Chapter Text
A gentle breeze gently blew leaves from their homes, decorating the ground with bright reds, oranges, and yellows. A blue haired girl looked out the window admiring the scenery. Fall was already arriving, which meant classes were starting again. She glanced at the clock before organizing her desk. A pile of papers sat neatly in a file jacket with several carefully written words on the front.
Lieserl A. Einstein
Princeton University
August 26, 1953
PHY 1000
Dr. Planck
As she picked up the various pens and pencils, movement could be heard behind her door.
"Baby Lieserl~!" someone sang as they knocked on the door, "Are you awake my dear?"
"Yes Ms. Planck."
Planck opened the door, sticking her head in with a frown. "Aw, Lieserl. I told you to call me Emma."
Einstein sighed, a small smile forming on her face. "Yes, Ms. Emma."
Pouting, she walked in, "Well at least that's a start-" a letter was resting in her hand, "Do you like seeing me upset?"
"Yes, Ms. Planck."
She put on an exaggerated offended and upset look, "Hmph. At least your honest about it," her posture returned to a normal as she held a hand out, "This came for you Lieserl~" handing the letter to Einstein. "It's from Karl and Welt, they're complaining that I took you from them again."
Smiling, the girl excitedly grabbed it and began analyzing the writing. "Thank you, Emma."
"You did it! I'm so proud of you!!!" Planck teased, patting the girl on the head.
"Ms. Planck, please stop ruining my hair," she replied, leaning backwards trying to escape the assault on her head.
"Aw, come on," she exaggerated a frown again.
A moment of silence came between them as blue haired girl tore open the letter.
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Dear Lieserl,
I hope your studies with Emma are going well. It's certainly been awhile, and I apologize for the lack of letters. Work has gotten busier and I don't have much time to spare. However, over the next coming break we would love if you and Emma could come over and visit if you're able.
Welt has been asking when you're coming to visit again. Almost every day now, if we're being specific. He's been waiting to hear the stories from your studies, and events that have happened over the past year. I tried explaining to him that you don't have much time and it will be awhile before your next visit, but he persists.
Nothing has changed on my end. However, I have learned a few new tricks to counter yours. Though, I will be honest I'm more than certain you have gotten more clever with Emma's influence.
Tell Emma I said hi for me, and I hope that your studies continue going good. I've added a few things in the envelope for you two to enjoy.
From the 'slightly less annoying old man',
Karl Gustav
P.S. Welt wanted me to tell you that he found an astronomy book he wanted to show you, he's very excited about it.
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A smile formed on the girls face as she read. Planck had made her way and was looking over her shoulder, curious as to what her cousin had said.
Einstein looked up at her, "Karl asked me to tell you that he said hi," sitting the letter down, she turned to face her. "He also requested that we visit during our next break."
"Ooo, that sounds like a wonderful idea!" she chirped, "After your lessons today you should write him back and I'll mail it for you."
Einstein thought about it for a moment. "That reminds me-" she picked up the folder off her desk, handing it to the woman. "-here's the essay for class."
"Thank you Lieserl," she spoke taking the folder out of her hands. Looking at the clock on the wall her smile turned into a frown. "Make sure you're ready in twenty minutes, we have to leave soon."
"I'll be down in a minute, Ms. Planck."
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"Good morning everyone," the professor spoke with a cheerful demeanor. "Before we begin I would like to introduce our new student."
Einstein barely paid any mind to the her. Instead her focus was on the book laying in front of her. It was University. Students came and went all the time. It wasn't anything new or notable. If anything it just meant there was one more person asking for her help.
"Please give a warm welcome to Frederica Tesla!"
She glanced up. The name somehow sounded familiar to her. Surely..
A redhaired girl awkwardly walked in, her hair pulled up into twin tails that lightly bounced as she walked. "Nikola Tesla," the way she spoke sounded agitated, yet betrayed her uneasiness.
"Ah, yes. Nikola Tesla," she spoke with a teasing tone, yet there was no hint of malice. "My name is Professor Planck, it's a pleasure to have you in my class."
'What are the odds? Several descendants of historical figures in the same room?' she thought to herself.
Tesla stood there anxiously. Looking out into the sea of students staring at her before quickly making her way to an empty table towards the back, almost tripping over herself on the way there. Curiously, the blue haired girl watched her as she took out a notebook and, what appeared to be, a small book filled with off colored paper from her bag.
Shaking her head, she turned her attention back to the book in front of her.
Meanwhile Planck stood at the front with a grin. "I hope you all enjoyed your time off-" turning towards the blackboard behind her, "-and I hope you all remembered the essay due today!"
