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 5: 20 Questions

"It is so cool seeing this up close," Asami said while handing each member of the Fire Ferrets a towel. Mako nodded at her before rubbing the sweat away from the back of his neck. Korra handed the towel back before bending the sweat off of her and into a nearby bucket of water.

"I was worried that you would be bored watching us," he commented.

"No, it's really great," she insisted with a bright smile. Mako smiled back. Bolin dumped Pabu onto his shoulder before quickly wiping down his body. Mako looked away from her and started to scratch Pabu behind his ears.

"We're going to destroy that tournament," Bolin shouted.

"Once we have the money for it," Korra reminded him. The room quickly got quiet.

"I'll go get you some water," Asami said before exiting the room. Korra quickly ran over to the door and peered out. Once she noticed the raven-haired girl disappear around a corner, she rushed back over to Mako and Bolin and motioned for them to bow their heads into a circle.

"What's up?" Mako asked.

"I met up with Asami the other day in the park," Korra started. Her voice was just above a whisper but steadily got louder.

"So you're finally hanging out?" Mako asked. "Maybe now you'll stop making judgments on the new people I meet."

"I was wrong, I admit it." She rolled her eyes. "But listen, I walked her back to her school and I think she's being bullied," she admitted. Mako and Bolin shared a look. Pabu chirped loudly as he slipped off of Mako's shoulder. "It was kind of a surprise to me too. These three girls were just digging into her. They also mentioned something about her dad and being in jail," she added.

"So she must be related to Hiroshi Sato, one of the equalist leaders," Mako said slowly.

"We can't forget Future Industries," Bolin added."Their inventions are really shaping the world. I mean, without them and their line of razors, I wouldn't be as good looking as you see me." Korra bit her bottom lip to keep herself from laughing. Mako groaned and rubbed his temples. "Wait," Bolin shouted. Korra slapped him on the arm. "If he's in jail, then how is the company still running?"

"Think about it," Korra said while tapping her forehead. "She has another job outside of modeling for our art class and she goes to RITA, which is probably the top science, engineering, and technology school in the Earth Kingdom."

"Oh, man." Bolin's shoulders drooped. "That must suck."

"As her friends, we should try to keep things as normal as possible for her until she's ready to tell us everything," Korra suggested. "We don't want to scare her off."

"Got it," Mako agreed. He caught sight of Asami walking back into the room. He quickly strained back up and ran a hand through his hair. Korra started twisting her upper body to the left and the right, stretching her side muscles. Bolin picked Pabu up off of the ground and started to rub his back.

"Here you go," Asami said as she handed each member of the Fire Ferrets a water bottle.

"Thanks Asami," the three said at the same time.

She blinked. "Are you guys feeling okay?"

"We're fine," the answered.

Asami nodded once. She crossed her arms over her chest and peered at them closely. "So why are you all speaking at the same time?"

"We're not."

"Oh really?" She then put her hands on her hips.

"Re-" Korra elbowed Mako and Bolin. The two immediately stopped talking. Korra shrugged before walking over to her sports bag. "So, are you guys' fine with me bunking with you again tonight?"

"No problem, Korra," Bolin called out. "Right, Mako?"

"Yeah, hang on," he muttered before walking over to Asami. He muttered something into her ear. She nodded once before following him out of the room. Korra watched with an eyebrow raised. She exchanged a look with Bolin before resuming backing her bag.

Mako and Asami re-entered the room a few minutes later. He walked over to Bolin and checked to make sure he was ready to leave. The two brothers waved goodbye before exiting. "I'll be at your place later," Korra called out. Asami sat down on the bench next to Korra's bag. She had a leg crossed over the other and was scrolling through her email on her phone. "What were you two talking about?"

"Me and Mako?" Asami asked without looking up from her phone.

"No, you and Tahno," Korra said with an eyeroll. "Yeah, you and Mako. What's up?" she asked while straightening up, She grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder.

"Oh, he asked me out," she answered with a shrug. She hopped up from the bench, and rapidly tapped at her phone to back out of an application before pocketing her phone.

"And?" Korra asked.

"And I said, yes," Asami said slowly.

