A Love We Never Imagined (A Bolin Love Story)

Chapter One: When Strangers Meet

"For a split second they stared at each other. A fleeting, lasting moment. One person noticing another person out of a whole crowd of strangers." – Alexandra Potter

Bolin sighed as he sat on a snowy street corner in Republic City, he had been thinking about Korra again and it was really starting to put him down. He hadn't seen her in almost four years and he still couldn't get the young avatar out of his mind.

So much had changed during those four years but Bolin felt almost the same, like he'd hardly changed at all. After a serious relationship with Korra, which ended in heartbreak for both, Mako had come across Asami and managed to patch things up with her. The two were now married and expecting their first child this spring.

Not much was known about Korra after her relationship with Mako ended. The heart ache had finally begun to lessen for Bolin and he had started to get close to Korra again when she just disappeared one night. Tenzin told them that Korra had left Republic City saying she needed to travel around and discover her true purpose as the Avatar.

Shortly after she left Bolin stopped pro-bending and joined the police force and learned how to metalbend, but other than that nothing had really changed for Bo other than the fact he was growing into an extremely handsome and some-what more mature young man.

Since being a police officer hardly paid for his expenses Bo had been living with his brother and Asami in their large apartment until he made enough to live on his own. Life went on and for a while he didn't really think about Korra as much anymore.

Then, a few weeks ago he and a few of his buddies on the force were listening to the radio while on a break and there was a segment where Korra talked about how since she was a fully realized avatar she could help more than just Republic City and all the work she had done with one of the founders of Republic City, Fire Lord Zuko, and his daughter, the current Fire Lord, to help restore what was still destroyed in the Eath Kingdom and increase Fire Nation trading with other nations.

Since that moment Avatar Korra was constantly on the young Earthbender's mind. So, here he sat in the dead of winter among the icy streets of Republic City and cursed himself for thinking about Korra once again. He had hurt over her for far too long and he was really getting sick of it. He needed to get over her, but how? How could he get over the only girl he thought would ever matter to him?

As if to answer his internal inquiring he felt someone tap him on the shoulder and heard the sweetest voice he had ever come across, "Excuse me, I don't mean to bother you but it seems like something is really troubling you."

Suddenly taken from his thoughts it took Bolin a moment to gather himself before he turned to face the source of the voice and was met with the bluest eyes he had ever seen.

Bo stammered incoherently for a moment before finally managing to form a complete yet rushed sentence, "Uhm, yeah thanks but I uhm it's nothing… Are you new to Republic City? I don't think I've ever seen you around before."

He found it hard to speak; he thought Korra's eyes were beautiful, but they were nothing compared to the pure sapphire orbs he found before him. The girl smirked and Bolin finally found he was able to take in her full appearance.

The strange girl was obviously from one of the Water Tribes, with her flawless caramel skin, pure blue eyes, and mocha tresses pinned in an intricate pile atop her head that he could only assume was Water Tribe. She was even dressed in the thick blue furry coat he had seen members of the Southern Water Tribe wearing when he, Mako, and Asami went with Tenzin, his family and Chief Beifong to see Korra after Amon took her bending over four years ago.

"Yes," she replied shyly, "I just arrived here from the Southern Water Tribe this morning to stay with my aunt and uncle."

"Oh, uh well welcome to Republic City! I'm Bolin but you can just call me Bo, or Bolin or Bo-miester or whatever you want." Bolin said nervously rubbing the back of his head and internally cursing his stupidity and rambling.