Chapter Text
Good thing classes had ended early today. Now she could go there without her parents questioning where she is. They would just think she is still at the university. Right. She had her alibi, she was safe. She just had to stay away from the TV cameras and news reporters.
This was stressful. She hoped no one from her classes saw where she was going too. Didn't want any attention, most certainly not that kind of attention.
Well, she better hurry now or she was going to run out of time.
Asami let out a small sigh and gripped her bag's strap. Prides weren't scary, at least they didn't seem to be from what she's seen online. She could go to one. Nothing bad would happen. She was just going to meet more people like her there, it was a nice thing.
Her parents would never know where she's been.
And so Asami walked out of the campus, towards the nearby bus stop. She thought she was too frigid, walked weirdly. What if people knew where she was going? Were they glaring at her? Asami was panicking, she knew it. Quickly putting on her headphones, she played some of her favourite songs, trying to calm down and not overthink. Overthinking had let her to not going to the Pride last year. She was not going to repeat her mistake.
Five minutes later Asami was on the bus, getting closer and closer to her target. But then, two boys sat on the seats behind her and in the pause between two songs, Asami heard one of them ask a question.
"So to which one are we going? The Pride or the Anti-Gay protest?"
"It would be fun to rile up the gays but I don't wanna be seen there. Let's go to the Anti-Gay."
Just then Asami's music started playing again and she couldn't here the conversation anymore. Her eyes had widened from what she had heard though.
Yes, she knew there was an opposing protest every time there was a Pride, that was nothing new. But she didn't know there were people who would intentionally go to the Pride just to make trouble. She had never heard of this on the news before.
So maybe it wasn't as safe as she thought. Should she get off from the bus here and go home?
A moment later she saw the boys getting ready for the next stop. So the protest was nearby. Asami, unlike the boys, didn't want to be seen anywhere near it. Looking away from them, she stayed in her seat, deciding to not move until she was at her destination.
She was not going to miss the Pride this year. No matter how spontaneous her decision to go was. She was going!
Four songs later she was about to get off from the bus. She looked around, other people were getting ready to do the same as her. Well of course, this was the bus' last stop. Question was how many of them would look at her weirdly when she began walking towards the park where the people were gathering for the Pride.
The doors opened and the people began getting out. Asami decided to not look at anyone. Just look forward. Don't pay attention to anyone. She still noticed most people walked in the opposite direction of her.
Doesn't matter. Go to the park.
And there she was. There were hundreds of people there, maybe even thousands. Guys, girls, old and young, even kids. And it was all so colourful. Balloons and flags were flying around in the wind, people were shouting and celebrating, music was blaring through some speakers somewhere in the sea of people.
It seemed like a different world compared to the quiet a few moments ago. Asami had never seen so many people in one place either. And so many policemen. Now that she looked around, she noticed them. They were there for protection, to make sure there were no fights and no trouble. Asami sighed, relieved.
She began walking closer to the loud music, noticing a stage a few hundred meters away. The music was coming from there. Yes, she had seen on Facebook that there were going to be guest singers. There were also small kiosks here and there, selling t-shirts, flags, pins and anything else that could have pride colours on it. People were buying stuff from there and immediately putting it on. There were also people with painted flags on their faces or arms.
There were groups of people, friends coming after school like Asami. There were couples too, most of them same-sex but there were some 'normal' couples too, Asami noticed. So maybe some straight people have joined the Pride too. Not hating but supporting.
And of course, there were the tv and news cameras, waiting at the ready. People with microphones were going around, asking random people questions. Asami had to be careful and stay away from them. Appearing on the tv screen now would be the worse thing possible.
"Miss, give me your bag." Came a voice from Asami's right.
"What..." She was about to yank her bag towards herself before noticing she was at something resembling an entrance between small fences, a man in a bright vest giving her a small smile. They had encircled the whole place so no one could enter unchecked. "Oh, yes, of course."
The man quickly looked around in it, making sure there were no weapons or whatever else was forbidden to bring. Soon he nodded at Asami and she took her bag back, walking into the proper Pride zone.
Asami could stay only an hour. She had to leave then because her parents were expecting her home. Which meant she was going to miss the walk through the center of the city. Still, she had made progress. Maybe she could stay for the walk next year.
Looking around the kiosks, Asami wanted to buy something to remember this day. She couldn't buy something big or obvious though. So maybe a pin would do.
Just like that, time passed by with Asami looking around, enjoying the party going around her, and for once not being afraid to show who she was (even putting her new pin on her shirt). The music was good, the people were kind, it was all great.
