Mother Nurture
Summary: Asami Sato is the heiress to a company, one of the best dancers in school, and is expected to become valedictorian of her graduating class. On the outside, her life looks perfect, but in reality she tries to find any reason possible not to go home…
Rating: T+
Pairings: Sennasami (platonic), Korrasami (platonic)
Main Characters: Senna, Asami Sato, Hiroshi Sato, Korra, Tonraq
Other: Modern AU, No bending
.: I :.
Asami Sato sighed hard as the bell clanged loudly throughout the school, indicating the growing pit in her stomach was set to win the tug of war competition they were currently having. She slowly gathered up her textbooks, listening to the teacher, who was rushing the last bit of their sentence, as a few eager students jumped up and made their way towards the door.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone, thumbing through the applications until she got to her messages inbox. Asami glanced at the notification number, before entering the application. All five texts were from her father, each gradually longer than the next. However, the timestamp indicated the messages were sent right after the other. Her phone vibrated as another text message entered her inbox, a red exclamation point attached to the envelope icon.
"Hey, Asami," Korra shouted from the doorway, "school is over."
Asami looked up from her phone before smiling brightly in Korra's direction. She then looked around, now noticing the empty classroom. Even the teacher had vacated the room. Flushing brightly, Asami placed her phone back into her pocket, before gathering up her items.
"You look kind of zoned out, and it is definitely not like you," Korra said the minute Asami joined her in the hallway. "What's going on?"
"That's something I like about you, Korra," Asami commented. "You're always straight to the point. It's very refreshing."
"You say refreshing, my mom says tactless and blunt."
Asami hummed quietly as they made their way through the filled hallways of Republic City High towards the senior section and her locker. Korra would wave or call out a greeting to many people she passed.
"You may as well just tell me," Korra said. Asami glanced over at her, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion. "I can see the wheels turning in your head. Spill," she commanded.
Asami chuckled lightly, raising a shoulder. Adjusting her school bag, she sidestepped a large group of students, yelling, and happily chatting as they passed. She frowned as a pompom brushed the side of her face. Korra yelled over her shoulder, ordering them to pay more attention, before focusing on Asami, who was staring after the group.
"I don't know," she said quietly. "Sometimes, I wish I were like them."
"A cheerleader?" Korra asked, raising an eyebrow. "No offense, Asami, but you're not the perky type."
"No, not a cheerleader," Asami sneered. Korra let out a bark of laughter. It was a pretty rare occurrence for Asami to look anything other than perfect, at least in Korra's eyes. The girl usually has everything in its place, ranging from items in her locker, to the hair on her head, to the buttons on her clothing. Even when teasing someone, Asami would normally look calm and collected, which is why Korra would take such pride in seeing the goofy part. "I think I take my studies too seriously."
"You're set to be valedictorian, that's a big achievement," Korra reminded her.
"An achievement that states I keep my nose in a book for far too long."
"Which is why I'm here to loosen you up a bit and to have some fun." Korra dropped her bag to the ground, before wrapping her arms around Asami's waist, spinning her in wide circles. Asami laughed wildly, before gasping in shock as her bag flew off her arm and slammed into a row of lockers.
Korra carefully placed Asami back onto the ground, laughing wildly, her head thrown back, as Asami rushed to inspect the damage of the lockers.
"It's not that I'm not proud of my accomplishments," Asami said, placing a hand over her chest as she fought to catch her breath. After careful inspection of the lockers, and running her hand over the metal in search of dents, she apologized quietly when she spotted a few teachers had poked their heads out of their classrooms to see what the noise was. Korra picked up Asami's school bag and placed it back onto her friend's shoulder. "Sometimes I wish I had more people to share it with."
"You have me, Mako, Bolin, and Opal. Who else do we need? Having a lot of friends isn't all it's cracked up to be." Korra stuffed her hands into her pockets and shrugged. "I don't know if most of them genuinely like me or that I'm the captain of a winning sports team every season."
