Opening Notes:

Rated T just in case.

Takes place about a year after the conclusion of Book 4. To those familiar with my other work, these chapters exist separate from my fictions. However, I will do my best to avoid contradiction my other works.

Happy reading.

Logic?

Hot.

There were better words to use, but it would take effort to think of them, and it was too hot for that.

Bolin lay sprawled on the couch, fanning himself with a recent copy of Pro Bending Illustrated, trying his best to get his mind of the heat. Unfortunately, the coming distraction would be a poor alternative. A scream cut through the apartment.

"Bolin! I swear if you keep doing this, I'm leaving you!"

Setting his magazine down with a groan, Bolin pinched the bridge of his nose, bracing himself for the argument that was about to ensue. He shouted back for what felt like the millionth time this week.

"Opal! You have no argument! We both know that I'm right!"

It had been roughly a fortnight since Opal had moved into her boyfriend's new apartment, a step one might consider long overdue in light of how long they'd been dating. However, due to the collapse of the Earth Kingdom and Kuvira tearing up half of Republic City, the two had been forced to put their relationship on the backburner for a bit.

Surprisingly, everyone had been quite supportive of the decision. Mako had a place of his own now and frankly didn't care much, but the two had expected more resistance from Opals parents. Even Tenzin, who had expressed his desire to house air benders at Air Temple island on multiple occasions, had allowed the move. Opal suspected that Pema may have been strong-arming Tenzin behind the scenes.

As such, the two had recently found themselves in their first fight regarding the state of the now shared apartment, and neither seemed ready to concede anytime soon. Between the natural stubbornness of the two and the unbearable heat stifling the air, both parties found themselves to be more easily agitated than usual.

"No, you're definitely not right!" Opal continued to shout from the next room. "It's not hard to do! It takes like to seconds to put the seat down!"

At this point, Bolin was already tired of the quarrel. He'd behaved the same way since the day he learned to use a toilet. His father had raised him as such, and he had no reason to change his habits while living with Mako. His older brother even vehemently agreed with the earth bender when he mentioned the fight to him.

"Opal, you have no argument!" He shouted back. "If it's so easy to do then just do it yourself!"

"That's not the point, Bo!" Opal shouted as flushing coupled with running tap water could be heard from down the hall. She marched into the living room, arms crossed, prepared for the battle ahead. "It's at least five times harder for a girl to use the bathroom than a boy. The least you can do is put the seat down for me!"

"Oh, well excuse me, your majesty. I didn't realize it was my sworn duty to patrol the bathroom for you!" Pealing himself from the couch, Bolin leapt up and threw his hand into a swift salute. "Ma'am, it is an honor and a privilege to lower the seat on your behalf! I live to serve the Bei Fong family!"

This made Opal seethe. She'd always found sarcasm to be one of the most offensive forms of speech, and she knew Bolin was well aware of this. A poor combination of weather and circumstance had her blood boiling, and she was doing her best to keep from snapping. Bolin was clearly not helping matters any.

"Don't. You. Dare." No longer yelling, Opal had reached the point where volume was no longer necessary to intimidate. "Don't you dare speak to me that way." She glowered back at him. Sweat trickled down her brow as she exuded an aura of pure rage.

At this point, it would've probably been a good idea to back off, but his frustration with the pointless recurring argument combined with the oppressive heat bearing down on him had vaporized any sense that Bolin had left.

He brought his tone down to the air benders level, prepared to match her blow for blow. "I'd say I'm sorry, but I'm not. I'd say you're right, but then I'd be wrong. You don't leave a jar of pickles open. Nor do you a can of paint. You. Close. The. Lid. The toilet has a lid. When you're done using the toilet, you close the lid. Don't get mad at me just because you're being irrationa-"

The pro bender's sentence was cut off by a swift cracking coming from his cheek. Ordinarily, Bolin knew better than to use the "I" word, but today he'd found himself especially good at setting his girlfriend off. He'd seen Mako slapped by a girl or two in the past, but had no inkling of the sensation until now. He stood there, face still turned away from the Bei Fong girl, trying to figure out what had just happened. He slowly turned back to her, at an utter loss for words, wondering if she'd actually hit him just now.

Opal watched as Bolin slowly righted his head, prepared for the next volley of words she expected to start flying. She knew they would never come when she saw the look of shock and hurt in her boyfriend's eyes. Her gaze shifted to the warm stinging sensation that she began to feel radiating from her palm. Confusion flashed across her features for a moment before they morphed into an expression of guilt at the realization of what she'd just done.

"Bolin, I...I-I-I didn't…I'm sorry." She had a hard time meeting his eyes, realizing that she'd just struck her boyfriend for the first time.

For the sake of fairness, Opal had always disliked the idea of slapping a loved one. Disregarding her pact of non-aggression, she thought it unfair to physically hurt Bolin, knowing that no matter what, he would never allow himself to lose control like that on her.

Before she could stutter out any more apologies, the earth bender had already brought her in for one of his trademark platypus-bear hugs.

"I know sweetie. I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have pushed you like that."

Opal smiled as she buried her face into his chest. "Thanks, Bo."

"…"

"…you smell like sweat."

Bolin rolled his eyes as he pulled his girlfriend back from his chest. "Babe, you realize how angry you'd be if I said that to you?"

"I suppose you're right." Opal giggled as she stroked the side of Bolin's face she'd just hit.

"Listen sweetie, if it really means that much to you, I'll stop closing the lid." Bolin held her by the chin as he spoke "But don't tell Mako. I need to make it look like I put my foot down" he said with a wink.

Opal laughed as she placed a light kiss on his lips. "No problem."

The cool evening air greeted Bolin like a long lost friend. He placed his feet on the coffee table and slouched back, enjoying the much needed change in atmosphere. Happy girlfriend, pleasant weather, nothing could be better. Just as he began to settle in more comfortably, he heard a splash.

"BOLIN I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

Closing Notes:

Whoooo hoooo! New apartment, new laptop, new semester! I'll do my best to make time to write these fictions. They're surprisingly...cathartic? I'm not sure if that describes it accurately but that's the best word I can think of currently.

Thanks for reading.