timewasting | OPEN POST 2020.

[ Asking for this is really the hardest part. Once the question is out there, he feels less irritated. And more just relieved that he can be in something more comfortable than dress pants.

He lifts his hips when she prompts him, leaning more of his weight on his one arm, using his other hand to tug the pajama bottoms up the rest of the way. That done, he can finally relax for real this time and he leans against the headboard with a short sigh. ]

I can't believe you agreed to forever with this. [ Not that she's ever shown annoyance with the process. Nor does she treat him like he's a total invalid, knowing he can do most things on his own. He's also gotten over feeling inadequate, aware she would've gone a long time ago if she didn't feel like it was worth it.

That still dredges up the gratefulness in his tone, as he glances up at her. ]

[ he’s likely exhausted now, but he’ll be much more comfortable this way. and inej pauses in stopping to collect the tossed aside clothes to grin a little, sitting on the edge of the bed to brush his hair out of his eyes. ]

I love you.

[ simply, as she leans over him to grab a pillow, so she can try to get it underneath his leg without causing a huge amount of fuss. but as she carefully adjusts his leg to get the pillow underneath his knee, her movements light and gentle; she continues. ]

I don’t really consider it a burden, helping the people that I love.

[ and once that is done, inej gently rests a palm on his thigh, a faint smile appearing. ]

I am going to get you a hot water bottle and another pillow before I make dinner. Do you need anything else?

[ The pillow goes underneath his leg without more fuss and while it will still be a while before the pain in his leg goes away, it does give him a little relief. He puts his hand over hers when she sits next to his hip, thumb brushing across her wrist. ]

I know, just— [ There's a lot that weighs on him with this sometimes. But might as well keep it simple: ] —thanks.

[ He isn't sure he'll ever feel super comfortable asking for help, but it's nice to know they can lean on each other. ]

Well, maybe a kiss before you go.

[ she knows it's a struggle, asking for help, and receiving it. it probably always will be. but inej often just helps him without making it exceptionally obvious, so that way he can accept the help without the sacrifice of his pride, in asking for it.

the one thing she won't do without his verbal ask is help with his leg, though. she has tried, and it has always resulted in a spat. (arguing with kaz while he's in a bad mood is always asking for trouble, but arguing with kaz while he's in a bad mood and in pain is guaranteeing a vicious row where absolutely no one wins, including kaz brekker.)

still, she does lean forward to kiss him gently, a hand cupping his cheek. ]

You are welcome.

[ before she kisses his forehead. ]

You are going to stay here, and not move, until I come back, or I will make you regret it.

[ it's said so warmly that it's hard to believe it's a threat, but it's a threat that she will make good on, thank you very much. ]

[ She kisses him and he's tempted—as usual—to tug her down and into his lap. Or just further onto the bed.

He's not really in a shape to do either at the moment, since that would mean her weight across his legs in some way. It might be along his thighs, but moving his one leg at all right now was not a good idea.

Which she knows. And threatens him over, so he doesn't try to do something stupid. ]

I think I can manage that. [ Because frankly, he's tired enough from the walk that he isn't tempted to move at all. ]

[ the next forty-five minutes is spent preparing for the rest of the evening in bed. she fills a hot water bottle first, carefully setting it up on his leg to attempt to relax the muscles, and finds additional pillows so he's comfortable. returning to the room to do so ends in distraction for a solid few minutes, but inej soon (lightly) smacks his hands from wandering so she can return to the kitchen.

then, she makes a stack of waffles and tea, setting dinner on a tray to take into the bedroom to set over his lap. the tray is big enough so that she can sit next to him and share a corner of it, and so she crosses to her side of the bed, sitting next to him cross-legged with a warm smile as she takes her plate, leaning forward to kiss his temple before resettling. ]

Hi.

[ as she takes a bite of her waffle, eyes bright.

she is in a fantastic mood. despite the sort of rough ending to their walk. ]

[ The hot water bottle she brings ends up helping him relax, soothing some of the creeping pain. And maybe he spends a few minutes giving her some more kisses, because he's needy.

