timewasting | OPEN POST 2020.

[ she quietly loves it when he dresses down . . . or as "dressed down" as kaz brekker ever gets. this is pretty close to perfect, honestly. especially as they meander their way back to their room, his hand against her back. ]

It's nice, isn't it?

[ warmly, as she looks up at him with a slight upward tug of the corner of her mouth. he looks calm and relaxed, which is often a rarity. and she supposes it's the same for her. it's rare they can just be. ]

It's so quiet, and peaceful . . . I feel like we are the only ones here.

[ they did pay for the ridiculously expensive honeymoon suite which is essentially their own little villa, but. whatever. ]

Wasn't sure I was going to like it, but I do.

[ Some people just don't do well in silence. He's sure this place would make Jesper itchy under his skin. Not enough to keep his mind occupied. And while he enjoyed his solace and the relative quiet of their house, this is a different lack of sound.

It really is nice. Feels like his mind can relax and untangle instead of speeding along with a thousand different things. ]

We should do this again sometime. [ Not that visiting her parents or going out to the countryside are bad vacations, necessarily. This one is just far removed. Just the two of them, without all the other distractions. At that, he tugs her a little closer, pausing briefly to drop a kiss on top of her head. In a little, they'll be back to their room, where he can properly kiss her, but this will do. ]

[ she’s tugged closer, and she grins a little at the kiss to the top of her head. and inej rests against him for a moment before gently judging them along toward the room, looping her own arm around his waist so she can stay close.

( it’s easier for her to hold him while they walk than it is for him, what with the cane and all. ) ]

What if we come back every year for our anniversary?

[ thoughtfully. ]

It could be our present to ourselves.

[ Her arm loops around his waist, which makes it easier for him to keep up the pace as they continue on. She's warm, pressed against his side as she is, and he just wants to keep her close. He's been feeling that way off and on all day.

Well, more like the past couple weeks. It's not like they had no time, right after they were married. But it certainly felt like it, running from one thing to the next. And then the ship hadn't exactly afforded them much privacy. ]

That's possible. [ He says thoughtfully, as they come up to their door. ] Anika will be glad to kick me out of her business for a time. She's always saying I need a break.

[ Even if he's gotten better about taking those, he still can put in some long hours. Sometimes, it was necessary when there was a complicated scheme in play.

Kaz holds the door open for her, stepping in after and wasting no time in pulling his shoes off. After a day spent in less formal shoes, he wanted nothing to do with the stiffer leather. Carefully, he does come up behind her, putting a hand on her hip before he pulls her to him in a loose hug. ]

[ he does need a break, which is part of the reason she's so glad he agreed to such a long vacation, far removed from home. there's no chance for ketterdam to bother either of them, here. there's no way to know what's going on, which can be anxiety-inducing in and of itself. but separation is needed, and as they enter their room, inej considers the fact that this is probably the first vacation they've ever had where they've been totally removed from the work.

she slips out of her own shoes and is about to start undoing her hair when kaz hugs her from behind, and she arches her eyebrows before tilting her head back to look up at him, amused. ]

Can I help you?

[ mildly, leaning against him slightly as her fingers pause, in undoing the pins holding up her hair. ]

[ She tips her head back and he puts a hand on the side of her neck, thumb stroking down her jaw. All of her hair is still pinned up and he should probably help her take it apart. But first, he squeezes her tighter, briefly. ]

I love you. [ He feels like he still hasn't said it enough. Even then, the words don't seem to encapsulate exactly how he feels about her. Because it's just so much. ]

I want to kiss you for a while. [ Well, he's wanted to all day. And now that they have true privacy, the urge is much stronger. ]

[ her smile widens, at his words, and she leans back against him a bit more, reaching up to cover his hand with her own before gently moving it, so she can press her lips against his palm. ]

I love you, too.

[ warmly, squeezing his fingers once before she turns around in his arms, smoothing her hands along his chest. ]

And do you?

[ thoughtfully, stepping forward to loop her arms around his waist, resting her chin against his chest with a knowing grin. ]

What can I do about that?

[ When she kisses his palm, he smiles softly, always endeared by the small things. They were some of the first things they could do, while they were working through their issues early on.

And they were a way to show vulnerability, beyond that. Because he hadn't gotten better with words until later. Those are still a struggle, sometimes. ]

I usually do, yes. [ His smile brightens, at the bit of tease, hands linked together at the small of her back. ] Well, if you want to join me on the bed, I have some ideas.

I'm afraid I can't join you on the bed, because I can't move.

[ she points out, eyes bright as she leans up against him, letting her fingers trail along his back. enjoying the feeling of the looser shirt, his slightly mussed hair. he looks good, relaxed. ]

Someone is holding me hostage, because they are needy.

