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 12: Thanksgiving Break
It was close to Thanksgiving Break and Asami was excited, not because it was much needed time off from her part-time job as a model and having to commute back and forth between both schools, but because it would give her plenty of time to focus on her Senior Project, as well as spending ten whole days away from Rika and any lingering thoughts of Iroh.
In the past few weeks she was able to make a decision on her advisor and had set up a time over the break to finally meet up with Kuvira to talk about her project. Along with advancements she's been making with Future Industries, it felt like she had finally hit a pocket of good fortune. Many people came up to her to mention the YouTube video she had posted to her channel of her performance at the karaoke bar, with giving Korra credit, of course.
That video seemed to have changed her popularity. People who hadn't talked to her are asking how she's doing or what her Thanksgiving Break plans were. They were just being civil. While Asami was cautious, questioning everyone's motive in the back of her mind, she responded with a bright smile, and seemed to have a permanent spring in her step. She was even polite ntowards Rika, who scowled more and more at her with each passing day, but it didn't bother Asami because she knew she didn't do anything, to her recollection, and so she just needed to keep on moving in her life.
Asami hummed the lyrics to 'Let it Out' to herself as she popped open her locker door. She smiled at the picture of herself and her friends on the inside. It was taken right after their trip to the karaoke bar. Bolin had convinced everyone that they needed a group name and couldn't decide on "Team Avatar" or "The Krew". Both, were essentially named after Korra, whom everyone thought was essentially the glue to the group. So the name ended up being interchangeable. The photo was signed by everyone that night and Asami was given the first copy (since Bolin had insisted everyone in the group needed one). It was also the photo for their Facebook Group, Skype Group, and contact information in her phone. Korra had insisted they draw the line at making an Instagram account they all shared.
"Asami, may I have your help with something?" a voice asked. Asami leaned back from inside of her locker and found herself face to face with Kiyoko. The engineer looked up and down the hallway. "Rika isn't with me."
"Oh," Asami said slowly. She emptied her backpack of her school books before filling it up with folders and notebooks for her science project. "What do you need help with?"
"This one equation for our upcoming exam." Kiyoko pulled a notebook out of her back before flipping it open. "I just don't know what I did wrong. I copied it from the board and yet nothing is coming out like it's supposed to."
Asami leaned over and looked at the formulaic equation. She quickly scanned the page before snapping her fingers. "Here's the problem. You need to change this negative to a positive," she pointed out. "That's why your answers are coming out wrong."
"Oh." Kiyoko's eyebrows rose. She pulled a pencil fro her bag and marked the page with the change. "Well what about this? Did I write the equation down wrong for this one?"
"No, you're just using the wrong equation in general." Asami pointed to another section of the page. "You should be using that one."
"Right," she answered slowly. Asami looked over at Kiyoko and noticed a discouraged look on her face. Before she could say anything, Kiyoko closed her notebook with a snap and smiled brightly. "I should be good. I just really need to ace this exam. My parents would kill me if I come home with another grade below a C," she explained while placing her notebook back into her bag.
Asami frowned. "Aren't people on academic probation if they get below a C?" she asked quietly.
Kiyoko snickered as she shook her head. "I guess science and engineering aren't one of my strong points." She shrugged. She bit her lip and looked down at the floor. "Well, anyway, thanks for your help." She placed grabbed a hold of Asami's hand and quickly shook it before backing away. "I appreciate it."
"Wait," Asami called out. She closed and locked her locker before walking over. She grabbed Kiyoko by the arm and pulled her to a nearby bench. "Why are you attending RITA if you're having trouble in your classes?" she asked gently.
"My parents want me to become a scientist," Kiyoko admitted. "It's a family profession. So I have to do my best, even if it isn't good enough from time to time." She shrugged. "I need to make them proud."
Asami bit her bottom lip. "Do you need some help?" she offered. Kiyoko looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "I tutor one of my friends from Republic and her grades have gotten better." She then made a face. "Not spectacular, but she finds this kind of stuff boring as it is."
Kiyoko brightened. "That would be great. I'd like that."
The engineer pulled out a planner from her bag and flipped it open. She trailed a finger along the page, checking her availability. "Well, I am pretty busy for the most of my Thanksgiving Break," she commented, "but how about we meet up near the end. It'll give us a few days before the exam."
"Thanks Asami."
"You're welcome." Asami nodded. She stuffed her planner back into her bag. She gave Kiyoko a brief smile before getting up off of the bench. She brushed off the back of her skirt as Kiyoko stood up next to her.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" she asked.
