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*sigh*
Maya didn’t usually feel this nervous asking someone out. She’s dated tons of girls before! Okay two… One. Maybe that one hookup in Kurah’in shouldn’t count. I mean, Maya never saw her again after that night. Wonder how she’s doing? She was cool! She could also consider her last BOYFRIEND but… she’d rather not think about him.
Even then, she didn’t think Regina would actually agree to go out. They went on a few dates, it was fun, but with Maya’s master training and Regina’s circus to worry about, they couldn’t keep it going.
Maya anxiously twirled the strands of hair hanging beside her head. She really put in the effort to look good today. She usually just throws on her garments, but today, she put on regular city clothes. Clean white shirt, jean jacket, long pink skirt, she’s prepared for this! Yet, she can’t bring herself to knock on that apartment door…
“Okay Maya…” the medium told herself, “you can do this. How hard can it be?”
Maya finally knocked on the door. Seconds later, a brown haired woman opened the door.
“Maya?”
“LET’S GO ON A DATE!”
“... huh?”
Ema was certainly not expecting this today. Finally, she has the weekend off, she doesn’t have to worry about anything today, and suddenly Maya is asking her out on a date? She didn’t even get dressed today! In fact, she’s a little embarrassed to be facing Maya with her hair a tangled mess, wearing a dirty grey shirt and no pants.
“Uh, I w-want to go on a date with you…” Maya timidly replied, losing the confidence she had a few seconds ago.
“Maya,” Ema said, rubbing her eye, “what time is it?”
“It’s only noon.” Maya answered.
“Have I been asleep for that long?” Ema crooned. She was drained of her energy today.
“Ema!” Maya woke her up.
“Y-yeah?” Ema replied.
“D-do you want to go on a date?” Maya asked.
Ema thought for a minute. She had nothing better to do really. And she always thought Maya was, in her own way, kinda cute.
“Eh. Why not?” answered Ema.
“Yay!” Maya cheered. What a relief!
“Can I get dressed real quick though,” Ema interjected, “You can come in if you want.”
“Of course!” Maya said, entering the messy apartment. She sat on Ema’s couch, eagerly awaiting her date to come out. She may have tried to sneak a peek a couple times. She couldn’t see much but Maya can confidently say Ema has a great back.
Eventually Maya heard a door fling open. Out came Ema with neater hair and a messy bun, wearing jeans a red shirt worn in a way that exposes her shoulder and a bra strap. She also had sunglasses propped up on her head and a brown purse.
“Shall we go?” she asked to a flabbergasted Maya.
“Uhhh Y-yeah… um...” Shoot! She’s really pretty...
“Everything alright?” Ema asked.
“Oh! Everything’s great! You’re great! I MEAN, you LOOK great! I! Um!” Maya couldn’t stop stumbling on her words. Wow. Her date was HOT!
“Um… thanks?” Ema blushed. She doesn’t usually take compliments like that well. If anything she outright rejects them. But Maya isn’t like the dude bros who constantly hit on her. She’s a lot more charming and entertaining than they are. A lot more attractive too.
“C-come on,” Maya yelped grabbing Ema’s wrist and pulling her out of the apartment.
“Woah! Where are we going??”
Admittedly Maya didn’t think that through. Dangit. Think of something quick! She likes science right?
“Uhhhh museum of science!”
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Maya’s never been to this museum. Usually when she’s in the city she’s helping Nick with a case or eating at her favorite burger joint. Ema was certainly familiar with the place though. She practically knew every description for every display by heart, and then some. She seemed pretty tired and grumpy earlier, but once she got started on the meteor thingy she lit up like a Christmas tree! Maya could listen to Ema gush all day! Even if she had no clue what she was saying.
“... So when those two molecules combine, depending on how many erupt on impact, that determines what color the object will transform into! Isn’t that cool!?” Ema chirped to a wide smiling Maya, who is resting her elbow on the description tablet next to the exhibit.
“Yeah. That’s awesome.” Maya had no idea what Ema just said.
