Step 2: Make it the only room available
Day 1 (part2)
"Korra?" Asami repeated, her eyes shifting quickly between Bolin and Korra. "W-what are you doing here?" her hands, that had been holding her shirt, dropped.
Korra put her things by the door and turned to grab Bolin's box as she answered with a shrug. "I got transferred." Asami's eyes followed Korra's actions, finally resting on the red key on Korra's hand.
"Transf- but you're a waterbender!" Korra raised a brow. Asami's cheeks flushed as she bashfully tucked a lock of her behind her ear. "I mean… sorry. I know that you know you're a waterbender." Asami started awkwardly as she ran a hand through her raven locks and sighed. "I just…" She decided to go straight to the point before she embarrassed herself even more. "What did they tell you at the office?"
"That there's an odd number of fire and waterbenders so-"
"Besides, Korra totaled her old room." Bolin chimed in happily.
Korra's cheeks turned crimson. "Bolin! No one needs to know that." She said harshly as Bolin raised his arms in surrender and Asami coughed to cover a laugh.
Boling grinned, turning to Asami. "Anyway, we're going to see a mover" No, Bolin. No no no no no. Don't ask her, please! Korra turned to look at Bolin with wide eyes. "You wanna join us?" he asked her good naturally.
Nooooooooo!
Say no.
Asami's eyes brightened. "S-sure."
Korra's face looked like she'd just licked a lemon. The other two were oblivious to it. Aww, fuck… Bolin better sit between us.
"Awesome! I'll wait for you girls downstairs while you get ready." And with that he left.
Korra looked around the room feeling positively awkward and refusing to meet Asami's eyes. The room was filled with shades of red everywhere, much like her old room was filled with shades of blue. There was a pair of beds, dressers, desks, and nightstands. There were also floating shelves next to each bed.
One side of the room was completely empty while the other was full of books and tiny prototypes of airplanes and satomobiles. Korra smiled, there was a window in between the two beds. It was facing westward, which was really really nice because that meant the sun wouldn't blind her every morning like it had in her old room.
As if not seeming to notice the tense aura, Asami looked at Korra with a friendly smile, clasping her hands and rocking softly back and forth on the balls of her feet. "So…"
Korra, on the other hand, was still standing by the door looking awkward as ever, her eyes moving from the window to the firebender.
After a few seconds of uncomfortable silence, Korra simply raised her eyebrows, not knowing what to say. She needed to find something to say quickly. If Asami was going to be her roommate for the next two years they needed to get along and Korra was the only one resisting.
The only thing Asami's done wrong is being Mako's romantic interest. And really, who could blame him?
Korra cleared her throat, cerulean orbs finally met with jade and she offered her a crooked grin, her eyes uncertain. "Hey… do you mind if I put a little blue in here?"
The tall girl shook her head. "Not at all. I'm not a diehard fan of firebending" Asami joked, earning a chuckle from the waterbender.
"Thanks." Korra grinned taking out a light blue comforter out of one of the boxes and spreading it on her empty bed. Korra turned around and found her roommate silently watching her. "Are you ready to go?"
As if snapping from a day dream, Asami blinked several times. Her eyes searched her desk frantically, finally finding pen and paper. "Sorry" she mumbled as she took the cap of the pen with her mouth and set to scribble rapidly, "I just had an idea and if I don't write it right away I'll never forgive myself" she joked lightly, still writing.
After a couple of minutes she stopped writting and looked sideways at Korra. "Give me 2 minutes" she said over her shoulder, she grabbed a shirt as she started striping on her way to the bathroom, leaving the door open. Those firebenders had no sense of modesty…. Korra looked away scowling. And fuck! Even her underwear was stylish and sexy and chic or whatever… boy shorts and sports bras would never ever compete with that…
"I spilled coffee on myself-" Korra frowned, still looking around, more like Mako did... you're just way too nice to blame him "-and I was actually about to get changed when you guys walked in on me." She said chuckling slightly to herself. Probably thanking their timing.
Korra absentmindedly made a sound of agreement and took the time to look a little bit more. There was a family picture next to Asami's bed, she instantly recognized tiny pigtailed Asami and her dad, but there was also a beautiful woman hugging Asami, Korra assumed it was Asami's mom. She noticed her eyes were sparkling in a way it didn't now and she instantly felt bad for trying to hate her.