"Well, we all used to be friends so I know you aren't as bad as you may seem," Asami answered with a soft smile. "Plus, after becoming friends with Korra I feel like I can be friends with anyone with enough hard work. She was as cold as a block of ice at first," she chuckled.
"You shouldn't try to be someone's friend." Kiyoko frowned.
"I know, but I should try and be nice to everyone, regardless." Asami placed her hand on Kiyoko's shoulder before giving it a light squeeze. "Have a good Thanksgiving, Kiyoko," she said sincerely.
"You too," Kiyoko muttered as she watched Asami run down the hallway. She grabbed her bag up off of the floor before running off in the other direction. She dodged other students cleaning out their lockers and teachers talking quietly before she made it to the other end of the school. She pushed through the double doors leading to the courtyard and ran over to Rika and Manami who were standing by a water fountain.
"Hey Kiyoko, there you are," Manami called out. "What took you so long?" she asked. Rika grunted beside her and leered at Kiyoko as she caught her breath.
Kiyoko straightened up. "I-I was in the bathroom," she blurted out. "You know, today is Tetrazzini Tuesday," she added.
"And you actually ate it?" Manami gasped. She pulled her keys out of her pocket and started to spin them around in a circle. Rika brushed past the two of them and started towards the parking lot. Manami and Kiyoko instantly began to follow.
"It was either that or starve," Kiyoko answered. "You know how forgetful I can be with my lunch money." She cried out softly as she ran into Rika's back. She quickly took a step back and bowed her head, waiting for an onslaught of insults. When it didn't come she looked up and spotted Rika glaring hard across the parking lot. Kiyoko followed her gaze and bit her lip when she spotted Asami and Iroh talking by Asami's car.
"Hell no," Rika muttered before storming over.
"Iroh, I said I don't' want to talk to you," Asami said as she pulled her wrist out of his grip. "Please, just leave me alone. I know that you're sorry but it's over."
"Just let me explain," he pleaded and reached for her arm again. Asami jerked her arm back and took a step away.
"I don't want to hear it," she snapped.
"What's going on?" Rika demanded. She stepped in front of Iroh and glared at Asami, who rolled her eyes and ran a hand through her hair. Rika looked over her shoulder at Iroh who just shrugged and looked at the ground. "Do you want him back that badly? He chose me."
"I don't want him, Rika," Asami said slowly. "I want him to leave me alone." She shifted her gaze over to Iroh. "Like I've been telling him for the past few weeks."
"Oh, so you've been talking to my boyfriend behind my back?" Rika demanded. "Didn't you get the hint the first time? He dumped you for me after you threw yourself at him." Manami snickered into her hand. Kiyoko gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.
"I don't even care about it," Asami insisted. "He's the one who's been bothering me. He's the one who's been texting me."
"I just want to talk and make things better," Iroh explained.
"I don't." Asami glared at Rika. "You can have him. But let me ask you something: if he cheated on me, what makes you think he won't do it to you?"
"Because he actually loves me," she answered simply. She smirked before looping her arm through his and resting her head on his chest. "He tells me all of the time."
"I thought the same thing before he left," Asami said gently. Rika faltered at the compassionate look on her face. "He's seen things that we haven't. He's changed. I'm just giving you a heads up," she added quietly.
"I don't need it," Rika muttered. She grabbed Iroh by the hand and pulled him off towards Manami's car. "Can you believe her? Acting as if she actually cares about other people."
"I'm sick of this topic," Manami groaned as she hit the unlock button on her key ring. Her car's headlights flashed before the locks popped open. "Let's go start our vacation."
"Coming, baby?" Rika asked. She battered her eyelashes up at Iroh. He watched as Asami got into her car and drove off campus. He then shifted his attention to Rika before smiling softly and shaking his head.
"I just came by to try and apologize to Asami again," he explained before kissing her forehead. "I already made some plans with my friends. I'll see you later."
Rika smiled and waved at his retreating back. The instant he was out ear shot, she turned and crossed her arms over her chest. "Why didn't the two of you back me up?" she asked. "If you're really my friends, then you would have agreed with me, no questions asked."
Manami's eyes widened and she bit her bottom lip. She started to fiddle with the keys in her hands. "I thought you were doing fine on your own. Sato didn't even put up a fight." She smiled sheepishly. "She quite literally ran off."
Kiyoko swallowed hard when Rika turned her gaze towards her. "What about you?" she questioned. "You may have some of the lowest grades in our class but I know you could have come up with something to say. You've done it before."
"I don't know," Kiyoko muttered with a shrug. "I guess I just didn't want to step on your toes." Rika raised an eyebrow and pursed her lips before shaking her head.
