Chapter Text
Korra’s face was glued to her desk with no hope of ever coming unstuck. The words droning from the professor’s mouth floated over her head and dissipated into nonexistence. Her mind was a million miles away, heading in no particular direction. As long as it was far from this lecture hall, she didn’t care where it wandered.
“Korra, wake up. This is going to be on the test!” Mako hissed next to her.
“Hnngh?” She lifted her drooping head off of the desk, “What?”
Mako rolled his eyes and continued taking notes at a million miles per hour. Korra looked down at her own notebook. The only thing she had written was a doodle of Mako with buck teeth and a unibrow.
“One of these days I’m not going to let you copy my notes.” Mako said with a scowl as he glanced over at Korra’s notebook, “And my eyebrows don’t look like that.”
“Oh, my bad.” She added little tips to ends. He rolled his eyes again and went back to copying the PowerPoint. Korra had no idea how they went from talking about ancient Ba Sing Se to a flying lemur that learned morse code. She tried to pay attention but history wasn’t part of the prerequisites for her major so there wasn’t much motivation to get higher than a low C.
Professor Bataar looked at his watch and switched on the overhead lights, ending the lecture for the day. He reminded them of their homework assignments as Korra bonked her head back down on the desk. She needed a nap.
“My brain is toast.” She moaned as she walked out of the lecture hall with Mako.
“You spent the entire class sleeping.” Mako said, “How is your brain that fried?”
“It wasn’t a proper sleep.” She said, slouching forward as they left the history wing, “If anything it made me more tired.”
“Yeah I heard you guys were out late the other night.” Mako said.
Korra rounded on him, “What’s that supposed to mean? Have you been talking to Bolin? What did he say?”
“Whoa relax,” Mako held up his arms looking confused, “He texted me at three in the morning saying he got home safe is all.”
“Oh.”
Mako stared cautiously at her, “Is there something he should’ve told me?”
“Of course not,” Korra said, walking with her eyes pointed steadily forward, “We saw some boobs and butts. What’s there to tell.”
“Right.” Mako said, eying Korra like she was about to confess to a crime. They continued walking in silence, Mako shooting furtive glances at her.
“This is me.” She said as they approached her decrepit jeep.
“Are you sure there isn’t anything you want to tell me?” Mako asked, poignant concern on his face.
Korra sighed.
“Bolin is giving me a hard time about some stripper that gave me a dance at the club.” She said, “He thinks I fell desperately in love with her or something.”
“Did you?”
“No!” Korra yelled in exasperation, “It was literally some chick trying to get my money!”
“Dude relax,” Mako said, “It’s just Bolin being Bolin. Shouldn’t you know that by now?
“I wish Bolin wasn’t Bolin.” Korra grumbled.
“Why are you so worried about it?” He asked, “You’ve never let him get under your skin before. What’s so different this time?”
Korra leaned against the side of her jeep, “I don’t know. I guess it was such a weird experience that it got to me a little.”
Mako seemed thoughtful as Korra continued to stare at the asphalt, trying to ignore the gnawing feeling in her gut. She was having a hard time forcing down the monster breaking through the wall she’d built around it.
“I know it sounds stupid,” Korra said, “but something was different. She looked at me like…”
“Like?”
“Like...I was the only one in the room.” Korra grabbed her face in her hands, “God I sound like such an idiot!”
Mako seemed skeptical of her theory, “Well… it is a strip club and that is their job to make you feel that way.”
Korra grabbed the front of his shirt in a desperate grip. “Mako tell me I’m an idiot! I need to hear those words out of your mouth!”
“Korra! You’re stretching out my collar!”
“Do it! Tell me I’m insane!”
“Fine! You’re an idiot!” Mako yelled, “A delusional insane idiot!”
Korra released him. A few students walking in the distance had stopped to stare at the commotion she was making. Mako glared at her and tried to pat down the creases in his shirt.
Unfortunately his words hadn’t made a dent. Asami’s face still floated in and out of her thoughts, giving her stomach a swift kick of butterflies with it.
“Feel better now?” Mako said with a scowl, “My shirt is going to be wrinkled for the rest of the day.”
