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 20: Winter Formal (I)
There's got to be something I can do to turn Future Industries around. Why did you have to ruin everything? You were so proud of the company you built. It was from the ground up. You always told me that you didn't have anything until you started a family and took the loan from your first supplier. Were you that lonely?
Asami pulled on the throttle and felt her body jerk forward as her scooter sped up. She zipped past a few shops, her hands gripped tightly on the handlebars. She easily swerved in and out of traffic, not minding the painted lines on the ground or the car's honking around her.
Suddenly Mako dashed into the street. Asami gasped and firmly pressed onto the breaks. She shifted her weight and moved the scooter to its side, sliding the last few inches along the ground. Mako let out a yelp as the metal frame hit his shins, he landed on the ground but not without rolling over a few times.
"I'm so sorry, Mako," Asami cried. She tugged at her helmet and pulled her goggles down around her neck. "I wasn't paying too much attention. Are you okay?"
Mako groaned as he sat up. He moved every muscle of his body, starting with his arms all the way down to his toes. "I've been beaten up worse than this during practice," he muttered while rubbing his shin. "This will bruise though."
"I'm so sorry." She bent down and helped pull him to his feet. A few cars behind her started to honk loudly. The drivers waved frantically from behind the wheel. She glared sharply at them before ripping her helmet off. The minute her dark hair flowed down her back, their eyes widened. The cars quickly merged into the other lane and continued on.
"What's got you upset?" Mako asked.
Asami looked over at him in surprise. "What makes you think I'm upset?"
"You're the best driver I know." Mako climbed to his feet and brushed the dirt off of the back of his pants. Asami turned off her scooter and moved it up along the sidewalk to lean against a pole. She pulled a lock and chain out of a hidden compartment in the scooter and started to lock it up. "If you weren't in your head, you would have stopped in time."
Asami hummed quietly before nodding in understanding. She slipped the lock in to two chain links and started to press the lock close. Asami had a difficult time locking up her scooter with the way she wrapped the chains around it. She grunted while pushing her palms together, her right palm on the base of the look, and her left palm on the hook.
"You may need some muscle for that," he joked.
"That's what Korra's for." She looked up at him with a smile. "Avatar muscle." Asami let out a quiet cheer as it finally locked with a light click.
"Weren't you heading somewhere?" he asked.
"No, I was just taking a drive to clear my head. How about some lunch while I'm here?" Asami suggested. Mako nodded in response before following her into Narook's Seaweed Noodelry. She followed the waiter to a small round booth and quickly sat down before shuffling towards the middle. Mako did the same but from the other side of the table. "How are things with Kiyoko?" she asked.
"Good," he answered quickly. "She's really nice, and sweet, and…different. And…" Asami smiled before taking a sip of her glass of water. She picked up her napkin and lightly dapped around the top of her lip before placing it into her lip.
"And not me or Korra?" she asked.
Mako shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Well, she isn't as intimidating."
"I don't know if I should take that as a compliment or an insult."
"It's a compliment," he reassured her with a smile. "There's nothing wrong with women wanting to take charge. I mean, look at Beifong." Asami pointed at him before nodding. "How else would you be able to handle the business world?"
"That's true," Asami said quietly, "sometimes I wonder if I'm doing the right thing by trying to turn Future Industries around." She picked up her menu and quickly scanned it as the waiter walked up to their booth. She looked over at Mako and he motioned in her direction, letting her order first. She read off what she wanted before handing the waiter her menu. Mako just handed the waiter his menu and asked for his usual. He placed his elbows onto the table and sighed deeply. "Anyway, you seem a bit off."
"It's Bolin."
"Is everything okay?"
"I worry about him sometimes," Mako muttered. He started to toy with his napkin; crumpling it up in his hands before smoothing it out onto the table. Asami waited patiently for him to continue speaking. His eyebrows were furrowed and the more he messed with the napkin the jerkier his movements became. "I graduate next semester and I may leave for university. Or find a job. Who knows? I just wonder what will happen when I'm gone."