"Hey, let's forget about Sato," Manami suggested. "Let's celebrate being on vacation with a trip for ice cream."
"Sounds good to me," Rika instantly brightened. She waited for Manami to lower the top of her car before jumping into the back seat.
Kiyoko climbed into the passenger seat and shut her door with a bit more force than needed. She turned and looked out the window as Manami pulled off of the campus and onto the street. She doesn't deserve this.
Asami's Thanksgiving break was filled with so many plans; she forgot how boring it could be when you don't have anything planned at all. It was a wonder how she got through three years of high school as a loner. Bolin had mapped out everyone's break down to the minute, albeit with enough flexibility for Asami working at Future Industries and focusing on her Senior Project.
"Here's the popcorn," Asami said as she entered her apartment's living room with two large bowls. She handed one to Bolin and Opal who were seated on a love seat. Opal was in his lap, reading a text book. He took the bowl from Asami and placed it on top of her legs before digging it.
Korra sat up and tossed her chemistry book over the arm of the couch. She was sitting at one end with Mako on the other. Asami sat on the floor in between them, her back resting against the couch. She placed the last bowl of popcorn onto the empty couch cushion behind her head..
"Good, I'm starving," Korra said. She snatched up the bowl and started to shove handfuls into her mouth.
"Hello, we're supposed to be sharing," Mako said while holding out his hand. Korra stuck her hand into the bowl and threw popcorn kernals in his general direction. Asami laughed before taking a sip of her soda.
The Krew, their group name they finally decided on, was relaxing at Asami's apartment before heading over to Air Temple Island for Thanksgiving Dinner. Tenzin had invited Korra since he knew he would essentially be alone since her parents were back in the south. She was able to get him to let her friends come along as well by mentioning that they would be "multiple babysitters for the price of one". Afterwards they were going to head to Opal's place for dessert.
"This will just be a fifteen minute break and then we get back to studying," Asami said as she bent down to pick up the discarded text book. Korra groaned around a mouthful of popcorn before rolling her eyes.
"You're so lucky you already had your mid-term exams Mako," Opal commented.
'Yeah, who gives an exam after the holidays?" Bolin asked.
"Maybe your teachers don't want to have to spend their breaking working on grading your papers?" Asami suggested with a shrug. Opal and Bolin turned and glared at her. The burst out laughing after Korra flicked a piece of popcorn at her. It bounced off of her forehead before falling to the ground.
In retaliation, Asami grabbed the bowl out of Korra's hands before handing it over to Mako. Korra whimpered and sat up to try and steal the bowl back but was met with a pillow to the face. Asami laughed and brushed her hair back behind her ear.
"What happened to your wrist?" Korra asked. She grabbed a hold of Asami's pale arm and moved it closer towards her face. Five small bruises were wrapped around her wrist. Asami pulled her arm back and pulled her sleeve down to cover it.
"Nothing, just an accident from working on my Senior Project," she said with a shrug. "I get really into my work sometimes."
"When are you going to tell us what it is?" Mako asked.
"I'm not," Asami answered with a smile. "I want to keep things as under wraps as possible. I don't want anyone to steal my idea."
"Is it that important?" Bolin questioned. "It's just for a grade. You'll graduate anyway."
"That's not it," Opal interjected. "The Senior Projects at RITA is a big competition among the senior class. The person with the top project will receive a scholarship to the school of their choosing. I mean, of course, after being accepted. Plus, there may be a chance to get their project funded by a major company. Who knows, Asami's project could change the world."
"Being a CEO and producing technological advances doesn't do that for you?" Korra asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Schooling is a good thing to have," Asami said defensively. She flipped open Korra's textbook to a marked page. "It's something to fall back on just in case. Also, if I have the top project then I may be able to skip my freshmen year of college and go straight to my sophomore year. I actually could have skipped my senior year of high school and graduate a year early, but I didn't feel like I was ready," she admitted.
'Wait, you could have been rid of Rika and her two lackeys a year early but you decided to stay and deal with it?"
"Yeah," Asami answered slowly. "I love school."
"Why?" Bolin and Korra asked.
"I feel special." She could feel everyone's gaze on her and refused to look up. She just continued to leaf through the textbook. "I didn't ask for my mother to die. I didn't ask for my father to be thrown in jail. I didn't ask to take over a company and try to turn its reputation around. All of that was forced on me, but school never was. It's something I choose to do. It's like a stress reliever for me. My grades and my work are for my own merit, not for a company's," she explained.
