Model Behavior
Summary: 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. She quickly found that befriending the model made her life much more entertaining. Asami is just happy that she's finally making real friends, but it may be more than she bargained for when she develops a crush on Korra. Korrasami. Modern/AU.
Chapter 50: Smitten in Ink
Korra,
You were supposed to read this after you got settled back home in the South Pole, so I guess I'll let this one slide.
Korra smiled softly. She couldn't help but look behind her, as if waiting to get caught underneath Asami's disapproving stare which would attempt to hide the amusement within her green eyes.
The steamboat just left the dock of Republic City, heading towards the South Pole. Kya, Senna, and Tonraq had already retreated to find the rooms they had booked on the boat. Korra decided to stay on deck, watching the pier get smaller and smaller the further away they pulled from the dock. Ikki, Meelo, and Jinora ran along the dock as far as they could, waving to Korra and her family as the pulled away from the city. But it was Asami, Mako, and Bolin who Korra continued to look out for as they appeared smaller and smaller.
Asami had assisted with getting Korra up the ramp and onto the boat. As she moved Korra to the railing as requested, she pulled a letter out of her pocket, asking for Korra to read it as soon as she got settled back home, and not a moment before. After sharing a hug and greeting her family, Korra watched as Asami made her way back to the dock, a sudden wave of sadness catching her off guard. She had to remind herself that she would be seeing everyone again within a year.
I know you've heard all of this before, but whenever and however you need me I'll make myself available. Don't think for a second that I'll be too busy with work at Future Industries or any other upcoming projects. I will always be there for you.
Korra quickly folded up the letter as she heard footsteps coming up behind her. She then took the letter and placed it underneath her thigh, before clasping her hands together and placing them in her lap.
"How are you doing?" Kya asked, grabbing a hold of the handles to Korra's wheelchair. Korra shrugged in response. "How about we move you out of the sun?"
"Sounds good," Korra commented. She cleared her throat, nodding politely to people passing by them. Although, for her comfort, Kya wasn't moving fast enough to ignore the loud whispers. Not that Korra could blame Kya, she still had a bit of a limp.
Upon entering their room on the boat, Korra greeted her parents who were seated at the foot of one of the beds. Kya wheeled Korra over to the other empty bed, stepping down on the brake pedal.
"I got it, Kya," Korra said quietly. Senna and Tonraq watched quietly as Korra lifted herself off the seat of her chair. She collapsed onto her side on the bed, using her arms to pull herself up against the pillows. Kya swiftly lifted Korra's legs up on to the bed before removing her shoes. "Thanks."
"Honey, we were just about to go and get something to eat," Senna said gently. "What would you like?"
Korra paused in the middle of making herself comfortable on the bed. She looked over at her parents before turning away. "I could go down with you," she muttered.
"You need your rest, Korra," Tonraq answered. "We don't mind going down to get it for you."
Korra shrugged. "I'll have whatever you bring back." She stayed still as Senna and Tonraq placed light kisses to her forehead. They both gave her reassuring smiles before exiting the room.
As soon as the door shut, Korra grabbed the remote control for the TV from the nightstand by the bed and threw it at the wall. The back cover to the battery panel flew off and the batteries flew out in two different directions. Kya calmly walked around the room and picked up the items.
"Leave it, Kya," Korra whispered.
Kya placed the remote on the console holding the TV before grabbing Korra's wheelchair and collapsing it, placing it against the wall. "Here," Kya said, holding the letter out to her. "I think this will help you cool off for a bit."
"Kya," Korra started. She stopped when Kya held up a hand. Kya took a seat at the foot of Korra's bed, making herself comfortable in a cross-legged position. Korra took the letter and placed it underneath one of the pillows on the bed.
"I may not fully understand what you're going through, but pushing people away right now is not a good idea," Kya said.
"What makes you think the letter will help?"
"Because you were smiling when you first started reading it." Kya answered. "I swear I wasn't spying on you," she added as Korra regarded her with suspicion. "I called out to you before walking over, and I guess you didn't hear me."
Korra nodded twice before removing the letter out from underneath the pillow. She smoothed it out with her hands on her right thigh. She stopped after a moment and began tapping on her leg. "Whenever I wake up, I keep thinking everything is back to normal," Kora admitted, "then I try to move my legs."