As if on cue, Asami spoke again, this time softer. "You know…" her voice dragged "I'm really glad that they moved you up here. I got a message from the administration yesterday informing me of a new roommate and" she gave an embarrassed laugh "my dad actually pays so that I get this room for myself so you're my first roommate… and the thing is that I'm really glad it's you because I thought I was going to be stuck with a freshman…"
Korra's stomach dropped. Asami was the least hate-able person in the world. "I bet you'll be way better than my last roommate." Korra joked weakly. I hate myself…
She turned her eyes to Asami's desk and found a sketchbook open.
Blinking, she got closer.
There was an extra detailed satomobile on one of the pages and a few life drawings on the other page. Most of them were of people posing but there was a colored one of a firebender in mid attack that left her in awe. Great, Korra thought not unkindly, add 'artist' to the long list of wonderful adjectives that define the magnificently perfect creature that is Asami Sato. I so don't stand a chance against her… there was more resignation than anger in her thoughts.
She heard noise behind her and spoke, her eyes still on the firebender. "Wow, Asami! You're such a great artist." She finally turned, giving the firebender a sincere smile, her eyes still filled with wonder. "These might be one of the best drawings I've ever seen."
Asami blinked, flabbergasted, a warm blush started to tint her cheeks. "Oh… thanks. I uh… forgot that was still on my desk…" She watched as Asami played with her hands. Her lips pursed, her eyebrows furrowed. Korra frowned, the taller girl was going to change the subject. "I'm ready to leave whenever you are."
Korra let the change of topic go, perhaps it was a touchy subject for Asami, and headed toward the door. "Let's go then, don't wanna keep Bolin waiting too long."
"I had no idea Bolin was an actor!" Asami said as soon as they entered their room. She set her keys on a hanger by the door and took of her jacket and threw it on her bed. She'd really had fun, her cheeks were still flushed and hurting for all the laughing.
"A man's gotta eat… and pay his and his brother's tuition" Korra chuckled, taking her own jacket and throwing it in the floor by her bed. "And seriously, I can't believe you've never seen any of the Nuktuk movers!" Asami smiled, she never really had much time or company to enjoy movers, work and school kept her pretty occupied. Korra didn't need to know this was her first time going to a mover house.
Asami turned her back to Korra, fumbling in her closet for a white tank top and a pair of silk pajama pants. "Yeah, I've been…" alone? Bored? "busy lately." She quickly striped of her clothes while she talked.
Korra rolled her eyes, not looking directly at her. No wonder this girl had the best notes on their entire year, entire school perhaps. Perfect scores didn't leave much time for recreational activities. "Oh, come on Asami, live a little! You're sixteen you're supposed to have fun."
Asami's shoulders slumped, a posture that clashed completely with the perfect Asami Sato. "It's easier said than done… as soon as I turn eighteen I'll have to be 100% involved with Future Industries."
Korra brought her knuckles to her head and knocked them softly. "Oh yeah… I keep forgetting you're Hiroshi Sato's daughter." Asami lowered her eyes so Korra awkwardly stepped closer to Asami and put her hand on the taller girl's shoulder. "If someone can do it, it's you. You're insanely smart and adaptable… so don't fret over it so much."
"My dad has very high expectations set for me"
Korra snorted, waving dismissively. "Hey, I carry a pretty heavy burden myself and you don't see me withering my life away studying." Asami cocked her head and Korra noticed her slip. "I- Uh, my dad's the chief of the Southern Water Tribe. That, among other things, you know…" Korra scratched the back of her neck nervously with her free hand.
"…Yeah" Asami smiled, and Korra quickly retracted her hand, feeling already too close to comfort. "Thanks Korra, I really appreciate it."
"Don't mention it." Korra decided that looking for a pajama was suddenly very important. She heard the bathroom door open and she noted this time Asami did closed the door. She quickly striped of her flannel shirt and changed into a comfy grey t-shirt with a light blue water tribe logo. Not wasting a second she took off her pants and slipped into loose sweat pants. Korra sighed, wow, that was fast.
It was 15 minutes later, when Korra was organizing her clothes and uniforms into her closet, that Asami emerged from the bathroom drying her face with a towel wrapped around her shoulders. "Today was really fun, we should invite Mako next ti…." Asami pause, giving her an uncertain look. Korra's dumbfounded face was starting to freak her out."… what?"
Asami.
Without make up.
Looking absolutely beautiful. Fuck.
Fuck fuck fuckitty fuck!
"Oh my god, Asami!" Korra made a frustrated strangled sound and raised her arms in exasperation. "Why do you even wear make up!?"
Asami blinked. "...What?"
"I mean, look at your face!" She let out an unconscious pout and if Asami noticed she said nothing. "No wonder Mako is completely smitten with you."
Asami felt a blush creeping on her cheeks "...What?"
