My Broken Heart, A TLoK Fanfiction

Bolin glanced around the Pro-Bending gym as he hurriedly walked over to Mako.

He swallowed nervously. What he was about to do.... Man, this was just crazy! He, the awesome, amazing Pro-Bending champ was reduced to this? Over a girl?

He shook his head firmly, then reached out and lightly tapped Mako on the shoulder. "Uh, hey, man..... could I talk to you about something?"

Mako turned around and raised an eyebrow at Bolin. He was fidgeting, and hopping nervously from foot to foot as he glanced around the gym, as if to make sure no one was looking at them. Frowning to himself, he dropped the weights he was holding and walked over to a bench, signaling Bolin to come sit beside him. He did.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, until Bolin gathered up his courage and began to speak. "So, um, bro, I need your.... help..... with something."

When Mako didn't respond, other than glancing at him before returning his attention to the opposite wall that he'd been staring at, Bolin continued. "It's, well, it's about Korra."

Had Bolin been paying a bit more attention to his brother, he would have seen Mako's eyebrows suddenly shoot up, the way he stiffened and began listening intently to what Bolin was saying. But he didn't.

"Man, I've never felt like this before! And, yeah, I've dated a ton of other girls, but Korra....she's different. She's strong, and feisty, and not afraid to do things her way, she likes having fun, she can earthbend- and really well, too!- and she laughs at my jokes! Actually laughs at them! I think, um... Mako, I think I love her!"

He turned his attention to his brother sitting beside him. "So, what I was wondering is if you'd help me ask her out. You know, a little help? Just this once?"

Mako swallowed, clearing his throat. Oh crap, he was doomed. "W-well, actually, Bolin, there's something that I need to tell you. I-It's important."

Bolin grinned at him. "Sure, what is i- HEY! KORRA! Over here!" He stood up and waved, yelling loudly over the noise in the gym.

Mako felt his heart stop. Forget doomed. His life was officially over. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. It was okay, as long as Korra didn't mention.....that....he could break it to Bolin carefully, not so harshly, not so sudden. His brother deserved to be let down gently.

Korra came to a stop in front of them, her usual smirk on her face. "Hey, Bolin. How's practice?"

Bolin beamed at her. "It's going great! At this rate, we should be able to make it to the championships, if not win the tournament. Of course, that's probably due to your amazing skills in the arena!"

Mako mentally facepalmed. He was an idiot. There was no way he could let Bolin down gently about this... no way in the world. He was screwed, totally and completely screwed.

Korra grinned at him. "Thanks, Bolin. You're pretty awesome yourself." She turned around to face Mako, putting her hands on her hips. "Oh, and Pema says that she's taking me shopping tonight for a dress to wear on our date. Pick me up around eight?"

Mako froze. No no no no no... not like this, he didn't want Bolin to have to find out like this......

"Y-yeah," He said, forcing a smile. "Eight o'clock sound great."

Korra smiled, leaning up on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his cheek before waltzing away, waving over her shoulder. "Sounds cool! See you then!"

Mako gritted his teeth and looked up. The cat was out of the bag now. There was nothing else he could do.

But not even that reassurance could prepare him for the pain he saw reflected in his brother's eyes.

Bolin stood in front of him, arms slumped uselessly at his sides, eyes wide at what he'd just seen. He looked shell-shocked, hurt, and betrayed. And he was the cause of it.

Mako reached out one arm, desperately trying to apologize to his brother, to tell him he was sorry, he hadn't meant for it to turn out like this. "B-Bolin, I'm sorry, I just....."

Mako's eyes widened when Bolin reached out, slamming his arm away. His entire body shook, head hanging. He looked up at Mako, and he could see the tears that brimmed in his usually so carefree emerald orbs, threatening to spill over at any moment.

"Save it," Bolin hissed, his voice colder than ice. Mako jerked backwards as if he'd been burned. "We both know that you're not sorry at all about what happened."

And with those parting words, he spun around and stalked out of the gym, leaving Mako alone.