#autistic bolin

[toschestationed]

Autistic Bolin fic!

So I wrote a thing after rewatching ATLA and Legend of Korra, during which I decided that Bolin was definitely on the autism spectrum. Couldn’t find any fics on this, so I wrote one myself. Enjoy!

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

[aangtheairbender]

Autistic Bolin HC / some ADHD HC

Did get diagnosed when he was little, but all that knowledge went out the window when his parents died.

Would have meltdowns and cry for hours when they were taken into custody by a adoption centre. No one really understood why they lasted so long or why it sometimes happened. They just thought it had something to do with the awful circumstances. Mako didn't know what to do either, but all of them saw that Little Bo was the most calm when they were together. And it wasn't like they were ever separated during that time.

Would also have meltdowns on the streets, because noting is constant or stable there. Mako who didn't know how to handle their new life, would get frustrated and yell at him to stop or behave or leave him alone. But after a while, he would comfort him and try to get Bolin to speak or calm down. It was hard for them both.

Could be so exhausted from it all, that he just needed a day to rest at the current home they had. Mako would always hide him well when he went out for food or needed to leave him alone for some time.

Also, on the streets, he could have hours or sometimes a day or two where he was mute. Selectively mute. Those happened more when he and Mako spent the first few years on the streets, before they learned to survive better. They doesn't really happen when he becomes an adult.

Does have texture issues regarding food (especially) and some clothing fabric. Likes soft food the best, which is why dumplings is a big fave and noodles comes on a close second. Rice works if it cooked the way he likes. Is less energetic regarding crunchy food like fresh vegetables and rice crackers. Has learned to push through it tho, because of his hard childhood. They couldn'r really be picky, but there have been times were he has had meltdowns because of food and even gotten sick because he tried to force food down that clashed with his texture issues.

He is able to ignore some of them most of the time. They do eat a lot at the Island or their dad's side of the family. He learned early on that he couldn't afford to be picky with food, so he is able to force food down if he must. Mako sometimes is sneaky and takes the food he knows Bolin can't stomach on his own plate and rolls a dumpling or two back on Bolin's plate.

Stims a lot with his hands. He either plays with his fingers or flaps them. Especially if he's nervous or really excited. Also bonuses his knees a lot or shake his ankle a lot when he is doing mundane things like sitting down and writing etc. Also walks in circle whenever he is really stressed.

When Toza gave them a home at the Arena, he decided that the best way to cope with Bolin's endless amount of babbling and energy, was to just exhaust him with pro-bending practice and daily task reguarding taking care of the Arena when it was closed.

Doesn't really know that he is autistic, is kind of just the way he is. Mako doesn't know either; he just learned to handle Bolin so he wouldn't have meltdown and got used to his reactions to things he liked and didn't like. Or what set him of and what didn't. It was just how Bolin was.

His hyper focus have come in great use through his lifetime. He went through a small phase were he wanted to learn sewing, because it helped him and his brother out, and focused entirely on that for a while. Same with some food recipes he has perfected while he wanted to be better at cooking. Have had his fare share of earth bending exercises where he has just almost spent every waking minute trying to workout.

When he tried to learn lava bending, Mako would usually have to get him out from whatever mountain or forest he was practicing in or drop off some food. He would have spent the whole day there if it wasn't for someone interrupting him and telling him it was time for rest.

Dose get some periods and days were he has a really hard time focusing and stimulating himself, so he struggles a lot with work and just comes off as too over the top for everyone else and too energetic. They tell him to clam down a notch or two- but he can't really help himself. It exhausting for everyone, but worst for Bolin.

A little bit too talkative sometimes and too overbearing without knowing it.

Is pretty great at masking.

Finds people confusing most of the time, since he can't really read a room or people for that matter. Tries to mimic other people, but it doesn't really help him. Likes Varrick for this reason, since he is most of the time straight forward about the tasks and stuff he wants to do or wants other people to do.

Army was also easy for him to adapt to, since they did follow a fairly monotone working schedule the first years in regards of change in the weekly plan. Likes also that officers and people up in the higher rank just tells him what to do, without giving him much choice to do otherwise.

I think Lin would actually pick up on it. Maybe even Asami and Opal too. Lin would pick it up when Bolin worked as an officer under her. There would be other neurodivergent workers in the department, and it's important that they know stuff like that because it can interfere with their work in regards on how they need to work to function and the reaction they will have during certain circumstances.

She would just observe him and kind of just pick up the clues here and there and it kind of just clicks the longer she observes him on work and off work. Since he hand't mention it, Lin ask one time and Bolin just gives him a blank stare.

Bolin goes to Mako and asks him about it, and Mako doesn't really have any clue what he is talking about- since he doesn't really know a lot about stuff like that either. Lin talks about what she has observed and Mako kind of understands that is more to Bolin than he though. Bolin just gets more confused.

Mako borrows a few books from the Island and reads up on the matter and a lot of the behaviour and things alike matches his brother behaviour. Also ask Opal about it, and she tells him that she kind of though it was something underlying, but didn't want to be rude to just ask it straight out. And Bolin had never once mentioned, so she just thought she was just looking too deep into something.

Mako feels kind of shitty since he didn't pick up on it sooner. Which was impossible for him since he didn't even know what it was. He just wishes he could make Bolin's life easier.

When Bolin actually get the diagnosis, he is both relieved and has a little crisis because he never understood while he did thing like he did. Mako tells him he will help him figure more of this out.

[gilliflowersmaybe]

Autistic Bolin headcanons!!!

-He never got diagnosed, cause of the whole growing up on the streets thing

-Instead, he got really good at masking around anyone that wasn’t Mako

-First thought he might be autistic when Korra was talking to him about her ADHD, and he was like “oh shit that’s me”

-Initially doubted that he was autistic bc he’s a people person (am I projecting? Yes)

-Hyperverbal, doesn’t understand why Mako thinks he talks too much. (Mako’s also autistic just hasn’t figured it out yet)

-Flaps. Like, a lot. (See the scene in s4 where he meets Toph)

-Has a lot of sensory issues, specifically with temperature

-Has a bit of a hard time with social cues, fortunately someone’s always there to help him out

-Gives Pabu chin scritches to stim. Pabu LOVES this, which is great bc Bolin loves it too

-Bolin + Korra = neurodivergent chaos duo (nickname coined by Asami, who is definitely ND I just haven’t figured out exactly how)

Feel free to add on!!!

[f-loys]

Autistic Mako and Bolin hcs from someone who is actually autistic

- I feel like Mako and Bolin both had a special interest in probending, especially when they were younger

- Mako also had a special interest in history, specifically the gaang and even more specifically Aang

- Bolin sorta had the same thing with toph, but that was more of an earthbending thing

- Bolin and Mako will both have periods of time where it’s harder to talk, usually from getting overstimulated

- Stimming with bending. Yes.

- Bolin has sensory issues with a lot of food, even though he had to ignore them when he and Mako were homeless

- They are both not great at social situations- with Bolin usually taking what people say at face value and Mako usually coming off like he doesn’t care

- Mako is usually understimulated when it comes to sight, which helps him when dealing with lightning

- Bolin has trouble reading because of the small text and contrast of black on white (a problem I have; this might not be an autistic thing but whatever)

- They both will sometimes have problems processing what people are saying, and Mako can rarely understand someone if they’re singing

I will continue to add on to this

[bigeyedchangelingchild]

Autistic Bolin.

Autistic Bolin doesn’t know when to stop talking.

Autistic Bolin telling the industry guy that he isn’t levitating.

Autistic Bolin having a hard time telling the difference between Ginger’s characters and actual feelings.