“My bad,” Korra said, “I lost my head for a moment.”
“Well figure this out before I see you again,” Mako said, “I can’t afford new shirts.”
——-
Later that week, heeding Mako’s words, Korra felt some sense kick into her head at last. She realized how ridiculous the whole situation was and decided none of the conflict was worth her time. Way more important things demanded her focus, not some girl trying to siphon money from her bank account. Not that there was much to take in the first place.
They say smart, mature people always tackle the problem right at the source.
And that’s how Korra ended up outside of Zolt’s for the second night that week. She sat in her car for what felt like a lifetime, trying to suppress the urge to go inside. The rational part of her brain scolded her weakness and demanded she go home at once. Despite it’s attempt to reprimand her, it was defeated. Moments later, Korra found herself standing in front of the entrance, apprehension nettled in her stomach. The bouncer was posted in his usual spot, checking ID’s and glowering at the customers walking inside.
“You again?” He growled as Korra handed him her ID, “Where’s your friend?”
“Busy.” She said, keeping her tone indifferent.
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Right. Well the same warning applies. I’ll be watching.”
The ghoulish doorman from before waited at his podium, the pink lights throwing his waxy face into sharp relief.
“Welcome back.” He said with a shady grin, “Couldn’t stay away?”
“No it’s not like that,” Korra said, “I uh, really like the drinks you have.”
“Sure, sure. Thirty yuons for the drinks please.”
With great agony, Korra reached into her pocket and surrendered the wad of bills she withdrew hours before. The doorman stowed it away in his metal box and held out a withered hand to welcome her in.
The club looked more or less the same. Not as crowded, but still plenty of patrons to fill seats. She noticed more men in business attire than before. They must have come straight from work for some off the clock entertainment. One of them was showering a dancer with more yuons than Korra could ever dream to have in her lifetime. She turned and headed towards the bar opposite from where she and Bolin got drinks, hoping a different bartender would be working.
“Hey again.”
No such luck.
“Hello.” Shame crept up Korra’s neck. She figured this guy could see right through her nervous facade.
“Alone tonight?” The bartender asked, grabbing her a clean glass.
“Yeah I needed to, uh, unwind.” It was a pathetic attempt to lie, “You know, enjoy a relaxing atmosphere.”
“Relaxing. Right.” He said as the DJ fired up a song so fast and loud it made Korra’s teeth rattle together. She smiled weakly and pretended to be absorbed in her drink so she could be left alone. Her eyes made a quick surveillance of the room but there was no sign of Asami. She made another sweep. Maybe she was on break or in the back. She had to be somewhere.
It hadn’t occurred to Korra until now that strippers followed a work schedule like any other job. It could very well be Asami’s night off.
At the realization she needlessly wasted money she didn’t have, Korra moaned and downed the rest of her drink, signaling for another. She was already 30 yuons deep, might as well go double and drink away the shame.
“Rough night huh?” The bartender asked, sliding Korra a new drink.
“You could say that.” She muttered, swirling the iced whiskey around in the glass. The bartender seemed to watch her pout with amused interest, topping off her drink whenever it started to get low.
“Y’know,” he said, “There’s something other than whiskey that could cheer you up.”
“Yeah?” Korra asked, too distracted by her own self-pity to act interested. He waved across the club as if trying to get someone’s attention. Korra whipped her head to see who he was gesturing to, stomach hurling at the possibility of seeing Asami’s teasing smile. Much to Korra’s crushing disappointment, it was Ginger, not Asami, walking towards the bar to meet them.
“Hey Ginger.” Korra said morosely, not bothering to mask her disinterest.
“Bad day.” The bartender whispered to Ginger. She took a seat and wrapped her hands around Korra’s slumped shoulders.
“Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?” Ginger said in a voice closer to seduction than sympathy.
“Uh.” Korra took a sip of her drink to avoid the question.
Ginger leaned forward and placed a hand high on Korra’s thigh. The sensation ripped through her nerves, causing her throat to seize up mid-swallow. Korra’s body turned to stone, her throat was in flames and her stomach threatened to heave. Ginger smirked and moved her hands higher.
“I don’t think she’s enjoying that.” A voice said behind them. Ginger looked up first, her face falling into an annoyed frown.
