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[acknowledges]

Taco Salad is not happy to help you. Taco Salad hungers for justice, and for a bite of whatever you're eating.

Comments

[acknowledges]

I don't think it really works like that'attebayo. [This doesn't seem to make a lot of sense to him. Naruto has never thought of relationships as things to make him happy- they were just things that happened when people cared about each other. It hasn't occurred to him to go out looking for one.]

But if you think so, why aren't you dating one then?

[sediments]

Who says I’m not trying? [ Sorry he’s not oozing charm like this brother!!

Anyway, this isn’t about him. Bolin is enough of a well-adjusted person that relationships aren’t that big of a deal for him. Naruto is a different case. ]

What I’m saying is—it’s like the letter! There are sides to people here you might not notice unless you think in a different way.

[acknowledges]

[Because Bolin decided that Naruto isn't well-adjusted??]

But I don't wanna think about people in a different way.

I wanna see people the way they are.

[sediments]

[ He thinks about that for a moment – wondering if Naruto has a point, though it doesn’t seem like Naruto’s entirely grasped what Bolin’s trying to say either. Or maybe he’s just going in a different direction with his thoughts.

If this were Mako, he might’ve rolled his eyes and told his brother to stop being obtuse, but he’s dealing with a different creature here. Romance and dating are different beasts for Naruto than they are for him, and he should roll with it. ]

Okay, if you say so. [ His tone shifts away from something that’s trying to forcefully lead somewhere to genuine curiosity. ] So what do you think about a fifteen year old going out with a twenty-three year old? It’s seriously weird for me but Sakura and Jae-ha seem to think it’s normal?

[acknowledges]

[There's conversational whiplash, and then there's this.

Naruto is equally concerned and confused- mouth working silently for a moment before he starts sputtering.] Wh-

What?! Who- What?!

[sediments]

[ That reaction means that Naruto's thinking is probably similar to his right?

But he glances away, vowed to secrecy. ]

I can't say... But what do you think? Does it sound normal? Sound I keep my nose out of it? Sometimes you have to be... [ he squints, pained ] accepting of differences?

[acknowledges]

Well.... [This isn't a situation he's ever been in before. No one back home would ever think to ask him, of all people, for advice- let alone romantic advice. Well, except maybe Sai, but Sai really was clueless. His head shakes.]

Are you only gettin' involved cause of you, or is it cause the younger one's in trouble?

[sediments]

[ Bolin looks away rather guiltily. ]

Just because of me. [ His eyes go back to Naruto then. ] But only because I care.

[acknowledges]

I dunno... I think if you care then maybe you also gotta care that it's something that makes them happy right now, right?

1/2

[sediments]

I just don't want her to get hur—

[sediments]

[ He stops, realization hitting him like lightning. ]

Oh man... I'm turning into Mako.

[acknowledges]

Is that


Bad??

I thought you liked your brother?

[sediments]

I do! [ He does! ] But this is exactly the kind of thing that was so annoying about him! He was always like "that's not a good idea, Bolin" or "I don't think you should do that, Bolin" or "Bolin, can you please be serious?" even when I was being serious!

And now... I'm doing the same thing!

[acknowledges]

Oh. Okay.

[What whiplash]

So does that mean you're gonna leave 'em alone?

[sediments]

[ He's wearing an extremely unwilling expression despite his revelation. ]

Should I? I still think you'd make a better boyfriend.

[acknowledges]

I don't know what kinda boyfriend I'd be, I've never been a boyfriend before.

[sediments]

It's not that hard. It's basically like being good friends with someone, but with [ he stifles a grin here ] slight differences.

And you're a good friend, so I have faith in you.

[acknowledges]

Well you're a good friend too...

I still don't really understand why you're so worried about me having a girlfriend and not you though.

[sediments]

I'm not worried. [ Not about Naruto anyway, Sakura is a slightly different story. He wouldn't care if Setsuna wasn't so old. ]

Are you trying to say I should focus on myself?

[acknowledges]

Is it working?

[sediments]

[ He sighs a little, his shoulders rising and falling. ]

I don't know, I'm trying.

[acknowledges]

I should'a guessed it be hard for somebody like you, huh?

You're always thinking about everyone else.

[sediments]

[ Is that a compliment or an insult...? ]

Why would that make it hard for me?

[acknowledges]

Because you're trying to take care of other people first.

[sediments]

...

[ After a moment of dumbfounded silence, Bolin just cracks a grin. ]

Not exactly. I've gone on dates.