—
Issac felt like he was in a dream having never thought being with someone could be so satisfying. Even Jacob, his best friend, couldn’t compare. He realized this could only really mean that he was in love. It was soft and sweet, like cotton candy for his soul. For years he had never understood why people got so worked up over relationships but now it was clear to him.
He desperately wanted to spend more time with Emily but the universe had other plans.
The very next day when his simulation results came in he found a critical error. All the time he had made up would be lost and even then some. To compensate he had to invest even more time in his work.
Jacob made time to stop by and show his support while Emily often would manage to bring him lunch and they would eat together. Aside from this, their only contact would be during late-night showers which had become a calming ritual for them. Jacob would be there for a few minutes before Emily arrived and a few after before leaving them alone. During this time they would admire each other and talk happily. They would message each other throughout the day but that couldn’t compare to the intimacy of words.
For a month they made things work as Issac’s deadline grew closer and closer.
Ultimately it was Emily who for Issac’s sake recommended they stop seeing each other till his project was over so he could focus. This sounded like torture to him but in his heart, he knew it was the logical choice. For a week he worked practically without sleep till the day of the anomaly. After performing countless tests and re-rests he was satisfied with his probe.
On the day of the launch he, Emily, and Jacob sat on an observation deck along with many other friends. The word that Issac and Emily were seeing each other had long spread and everyone was sportive of the two geniuses getting together. The entire room sat in suspense as Issac observed data on a set of complex screens. Many people present also had projects going on but none of the magnitude of what Issac was pulling.
From the deck, they could see a mass of black and white that were almost overlapping. These cosmic entities were in fact still millions of light years away but this was the spot where the probes would be launched. The ship’s teleport gate would get them to a potion where they could observe data without being completely destroyed.
An hour passed before the room went silent. The bodies had merged and a blinding light filled the cosmos. It was pure and radiant like nothing any of them had ever seen before. Moments passed before Issac could pull his gaze away back to his monitors. His eyes went wide as he noticed data trends the likes of which he had never seen before. There was evidence to support his claim and much, much more.
For twelve hours he stayed on the deck as people grilled in and out. Jacob eventually left though Emily stayed by him though ended up reading a book. After growing bored, she eventually called, “Are you done yet.”
Lost in his work he exclaimed, “Incredible, this is amazing. It’ll turn a hundred years of established theory on its head.”
Emily got up and approached her boyfriend angrily, “You’ve said that a hundred times now.”
Issac didn’t hear this and went out talking to himself, “I may still have time to dilate the reference frame…”
He was snapped out of this when Emily grabbed his shoulders and shook him. Meeting his eyes she growled, “Pay attention to me.”
Issac looked bewitched and stammered, “But my work, I need to finish.”
Emily glared and said, “The collision is going to be happening for a thousand years, you can rest for a couple of hours.”
Issac looked panicked and blurted, “No I need…”
Emily grabbed his head and dragged him into a kiss. After a few moments of breathlessness, she pulled away and snapped, “You need to rest.”
His eyes had gone confused and happy and he got out, “Oh.” He then smiled and went out clearly delirious with exhaustion, “Emily, I’m so happy. Thank you for being there for me.”
Emil who had wanted to start having sex a while ago had waited patiently give Issac didn’t want to go off his medication while he still had work. Thus she had waited, having been promised they would be lovers after his project was successful. He would need to afford them more time for dates and togetherness and couldn’t coup himself up in his lab forever. Still hearing these words caused her heart to melt a bit.
All her life people had treated her as second class. She wasn’t genetically modified and whenever she achieved something people won’t say ‘good job’, only that she had probably hit her peak. Despite this, every time someone said she couldn’t go further or be smarter she had proven them wrong. She had studied like Issac worked for years to make it this far and ultimately just wanted to live a quiet life of productivity.
She had found the idea of romance and found true love desirable all her life but never thought it would happen. While at school and on the Daedalus, she had met many cute guys and even dated a couple but it never ended well. Many still treated her as second-rate and took pity on her. Others she just wasn’t compatible with. Then there was Issac.
