Model Behavior
Summary: Modern/AU. Korra thought it was an ordinary day of art class at Republic School for the Gifted. But then, the art model Asami Sato walked into the room... Korrasami
Chapter 4: Rika, Manami, and Kiyoko
"Hey Sato!"
Asami mumbled to herself. She slowly closed the book she was reading and placed it onto her desk. She rubbed her temples before looking up at the girl standing in front of her. "How may I help you, Rika?"
"What did you get on the chemistry test?" she asked. Rika looked over her shoulder and gave a small jerk of her head. Two other girls quickly rushed up to her side. One had her hair up in pigtails and the other had her hair pulled back into a simple bun. The smirked down at Asami. Rika's eyes quickly shot over to the paper that Asami was slowly pulling towards her. She grabbed it and ripped it out of her hands. "Of course, you got a perfect score. Again! You just keep ruining the curve for the rest of us, don't you?"
"Oh, I'm sure Asami had a hard time too," the girl with pigtails said. "I saw her finishing at the last minute."
"But Manami," the girl with the bun said louder than she needed to. Asami folded her hands in her lap and lowered her head a bit. "We don't have a rich father to buy us our grades."
"He doesn't buy my grades," Asami insisted.
"You're right, Kiyoko," Rika smirked. "You're father spends all of his time sitting in jail to help." She crumbled up the test paper before throwing it at Asami. It bounced off of her forehead and rolled to the floor. The three girls laughed hysterically. "Why are you even in school? Are you too bored with your running your super fancy company?" Asami packed up her bags and started to get up out of her seat. Her cell phone rang, indicating that she had a new text.
"Excuse me," Asami said while picking up her phone.
"Who would be texting you? You don't have any friends." Kiyoko sneered. She reached out to try and grab the cell phone. Asami pulled her hand back while slowly moving the book off of her desk. It dropped and landed square on Kiyoko's foot. She screeched in pain as Asami powered on her phone. She quickly put in her PIN and then opened her messages.
She had one message from Mako, two from Bolin, and then one from Korra. Asami couldn't help but smile as she read them.
Mako: -10:16 AM- Are you free tonight? We have practice if you want to watch. 7pm in the gym.
Bolin: -10:20 AM- Mako said you're coming to see us practice tonight. Can't wait. Idea: You and Pabu can make posters for us to spread the word about our tournament.
Bolin: -10:22 AM- Better idea. I will make you matching shirts. Walking billboards.
UNKNOWN: -10:30 AM- Its Korra. I need help with science and you want to hang. Let's trade. Coffee after practice, tonight?
"What are you smiling at?" Rika demanded. She snatched Asami's phone from her hand and quickly scrolled through the messages. Her jaw dropped in shock after a few seconds. Manami and Kiyoko crowded around and read the messages over her shoulder. "You know Mako of the Fire Ferrets at Republic?"
"You know the Avatar?" Manami demanded.
"Yes, she's my friend. They're my friends."
"Since when?"
"Will you introduce me?" Kiyoko questioned. Rika slapped her on the arm. She frowned before looking away from her harsh glare.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Asami asked coyly. She snatched her phone back and saved Korra's name to her contacts. She then dialed the number and held the phone up to her ear. She picked her book up off of the floor and placed it into her bag before slipping it over her shoulder. "Hey Korra, are you busy?"
"Not really," Korra answered. Her voice was labored. "I'm just taking Naga for a walk. Well, it's more like she's taking me for a walk."
"Would you like to go for a coffee right now?" Asami asked. She looked over at Rika and gave her a wink. Rika frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. "You can tell me about what you need help in."
"Don't you have class?" Korra wondered. Rika must have heard because her frown instantly turned into a sneer.
"Professor Utada won't let you leave," she taunted. Her smile widened as the teacher walked into the room. Asami placed her phone, speaker down, into her shoulder. The teacher placed her briefcase on her desk and faced the class.
"Hello, I see you all received your papers," she called out. "We will get started in just a second. Anyone who got a 90 or higher on the test is allowed to leave as we will be using this period as review."
Asami couldn't help but snicker. "My schedule just cleared up a bit." She placed her phone back on her ear before pushing her chair in. "Let's meet at Avatar Park."