Kya reached out and grabbed a hold of Korra's hand, gripping tightly. "I'm going to go and help your parents pick out some food and then call my mom to let her know we all got on the boat okay," she said. Kya held onto Korra's hand for a moment longer before getting up and leaving the room.
Korra waited until Kya left the room before pulling the letter back and continuing where she left off.
I will always be there for you. Just like you've been there for me for everything that has gone on this past year. You have been my confidant, my shoulder to cry on, the person I can really be myself with. You've reassured me when I get too caught up in my head. You have been there for me no matter what, even during our small and petty squabbles. You have been by my side when no one else would, through the good and bad.
You are the person I want to tell everything. You are the person who doesn't judge me for being myself. You are the person who turns every situation into a memorable, important moment in my life. You are selfless, kind, and inspiring. I don't know how to tell you how much you mean to me. In fact, I've probably repeated myself so often with how much I tell you what you mean to me.
You will always be my best friend. There will always be other friends, there will always be people that come in and out of my life. You will be one thing that never leaves. It will be different; it will be a struggle. It will be the one part of leaving that feels like I'm not moving on to bigger and better things, because I've already found the best.
It feels like a lifetime ago when we first met, that you didn't like me, and I had to be initiated into your group. By becoming friends with you, I found what true friendship is. I also found a family with you all, and Tenzin and Pema and their children, and with your family in the South. I even learned how to make and be a friend by reconnecting with Kiyoko.
While I'm sad to see you leave, I know that this is something that must be done. We may not be together physically, but we are there in spirit through every big or small moment. I know I will feel your constant support no matter what the distance, and you will feel mine. There will be new memories to share with each other, and the time we do get to spend together when you return, we will appreciate even more.
I already cherish all our memories, even just us lounging around at our apartment playing with Naga. When life is simple, and all we have to do is live, its very easy to take it for granted. Republic City already feels different with you gone. You've made such an impact on everyone, for the better.
Be careful back home, and don't try to rush your healing! Take your time. The world may need the Avatar but your friends and family need Korra. You have great allies, friends, and teammates who will make sure the world is okay while you take time to focus on yourself and better yourself.
I won't say goodbye since goodbyes are permanent. This is only temporary anyway, as we'll see each other soon.
And Korra. . . stay in touch.
Take care,
Asami
Korra's eyebrows furrowed when she spotted a big black scribble beneath the last line of the letter near the end. It was clear that Asami had written something and decided at the last minute to remove what she had said. Korra ran her finger over the ink, trying to decipher the words but only ended up with ink on her fingertip.
"What was she trying to say?" Korra whispered. She pulled out her cellphone and began thumb through her apps, to pull up the flashlight option. As soon as she turned on the light, the battery bar flashed twice before the screen shut off. She let out a frustrated sigh before tossing her cellphone onto the bedspread. Korra then leaned over and turned on the lamp next to the bed. She pulled off the lampshade and held the letter over the light bulb. Squinting, she was able to read the lettering underneath the dark ink.
And, Korra. . . I like you.
The End of Part 1
AN: And that was the end of Part 1. Never did I think a simple story idea would develop into a full blown story that would take me 5+ years to complete! Even then, it is only part one of a full story. You all don't know how grateful I am for the reception I received from this story. Writing is what I want to do for the rest of my life, and being able to write fanfiction helps keep my passions alive while I work on my craft.
This isn't the end for this whole story idea as it will be continued in the sequel/continuation in Chapter 51 here, but as "Model Citizen" on AO3. On FFN, it will start at Chapter 51...or maybe Chapter 52 as I have a gapfiller idea already planned and I haven't decided yet if I want to post it in this story as as a separate post like I did with "Summer Solstice Festival". If you would like some behind the scenes stories on this story, please check out my 'Model Behavior Trivia' post on my tumblr. My tumblr page name is on my profile. "Model Behavior"/Part 1 focused on Asami's feelings for Korra, and the sequel/continuation of "Model Citizen"/Part 2 will focus on Korra's feelings for Asami.
Please, don't ask me when I will post "Model Citizen"/Chapter 51 - I'm taking a break from this idea to work on other fics; however, I do have that story plotted out.
Thank you again for your continued support and I hope you all will continue to follow and support me in the future.
Thanks!
~Angel
