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The first few times Maia sees Catarina’s blue skin, she’s captivated. The shade is stunning, and of all the warlock marks Maia’s seen over her time working at the Hunter’s Moon, it’s easily one of the most beautiful. The while shock of white hair that frames Catarina’s cerulean face reminds Maia of the froth of ocean waves breaking with every movement the warlock makes.
It’s a sight that Maia grows familiar with. Any time Catarina walks through the doors of the Hunter’s Moon it’s with her warlock mark on full display. It isn’t an entirely uncommon thing around these parts, though usually for marks that are a little less obvious than Cat’s - things like hints of scales or horns covered by hair or hats. Maia assumes that Catarina Loss is simply comfortable in her own skin - literally.
It isn’t until she starts spending time with Catarina as friends, and then as girlfriends, that Maia realizes the truth.
For a little while, they spend most of their time between the Hunter’s Moon - where Cat will wait around for Maia to be done with a shift - and Cat’s apartment. Occasionally they’ll end up at Pandemonium at Magnus’ request (and by ‘request’ Maia’s just putting a nice spin on the way he practically begs Cat to go out with him), but it’s a few weeks into their relationship that they have time for a proper date out to a restaurant.
Maia isn’t sure what she expects - it’s public, after all, the walk to and from in full display of the general population of New York - and yet for some reason, it hadn’t occurred to Maia that Cat would show up at her door with a glamour up.
“Is everything alright?” Cat asks, eyebrow raised.
Maia doesn’t realize she’s making a surprised face until it’s too late. She blinks once, then twice, taking in the entirely different aesthetics of a dark-skinned and dark-eyed Catarina. “You look…”
“Good, hopefully?” Cat supplies in a half-joking, half-helpful manner. “It took me ages to get ready.”
“No. I mean, yes, you do, you always look good. It’s just… different.”
Cat’s smile falters for just a moment. “Oh. Right.”
“It isn’t bad,” Maia’s quick to reassure her. “I just don’t think I’ve ever seen you with a glamor up.”
“Well, I don’t need it when I’m with you. I’ve always felt comfortable at the Hunter’s Moon. Safe. You make sure that all of us feel that way, not just the wolves. I’ve never had to hide my true self around you.”
Maia’s stomach does a little flutter at that admission. Maia always assumed that Cat was simply comfortable on her own - she never dared to dream that she was part of the reason behind Cat’s ability to be confident and at ease showing her true self.
“You don’t have to start now,” Maia says, frowning slightly. “I like you just the way you are.”
“If only everyone felt the same,” Cat says with a forced, rueful laugh. “It’s fine, I’m used to it.”
“Or,” Maia says. “We could stay in and I could cook instead. The wine might not be as fancy but at least you’d be more comfortable.”
Maia doesn’t add that she’d be more comfortable without knowing her girlfriend is actively exerting effort and magical energy just to blend in enough to go out to dinner. It doesn’t take Maia any extra effort or concentration to blend into the mundane world and it hardly seems fair now that she’s thinking about it.
Catarina looks like she’s about to turn down the offer before she takes another look at Maia’s eager, hopeful expression and hesitates. “If you really want to…”
“I do,” Maia’s quick to insist.
Cat laughs, light and easy this time, and smiles. “Alright, then. If it means that much to you, I won’t say no. This time. Next date night we’re going out and I’m treating you to something nice, though. No arguments.”
Maia fights the instinctive desire to argue, because she only ever wants what’s best for her girlfriend but she has to accept that Cat probably enjoys a good night out too, whether it involves keeping a glamour up or not. She’ll just take the win for tonight and deal with that when it comes.
“Perfect. Come on in, make yourself comfortable,” Maia says, stepping aside so Cat can come into the apartment.
Catarina immediately closes her eyes, focuses for a moment, and allows her features to shift back into their natural appearance as she crosses the threshold of Maia’s apartment.
Maia feels as content as Catarina looks as she follows her inside.