"Careful, your ego is showing." Asami teased.
"See, this is why it's good to have you around. You never hesitate to tell me when I'm being obnoxious." As they approached Asami's locker, Korra reached into her pocket and pulled out her cellphone. A loud alarm tone blared from the speakers of the electronic device. "Anyway, I have to go to swim practice."
"Swim team doesn't start for another few months." Asami entered in the combination to her lock. Popping it open into her hand, she pulled the lock off and opened her locker. Korra instantly grabbed the whiteboard and dry erase marker from the door and erased two lines of reminders, before beginning to doodle.
"Yeah, but it doesn't hurt to get a head start." Korra recapped the marker before turning the whiteboard around for Asami to see the doodle. Asami smiled before taking it and placing the whiteboard back onto the inside of her locker door. The drawing was of a miniature Korra and Asami wearing matching Republic City High sweatshirts. "I'll see you later?"
Asami emptied her school bag for her books and binders, before slipping her laptop inside. "How about I join you?" she asked. "I don't have anything planned, and my dad doesn't really need me at Future Industries today."
"You're not going to go to the dance studio?"
"Nah, I could use a bit of a break." Asami closed her locker, fastening the master locker. She tugged it a few times, reassuring herself that it was actually locked. "Plus, this will give Kuvira the edge she needs."
"I thought you two were becoming friends," Korra said quietly.
"More like acquaintances," Asami corrected. "Dance acquaintances." She then noticed the slight pout forming on Korra's face. "I'm sure there's a reason you two are friends though. I mean, we may not see eye to eye, but if she's your friend then I don't mind her being around," she quickly added.
The pout quickly transitioned into a frown. Korra scoffed throwing her hands in the air. "Who says we're friends?" she demanded. "She's a thorn in my side. My rival, my enemy."
"And, the one person you're in competition with aside from yourself," Asami pointed out. Korra rolled her eyes before reaching up to re-tie the wolf-tail sitting at the crown of her head. Asami pursed her lips. Fussing over her wolf-tails was something Korra only did when she wanted to avoid a topic or didn't want to admit that she was wrong. "Face it, Korra, you're friends and you see her as a good way to stay on your toes."
"Well, don't spread it around," Korra said gruffly.
"My lips are sealed." Asami mimed locking her lips closed. She then lightly bumped Korra on the shoulder before the two headed back in the direction they came, towards the front of the school. The hallways had begun to become less crowded as the students headed home for the weekend.
"Speaking of lips." Korra looked wildly over her shoulder. As the two passed by classrooms, she would glance around each one, even if the doors were closed and the lights were off. Asami pulled out her cell phone, deleting the messages from her father as she waited for Korra to continue her thought. "I'm curious…when you kissed Mako, were his…have you noticed Mako's lips are really chapped?"
"Korra!" Asami laughed in shock. "We really shouldn't compare dating stories. I mean, you both did just break up, and Mako is our friend." Asami powered down her phone before placing it back into her pocket. "…but yes, sometimes they were," she quickly admitted.
"I knew it!" Korra cried. "I mean, I kind of understand, for a firebender, but he could have used a bit more chapstick." She then grinned evilly. "Or perhaps she he was too busy practicing on his hand…or a stuffed animal."
Asami covered her hand over her mouth, a wasted attempt at trying to her hide her amused smile. "You're one to talk," Asami pointed out. "I'm surprised you still have lips when you visit your home at the South Pole."
"It's the water tribe in me. I'm used to it." Korra rushed ahead and pushed the front doors to the school open, stepping to the side, allowing Asami to pass through. She waved her hand in the air, smiling brightly upon noticing a blue mini-van parked out front. "That's my mom."
"Hello Asami, how are you?" Senna asked once she rolled down the passenger side window. She leaned forward a bit to fully face Asami, who walked up to the door. Korra ran around to the driver's side of the car, leaned into the window, and kissed her mother on her cheek.
