Chapter Text
Asami looked around the empty classroom on the second floor of the humanities building. As usual, she was early. Double-checking the note on her smartphone and the number on the door, she conceded that yes, this is Intro to Women and Gender Studies. Although Asami was starting her second semester at Republic City University, she felt a twinge of nervousness as she walked to her chosen seat. She favored the second row all the way on the end with the three large windows to her left. It was perfect, an outlet for her laptop and only room for one stranger, rather than two, to sit next to her. It wasn’t that Asami disliked her classmates, but more a habit she had developed after her first semester at RCU.
While Asami Sato was a warm and sociable young woman, she found that most people her age tended to shy away from her. Perhaps it was her father’s multi-billion dollar industry, a legacy that followed wherever she went, that intimidated her peers. Or maybe it was the way her black eyebrows settled into a sharp furrow when she was not paying attention, busy working through complexities in her mind while walking down the street. Countless men had told her that with such a pretty face she had ought to smile, so Asami perfected the icy stare and often wore it without realizing.
Regardless of their reasoning, Asami had found herself alone when Professor Tom asked everyone in Politics of the Hundred Year War to introduce themselves to their neighbor. Then again in her Mechanical Engineering lab, and even in her Rock Climbing elective. It seemed that no matter what, everyone around her turned to their other side. Once, Asami attempted to join the conversation, but she had been cut off before finishing her name as the rest of the duos had already stopped talking. So, she resigned herself to studying the syllabus in silence. While she admitted that this reclusion was in some ways a severe reaction to only a bruised pride, Asami Sato did not beg anyone for anything. Introductions could always be made later and besides, she would rather focus on Professor Jin’s legendary feminist lectures than socialize.
The lecture hall had filled up quite a bit since Asami had settled down. She glanced at the clock on the front wall, which told her class would officially begin in two minutes. Professor Jin entered the room in a flurry, red silk scarf and tendrils of jet-black hair trailing off her shoulder. The scholar was imposingly tall, famous for towering over her colleagues in both height and intellect. She placed a briefcase on the desk facing her students and began leafing through a folder, pulling out an attendance sheet. Asami already idolized Professor Jin, having heard her lectures earlier in the year. She straightened in the wooden chair and waited for her to begin. Asami glanced around the room, it was packed, every seat was taken save for the one to her right. True to form, she was an island alone in the room.
Professor Jin cleared her throat above the idle chatter, instantly quieting and focusing attention to the front of the room.
“Good morning, everyone. Welcome to Intro Women and Gender Studies. I am Professor Jin, and I'm looking forward to getting to know you all throughout this semester. Before we begin, I would like to say that this class is heavily based in discussion with both myself, and your peers. You will not be able to coast by without engaging, and I expect your full attention and respect. That being said, I will begin class at exactly 10:00. If I am speaking, you are officially—“
The thick door creaked open and two students stumbled in laughing, a boy wearing a green sweater over his broad shoulders, and a girl with topaz skin and a radiant smile.
“—late.” Professor Jin finished pointedly. The pair apologized, bowing their heads towards the instructor and sheepishly looking at the full classroom. There was one extra chair leaning against the wall which the boy in the green sweater seized before his friend. She made a face at him, then scanned the room for another seat. She locked eyes with Asami. The nervous twinge returned in Asami’s stomach when she realized she had been staring at this new girl since the moment she came in. Asami averted her gaze back to the front as the stranger walked towards the only empty seat.
“As I was saying,” Professor Jin continued, “this course will require quite a bit of collaborative thought and work. So I would like to begin with some simple introductions. Please turn to your neighbors and share your name, where you are from, and an interesting fact about yourself.”
The girl landed in the chair and let her colorfully patterned bag slump to the floor. She immediately turned to her left.
“Hi, I’m Korra.” The girl began, blue eyes blazing now that she was up close. Asami’s twinge evolved into a full stomach flip.
“Asami Sato,” she said extending her hand, both a practiced formality and an unconscious desire to make contact with this bold newcomer, “you sure know how to make an entrance.”
Korra met her handshake, her warm palm enveloping Asami’s usually chilled fingers in a tight but pleasant grip.
“I’ve always been told I have great comedic timing. Not sure how much it was appreciated though.” She winced and raised her eyebrows towards the stoic professor. Asami smiled, studying the way Korra’s chestnut colored bangs flipped over her smooth forehead. She pulled herself back, realizing their hands were still clasped together. Feeling embarrassed, she released the moment and focused on the task at hand.
“So, Korra,” she started, “where are you from and what is interesting about you?”
“Well, I’m from the Southern Water Tribe, and I’m the Avatar.” She stated as if it were not the most exceptional personal fact one could have. Asami’s eyes widened as she recognized the front-page photograph of a young girl from the South Pole, discovered as the new Avatar years ago but kept in seclusion all this time. Their world had been in a era of unparalleled peace, which explained why Korra had been out of the news since then. Still, Asami wondered how it was possible that she had been at this university for months without knowing the most powerful being on earth could waltz into class late and sit next to her.
“It’s wonderful to finally meet you, Avatar Korra.”
“The same to you, Ms. Sato.” Korra emphasized with a cocked smile. Their words hung in the air between them for an instant, as if caught in the humidity of a brewing storm. Asami felt electricity pulse from their stare all the way down the backs of her legs.