Eventually, she goes back to getting dinner ready. Some of the louder sounds of her in the kitchen (mostly cabinets opening and closing) echo through the sunroom and filter into the room. He doesn't dare touch his leg just yet, so he eventually picks up one of the books on his side table that he's been working through.

At some point, he must've dozed off, because the next thing he's aware of is Inej sitting on the bed and kissing his temple. ]

Hello. [ He answers, voice scratchy from having fallen asleep. Also, he'll get to the tray in a minute. Before that, he leans down to rest his head on her shoulder briefly. A small affectionate nudge. Once he sits back up, he takes the tea first, blowing on it before sipping. ]

How fast do you think your mother will come when she hears?

Oh, within the month, and I am certain she will ask if I am pregnant, hence the reason why I am now engaged.

[ a bit dryly, as she settles in to watch him drink his tea. he looks like he's more comfortable, and he did drift off waiting for her to make dinner . . . so inej is confident he'll feel much better by tomorrow.

she lets her tea cool a bit more, instead focusing on the waffle, but before she takes another bite: ]

But I have known I wanted to spend my life with you for a long time.

[ as she cuts another piece of waffle to put on her fork, tossing him a warm smile before she takes another bite. ]

I was just waiting for you.

Oh.

[ Her latest visit had smoothed a lot of the wrinkles out of their relationship, but it's a still a tentative one. He isn't sure what to make of Asena most of the time. Especially when he knows Inej is right, the comment making a little color rise in his cheeks. ]

Does she really think I wouldn't marry you unless I knocked you up?

[ Plenty of people have done that though. From either an accident or someone wanting the other to commit to some more permanence. Neither were applicable here, but it's still a little embarrassing that her mother would think that. ]

I thought about it a lot. When we were younger. [ He cuts a piece of waffle and takes a bite, chewing thoughtfully. ] I was afraid of saying anything.

[ For a variety of reasons; he didn't want to hold her back, was maybe still scared she would decide she had enough, that maybe he was a little too intense. Sometimes he still worries, though he trusts Inej would have said something if she was unhappy. ]

I ended up talking to Jesper. [ That had been the hardest part. At that point, he'd been used to peeling his armor back for Inej. And some pieces for his friends. But that had been particularly soul baring. ]

I think she thinks I am never going to get married just to spite her.

[ mildly; it truly has nothing to do with kaz. but she pauses to listen, her expression softening. because he doesn't need to finish his thought, to explain why he was afraid of saying anything. the beginning had been difficult, prying the thoughts out of his head had been a struggle. and he's better, now. ]

Did you?

[ that part surprises her. not that kaz and jesper aren't very close friends, or that kaz doesn't value jesper's opinion, but kaz doesn't really talk about much of his personal life with anyone except her. or so she thought, anyway. ]

What did he say?

[ Believing they would never marry because of spite definitely sounded like Asena's logic. Though he can understand the urge to do exactly that.

Then again, most of his life has been built on spite so maybe that's why it's appealing. ]

He got me drunk and told me to get my shit together. [ That's a pretty succinct summary, really. The full story is much more pathetic on his part. ]

[ inej isn't really sure what she expected, but the blunt statement certainly was not it. and she pauses, the fork in her mouth as she digests what he said.

what follows is an undignified snort of laughter, and inej removes the fork to cover her mouth, in some (useless) attempt to be a little more graceful. it is, by and large, a failure. ]

Good advice.

[ she manages, with a grin. ]

[ He glances over at her when she snorts, mouth quirking up at the corners. Especially as she starts to laugh. And attempts to hide it.

Which goes poorly.