"I'm already here. Forget the coffee. Let's just stay in the park." Korra's breathing slowed to a normal pace. Asami smiled when she heard Naga in the background. "I'll wait for you. Are you driving?"
"No, I'll walk." Asami gave Rika a quick wave, who in turn rolled her eyes and put up the finger. The engineer quirked an eyebrow and chuckled before exiting the room.
"Bummer, I was hoping for another race."
"I will beat you next time," she insisted.
"Keep dreaming."
Asami relaxed the minute she stepped out of her school. She had a little spring in her step as she made her way over to Avatar Park. She spotted Korra across the way, playing with Naga. Asami smiled as she watched the Avatar wrestle around with her polar-bear dog, trying to pull a tennis ball out of her mouth. The engineer flipped her hair over her shoulder before speeding up her pace.
"Looks like you made it okay," Korra called out. She threw a tennis ball as hard as she could across the park. Naga's tailed wagged happily as she watched it before running after the object. "What are you wearing?" she questioned as Asami drew closer.
"My school has a uniform," Asami said while looking down at her clothes. She was wearing a black blazer over top a white shirt with a black vest, along with a blue plaid skirt, and brown shoes.
"I don't think I'd be able to handle that," Korra commented. "I can barely handle it when Tenzin makes me wear traditional air nation robes when I study with him." A few seconds later Naga ran back over and dropped the ball into Korra's hand. "You want to throw? It looks like she already likes you."
"I'm good, thanks." Asami walked over to a nearby tree and placed her bag onto the ground. She then slowly lowered herself until she was sitting on the bag. She moved her legs to the side and leaned all of her weight onto her left hand.
"I'm sorry for my reaction." Korra plopped down next to her on the grass. She threw the ball again but then airbent it so that it flew further. "You usually look so well put together."
"Thank you for noticing." Asami smiled.
"Well, models usually look obnoxiously good," she quickly added.
"I'll skip over the obnoxious part and focus on the fact that you think I look good." Korra laughed loudly. She propped up her foot on the ground and rested her arm on it. "So, what's up with science?"
"Simple, I don't get it." Korra pulled a blade of grass out of the ground. She stuck it in between her lips and then leaned back so that her head and upper body was resting against the bark of the tree.
"Didn't you just start a few weeks ago?" Asami questioned.
"Exactly." She held up a finger in the air. "I don't get it that I'm behind already. If I didn't put this Gen Ed requirement off for so long I wouldn't have to worry about it." She dropped her hand back into her lap. "If all classes were like our bending classes or towards our concentration then I wouldn't be in this mess, and what is so funny?"
During Korra's rant, Asami had tried to hold back her laughter, but the more she continued the harder it was to stay quiet. Eventually she just had to let it all out, and started to shriek with laughter. "Nothing," Asami said as she calmed down. "It's just you kind of acted like Bolin, going on and on from one topic to the other." She cleared her throat. "I see what you're doing, though."
"What am I doing?" Korra asked. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"Did Mako put you up to this?" Asami wondered. "To try and get us all to finally hang out?"
Korra reached over and ran her hand through Naga's fur. A small clump of hair came out into her palm. She held it in front of Asami's face and waved it from left to right. "Consider this me waving a white flag." Asami squealed when Korra tossed the fur into her face. "You said you wanted me to really try, so here I am."
"What about your snarkiness?" Asami asked quietly. Korra looked closely at her and noticed her sudden apprehension. She started to fidget with the end of her skirt. Her green eyes looked a shade duller than they were a few moments ago.
"It's a part of my charm," Korra said with a wink. Asami smiled at the reference, her eyes glowing brightly again.. She had roughly said those words a few days ago when they were initially getting along. "Plus, you kind of surprise me with your responses."
"I'm not a priss," Asami said with a warning tone, "I can handle myself." She punched Korra lightly in the arm.
"I'm getting the idea," Korra snorted.
"Shoot!" Asami tapped the watch on her wrist. "Time really got away from me. I have to head back for my next class."