"I'm good, Senna," Asami greeted. "Thank you." She took a step back as Korra pulled open the passenger side door and tossed her school bag to the floor before climbing inside. "I hope you've been doing well."
"Where's dad?" Korra asked.
"He's working late, today, but he'll be coming up tonight." Senna pressed a light kiss to Korra's forehead, who groaned loudly before pulling away. Asami giggled into her palm as Senna gently swatted her daughter on her arm. "I have your stuff in the back."
"Is it okay if Asami comes with us?" Korra turned over to Asami, who suddenly took up focus with her cell phone. "She offered to help with my practice today."
"I don't have a problem with it, but we'll be gone all weekend, remember?" Senna asked. "Your dad was able to pull some strings to get us to use the Olympic pool a few cities over. Plus, we're having that dinner with a few members of the city council."
"Oh, I forgot."
"Oh, that's quite alright," Asami said with a shrug. Korra took a quick glance at her phone, noticing the dark screen, and the buttons and keypad weren't backlit. "I mean, I don't have too much to do this weekend as it is. I can push it to Sunday."
"You're procrastinating on something?" Korra asked. "This coming from the girl who already has half of next week's homework done."
Asami smiled politely as Senna looked in between the two teenagers. "If it's too much trouble, then I don't mind staying here," she offered. "Of course, that would mean Korra would have to go without my help with her science homework."
Korra paused before reaching an arm back behind her seat. After pressing a button, the side door to the van unlocked and began to automatically open. "Get in," Korra instructed.
"Won't your father worry?" Senna asked as Asami ducked low and climbed into the vehicle.
"No, he'll be fine. I'll just text him." Asami closed the door behind her before buckling up her seatbelt. Placing her school bag onto the floor, she fluffed up her hair from in between her back and the seat. Senna made a sound of agreement before putting the car into park and pulling away from the curb. "Would it be too much trouble if I stop by my place first, to pack a bag?"
"Of course not," Senna answered. "It's on the way." Korra leaned forward and turned on the radio to a Top 40 station. Propping her feet up onto the dashboard, she began to drum her thumbs on her kneecaps as she sang along to each song. Asami hummed the tunes to herself, smiling, as she watched Senna and Korra talk about their day and argue about Korra's feet being propped up. Soon, they pulled up in front of the Sato Estate.
Before the van came to a stop, Asami unbuckled herself and grabbed her bag. Korra reached behind her seat and unlocked the side door, pulling it open. Asami was about to question why her friend had assisted in opening the door when she was perfectly capable, but scurried out instead. "I'll be just a minute," Asami said, poking her head back through the door. "I mean, I don't want to be rude, but we're really not prepared for visitors right now."
"Take your time. We'll be waiting," Senna instructed. Asami nodded once before pulling the side door closed. She then sauntered up toward the front of the estate. Asami smiled and greeted the doorman as he pushed the door open for her to enter the building. "Korra, don't you find it weird that she spends a lot of time with us?"
"No." Korra frowned. "She's my best friend."
"I understand that, but, something just seems off," her mother answered with a shrug. She curled and uncurled her fingers that gripped the steering wheel. "I mean, do you remember the last time she spent a weekend at home?"
"When you were eighteen, did you want to spend time with grandma and pop-pop?" Korra demanded. "Or did you want to hang out with your friends?" She crossed her arms over her chest and raised an eyebrow, waiting for her mother's response.
"Good point," she sighed.
"It's been known to happen from time to time," Korra answered smugly. "Besides, you're a great cook. She's probably addicted to your food."
"Well, she could use some more meat on her bones," her mother commented.
"Mom, she's fine. Stop worrying." Although, as happy as she was to finally have one upped her mother, Korra couldn't help her thoughts drifting back to Asami's phone, which had been powered off, and her sudden self-invitation on their trip. It was something definitely out of the ordinary for someone as put together as Asami Sato…