Hello everyone!
I just wanted to say thank-you to everyone who has taken the time to read and even favorite/follow and review the first installment to my Elements Series (Chemistry). I greatly appreciate each and every one of you and I am very excited to share the next part of the story with you. To new readers, hello! If some of this doesn't make sense to you, you should check out the previous installment. Or not. Whatever floats your boat. ^_^
Anyway, History in its entirety is almost finished! I still have about 8-12 chapters to complete, then some vigorous editing, rereading, reediting, and rerereading to go through. This installment will be split into two parts. This, by convention of our basic math system, is Part 1. I really hope that you enjoy it!
So, a bit of a background for this post. Every 15th, I celebrate some personal achievements by doing something that makes me happy. Today, I wanted to give you, the readers, a sneak preview of the first part of History. So, here is the first official chapter of the second installment! I will warn you, that I won't be posting the next chapters right away as I'm still writing, editing, etc. But, I wanted to reward you because I love you so much and you have all made my life so much better with your loveliness. There might be some edits to this chapter or the tags in the future, but as of right now, I am pretty content with how this chapter ended up.
Without further ado, please enjoy this exclusive sneak peek of the first chapter of History. Once I finish my writing and editing process (hopefully within the next two weeks), I will start posting more frequently (it shall be on an every other day basis instead of an every day basis. Just to give myself some more time to write and sleep and stuff).
Welp, here we go. Let's take the first plunge together! Thank-you for taking the time to read this, and as always...
I'm sorry for the feels.
Chapter 1
The letter
Asami felt a pair of eyes on her and forgot she wasn't alone.
Get it together.
She turned away from the bed and locked onto Tonraq, who had a similar expression of sadness on his face.
"Why would she leave, Asami?"
The engineer put on a mask and crossed her arms. "I don't know," she responded after a sigh. She lied. She could think of a reason. Many reasons. There had to be some reason.
There has to be.
She scanned the dorm once more, but at a much slower pace. This was one moment, more than any, where she was hoping her natural eye for detail would shine. She started at the dresser, with its pulled open drawers. There wasn't anything on or near it. Its contents held nothing more than the clothes Korra couldn't fit into whatever travel bag she took with her when she – Asami shook her head. It was too fresh for her.
Tonraq caught on to her tactic and left to examine the bathroom for any clues.
Asami moved onwards to the empty bed. The pelt-less, Korra-less bed, just like hers back at the Estate –
She blinked several times, her fingers tracing the mattress seam.
Concentrate.
With another shake, she refocused her eyes. It had been just as desolate as her first glance.
Nothing helpful here.
Underneath didn't bring her much luck, either. It was the same as she had seen a few minutes prior: an empty piece of luggage, a stack of papers and books from her classes last semester, and a barren box with a letter inside that she received from her parents many weeks ago. She crawled from her crouched position and turned to the last piece of furniture: the desk.
"I've been getting these in my mailbox, under my door, tied to rocks…"
She rushed over to the table and yanked the chair away.
It couldn't be –
She pulled the middle drawer open with more force than necessary.
Empty.
The raven slammed it shut and cursed under her breath before shoving the seat back into its spot in the desk. She noticed a small hole in the corner of her eye and cringed; there was still a small amount of blood in the cracks from Korra's punch after the second attack. She turned away and leaned against the edge of the chair. Asami took a deep breath. She held her elbows as she stared at the wall ahead of her. A faint buzz grew in her ears.
There's nothing. Nothing here. Nothing to let me know where she could have gone.
