I CAN’T HOLD ALL THESE BROTPS. I’m glad that I wasn’t the only one who thought of Linebeck when we first saw Verick :B
The snowing still swirling around them, Verick glances at him. “You’re pretty brave for someone so short. I mean, not as brave as me, but … not too shabby.” Bolin smiles, and Korra nods approvingly at the smooth-talking Water Tribe man. “So your name’s Bo, huh? That’s a weird name … The name’s Verick! I’m a real man of the south. Impressive, huh? It was smooth as ice for me in the beginning.” He thumbs over his right shoulder at the iron-grey hull rising from the frozen ice around them. “But then I got myself stuck in that trap. This place’ll suck the life out of you, if you let it! Blasted Fire Navy ship …” The man shakes his head incredulously and crosses his arms. “What are you doing in a place like this, anyway? And what do you want from me, kid?”
Bolin reflexively rubs the back of his neck with his left hand. “I’m trying to find the Spirit World entrance, and -
“What?!” Verick snaps, taken aback. “You’re looking for the Spirit World entrance? So you’re trying to get your mitts on the treasure!”
Korra narrows her eyes; bracing her left hand against her hip, she points at him with the other, clearly about to chew him out. “Treasure? What are you even talking about?! Bolin is trying to save his brother! He was abducted by the Face Stealer!” She pauses, and Bolin catches a glimpse of intense sapphire eyes, no doubt also concerned over Mako’s disappearance. “We came hoping you might know more about it.
“Oh. Really?” Verick smirks and adjusts his collar smartly. “Boo hoo. How sweet. I think I’m gonna cry.” Bolin’s breath catches in his throat; the earthbender stumbles backwards, his hopes for finding Mako again evaporating before his eyes. “Oh, I’m just teasing, kid. If that’s what this is about,” the man explains as Bolin notices his eyes light up with an idea, “I’m on board! I’m here looking for info about the Face Stealer too! I was just a step away, but I sprained my ankle.” Korra and Bolin exchange glances, both of them staring at Verick’s feet obviously supporting his weight quite well. “Otherwise, I would have explored this cursed place.”
A growl escapes her. “Liar! I just saw you running like a rabbit cheetah!”
“No. No you didn’t.” Verick moves his hands in a circle, then reaches down to grip his right ankle in both hands, his pained expression ruined by the addition of another smirk. “That was just an illusion. My ankle’s still throbbing! The pain is … unbearable! Ohhh … the pain … Anyway, you want to know about the Face Stealer? Go on without me, kid! Go grab the clue about it. It has to be in there. We need it to find the Spirit World entrance. Got that?”
Korra looks ready to explode. “You’re faking it. I think you’re just scared!”
“Not a chance! Normally, I’d be leading the charge down there!” Verick counters swiftly, lowering his voice. “But I know how much it means to Bolink - “
“Bolin.”
” - so I’m letting him have the glory of saving his friend. So, anyway, here …” Standing up from his hunched-over position, he fishes something out of the pocket of his jacket. A small metal object. A key? “Take this with you, kid. I found this key around here. It might help.” As he curls his fingers around his “wounded” ankle once more, he adds, “You know what you’ve got to do, so get to it! Oh … and good luck in there, kid.”