A different pair of hands felt their way across Korra’s shoulders, “She’s mine, didn’t you know that?”
The voice sent pins and needles up and down Korra’s spine as it brushed over her ears. She dared a look behind her. Asami was looking at Ginger with a coy smile that was a clear dismissal. Ginger huffed and left the bar without another word.
“You’re back so soon?” Asami asked, hands still on Korra’s shoulders, “Most people make it at least a week before they cave.”
“Yeah I’ve been getting that all night.” Korra said, struggling to form words while her brain had a silent meltdown.
“She came back for the drinks of course.” The bartender said, shooting a knowing wink at Asami, “You know, like everybody else does.”
“Oh that’s disappointing,” Asami said, a pout in her voice, “I was hoping you came here to see me.”
“Uh,” Korra said, trying to remember anything besides the feeling of Asami’s hands on her body.
“I can leave you alone if you’d prefer that.”
“No!” Korra said, cringing at the desperation in her voice, “I mean, no you don’t have to go.” The bartender left two drinks for them and disappeared out of earshot.
Asami took a seat, crossing her legs and resting her hand against her cheek, “So.”
“So.” Korra echoed, the embarrassment of the whole situation was finally catching up to her.
“How did you find yourself back here? Not by coincidence I’m hoping.” Asami continued, watching Korra with captivated interest. She wasn’t sure if she should admit the truth to Asami or not. Any reason or excuse she thought of would be a clear and obvious lie. But the real reason she came would sound creepy when said out loud.
“Well,” Korra started, “It’s actually a funny story. See, my friend left his coat here by accident and I had to come back to get it…” Her voice faltered and the lie died on her lips.
“I see.” Asami said, “Well it’s a shame you didn’t come to see me after all. I have to admit I’m disappointed.”
This had to be a trick. These were the devious mind games Korra had steeled herself against, swearing she would never fall for them.
You already did idiot, She thought.
“Why would you be disappointed?” Korra asked dubiously, trying to keep the excitement in her chest contained, “I’m just a regular customer.”
“Don’t sell yourself short.” Asami said, glancing around the club, “You don’t seem to be like the other people around here.”
“I mean, I don’t think I’m that different.” Korra said, “But I guess I wouldn’t really know.”
Asami stood up and turned around, watching Korra over her shoulder, “Slap my ass. Go on.”
Korra was mortified, mouth gaping as if Asami had asked her to murder the bartender. She stared up at her with a deer in the headlights expression on her face. She didn’t know if this was some kind of trick or joke or anything. How could she even respond to such an explicit command, let alone do it. Korra’s hands stayed welded to her knees.
“Well?” Asami asked, eyebrows raised.
“I don’t want to.” Korra said, keeping her eyes toward the ceiling and wishing Asami would sit down. People were watching them.
“There you go.” Asami sat down and took a sip of her drink, “That proves it.”
“How did that prove anything?” Korra asked in utter bewilderment, “What were you even testing for?”
“I could walk up to any other person in here with the same request and they would happily oblige.” She said, “Most do it without permission.”
“That doesn’t make me special.” Korra frowned, “I shouldn’t get a gold star for basic human decency.”
“I agree. You shouldn’t.” Asami said, “But around here, it’s a rare thing. So you get a gold star.”
Korra whistled, running a hand through her hair, “That’s sad.”
“So, are you going to tell me the real reason you’re here?” Asami leaned forward, displaying a tantalizing view of her chest.
“I already told you,” Korra said, compelling her eyes to stay focused, “The drinks.”
“Oh please,” She laughed, “Dive bars serve better liquor than we have.”
“Yeah this is fucking awful.” Korra admitted.
“So tell me the truth.”
Korra conceded. “Okay. I did come here to see you.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.” She sighed, struggling for an explanation, “I guess I’m trying to convince myself that this is all a game.”
It was Asami’s turn to look confused. “A game?”
“Well, yeah,” Korra continued, “This is your job isn’t it? Convincing suckers like me that we’re the hottest person in the room.”
“Yes, that’s my job.” Asami said, “But if you’ll notice, we get to choose our own company.”