“I’m sorry. Am I boring you? I tend to go off on tangents like that a lot…” Ema sheepishly remarked. Sometimes she forgets not everyone has the same love for science she does.
“Nonono! You’re fine!” Maya insisted, “I love hearing you be this passionate!”
“R-really? I always thought I bored people being like that…” Ema asked.
“You are DEFINITELY not boring,” Maya reassured her, “I could listen to you talk all day!”
Ema blushed. Hard. Anyone could tell her face was bright red. “Th-thanks…”
Maya glanced over Ema’s shoulder. She noticed a couple people gather around a pudgy, dark skinned man. I guess he’s important. Ema noticed Maya stare behind her, so she turned around to see what the buzz was about. Ema’s gasp nearly startled Maya.
“That’s Dr. Emile DeGarrett Thomas!” Ema gasped.
“Wh-who?” asked Maya.
“He’s a huge name in the science department,” explained Ema, “one of the smartest scientists working today!” Before Maya could say anything, Ema made her way toward the crowd. Maya followed her.
Maya didn’t pay much attention to what he was saying. She picked up some things about climate change and stuff, but she was more focused on how engaged Ema was into what he said. It made her smile. It took her back to when she first met Ema. Nick introduced the two after the incident at Kurah’in. Maya remembered how passionate she was at forensic science, and how badly she wanted to be a forensic investigator. That changed a little after Nick lost his badge. Maya learned Ema failed the test, and was stuck as a detective for some guy named Klavier. Suddenly the spark of passion she saw in her was replaced by a grumpy snackaholic. She felt kinda bad for her. Her passion always made Maya smile. She was super excited for Ema when she finally did pass that test! It was like she was a new person! Maya always admired Ema. Maybe that’s why she’s so attracted to her…
Soon enough, he started talking individually with people. Ema was a nervous wreck when it was her turn.
“Hi! Dr. Thomas! I, wow, it’s so crazy to meet you!” Ema stuttered.
“Nice to meet you,” chuckled Dr. Thomas, “what’s your name?”
“I’m Ema Skye,” she perked up, “Forensic investigator!”
“Ah, that’s certainly a daunting task, isn't it Ema?” asked the doctor.
“Certainly is! Thank goodness I have the weekend off!”
“And yet,” Maya interjected, “she chose to spend it with me.”
Ema playfully rolled her eyes, “You’re the one who woke me up for this!”
“And who might you be?” asked Dr. Thomas.
“Maya Fey! I’m a friend of Ema’s…” Maya wasn’t sure if she could trust this guy knowing that she and Ema are on a date…
“We’re on a date actually,” Ema clarified, “she definitely made the right choice on where to go!”
“Aw, that’s very sweet of you Maya!” Dr. Thomas remarked.
Well that settles that! Maybe Maya can trust him!
“Maya is a spirit medium! You’ve heard of spirit channeling, right Dr. Thomas?”
“Yes… I have…” Dr. Thomas’ eyebrows burrowed and his smile shrank a little.
Uh oh.
“Maya is the master of Kurain Village. She can summon any spirit who passed away and bring them to the real world! It DEFIES science! Isn’t that fascinating??” Maya appreciated Ema’s gushing, but that look Dr. Thomas was giving her wasn’t making her feel better…
“I see…” Dr. Thomas kept eyeing Maya. There’s a reason Maya doesn’t usually tell people about her spirit channeling. Most people will either give her a funny look or outright not believe her. She probably should have mentioned that to Ema at some point…
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“I don’t think Dr. Thomas believed in spirit channeling…”
Ema noticed her date devouring her burger more intensely than usual. She didn’t talk much walking out of the museum, and lunch so far has been pretty quiet.
“Yeah, you think?” Maya muttered. Ema felt really bad. She kinda brought this on her by bringing it up.
“I’m sorry,” Maya broke the silence, “I just wish people didn’t give me weird looks for what I do…”
“No, I’m sorry,” Ema insisted, “I shouldn’t have brought it up to him.”
They stayed silent for a little bit. Ema spoke up, “You know, spirit channeling always fascinated me.”
