Work Text:
Kate was a storyteller. Whether it’d be through art on a canvas or words on a page, on most days, Kate could tell you a tale of some kind.
Today, however, was not like most days; There were so many words in her head, but none wanted to come out. All these emotions, confessions, they were right there, just outside of her grasp. She took a deep breath, and closed her eyes; The words were inching closer and closer. They were about to spill out and then- Nothing.
This Creative Writing assignment was going to drive Kate insane. She had been staring at an empty page for the better half of an hour now, and the blank lines were starting to mock her. The assignment was due in two days though, and she didn’t want to disappoint Mrs. Hoida. However, her words continued to fail her; Every time she swore she saw them in the corners of her mind, only for them to vanish the moment she focused on them.
She let out an uncharacteristic groan and her pen clattered on the floor. She leaned back in her chair and stared at the ceiling. With another huff she shut her eyes and when she did, words flooded her mind. She opened her eyes to focus on them, but all she saw were those familiar freckles, that lovely, dorky smile, and those bright blue eyes. Dear Lord, if only she could do her assignment about those eyes, she could write page after page-
“Planet Earth to Kate Marsh!” A hand waved in front of her face to pull Kate out of her thoughts, “Are you still awake?”
“Yeah…” Kate hadn’t meant to sound so tired, but staring at that page had taken its toll, and her neck was cramped up. She stood up to stretch and looked around the room; They had decided to slave through their homework in Max’s dorm this afternoon. Speaking of Max, the brunette returned to lie on the floor, surrounded by her algebra work; She seemed to be in better spirits - swinging her feet and twirling her pencil as she hummed - but Kate knew math wasn’t exactly Max’s best friend. Still, her friend looked to be fairly focused on the exercises, so she deemed it best not to bother her.
And so she sat back into the chair, to face the empty page once more. However, ten minutes and countless sighs later, the paper was still blank, with no words in sight - let alone a whole dialogue. Kate huffed at the notebook - its white surface felt like an insult, mocking her and the many thoughts stuck in her head. As it flung its wordless mockery at her, the last grain of her patience fell through, and the now empty hourglass was set aflame. With a swift motion Kate snatched the notebook from the desk, and a second later it was sliding down the wall onto Max’s bed.
The sound made Max almost jump up from her spot on the floor, and she stared at Kate, who was now pressing her fingers to her temples, “Kate, are you okay?”
Kate still had her eyes on the now empty desk, but she could feel Max’s gaze burning into her back. “Yeah, I am,” All the fire in her had left with the notebook, leaving her cold and sluggish. “Sorry for throwing stuff around like that.” She slumped further down the chair.
Then she felt a gentle pressure on her shoulders quickly followed by another on her head. “You don’t sound very okay, y’know?” Max began to massage Kate’s shoulders, and Kate felt the girl’s jaw move on her head as she spoke; Both sensations were new to her, but not unpleasant - the warmth of Max’s body so close to hers also wasn’t something she disliked, but she preferred not to think about that.
With a heavy sigh, Kate relented, “Alright, fine. I’m not okay; Class work is piling up from all sides, the organisation for Meals on Wheels hasn’t exactly been easy, my mother- she’s been not so nice lately, and I’ve got all these feelings that-” Kate’s tirade stopped dead in its tracks when she noticed what she was about to say. She felt the heat in her cheeks rise as silently prayed that Max had not noticed it.
Max had continued working her shoulders while Kate ranted, and now she let her arms hang loosely around the blonde’s neck while she spoke, “Geez, Kate, that’s a lot!” Max stayed behind Kate and hummed as if lost in thought. Then Kate felt another squeeze of her shoulders before the weight on head lifted. Max talked again as she moved away, “You need to relax a little, and I think I know a way!”
Kate heard the scraping on cardboard on wood, followed by the rattling of cheap plastic. When she looked behind her, she saw Max digging through a box full of CD’s. She looked to be very absorbed in the cases in front of her, and Kate took the opportunity to have a good look at Max Caulfield; First her eyes wandered to the brunette’s fingers, as they were flicking through CD cases at lightning speed. Max fingers were surprisingly adept - given how clumsy of a person Max was - and the way they moved through the box reminded her of the strumming of a guitar; The motions were quick and precise, and Kate couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like if those fingers danced across her skin, touching and caressing and- She shook her head to rid herself of the thought, and decided it was time to move on to a different subject.
