Hey there! So I figured I'd publish this now cause I felt like I had a lot happen uvu and sorry for the long wait I had to move twice in the past week. So now that I have internet and a lot of free time, expect more chapters! uvu;;; Also, for some reason Mako gets changed to Make automatically on google docs so I'm sorry if you're reading along and that happens.
The next morning Korra was training at the moving gates again. This time she snapped and ended up burning down the gates and yelling at Tenzin, calling him an awful teacher. Mi-Kai's hand flew up to her mouth and she whispered apologies to Tenzin before chasing after Korra.
"Korra?" Mi-Kai whispered, standing in front of Korra's bedroom door.
"Go away Mi-Kai." Korra spat, Mi-Kai sighed and left for her own room to take a nap,
'hopefully she'll be in a better mood later...' Mi-Kai thought as she nestled into her bedding and fell asleep.
Mi-Kai woke up later to the sound of Tenzin waking her up.
"Ehm? What?" Mi-Kai asked,
"do you know where Korra is?" He asked,
"no, I fell asleep. I'll help you look though." She muttered and got up still fully dressed from earlier. Both her and Tenzin walked around calling out Korra's name. They approached a group of White Lotus sentries listening to a pro bending match over the radio, "excuse me, do you know where Ko-"
"YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! She's the Avatar, Folks! Playing in Pro Bending match!" The announcer over the radio screamed. A White Lotus Sentry spit out his tea onto another, Tenzin's face began to turn abnormally red, and Mi-Kai bit her thumb nail. Tenzin looked over at Mi-Kai with a slight glare, Mi-Kai threw her hands up in defense,
"Hey man I didn't know she left! I was asleep!" Tenzin let out an angry huff,
"I'll get her myself!" He said and summoned Oogi,
"I'm going with you!" Mi-Kai demanded as she stood next to Tenzin, who thought it would be best to just let her go with. He had to focus on getting Korra back to the island, he didn't want to waste time arguing with Mi-Kai. As the pair flew on Oogi, Tenzin had asked Mi-Kai if Korra had said anything to her about going to the match,
"not really. I fell asleep after I chased her down earlier today." Mi-Kai stated, looking out at the scenery, "I can't say that I'm surprised that she's there though..." She muttered. When Tenzin landed Oogi Mi-Kai jumped off the side with ease. Thankfully there weren't a lot of people around to cause a sence. Tenzin barged into the arena and went to the nearest security gaurd, Tenzin explained the situation to the gaurd and he let the two continue into where only pro benders were allowed in. The two of them made their way to the platform where Korra was currently lifting herself from out of the water,
"oh! Tenzin...Mi-Kai! Hello! Heh..." Korra said, Mi-Kai was standing behind Tenzin with smile on her face and waving at her twin.
"Once again you have disobeyed my orders! You were suppose to stay on the island!" Tenzin reprimanded Korra, arms folded and a glare on his face, "let's go." He demanded, turning and began to walk away. Mi-Kai stood back and leaned against the wall.
'This isn't going to end well,' she thought and watched the argument unfold in front of her.
"No!" Korra yelled back, swinging and arm in front of her, "I'm...Kinda in the middle of something."
"I have tried my very best to get through to you by being gentle and patient. But clearly the only thing you respond to well, is force!" Tenzin began, his voice rising with anger, "so I am ordering you to come back to the Temple right now."
"Why? So I can sit around and meditate how bad I am at airbending?" Korra yelled back, "I'm beginning to think there's a reason I'm not good at airbending! Maybe I don't even need it!"
"What?! That's a ludicrous idea! You're the Avatar, it's essential that you learn all of the elements!" Tenzin roared.
"No! What I need to learn is this!" Korra exclaimed and gestured to the ring behind her, "modern styles of fighting!"
"Korra! Being the Avatar doesn't mean fighting all the time!"
"Whatever. I have a match to finish." Korra huffed, getting on the lift to the waiting room. Tenzin let out an overdrawn sigh,
"Has she always been like this? How are you so calm?" Tenzin asked, 'they may be twins but they're so different...' Tenzin thought as he watched Mi-Kai, who during that whole argument, had been leaning on the wall examining her nails. She looked up, finally being addressed,
"Basically...and I don't know I guess that's one thing that makes us different." Mi-Kai mused, as the announcer had just called the victory of round two to the Platypus Bears. Tenzin let out another huff of air as he exited the platform, Mi-Kai followed suit.