“Hm?” Maya muffled with a mouthful of french fries.
“I’ll be frank, I kinda thought it was a bunch of baloney when you and Mr. Wright told me about it. I-I mean it went against everything science stood for! Yet, when you showed me that it was in fact real, I couldn’t believe it. I don’t think I’ve ever been awed by anything like that in, well, ever! You’re incredible!”
Maya couldn’t help but blush a bit. She’s used to people praising her, but not like this…
“Th-thanks Ema…”
“No problem!” Ema said with a smile. She looked at her watch and noticed how late it was getting.
“Hey, it’s getting late. You think we should-”
When she looked up Maya was gone. She looked around and saw a full grown woman push aside a bunch of kids and ran towards an ice cream truck. Ema laughed. That girl really is something!
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“... and that’s how Nick managed to defend an orca in court!” Maya said, biting the last of her ice cream cone.
“Wow. That Mr. Wright…” Ema remarked. An orca!? Seriously!?
They were getting close to the apartment when Ema suddenly stopped.
“Hmm? Why did we stop?” asked Maya. Ema wondered. Maya wasn’t super into the stuff at the museum, but how would she feel about astronomy?
“Come here, Maya,” Ema beckoned, “I wanna show you something.” They walked to an empty field of grass near a pond. Ema found a good spot and lied down on her back. Maya followed, lying next to her.
“Have you ever seen so many stars in the sky?” Ema asked.
Maya looked at the sky. The dark backdrop was lit up with tons of stars, more than she usually sees. It was like looking out into the city late at night. Something about it was truly beautiful.
“Wow…” Maya gasped.
“The nearest light source is way over there,” Ema said, looking over at a streetlight on the other side of the field, “the more light there is, the more that light obstructs stars in the sky.”
“So when there’s less light you can see more stars?” asked Maya.
“Yep! You could even see some planets!” Ema added.
“Ooo! Like that one?!” Maya pointed to a star that had a tinge of red. Ema smiled. Most people make that mistake.
“Actually, that’s just another star. But if you look over there…” Ema grabbed Maya’s hand and lifted it up to a bright yellow spot.”
“What planet is that?” asked Maya.
“Jupiter.” Ema answered.
“That’s awesome!” Maya said in awe. Ema smiled. She wasn’t sure about Maya when the day started. But something about how enthusiastic she was about Ema’s own interests, not to mention making her day off a lot more fun than she imagined it’d be… In her own way, Ema thought Maya was a star. The way Maya made her feel... She can’t explain it. No scientific explanation or logical reasoning… but she knows there’s something about Maya that draws Ema to her.
Whatever it was, it made her cynical heart smile.
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“I had a wonderful time today!” Maya beamed as she and Ema stood in front of her apartment door.
“Me too,” Ema said, pulling a strand of her hair behind her ear, “I uh, never really went on a date like that before…”
“It’s fun isn’t it?” Maya remarked.
“Y-yeah… Um… How do I say this… Do you think we can go on another date some time?” That’s how dates work right?
“Of course!” Maya exclaimed.
“Hey, do you thi-” Ema turned her head to look at Maya, only for her lips to touch Maya’s. The two girls pulled back in shock. Maya only wanted to kiss her on the cheek! She didn’t mean to go THAT far… They looked at each other, stunned by what just happened, only for Ema to break the silence.
“I… um…” Ema didn’t know what to say. She’d never been kissed before. It felt… She didn’t know how to describe it. Maya didn’t give her much time to articulate however, as she suddenly went back in for another kiss. As much as Ema felt that was a bit intrusive… She let it happen. She wrapped her arms around Maya and deepened the kiss. It was a feeling that couldn’t be defined by science. Well, maybe how the intimacy of a kiss from an attractive woman is releasing dopamine into her brain, but still! Unexplainable! Either way, it felt AMAZING!!
When the two separated, Maya smiled. Ema did too.
“I uh, I guess I’ll see you around?” asked Ema, a little shaken after the kiss. Maya smirked. Operation: Flirtfest was a success!
“Sure thing… cutie.”