She dropped her gaze to the floor in defeat. That's when it caught her eye. She bent down and lifted the torn-open envelope from the nearby trashcan: 'To Korra, on Behalf of the University of the United Republic of Nations'. Asami fell to her knees and dug through the waste bin. There were three crumpled pieces of paper inside. She unfurled the first and read through it:
'To Korra of the Southern Water Tribe
Korra:
You are receiving this letter on behalf of the Board of Trustees and the Judiciary Board under the University of the United Republic of Nations. It has come to the attention of the Boards that, although your academic standing is adequate enough to permit you to stay at the college, there are several terms in the Student Code of Conduct that have been breached throughout your first semester. A list of all of the terms and conditions for students attending the University was given to you at the start of the year during orientation in your Student Handbook. As a student, you were responsible for reviewing these bylaws prior to your engagement in academic affairs. Throughout the past few weeks, the Boards have received several complaints and reports concerning your actions. Your violations of the Student Code of Conduct are as follows:
Physical harm of a student
Harassment – verbal – fighting words
Conduct which threatens the safety of any person or persons
Damage to institutional property
General procedure would call for a formal hearing after your notification via written notice. Due to the nature of the violations, though, the Judiciary Board and the Board of Trustees have made a ruling on your status based on the evidence given to us and the threat to the safety of persons and property that your conduct constitutes (allowable under Item 9: Due Process under the Second Section of your Student Code of Conduct Manual, "Student Rights and Responsibilities"). After reviewing the material, it is with regret that we must announce your official dismissal from the University of the United Republic of Nations. The Judiciary Board and the Board of Trustees have determined that your presence at the University poses a danger to the wellbeing of the students, professors, and property present at this facility. You will not be granted re-enrollment to the college due to these charges.
Allow this letter to serve as your official written notice. You are mandated to leave the campus before the next semester begins. Any belongings that are left behind will be disposed of by the college maintenance crew. Please ensure to return all keys to the appropriate staff and to receive exit counseling for any loans that you may have. An escort will be required for you if you are to travel onto the main campus to ensure a safe environment is maintained.
It is with deep remorse that we must dismiss you from this institution. We appreciate your interest in the University of the United Republic of Nations and express our sympathy for the forced dissolution of our relationship.
Sincerely,
The University of the United Republic of Nations
Judiciary Board and Board of Trustees'
Asami's hands were quivering.
Dismissed? What do you mean she's been dismissed? Harm of a student? Harassment? When did she even –
The images filled her mind like an encroaching sickness. That moment in the Dining Center, when Korra had fled from Kuru and knocked into an innocent diner. The time Korra told their chemistry professor to 'go fuck himself'.
The small hole in the dorm wall caught her sight.
I suppose that would be the damage to institutional property.
But how could they have even known about that?
Maintenance staff, most likely.
But how would they know it was her?
It's on her side of the room?
She shook her head and folded the letter. She slid it into the envelope and ran her fingers across the address label.
'To Korra, on Behalf of the University of the United Republic of Nations'
Why is this so familiar?
Asami touched the writing once more. She could only draw a blank in her current mental state. She set the letter aside and pulled another piece of paper from the waste bin. This one had been crumpled into a tight ball. She unrolled the yellowish sheet, careful not to rip it.
'Bet you wouldn't be expecting another one of these, you fucking snow savage. But I know all about your dismissal from the college. You can't touch me, but I can certainly touch you. It'll be a shame that you won't be on campus anymore; I've enjoyed beating the shit out of you. But don't worry – I intend to continue what I started. I still know where you are. You'll be in that shitty little dorm of yours by the time you get this. And I'll be watching and waiting for you to leave. The longer you're there, the more people I'll have to come get you, to give you what you deserve, to beat the life out of you until you're nothing but a heap of bloody meat. You can't escape me. Even if you slip into the City, I'll find you. I guarantee I know those streets better than you do. And without Asami fucking Sato around to defend you, you'll be easy prey. Oh, and don't worry about her. We'll give her what she deserves, too. You'll both be rotting in the ground by the time the next semester starts.
You should have quit while you were ahead, like I warned you. This used to be all about Sentai and your fucking with him and the whole 'grading with biased bullshit' that fucked everything up. Now, after what you did to me, to everyone else, this is personal. You've fucked a lot of shit up, savage. And I intend on fucking you up for every single piece of it. You won't have to worry about walking afterwards; your body will be too beaten, ravaged, and lifeless. I hope the coroner is good at identifying corpses from the Southern Water Tribe, because you'll otherwise be unrecognizable with how badly we are going to destroy you.
Don't take this as a warning. Take it as a guarantee. I will find you. And I will kill you for what you've done.'