A couple years ago, he might've been annoyed by this. Or even felt a little hurt. At this point, he's swallowed the reality that he takes himself way too seriously and has begun to appreciate his friends doing their best to keep him grounded. So instead of scowling, he sighs dramatically. ]

I suppose it was. He did tell me not to dither on, which was a good call. [ Though Kaz has made sure to tell her how he feels in...less intense and possibly creepy terms. ] He's also responsible for the ring.

[ she can almost hear jesper instructing kaz on doing exactly that, and she grins a little, setting her fork back down on her plate to finally reach for her tea -- but she pauses, at the last bit, her eyes flickering down to the ring on her finger.

she had known that jesper was working on his gift, but she genuinely hadn't asked him about it. it was a sensitive subject, and inej could appreciate that some things, you just didn't want to talk about. the ring had already been meaningful (for obvious reasons), but the fact that jesper had made it warmed her heart so heavily that she honestly isn't prepared for the swell of emotion.

kaz and nina had been her first friends in ketterdam, but jesper had been the first to make an honest attempt to get to know her. nina and inej knew one another out of their own circumstance, and kaz had known her . . . well, because he had found her. but jesper had never shied away from her, or treated her differently, or asked questions. he had simply been warm, and gregarious, without expecting anything, and deeply cared about her because she was inej. not anything, or anyone else.

so she simply just dips forward, resting her head against his shoulder. a silent show of emotion, before she murmurs: ]

I love it.

[ Jesper had been reluctant, at first, to take on the project. Not because he disliked Inej—completely the opposite, really—but his history with his grisha powers was a bit touchy. Wylan and Nina had been particularly encouraging in getting him to even pursue learning how to control his powers and eventually start to utilize them in every day work. Now he's less shy about attempting to fabrikate things.

Kaz had caught him early on though, and convincing his friend had been over half of the battle of getting the ring made. Once he'd agreed, though, it'd been...fun. To watch him work and bat ideas back and forth. He'd suggested the ring have a knife design but Jesper had taken that and refined it. While he's sure Inej will say something to him about it, he'll reiterate his thanks; it'd come out perfect. His arm loops around her middle when she leans against him, dinner momentarily paused. ]

He'll be overjoyed. Most of the process he was worried it was going to come out as a lump of metal.

[ Even though he's successfully worked metals before. Like pulling lock picks from cell bars. And, as he's learned, helping aim when he fires his pistols. ]

It is perfect.

[ as she settles down against his side properly, still giving him room to finish his dinner, but deciding that she was much more comfortable like this . . . he would just have to deal with the potential inconvenience.

but she does nudge him in the side, carefully, with her elbow. ]

I do want you to finish that, though.

[ dinner, that is.

she might coax him into something to help him sleep, if his leg continues to be horrible, and it would be easier with food than without. ]

[ It is a little inconvenient to eat while one of his arms is pinned. But, he's reluctant to reclaim said arm. So he just uses his other hand, finishing up his dinner in comfortable silence.

Once he's done, he snuggles a little closer to Inej, feeling that drowsiness again. The pain in his leg has calmed enough that he can flex his foot at the very least. He isn't sure about putting weight on it just yet. ]

So, there's typically...a celebration of sorts. [ Hey did she think the courthouse and the Church were the only things to contend with? ]

[ she's about to get up to move the tray when he decides to make himself comfortable. and inej lets him rest for a moment before she gently kisses his temple, shifting a little to kneel so she can collect the tray and dishes. ]

I would have thought you would want to skip all that.

[ amused, as she scoots off the bed (temporarily!) to set the tray on a bedside table. but once that's out of the way, inej moves to their closet to tug down a quilt from the top shelf, so she can drape it over them both as she settles herself next to him.

it was easier to just get a new blanket than shift him out of the way to get to their comforter below. ]

Feel better?

[ When she goes to move, he lets her go reluctantly. Even though it's totally sensible to not have the tray over his legs.

She does return with a quilt and re-settles next to him, and he gladly resumes cuddling up close. While attempting to move his leg as little as possible. Thankfully, she's aware of it and seems to bridge the gap.]

