A/N: It's been ages since I last wrote for these two! This comes from a prompt on Tumblr: "sticky ice cream kisses, sitting on a bench in the park and laughing against each other's lips." Spoilers through "Brave New World" and especially for "Ink."
Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me.
Life continued in the months after Claire had revealed the existence of humans with abilities at Samuel's carnival. Summer arrived in New York City, and Peter and Emma decided to have some time to themselves outside of Mercy Heights Hospital, where they still worked. Peter remained a paramedic with his partner Hesam, the latter's tacit suspicion and acceptance that Peter was "one of them" going unspoken between them. Emma, after applying her medical knowledge in the field at Samuel's carnival, had decided to volunteer at a clinic in her free time while re-applying for residency with different medical schools and continuing her work as a file clerk at Mercy Heights.
They went to Central Park one night after work and bought ice cream cones from a street vendor before Emma led Peter to a bench near another food cart, where they sat down.
"This is where I saw the cello I played," she said, spelling out her words with one hand when she could.
Peter nodded, remembering being drawn to Emma by her impromptu performance and how she had run from the audience she had unintentionally called to her. The man who owned the cello and his instrument were gone now, perhaps moved to another spot of the large park.
He took a bite of his strawberry ice cream, savoring its cool, creamy sweetness in the residual heat of the summer day. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Emma grin and faced her fully before speaking. "What?"
She motioned to her face, and the paramedic swiped a thumb down the side of his own mouth. "Did I get it?" he asked.
She shook her head, leaning in to wipe the stain at the corner of his mouth with her napkin.
Peter hardly dared to breathe as she closed the distance between them. Ever since they had hugged that night at the carnival, it felt like their relationship had taken a step forward, but Peter had remained cautious, not wanting to push too hard. Whenever he made progress with Emma, he seemed to undo it not long after.
"Thanks," he whispered now, not wanting to break the spell.
Emma's hand stilled, her napkin falling to the ground as her palm opened to cradle his cheek, and he smiled, leaning into her touch. A light gleamed in her gray eyes, a spark of desire that mirrored his own.
Their lips met once, then again and again, combining the taste of his strawberry ice cream with her chocolate. "Sticky," Emma signed when they paused for breath, making them both laugh.
He kissed her again and felt her smile against his lips.