"I think Bolin is perfectly capable to be on his own," she added gently. While she didn't have a family anymore, Asami always knew that it was a sensitive subject to offer advice for anyone. She had learned that the hard way when she was younger.
"Honestly, I don't," he admitted. "He just got into his first relationship. It's not that I don't like Opal," he quickly added, "but I wonder if he is too wrapped up in having a girlfriend."
"Isn't having a girlfriend better than having tons of screaming fans around?" Asami asked with a shrug. Mako scrunched up his nose before slumping a bit in his seat. He folded his arms over his chest and exhaled sharply through his nose.
"Okay, point made," he finally admitted. Asami laughed into her palm as the waiter came back with their food. She stirred her noodles around in the broth a few times before picking up a small section with her chopsticks. She blew lightly on the food before slipping it into her mouth. "It's also his future. He doesn't know what he wants to do in life," Mako said before slurping a large portion of noodles. She fought the urge to roll her eyes before continuing. "He will need to figure it out before the end of the school year since he'd have to declare his intent soon."
"Declare his intent?" she repeated in confusion.
"Republic has a system kind of like college and their degrees, but different. When we're in our sophomore year, we have to declare our intent; basically the track you're intending on pursuing when you get to university level," he answered. "This way we take fewer gen ed courses, or courses that sound interesting, and then take a few courses to get a feel of what college will be like."
"But what if you declare your intent and then change your mind?"
"You can change your intent twice a year; one time per semester, but it's not something you need to have nailed down by the time you graduate in senior year." Mako groaned in frustration as a few pieces of noodles slipped through his chopsticks at every pass. "It's just a great way to figure out what you may like and may not like before you head to higher education."
Asami held her hand up to her mouth as she chewed. "What does Bolin want to do?" she asked quickly before finishing and swallowing. Having proper table manners was something she was taught at an early age. She tried not to mentally scold herself as she went against one of the rules she was taught.
"I don't know. Every time I bring up the topic we get into a fight." Mako shrugged. He gave up on eating the last few pieces and just stirred the broth at the bottom of his bowl. "We just had one a few moments before you almost ran me over."
"Maybe you shouldn't push the topic?" she asked gently. "It sounds like you're talking to him like a parent and not a brother."
"I have to look out for him," he answered sharply. "There's no one else."
"You do look out for him and that is something I've always liked about you, but you can't make his decisions for him. Just be supportive in whatever he chooses to do. That's all that matters in the end, even if you don't agree with it."
"Are you going to the Winter Formal tonight?" Mako asked abruptly.
"Are you changing the subject because you don't want to admit that I'm right?" she responded with a wink. Mako laughed, breaking his rough composure. "No, I'm not going."
"It sounds like it'll be fun," he commented.
"Hey, if you've been to one dance you've been to them all."
"I wouldn't know."
Asami's eyebrows rose in shock. "Republic doesn't hold dances?"
"No." He shrugged. "We don't really know why, but we get a lot of funding for sports teams to no one really complains." He smiled happily. "I mean, the Fire Ferrets wouldn't be around without it."
"Speaking of school, I'm curious; who did Tenzin end up calling when we all got into trouble?
"Toza," Mako answered with a smirk. "When Bolin and I were trying to get off of the streets he gave us a place to stay. We worked odd jobs for him and he got us into pro-bending which is why I formed the association at Republic. Anyway, he helped us fill out the applications for the school and helped us get scholarships to attend. He's something like a guardian to us. He didn't even care that we got into trouble. He thought it was funny." He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and checked the time. "I have to go. I need to pick up a corsage for Kiyoko."
"I hope you'll have a great time tonight," Asami said. She got up and slipped out of the booth before reaching into her pocket for her wallet. She tossed a few yuan bills onto the table. Mako stepped to the side to make room for her, and followed her out of the restaurant. As they both walked over to her scooter, he placed a hand lightly on her shoulder to catch her attention.
"Do I have to wear a dress?" he whispered.
"No," Asami laughed. "The switching of clothing is more for the girl's anyway. Some guys do attend the Winter Formal in dresses but you don't have to." She cocked her head to the side and raised an eyebrow. "Haven't you talked about this with Kiyoko?"