Several groans could be heard from the students. Einstein continued reading unphased.
"Before you leave please hand in your essays," she looked over her shoulder, "If you don't you'll be in very big trouble. You all wouldn't want to see me sad, would you?"
'All these adults and yet not a single one has any sort of task management skills,' she thought to herself, sighing.
Planck continued, "Now, please turn to page four thousand two hundred and sixty-eight in your textbooks."
Looking in her bag she lifted the textbook, which was closer to a murder weapon than a functioning learning tool. She leaned her head onto her hand and began following along.
An odd feeling over came her, almost as if something or someone was looking at her. She turned around, not seeing anything other than the girl doodling something in her book. She looked up and saw her, and made an agitated 'what do you want,' expression.
Einstein shrugged innocently before turning back around.
Tesla sat there confused.
'What's that girls problem,' Tes thought to herself before returning to what she was doing.
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".. and that's the end of this chapter! I expect you all have taken notes and will be prepared to answer these questions I have," she waved a stack of papers in her hand.
Planck began walking around handing the papers out, before stopping at Einstein. "Lieserl my dear, do you mind making sure Nikola knows what she's doing? She..." Planck hesitated, trying to figure out a way to word it. ".. has a few struggles when it comes to mathematics. I'd appreciate it if you could lend a hand if she needs it."
Einstein looked up at her, not really showing any opinion. "I will. However, I doubt she'll ask. It seems she doesn't like socializing or talking much."
Planck sighed, "Lieserl you were like that too at one point not too long ago."
"Yes, but I didn't look like I would kill anyone who dared look at me."
Planck shook her head, although she knew the girl had a point she couldn't outright agree with her because of professionalism. She sat her paper down and continued around the room.
Einstein turned her focus on the paper in front of her, not paying attention to anything else. Planck meanwhile had sat down with Tesla and was talking to her, or more accurately talking at her. The girl didn't say much other than the occasional one word responses.
"So Ms. Tesla~"
Tesla sat there uncomfortable. She desperately wanted to not to get agitated, however the stress of her teacher being this friendly this quickly led her there.
"Yes, Dr. Planck?" she mumbled, not looking up.
Planck leaned her head lower, forcing herself into the girls line of sight, "Did you understand the process?"
She didn't reply. Instead she answered the first problem before putting her pencil down.
"Very good!" Planck said smiling.
The red haired girl looked up at her, glasses at an angle. "I'm not a dog you know," she snapped, embarrassed and upset. Who did this lady think she was talking to her like a child?
Planck frowned, "I didn't think you were."
Her words were sincere. Tesla looked down, feeling bad over the situation and awkwardly trying to move farther away.
"I'm sorry," the mumble was barely audible.
"Hm? What was that, Ms. Tesla?"
"..."
"Aw, don't be like that," her exaggerated frown returned, meanwhile Tesla was just wondering how her face could even flip back and forth between the expressions. "You remind me of my little Lieserl~"
"... I don't need your pity."
"Hm? Pity?" she questioned, tilting her head, "My little Lieserl is a child genius, that's a compliment my dear Nikola."
"Stop acting like you're my mom," she said staring up at her angered, trying not to cry, "I'm almost an adult. I don't need to be coddled like I'm two. I don't even know who the hell you're talking about, and I can do my own work," she stood up grabbing her bag.
"Aw come on Nikola, I'm just trying to be friendly," The woman said with an innocent smile.
Einstein turned around, hearing the commotion. 'Not again,' she sighed, concern plastered on her face.
Tesla noticed the girl turn towards them. She debated making a snide comment at her before deciding against it. A moment or two later she was gone without a word.
"Well.. that went well," Planck said looking at the door.
Einstein stared at her, unsurprised at the outcome.
"Dr. Planck I'm unsure of what you expected," she said plainly as the woman walked towards her.
"Lieserl don't be like that," she said sitting down, "I just wanted to befriend her."
Einstein sighed, feeling sympathetic towards the girl. "She also made it clear she did not wish to speak."
"Well it worked with you."
"I was also a child being forced to with no other choice. She is not."
"Well, you never know~"
Everyone had left by this point, leaving the two alone. She shook her head. Grabbing her things she began packing her bag.
"Hm? Where are you going Lieserl?"
"The library. I have assignments I need to complete soon," she replied, "My report isn't due for another two weeks, however I do not want to fall behind this early. It also leaves me with time for corrections and additions as needed."
Planck smiled. "If you need any help you know where to find me." She hugged the girl.
"Thank you, Dr. Planck."