Their meeting was solely by chance yet like the old stories said, love at first sight. She had to admit he was a little dull at times but his humor, kindness, and passion always showed through. He never treated her differently because of her birth and didn’t even seem to care. He enjoyed listening to her past and enjoyed just being in her presence. Her emotions had built up to the point where it hurt and she didn’t know if Issac was really putting off becoming lovers because of work or just because he didn’t want her that way. It was a stupid doubt, she saw how much he worked, but it still gnawed at her.
Now to have him in her arms like this speaking so honestly filled her to the brim with joy. She blinked wet eyes and responded, “I’ll always be there for you.”
Issac smiled and began to speak slowly, ” Emily, there’s something I want to tell you.” He blinked as though his mind was cloudy and continued, “I, I…” He had to pause and blink again and the aging as though there were spots in his vision. His voice grew disorientated as he got out, “I…”
At this point, his eyes fluttered with exhaustion and he collapsed into Emily’s arms. A week of basically zero sleep and twelve hours of testing had pushed his body to its limit. He had thoroughly fainted.
—
When Issac woke up he felt vivid.
His mind raced and his senses were on high alert. He lurched up and found himself in the infirmary. He quickly looked around but before he could observe much he was tackled by a hug. It was a familiar embrace that made him feel safe and secure. Mid hug Emily squealed, “Fuck, you had me so worried.”
Issac’s mind was chaotic at this and he tried to calm down and focus, however, a rush of hormones assaulted his brain. The smell of Emily’s hair, her arms around him, her chest pushed up against him. Everything about her excited him. He realized he must have been off his medication for several days but didn’t have the brain power to care. Eagerly he returned the hug feeling eutrophic and blurted, “Stay with me.”
The only thing going through his head right now was a desperate desire to be with the girl he loved. Even his prob only briefly appeared in his mind before he told himself it was ok to let it collect the same data for a few more days. Surprised by the entrance emotion in his voice and the tightness of his hug Emily squeaked back, “Of course, I’ll stay with you.”
She pulled back a little bit and put their foreheads together, a bright smile on her face. After a moment of meaningful eye contact she went on, “You’ve been out for three days. The Chief medical officer said you were exhausted.” After pausing she added, “He took you off your meds so your body could rest up naturally. Do you want me to bring a med staff over?”
Issac felt heat, passion, and lust coursing through him and he liked it. He quickly shook his head and blurted, “Oh no I’m fine.” His eyes narrowed and he nuzzled her neck, “I’ve never been better.”
Emily recoiled a bit at this surprise and looked at him suspiciously, “You’re acting weird.”
Issac felt full of energy and playfully grabbed her by surprise and pulled her onto the hospital bed. She squealed and he laughed, “Have I ever told you how beautiful you are.” He kissed her surprised lips passionately wanting to tear off her clothes and make love.
Emily sank happily into the kiss but regained her clarity of mind quickly and pulled away. Issac looked disappointed as she panted out, “You need your medication.”
Issac tried to kiss her again but she resisted and he whined, “Why, I feel great.”
Emily also wished she could keep Issac like this forever but knew it wasn’t right. She loved the way he was staring at her, with desire in his eyes. She loved how passionate he was with his words. But this wasn’t the Issac she knew. In a serious voice, she responded, “This isn’t like you, you’re not in your normal state of mind.”
He considered this for a moment the pounding of his heart making it hard to hear his own thoughts. After letting out a sigh he responded with serious eyes, “You’re wrong.” He swallowed nervously but went on, “This is my normal. The way I am now is the real me.” He got a bit flustered and impassioned as he grumbled, “Not that over-medicated workaholic who never had time for you.” After breathing in his gaze became deeply affectionate but also insecure, “I want to be able to love you like I am now. I want you to love me the way I am now.”
Seeing wetness appear in his eyes Emily couldn’t help but lurch forward and kiss him passionately. Issac was surprised by this but quickly responded in kind. Their tongues began to play with each other as their bodies squirmed against the others’ form.
Issac was fully prepared to strip off his medical gown and experience sex for the first time but just as his hands began to clasp at Emily’s ass a voice called, “Ah, good to see you’re alive and well.” An elderly woman walked over and ran a device over Issac’s forehead while adding, “I was getting worried you would sleep forever.”