"Wait, you said yes?" she motioned for Asami to exit the room. Korra switched off the lights before joining her in the hallway. The two then headed for the exit. "Correct me if I'm wrong, and I'm not, but when we first met you said you weren't interested in dating Mako," she reminded her.

"What I meant, was that I wasn't interested in dating, period," Asami clarified. "But, I don't know. There's something about him." Her voice got a bit quieter as she reflected on their first day. "He was actually nice to me and welcomed me to the group with open arms."

Korra ignored the jab. "Well, that would explains why he was so hard on me about it," she muttered.

"What do you mean?"

"Now that I think back, it was obvious that he liked you when you first met," she pointed out. "So where are you guys going to go?"

"We're thinking of just having our clubbing outing being our first date." Asami gathered up her hair into a ponytail before letting it drape down her back behind her shoulders.

"In that case, I'll stay at Mako's and Bolin's," Korra said while stretching her arms over her head. She took a sip of her water before slipping it into her bag. "We can have the post-party party there."

"No, you should come to my place," Asami insisted. "It would probably bigger so we'd have more room for everyone."

Korra rubbed the back of her neck. She placed her hand on Asami's elbow, stopping her so that she could turn to face her. "Originally, it was going to be the three of us but now that it's a date, I'll be the third wheel."

"No, you won't." Asami put her hands on Korra's shoulders. "I promise. Plus, I need you to come," she insisted. "What if it ends up that we have nothing in common and I need an out? You can be my wingwoman."

"I don't know."

"It's one date." Korra looked up at Asami. The taller girl started to pout. She widened her green eyes a little bit and made a soft whimpering noise. Korra couldn't help but laugh. A few seconds later, Asami joined her.

"Fine fine," Korra said.

"Okay, we'll have the post-party part at my apartment," Asami said as the two started walking once more. "This way you can just stay over since you'll be getting ready with me and then studying the next day."

"Aren't we a little too old for sleepovers?"

"Who would you rather want to hear details about the date from me or Mako?" Asami asked. Korra looked up at the ceiling in thought: It would be a good way to spend more time with Asami. With Mako, it would just be grunts and groans and the shortest answer possible.

"Good point," she finally said. "Plus, I'm sure I'm overstaying my welcome with them," she added with a sigh.

"Korra!" a harsh voice called out. Korra immediately stopped. A muscle in her cheeks twitched before she turned on her heel and looked at Chief Lin Beifong as she marched up.

"What's up, Chief?" Korra saluted. Asami snickered into her hand but quickly stopped once Lin turned her gaze towards her. The two stared at each other for a few moments before Lin crossed her arms and faced the Avatar.

"How many times do I have to remind you to lock the door when you're finished in the room?" she snarled. "Plus, you forgot to finish the sign in/sign out sheet."

"You only have to tell me once," Korra said with a shrug. She then half-smiled. "I just keep forgetting to get on your nerves."

"It doesn't take much for you to get on my nerves. Trust me," she mumbled.

"Duly noted." Her smile widened.

"Just because you're the Avatar doesn't mean I'm going to give you special treatment

"You haven't given me special treatment since we met. Hell would freeze over when you start

"Actually, that is possible because there is a place called Hell in the Fire Nation," Asami piped up. Korra and Lin looked over at her with a mix of confusion and amusement. "And, I just ruined the joke."

"Good night, Avatar," Lin mumbled. "Ms. Sato." She gave her a quick nod before turning and head back down the hall.

"Does she not like you?" Asami asked.

"Nah, that's our relationship. I annoy her and she hates my guts." Korra looked over and noticed the confused look on Asami's face. "When I first arrived here I kind of damaged a few buildings." Asami's eyes widened. "Long story, but since she's gym management as well as head of security here, she's been on my case for about every small thing." She then regarded her. "How did she know your name?"

"I've met her before," Asami reached up and scratched the side of her neck, "under disappointing circumstances."

"Okay, I think it's time I learned more about you," Korra announced as they exited the gym.

"What do you want to do?" Asami scoffed. "Play truth or dare?" she asked with an eye roll.

"No." She quickly shot the idea down. "I've been to way too many parties where they play that or spin the bottle or seven minutes in heaven or whatever. That is the dumbest game in existence, plus people always lie when they say they'll never share what they hear."

"So, then take the dares out."

