Hey guys! So, I got some awesome reviews for that last chapter. Really appreciated the support!

I changed the rating from K to K+ because there is cursing and kissing in this story, so I guess it's not safe for everyone.

I need to state something before I start this chapter: I dedicated this fic to askbadasskorra's roleplay and mun. Askbadasskorra was a tumblr blog (she deactivated), but the mun really helped me out through things and I loved her Korra. So if you see any similarities between this fic and her fics, you know why.

ALSO, updated rules on voting are at the end of the chapter. Enjoy!

"I am so fucking dead."
"You're over-reacting."
"Oh, you haven't met my parents yet."

Korra stared down at the big, red 62% on her latest chemistry quiz. The raven-haired girl next to her shrugged, laying a reassuring hand on Korra's arm.

"My dad's pretty bad too, but he comes through in the end. You'll live, right?" Asami joked, giving Korra a smile.

The bell rang, cueing the students to pack up their stuff. Standing up, Korra stuffed her test into her backpack, tossing it over one shoulder.

"I guess we'll see," Korra groaned. "But in my defense, Mr. Fitz didn't teach us any of that shit!"

Asami nodded in agreement, walking by Korra's side as they exited the classroom. "You know what," she declared, "we should hang out sometime. De-stress. We deserve a break."

Korra sighed. "I am in," she stated. "As long as it doesn't involve chemistry, I am completely in."

Her friend grinned, stopping at her locker. "Great. I'll text you about it later."

Anticipation ate away at Korra as she sat through her last class before lunch. The girl could hardly focus on whatever Venn diagram her math teacher was doing, instead wishing that she was in front of that bulletin board now, looking at those basketball team lists now.

After what felt like an eternity (it was really only two minutes), the bell rang and Korra was out the door. She made her way to the school's major bulletin board, where there was already a crowd of people viewing whatever was on it.

Korra could see Bolin in the midst, his dark hair instantly recognizable even from behind. From a distance, however, something seemed wrong, and as she got closer-

There was only one list on the board.

"Hey," Korra heard from her left. Turning, she saw Bolin, and allowed him to pull her out of the crowd.

"Why is there no girls' list?" she asked him once they were out. She saw Mako in the far end of the hallway as he made his way towards Bolin.

"Um, see, about that," Bolin started, nervously scratching the back of his neck. "There hasn't exactly been a girls' basketball team for a while."

"…What do you mean."

"He means that the girls at our school don't have a thing for basketball. And the ones who can't make the cut." Mako appeared beside Bolin, his amber-brown eyes focusing on Korra's blue ones.

"But- there were two coaches! And- there- that is not fair!" The blue-eyed girl stammered out, putting her hands on her hips.
"Don't blame me," Mako answered. "Besides, Coach Tenzin is our only coach. Ms. Beifong's the Dean of students; she's only at tryouts for school reasons."

"I'm really sorry, Korra," Bolin said, his green eyes verifying his apology. "I didn't tell you because I thought that maybe this year would be different, but…"

Korra crossed her arms, not giving up quite just yet. "Don't worry, Bo," she replied, shifting her gaze towards Mako and narrowing her eyes slightly. "I'll figure something out."

Pulling into an empty parking space, Korra cut the engine and jumped out of her car, practically sprinting through the door of the café. She was 2 minutes late for her interview, and while that wasn't that much of a gap, Korra wanted to appear on time and organized.

After all, this was a job interview.

The guy behind the counter turned around as she entered, and Korra could hardly contain her gasp.

A big, ugly scar cut through the skin, marking half of his face to a red swelliness. The other aspects of his appearance were considerably handsome- dark hair, nice eyes, light skin- but the scar made an impact to it all.

"You the girl for the interview?" He asked, his voice reminding Korra strangely of Tahno's.

"Um- yeah," Korra responded, shaking herself out of her daze. Taking a quick glance at the guy's nametag, she asked, "Do you know where the manager is, Mr. Noatak?"

"Manager's never in. The dude who'll be interviewing you is right over there, though," he replied, pointing to a door around the corner of the counter.

Thanking him, Korra made her way over.

"And by the way," the voice added, "I go by Amon."

"Two minutes late."

Even though she personally didn't think it was a big deal, Korra said, "Sorry about that." She took a seat across her interviewer's desk. "Traffic was a state- I tried to make my way here best I could."

The guy looked up, and Korra almost froze at the resemblance he had to Mako. Although this man was older- 23, 24 maybe- he had the same dark hair (less spiky, though) and the same amber eyes (a shade lighter, when Korra took a second look). He wasn't built like Mako was, though- this guy was not lean but at the same time not stocky either. Korra was appreciating the balance, to say the least.

"My name is Iroh," her interviewer started, "and I'm a pretty trusted employee around here."
"Must be, if the Manager leaves all his work for you," Korra blurted out, immediately regretting it. A snarky tone wasn't something many bosses liked.

To her surprise, however, Iroh let out a chuckle. Leaning back in his seat. "I get paid well for it," He shrugged, crossing his arms. "So, Korra- that's your name?- why should I hire you?"