Round three had just started and the opposing team had Mako and Bolin pinned to a corner and were wailing attacks on Korra. Both Tenzin and Mi-Kai had retreated to the audience at this point and were standing in the vestibule, Tenzin groaned and rubbing his face with his hand. Mi-Kai's face contorted into worry, her hands gripped the edge of her skirt, 'come on Korra!' Mi-Kai thought her eyes following the attacks of the opposing team. Korra was being pushed back to the edge thinking that she was going to plunge into the water Tenzin continued to leave, but Korra was dodging everyone's attacks smoothly.
"Tenzin! Look!" Mi-Kai gasped causing Tenzin to stop in his tracks and look back, Mi-Kai's face morphed into a look of pride, "she's moving like an airbender!" Mi-Kai smiled, clasping her hands in front of her.
"How about that..." Tenzin whispered. Since the Platypus Bear's attacks weren't achieving anything, they were losing energy fast and since Mako and Bolin had been pinned back. They still had enough energy to win the round and win the match. Tenzin let out a cheer, earning the looks from surrounding onlookers, and a laugh from Mi-Kai. As the match ended in the Fire Ferret's favor, the duo left the arena and returned to Air Temple Island on Oogi.
In the booth, the fire ferrets were celebrating their win. Bolin looked around, 'I thought I saw Mi-Kai here earlier...' he thought, "hey Korra, where's Mi-Kai?" He asked, Korra's face contorted into confusion,
"she was here with Tenzin, maybe she's out in the crowd watching?" She asked, now scanning the many faces of the crowd, "or she could be mad at me cause I yelled at her earlier..." she whispered, casting her eyes downwards. Bolin slapped a hand on her shoulder,
"I don't think she would be mad at you, she's probably waiting outside?" He suggested. Korra nodded, maybe he was right and besides, Mi-Kai never stayed mad at her for long. When Korra left the arena, she scanned the front area incase Mi-Kai was waiting for her there, but when Korra didn't see her twin she returned to the island via swimming. Korra approached Tenzin as he was overseeing the reconstruction of the moving gates. They both apologized to one another and Korra informed Tenzin that she permanently joined the Fire Ferrets and she'll begin training with them for the tournament in a couple of weeks time, 'Mi-Kai has got to be in her room then...' Korra thought and ran over to the girl's dormitory and stood in front of Mi-Kai's door.
"Mi-Kai?" Korra asked before sliding the door open, Mi-Kai was currently sitting at her desk, wearing her underclothes and a towel wrapped around her head, she was currently writing a letter. "Writing a letter to mom and dad?" Korra asked as she sat on her sister's bed.
"Yeah, just a short update on what's going on." Mi-Kai smiled and sat down her pen, "congrats on winning the match!" She said, turning to her twin who was also smiling back at her,
"Thank you! Ya know Bolin asked where you were..." Korra smirked watching Mi-Kai as she began to blush and look down at her lap,
"He did?" She asked softly, Korra chuckled.
"He sure did! Hey why don't you accompany me to train with them next time!" Korra suggested, her large grin returning to her face. Mi-Kai mirrored it,
"Sure! Sounds fun, are you going to be able to get up early enough though?" She laughed as Korra threw a pillow at the towel on Mi-Kai's head, causing it to fall off.
"Of course!" Korra retorted with a laugh,
'Yeah right...' Mi-Kai thought and returned the pillow to Korra.
"Who do we have to train this early in the morning? Mornings are evil." Korra whispered, Mi-Kai looked at her sister with a smirk, Korra just rolled her eyes and continued to focus on catching and tossing the medicine ball.
"We're the rookies so we get the worst time slot in the gym..." Bolin said defeatedly tossing the medicine ball to Mako,
"yeah, and you're the rookiest of us all! We have to get you up to speed if we're going to survive in the tournament. Deal with it!" He said in a harsh tone as he aggressively tossed the ball to Korra, who stumbled back due to the impact,
"You deal with it!" She snapped and tossed it back to him with more aggression, causing Mako to back flip and slide on the ground. Korra had a smug look on her face and Mi-Kai was attempting to hold in her laugh as she helped Mako up on his feet, he nodded and thank you to her and she dismissed it with a short hand wave and small smile. The opening of the gym's doors grabbed everyone's attentions.