"Oh! By the way, make sure you come back in a few hours so we can go home. I'm thinking we can go out for dinner tonight."
Einstein smiled and nodded before making her way to the library.
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Tesla sat hidden in one of the corners of the library, huddled in her jacket doodling in her sketchbook aimlessly.
'Hm.. It could look cooler than this,' mumbling to herself.
Although a university library isn't what most people would think of when they think of spaces to calm down, it was one of the few places that was quiet enough to work. The dorms always had some idiot screaming in the halls, or because the walls were so thin she would be forced to listen to others arguments because someone ate a french fry. This was really her only option if she wanted calming silence while not having people bother her.
Her bag was thrown beside her with various folders, binders, and books poking out. The book in her hands contained several different things. One of them being her passion project she dreamed of creating one day. Her interests were quite obvious at first glance. Various different mech-like creations covered the pages, as well as the occasional cat.
She dreamed of someday becoming a well respected scientist, one who would be remembered for the break throughs that helped humanity. One day she'd prove to everyone that she was capable, and that they were wrong.
Though she also just wanted to be able to create weapons legally without consequences.
Despite her trying to focus on what she was doing, she couldn't help but think about what happened prior. Who the hell did that old lady think she was?
Her grip tightened around her pencil. It didn't matter, she'd have to deal with it one way or another. After everything she did to get here she wasn't about to let some annoying old lady stop her.
'That fucking old bitch..' she angrily mumbled. 'You fail one fucking entrance exam and suddenly that's the only thing people know you for.'
"Good afternoon, Nikola was it?"
The girl jumped, hitting her head on a bookshelf.
"Apologizes, I didn't mean to frighten you."
Tesla looked up, scared and annoyed. "What do you want," she spat realizing who was standing before her.
Einstein sat down across from her at a distance fearing for her safety. "I noticed you over here and wanted to apologize on behalf of Dr. Planck," she began, watching as the girl eyed her down like she was figuring out which angle would be best to attack from. "Dr. Planck can be.. a little much at times."
"I don't want your apologizes," anger clung to every word, "I WANT you to leave me alone and stop bothering me."
The girl sighed, "I think we got off on the wrong note. My names Lieserl Albert Einstein, though most people refer to me as Lieserl or Einstein."
"Oh so you're that girl that old hag kept referring to," her anger seemed to only amplify upon hearing those words, "Why are you even here? Did you come to mock me or something?" The girl sneered. 'Child genius' yeah right. Not one person who was called that has even been a decent person, or smart for that matter.
"No. I assure you I come here with zero ill intentions-" she held her hands up shaking a little, "I came here to meet you, not insult you."
She felt those red eyes staring daggers into her soul. Perhaps this wasn't as good of an idea as she originally thought. Maybe she should've just minded her own business and finished looking for the book she needed-
".. Nikola Tesla."
'Well at least she didn't kill me,' Einstein thought to herself letting out a sigh of relief she didn't even know she was holding.
"Frederica Nikola Tesla. I go by Nikola or Tesla only. Don't even think about calling me by first name unless you have a death wish."
Her eyes still showed hatred and disdain, but the previous anger seemed to lessen. It was a start.
The silence was deafening. Tesla was still staring daggers at her, watching her every move.
'This girl might be the dumbest person I ever met,' Tes thought to herself. 'No sane person would willingly sit by someone who would kill them without hesitation while leaving themselves open for an attack.'
A moment later Tesla looked down back to her sketchbook. Her rigid posture slowly loosened up, looking more like a person and not a wild animal ready to pounce.
Hesitantly, she looked back up. To her surprise the girl was still there, leaned against one of the bookshelves and anxiously messing with the ribbon tied loosely around her neck.
Tesla sat there a minute. How was she supposed to salvage this situation. As the anger subsided sadness took it's place. Maybe she isn't as bad as the old hag, at least.
Swallowing her pride, she softly spoke, ".. Want to see what I'm working on since you're here..?" She looked down cringing. Dread took hold as she waited for a response.
'W.. What did she just..' confusion. Seeing the ball of pure rage and hatred suddenly looking anxious and worried gave her tonal whiplash. 'Did.. Did any of that even happen-'
"S-sure," the girl stammered, hesitantly moving closer.
As the redhead opened her eyes the remaining hatred and disdain had seemingly disappeared. Was this even the same person? How can someone go from murderous rage to an anxious worried mess within the span of a few moments?
Sitting up the girl fixed her jacket before sliding next to her. "They're just stupid little doodles but.." her voice trailed off as she looked down embarrassed.