"Sorry, Asami,"' the two muttered.
"No need to apologize." Asami lifted her nose out of the book before smiling at each of them. "It's kind of a blessing in disguise. Sure, I could have been rid of this whole Rika thing but then I wouldn't have met you guys."
"Are there always going to be corny moments between us now?" Bolin asked.
"Since Asami got here, pretty much," Korra said. She reached her foot out and flicked Asami's ear with a few of her toes. She suddenly cried out as Asami grabbed a hold of her foot and pressed down on one of her toes with her thumb.
"Isn't it about time we head over to Air Temple Island for dinner?" Opal asked.
"Dinner?" Korra pulled her foot out of Asami's grasp before rubbing the pain away.
"You just ate half that bowl of popcorn an had two sandwiches earlier," Mako said with a laugh. "How are you still hungry?"
"Hey, the Avatar has to eat to keep up her strength." Korra shrugged. "Besides, Tenzin and his family have been watching Naga for the past few days so I'm sure she's ready for some real food by now," she added. Bolin and Opal started to dance in their seats to Korra's cell phone ringtone as it began to play. "Speaking of Tenzin."
Mako handed Asami the half-empty bowl of popcorn who put it onto the table. She winced as Bolin let out a loud burp right by Opal's ear. The young girl glared at him while rubbing her ear. Bolin smiled sheepishly before kissing her on the cheek. Asami chuckled as Opal raised an eyebrow at him. He pouted in response. She rolled her eyes before giving him a kiss on the cheek back.
"Guys, Pema is in the hospital!" Korra announced as she hung up her phone. "She's having the baby. We have to go, now!"
Four hours later, after stopping at every toy store in Republic City to find a suitable stuffed animal for the new baby, the Krew arrived at the hospital. Mako and Asami were arguing about which route they should have taken to arrive at the hospital faster while Bolin was trying to hide Pabu underneath his shirt so that he would be allowed into the hospital. Korra brought up the rear, carrying the giant stuffed flying lemur. She couldn't see where she was going and had to have Opal direct her on where to go.
"Korra!" Ikki and Meelo cried once they spotted her in the hallway. The two raced each other towards the Avatar. Meelo stopped in his tracks the minute he noticed Asami at the back of the group. He shyly walked up to her and stared.
"That's Meelo," Korra gasped out around Ikki's tight hold against her waist. She had to shift the giant stuffed animal in her arms so she could look at the children. "And this is Ikki, and that's Jinora," she added. Jinora was seated in a chair, her nose buried deep in a book. Judging by the cover, featured a woman crying the biggest tears, Asami assumed she was a big fan of romance novels.
"Nice to meet you," Jinora called out. She briefly looked up from her book, and by the way her eyes crinkled in the corner, Asami could tell she was smiling in her greeting before focusing back on her book.
"Beautiful lady," Meelo said while gazing up at Asami. She smiled softly in response. "May I have a lock of your hair?"
"If we were still dating, I'd have some competition," Mako commented with a laugh.
"You mean aside from Korra?" Asami suggested.
"Low blow," Korra whined. "Can someone please take this from me?" she demanded.
"I'll take it," Tenzin said as he exited the hospital room. "Thank you for the gift," he said quietly before placing the stuffed lemur on the ground. "I didn't expect you all to come."
"Tenzin, this is Asami Sato." Placed her hand on Asami's lower back an pushed her forward. "She's a close friend of mine."
"Hiroshi Sato's daughter," Tenzin said with a nod. He held his hand out and gave Asami's a firm shake. "I've heard all about you."
"I'm nothing like my father," Asami quickly said. "The papers all lied. I'm not trying to create any new inventions for the Equalists. Last I heard they've all been wiped out," she rattled off.
"Actually, I heard that you have one of the brightest minds in the city," Tenzin said reassuringly. "Plus anything positive that Korra tells me. I must admit when I first heard that you two had become friends I was taken aback, but she has a good head on her shoulders so I trusted her judgment."
"I apologize for any pain or trouble my father and the equalists may have caused for your family," Asami said with a deep bow.
"Would you all like to see the baby?" Tenzin asked. He dragged the stuffed lemeur into the room and stepped to the side to let the group file into the room. Pema smiled warmly at all of them an held the new baby up so they could see his face.
"His name is Rohan," she announced.
"He's so small," Opal cooed. Ikki and Meelo airbent themselves onto Pema's hospital bed. They landed softly on their mother's right side and peered closely at their new baby brother. Jinora reached out and ruffled the hair on top of his head. "When will you find out if he's a bender or not?"
