Chapter Text
Asami scanned herself in the full body mirror. The burgundy sleeveless top, coal black skinny jeans and stylish leather boots were a perfect combination for a night on the town. A handful of ebony black hair fell over one shoulder, her nails had dried just in time and her makeup was applied to match perfection.
Asami was physically ready, but was still mentally preparing herself. She worried over what kind of first impression she was going to make with Korra’s friends.
Korra. After one non-lethal accident, Asami had made friends with blue eyes and a crooked grin. She was still glad that Korra hadn’t gotten pissed at her for damaging her ankle. Asami was sure to have been at least a little angry if the roles had been switched.
Asami left her bedroom and picked up her purse from the dining room. She exited her apartment and headed down the stairs to the parking lot.
Asami opened a car door and rested herself in the driver’s seat. She pondered for a second as she tried to recall the location of Korra’s house. Asami pulled out of the parking lot.
Over the course of one and a half weeks, Korra and Asami had many conversations via texting. With these conversations, Asami found out certain things about this girl. First, she learned that Korra was a college student at Republic City University, something they shared in common. Second, she found out that Korra shared her rented out flat with three of her friends. Thirdly, Korra was in a small-time cover band with these friends. Tonight, Asami was the designated driver for this band as they drank their weight in alcohol. She was still a little iffy on doing it, but Asami wasn’t one to go back on her promises.
Asami pulled over in front of Korra’s house and switched off the car. She exited the vehicle and walked to the other side to wait for Korra and company.
Asami dug into her purse for her phone, but before she could pull it out, the front door opened slightly and a muscular boy with a button nose stuck his head outside. Asami didn’t have time to say anything, because his head disappeared back inside and he hollered something akin to. “There’s a girl outside with a really nice car!”
The boy looked back at Asami, then gave her a wave coupled with an innocent grin, before he closed the door.
Asami unlocked her phone with a question for Korra.
Asami(9:01 p.m) I’m here, right on time. Who was that guy?
The little typing icon appeared. Korra responded.
Korra(9:01 p.m) That was Bolin. Be out in a sec.
True to her word, Korra and her friends came out of their flat no less than a minute later. Four people approached Asami. Korra, who was clad in flannel and ripped jeans, a tall, slim guy with strange eyebrows and a fraying red scarf, the buff, friendly looking person and a shorter, slimmer girl who held hands with him.
Korra tilted her head to look at the car Asami propped herself up on. “Sweet ride, Asami.” She commented.
“I’ve got a passion for nice cars.” She responded as she patted the hood affectionately. “Mind introducing me to your friends?”
“Oh yeah.” Korra cleared her throat. “This is Mako,” She pointed to the tall boy. “Bolin,” She pointed to the other guy. “and Opal.” She pointed to the smaller girl. The three all gave her little waves and “Hey”s as Korra introduced each.
“Nice to meet you guys.” Asami’s eyes flicked to each individual, a smile at her lips.
“You weren’t lying when you said she had nice hair, Korra.” Bolin not-so-subtly whispered to his friend. Opal elbowed him.
Asami leaned off the car, and returned to the driver’s seat. “Pile in, everyone.”
The band members filtered into the car, and idle chatter began among them. “You’re going to RCU, Asami?” Bolin asked.
Asami nodded, and pulled out onto the streets. “I’m a senior. You?”
“Opal and I are sophomores. Mako’s a senior as well.”
Asami hummed thoughtfully. “What about you Korra?”
On and on the five of them went, trading queries and responses as Asami carried them through the bustling streets of Republic City. At night, the roadways and sidewalks were bathed in the yellow of headlights and streetlamps, along with the bright neon signs of various stores. Customers seeking entertainment and drinks stepped into pubs and bars for the rest of the night. Silent and dark alleys held moving shadows of shady folk and their patrons. Nighttime Republic City thrummed with an energy completely different from its daytime counterpart.
Asami pulled into the parking lot of their destination: The Agni Kai Nightclub. She could already feel the bass of the music in the air.
As Asami closed the car door behind her, Opal spoke. “While i’m still able to string out a proper sentence,” They walked up to a burly guard at the entrance. “I’d like to apologize for any and all shitty behaviour that’s gonna happen tonight.”
Asami frowned, as the guard held the door open for them with a small nod directed at Mako. “Korra told me you guys could handle your drinks. Was she lying?”
Opal shrugged noncommittally. “Sure, we can chug six-packs just fine, but we’re going to get shitfaced drunk tonight.” Opal’s smirk held a daring element that made Asami nervous.
The door closed behind them. The place went dark save for multi colored strobe lights that flashed in time with the music. The bass was teeth rattling. She could feel it reverberate within her skull and her chest.
