Rare Earth Element

Chapter 15- Pressure

When Irulan dropped her napkin onto the table, she made no mind to her food that was settled onto the floor. Her body was so tense, her fork started floating from the table from the magnetic field that shrouded her body.

“I...I guess you're mad, huh Lani?” asked Bolin sheepishly, feeling like the worst bender who'd ever bent. Unable to utter a word, Lani, exhaling sharply, made the fork drop, decreasing the polarity of her field.

In addition to feeling like an asshole, Bolin was also touched. Knowing that someone was despondent over him made his heart swell in a manner that was not for ego, but for endearment. Leaning on the remembrance of their troubled youth up to the current discovery, he realized that Lani’s heart, was indeed made of gold, and Lani herself, was a diamond.

“You're still pretty, though, Irulan,” Bolan cooed, reaching out for her hand, wiggling his fingers. “Please?” he asked when she didn't move a muscle.

“I might break it,” she uttered in a husky voice, placing her hand into his palm. Despite being heated, she loved him...really, really loved him. Landing her chrome gaze with his, Lani saw clearly to his stupidity, and his regret for it...

'Damn, you owe me...'

”Irulan…Lani…I had no idea you had feelings for me; I thought you were just like the other girls,” he began, stroking her hand.. “I mean , I have a few here and there, but they’re not at all what I’m looking for. All my life, chicks were always hot for Mako, pun not intended, but they fawn over him; tell him how cute he is because he’s so brooding, all that other stuff. Where as I…have to tell myself; reaffirm myself that we come from the same gene pool, mine was just on the deeper end.” Bolin explained, rubbing his forehead, casting a glance at Irulan, taking note of her wild, wavy hair that like her, refused to be structured, confined and contained. Her outfit, albeit quite revealing, reflected her personality; strong, outspoken, yet uninhibited and brazen.

”Mako is a puddle I’d step in; you are an ocean I’d drown in, Bolin,” Lani uttered with trembling lips. “With that being said, I think it’s ironic, no pun intended, that we found each other…over the same hurt. Unrequited love is a bitch, eh? And her name is Korra,” Irulan punctuated, her hand shaking, her fingers climbing to Bolin's wrist. Bolin smiled shyly, his heart almost bursting through his jacket.

”L-Lani, don’t say unrequited…don’t speak for me, and please don't call Korra a bitch. I made a mistake, a really asinine one, but I’m a thick-headed Earthbender. Yeah, I’m great-looking, strong, funny, and dependable, but I can be as thick as a brick at times. Sometimes I need to be hit with other bricks.”

”Slow on the uptake, much ?” Irulan asked, with a wink. She couldn't promise she wouldn't call Korra a bitch. Bolin, unable to give her a snarky response, laughed, lifting her well-manicured hand to his lips, her brown fingers that were slender and simply fascinating; her rings, thick, heavy, shiny tungsten bands.

” Lani, why…me…?” he asked, staring at her rings before lifting his eyes to meet hers. This was a question he’d been screaming as a result of rejection, but now he was curious of her acceptance. This was a change from the norm, and a welcome one.