"We've exchanged a few text messages here and there. I just didn't want to ruin the school's tradition or anything," he said while rubbing the back of his neck.
"Don't worry about it, Mako. Just dress like you did when we went to Quang's Cuisine, but not as formal." Asami smiled. "I'm sure you'll be very handsome."
"Thanks, Asami. I'll see you later."
"Bye, Mako." Asami gave a small wave before heading over towards her scooter. She zipped up her jacket before reaching into her pocket and pulling out her cellphone. After turning the volume back on, her phone lit up and vibrated for a few seconds. A small envelope flashed in the corner of the screen, indicating that she had a few new messages.
Korra: -1:26 pm- Are you on your way back? I'm bored and I have no idea how to work this TV setup to play a videogame.
Korra: -1:45 pm- It looks like it'll snow soon. Be careful on your scooter
Korra: -2:07 pm- Just checking to make sure you're okay and that nothing happened.
Asami smiled as she quickly typed out a response. She re-read the message to herself, lifting her hand to bite on her pinky nail. Her thumb shook as she hovered over the send button. After a few more seconds, she squeezed her eyes shut and pressed down.
Asami: -2:28 pm- Everything is okay, Angel. I'm fine. I just had some lunch with Mako and I'm on my way back now. I'll be there soon.
Why did you text that? She'll think it's stupid. She'll think it's weird that you have a name for her. Why don't phones have the option to stop text messages after they've been sent?
Korra: -2:32 pm- Angel? I think I'm more the opposite. XD Drive safely, please.
Korra: : -2:32 pm- Oh, can you stop by Tenzin's place? I left one of my textbooks there when I was babysitting the air kids a few days ago. I also left my glider…I worry more about that than the book to be honest. :)
Asami let out a huge sigh of relief as she read the new text messages. Her thumbs raced against the screen as she depicted her response.
Asami: -2:33pm-No problem, just message me the address. I'll text you when I'm on the way back home.
A few minutes later, Asami pulled her scooter up into the driveway of a small white house. Columns on the porch were decorated with red and gold ribbon. A swinging seat rocked gently against the crisp air. The engineer pulled her jacket up tightly against her neck as she hurried towards the front door. She knocked rapidly before bouncing on the tips of her toes, trying to keep her blood moving and her body warm.
"Hi, Pema. I'm sorry to bother you," Asami said as soon as the woman opened the door. She crossed her arms over her chest and shook violently as a strong wind picked up. "I'm just here to grab a book for Korra, and her glider."
"She texted me and told me you'd be by," Pema answered with a smile. "Come in, you must be freezing."
"Don't tell Korra that; she'll make fun of me for days," Asami answered.
"Just because she comes from the South doesn't mean we all like the cold," she laughed. Pema held her hand out for Asami's jacket. Once the heiress placed it into her palm, she hung it up in a nearby closet. "I just put some soup on the stove. Would you like some?"
"I'm fine, thank you." She shook her head. It was then she noticed how quiet the house was. When she had visited Pema in the hospital around Thanksgiving for the birth of her baby, her children were very lively and loud. Judging by that and stories she's heard from Korra, they could be a handful. "Where are the children?" she asked.
"Tenzin took them to visit the zoo today," Pema answered. "Baby Rohan was a little ill so we decided to stay home. Would you like to see him?"
"Oh." Asami blinked. She smiled sheepishly. "…um…I'm not too good with kids."
"He's asleep. Don't worry." Pema took a hold of her hand and led her up the stairs towards the master bedroom. Asami lightened her footsteps as she followed the older woman over to a crib on the opposite side of the room. "Here he is."
"He's so small," Asami whispered. She couldn't help but gush as she watched the baby's nose twitch every few seconds. She reached down into the crib and lightly traced a finger down the baby's cheek.
"He's great," Pema said lovingly. She pulled a blanket up around the baby's neck before lightly scratching his scalp. "Rohan is just like the men in this family; the minute their heads hit the pillow they're down for the count." She motioned for them to quietly leave the room. Pema closed the door behind them before rubbing her eyes. Asami had noticed how tired she looked when she first opened the door but didn't say anything. It was a look she had seen etched upon her father's face after long nights at the factory. While he did look rundown, he also looked proud and happy. Pema radiated the same energy. "So how have you been?" the older woman asked.