Korra sat up, liking the bluntness of the question. "I'm a really hard worker, and I don't let anything get in my way of a goal. I might not put up with everyone's bullshit really well-" shit, something about Iroh was making her talk like he was her friend and not her possible future boss- "but I'm generally good with people and I always work towards making the right people happy."

Iroh took a long look at her, before sitting up and folding his hands on his desk. "Come around Thursday, maybe for the 6 o'clock shift. We might have a spot open for you."

Korra's eyes widened in surprise. "Seriously?! Thank you!"

She stood up, grabbing her bag from the floor as she prepared her way out. "You won't regret it," she added to Iroh before turning to leave.

"That's the dream," he said after her, making Korra smile.

Korra liked to think that nothing could hold her back.

However, that Tuesday afternoon, the only thing holding Korra back from her goals was the walk between the gym and her car, parked in the lot front of it.

Holding her blue-cased phone up to her ear, Korra listened as Asami's voice sang out of it.

"You're really going to do this."
"I really am." Korra groaned, throwing her head back. "Am I crazy for trying? I don't even know this Tenzin dude."
"Hey now, feminism is something that's never crazy," Asami responded, making Korra crack a smile. "Besides, you'll kick ass. Girl or no, they'll be fighting to have you on the team."

"You're right. Thanks, Asami," Korra said into her phone, getting out of her car and pulling her gym bag from the passenger's seat. "I'll call you afterwards, yeah?"
"Got it. Good luck!"

Head up high, Korra entered the gym, her hair pulled back in a ponytail with her long bangs bobby-pinned out of the way.

….and all the heads were turned towards her.

Korra's heart took a jump, but she didn't allow herself to hesitate as she set her stuff down in the bleachers. "Basketball practice?" she asked, responding to the questioning faces. "I'm here for it."

Coach Tenzin, from center of the boy's huddle, looked up from his clipboard as he faced Korra. "I'm sorry, but this is practice for the boy's team. I'm afraid there is no girl's team this year."
"Or any year," a random boy stated, getting a couple of laughs from the rest of the crowd.

Korra shook her head, making her way towards the huddle. "You don't understand. I'm good. I can play- you all saw me on tryout day." She turned her attention to the Coach. "Coach Tenzin, I realize that this is something you haven't dealt with before, but give me a chance. I swear I'll make the most of it," Korra finished, trying her best to seem and sound like a mature adult.

The Coach paused, glancing back down at his clipboard. "While your skill was impressive, I'm still not sure if-"

"Let her." Mako, the last person Korra would expect to defend her, stepped up, meeting Korra's eyes. "We all saw her play, and I can say for everyone else that we need a player like that on our team." His eyes still didn't leave hers.

"Yeah!" Bolin's random voice joined, and Korra located him somewhere in the huddle. Smiling, he gave her a thumbs up.

Coach Tenzin faced Mako. "As captain of the team, are you confident that we need another player?"

His amber eyes finally breaking contact with the blue of Korra's, Mako responded, "If it's Korra."

Tenzin nodded, making a note on his clipboard. "I'll have to talk to Lin, but for now, you are free to join us for practice." He glanced up at Korra, giving her an appreciative nod. "You sure are a very determined girl."

Korra grinned. "I see that as a perk," she replied, quick to join the huddle.

After two hours of intense shooting, sprinting, and drill-running (nothing Korra couldn't handle), the players were free to go home. Korra stayed behind, however, waiting for Mako to be done with whatever he was doing.

He walked right past her, making his way to the door of the gym.

"Hey," Korra half-shouted, jogging to catch up with him as they exited outside. "I wanted to thank you," she stated, trying to meet his eyes as he continued walking. "Without your support, I don't think I would have been allowed to-"
"Don't mention it," Mako shortly replied, unlocking his car once they came close to it.

Korra stopped, feeling dejected. "Well, um," she began, "It was a big deal. You're probably going to get a lot of shit for letting a girl on the team," she admitted, feeling a bit guilty for putting Mako in that position.
Mako shrugged, finally turning to face Korra. "You're worth the risk," he responded.

What was that supposed to mean?

Korra was about to say something, maybe about Mako's confusing statement or maybe not about it at all, when a strict voice was heard from behind her.

"Ms. Korra," Lin stated, her short heels clicking on the cement of the parking lot as Korra turned around. When she turned back to face Mako, he was already in his car, reversing.

"You do understand that denying you the right to play on the team would give the school a lot of trouble, yes? Sets us in quite the trap."

Korra was in Ms. Beifong's (really intimidating) office, glancing at the clock that read 7:40 am. The Dean had asked her to meet her regarding her 'little stunt with the basketball team', as Beifong had put it.

Korra shook her head, denying Lin's claims. "That wasn't my intention. I want to play basketball and I'm not going to let some sexist rules stop me."

Lin stared down at Korra from her position, crossing her arms. "Fair enough," she stated. "But don't come crying to me if some boy gropes you inappropriately or if you get shoved a little too much."

Ouch. Beifong was really hitting it hard. "I can take care of myself," Korra replied icily.

"Oh, I'm sure you can," Ms. Beifong responded, equally as coldly.

