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. First in "Model U.N." series
Chapter 45: Rika's Last Stand
"No, Korra, I don't need you as my bodyguard," Asami said as she took a seat on the front steps to her school. "Are you that bored at home?" She titled her head back and looked up, watching clouds slowly move across the clear blue sky. "You could always go back to school."
Korra let out a snicker. "I remember I told you once that you weren't funny, but that's actually a good joke."
She looked and up and gave Kiyoko a smile as she sat down on the step next to her. Kiyoko pulled a laptop out of her bag and placed it onto her thighs. She pulled out a wireless mouse and plugged in the USB nano receiver into a side port. Kiyoko then made quick work in an application to pull up a video screen.
"Look, it's sweet that you care, and to offer but I'm serious. I don't need a bodyguard," Asami insisted. "People usually assume that I'm daddy's helpless little girl, but I can handle myself." Asami pulled her phone away from her ear and glanced at the time, "Anyway, I have to go. Homeroom is going to start soon. Let's hang out after school. I have to head into the office for an hour or so, but after that I'm free. I could teach you how to drive, or something," she suggested. "Okay, fine. We can go to my racetrack and I'll drive. Let Mako and Bolin know. Okay, bye." Asami hung up her phone and placed it in her pocket before looking over at Kiyoko who was leaned so far over her laptop that her nose almost touched the screen. "What are you doing?"
"I'm looking more into your attack yesterday," Kiyoko muttered. Her fingers flew over the keyboard as she entered code into a black box.
"I wouldn't call it that," Asami said with a shrug. She leaned over and glanced at the screen, her eyes following the code that was being inputted.
"Whatever you call it, it wasn't right. I'm trying to see if I can get some evidence." With the click of the mouse, and the press of the Enter button, a video screen appeared on the desktop, showing different camera angles
"You sure are fired up, Ki," Asami commented. "I'm impressed, I didn't know you knew how to hack into things."
Kiyoko couldn't help but flush at Asami's compliment. "It's not hacking," she denied with the wave of a hand. "I was just able to decipher the proper chain of code and information to the security cameras without needing to be connected the the school's network and an administrative account," she said with a shrug. Asami glanced at her with a raised eyebrow. "Okay, I hacked it," she whispered. "It's actually easy to do. For a school with its caliber, the firewall is ridiculously easy to get around." Kiyoko glanced at the numerous cameras shown on her screen, making a sound of discomfort when she spotted Manami and Rika sitting in the quad, talking to each other. "You said you were in the North Hall when it happened?"
"Yes, right by the student life committee's office," Asami confirmed. Kiyoko pulled up the proper camera and was about to change the date range back a day when she heard footsteps behind her. Asami looked over her shoulder and spotted Ms. Higurashi walking towards them. She elbowed Kiyoko in the side, who quickly slammed the laptop shut. "It would probably be a good idea to do this in private next time, and not on the front steps of the school," Asami whispered. Kiyoko nodded rapidly but remained silent.
"Ms. Sato, the dean of the school would like to speak with you," Ms. Higurashi said. Asami and Kiyoko shared a confused look with each other, before Asami got to her feet. She brushed off the back of her skirt and picked up her bag, following Ms. Higurashi back into the school.
Asami remained quiet as she followed Ms. Higurashi down the hallways towards the administrative offices. She ignored the quiet whispers of a few of the students in the hallways. She felt their eyes burning into her back, but she held her head high, silently telling herself to keep her breathing calm.
Ms. Higurashi knocked twice on a door at the back of the offices before letting herself in. Asami stepped into the room and quick took the empty seat opposite of Dean Ito. It was difficult to read the expression on his face. Asami cleared her throat once before standing up and offering a quick bow. She then reclaimed her seat as Ms. Higurashi moved to stand next to Dean Ito behind his desk.
"Ms. Sato, am I correct in assuming this is your water bottle?" Dean Ito asked. He pulled open a drawer to his left and pulled out a red water bottle with blue lid.
Asami took one look at it and shook her head. "No, it isn't."
"It has the Future Industries logo on it," Ms. Higurashi pointed out.
"Those water-bottles are sold in RITA's school store as well as a variety of other stores in the city, and online," Asami listed off with a shrug. "It can be anyone's."
"You're the only person on campus who always carries one around," she added.
Asami nodded once before slowly blinking. "This is true, but my water bottle has a black lid. That one is blue," she pointed out. As soon as she said it, she realized how silly she sounded. Asami looked in between Ms. Higurashi and Dean Ito. "I don't understand why I was called in here for a water-bottle."
