Bolin, wearing only his underwear, stared at his reflection in the mirror.  For the past couple of days now, it'd seemed to become a habit of his, making poses and gestures, flexing his biceps, and…sucking in his gut. He exhaled, his belly extending with his breath. Suddenly, Bolin grabbed at his stomach violently, growling at the mass that hung about his waist.

"How do you exist?"

Bolin trained everyday. He could lift him and his brother's weight with relative ease.  His legs were toned. His arms were tolerable.  But his belly resembled that of a newborn's, but thicker. Much thicker.  After glaring at his monstrous girth for a long enough span of time, his eyes flickered back up to take a quick glance at his reflection.

"Who am I kidding?"

Bolin smacked a hand behind his head, thinking about his brother, Mako, wondering what it would be like to have his athletic physique.  Wondering what it would be like to have girls (and the occasional man) crack their necks or strain their eyes in order to have a glimpse at his beautiful body. Wondering just what it would be like to look that way.  But who was Bolin to care about being self-conscious? Men don't fret over their bodies; they have better things to do, right?

"Apparently, not me…"

Bolin collapsed before the mirror with a sigh as his head clunked upon his shoulder. Just then, Korra, walked into the room, curious as to why her friend was scantily clad and hunched on the floor in front of an old mirror.

"Hey there, Bo. Whatcha up to?"

Bolin squealed. Embarrassed, he hid behind the mirror, attempting to snatch a drape from a nearby window so he could cover himself up.  However, while trying to grab at the curtain, Bolin slipped, landing on top of the mirror, which, like his confidence, broke into little pieces and shards.  Korra snickered at the sight she was witnessing, but soon stopped her laughter, holding out a hand.

"You need me to help you u—"

"No," Bolin managed, his voice cracking. "I'm perfectly fine."

Despite nearly landing on his face again, Bolin managed to get himself onto his feet, creating a type of sarong with the drape he managed to rip off of the curtain pole.

"Don't mind me asking, Bolin, but…what were you doing exactly?"

"Nothing! Especially along the lines of my body fat—I mean…" Bolin's voice trailed off. "What's the use?"

Korra perked a brow "Enlighten me."

"Well, where do I begin? Korra, you see the way people look at Mako. I've seen the way people look at Mako. Heck, I've seen how you look at Mako.  I wish that…well…nevermind."

"Nevermind what?"

"I…I-I wish other people would look at me like that. But they don't…" Bolin had his hands clenched to his stomach, looking down upon it as a parent would a problem child.  Korra then found the opportunity to grab Bolin's broad chin, thrusting it upwards so that his eyes would meet hers.

"Sit."

"But there's broken gla—"

"Just sit down, Bolin."

Bolin plopped onto the floor with a hard thud, Korra following suit. Gently, she took one of his hands and pressed her thumb against the inside of his palm. Bolin scooted in closer toward Korra, wanting to know what she was going to say.

"Good grief, man, let me breathe! Sheesh!  Okay, When I was ten or twelve or so, I had wondered aloud why no one seemed to like me; I had self-confidence issues, believe it or not.  And, of course, my mom hears it, and she babbles on about why I'm thinking that way and blah, blah, blah, and I respond and stuff, but what I remember my mother telling me is this…"

Korra lifted herself and Bolin off the floor, turning her friend around so he could see what was left of the mirror.

"So, when you were looking in that mirror earlier, what did you see?"

"I saw…Korra do I have to?"

"Um, yeah.  I can't get on with my story until you tell me what you saw."

"Can't you just tell me what your mo—"

"NO! It'll lose it's thematic effects."

"Okay…FINE. I saw me in that mirror. Me in all of my…unflattering, unappealing, bloated, bulkiness.  I mean, compared to Mako and his dashing good looks and god-like sex appeal…I'm just…How can I compete with that?"

The room fell quiet as a devilish smile grew upon Korra's face.  Bolin wasn't quite sure what Korra was about to say or do, but being friends, he was willing to go along for the ride.

"What my mother told all those years ago was this: 'Strangers will see you as you see yourself...'"

"Huh?"

"So, you know all those things you said to me—about what you saw in that mirror—that's how you feel about you.  And folks? They pick up on that, you know?  But wait, there's more."

Bolin, unamused, perked a brow "Enlighten me."

"First, let me tell you what I think of you."

"Is that necessary? Can't you just finish the—"

"Good freaking GOD, Bolin! NO!  I don't want to ruin the mood. That out of the way…I think that you are… Funny. Well intentioned. Genuine. Kind. Carefree. Sweet. Talented…"

"Korra, you're lying! I know you are!" Bolin choked, cupping a hand over his tearing eyes. "You can't possibly mean all of that! And you don't! Do you?"

"Um…but yeah! Of course I mean what I say! I'm the Avatar! So… to satisfy your curiosity, the full proverb goes like this: 'Strangers will see you as you see yourself…but loved ones see you as who you are.' So I guess what I took from that was…Bolin, are you okay?"

"Yes!" he replied, holding back a sob. "I'm being…manly. And strong. And I'm taking your advice like a man. Because I'm a ma—Screw this, who am I kidding?"

Suddenly, the young man lugged his burly arms around Korra, biting his mouth shut in the hopes of not emitting a cry. To Korra, Bolin's hugs were more like being in an armadillo bear's choke-hold rather than a tender embrace, not to mention this particular hug was rather...wet. Then, as quickly as he had constricted his arms around her, Bolin let go of his grip

"Sorry I did that," Bolin quivered, pointing at Korra's drenched shoulder and chest. "Thanks though. For what you said."

"And letting you cry one me?"

A pause.

"I-I didn't cry, okay?"  Bolin's voice dropped an octave.

Korra nodded, a slight smirk on her face.  

"Alright, Korra. I'm…uh…I'm gonna go now…" Bolin slowly crept passed Korra, heading towards the doorway, but before he totally committed himself to leaving the room, the young man decided to spontaneously peck Korra's forehead. "And don't tell my brother I did that either."

Again, Korra nodded as Bolin finally left the room, her smirk now a full grin. Then, about five minutes later, there were footsteps making themselves comfortable in the room.  Instantaneously, Korra know exactly who it was:

 "Mako!"

The two thrust their arms around each other as they  briefly kissed each other on the lips.

"So," Mako began, "don't mean to be rude, but where have you been the past half hour?"

Korra bit her lips, somehow finding a way to emit a sly smile "You are not going to believe me if I tell you, but..."