The two walked down into the kitchen and took a seat at the table. Pema lit a flame underneath a teapot before dumping a few herbs into the opening.
"I've been pretty busy with school and Future Industries, like usual," Asami answered with a shrug.
"Do you miss modeling for my art class?" Pema looked over her shoulder and offered up a smile. After her first time model, Asami had spoken quietly with Pema saying that she enjoyed her time in the room but couldn't help but let her mind wander and constantly slump and shift her body around, even with her past modeling experience. Although, after her initial meeting with Korra, Mako, and Bolin, the later sessions weren't horribly and quickly became entertaining.
"Do I miss having random guys hitting on me every time I sit in front of them? Not at all," Asami scoffed. Pema laughed politely. "I do miss hanging out with Korra and the group more often though," she admitted. "I mean, aside from Korra of course since we live together now."
"I heard about that." Pema snatched the teapot off of the stove as soon as it started to whistle. Asami reached towards the middle of the table and picked two small cups off of the small plate holding numerous colored cups. She placed one in front of her and one in front of Pema. She poured the two some tea before placing the teapot onto a towel that laid by the plate of cups. "Thanks for taking her in."
"You knew?" Asami asked.
"Of course I knew. I'm a mother." Pema shrugged. "I know everything about every child who steps foot under this roof. Which makes me wonder what is upsetting you?"
The engineer took a sip of her tea before reaching up and tapping her face lightly with her hand. "Am I that easy to read?" she frowned.
"I told you, I'm a mom."
Asami nodded before looking down into the liquid in her cup. She stared at her reflection watching as the picture distorted with the ripples on the surface. "I've been thinking of two things: I either cease my studies after I graduate from RITA or I turn my company over to someone else."
"Why would you give up the company?" Pema asked.
"My father ruined its reputation. While I am able to handle both school and being a CEO, I have yet to come up with a marketing plan or a new innovative idea to turn its reputation around." She placed her elbow onto the table and rested her chin in her hand.
"You are extraordinarily gifted. If anyone can handle things, you can," Pema said with a soft smile. She reached over and rubbed the top of Asami's left hand that was resting on the table. "You're worry too much about the future that you're not enjoying your time now. Even though you're a CEO and had to grow up quickly, you're still a kid. It's okay to just relax and do nothing. Just have some fun and don't worry about anything else."
"I have fun," Asami said with a small bite.
"Yes, but if you're anything like your father, fun to you is coming up with a new set of blueprints." Asami took sudden interest in the painting that was resting on the wall above them. It was an art piece depicting the air nomad culture. She took in the colors of the reds and golds before Pema's laughter brought her back. "Tell me the truth, when was the last time you had fun?"
Asami looked up at the ceiling in thought. "When we went bowling about a week ago. Korra and I had a bit of a competition." She smiled softly at the memory. "I won."
Pema's eyes widened in surprise. She took a quick sip of her tea before placing the cup back onto the table. "And she didn't let you win?"
"I don't think so." Asami shook her head, her dark her shifting across her back. "When she noticed that she was close to losing she tried to cheat by distracting me."
The older woman laughed into her palm. "Yeah, that sounds like Korra. When did you have fun before then?"
"…Around Republic's Spirit Week and Family Weekend activities. We all went to a karaoke bar. Korra thought it'd be a great place to go and just have fun. It helped take my mind off of things. She seems to always have time to put others before herself. I mean, how often does she get to see her parents, but she spent a majority of the weekend trying to keep me in the loop and entertained." Asami frowned as she looked over at Pema. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Pema pulled her bottom lip in before shrugging. "No reason, it's just that I noticed whenever you mention Korra you light up."
"I do? Oh, well she's just helped make things better in my life since we became friends." Asami shrugged. "She's very trustworthy, and loyal, and a great energy to be around. I don't' see her as the Avatar, I just see her as her."
