Chapter 2
Maura likes to talks.
She explains and argues and answers back. She spent the last ten minutes describing to Kate how she thinks her field of study will give her a purpose in life, how forensic science holds major responsibility in the success of a homicide investigation. Kate listens in silence, marveling at how passionate she is, how deeply she believes in what she is studying, how in love she sounds.
While Kate believes deeply in justice and is quite good at Law, she is sure she's not as passionate as Maura seems. She wouldn't sound like Law is her whole life, her eyes wouldn't beam like Maura's.
She decides not to question it, though – not now at least. Not when Maura is still holding on her arm, her hair waving with every step she takes, her smile still adorning her mouth and a dimple still gracing her left cheek.
She really is beautiful.
"You're staring, Kate. It's because I'm being too prolix as usual, isn't it?" Maura asks, shying away from her gaze, but never letting go of Kate's arm.
"No, it's not. You're being passionate. That's attractive," she easily answers. It's only when Maura raises her head and she sees the questioning look on her face and the slight raise of her eyebrows that she realizes what she just admitted.
"So you find me attractive?" Maura inquiries, smirking.
Kate turns fully toward her, their walk coming to a stop. Her confession came so natural and honest that she didn't filter it, just let it reach her mouth and hang in the air. And now Maura is waiting for her answer, her grasp still firm on her.
"I meant to say…" Kate stutters, only to find Maura's eyes fixed on her, so clear and naive and open. She doesn't really need to lie to her.
"No, I meant to say what I said. I find you talking about what you love pretty attractive. And yes, you in general, as well".
Kate smiles briefly at Maura, before resuming walking and looking straight ahead. Despite the effort, her stomach aches a little while she waits for her reaction – anxiety always fills her belly when she reveals something risky. Not that she has ever said something like that to a girl.
"Thank you," Maura whispers. "You are, too, Kate".
"You don't have to return a compliment, you know?" Kate smirks, but Maura doesn't even flinch or feel offended.
"Kate, it would be physically impossible for me to say something I don't believe in. I'd get urticaria, particularly on my neck, and then proceed to hyperventilate. I could eventually faint," she admits.
Kate turns to look at her, her profile backlit and defined, no smile adorning her lips. There is no delight nor sadness in her features, just her blank face, her blonde hair coming down on her shoulders in long waves.
"Does this mean I could ask you anything and you would have to be completely honest with me?"
"Yes," Maura replies. "But I'd like if you didn't. People prefer to hear something that pleases them, even if fake, rather than the truth".
At that, Kate wonders back to the moment she first saw her earlier that night and can't help but think what would have happened if she hadn't been around. If the guy had asked Maura whether she was in a relationship, she would have answered with a no. He would have continued, then, encouraged, even more insistent – her mind stops there.
She also realizes Maura didn't say a word when she pretended to be her girlfriend. She was aware she wouldn't have been able to play along as Kate told her to.
Hence she trusted her.
Even without knowing her.
They're both silent.
A light breeze caresses their backs and makes its way under Kate's t-shirt, the streets are almost empty, quiet. As if they were trying to be respectful.
The silence should feel heavy, a burden, not normal and comfortable as it actually seems. During their walk, she stole glances of Maura, she studied her in the dim light, not even trying to be subtle. Maura didn't seem to be disturbed by her attention, Kate saw her smiling a couple of times while she looked at her, pleased and relaxed, not directly acknowledging her interest.
Maura looked at her, too. A smile appeared on her mouth, slow and tentative, while her eyes scanned her features, her face, her neck; she dropped her gaze and shook her head slightly then, but her grin didn't fade.
Madison told her she always saw Maura alone. This accommodating, weird, graceful creature that spent her night on her arm, in silence, looking like she has never been more at peace – alone.
Not having anyone to call late at night, not having anyone to witness her laugh, not having anyone to make her feel loved.
She looks full, though – of tenderness and devotion and soul.
And she looks tired of having it wasted or overlooked.
Kate knows she's making everything up, imagining something that maybe isn't. Maybe she's content anyway, maybe she's grateful already, maybe she feels cherished nonetheless.
But it's just so easy for Kate to picture herself receiving her affection and returning it, innocently taking care of her, patiently listening to her when she needs it. She wants to make up for other's blindness and failure, show her which mind-blowing feelings the world has been withholding from her till now.
Kate straightens her arm then and guides Maura's hand down, their shoulders bumping and their eyes meeting while their fingers interlock.
