Short but informative
The lecture that day, in Korra's opinion, had been polarbear dog shit. Lots and lots of polarbear dog shit. Professor Bataar had droned on for an extra 45 minutes without realizing it, which had started to cut into Korra's work shift. She bounced on the edge of her seat, waiting impatiently for him to shut up and dismiss the class but he seemed to have discovered the theory that time is a social construct. When one brave soul tentatively raised their hand to inform Professor Bataar that he had, in fact, overlapped his time, Korra shot out of the lecture hall before he could even open his mouth. She had texted her boss that she would be late as she raced down the hallway, praying that he would be lenient. As she rounded a corner, she slammed right into someone who had been walking out of another doorway. Korra yelped and landed hard on her backside which sent a strange jolt up her spine.
"What the hell." She muttered under her breath, rubbing her back with a scowl. The person she slammed into didn't say anything. Korra adjusted her maroon beanie and looked up in confusion, then she really really wanted to spontaneously combust.
"My my Korra," Asami smirked, "Didn't you ever learn not to run indoors. Shameful behavior that is."
"A-Asami?" Korra spluttered, not believing, or trusting, her eyesight. Her brain felt like it had been unwired and then rewired incorrectly as Korra could not form a coherent sentence to save her life.
"Let me help you up." Asami bent down and grabbed Korra's arm, gently lifting her from the floor. She adjusted Korra's beanie again, as it had gone crooked when Korra jerked her head in shock.
"Asami- I- you- you go to school here?" Korra prattled, eyes glancing to Asami's shoulder bag.
"I was about to ask the same thing." Asami laughed, "Republic University is pretty prestigious yeah?" Korra was desperately trying to kick her brain back into motion but the sight of Asami kept counteracting the process. Korra had never even seen Asami in normal clothes but there she was wearing a loose fitting, faded pink tanktop, tight black jeans, and red Keds. Her hair was in a loose braid tossed carelessly over her shoulder.
"Yeah I had pretty good grades in high school." Korra said sheepishly, scritching at her cheek.
"My girl's got more brains than I thought," Asami teased. Korra's heart began to patter at the words "my girl." Is that what she was? Did Asami really think that? Was Asami her girl too? Boy did they crank up the heat in this building?
"So they have engineering classes in this building?" Korra asked, glancing behind Asami into the lecture hall. A gigantic chalkboard was completely covered in what seemed to be hundreds of math equations and diagrams. The class of worn out looking students filed out behind Asami, many looking as if they had just been given a lobotomy.
"Yeah weird right?" She said, "This is supposed to be the history wing but I guess it has the biggest chalkboards. Can you believe that's one equation?"
"Uh-" Korra jumped as her phone buzzed in her pocket. Her boss was calling. "This is not going to be good." she sighed.
"Korra?" Her boss Tenzin asked, "What's going on where are you? Your shift started 30 minutes ago."
"I'm stuck at school," She said, glancing back at Asami, "My professor is giving a double lecture today so I won't be out for another couple hours."
"I understand," He said thoughtfully after a moment, "Your education is important so I want you to take the rest of the day off."
"Thanks so much Tenzin!" She said, winking at Asami who giggled silently into her palm.
"I'll see you tomorrow then." He hung up, leaving Korra feeling a little guilty for lying but also grateful her boss was a sucker for learning.
"So, do you want to get some coffee?" Korra asked, turning back around to face Asami.
"Hm you mean like a normal date?" Asami said with raised eyebrows. Korra's mind went back into a frenzy at the word date.
"If you want it to be a date, it could be." Korra said hopefully.
"Then it's a date. We can go to the campus cafe." Asami hooked her arm around Korra's bicep, squeezing it appreciatively and maybe even a little smugly. They walked out of the history building together, Korra trying almost too hard to think of something to say. Asami beat her to it.
"I'm sorry we haven't exactly been able to do anything normal together." She said apologetically, looking a little sadly at Korra, "I understand that this isn't exactly a normal relationship."
"Relationship." Korra repeated, "Is that what we're doing?"
"I would love to be exclusive with you Korra," Asami gave Korra's arm another squeeze, "But...things are strange."
"I know what you mean," Korra sighed, "You know I'm not the jealous type right?"
"No?" Asami grinned, "So if you saw me dancing on a guy like I dance on you, there wouldn't be an issue?"
"Nope." Korra responded airily, "You're just doing your job yeah?"
"What if he was putting his hands in all the wrong places?" Asami said in a low, flirtatious tone, running her free hand across Korra's neck.
"Hey I said I wasn't jealous," Korra protested, "I didn't say I wasn't protective. I'd make sure that you're respected."
They arrived at the blindingly white building, Korra holding the door of the small cafe open for Asami which earned her a quick kiss on the cheek. They gave the zitty employee their orders and sat down in a isolated booth. Korra was still baffled at seeing Asami in such normal looking clothes. She was so beautiful even with minimal make up painting her face and the casual class garb. Asami was just- wow wow wow.
"You're staring at me." Asami remarked, leaning on her hands.
"I'm sorry," Korra flushed, "I've never seen you wear so much clothing." To her surprise, Asami let out a barrage of laughter that sounded like bells ringing softly.
"That's probably the strangest thing I've ever heard," Asami said, still snickering into her palm, "You're staring because I have too much clothing hm."
"Hey come on it totally blindsided me seeing you here!" Korra said, exasperated, "This is probably the last thing I'd expected to be doing today." She was still having trouble believing that this was actually happening. Korra was definitely expecting to jolt awake back in her classroom just like she did last time Asami featured in her dreams. But the barista came with their orders, eyes lingering on Asami for a bit longer than normal, and Korra knew she was pretty awake. She slurped up a large mouthful of her chocolatey drink and curiously eyed the tiny cup that had been placed in front of Asami.
"What did you say that was called?" Korra asked, wincing at a sudden wave of brain freeze.
"It's called a cognizant." Asami said, stirring the hot liquid around, "It's the strongest drink on the menu."
"What's in it?" Korra said curiously.
"Hm, well there's a bit of milk and chocolate, some caramel, and seven servings of espresso." Asami said innocently. Korra choked on her frappuccino, coughing loudly into her arm until she was able to gulp for air again.
"Are you trying to die?" She panted, wiping her watering eyes on the sleeve of her jacket.
"Nope, just trying to become an engineer." Asami laughed, knocking back the drink in one gulp. Korra stared at her with complete reverence because now she truly understood just how hard Asami worked just to get by. While it made her appreciate Asami even more, it also sparked Korra's insatiable curiosity.
"So, do you think I could try one of those?" Korra said, pointing at Asami's empty cup. Asami raised a challenging eyebrow which made Korra's heart patter against her ribcage.
"Can you handle it?" Asami said in a low, confrontational voice that was almost playful, "I've been drinking these things for years."
"I mean, I've had energy drinks before." Korra said, a little nervously. Asami stared intently at her for a split second more before striding up to the counter and coming back with the same little cup of coffee. She set it down in front of Korra who pursed her lips at it, sizing up the consequences of drinking this liquid heart failure. Korra picked up the cup, raised it to her lips and drained it in one gulp. The drink was bitter at first but left a very pleasant aftertaste tingling on her tongue. Korra slammed the empty cup down and crossed her arms triumphantly.
"I'm impressed," Asami said, "But let's see how you look in an hour why don't we?"
"What are you expecting to happen?" Korra asked, her bravado wearing off slightly at the foreboding tone of Asami's words.
"A few things," Asami said smugly, "But keep me updated on that heart rate?" She reached out and pinched Korra's cheek merrily, leaving Korra with a hammering heart that had nothing to do with the caffeine she just ingested.