"It's nice to know that you admire her." Pema laced her fingers together, a pensive look crossing her face. "She won't tell anyone but sometimes what the newspaper articles say gets to her. It's good to know that she has someone like you in her life."
"Well, what's not to admire about her?" Asami asked. "Even if she may act without thinking, her heart is always in the right place and will always follow what she believes in. I think everyone deserves those qualities. That's something that I strive for."
"You know, there is only the smallest of difference between admiring someone and liking them." Pema smiled.
Asami's eyebrow furrowed as she rested her hand over her mouth. She stared down at the table in thought. "I…I don't understand," she finally said." If you admire someone isn't normal to like them as well? It's not like you'd admire a villain or something like that…" she trailed off, her mind racing, trying to comprehend what the older woman had just said to her.
"Having a powerful mind is one thing, but you're over thinking this one." Pema smiled.
Asami sighed before half-smiling. "That would also explain how bad i am at jokes; at least that's what Korra says." She shrugged.
"Speaking of Korra, knowing her protectiveness, she may be wonder where you are." Pema looked at the clock hanging above the stove before shifting her gaze towards the window. "You might want to head home before the roads get too bad."
"I have yet to find a road that has been a challenge," Asami boasted as she got up out of her seat. "Bring it on, I say."
"Asami!"
"What?" she widened her green eyes to try and promote innocence but she couldn't help but smile as well. "You told me to have some fun and I love to drive." Pema raised an eyebrow in response. "I'll be careful, I promise. Thank you for the tea and this nice chat. We should do it again sometime."
"Just call whenever you need me." Pema gave the younger girl a big hug before walking her to the front door. She reached into the closet and handed Asami her jacket. "See you soon, oh and could you tell Korra something for me?"
"Sure."
"Tell her that final projects in my class are canceled and whatever grade the students currently have is their final grade for the semester," Pema recited.
Asami reached into her the collar of her jacket and fluffed her hair up and out of it. She zipped her jacket and pulled the keys to her scooter out of her pocket before twirling them around her finger. "Why do I need to tell Korra that?"
"Because she'll be so excited that it'll spread around campus faster than sending out an email. It'll save me some time," Pema commented.
Asami stepped into the apartment and quickly slipped out of shoes. She sighed happily as her feet touched the cool ground. "Korra, I'm back. I got your book and glider," she called out, walking down the hall and towards the living room. "I also stopped by a small bakery and picked up some cookies."
She paused when she noticed Korra, Mako, Bolin, Kiyoko, and Opal sitting in the living room. All five of them were dressed in black suits, with different accent colors: Korra's was blue, Mako's was grey (along with his red scarf), Bolin's was Green, Opal's was gold, and Kiyoko's was purple. They each wore matching fedora hats but Korra's, Opal's, and Kiyoko's had a small piece of embellishment added to theirs. Asami was shocked when she noticed Korra's signature wolf tail sticking out of the top of the hat.
"What's going on?" Asami asked slowly as her five friends got to their feet as she entered the room. She noticed the small corsage on Kiyoko's wrist, the flowers matched the color in her suit. Asami couldn't help but smile when she noticed they were holding hands.
"We're waiting for you to leave," Bolin answered with excitement.
She blinked rapidly in confusion. "Leave where?" She dropped her left shoulder, causing her purse to slid down her arm to the floor. She had Korra's glider tucked underneath her right arm, and her textbook and box of cookies in her right hand.
"To your senior year Winter Formal." Opal matched Bolin's happiness. Normally, people being overly perky annoyed Asami to no end, but they both looked bright, and cute together that she let it slide.
"I didn't buy a ticket," Asami answered.
"Don't worry about it." Opal waved away the notion as if she were shooing a puppy. "I'm sure my dad can get you in. It worked with me and Bolin," she added. "Plus, that school loves you."
"I don't understand." The engineer slowly looked at the five of them. Her eyes landed on Korra and stopped as the dark girl shifted slowly from foot to foot.