Kate moved her gaze to meet Max's, but the girl wasn't looking at her; Max's bright sky blue eyes flicked over the contents of the box, intently searching for something. Kate could get lost in those eyes - and had many times before; The way they always spoke Max's truth, even when the rest of her didn't, and the way they seemed to see Kate's truth too. The way Max looked at her sometimes sent Kate into a state of gay disarray, and she wondered how those eyes would react if they saw even more of Kate- And time for another subject!
She shifted her attention to Max's mouth, and the tip of her tongue that was poking out between her lips. What else could those lips and tongue be good for- The heat on Kate’s face reached a new high, as she was stunned by her own train of thought. At this moment Kate decided that maybe she shouldn't be looking at Max at all, for the sake of her own sanity.
Kate was halfway through studying all the inconsistencies on the ceiling when Max called out from across the room. "I got it!" She was holding up a CD case, but Kate couldn't make out what it was exactly.
"What do you have, Max?" Kate asked.
"This," Max excitedly exclaimed as she held the case out towards Kate, "is our dancing music!"
"Our- dancing music?" Kate wasn't sure where Max was heading with all this, but she was intrigued by whatever plans her friend had.
"Yeah, it's something Chloe and I used to do," Max explained as she put the CD into the stereo, after which she slid the empty case towards Kate, "Slow down for a moment, just us and the music."
Kate glanced at the case on the floor; She didn't recognize the album, but the artist rang a bell somewhere. She picked it up and looked back at Max, "Your solution is dancing? Us?" Kate could already picture herself stumbling through the room; A mess of arms and legs as she tried to keep up with Max and the music. Just the thought of it made her stomach twist.
The discomfort must have been plain on her face, because Max immediately tried to reassure her, "Don't worry, Kate! It's just the two of us!" Max beamed her smile and Kate could already feel the resolve slipping away, dissolving like cotton candy in water.
"Besides," Max continued, "I'm sure you'll dance better than me, because I can't dance at all ." That, Kate could believe - she had seen Max having trouble with getting to her morning shower unscathed, she doubted the girl would fare better while dancing.
Still, the thought of embarrassing herself in front of Max utterly terrified Kate. So when Max held out her hand, she hesitated. What if it’s too awkward? What if I’m so bad she asks me to stop? I would never-
“Kate?” Yet again, Max’s voice was the thing to pull Kate out of her spiralling thoughts, like a guiding light in the darkness. Her blue eyes were softer now, the excitement from a moment ago making way for something gentler, yet just as tooth-achingly sweet. “We can turn off the lights, if that would help?”
Kate gave her friend a small nod. If Max couldn’t see her maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Dancing in the dark also sounds a lot more romantic- Kate stowed the thought away before it could fully take hold of her.
“Alright, it’s a deal then!” Max exaggeratedly clapped her hands before extending them to Kate. At that moment the entire world shifted; When Kate reached out to meet Max’s open palms, all sound vanished and like an old silent film, the scene slowed to a crawl. Her nervous fingers twitching ever so slightly as they inched closer to Max. However, when her hands met their destination, colours bursted back into frame, and her hands eased into place. Then she was swiftly pulled to her feet and suddenly found herself mere inches away from the person at the centre of all of it - every part of her life for weeks now.
It wasn’t like they had never been close to each other before - they had spent plenty of evenings huddled up in each other’s dorms, watching movies late into the night. Those times they had also been in each other’s personal space, sitting thigh to thigh, resting their head on the other’s shoulder. Yet, this felt different to Kate; There was something about Max - a glint in her eyes, the way she held Kate’s hands - it felt different somehow. And Kate wanted more of it.
So when Max darted away to close the blinds and shut off the lights, a quick jab of disappointment entered Kate’s chest; She wanted to see Max, look her in the eyes and drown in them, bask in the glory that was Max Caulfield. Still the protection of the dark was enticing, and she didn’t want to change her stance at the last second. Besides, the dark had its own allures and intimacies.