"You're into mechs too?" Einstein questioned curiously.
"Y.. Yes," her voice shook, "why?"
"I've never met anyone else who's actually interested in them," she commented with a smile, "Growing up people found the idea unproper and outlandish. I was often chastised as a child for the interest."
"Adults are stuck in their old ways," she huffed, a hint of sadness creeping through, ".. Mine were the same way."
Einstein looked up at her, "How did you end up here?"
"What do you mean by that?" Her eye lids slowly lowered, as if she was daring her to finish that sentence.
Einstein quickly panicked "Nono I didn't mean it like that-" the other girl continued staring at her. Calming herself down, she corrected herself. "I meant.. Why did you end up coming here? I assume you're in a similar pathway as mine.. I haven't seen another girl in this field before, other than Dr. Planck."
"It's a long story and I don't feel like talking about it," she paused, slowly relaxing again. "All you need to know is that I worked hard to get where I am... Why are you here?"
"Similarly, it's a long story." she sighed, her gaze lowering. "I almost didn't make it here. I have my mentor to thank for convincing my parents to allow me to continue my education, and not continue keeping me chained down.."
Tesla looked at her knowingly. It seemed maybe they really weren't that different after all..
"It'll be okay, Mophead. We'll prove all of them wrong."
".. What did you just call me-" glancing at her offended, "Actually, never mind I'll pretend I didn't just hear that."
"Hmph," she crossed her arms, "Mophead. That's your new name now."
"We've barely known each other for a few hours and you're already giving me insulting nicknames?"
Tesla had a mischievous smile on her face, "Of course."
The blue haired girl, who did in fact look like she put a mop on her head, sighed defeated. Better to have an insulting nick name than to have the girl threaten to kill her every day.
"Anyways.. Have your classes begun assigning work?"
"Unfortunately," she mumbled.
".. Would you like to study together?" Einstein asked, awkwardly. "It'd be nice to have someone in the same classes to work with."
Tesla stared at her as if she was trying to figure out if she was joking or not, ".. Are you serious?"
".. If you don't want to you can say no-"
"I never said that," she paused, "If it's a serious offer, then sure I guess. I can only do work when I'm being forced to. It'd be nice having someone to talk to anyways-"
Einstein looked at her, wondering how she even managed to make it this far.
"Hey, don't look at me like that," Tesla spoke with a huff, "I'll have you know I'm a professional procrastinator. I can bullshit an essay within an hour if I have enough anxiety."
".. Nikola I'm unsure of whether or not that is a positive thing."
"You just don't understand the craft."
She sighed and shook her head.
A few moments of silence passed before either spoke again.
"... By the way.. Can I have my sketchbook back please."
"Hm? What sketc-" she paused, looking down. ".. Oh nevermind." She awkwardly handed it over.
".. Thank you." Tesla held the book, almost hugging it. "Do you have any classes after this?"
Shaking her head, she replied. "No, this was my only one for today."
"Why are you still here, then? Are you in the dorms as well?"
"Thankfully no," she shuddered, recalling the stories she heard. "Dr. Planck allows me to stay with her due to my situation. I've been waiting for her to finish her work."
"Hm, okay.." looking down, she awkwardly sat there unsure of what to say.
".. Are you living in them?"
Nodding, she sighed. "Since I came here this summer I have been. The dumb motherfuckers in there have no idea what 'shut the hell up' means."
Eins laughed, "Glad to know the stories are true."
Tesla grumbled, "It makes it hard to get any sort of sleep. Just last night some guy decided it'd be a great idea to act like a chicken with it's head cut off and ran around in circles above my room screaming some pathetic excuse of a song."
"... What the fuck."
"Yeah.." she sighed shaking her head. "On a positive note I got to be on my own. No annoying room mate to deal with."
"Hey, that's good at least."
She mumbled a brief 'yeah.' Tilting her head slightly, she spoke "When do you have to leave, anyways."
"Not sure.. Probably pretty soon," she glanced around for a clock before spotting Planck a ways away. "... Speaking of Dr. Planck-"
"What is it?" She questioned.
The girl sighed, "I think she's ready for me."
"Oh.. Okay."
"Want to meet up again after class tomorrow?"
"Sure, if I remember." Tesla replied, coughing in an attempt to hide the smile on her face.
"Bye, Nikola. See you in class tomorrow."
The girl ran off towards the green haired professor, who immediately hugged her. She could've sworn the woman looked directly at her and smirked before turning her attention back to the girl in front of her.
Turning her attention back to what she was doing previously, a small smile crept across her face. Maybe coming here wouldn't be that bad after all.