"Ms. Sato, we found this water-bottle after school the other day," Ms. Higurashi explained. "Its contents were spilled on the floor and based on it's odor, we quickly deduced that it was Cactus Juice."
"That's against rule number eight of the Code of Conduct: drugs and other substances are not permitted on campus unless medically provided and with proper documentation," Asami rattled off. "It can be found in section two, under header five and point 7A."
"When we didn't see who dropped the water-bottle we decided to take a look at the security cameras and found this." Dean Ito pulled up a recording on his computer screen. He pressed play and turned the monitor to face Asami.
Asami felt her stomach begin to churn as she watched the black and white video on the screen. It depicted Manami's and Rika's attack on her the other day, but due to the camera angle it only should Asami striking back against Rika and striking her across the face. "No, that's not what has happened!" she cried.
"This is the second offense in less than a day where you have assaulted Ms. Gan-Lan," Ms. Higurashi pointed out.
"Assault?" Asami repeated. "All of this is a mistake." She folded her hands tightly in her lap but could not stop her leg from bouncing up and down. "Rika is the one who's been bullying me. She's been doing it for years." Asami pointed a shaking finger at the monitor. "It's not showing the whole situation."
"Ms. Sato, I'm afraid this leaves me no choice," Dean Ito said with a sigh. "Effective immediately, you're expelled from RITA," he declared.
"This isn't happening!" Asami cried. "I'm almost finished with my final year! This is a mistake." She then snapped her fingers, before smiling. "I can prove it. If we can just talk to Kiyoko."
Dean Ito held up a hand to silence her. Asami pulled her lips into a thin line, before lowering her head. "I'm sorry, Ms. Sato, but my decision is final." He then gestured towards the door. "You may leave now."
Asami bit her bottom lip to stop herself from letting tears fall. After a few moments, she took a deep breath and lifted her head. "Do I have time to gather my items?" she asked in a monotone.
"We've already taken care of it." Ms Higurashi picked up a box from the table behind Dean Ito's desk. She walked over and held the box out to Asami who took it without another word.
After presenting a quick bow to the two of them, Asami rolled her shoulders back before moving towards the door. She balanced the box of items onto her hip and wrenched the door open. Normally she would have apologized for causing it to bounce against the wall, but instead she continued, walking with purpose towards the front doors of the school. As soon as she stepped outside into the cool air, she stopped, and turned to look up at the school building.
Asami felt her cell phone vibrate in her pocket. She moved the box to her hip once more and pulled her phone out, using her thumb to move through a few screens to read the new message.
Korra: -9:17am- For the record, you're definitely not a daddy's girl. You're amazing. I know you can take care of yourself.
"Hello, Asami."
Asami gasped, turning and dropping the box of her items. Before she could call out for help, Rika reached out and slapped a wet rag over her nose and mouth. She then reached forward and wrapped her left arm around Asami's neck, squeezing tightly. Asami reached up and grasped at Rika's hands, scratching at the skin on the back of her hand. Her fingers slipped along the blood that started to trickle out down the back of Rika's hand.
Korra, Asami thought before she slumped to the cold ground. Rika quickly scooped up Asami's cell phone and placed it into her pocket, before picking her up and shuffling towards the side of the school, dragging Asami behind her by the arms.
Asami groaned as a bright light flashed in her face. Her eyelids felt heavy as she tried to open them. Muffled voices hammered into her ears, exacerbating her throbbing temples. She felt her head rock back, letting out a light sigh of relief as the light moved way from her eyelids.
Carefully, she blinked, allowing her eyes to open. She was looking up at a metal ceiling lined with pipes. All at once she felt the sting from the tug of her arms, the abrasiveness of the rope digging into wrists behind her back, and the discomfort in her chest as she rapidly began to fill her lungs.
She looked over to her left and her right, trying to spot a window or an exit to the room but didn't find anyway. She then noticed Rika and Manami by the door, arguing with each other. Slowly their words began to shift from a muffled mess into coherent sentences.
"You're being a coward," Rika sneered.
"Rika, we've one way too far for this to be called payback," Manami said. "I can't be involved in this anymore." She shook her head before looking over at Asami with a sad look. "I'm sorry for everything I've done to you. I'm sorry I couldn't stop this." With that she turned on her heel and then ran out of the room.
"Wait," Asami rasped. She swallowed hard, desperate for her saliva to coat her throat. "Please, help me!"
"To hell with her," Rika muttered. "This is between you and me, anyway." She crouched down before leaning into Asami's face. She reached out and grabbed her by the chin, moving her head back and forth. "It always has been."