I thought I'd want to as well. [ Gatherings are just not his style. He's just not that great with people. Though he has gotten better since he's started breaking the terrible habits he picked up while growing up in the Barrel. Namely: keeping his emotions to himself. That's definitely seen an improvement, but his initial reaction is still to keep everything as low key as possible.

And yet, the more he thought about it, the more he felt like he wanted at least one time with as many of their friends in one spot. It might as well be for something happy for once.

(There's also the matter of him wanting everyone to know just how much this means. How much Inej means. That's a little embarrassing to admit, even to himself.) ]

Getting there. The pain's stopped shooting up my thigh, so that's an improvement.

[ she shifts herself a little bit to tuck her legs underneath herself, so she's a little bit taller, and can reach to gently stroke his hair as he leans against her. the news about his leg is good . . . or, well, better than expected. and he feels relaxed, so maybe the pain medication isn't necessary after all.

she hums to herself, though, at his comment: ]

You want a party? A wedding? With people?

[ she sounds a little surprised, as she continues to play with his hair. and she shifts her hand a little, to feel his forehead, feigning concern. ]

Are you feeling ill?

[ After she sits up a little, he carefully shifts to sink further towards the pillows. And maybe a bit more towards her. His eyes close as she runs her fingers through his hair, the gesture extremely soothing. ]

I know it sounds far-fetched. [ It's extremely uncharacteristic for him, really. All that socializing? So tiring. ]

The last time we were all in one place was the end of the Van Eck job. [ Nina's visited at least once between then and now. But she'd shown up while Jesper and Wylan had gone to visit Colm Fahey. Ships passing in the night. ]

I'd like a better memory than that.

[ her fingers still, at that, and she ducks her head a little to press her lips against his forehead, deep in thought for a moment.

she’s a little surprised, by the answer, though inej knows she shouldn’t be. that that specific memory has stuck in his head. but he has always had a difficult time with letting go of loss. and he is right; that is the last time they were all together. ]

Okay.

[ finally, resuming stroking her fingers through his hair, the warmth returning to her tone. ]

We can have a party.

[ There's a pause and he can tell she's thinking. He can't really see her face, even if he opened his eyes. Not with her lips pressed to his forehead. So there's not a way for him to read her expression and get an idea of what's crossing her mind.

He doesn't interrupt her though, letting her work out her decision. And he turns it over again in his head, wondering if it really is a good idea. There's definitely an emotionally strong pull to do it. Because even if he's seen Nina since then, the memory of all of them together is one where they'd been standing on the shore, Matthias' body carefully settled on the bottom of the boat. He won't ever forget it, but he wants something better to remember. To help take the edge off of that memory. ]

Can you write to Zenik and see when that government of hers will let her visit?

I may have better luck going directly to the King.

[ dryly, continuing to run her fingers through his hair, her tone not very impressed. breaking into the ice court had to be harder than breaking into the royal ravkan palace, and not much can stop the wraith when she wants to get into a building.

but inej will try a letter first. and then threatening nikolai to let nina come home. that seems to be the natural next step, at any rate. ]

But it is not like we are in any rush.

[ with a slight squeeze. ]

So we can plan whatever we would like.

I can probably pull strings with Sturmhond if it comes to it.

[ Nikolai. Whatever. It's easier to think of him as the privateer, since that was his first impression. They've helped each other out since the false auction—mostly passing information back and forth. Kaz has also given him more tips on how to stop sounding so formal with his Kerch.

Either way, between the two of them, he's fairly sure they can bully the Ravkan king into letting Nina visit if needed. ]

I'll ask Jesper and Wylan what their schedules look like. I'm sure they'll want to hear how this went, at any rate.

[ Though considering he hasn't shown up at their door looking miserable, they could probably guess. At that thought, he settles his hand on her knee, slowly stroking down her leg and then back up. Touching just because she's close. And maybe because the angle isn't super great to kiss her, so this will have to do. ]

OPEN POST 2020.

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