On the opposing end of which the five stood, a sunken down section of the floor held the DJ’s booth and many bodies that jumped up and down and danced with one another. The elevated areas on either side of it held lounges and bars that people occupied.
Opal inched her face a little closer to Asami’s, and her voice rose in pitch and volume. “You signed up for a long night, Asami.”
-
The group seated themselves atop stools around a circular glass tables laden with drinks that ranged from a glass of water to shots. Korra drummed her fingers against her lap as Asami picked up the water and drank from it. She felt a little sorry for Asami. All the alcohol around her must have at least been a little tempting to the girl. Then again, Korra was glad she didn’t have the role of designated driver. Seeing after her drunk friends seemed like a very daunting task, even for someone who knew how to handle them.
Opal, Bolin and Mako reached for their glasses and Korra followed suit. Hesitancy emerging from a paranoid corner of Korra’s mind made the glass feel heavier than it actually was. Korra took her drinks well enough, but she still fretted over how her inebriated self would behave. She didn’t want to make a fool of herself in front of Asami, she just wanted to beat her friends at this. The presence of this gorgeous girl was making Korra second-guess herself.
“Well, bottoms up.” Korra put the glass to her lips before she could allow herself more time to hesitate.
The alcohol scorched from her mouth to her stomach, and she resisted the urge to violently gag. Bolin coughed while Mako and Opal grimaced. Korra croaked and reached for drink to chase the vodka.
Opal spoke, a little hoarse. “That wasn’t half as bad as I remembered.”
“Don’t sound like it, Ope.” Korra sassed. Bolin cleared his throat. “And that makes you sound old.”
“Ready for round two?” Asami asked, standing from her seat.
“I was born ready.” Mako slammed a hand on the table, and the glasses shook.
“Drunk already?” Korra taunted.
Asami left the table to get another round. The four bandmates traded insults and jibes until she came back with a tray of eight shots. They toasted this time, befor the bottom of their glasses pointed to the ceiling. Although the burn was still there, it wasn’t as bad as before. Mako was already reaching for his third shot before Korra could set her glass down.
Rinse, repeat, the the shot contest continued. The alcohol settled in Korra as a dull, pleasant buzz in her body. Bolin quit after the third one, and Opal at the fifth. Which left a blurry visioned Mako and an off balance Korra at their seventh shot.
Korra stared at the out-of-focus boy across the table, and gripped the surface so hard she thought it would shatter. By the looks of it, this was her last shot. The final straw. Mako looked a little green, but Korra was worse for wear. Not that she cared about any limits on how much she should drink anymore; she just wanted to beat Mako. She’d take this shot, and name the song they would play for the rock contest.
Mako brought his glass to his mouth, and some sloshed out of it with the movement. Korra did the same. The liquid glided past her throat against her gut’s will. Mako sputtered, and half of his glass’ contents emptied on his shirt.
Korra slammed her cup down on the table and hollered joyfully. The victory felt good, the vodka felt good, and Korra congratulated herself on not throwing up. Opal, Bolin and Asami laughed and applauded her. Mako slouched miserably in his seat.
Opal stood and announced. “Who’s heading to the dance floor with me?”
Bolin whooped and almost fell trying to stand.
Korra scoffed. Handling my drinks better my ass.
Mako begrudgingly followed his brother, glaring at Korra as he walked away. Which left the winner and the sober alone.
Korra looked to Asami, who drained the last of her non-alcoholic drink. “You coming?” The hope and vodka was evident in Korra’s speech.
Asami seemed to ponder the pros and cons of the situation. She looked at Korra and smiled. “Why not?”
Korra grinned as Asami got up from her seat. She trailed behind the girl, almost falling on her face several times because she couldn’t keep track of her two left feet. The two managed to make it onto the dance floor largely unscathed.
Korra and Asami managed to spot Mako in the crowd. He was merrily dancing with a girl he’d just met. Opal and Bolin were nowhere to be seen. No doubt they were in some corner sucking each other’s faces off.
The current song faded away, and a new one began. It was some dubstep that Korra vaguely recalled hearing before.
Korra couldn’t care less about remembering the name of the song now. Because Asami started dancing to it. She moved in time with the beat, hypnotizing and alluring with an easy going sway untouched by any alcohol. The closeness of all the bodies had Korra feeling the bump of a hip or an elbow every now and then, but she didn’t really care. All she registered was Asami’s lidded gaze and the upward curve of her mouth. Korra couldn’t tell if it was a trick of the lights or the intoxicants in her veins or some combination of both, but she couldn’t stop dragging her eyes over the beautiful girl in front of her. On this dancefloor, dancing to this beat, Asami was truly a sight to behold.
