Chapter Text
“Fuck, it’s cold!”
Robin draws their shoulders up. Maria buries the lower half of her face in the fluffy collar of her winter coat.
“And it’s disgustingly early. What are we going out for again?”
“Fresh air and decent coffee.”
“That’s fair.”
The first shock of the cold air gone, they dare show their faces to the sky and the pale November sun. Maria takes a slow, deep breath. It’s good, being outside. She likes her flat, and it’s large enough for two people to not be in each other’s pockets all the time, but with loads of coursework, finances, legal paperwork, and the heating on due to the autumn chill, it gets stuffy at times. She hasn’t slept well, and neither has Robin, she knows. At least her dissertation is off her shoulders now – the file uploaded an hour ago, she has officially completed her degree. Except for the grade, but that is out of her hands. The realisation hasn’t quite arrived yet.
They’re taking the shortcut through the nearby park. The scent of fallen leaves adds an earthy note to the crisp air.
“Hey, Maria.”
“Hm?”
Robin walks backwards so they can take her hands.
“What say we go for a hike today? The weather’s fine enough and we could do with a bit more of this.” They let go of one hand to gesture at the park.
“Yeah.” Maria smiles slowly. “That sounds nice.”