Work Text:
Two words were resonating in Franziska von Karma’s mind on repeat as she boarded the elevator to her apartment’s floor. Not guilty. Not guilty. Not guilty. She knew she should not be fazed by such a verdict. Not anymore. But recovery is not linear. She knew that as well. Recovery is not linear, unlike her elevator, which came to a rather noisy stop at her floor, interrupting her thoughts. Franziska mechanically exited the elevator, found her apartment, and unlocked the door, pushing it open with her left shoulder.
The scent of ground beef flooded her senses as she looked to her left to find Maya Fey frying a burger patty on the stove in the kitchenette. The door clacked behind Franziska as she set her briefcase down next to the shoe rack by the door. After swiftly shelving her high heels in favour of a comfortable pair of slippers, she shuffled toward Maya, who was awkwardly attempting to flip her patty without dropping it. Franziska had gotten much more comfortable with close contact than she was at the beginning of her and Maya’s relationship, and she knew Maya’s love language was physical touch, so she decided a hug was in order. Franziska shuffled behind Maya, wrapping her arms around her waist, resting her head on Maya’s shoulder.
“Hello sweetie,” Maya chuckled, planting a kiss on Franziska’s cheek. “How was work?”
Franziska groaned. “Just let me cuddle a little bit longer.”
“That bad?”
“That bad.”
Unfortunately for Franziska, the smoke alarm began to sound, interrupting the cuddle she so desperately craved at that moment. Maya’s burger was burning. While this came as no surprise, it was still an inconvenient occurrence. Begrudgingly letting go of Maya, Franziska reached to turn the smoke alarm off while Maya hastily turned the stove off.
“I really thought I had it that time,” Maya frowned, poking the burnt patty with an oven mitt. “It looks semi-edible, I think.”
“Liebling, please, let’s just order fast food if you want a burger that badly. I cannot believe I’m saying this but I think, for once, fast food is safer for consumption.”
Maya sighed, turning around to pull Franziska in. “Fine, but only because I like it when you call me liebling,” Maya giggled as Franziska put her head on her shoulders.
“I am certainly pleased I managed to do at least one thing correct today,” Franziska muttered bitterly. Unfortunately for Franziska, her mouth was right next to Maya’s ear, causing Maya to hear her perfectly.
Maya silently dragged Franziska to the couch where they fell on top of each other. The couch gladly received their combined weight, cushioning their fall with open arms as it had done so many times before. The television across from it was set to the news channel. Franziska frustratedly turned it off, returning the remote to its designated spot on the coffee table afterward.
“What happened at work today, Franzy?”
Franziska untangled herself from Maya before indignantly responding, “I lost.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” Maya soothed, wrapping her arm around Franziska.
Franziska nodded softly, leaning into Maya’s body, an appreciated support for Franziska. Maya wrapped a throw blanket around the pair as Franziska pressed further into Maya’s welcome embrace. Before she knew what she was doing, she found herself practically laying on top of her partner, their legs sprawled out behind them, extending to the other side of the couch. Resting her head on Maya’s chest, Franziska began to recount her day as Maya quietly stroked Franziska’s hair with her soft hands.
“...The Judge stated that there was no reason to prolong the case any further, and declared the defendant innocent. It was entirely my fault. Nothing less than the best is acceptable for Franziska von Karma and yet here I am, making foolish mistakes left and right,” Franziska finished, burying her face in Maya’s chest.
Maya adapted to the situation, shifting so that Franziska would still have room to breathe. “I’m sorry that happened today, angel,” Maya comforted, rubbing Franziska’s back. It felt warm and cozy. “How about we try remembering what your therapist said?”
Franziska mumbled affirmatively. “My therapist is a foolish fool, but alright,” Franziska conceded, tilting her head so that she could speak clearly.
Maya chuckled. “Trust me, Franziska, the therapy is good for you. So, what did your therapist say about making mistakes?”
“It’s okay to make mistakes,” Franziska groaned. “Liebling, I know it’s okay to make mistakes, but they are still mistakes. Mistakes are something that should not exist, especially not in someone of my stature.”
“Baby cakes, if mistakes are something that should not exist, then why do pencils have erasers?” Maya soothed, adjusting the blanket around Franziska’s shoulders. For once, Franziska could not think of a reply. She yanked the blanket over her face as a means of avoiding responding to her partner’s surprisingly wise words.
Maya took advantage of the situation and continued. “I’ve felt the same way about my job too. Sometimes I’m so afraid to be wrong, I end up getting frustrated when my channelling doesn’t come easily. On days like that, when I’m really stumped, I take a break. I even leave it until the next day if I absolutely can’t get it.”