"The other children didn't find out about their abilities until they were around Meelo's age, so we have quite a while," Pema answered. Rohan looked up at her with his wide eyes and cooed softly as she rubbed her nose against his cheek.
"Do you think mom and dad looked at us like that when we were born?" Bolin asked quietly as he looked at the loving look on Pema's and Tenzin's faces. He smiled as Tenzin wrapped an arm around his wife's shoulders and kissed her on the forehead.
"I know I did," Mako commented. He grunted in pain as Bolin gave him a strong hug.
Ikki and Meelo took turns make silly faces to their new brother. They clapped excitedly when the baby let out a soft laugh. "Normally for Thanksgiving we say what we're thankful for, and I think this year it's for everyone in this room sharing the birth of our new son with us," Pema said quietkly.
"He's so beautiful, Pema," Asami said. She reached out and trailed a finger down his cheek. Rohan looked up at her before squinting. "Is he trying to smile?" she asked. A second later she flinched, as baby Rohan sneezed onto her hand. "I guess not."
Korra snickered before playfully jostling her. Her smile faded when she saw the bruise around the engineer's wrist. Her sleeve had slid up her arm a bit as she reached up to wipe her hand off on her shirt. "May I talk to you for a second?" she asked.
Asami nodded before following her out of the room. "What's up?"
"How did you get the bruise on your wrist?" she asked. "I've been thinking about it and that doesn't look like something you'd get in a science accident."
"It's nothing I promise," Asami insisted.
"Well, we are at a hospital, so we could get someone to check it out," Korra suggested.
"Question four?" Asami asked. She sighed when Korra nodded. "Iroh has been texting me, asking to talk these past few weeks. I either tell him nor or I haven't responded. He caught me by my car later today asking to talk and he kind of got physical."
"He did what?" Korra shouted. "What are you looking at?" she demanded as a few patients and nurses turned to look at her.
"No, Korra, don't worry." Asami winced as Korra took a hold of her wrist. She bent some water from a nearby water fountain before wrapping it around the engineer's arm. The water started to glow a light blue as it swirled around. Asami relaxed as she felt the pain beginning to dull. :I know self-defense remember? I can take care of myself. But, he seemed off."
"What do you mean?" Korra muttered. She continued to focus her attention on fixing the bruising.
"It's like I told Rika-"
"Rika was there too?"
"Yeah, she thought I was trying to get back with Iroh and intervened." Asami rolled her eyes. "Anyway, Iroh has seen things I haven't. He's changed. I noticed when he first came back around the time we broke up." She wiped the excess water on her shirt as Korra bent the stream of water back to the water fountain. "He seemed to be on edge a lot, or will have trouble concentrating on things. It was like he would do these jumps in his mind. It's like he's constantly on guard for something."
"Isn't that just bi-polar disorder?" Korra asked while crossing her arms over her chest. "Or depression?"
"No, it feels different."
Korra sighed before running a hand through her hair. "Well, if you think you can handle it, then fine. I won't push the topic right now. But Mako, Bolin, and I will step in anytime you need help. You know that, right?" she asked.
"Of course," Asami nodded. Korra held the room door open so that Asami could enter first. The two walked over to the bed and peered down at Rohan who was sleeping comfortable against this mother's chest.
"Some Thanksgiving Break, huh?" Asami said out loud as she lightly touched one of Rohan's small hands. "It's better than the last few years. So, I'm really enjoying this one," she added.
"I wonder who's going to take over our art class now," Mako thought.
"I bet my brother, Huan, would like to do it," Opal suggested.
"He likes art?" Bolin asked.
"He's the top in your class," she answered.
"He just sits in the corner," Asami said.
"How would you know he sits in the corner?" Korra asked, clearly amused. "You fall asleep a lot."
"And you drool sometimes," Bolin added.
"And snore," Mako supplied.
"I do not!" Asami insisted. She looked towards Pema for some backup. She just giggled and shook her head.
"How would you know?" Korra asked. "You're sleeping when you do it."
"Stop it," she whined.
AN: I know, I know, a newborn baby wouldn't be able to coo or smile, but I'm basing it off of cartoons and LOK had Rohan be pretty responsive right after birth so I did the same.
Also, to clarify, this story is set in high school. I just decided to have Republic School for the Gifted to be special and have students take courses, along with gen ed, in fields they may be interested in when they go to college. Think of it like pre-college courses. Which is why I have Mako taking a criminology class and Opal taking Air Studies.
I also decided to start giving you guys the title to the next chapter at the end of each update. So here is the next chapter's title: Kiyoko and Kuvira
