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[pabugotmoves]

Huh? Oh-- You've reached Bolin!
Yeah, I'm a pretty busy guy but leave me a message and I'll beep you back

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[royalfling]

[ But, it's a cow. ]

They really are! Not even like Deerington. They're all so, so tall and skinny and dark. But they do have a kind of dreary charm, I suppose.

[ When they pass the living room, Wu glances, then does a double take and almost trips over himself. ]

Is that a cow?!

[pabugotmoves]

It is!

[C’mon, let’s go say hello. Don’t be shy, she’s a beautiful lady keepin warm, content with her bucket of feed minding her own business.]

Wu, this is Kaltenecker. She’s from Lance’s world.

[He sidles right up and pats her on the hind like a used car salesman showing off a ‘98 Ford Fiesta. Kaltenecker could literally not care less.]

She lives in the stable next door but it’s been cold and she’s a good girl so Lance brought her in.

[royalfling]

[ Wu is a little speechless. Is this better than the hole? There's a farm animal in the living room.

No, it is better. Bolin has a room and a real bed (he hopes). He has people to live with, who will make sure he doesn't die. You don't have to be able to earthbend to get in.

Tentatively, Wu reaches out a hand to her, and she doesn't react at all. He gingerly pets her on the head once, then retracts his hand. ]

Good girl. Ah, so cows and dogs. Any other creatures I should know about?

[pabugotmoves]

Um..

[so obviously yes but Wu doesn’t seemed thrilled about that.]

Just omens inside right now. The horses and wolf are in the stable.

[These space guys take their animals very seriously apparently but Bolin isn’t complaining. It’s a lot of emotional support petting zoo opportunities for him and he’s on board. ]

Upstairs?

[ This is so much better than the hole, it’s not his fault you don’t like these weird alien animals. ]

I’ll show you my room. Pretty good for the old bachelor pad if I do say so, myself.

[royalfling]

[ Wu loves animals, loves them so much! But Earth cows are.... kind of weird and gross, and this is coming from the guy who loves badgermoles. ]

Yeah, yes! Show me your spot, my guy!

[ Better than weird animals! He grabs Bolin's arm, because that's just who he is, okay, and follows him to the stairs ]

[pabugotmoves]

[Oh never fear, the arm is offered just as much as it is taken. He knows you, Wu. And honestly he likes the attention, too.

So up they go, climbing the old, wooden staircase as it curls around and around. The house is deceptively large and even as they stop on the second floor landing the stairs continue.

Big.. big empty house. Kinda nice? Kinda spooky.

He smiles and takes them towards the first door, opening and doing a little bow as he steps aside.]

My palace, good sir~

[And granted, it's not that bad. The room hadn't been used in years if not decades when Lance brought him in, but a good scrub and some furniture from other rooms have made quite the acceptable little nest. Fairly tidy, the large bed (a fancy one on a base!) is made and draped with the blanket Wu gave him. He's hung the curtains he was using as blankets before and the whole place has a sort of.. refurbished romanticism vibe against polished, black parquet. There's a desk covered in musical stuff, blanket chest, chest of drawers sporting a kettle, cups, and some snacks in a pile. Maybe most important, there is a working fireplace in the corner and a basket of logs at the ready.

This time he's proud to show where he is, not tensing to defend himself.]

What do you think?

[royalfling]

[ Wu is honestly pleasantly surprised, and that will feed through where they're touching. He smiles around at the place, feeling a sense of relief that this room is a vast improvement from the hole. Mako will be glad to hear it, and Wu will make him come see for himself to stop worrying so much about Bolin. ]

This is great! Look at you, a whole real room.

[ It honestly shows Wu's growth that he thinks this is good. A year ago he would think this is small and dingy, but now he's just so glad Bolin isn't living underground and has a bed that his high class tastes can be pushed aside. ]

Curtains and everything. Really, I was imagining you in some horrible falling apart apartment and this is much better.

[pabugotmoves]

That's a backhanded compliment but I will take it, so thank you.

[Because it is growth and he can see that, but also wow rude.]

I'll find my own place eventually but I'm kid of liking living with people. Being alone all the time is so... lonely. What's the point of that?

[And Bolin... well. He doesn't really know how to be alone. Even when he was away he was surrounded by people and shared a train car with three other officers.]

[royalfling]

No, I really mean it!

[ His expectations were just... really low. So low. Literally in the ground. ]

I don't think there's anything wrong with living with people. I lived alone in Deerington and it was the worst! Just the worst. I hated it so much, that it was kind of nice after I, you know, died, and you and Mako moved in.

[ Wu drops down onto the edge of Bolin's bed, still looking around with a little smile. This is so much better, buddy. ]

You and me, Bolin, we need people. And Lance and Hunk are great people!

[pabugotmoves]

[He looks skeptical for a second before accepting it as truth and softening, fishing a little paper bag of bonbons from his dresser and plopping down on the bed before offering the sweets.]

I think you're right. I don't think I could cut it as a lone wolf.

[Not even Nuktuk could! A man of action, sure, but he was strong because he had his team to rely on. Bolin likes to think that part was modeled on himself.

At the mention of his housemates he warms even more. Emotions going rosy in a few kinds of ways. The man is an ope book but in the presence of a paleblood he doesn't stand a chance.]

Yeah.. yeah, they're really great, actually. They've been so welcoming and friendly.. I've really enjoyed getting to know Lance better.