"There's my hard working little street urchins!" A rather portly man said as he entered the room, Mi-Kai and Korra exchanged confused looks as the man approached Korra, "it's an honor to finally meet you Avatar!" He said, placing a hand on Korra's shoulder,
"and you are...?" She asked a look of disgust etched on to her face,
"Butakah! I run this whole pro bending shebang!" He said, Korra decided to stand next to Mi-Kai as Butakah was giving Mako and Bolin their winnings from the last match, "but wait! I have to take out a few things! First is for the Avatar's gear, then gym and equipment rentals. Oh wait! Then it's your rent for your apartment and a personal loan for groceries..." Butakah said basically taking all the money back from Mako. Who shot a glare at Bolin,
"whaat? I'm a growing boy!" He whined and patted his stomach.
"Oh! one more thing, the Fire Ferrets need to ante up 30,000 yuans for the championship pot..." Butakah said solemnly,
"30,000 Yuans!?" Bolin exclaimed,
'oh shit, that's a lot of money...' Mi-Kai thought and bit her thumb nail, 'there's no way they'd be able to get all that in a week!''
"Sorry boys, but if you don't get that money in by the end of the week...you're disqualified from the tournament," Butakah added and promptly left. Korra and Mi-Kai approached the two,
"you wouldn't happen to have a secret Avatar bank account overflowing with gold would you?" Bolin asked Korra, who shook her head,
"I got nothin'. I never needed money really. I've always had people taking care of me." Korra said with a small smile,
"then I wouldn't say you have nothing..." Mako spat, Korra's face turned apologetic,
'not good...' Mi-Kai thought.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean..." Korra began,
"no it's alright...it's just...ever since we lost our parents...we've been on our own." Bolin said softly.
"I'm so sorry." Mi-Kai whispered, placing her hand on Bolin's shoulder, who gave her a small smile.
"Anyway, how are we going to get 30,000 yuans?" Mako asked, carrying a bag over his shoulder,
"Oh! I know I've been training Pabu to do circus tricks! People will pay good money to see that!" Bolin chirped, holding up Pabu.
"Come on Bolin, we need serious ideas..." Mako sighed,
"I was being serious..." Bolin said sadly, putting Pabu back down on the ground. Mako sighed once more,
"I'll think of something...I always do." He said and walked away. Mi-Kai let out an audible, 'ch' as she watched Bolin's older brother leave. Which left Mi-Kai, Korra, and Bolin in the gym. Mi-Kai sighed placed her hands on her hips, Korra excused herself to go train airbending back at the island. Now leaving Mi-Kai and Bolin alone.
"I still think you're idea is worth a shot, Bolin." Mi-Kai said, squatting next to Bolin, who gave her a huge grin in return.
"Thanks! Let's go Pabu!"
"Come one, come all! Gather around to witness Pabu the fantastic fire ferret climb the ladder of peril! Upside down!" Bolin said, in a dramatic voice and ringleader getup. Pabu was grooming himself, not paying attention, "psst. psst." Pabu flipped and started to cross the small ladder on his front paws. Bolin was whispering encouragements as Pabu flipped off the small ladder and landed on one paw. A passerby threw in one yuan into Bolin's can.
"Thank you thank you! You can just put any money into he- yeah alright. Well one yuan down, 29,999 to go." Bolin whined. Mi-Kai patted his back,
"I'll go get us some food I'll be back." She said and walked away, Bolin nodded and watched her go,
"I hate it when she leaves but I love watchin' her go..." Bolin whispered to Pabu who gave out a squeak in response. Not long after Mi-Kai's departure, a satomoblie had pulled up in front of where Bolin, the window rolled down and a man addressed Bolin, "oh hey there...Shady Shin."
"Heard you were a Pro Bender now! Good work." He said with a smirk as he left his car, Bolin shrugged,
"Heh...thanks." Bolin said softly,
"That your woman that just left? Good work on that too buddy." Shady Shin let out a whistle and winked at the earthbender, "what a catch."
"What? No, we're not...together." Bolin said sadly,
"Pity." Shady Shin muttered, "anyway Lightning Bolt Zolt wants some extra muscle for tonight, you in?" Shin offered,
"I don't know...Mako told me to stay away from the Triple Threats..." Bolin stated,
"Mako ain't the boss of you and beside it's nothin' dirty." Shin said and threw a huge wad a Yuans into Bolin's can. Bolin freaked out and went with Shin.