"Are you from California?" Maura asks when they near the Stanford's dorms. There are a few more people walking around here, almost just students like them. Kate recognizes some. Even if walking hand in hand with a girl is unusual for her, she doesn't let go.
Actually, she feels proud – for no apparent reason – and raises her head a little more fiercely.
"No, I'm from Manhattan," she answers, turning to her for a moment. "What about you?"
"Boston. I grew up there, even if I lived in Paris for some time. Never really felt like home, though."
Kate gasps, making Maura's head turn toward her, taken aback.
"So you speak French?" Kate asks, surprised, her eyes twinkle and her lips part as she looks at Maura. Maura grins at her reaction, almost childish but so candid. For a moment she thinks Kate will wrap her up in her arms just for that.
"I can also speak Latin, Greek, a little of Serbian and I'm learning Italian," she says, amazed by the effect that has on Kate. Her knowledge never really appealed anybody before.
"Please, tell me you'll teach me some of each. I can trade with a bit of Russian?" Kate begs, stopping walking and taking both of her hands in hers, her skin warm and smooth on hers.
She's still smiling so brightly.
"Is that what charms you, Kate?" Maura inquiries, smirking softly. "Foreign languages?"
Kate's eyes flick down to her lips for the briefest moment, before locking with Maura's again.
"Maybe," she whispers. "And people with beautiful minds."
Kate's lingers for another moment, before letting go completely of Maura's hands for the first time since they left the bar. She starts walking with her back to her and Maura has to take two longer steps to reach her side again.
"So," Kate says, completely changing the subject, "where are you staying?"
"I'm living with two other girls in an apartment in Mirrielees House. Here, around the corner."
Kate can see the entrance from here, just a few more minutes and she will have to say goodnight.
"You can afford that?" she asks, without malice.
"Yes. But sometimes I wonder if I'm missing out on the dorm life," she answers. "Although it's probably similar."
"Dorm has its pros and cons, but you should consider yourself lucky."
Maura smiles to her, progressively slowing down and turning to face her when they reach the entry. They study each other for a moment, committing the present to memory, just a step separating them.
"It was lovely meeting you, Maura," Kate says, smiling and nodding when Maura returns the compliment. "I admit the night was unusual for me, but you…"
Maura waits, patiently, rocking of her feet, probably without realizing it. She fears what Kate might say after. She knows people don't like her, but Kate seems different. She did, at least, when she listened to her and smiled and held her hand. She also is gorgeous, and comfortable, not arrogant.
"I want to know you better," Kate finally admits, making Maura breathe out a little more calmly. Maura knows she's probably mirroring the smile that adorns Kate's lips and can't help but realize how easy it has been to do so with this girl all night long.
Her cheeks almost hurt.
"Do you have a pen?" Kate asks suddenly, making Maura's grin fade and the questioning look of earlier reappear, her brows furrow and her head waves a bit backward. Without replying, she digs into her purse, her hand moving straight to where she knows she'll find it, her hair hiding her face from Kate.
Maura watches her cautiously as she hands her the pen and Kate uncaps it. Maura almost misses Kate's smirk and before she can ask her anything Kate closes her fingers around her right wrist and pulls, stretching her arm toward her.
The contact makes them both shiver, the goosebumps clearly evident on Maura's skin. Kate bends, her hair making it impossible for Maura to see and the tip starts to move against her flesh.
She hears Maura hiss a Kate, asking her what she's doing, her arm trembling slightly. Is this what she sounds like when she's annoyed? She sounds cute, anyway, pouting like a little child.
Although she is a little taken aback, Maura feels her heart swell, her chest expand; Kate's manners makes her eyes water. She is aware she's being silly, completely irrational, but everyone is always so distant, so cautious around her, never touching, never daring her. People always keep her at arm's length, careful of every word they speak or gesture they make.
Kate isn't afraid of her. Of looking directly into her eyes, of taking her hand.
Of writing on her.
Kate straightens her back, smiling proudly as she lets her look. A telephone number is written is a simple handwriting and makes its way from her wrist to the inside of her elbow.
"You could have asked for my phone, you know?"
"Yeah, that's boring," Kate answers, dropping the pen back into Maura's purse.
"Don't leave me waiting," Kate whispers, inching nearer. She grins for the last time before turning her back to her, her pacing clearly faster than before, letting Maura follow her every move until she rounds the corner.
That night, Maura falls asleep with her skin still blue and Kate's number in front of her eyes.
TBC