Franziska threw the blanket off herself in frustration, letting it fall onto the carpeted floor. “If I keep putting things off until the next day, I will never accomplish anything.”
Maya chuckled, leaning over Franziska to pick the blanket up off the floor. Franziska gratefully covered herself once again. “It’s easier said than done, but sometimes you need to pat yourself on the back for the things you have accomplished rather than beating yourself up for the things you haven’t done yet. It’s easier if you make it sound easier, I think. Just take a deep breath and start again. Simple.”
Franziska could finally feel herself calming down, and she knew Maya could feel it too. She decided to take Maya’s advice literally, taking deep, calming breaths. “I’m sorry, liebling. This is a rather unfortunate way for you to be spending your afternoon. I apologize if I have kept you from something more important.”
Maya simply giggled, a sound that made Franziska’s heart lighten every time she heard it. “An afternoon with you is an ideal one, no matter what we’re doing, Franzy.”
“But I—”
“I appreciate you and love you for who you are and what you accomplish, no matter how big or how small,” Maya smirked.
Franziska sighed. “I love you too, Maya Fey. This is an argument I am more than willing to concede defeat on.” Maya continued to run her fingers through Franziska’s hair as the weary prosecutor enjoyed some much needed close contact. “I am eternally grateful for your boundless kindness. I still struggle to comprehend why you stay despite my imperfection.”
“Hey, remember what your therapist said? You need to redefine the meaning of perfection for yourself, cookie. Don’t you think the idea of perfection that your father taught you is a little wrong? I mean, think about it, what would the world be like if everyone acted like him?”
“It would likely be a rather mundane place. Everything would go according to plan. There would be no spontaneity, no art, and every case would have a guilty verdict.”
“That doesn’t sound perfect to me at all! Don’t you see, Franzy? The world needs imperfections. Perfect is subjective, anyways. I think you’re perfect just the way you are.”
“Subjectivity of the perfect human being aside, it is impossible to argue that a perfect win record is something other than winning every case that is presented to you.”
“Sure it is! Franzy, what would the world be like if you won every case that was presented to you?” Maya inquired, surprisingly wise for such a nonchalant personality.
Franziska was caught off guard. “I suppose there would be many more people behind bars. It would also be likely not all of them are actually guilty of the crimes they have been charged with,” she settled.
“Any cases in particular stand out to you? Maybe a case involving a certain spirit medium who was wrongfully charged with murder?”
Franziska looked at Maya like a deer caught in headlights. With a surprising amount of poise, she removed herself from Maya’s embrace and turned to face her directly. “Why are you bringing that case up?”
Maya smirked, and Franziska could tell she had just accidentally played right into her hand. “Because, Franziska, I have definitive proof that a perfect win record does not necessarily mean a 100% win rate. If you had won that case, we wouldn’t be dating, and that doesn’t sound like perfection to me at all.”
Franziska was dumbfounded. “You value our relationship that highly?” was all she could manage to stammer out.
Maya took advantage of this situation, taking Franziska’s beautifully gloved hands in hers. “I love you, Franziska. To me, you’re perfect. Actually perfect, not whatever your father claims is perfect. But most importantly, this relationship is perfect. It’s messy and we fight and we have bad days and eat takeout and go to bed mad and fall in love all over again in the morning. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“I share your sentiment, Maya Fey.” Franziska stumbled over her words as she embraced the spirit medium, pressing her lips against hers in a perfectly imperfect fashion. Pulling away, Franziska immediately realized what she had done. “P-Please forgive me, Maya Fey. That was highly inappropriate of me—”
Maya interrupted her with a high-pitched giggle. “Franziska, we’re dating. You don’t need to apologize for kissing me. Generally speaking, if I kiss you back, it’s a good indicator.”
Franziska did not have the foggiest idea how to respond to such a statement. She decided burying her face in Maya’s chest in embarrassment was the most logical solution. Maya, however, was not complaining. She immediately took advantage of the situation and wrapped the flustered prosecutor in the throw blanket that had gotten thrown about during all the commotion. “Tell you what, Franzy,” Maya started with a chuckle. “What you need right now is a good old-fashioned cheer up show!”
Franziska stared at Maya as if she had grown an extra head. “Cheer up show? As in a television series? Very well, what do you suggest, Maya Fey?”
“I thought you’d never ask!” Maya exclaimed, unceremoniously rolling Franziska over so that she could get up from the couch. She trotted over to her backpack and revealed a rather hefty box containing several DVD boxes. “I just picked up a limited edition box set of the first season of Steel Samurai from the mall today! Do you want to watch it with me?”
Franziska rolled herself back to a seated position, chuckling. “I would be honoured, Maya Fey. Time to see what my foolish little brother has been so obsessed with.”