[royalfling]

Lance is a great guy. He's helped me out of a sticky situation or two. [ Or ten, honestly. Wu owes Lance his life at least three times over by now. But, damn, Wu is still dense and still doesn't get it. ]

Being a lone wolf is over rated. It's all awoo awoo and then you don't have any food and you're cold and alone.

[ He takes a candy and pops it into his mouth, waving a hand to illustrate his point ]

Why do we romanticize it, honestly? Even Korra needs help! And Aang did! And they're Avatars!

[pabugotmoves]

[Well, Bolin also isn't being particularly forthcoming. Yet.]

That's so true. And they would have had a really hard time without their teams.

[He relaxes a little more, feet up. This is nice. He likes Wu time. He likes that they can just lay around and talk about whatever and be listened to.]

Plus wolves are pack animals, you'd have to be a lousy wolf to be alone. Whoever decided it was romantic was compensating for something. Pretttttyy suspicious.

[royalfling]

Exactly! They were probably just lonely and trying to make that a good thing.

[ Wu relaxes back onto his elbows too, so much of his royal decorum is gone from a year living in Deerington and Trench. He shakes his head, grinning up at Bolin ]

Really, Bo, you don't have to live on your own. I know you weren't really comfortable living with us, but I hope you can be comfortable here, or whenever you decide to settle!

[pabugotmoves]

[He looks at Wu with a wry smile before nudging his friend in the arm with his foot.]

I appreciate that but was never uncomfortable, buddy. You and Mako got serious and it wasn't fair for me to third wheel your love nest. It's fine. It's a good thing.

[royalfling]

I-- [ Well, he doesn't know what to say to that. That's really nice of Bolin, but it did make Bolin go and live in a hole, so... ] Thanks. Thank you. But you are always welcome, you know that, right?

[ Even if not having Bolin there all the time is good for their relationship. You know, just so they can have more time alone. ]

I guess we are pretty serious.

[ The idea of marriage was planted in Wu's head a few weeks ago, and he hasn't been able to shake it, even if he hasn't spoken it out loud to anyone. ]

[pabugotmoves]

[He smiles more, warmth between his ribs. He knows he's welcome and that's largely why he's okay with it. He's just sorry he handled himself poorly and it became such an issue. It was never intentional.]

Yeah? I'm glad. Because you're good together. Really, I can't imagine him with anyone else. I know my brother better than I know myself and I think you're it for him. You're the one.

[royalfling]

[ Warmth floods through him, warmth and happiness and a giddiness that he can't contain. It leeches from him and fills the room, and his smile is just as bright, grinning at Bolin in a silly way. ]

You... you really think so? Oh, Bo, that-- that really means a lot. I love him so much. So, so much.

[ And being the one for Mako? That would mean everything to him. That would allay his fears, would let him give himself even more fully to the relationship because ]

He's it for me, too. Really.

[pabugotmoves]

[Eeeeee this is so good he loves this ahhhhhh! Bolin squirms a little and gets up to come down on Wu's end and grab him up in a bear hug into the bed.]

[royalfling]

[ Wu lets out a yelp, but returns the hug with just as much ferocity. He holds on tight. He feels so... good. So good and loved and happy, and those feelings are nearly tangible in the room, filter through the hug along with calm and hope and love ]

I want, I just want him to be happy. I'll do whatever I can to make him happy.

[pabugotmoves]

[It’s like an affectionate hug attack. Body cuddle slam? Are we still allowed to use the word glomp?

Easy to settle into a cuddle, Bolin firmly koala-lizared around him. Wu hugs are the best. ]

I know you will. That’s why I trust you.

[A dreamy sigh.]

It’s so romantic. Like something out of a yuan novel. Bodyguard romance. Action, adventure, true love. I’m a sucker for soulmate stories.

[royalfling]

Right?! [ Wu laughs, returning the hug as much as he's getting. Glomp feels appropriate here, and he sure as hell is glomping back. ​] I'm so lucky. Nobody gets a love story like that, do they?

[ Even if it hasn't been perfect, not by a long shot, colored by the horrors of Deerington and Trench, colored by Mako dying, then Wu dying, then making awful life-altering decisions. But they've made it this far. ]

[pabugotmoves]

[And it would be a very short, bland story without some spice. Makes the good things that much sweeter.]

Just the lucky few. Was it love at first sight? How did you know?

[royalfling]

[ Oh, boy. How much does he want to admit? Some of it, he hasn't even told Mako because it's kind of embarrassing. And he doesn't have the paleblood influence on him, just on the people he's around.

Is it weird to talk to Mako's brother about it? Maybe a little, but said brother is also Bolin, so ]

I mean, I always thought he was very attractive, but I didn't fall in love with him until... well. I don't know exactly when, but definitely by when I showed up in Deerington! I knew I was in love with him, then, and boy, that was kind of awkward. [ He laughs thinly. "Awkward" doesn't quite cover it. ] It kind of snuck up on me. Like, one day I was with him and thought "I love him" and that was it.

[pabugotmoves]

Ugh! Ugh! It's so good! Was it awkward because you hadn't talked about having feelings for each other yet? I kind of assumed you'd hooked up back when he was guarding you.

[royalfling]

Bolin! [ He would NEVER.

Or, well, he would have, if he thought he had a shot at all. ]

I thought he was straight! That he didn't like guys at all. No, no, no, we were strictly professional. He was working for me. That would be, would be a gross abuse of authority!