"Then we may as well call it 20 questions." Korra placed a hand on Asami's shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. "For an engineer, you're not that bright."

Asami pushed her away with a laugh. She flipped her hair over her shoulder before pulling her keys out of her pocket. They were nearing Asami's parked satomobile. "Fine, 20 questions it is. We each get to ask 10 questions, but we only get one pass and one throw out. A pass can be used if you don't want to answer a question but the person who asked can either bring it up again later or choose not to re-ask it. However, throw out is a throw out. Once you use it you don't have the option to ask again," she listed off.

Korra groaned as they walked up to the car. Asami leaned against the passenger side door and looked up at her. "Why do their have to be rules?"

"It makes it more fun that way," she answered while raising one shoulder. Korra smiled at the cute gesture.

"Maybe in your world."

"Scared?" Asami raised an eyebrow. Korra felt her competiveness rear its ugly head. She shook her heard head a few times before smirk.

"Not at all," Korra said with confidence. "In fact, I'll let you go first."

"Okay, I'll have your first question prepared for you later." Asami gave a small wave before walking around her car. She climbed into the driver's seat and started the engine before fastening her seatbelt.

"Wait, what?"

"Oh, that's another rule." Asami reached up and started to reposition the rearview mirror. She caught Korra's eyes and winked. "You can wait how long you want to come up with a good question. Don't worry, I'll start off easy." She smiled brightly. "I'll see you tomorrow in art."

"Later, Asami." Korra took a step backward on the sidewalk. "Be careful getting home," she called out before Asami pealed out of the parking space.

When Korra finally made it back to Mako's and Bolin's apartment after picking up Naga from the campus stables and putting her in the apartment complex's backyard, she found they were asleep in their bedrooms. She could hear their snoring from the living room. Korra tiptoed over to the bathroom and turned on the water in the shower. As she waited for it to heat up, she began to brush her teeth. Her cell phone lit up and a text message icon was in the top left hand corner.

Korra mumbled to herself as she unlocked the phone and read the message.

Asami: -9:36PM- I have your first question for you. Are you ready to start? And no, that wasn't the question. :p

She laughed through her nose as she sent her a response.

Korra: -9:36PM- Bring it on.

She was about to place her phone back onto the counter, but it lit up with a new message.

Asami: -9:37PM- What is something Mako and Bolin don't know about you?

"You call that an easy question?" Korra asked out loud.


Asami entered her bedroom as she heard her cell phone go off. She unplugged it from the charger before slipping into her bed. She propped her feet up on the mattress before placing her laptop onto her lap.

Korra: -9:42PM- Going straight for the jugular aren't you?

She couldn't help but smile as she read the response. Asami clicked open the software, QuickBooks on the computer before texting back a response.

Asami: -9:42PM- I asked if you were scared before. Were you lying? ;)

Korra: -9:43PM- Not at all…although, my answer isn't something I would like to have forever stored on a phone. I'll tell you tomorrow.

Asami dropped her phone and took a look at the spreadsheet that popped up. After scanning over it three times, she made a small note, before clicking over to a web browser. It opened up to a customizable sporting goods shop. She found a red team jacket and placed three into the shopping cart. Then, she uploaded a jpeg file of Future Industries logo. She nodded happily when she looked at a preview of the full design.

Her phone buzzed. A small box appeared on her computer screen displaying Korra's text message.

Korra: -9:46PM- Do I get to ask a question now?

Asmai clicked into the box and typed out her response.

Asami:-9:47PM- Yyyyyep. Go ahead

Korra: -9:47PM- Who were you thinking of being our sponsor for the tournament?

Asami's fingers froze over her keyboard. Once you tell her, you're going to have to tell her everything. Every god damned horrible thing. What if she runs away? Asami then thought back to the encounter between herself and Rika and her two friends. Even when they were dropping hints about her father, Korra didn't push the issue any further. Plus, she took time out of her day to actually seek out her help and ordered her to drive safely on her way back to her apartment.

All of the other people you're acquaintances with never wondered about your well being. They even gave up on you as soon as news about your father came out, but Korra is trying. Your old friends and classmates dropped you so quickly once they found out about your new position at your company. But, Korra feels different. Maybe she's your out.

Asami: -9:52PM- …Me