“Exactly.” Korra said, gesturing to herself, “I wanted to hear it from your mouth that I’m nothing more than a business opportunity.”
“What makes you think this is business?” Asami said, “No offense but you don’t strike me as someone hoarding a billion yuons.”
“Then what’s it about?” Korra asked, feeling more agitated than confused, “We’ve known each other for less than an hour and you’re making it seem like something is happening.”
“Why don’t you tell me?” Asami said, smirking as she dodged the question once again, “You’re the one that wanted to come back.”
“Yeah, but it feels like you’re messing with me.” Korra said cautiously.
“What gives you that impression?” Asami said in that same flirty tone, “Maybe something is happening.”
Korra looked at her blankly. If this was a joke, she was still waiting for the punchline. Asami continued to sip her drink, watching Korra over the rim of the glass with a smug look on her face.
With that, Korra decided that she’d had enough. She wasn’t going to sit there and let Asami revel in her naivety for entertainment. She downed the rest of her drink in one burning sip, placing the glass on the counter. She tossed the remainder of her cash next to it, not bothering to ask if she owed more or less for the whiskey. She never planned to come back regardless.
“This has been fun but I’m done feeling like an idiot.” Korra said, sliding off of her stool.
“What are you talking about?” Asami asked with a shocked look, also standing up.
“I bet this sort of thing happens to you all the time.” Korra said, not looking at her, “Gullible people misinterpret the things you do or say and you like to have a bit of fun messing with them.”
“That’s pretty presumptuous of you.” Asami said, crossing her arms.
“Tell me I’m wrong then.” Korra shot back, the humiliation she felt was starting to creep back as anger, “I bet you’re going to have a good laugh with your stripper buddies when I leave.”
“I wasn’t planning on it,” Asami said, her voice tinged more with hurt than anger, “Do you think I enjoy when people get the wrong idea about me?”
“Well it doesn’t seem like you hate it.” Korra snapped.
“You don’t know anything about me!” Asami said, taking a dangerous step forward, “Maybe if you had a proper conversation with me instead of jumping to conclusions, you wouldn’t be acting like such an asshole right now.”
“How could anyone have a conversation with you?” Korra said incredulously, “All you do is run circles around my questions! It’s infuriating!”
“So you’re just going to storm out?” Asami asked, one eyebrow cocked in disbelief.
“Well I don’t want to keep you from entertaining the next sucker that comes in tonight.” Korra said, unable to stop herself, “In fact, I’ll send the next one in for you.”
Asami's face went blank and she turned away.
“I take back what I said.” She said in a quiet, bitter voice, “You are like the others.”
The words doused Korra’s temper with freezing water, leaving her stunned into silence. The pain in Asami’s voice was so tangible, it made Korra’s hands shake. She had to fix this fast.
But she could only stare, struggling with a complete loss for words. A rough hand lashed out and grabbed the back of Korra’s shirt, yanking her away from Asami.
The bouncer’s grip was like a vice around her collar, squeezing so tight it was cutting into her throat. People were staring now, a group of men cheering and hollering at the scene while others laughed into their palms.
“I was right about you!” The bouncer snarled, speckling Korra’s face with spit, “I told you I would be watching!”
“I wasn’t-”
“Save it!” The bouncer began to drag her towards the exit, turning her shirt collar into a noose. She met Asami’s eyes and saw they were wet. Oh God what did she do?
“Wait! Asami-!”
She disappeared out of view as he yanked Korra around the corner. Even the skeevy doorman raised an eyebrow and shook his head in disappointment as they passed. The front door opened and the bouncer threw Korra out by her shirt with impressive strength. She landed on the ground outside, forehead bouncing against the cracked asphalt.
“Don’t let me catch you within a mile of this place or you’re gonna get more than some scraped up elbows.” He barked, slamming the door with so much force the neon sign above gave a dangerous wobble.
Korra sat up with a groan and held a bleeding spot above her eyebrow. Her entire head throbbed from the impact and her throat was aching like it had been wrung out.
Muffled, angry voices came from inside and Korra scrambled to her car like a wounded animal before someone saw her. She drove and drove, putting as much distance from the club as she could manage without stopping.
