Immediately Bolin began to berate himself since Korra's reaction clearly indicated he had picked the wrong flowers for her. His face refrained from falling too much though. Bolin glanced to where Mako had vanished in the sea of people and then back to Korra who seemed out of sorts. What had happened while he had gone? He frowned slightly and dropped the arm holding the flowers. Though Bolin was a bit childish at times, even he could tell something had happened. It couldn't be the flowers. Was it something between his brother and Korra? He tried to review the past few hours and even days, trying to figure out what could have happened between them. Their Pro-bending match earlier had gone great, they won. But had Korra and Mako fought? Bolin wasn't sure if they'd be stupid enough to risk team dynamics and get in a fight.

Still, he needed to break the silence that filled the space between them.

[b][color=seagreen]"What was that all about?"[/color][/b] Bolin asked her flat out. He had explicitly told Mako about his intentions with Korra. Mako didn't seem bothered by it and Bolin didn't think he would be, in fact Bolin had expected some support and encouragement. So to see Mako leaving Korra who was now clearly bothered, made Bolin rather suspicious and a little concerned. He let out a long heavy sigh and shifted his weight backwards, away from Korra. [b][color=seagreen]"What's going on between you two?"[/color][/b] He asked Korra, pressing further. [b][color=seagreen]"I thought tonight had been going so well. I was really enjoying my time with you, Korra but it seemed like you were holding back from me...for whatever reason."[/color][/b] He glanced away and felt his fists clench, still resting by his sides, flowers long forgotten.

[b][color=seagreen]"And now I know...it's something to do with Mako, isn't it?"[/color][/b] Though Bolin had no evidence to assume something had happened or was happening between them, he could sense it. And looking back on the past couple hours, he had to wonder if Korra wished he had been Mako instead. [color=seagreen][b]"I thought we'd make a great pair, you and I. I thought tonight you'd be able to see that too but I think I may have been wrong...about that."[/b][/color] He wondered if he had also been wrong about Korra but that had yet to be confirmed. What he felt in his gut though, was that Korra probably liked Mako and maybe Mako liked Korra, even just a little bit. He let out a quiet laugh and gave a shrug, feeling rather stupid. [b][color=seagreen]"At least I tried. I'll see you tomorrow, we've still gotta check out the competition. Night."[/color][/b] And with that, he headed off, wishing the night had ended the way he had pictured it ending in his head.

He would have walked her to the dock, would have leaned in and kissed her goodnight under the stars.

Instead he went home alone, not really caring where Mako had wandered off to.

[center][h3][color=peru]- [/color][color=goldenrod]-[/color] [color=peru]-[/color][color=goldenrod] -[/color][/h3][/center]

Once the two batches of cookies had been baked and cooled, a warm chocolate aroma had begun to filter throughout the lower part of the mansion. It calmed Asami who had already munched on a few cookies while nursing a cup of cool milk. She soon put half a dozen on a plate and went up to her father's office, leaving it on his desk. She had a sinking feeling he would be back late again but she hoped the cookies would serve as a good treat for him with perhaps his morning coffee or his nightly glass of whisky. Asami headed out, closing the sturdy oak door behind her, her hand grasping the golden handle tightly. She headed back down the long hallway and then down the large staircase in the middle of her cherished childhood home. Asami headed back into the kitchen to grab one more cookie but found her quest on pause, given three sudden knocks snapping her out of her pensive thoughts.

She checked the grandfather clock and noted it was getting late by no means late enough to dissuade visitors.

Crossing over to the door, she pulled it open and found her face light up at the sight of her boyfriend. [color=goldenrod][b]"Mako! This is a surprise."[/b][/color] Asami smiled brightly, her heart beginning to feel the familiar flutter of butterflies that only Mako could coax from her depths. She noted his face and motioned him inside, [color=goldenrod][b]"A good surprise, I assure you."[/b][/color] She tried to soothe whatever nerves he had. She found it cute that even after all the time they spent together as a couple, he could still look so nervous sometimes. Closing the door behind him, she ushered him inside and off to the sitting room where the fire was. Though the spring season wasn't outright cold, it was windy come nightfall. 

[b][color=goldenrod]"I just finished dinner but there should be a few cookies left, I just took them out of the oven so they might still be warm."[/color][/b] She considered slowly, wanting to mention she could warm them up with her fire bending but resisted telling him her little secret. It just wasn't the right time. Asami leaned against the back of the couch and looked to Mako who seem rather quiet, more quiet than usual. She glance down, his feeling seeming contagious. [b][color=goldenrod]"How was the match tonight? I'm sorry I couldn't make it...I was doing some volunteer work and..."[/color][/b] Asami trailed off, having an inkling that the match wasn't on Mako's mind.

Reaching out, she took her hand in his. [b][color=goldenrod]"Well, what matters now is that we've got some time together."[/color][/b] She smiled. She turned around to face the fire now, her eyes following the flames as they rose and fell, seeming to live in eternity. Asami glanced to Mako and then back to the fire. With her fire bending being explored, she was hopeful that it would bring her and Mako even closer as a couple. It might even give her and Korra some common ground, as it still seemed like she and the Avatar had a weird relationship with one another, for whatever reason. [b][color=goldenrod]"So what's on your mind? You seem upset."[/color][/b] She squeezed his hand lightly, her thumb gently brushing the back of his hand.