"I'll walk you back," Korra offered while getting to her feet. She clicked her tongue twice. Naga lifted her head and looked up at her owner before climbing to her feet. The Avatar turned and held out her hand to help pull Asami to her feet. She frowned when she noticed the taller woman looking at her with wide eyes.
"You don't have to," Asami said quickly. She took a hold of Korra's hand and stood up. She then stooped down and grabbed her bag. "It's okay. I can make it back myself."
"Oh, it's no problem." Korra shrugged. "It is on my way." Asami held her gaze with the Avatar. Korra half smirked as a response but continued to stare back. Not even when Naga walked over and tapped her nose on her owner's cheek. Korra just reached up and rubbed the little bit of mucus off of her cheek with her wrist.
After a few more moments, Asami sighed hard. Korra's smile widened. "There's no changing your mind, is there?" she asked.
"Nope," Korra answered quickly. She grabbed a hold of Naga's reigns and had her follow them. "You would have learned that soon enough."
Asami chuckled a bit. The two walked back to RITA, talking quietly about pro-bending and the recent topics covered in Korra's science class. It wasn't much longer until they were back on campus.
"Why don't we have a study session on Sunday at my apartment?" Asami suggested. "Mako, Bolin, and Opal can come too."
"You're going to get tired of us very quickly," Korra warned.
"I doubt that. I like spending time with you guys. It's better than he-" Asami quickly cut stopped talking. She shifted her gaze to behind Korra's shoulder. She tensed up when she noticed Rika, Manami, and Kiyoko walking in her direction. A second later, Rika locked eyes with her and quickly changed the direction she was walking in.
"Better than here?" Korra filled in the blank. "Why? What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just hate being alone," Asami muttered. She forced a smile before reaching over to pet Naga. Anyway, I have to get to class. I'll text you later."
"Why would you be alone? Are you okay?" Korra asked.
"Hey Sato," Rika called out.
"Oh spirits," Asami muttered. Korra looked at Asami and then over to the trio of girls walking towards her. She quickly took a few steps back, reached into her pocket, pulled out a brush, and started to brush Naga's fur.
"How was your free period?" Rika questioned.
"Fine," Asami said shortly. Korra looked over at Rika and frowned but didn't say anything.
"Did you go run off and cry to daddy about what we said?" Manami taunted.
"You know I haven't spoken to my father in years."
"I don't blame you," Kiyoko snickered. "To have such a failure for a father, I wouldn't be able to take a second glance at him."
"I mean, is there anything lower than silver bracelets?" Rika held her arms out and mimed that they were chained together.
"Hey," Korra barked. Naga winced at the harsh tone. She threw the brush to the ground, walked up, and stood in between Asami and Rika. Given her height, she normally wouldn't be much of a threat, but her glare and the way her muscles bulged caused Rika to quickly take a few steps back. "Leave her alone," she ordered.
"Just because you're the Avatar, doesn't mean you scare us." Rika looked in between Korra and Asami before smiling brightly at Korra. "Sato makes it seem like you two are such great friends. You know, you're not really friends until it is Facebook official."
Without a word, Korra pulled out her phone. She unlocked it with her pin and rapidly pressed a few buttons. A second later, Asami's phone rang with a new notification. She reached into her bag and pulled out her phone. She looked up at Korra, who missed it because she was smirking at Rika, before accepting her friend request. She then dropped her phone back into her bag.
Rika bit the inside of her cheek. "If you're such good friends, I'm sure you two share stories and secrets? What has she told you?" Korra raised an eyebrow as if challenging her to continue to speak. "Has she mentioned anything about who her father is and what he did?"
"Don't listen to her, Korra," Asami muttered. Korra looked back over her shoulder. Asami tightened her grip on her bag before looking down at the ground. Korra then looked back at Rika. In a split second, their eyes locked and Korra noticed the girl had little beads of sweat on her forehead. The Avatar smirked.
"A pretty girl like her doesn't seem like much trouble," Korra said with a half-smile. Rika flushed. A ghost of a smile appeared on her face as she ran a hand through her hair. "I have a surprise for you." Korra lifted two fingers to her lips and blew hard. A sharp whistle filled the air. Naga rushed over and growled loudly. Kiyoko and Manami screamed and jumped behind Rika.
