Kai, you're going to owe me big for this . Korra ran towards flag number 12 in front of the ski school, as best as one could in ski boots. At the end of her one half-day of the week, Kai had stormed over to her locker, buzzing with excitement. He nearly wiggled out of his boots as he told her he'd secured a second round interview with the Heli-Ski Tour shop down the road. 'I'm going to be a guiiiiiiiide!' He sang as he stomped around. His elation was contagious up until the moment he told her sheepishly that the interview was... right now. And that he had a private adult ski lesson scheduled... also right now.
He begged her to cover for him. 'It's just supposed to be a guided tour around the area, anyway. You won't have to teach her anything! Just show her around!' Korra hemmed and hawed and made a show of considering the inconvenience. Not that she'd ever say no to Kai. It was just nice to see him grovel from time to time. She crossed her arms and waited for his coup de gras -- a not-quite-adorable but definitely hilarious pout coupled with his best attempt at big puppy dog eyes. How does that ever work on Jinora, seriously? She laughed out loud and gave in, agreeing to cover his ski lesson for the afternoon. He'd better get that job .
Korra despised teaching adult skiers. Kids were so much easier . Mostly because they listened. Kind of. If they didn't, a dash of creative flair and a game or two would trick them into skiing properly. And they lit up magically whenever they overcame a task, like round-cheeked little light bulbs. Korra had been told she had a special way with the younger students, but it really wasn't her. Adults were the real trouble children, stubborn and unwilling to listen. They all came packaged with a complex set of preconceived notions about their own skiing and how to ski. It was truly not her fault that any lesson with a student older than seven took twice as long. Korra was not looking forward to this.
Her mind traveled to her half-eaten sandwich, sitting forlorn in her locker instead of in her roiling stomach, where it belonged. I'm going to make him buy me lunch. Maybe one of those giant hamburgers ... She grinned at the promise as she huffed over to flag number 12, where a woman in fitted red ski pants fidgeted with her skis. Oh great , Korra thought to herself as she noticed the European style pants and fashionable cut of the black and crimson ski jacket. A prissy, rich, Euro skier. How fun.
"Hi, I'm Korra." She barked, trying to sound chipper as she closed the last two strides to the flag. She extended a hand to the woman, who turned in surprise.
"I'm Asami." Asami shook her proffered hand and Korra couldn't help but notice how soft her skin was, a stark contrast to the strength of her handshake. They dropped their hands and Korra smiled, focused on seeming like she genuinely wanted to be here. Asami, for her part, remained rather confused.
"Nice to meet you, Asami. I'm so sorry for the delay; I'll be your instructor today."
"Oh." Asami lifted her goggles onto her helmet and Korra was struck by the piercing green that looked back at her. "I thought my instructor was supposed to be..." Asami slipped her phone out of a jacket pocket and glanced at it. "... Kai?"
"Right. Yeah." Korra scratched at her head, fiddling with the strap on the back of her helmet. "Kai is out sick today and we've had to shuffle some things around to cover his lessons. My apologies for any inconvenience."
Asami smiled and Korra released a breath of relief. Maybe it won't be so bad? She has a nice smile . "No problem at all. Korra, was it?"
Korra nodded and grinned back, feeling a little less like she had to fake it this time. "You got it."
"Nice to meet you, Korra."
"Shall we get going? Don't want to waste any more of your time!" Korra gestured to the slopes and Asami followed, skis in hand.