But Asami still didn't talk with anyone. It seemed everyone had a friend and talked with them. The girl didn't want to butt in. She wanted to make new friends, someone she could talk with, yes. But she was too afraid to begin a conversation. Why was she so shy and introverted...
Just then, trouble began.
A few meters behind Asami a girl screamed and then smoke began spreading. Some people panicked and began running, others began yelling.
"Intruders!"
"Where's the police?"
"Everyone get away from there!"
Asami just stayed and watched, frozen. Intruders? From the opposing protest? What, they had attacked them? Why?!
Suddenly a group of guys, dressed in black and with masks on their faces began entering the park. Three of them got to the nearest kiosk and began breaking it apart, kicking it down. The seller barely managed to get away.
Asami still stood and watched. She couldn't move an inch.
She shouldn't have come here. It was all trouble. She knew it.
"Hey, over there."
"Wow, why isn't she running?"
"Stupid."
Those voices. The two boys from the bus. They started walking towards Asami. Her legs finally unfroze. She tried turning around but someone grabbed her shoulder and stopped her.
"Where are you going?"
What? Were they going to beat her up? Or worse? Asami was so scared. Everyone was running, shouting, crying. There was smoke. The police were just now noticing this mess.
"Hey, let her go!" A girl's voice. She sounded angry.
"Wha-" A backpack came flying, hitting the man on the head. His eyes rolled backwards and he fell down, letting go of Asami. She quickly walked backwards before trying to turn around and run.
She failed to get away again as she ran into someone again. Learning quickly, Asami swung her own bag backwards, ready for a strike.
"Oi, hey, don't." The girl in front of Asami lifted her hands, showing she was unarmed. Asami just blinked a few times, focusing on the blue eyes. Then the girl stepped to the side and Asami bolted forward, away from the trouble.
A few moments later Asami finally reached the end of the park. She got away. The police was there. She was safe. Then again she had thought so and before...
Putting her bag back on after drinking some water, Asami got ready to walk home. She had had enough adventures for one day. Then she remembered the pin. Better take if off and hide it in the bag before going home. Her parents didn't need to see it. Or anyone else really, now that the Pride was over.
But looking down at her shirt, Asami couldn't see the pin anywhere. Had she lost it? When that guy grabbed her? Great! Not that she'd want a memento from this awful event either. Well okay, it wasn't awful. At first. She had quite enjoyed it. Asami sighed, beginning to walk slowly away from the mess behind her.
"Wait, black hair, wait!" Asami turned around to see what was going on. Was someone calling her?
The girl from before was running towards her, backpack on one shoulder, waving her hand, panting from all the running and adrenaline.
"Oh." Asami sighed. The blue eyes.
"Leaving already?" The girl asked when she finally stopped in front of Asami.
"Yes, um... The Pride is over so..."
"It's not, we're still going to walk through the center of the city." The girl said excitedly. "Aren't you staying for that?"
"I didn't know." Asami said, now noticing that no one was actually leaving.
"Yeah, they caught the guys." The girl looked back to the park. "It should be all alright now. No need to go home."
"My parents would expect me though." Asami said quietly, looking down. She wasn't good with talking to strangers. And what even was eye contact? "Thanks for the help though."
"You're welcome. Good thing my books are heavy, huh?" The girl chuckled and Asami finally gave a small smile. "Oh yes. Is this yours?"
Asami looked to the outstretched hand of the girl, the pin she had bought in it.
"Yes! Where did you find it?" She asked while taking it from the girl.
"Must've fallen after you bumped into me. Sorry, I stepped on it, didn't see it at first."
"No, thank you for giving it to me. Really." Asami blushed noticing how the girl was grinning at her, ruffling her short hair. Was she embarrassed too?
"Well then, I won't hold you up anymore." The girl took a step back. Suddenly Asami wanted to stay longer.
"Yeah, right." She said. "Have fun."
"Thanks. And you don't get in trouble." And with that the girl ran back to the people getting ready for the rest of the Pride.
Seconds later Asami's hand flew up and she hit her forehead. She was such an idiot! Why didn't she ask the girl for a name...
Kicking a small rock with her foot, Asami turned back around and resumed walking home. Honestly, such an idiot. The girl even brought her pin. You know, after probably saving her life. And all Asami could say was thank you. Idiot!
Oh yes, she still had to hide the pin in her bag. She unzipped one of the smaller pockets in it and was about to throw the pin in when she noticed it. A small paper, folded and pierced on the pin's needle. Asami hadn't noticed it before. Was it sold like that? She got the paper and unfolded it, deciding to see what it was. Her eyes widened once again.
There were only three lines written on the paper. One was a phone number. And the other two...
'I'm Korra.
Call if you need a professional backpack thrower.'