"Why?" Asami asked.
"Why do you think?" she demanded. "Seriously, I'm wondering why you think I'm doing this."
"I don't know," she whimpered. "Maybe it has to do with my father. Maybe Iroh!" she cried. "I don't know. You have made me persona non grata for years. One day, you, Manami, and Kiyoko come to my house for a sleepover and the next thing I know you've worked Kiyoko and Manami into hate me as much as you do."
Rika huffed in annoyance. "…It was right after Cabbage Corps create its first compact car. My family was finally starting to make some money and a name for itself. And your father could not handle it," she hissed. "Next thing we know, Future Industries makes their own version of a compact car and acquires a contract for the whole city to create a taxi system. Before long, he and the Sato name has taken over the whole city."
"I've been making up for what my father has done to this city, and it never seems like it's enough," Asami admitted. "My father ruins everything he touches, even our relationship and my trust of him. So, I understand."
Rika let out a sound of disgust as she got out of Asami's face. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her cellphone. "I don't want any of your pity. You bear his name so you're just as responsible."
"That notion has never been lost on me," Asami answered. "But, kidnapping? Holding me hostage?"
"Your father ruined my uncle's life!" Rika screamed. The wild look in her dark eyes had returned. Her hands shook and a muscle in her cheek twitched. "He's been sitting in jail ever since he plotted those lies and rumors about my family working with the Equalists." She took a deep breath. "My mother has to work between two and three jobs just to keep me at RITA when we used to be able to afford it."
"Ir's been proven that my father was behind all of it," Asami insisted.
"Once your reputation is ruined it is hard to bounce back. You know that now, but of course you were able to turn Future Industries around," she snapped. "Meanwhile, my mother and I are no better off than those gangs and the homeless who live on the street."
"That's not an excuse." Asami shook her head. "Two of my closest friends are from the street, but they're the most humble, kind, and down to earth people that I know. There family has about fifteen people living in one house in the Earth Kingdom and they are all in high spirits. You shouldn't judge everyone based on where they come from or where they live."
"Which is easy for you to say since you live in the only mansion in the city," Rika pointed out. "Looking down on everyone from the biggest hill."
"I have never looked down on anyone," Asami said, "I'm not my father!"
"You were always so perfect," she continued as if she weren't interrupted. "You got the best grades, the best clothes, and all that special treatment. It was always about you." Rika glared down at Asami. She reached up to run a hand through her hair. The movement caused her hair to appear wilder and more unkempt than it did before. "I don't see why everyone loves Future Industries so much. Cabbage Corps has excelled where Future Industries has lacked," she pointed out. "All you focus on is your high-tech gadgets that only the rich can afford. You only care about money, while Cabbage Corps cares about the people. We bring them household appliances, phones, computers, and other things like that. But then Future Industries takes the idea and comes up with something bigger and better, but only for those who can drop the biggest checks."
Asami closed her eyes for a moment before sighing. "…You're right," she admitted.
"Of course, I'm right, but no one takes me seriously," Rika crossed her arms over her chest, her cellphone still gripped tightly in her hands.
Maybe, if I can get out of these binds, I can get her phone and call for help, Asami thought. She forced herself to look directly into Rika's eyes while she began to move her wrists around, trying to find a knot in the rope with her fingers. At the same time, she tried not to show too much movement in her arms as to tip Rika off on what she was doing.
"My so-called friends don't even take me seriously," Rika scoffed. "I used to have a lot of friends, and as soon as I was happy you took that away from me. First Kiyoko and now Manami has deserted me. I don't need them anymore. I have my Uncle Zaheer and his friends."
Asami stopped all movements, her eyes opening wide. "What?"
Rika quickly slipped off her jacket and presented the Red Lotus symbol on her upper arm. "Do you like my new tattoo?" she brightly asked. "Now that I have you here, all I need is to send one text message and they'll come running," she added, shaking her phone in Asami's face.
"Rika, you don't know what you're doing," Asami warned.
"I know exactly what I'm doing. I'm finally going to get you out of my family's life and then we can have the life we were meant to have."
"The Red Lotus are a dangerous group," she insisted. "They're out to hurt Korra."
"Oh, gosh, I wouldn't want anyone to hurt your girlfriend," Rika said in mock concern. She then rolled her eyes before glancing at the time on her phone. "Although it's pretty late. I wonder if she even notices that you're missing at this point."
"Rika, this is bigger than me. The Red Lotus don't care about our petty squabbles." Asami resumed her attempts of getting out of the rope. "They're out to create chaos and change in a radical way."
