, are you awake..?" Bolin whispered, standing beside the bed in which the Avatar laid in, her eyes closed as her chest rhythmically rose and fell, the amount of sweat on her face increasing with every breath she took in or let out. He waited a few more minutes for her to respond, but the only noises that came from her were the sounds of slumber and heavy breathing. She didn't say a word and her lips didn't part any more than the amount they were. So, with a sigh, the earthbender glanced at the door and then brought his attention back to the girl he loved. One move, that was all it took...

"All you have to do is..."

Katara's voice echoed in his mind again and he found he could take it no more. Whatever happened, happened, and that was that. Beginning to close his eyes, the seventeen-year-old began to lean down until his face and hers were only a hair's length apart and he softly breathed out a "Here goes nothing." before pressing his lips to hers and keeping them there until he needed to come up for oxygen. He really didn't understand how this would help her at all, but it had sure made him happy doing that.

"Get better quick, okay Korra?" he said, gaze narrowing with affection before he pulled her blanket higher so that it would cover her more and then turned, walking out of the room whistling as if it would make it seem like nothing had happened. And as he walked out of the door, a bright pink blush was clear on his cheeks.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Morning everybody! What's for breakfast?" Korra asked, walking into the room with her arms raised in a massive stretch. Her hair was still unbound and some of it was draped over her shoulders while the rest remained on her back. But at least she had actually changed her clothes.

"Korra, you're awake!" Mako said, standing up to give her a hug but she simply brushed past him, ignoring the firebender and instead sitting down next to Bolin where there was an empty seat just begging for her to sit there. As soon as she was settled down next to him, she turned to look at him with a bright smile and he looked back at her, slightly confused. "Why aren't you sitting next to Mako?" he asked, lifting up the bread on his plate and taking a bite of it. The Water Tribe girl just shrugged and replied with "Cause I want to sit next to you."

"Why?" he asked, swallowing the food in his mouth.

"Cause there's something I need to do." she said, pulling him close to her by the front of his shirt and planting her lips on his, waiting until she was completely out of breath before breaking apart and leaving him wide-eyed, unable to process what had just happened.

"Now we're even."