"All of this was my idea," Korra said sheepishly. "I saw how much fun you were having when we went bowling and realized that you hardly just let yourself loose and just be a teenager." She looked over at the other four and nodded. Kiyoko reached behind a chair and pulled out a dress bag. Mako pulled a fedora from behind his back, while Bolin produced a red feather from his pocket. Opal then reached underneath the table and held up a pair of black high heeled boots. Korra held up a finger and raced into the kitchen. She re-emerged with a plastic container carrying a pink corsage.
"You set me up," Asami stated with a smile. "With Mako and Pema?"
"No, you running into me was real," Mako commented. "I stormed into the street after talking with Bolin."
"More like yelling," Bolin interjected.
"But, I did purposely leave my book at Pema's to get you to talk to her."
"What about your glider?"
"That was an accident. Gimmie." Korra reached over and plucked her glider out from underneath Asami's arm. She held it to her chest as if she were holding her old security blanket. "I was worried the kids would turn you into firewood," she whimpered. Korra's eyes widened when she noticed everyone else in the room staring strangely at her. She cleared her throat as a light flush rushed her cheeks. "I thought if anyone could lend an ear, it'd be her."
"I don't have any clothes," Asami muttered.
"All taken care of." Kiyoko stepped forward and unzipped the dress bag. "Check it out."
Asami gasped before squealing happily when she looked inside the dress bag. She ran her hands over the clothing, her jaw open in shock. "That's beautiful," she commented. "Wait, how'd you know my size?"
"School uniform," Korra answered simply. Asami looked over at her with a raised eyebrow. "I told you, I have everything figured out."
"Then who am I going with?" she playfully demanded. She placed the box of cookies onto the table before crossing her arms over her chest. "I mean, I assume it's a group thing but you two are dating," she said while pointing at Opal and Bolin, "and you're taking Kiyoko. Or, rather, she is taking you."
Korra reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded up piece of paper. She quickly unwrapped it and held it out in front of her. Asami recognized the colors and realized it was the flier from the mirror in her bedroom. "Well, the flier says that the girl is supposed to ask the date." The Avatar folded the flier back up before returning it to her pocket. "So, you being a girl times you asking me equals having a fantastic time with the funnest person in Republic City," she explained. "See, I'm good at math."
"Hey!" Bolin exclaimed. "How am I not fun?"
"And funnest isn't a word," Mako added with a smirk.
"Fine." Korra rolled her eyes. "The most fun girl in the Republic City. Happy?" she glared over at Bolin who nodded in confirmation. Asami laughed at the exchange before turning to face her roommate.
"Korra, will you go with me?" she asked.
"I don't know." Korra shrugged. She crossed her arms over her chest and shifted all of her weight to one side, popping her hip out. "It's kind of last minute. I mean, I think I deserve better than that."
"Fine, then I'll use my sixth question." Asami took a deep breath before smiling brightly. "Korra, would you go to Winter Formal with me?" she said with an air. It was a combination of her normal voice and her 'work' voice. She thought that it would make her asking sound much more important than the first time she tried. Korra half-smiled but remained silent. "With seaweed noodles, moon cakes, meat buns and-" Asami picked up the box off of the table, "and some cookies on top?" She shook the box before holding it out to her.
"You had me at noodles." Korra happily received the box from her before tearing it open. "How can I say no when food is involved?" She happily bit into a cookie before passing the box around to the other four in the room.
"Wow, I feel special," Asami said sarcastically. She laughed regardless, overflowing with happiness as she took another look at her friend's clothing. "No, I really do. Thank you, everyone."
"So go and get ready." Korra received the dress bag from Kiyoko before shoving it into Asami's arms. She then placed her hands on Asami's shoulders, turned her around, and walked her over to her bedroom. "We're going to head over to Opal's to take pictures and then head to the dance. Now, move it," she ordered.
AN: So, I decided to cut this chapter into two parts because it was getting very long and I didn't want my beta to have to read all of it in one sitting. Shout out to Rubiks for being a great beta! Also, this way I can flesh out everything in the next chapter.
Also, now that I'm thinking about it, I may just keep this story, and its planned continuation, Model Citizen, as one whole story instead of splitting it into two parts. It would be much easier to follow everything that way. What do you all think?
Here is the next chapter's title: Winter Formal (II)