"We'll see you later, Sato," Rika said. She turned on her heel and started to walk away but after a few steps she broke into a full run with Kiyoko and Manami hot on her heels.
"That explains a lot," Korra muttered as she crossed her arms over her chest. She shook her head slowly as she watched their retreating backs.
"What do you mean?" Asami asked.
"You don't deserve that." She smiled brightly and gave Naga a big hug around her neck. She quickly climbed up onto her bag and slipped into the saddle. "They don't know you."
"You do the same thing," Asami pointed out.
"Yeah, but when I do it I know what I'm talking about," Korra answered. Asami rolled her eyes but couldn't fight the smile that was fighting to take control of her lips. Korra shrugged. "I'm sorry. If I had known I wouldn't have made half the comments I have."
"What comments?" she asked, her head tilting to the side in confusion.
"Yeah," Korra said slowly while rubbing the back of her neck. "Some I may have said behind your back," she admitted.
"It's okay-"
"No, it's not. I know we've only been hanging out for about two weeks now, but I've never had malicious intent behind what I say," Korra said with a shrug. Asami looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Don't get me wrong, I meant the snarkiness," she joked.
"You're a breath of fresh air, Korra," Asami said with a laugh.
"That would explain why I'm an airbender." Korra said with a half-smile. This caused Asami to laugh even harder. She quickly sobered up when she noticed the pensive look on Korra's face. Asami followed her line of sight to a poster about pro-bending hanging up on the billboard.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm just thinking," Korra muttered. "Mako told me that we may not be able to participate in the upcoming pro-bending tournament because of the entry fee. It's pretty expensive. We haven't told Bolin yet, but we don't think we can afford it."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"Things would be easier if we could just get some funding," Korra sighed.
Asami perked up a little bit. She dug into her bag and pulled out her wallet. She flipped to the card section and looked at the gold Future Industries card that glittered underneath the sunlight. "Like a sponsor?" she asked.
"Yeah, but who would sponsor us?" Korra asked.
"I think I may know some place," Asami said while closing her wallet with a snap.
"Being secretive again, aren't we?" She leaned forward a bit in the saddle before giving her a smile. "When am I going to find out the truth from you about your super secret double life?"
"You'll just have to wait and see." Asami held up a finger as her phone started to ring. She pulled it out of her bag and looked at the caller id – "Future Industries". Asami bit her lip before looking up at Korra. "I have to take this. I'll see you at practice tonight."
"And art tomorrow and then the nightclub," Korra listed off.
"Don't forget studying on Sunday," Asami reminded her. She chuckled when Korra made a disgusted face. "I didn't think you'd be excited to go clubbing."
"The Avatar needs to get out every once in a while."
"Good to know. We can get ready at my place, if you want," Asami suggested. as she pressed the ANSWER button on the phone. She put the phone up on her ear.
"Sounds good." Korra nodded.
Asami gave a small wave before heading up towards the school. "Text me when you get back?" she mouthed.
"Yes, mom," Korra said in a light voice. Asami choked back a laugh before turning her attention to her phone.
Rika scoffed. She was sitting at a bench, watching Korra and Asami talking before they parted ways. "Sato just thinks she's better than us. I'm sick of it."
"How is she better?" Manami was sitting next to Rika on the bench painting her fingernails. "She doesn't have a mom and her dad is in jail."
"Yes, but she's the top in the class and she is the youngest female CEO, probably in history," Kiyoko added. Manami and Rika turned and shot her sharp glare. "She is," she said defensively.
"She needs to be knocked down a peg," Rika declared.
"How?" Manami and Kiyoko asked.
"I'll think of something."
AN: Chapter 4! I'm so glad you all are enjoying the story. I know it's been a lot of Korra/Asami friendship in these first few chapters. Don't worry, I will have Mako, Bolin, and Opal come back in very soon. With all of my ideas for this story, it seems like it's going to be a long one. I hope you all are prepared. :)
Also, since I will be finishing two stories soon, I should now be able to update this story at least once a week. Maybe two times a week if I'm inspired enough and I have enough free time. :) Until next time!