"Then maybe you'll understand how it feels to lose someone important to you," Rika said.
"My mother was murdered in a robbery gone wrong. I know what it feels like to lose someone. I ordered her favorite flowers every year and place them around my apartment on her birthday. I always wear her gold hair clip. I buy a bottle of her favorite perform and spray my pillowcases every night with it so I can feel closer to her. My heart hurts every time I look in the mirror because of how much I look like her." Asami swallowed the hard lump that formed in her throat. Rika continued to look at her with a bored expression on her face. "My father, whom I looked up to all my life, was trying to eradicate benders and almost initiated a war. My three ex-best friends suddenly turn on me a day after my sleepover birthday party and bully me for years. And for a while, my first ever true friend, lost all recollection of me and we weren't sure how long it would last. So yes, I know what its like to lose someone who is important. Pain isn't a competition."
Rika shrugged. "New growth cannot exist without first the destruction of old."
"What?"
Asami let out a cry of pain as Rika slapped her across the face. She watched out of the corner of her eye as Rika made her way to the door. With a heave, she wrenched the door open and quickly shuffled out of the small room.
"It's time for a new normal," Rika insisted before letting the door slam shut. A few moments later a loud clicking sound filled the small room as she locked the door.
Asami tugged hard on the rope bindings around her wrist. She stomped her foot to the ground once she realized her movements caused the ropes to tighten even more around her wrists. She let out a loud cry before slumping forward, breathing hard. Sweat dripped down her forehead to the end of her nose.
"Okay, think Asami, think," she whispered to herself. "You've been able to get out of all kinds of situations. You can do this." She flinched as she felt something cold brush over her cheek. She turned her head and spotted Hermes, who purred happily while phasing through the back of the chair. It nipped lightly at her earlobe. "Hermes, help me," she cried.
Hermes purred once more before jumping down from the back of the chair. It turned and began to quickly gnaw on the ropes at her wrists. Asami began to tug, ignoring the rope burns she was rubbing into her skin. Hermes let out a loud yell before jumping into the air and flapping its wings. It then extended its front claws and slashed at the ropes. Asami let out a cry of triumph as her hands were finally pulled free.
"How did you get here so quickly?" Rika's voice said.
"That's not important. Where is she?" Zaheer's deep voice boomed out.
Asami picked up the chair she was sitting in and wedged it underneath the door handle. She brushed her long hair out of her face before turning and looked around the small space. "I don't think there's any way to get out," she said to herself.
Hermes jumped up onto her back and clamped on tight with its claws. Asami hissed in pain as she felt small pricks in the middle of her back and on her shoulder blades. She then gasped in shock when she felt her entire body turn cold before she sunk through the floor.
The door to the room blew off its hinges and flew across the room, slamming into the wall. Zaheer took two steps inside the room, glancing at the rope on the floor. Rika rushed in after him, stopping short at the sight of the door on the other side of the room. "What happened?" she asked.
"She isn't here," Zaheer calmly said.
"That's not possible," Rika cried. She ran into the room and picked up the rope on the floor. She thumbed to rips in the fibers before tossing it to the floor. "It's impossible to leave this room without going through the door."
"It's no matter." He shrugged before clasping his hands behind his back. "My team will go find her, the Avatar will arrive, and then we'll get rid of her."
Rika turned to face him; a look of confusion set upon her features. "Get rid of her?" she repeated.
"She is of no importance to us after the Avatar comes and rescues her."
"Y-you're going to harm her?" Rika squeaked.
"She and the Avatar stand in the way of a perfect world," Zaheer answered.
"That wasn't the plan!" she cried. Zaheer glanced down at her in slight annoyance. "It wasn't supposed to be like this. I just wanted her out of the way, not permanently gone."
"New growth cannot exist without first the destruction of old," he said. "I thought you understood that. I guess I was wrong."
Rika slowly dropped to her knees. She let out a loud wail before reaching up and grabbing at her hair. Tears heavily flowed down her cheeks. "How could you trick me?" she sobbed.
"We both got what we wanted. You wanted to feel important and for the girl to be out of your way. While I wanted access to the Avatar."
"Well, I'm not helping you anymore," Rika spat. "I thought the Red Lotus was to bring positive change."
"We will as soon as the Avatar is dead." Zaheer then took a step forward and gripped her forearm in his strong hand. He easily pulled her up into the air, her feet barely touching the floor. "In the meantime, I can't have you be a liability."
"Wait, let go of me!" Rika cried as she was dragged from the room.