With a click the lights in the room went out, and Kate couldn’t see more than vague shapes and outlines before her. Still she decided to close her eyes, to fully take in the dark, and whatever was about to come.
Another click, music filled the air; Kate recognized the song almost immediately, and couldn’t suppress a small gasp. But before the realisation could properly set in, she felt a hand on her back, and another on her shoulder. For a moment she just stood there, lost in trance, but the entry of the vocal track pulled her back, and she replicated the pose of her dance partner.
Max was the one to take the first step; Slowly she began to guide Kate throughout the room, carefully shuffling as they circled through the space. The lack of visibility posed a challenge for this; Their feet and legs met with the couch, the dresser, and the bed, but they remained standing. On the second round through, they managed to avoid all the furniture. They picked up the pace a little, and Kate almost felt like they were floating over the carpet.
We don’t need anything, or anyone.
The dark seemed to enhance every sensation Kate felt - the warm air of Max’s breath on her cheeks, the softness of her hands on her shoulder and back, the slight tickle whenever Max’s hair brushed her face - she felt it all with great intensity and her heart leapt with every instance.
Kate felt a warmth disappear from its spot on her shoulder, but before she could begin to wonder where it went, she felt it envelop her cheek. The temperature in her cheeks rose to meet that of the hand resting there, and Kate’s mind began to swim. Before she could find her way back to the surface, her feet began to tangle. A short yelp escaped from her mouth as she felt herself begin to fall backwards, before two hands on her shoulders pulled her back and into the body of her saviour.
I need your grace, to remind me to find my own.
Kate was still catching her breath when she heard a sound that made her breathless all over again; Max let out a soft chuckle that made butterflies erupt in Kate’s stomach. It made her consider tripping again, just so she could hear those heavenly tones once more.
They completed another round through the room, before the song came to an end. They slowed down until they were standing still in the middle of the room. Their hands had moved to each other's waists and they pressed their foreheads together. Like that they stood, for the briefest moments of an eternity, revelling in each other’s presence. The silence washed over them, as their breathing calmed and Kate felt her heartbeat slow. Then familiar tones graced the air, as the song began to play again.
Max looked away, breaking the contact between their foreheads, and muttered something. Kate didn’t mind the music, she’d happily go for another dance; And so she gave Max’s arm a gentle squeeze and slowly started swaying again. Max’s feet reacted a bit late, as she felt Max stumble in her grasp; Now it was Kate’s turn to chuckle at her partner’s clumsiness.
However, Max would quickly leave her breathless again; As they began to circle through the darkened room once again, Kate felt a warmth and weight on her shoulder. However this weight wasn't the same as that from before, and a soft, sweet scent filled her nose as warm air hit her neck; Max was now resting her head on Kate's shoulder.
Every gear in Kate's brain came to a screeching halt at that moment; Their heads had been close before - their foreheads were touching just a moment ago - and yet, this again felt so much different from anything she had ever experienced before; The gesture, which had become quite common over the past few weeks, held new meaning in this light - or rather the lack thereof. Kate's senses came back to her, as Max's hands and the music kept her on the move. She could smell the citrus of the brunette's shampoo and felt the soft brush of hair on her collarbone; Max's head seemed to perfectly fill the space between her neck and shoulder, as if that part of Kate's body was made for just that.
Kate shifted her attention to her hands on Max’s waist, and found much of the same there; Her hands seemed to hold the form underneath them perfectly. She was created for this - to hold Max, and Max alone. Lately, she had often wondered of her purpose in this life. She doubted what she had to offer in this world, and in those moments her mind filled with dark, heavy clouds. But then there was Max, appearing like the brightest sun she’d ever seen, and the skies in her head cleared. Max was the key, and now something inside Kate was unlocked; It was as if she broke free of shackles she never even felt, and floated up to meet her angel. Kate closed her eyes and reached out to the divine woman, so far above her.
A soft dampness on her neck pulled Kate out of her thoughts, and she came crashing back into the reality of the here and now. At first, she couldn’t place the sensation on the skin near her collarbone; The spot was damp and held an electric tingle. Kate wondered what could have touched it. Then she remembered where Max’s head laid on her shoulder, and the realisation set in.