The gorgeous girl leaned forward. All the music, all the lights and the people came to a sudden stop with the feeling of a strand of hair brushed her cheek. All too close to her ear, but not close enough. All too softly said, but more than loud enough to be heard. All too suggestive, while meaning nothing at all:
“Didn’t you come here to dance?”
Korra shuddered. Her heart thumped as loud as the bass. Asami’s playful smile held all the right reasons for her to move. So she did. She danced as best as her thick limbs would allow her. She moved to the beat of the music as Asami held her attention captive.
The night went on with more drinks, dancing, laughter and enjoyment. They eventually found Bolin and Opal, her lipstick smudged and his lips swollen. Mako came back to them with frazzled hair and a giddy grin. The five talked. Well, more like four of them slurred through a conversation while one barely said anything.They talked, as Bolin hugged Opal to his chest, Mako swayed from side to side and as Korra just looked at Asami. Now she really felt sorry for the girl, who seemed a little uncomfortable at being the odd one out. It must’ve been hard discerning this new language the bandmates had adopted.
There was a small lull in the conversation, and Asami checked her wristwatch. “I think it’s time to leave, you guys.”
“But the sun ain’t up as yet, Asami.” Korra countered.
Mako half-heartedly stifled a yawn.
“Mako thinks otherwise.” Asami pointed out. “It’s two o’clock Korra, let’s head out.”
The band got up from the table, and the ground tilted under Korra’s feet. A warm, slender hand caught Korra’s bicep as she tried to steady herself. She leaned into the touch slightly, and they walked out of the club.
The chilly air of the early morning raised goosebumps along Korra’s exposed forearms. The group drunkenly stumbled to Asami’s car as their warm breaths misted in the crisp air.
Once everyone was properly seated in the car, Asami took off onto the almost deserted roads. Korra fumbled to pull her phone out of her pocket. She turned to the driver. “Got an auxiliary cord?”
Asami reached over with an outstretched hand to open the compartment in front of Korra. A red, flat wire cord lay inside. She grabbed it, and fumbled for a second trying to connect her phone and the car’s interface. “What’re we jamming to?” She slurred.
“Green Day!” Bolin blurted from the back seat. Opal and Mako hummed in agreement. Korra looked at Asami. “What would you like?”
Asami shrugged nonchalantly. “I was going to ask for some Taylor Swift, but Green Day is fine.”
Suddenly, the idea of Green Day became very unappealing in comparison to what Asami suggested. Korra was then hit with the unexplainable urge to hear Asami sing, even just a little. “1989 it is then.”
Mako made a confused noise. Opal leaned forward and grabbed Korra’s jaw. “Who are you and what have you done with Korra?” She snapped.
“Asami asked, so now i’m playing it. So fuck off, midget!” Korra wrung Opal’s hand away from her face, and the girl retreated to the back seat.
“Korra, you really don’t have to-” Asami was cut off by a spittle filled “Ssh!” and a raised finger. She promptly sealed her lips.
The rest of the ride was filled with country/pop music, Mako’s grumbling, Opal’s off-key sing along and Asami’s almost undetectable humming. Korra closed her eyes and used her selective hearing ability to listen as best as she could to the gentle notes that Asami produced through Opal’s screeching. Korra just had one word for the driver’s voice: soothing.
A little earlier than expected, Asami pulled up in front of the flat. Mako opened the door and stumbled out. Bolin and Opal followed suit with polite goodbyes. Korra’s legs felt too heavy to move just yet, however.
Korra unplugged her phone, and the car was filled with silence. She turned in her seat to face Asami a little better. “Thanks for tonight again, must’ve been pretty shitty having to babysit us.”
Asami laughed softly, and her lips curved at the corners. “It wasn’t that bad. You guys make entertaining drunks.”
Korra opened her door, one foot on the pavement. “Glad to be of service.” She grinned and made an attempt to salute the girl.
Asami chuckled, mirthful and pleasant. It appeared to Korra as if her green eyes were twinkling gems in the light of the streetlamps. Korra stayed for a few more seconds, torn between leaning forward and leaving. Asami spoke. “See you around, Korra?”
Korra pulled herself out of the car, and just before she shut it behind her, she returned with her best lopsided smile. “See ya ‘round, Asami.”
Korra paced up to the front door, and heard Asami leave behind her. She turned to see the shrinking taillights as they vanished around a corner.
Korra only just realized how tired the night had left her. She shoved open the front door, dragged herself to her bedroom, and kicked off her shoes. She didn’t even bother to change her clothes, and collapsed head first into her pillow. Korra fell asleep contently to dreams of purple eyeshadow and warm smiles.