Right when things were starting to enter an awkward silence, the door squeaked open and Bolin's head appeared from behind it. "Sorry to interrupt," he said, "But one of the teachers needs Korra right now."

"You're free to leave," the Dean dismissed, waving a hand at Korra's general direction.

"Dude, thanks so much for getting me out of that," Korra said once they were out of Beifong's earshot.

"Sure thing. No teacher wants to see you, by the way," Bolin stated, giving her a wink. "I just thought you'd need a little saving from Ms. Beifong's clutches."

"You'd think that she'd be supportive of my situation," Korra replied, unlocking her locker as Bolin did the same next to her.

"Beifong's got a chip for the entire team, really," he responded, taking out a binder. "She and Coach apparently had a relationship sort of thing, but that was a while ago. Like, before they worked together."

"Her and Coach Tenzin?!" Korra responded with shock, shutting her locker to face Bolin's green eyes.

Bolin nodded. "Coach really had some guts, breaking up with someone like her." The shrill of the bell suddenly rang, and Bolin quickly took a look at the watch on his left wrist. "I'll see you later!" He said, before taking off.

Korra groaned at the immense workload sitting on the passenger's seat, as she stopped at a red light. Her teachers really decided to pile it up today. With practice and work, the last thing Korra needed was a shit ton of homework. But of course, that's what she got.

Good thing practice had been cancelled for the day and Korra didn't have work just yet; she could finish the assignments all that afternoon.

Korra turned right, deciding that she needed a little treat to boost up her work ethic, and stopped in front of a Starbucks.

The shop wasn't as packed as she expected; assuming that she arrived a bit earlier than all the other students who chilled here after school, Korra examined the menu overhead.

"Couldn't stay away?" A velvety voice asked across the counter, making Korra jump a bit in surprise.

Smirking at her was Tahno.

"Shut up," she muttered. "I didn't know you worked here." Maybe if she did, she wouldn't have come here.

Or maybe she would have.

"A pleasant surprise, then," Tahno responded, taking his position at the cash register. "What can I get you?"

After ordering her drink, Korra shuffled in her purse for her wallet.

"You don't have to pay."
"What?" Korra exclaimed, surprised. "Why?"

Tahno flipped the hair out of his eyes, but somehow, he looked more down-to-earth than Korra ever remembered him being. "Take it as my apology for being a giant douche last Friday." He handed Korra her drink; but before she could say anything, someone else had entered the coffee shop- someone who looked like one of Tahno's friends.

Suddenly, façade Tahno was back, and his down-to-earthiness disappeared. "See you, sweetheart," he winked flirtatiously, waving a hand.

Korra rolled her eyes, turning to leave; but she couldn't ignore that something in her wondered why Tahno was acting so different around her all of the sudden.

Wiping down the last table, Korra looked up as Iroh approached her.

"You did well today. You've officially got a job here, Korra."

"Thanks, man." Giving a last swipe, she put the rag in the pocket of her apron. She gave Iroh a small smile, walking with him as they entered the small employee room.

"So what's with that Amon guy?" she asked, untying her apron and hanging it on one of the hooks.

"Well, he's not that reliable," Iroh grumbled.

Amon had to leave earlier that day, claiming he had some 'family things' to attend to; his absence made the shop close early. Iroh was obviously not too happy about that.

"But I guess you're talking about the scar."

"Right."
"He doesn't talk about it much," Korra's boss responded, shuffling a hand through his hair. The action immediately drew Korra, and she had to refocus for a second. "But from what I could tell, he got in some sort of fight a couple years ago. Scar's what came out of it."

"That really sucks," Korra muttered, shoving the last piece of cleaning equipment in the supply corner.

A text rang on her phone, and Korra pulled the thing out of her pocket, biting her lip as she read the text.
"Everything okay?" She heard her boss ask.
"Yeah," she responded. "My parents are just throwing a fit about my chem grade right now." She stuffed her phone back in her pocket, ready to leave.

"See you later, boss," She tossed, waving a hand as she walked past Iroh.

"Bye, kid," he responded.

Korra's back stiffened a bit- she didn't like Iroh calling her 'kid', even though it partially made sense. It felt weird to her.

She didn't notice, however, how Iroh stared after her as she walked away.

Voting rules recap:

You don't exactly 'vote' as much as you just give your opinion on who you think Korra would be good with. It could be anyone from Mako to Amon, really.

Also, anti-votes (ex: 'I just don't want Korra with Bolin!') will not be counted as anything. Vote for someone in particular.

Anonymous votes will also not be counted, but I'm okay with anonymous praise and criticism :)

So far, I haven't chopped anyone off the list yet, and when someone gets voted out they won't disappear completely from the story- they'll just not be a love interest anymore. The more popular ones will have more screentime; for this chapter, that was Mako and slightly Iroh.

This chapter was definitely not my favorite, but I had to get this one around to establish some other characters. I think we're pretty much done on introducing characters now; the story will get on a roll starting next chapter.

I'm guessing that, at this rate of views and reviews, I'll be updating weekly-ish. So please continue reading!

Some more prominent love interests of the chapter (though you could vote outside of this if you wanted to):

Mako

Tahno

Iroh

Bolin

Asami

Amon