The shaking intensified. There was fire in her eyes. She was convinced that she could burn the paper in her fingertips if she wanted.
"You fucking asshole." She whispered. "You have the nerve to write Korra another threat even after she –"
A light bulb not only lit up in Asami's head, but it exploded.
You fool. You fucking idiot. This, this is the evidence I need. It's got everything. Your handwriting. Your confession. Fucking Sentai.
She almost jumped up from her bent position when the final note caught her attention. This one was written on notebook paper. Asami pulled the scrunched letter open. She recognized Korra's handwriting in an instant.
'Dear Asami,
If you're reading this, I'm probably long gone by now. Or something. I don't even – I don't doubt
I've been dismissed from the college and Kuru is threatening to kill me and you. I just I I don't know what –
I don't want to leave.
But it's not because of the campus or the education or even fucking Kuru, even if he is threatening me. I don't want to leave because It's because of yo I don't want
This –
I'm sorry, Asami. Please, just please, be safe. Take care of yourself. Don't let him
You've been you're just I lo
I can't even finish this I – I can't stop –
I just I hope you don't
I'm sorry, Asami. I'm so sorry.'
Hot tears streamed down her face. Her breath caught in her throat. She collapsed against the desk, trying to knock the air back into her lungs.
Korra…
Asami folded the letter and clutched it to her chest. Her drops were now the second set to stain this sheet, avoiding the separated words that were written around Korra's own absorbed drips. The Southerner's scent somehow managed to linger on the paper. It wafted to her nose and suffocated her. She shut her lids, wishing she could will away everything that was breaking inside of her.
Korra.
She hated this feeling of instability. Why was it so easy for Korra to affect her?
Where are you?
She buried her face into her knees, the note still tight in her fingers.
"Asami?"
A deep voice was beside her. She felt a presence kneel. A strong hand on her shoulder followed. She fought her flinch.
"Asami." The tone was softer now. It called her attention. She lifted her head and met those pale blue eyes, those damned blue eyes and tan skin and Water Tribe wardrobe and dark brown hair that reminded her too much of the friend she'd lost.
It was too raw. Too real.
Bury it.
"Did you find anything?" Tonraq asked as he reached his free arm forward. She constricted her hold on the paper.
Get a grip.
Bury.
His palm moved to her side and retrieved the envelope from the university. He turned it in between his fingers before pulling the letter out. "What's this?"
Asami fought for her voice, fought for control.
Control.
Grip.
Bury.
She slid the note from Korra up her sleeve, keeping it out of sight. She tried to take a breath.
Breathe.
Control.
Grip.
Bury.
She couldn't. She couldn't do it. Time and time again, despite the many moments she's had to shut everything off in the past, she struggled to do the same on Korra's dorm room floor.
Shut it off.
She couldn't.
Breathe.
Control.
Grip.
Bur –
"No." Asami ran her hands into her hair and put pressure on her scalp.
"Asami?" Tonraq looked up from the letter.
I will not bury. I will not.
Breathe.
Control.
Grip.
She dropped her palms and met his confused stare.
Breathe.
Control.
Asami found her lungs and inhaled. The oxygen felt better than she could have ever imagined. A simple exhale later, and she was in charge once more. She was Asami fucking Sato. And she refused to be a puppet to her emotions, not after everything that happened the last time. Nothing was going to stand in her way. Not even –
"Asami, what happened?" He motioned to the paper. "Physical assault of a student? Verbal harassment? Threatening the safety of people and damaging property? What the hell happened? I know Korra mentioned that things were – rough – in her last letter, but dismissal? I didn't know things were this bad. I just thought she was having a hard time with exams…" He looked onto her, expecting an explanation.
She never told them.
"It's a long story." She replied. Her voice was stern.
He huffed. "Well, we've got plenty of time to hear it." Tonraq matched her intensity.
The heiress rose, taking Kuru's death threat with her. She folded it and shoved it into her pocket. "I'll explain on the way."
"On the way to where, exactly?" He retorted, still crouching with the letter from the university in his hand. His eyes were burning just as much as her peridots were.
She set her jaw and turned towards the door.
"Where are you going?"
"To find Korra."