Had Max just-? Certainly Max wouldn’t- But-
Heat rushed into Kate’s cheeks again, this time spreading all over her head and neck. Her thoughts raced through her mind, and it took a moment before she could get ahold of one.
Okay, Kate. Calm down, maybe it was just an accident. Maybe she didn’t mean-
Another kiss was planted on her skin, and this time, Kate was there to feel it; The contact of Max’s lips was subtle and subdued, but she could feel the intent behind it. This was no accident. And with how it made Kate feel, how could it be? The feeling of Max’s lips on her skin sent a wave of electricity through her body. It made the butterflies in her stomach take flight, and she suddenly felt weightless. She felt her head spin, and feet lifted from the floor, and-
And they were falling. Kate, completely lost in her thoughts, had slipped. Her legs entangled themselves with Max’s, and she felt the entire room around her shift. She was falling backwards, and couldn’t see where they were headed - not that the dark would have shown her anyway. Instinctively, she clutched onto Max, pulling the girl closer than ever, and let out a high-pitched yelp. Opposite of her she heard a laugh; Max had lifted her head from her shoulder and a laugh escaped her mouth as the pair tumbled down. Kate closed her eyes in anticipation of their landing. She had flown too close to the sun, and now the universe had struck her down.
They were met by the soft landscape of Max’s bedsheets, a tangle of limbs sinking into the mattress. For a moment all there was was the song, now on its second encore, accompanied by the natural rhythm of two bodies, as the girls tried to catch their breath. Slowly, the one silhouette became two again; Kate felt the warmth that was right up against dissipate, followed by a slight bounce of the mattress. Then, there was light again; After what had felt like an eternity she could see Max’s face again.
Only, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to; What if I really messed it up? What if she’s disappointed? What if- The spiral staircase that was Kate’s thoughts came to a sudden end, and turned into a stairway straight to Heaven. Because what she saw - a saccharine smile, an ocean of freckles, and eyes like the bluest skies - could only be the face of an angel; The soft light of the lanterns cast Max's entire face in a brilliant golden hue. Her hair had the colour of rich honey, her freckles were like gold dust framing the skies that were contained above them. A perfect landscape captured on a perfect canvas.
She desperately wanted to take a picture of that moment, to keep it with her forever; But there were no cameras to reach for, so instead she just reached out to the masterpiece in front of her. A picture wouldn’t have done Max justice, anyway.
Kate’s fingers met Max’s cheek, as the brunette laid back down on the bed. Max’s face was mere inches away from her own, and still Kate wished it was closer; She thought back to the tangled mess they had been just a minute ago, and secretly wished they could go back to that, but she couldn't get herself to take the chance; Her body didn’t move, even if she had wanted it to. So instead she just lied there, her hand still on Max’s cheek. Her thumb started to move across the skin, hopping from freckle to freckle, as Kate studied every single one intently. Max let out a content sigh in response, and Kate’s thumb froze.
In fact, Kate’s entire world seemed to freeze in place, not for the first time that day, as her eyes met the ones across from her. There was nothing but the blue and the warmth underneath her fingers; Just Kate and her angel.
Then the music seeped through the cracks, as the chorus trickled into her ears.
If I lay here, if I just lay here, would you lie with me and just forget the world?
The words sank down into Kate’s heart, until they finally struck a chord; It reverberated in her mind, and she wasn’t sure if she was hearing the right melody, but she desperately wanted to sing along.
And so she responded to the music, her answer barely a whisper; but they weren’t far apart. With a final breath, the word left her lips:
“Yes.”
Kate thought Max’s face had been aglow before, but that must mean that right now it was aflame. As the word passed between them, Max’s eyes went wide along with her smile and Kate was sure she had never felt more joy in her heart.
Then Max’s lips moved to meet hers, and it was like joy was the only feeling she had ever known.
When the two of them finally rose from the bed to get some dinner an hour later, Kate noticed the notebook in the corner of the bed. She couldn’t help but smile as she went to put it in her bag. She straightened out the blank page that had been the cause of her frustration - and its heavenly resolution.
Maybe Kate had a story to tell today after all.