After what seemed like miles, Korra pulled into a grocery store parking lot to catch her breath. She took a moment to dab the blood from her forehead with a grimy napkin. It stung fiercely and the entire right side of her face felt like it had been bludgeoned with a rock. Tossing the napkin aside, she leaned back into her seat and let out a rough breath. The image of Asami’s face, wounded and holding back tears, ripped through Korra’s gut like a hot cleaver.
Why did you do that? Her mind echoed, Why did you do that? Why did you do that?”
“Why did I do that?” She repeated, barely a whisper.
Her mind answered for her. Because you’re a fucking moron.
—-
“Korra, you’re our best friend but you’re absolutely the dick in this situation.” Bolin said after swallowing an enormous amount of noodles, “Like, a huge dick.”
“I know that!” Korra huffed, “I’m not saying I wasn’t.”
“This isn’t what I meant by ‘figure it out.’” Mako said in his usual chiding tone, “I didn’t think you were planning to go back and scream at her.”
“My only plan was to clear up all the misconceptions!” Korra pressed a clean, wet rag against her forehead, wincing at the sting, “And I did not scream at her,” she shot at Mako.
“You’re still the dick.” Bolin said.
“Well, she was giving me mixed signals.” Korra said, “Like it was some kind of elaborate joke.”
“Pretty rash to assume she was just messing with you.” Mako said, “You didn’t give her a chance to prove otherwise.”
Korra sighed into her noodles, appetite evaporating with the steam. Mako was right, as usual. This wasn’t the first time her hot-headedness caused trouble and it probably wouldn’t be the last.
“Do you think I should go apologize?” Korra asked.
“Noooo way.” Bolin laughed, “That bouncer will crush your spine like a soda can.”
“I would just forget about it.” Mako said, “I’m sure she already did.”
Korra nodded, though she wasn’t too sure. She liked to think Asami went on with her night and forgot everything within the hour, but it didn’t console her guilty conscience at all. She haplessly wished there was some way to make amends, but Bolin was right about the bouncer. He would have no second thoughts about rearranging her spinal column. The cut on her head throbbed, already inking a dark shade of black down to her eye. It was a miracle he didn’t give her a concussion.
“Hey,” Mako said, “You fucked up, but don’t beat yourself up forever. It’s a learning experience.”
“Yeah,” Bolin chimed in, “Just because you acted like a giant shithead and verbally berated an innocent woman doesn’t mean we don’t still love you.”
“Thanks Bolin.” Korra rolled her eyes.
“You were being a shithead though.” Mako added.
“I know!”
They finished their noodles, Korra having to take most of her’s in a to-go box, and went their separate ways out of the parking lot. Korra drove aimlessly around the city, not wanting to go home and be cooped up with her thoughts, or Bolin. Mostly Bolin. Besides, Republic City was beautiful at night. The skyscraper lights reflecting in Kyoshi Bay were comforting in a strange way. They almost reminded her of the aurora lights back home in the Southern Water Tribe. She thought of the yearly trips she took with her parents to see them and felt a stab of homesickness.
Republic City University had always been Korra’s dream college. It had a great soccer program and was also one of the top schools in the nation. So she made the hard decision to move to the United Republic for high school in order to better her chances of being accepted. It took months of hard adjustment to finally feel at home in the city, but it couldn’t always block out those moments of yearning for the south pole.
Korra parked her car by the bridge and stood on the walkway, enjoying the cool breeze that ruffled her hair. The water was still and calm, sparkling with thousands of lights reflecting from the buildings across and the bridge above. Even the echo of cars passing overhead couldn’t pierce through the tranquil atmosphere.
Korra breathed along with the city, inhaling and exhaling the crisp air through her nose and mouth. She continued this until the raging waters in her mind became as smooth and serene as the water in the bay. Feeling gratified enough to go home, she climbed in her car and took one last look at the inky water speckled with light.
Asami’s tearful face rippled into Korra’s vision again, sending her stomach into a spasm of remorse. Gritting her teeth, she slammed the jeep door and sped away from the soothing presence of the bay. She drove along the highway with all of the windows down, looking out over the horizon of skyscrapers.
The city sighed with her.