A cute little Bolin and Skoochy friendship drabble! Set sometime after meeting Korra and way before the end of the first season.

Words: 500

Hope you enjoy and drop a review if you have the time. :)

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Soft, golden sunlight poured from the clouds gathering across the sky and fell on the rowdy streets of the city, filled with merchant and people both young and old, both carefree and burdened by the responsibilities of living. Then, sitting in a patch of pleasant shade provided by the tree above on a sparsely populated street, a boy clad in clothes meant for the less fortunate waited for the kind passerby who would provide him with a copper coin or two. His stomach rumbled loudly at the very thought.

No one graced his ears with the hopeful sound of heels clacking against the hard stone or the sight of a pityful glance in his direction.

The rumble grew louder.

.,.

That day, not a moment of time could anyone spare for the energetic earthbender. Not even the Avatar herself, who always seemed eager to escape from the binds of her burdens, or Mako, who so usually indulged him in the things he wanted. So Bolin set a path for the city. Maybe, he thought, he would run into one of the overenthusiastic and often hyperventilating fangirls that attending the bending matches.

Or maybe he would just catch a bag of dumplings and eat them on the way back like he always did.

.,.

With night unfolding and a soft wind tugging at his hole-ridden clothes, Skoochy made his way down the cobblestone street. Not another soul accompanied him. At a glance toward the sky, he found winking stars and a glowing moon just appearing. A smile rising to his lips, he shook his head and continued on. Maybe, he wondered, the wrinkly old man would be too slow to bring the heavy wooden cane down on his fingers before they closed around a fresh, warm dumpling.

Or maybe he would haunt the statue of the old, serious guy like always.

.,.

Streetlights threw their pale yellow glow onto the nearly empty streets. The sound of a bustling city hardly faded as he distanced himself from it. Beside the approaching sight of orange spilling from the street hidden by the adjacent, tall buildings, the warmth of cozy old shops and the smell of cooking foods welcomed him. What he always forgot was how much this place made him feel at home.

.,.

Warm breezes became brisk and drifted his way more often as he came closer to his destination. No other feeling matched he one experienced upon first taking in all the sights, smells, and sounds of the coziest place in the whole of Republic City.

Skoochy didn't experience anything except leafy green eyes and warmth and the surprised yelp before he collided and flattened some really sturdy guy.

.,.

The kid was homeless, alone, and probably hungry. With a jolt, Bolin realized the kid reminded him of his younger self and he knew what he had to do.

"Dumpling?" he offered the bag.

Two goofy smiles appeared simultaneously. And just like that, the dumplings were gone with the sun.