A/N – Hope you are all enjoying this story as much as I like writing it.

Korra -

Kai watched diligently as I kneaded the soft dough under my palm, rolling it into a perfect spiral.

"How do you do that?" He asked with the excitement only a fourteen year old could have. Kai gazed forlorn at his own lump of dough that was looking like a flat croissant. His muscles were uneven and he didn't know how to move with the dough yet.

"It's just practice," I shrugged. Tenzin had shown me the same way and I was a lot older than Kai at the time. By the time he is eighteen he might be better than me when I started. The clock chimed the hour and it was already five. "Let's get Bolin to prove this later; that's finishing time."

"So, I can get paid now?" Kai questioned and I was reminded about his real passion for being here.

"Yes, my young apprentice, but first I need to check your homework."

Kai huffed, turning to get his backpack as I wiped the excess flour on my black pants. Kai handed over his homework in a pile of dog-eared slips. "It's all there. I had to hide some of it from the other boys 'cause if they saw me doing homework they would call me names and take my bed."

My heart broke a little bit but I had to remember that Kai was Kai: a hardened street kid. If I showed him pity he would leave as soon as possible. He was too afraid to let someone love him. "I get it." I sorted through the slips. "Let's sit in a booth and get this in order."

The next forty minutes was filled with me checking over Math and English I could hardly remember doing myself. Kai was street smart; he knew how to survive, how to get along with nothing. Finding a square root, however, was not his strong suit.

"Okay." I held up the last page to the florescent light. "I think it's all good."

Kai sighed. "You're making me into a geek."

I took the money out of my pocket, handing it over the table. "Least a geek gets paid."

I could see a flickering of understanding in his eyes. That just maybe there was something worth working for. Bolin entered at 5:45am like clockwork, stopping to hang up his light jacket before throwing us a smile.

"Hey guys." He came over and ruffled Kai's hair, much to his disapproval.

"What's up?" I asked as he moved into the kitchen.

Bolin paused to tie on his apron. "I have to make a whole double chocolate cake because someone ordered a whole one, on top of everything else that needs to be done." Bolin shook his head, muttering obscenities.

"That's why you are the best." Bolin had a talent with pastry.

Bolin opened a tub on the counter. "I'm starting today with an ice cream. I don't care. You guys want one?" He extended a nod towards us.

"Sure." Kai spoke past me and I nodded.

"I bumped into Asami yesterday at the Apple store with her friend… or was it assistant?" He shrugged.

"What happened?"

"Nothing, really. She seemed pretty... evasive about you."

"Evasive?" I asked, unsure of what Bolin was getting at.

"Yeah, like, I just said we knew each other because of a mutual friend and she seemed… embarrassed."

Bolin piled some vanilla ice cream on top of a cone and handed them over.

"Don't worry, it's probably because of what happened on the stairs."

"What happened on the stairs?" Bolin raised his eyebrows in expectations of juicy gossip.

"She fell and I caught her. Then I made a stupid joke. She probably didn't like it." I broke the less than exciting gossip. I felt a pang of disappointment. In that moment I really thought that maybe there was something there. Not that I would really know if there was.

Bolin nodded in understanding as Kai just watched on. "Right, I better get going," I yawned.

Kai followed me out into the hot morning air. He hung around more than usual and I waited to see what was up.

"Uh… Korra? We missed the game last night because of work. Could we watch the highlights before I have to go to school?" His shot me the puppy dog eyes.

"Aren't you tired?" I almost gasped.

"Nope." He licked his ice cream.

Ah to be fourteen again. "Sure," I accepted. We walked the short distance to my apartment in a quiet air eating our ice cream and watching the night become morning.

"You know what Jinora is studying at the moment and she really likes it?" I stated.

"What?" Kai asked, keeping an uninterested air.

"Romeo and Juliet. I have the book at my place if you want to borrow it?" I gazed down from the corner of my eye trying to see if I had him interested.

"What's it about?"

"It's cool. It's about two rival gangs and there's a girl and a boy from the gangs who fall in love." I try to make it sound as cool and modern as possible.

"Sounds gay," he replies flatly.

I pause biting my lip. "It's really good. There's fights and betrayal and poison."

Kai just shrugged, taking another lick. By the time we made it back the ice cream was finished. I checked the time on my phone quickly, wondering if I would pass Asami today. It was a little later than our usual 6am passing.

Kai jogged ahead, eager to get as much time with the TV as possible. "Hey, wait up," I called, only taunting him into running faster.

My knee twinged on the last step and I hobbled a little around the corner to see Kai standing outside my door staring at Asami. "Hey," I called, rubbing the pain from my leg. I stood up straight, trying to look taller than I am. "Doesn't matter how fast you are if I have the keys."

"Like I need keys," Kai replied, with a cocky smirk.

Asami watched the whole exchange play out before shooting me a questioning look. "Sorry, Asami, this is Kai, my apprentice baker. Kai, this is Asami, my neighbor."

Kai was uninterested and I handed him the keys to let himself inside.

"So… you're a baker?" Asami questioned thoughtfully.

I looked at my flour covered clothes before thinking. "Yeah, that or a drug dealer…" Asami's eyes widened for a split second. "Just kidding… 'cause of all the white powder, you know." God, why was I so bad at talking to pretty girls. "Of course I'm not a drug dealer; I would have a better apartment."

"Korra." Asami broke me from my dazed rant. "I believe you." She stated each word. "He looks a little young to be working."

"He only works two days a week. He's a member of the local homeless youth shelter I volunteer with. Mako and Bolin both lived there when they were young so it's close to my heart. We do what we can. Kai's a good kid, really."

"That's very selfless of you." Asami tilted her head to the side, sliding her dark hair back past her ear. It took me a minute to absorb what she was saying. She seemed so effortlessly perfect.

"It's not really. I see a lot of who I used to be in Kai. Cocky, arrogant… horrible sense of humor."

"I find that hard to believe," Asami huffed, as if anyone's jokes could be worse than mine.

"About the other day on the stairs… I wanted to say sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable with what I said. Sometimes I have to remember that not everyone is interested in all this." I gesture to myself.

"Don't worry about it. I should be thanking you for saving me. I do wish you saved my phone and not me sometimes. It cost me a lot to replace." Asami smiled then cringed at the mention of her phone.

"I'm sorry. Maybe I can pay you back in food and drink. It's my birthday next week and we are having a barbeque on the roof to celebrate."

"On the roof?"

"Yeah, you haven't been up yet? There's a nice view and you can sit and watch the city at night."

Asami paused thinking it over. "I might be working late but I will see."

"Sure, no pressure." I waved my hands. "You are probably late, I'll let you go." I turned towards the door.

"Korra, wait," Asami said, her lips tight. "You have…" She gestured to her cheek.

It took me a moment "Ohh," I exclaimed, somewhat embarrassed. I wiped at my cheek. "Did I get it?"

He mouth scrunched up more, as she shook her head no. I tried again but Asami seemed to reach her wits end with it.

"Here, let me." She stepped forward closing the gap.

Her palm splayed out flat across my cheek and her thumb wiped just under my eyelashes. She pulled her hand away quickly as my cheek still tingled, now feeling cooler without the warmth of her touch.

"Thanks." I spoke lowly under my breath. Afraid I would say too much.

"Don't mention it." She threw in a wink as she sauntered off.

I touched my cheek again, thinking maybe I didn't make her feel uncomfortable.

A/N thanks for reading. Show your love in a review:] and remember if you have any funny

neighbor stories let us know and they may get used in a chapter.