Mi-Kai had arrived ten minutes later with a couple of food on sticks, "Bolin?" She questioned as she walked to where he was sitting before, his mini circus set up was gone. Mi-Kai slouched her posture and let out a sigh, 'this is the second time this month' Mi-Kai thought as she began to nibble on the food. Deciding that walking around was better than standing around like a dork, Mi-Kai began meandering around the city's streets and some back alley shops. Soon she ended up passing by a sign in the window that stood out to her, 'models wanted!' Mi-Kai looked around at the area of town she was in and cringed, it wasn't one of the more classier parts of town, but she wanted to help out her friends, 'if things get out of hand, I know at least some self defense, and I'm pretty fast...' She thought and entered the small building. A guy sitting at a desk in the back was abruptly woken up by the sound of the bell on the door ringing. He was more portly than Butakah, he had slicked back black hair and a rather expensive looking suit on. Mi-Kai cleared her throat before speaking,
"u-uhm, I'm here about the sign in the window?" Mi-Kai said her voice full of uncertainty. The man cleared his throat as well and got up from his chair to circle around Mi-Kai.
"You'll do nicely, you's a waterbender?" He asked, his voice gruff and strong with the scent of tobacco.
"Sorry. I'm not." She whispered watching the man like a hawk, who had stopped suddenly when she said that she wasn't a bender. At this point she was able to get a better view of man now, he appeared to be from the Fire nation, he was rather pale and had striking golden eyes.
"That's fine." He said and began to walk into a back room, "follow me please." Mi-Kai reluctantly followed him, after a while she began asking questions.
"So how much would I make? Doing these photos?" She asked slowly,
"I dunno. Dependin' on how well they sell."
"If you don't mind me asking, what kind of photos would these be?" She asked again, earning a sigh from the male,
"No nudes dun worry, just modelin' some undawear and swimwear." He grunted out. Mi-Kai gulped now regretting her decision,
'Spirits help us all if anyone I know gets a hold of these photos...' Mi-Kai thought to herself and was lead into a surprisingly clean studio. A nice white backdrop and a huge white and dark blue bed was placed in the middle, surrounding them were different lamps and cameras. Mi-Kai's stomach started to turn, 'I can't just back out of this now...' She thought and looked at the man who had now approached her with a few articles of clothing. She got a quick look at his face and saw that he didn't have any interest in his eyes. He looked like he was constantly bored and annoyed.
"Put these on first, there's a divider ova there." He said and shoved the articles of clothing into Mi-Kai's arms.
"Right, thank you." She said and began walking towards the divider. 'Aren't these black and white photos? Why would it matter what color the garments are?' Mi-Kai thought as she subconsciously disrobed and put the new underwear set on. The set was really lacy and made her breasts look larger than before. The panties were boyshort style with a see-through mesh fabric in the back. Mi-Kai began to blush more at the thought of people seeing her like this in a magazine. As Mi-Kai made her way from the other side of the partition screen, the camera man kept his bored facial expression and ordered Mi-Kai to sit on the bed. She did as he instructed and he began telling her to get into different kinds of poses throughout the shoot. Mi-Kai was hesitant through the whole thing, the camera man let out a sigh.
"Look, girlie. If ya don't relax dese pics ain't gonna sell." He said, Mi-Kai nodded slowly and began breathing deeply.
'There's no way anyone I know will get a hold of these photos...' she thought to herself over and over again. After a couple times of repeating that sentence she began to relax more. The camera man commented on how she had looked more relaxed and natural now. Mi-Kai let herself smile more as she was told to get into more provocative poses. The next outfit change was a black lace set with a lacy thong and garter belt. Again it took her awhile to get more relaxed into the shoot with this set, but after repeating on how no one was going to see these photos she was calm once again.
"Dat's all for today," the man said as Mi-kai changed back into her regular clothes, "if ya come in tomorrow we'll do de swimsuit portion of the shoot. But again ya dun have to if ya dun wanna to." He said, Mi-Kai gave a shrug,
"I kind of like doing this." She admitted. The man chuckled and asked for her name and where he could send the money she'd make from these photos too. Without hesitation she gave out her name and address, she bid the man farewell as she exited the ratty old building. The sun was now setting over the city, causing genuine surprise from Mi-Kai.
'I didn't even know I was in there that long.' She thought as she began walking to the docks.