[ who that someone is, she has no idea, but they sound like a troublemaker, to be honest. ]

Hm, sounds like a problem.

[ And if there's one thing he's good at, it's providing solutions. This one has a simple fix, because they're close enough to the bed that he doesn't have to worry about trying to pick her up and possibly losing his balance.

No, he simply tugs her with him as he backs up to the bed. ]

Admittedly, they're very needy. [ He admits, pulling her down with him when he flops back onto the comforter. Whenever she situates, he nuzzles her neck and presses a light kiss on a spot he knows she likes. ]

[ ah, very smart. and she's tugged onto the bed next to him, comfortable as she watches him roll closer, nuzzling against her to kiss her neck, and a soft laugh escapes as she runs her fingers through his hair. ]

Apparently.

[ with a soft hum, at the very needy, and she dips her chin to press her lips to his forehead, content. ]

Good thing we are on vacation, and I can indulge your neediness.

[ He tilts his head a fraction as she runs her fingers through his hair, enjoying the light scratch of her nails. Kaz never thought he'd enjoy being petted, essentially, but here he is. ]

A very good thing. [ The words are muffled against her neck and broken up by a series of light kisses. His hand slides down her side, following the curve of her hip and stopping at her thigh. The skirt of her dress has ridden up, just a little, flipped up around her knee, and he's tempted to reach down to pull it up further.

But first: he kisses down her neck to her collarbones and her chest before moving back up, leaning over her a bit to brush a soft kiss to her mouth. ]

[ she lets her eyes close at the feeling of his lips against her neck, and her lips curve into a faint smile at the feeling of the kiss against her chest.

and, finally, his lips meet hers, and inej hums into the kiss, lazily looping her arms around his neck as she returns it slowly, warm and happy. ]

What do you do all day when we're apart?

[ she murmurs, kissing the corner of his mouth with a smile.

( she knows that he misses her, and he is immediately touchy (usually) whenever he comes home. and reluctant to let her go when she stops by the club for lunch. and she misses him whenever she also has a late night, staking out new leads, running slavers out of the ports. you don't quite realize how important touch is until you go years without it. ) ]

[ Their kiss is slow and gentle, sending a careful bloom of warmth through him. He likes this, when they take their time, sometimes working themselves up for more. And sometimes just enjoying it for what it is. His hand cradles the side of her face, thumb lightly tracing the curve of her cheekbone. ]

Miss you terribly and painfully. [ He presses his forehead to hers, eyes closed briefly. ] And then I work an obnoxious amount, according to Jesper.

[ Kaz has always taken to Dregs work with a flourish. It can be challenging, coming up with schemes to get them ahead. And in recent years, it's been expansion as well playing the political chess that the merchant council so desperately loves. It keeps him on his toes.

But there's always a slight edge underneath his work whenever Inej goes away. He takes on more so he doesn't have to think about her out on the merciless ocean. So he doesn't have to worry about what could happen to her.

It's why he's always a little more touchy whenever she gets back, reveling in her being alive.]

[ indeed, this is some of her favorite time spent with kaz, where they are lazy and comfortable and simply just enjoying each other's presence. and when he rests his forehead against hers, she grins a little, shifting her hands to his face. ]

An obnoxious amount. [ she murmurs, kissing him again, running her thumbs over his cheeks. ] What does that look like, compared to your usual work ethic?

[ because even now, she has chased him away from his desk during a late evening with a stern look and a lecture on how he needs to come to bed. ]

Ugly, really.

[ He stays up too often, logging those long hours and attempting to exhaust himself. Kaz knows he should take better care, but the anxiety he feels about her being gone is too much to simply not think of. If he lets himself think about it too much, he'll freeze up and proceed to get absolutely nothing done.

(Because he knows he's not good with loss, never has been. And he can't go through what he did with Jordie again. He just can't).

She's here, though, and they're all to themselves for a while. He's grateful, immensely so, something he tries to communicate when he kisses her again, long and gentle, his hand settling at the back of her neck. Eventually, he pulls away, tugging at her bottom lip with his teeth, and then taking her with him as he rolls onto his back. ]

Easily one of your best angles. [ Which is to say, above him. ]

[ she dislikes thinking of him like that, anxious and staying up all night to work just for the sake of working. it pulls at her, and makes her want to take away that feeling forever. and whatever that feeling is, it's clearly not haunting him now, as he kisses her, and tugs her soundly on top of him, with sparks a grin from inej.

one of her best angles. inej almost wants to know what her bad angles are, but she knows asking is only going to end in no answer at all.

instead, she settles herself soundly on his hips, her dress hitched up around her waist as she walks her fingers along his chest, ending in gently running her fingers along his jaw. ]

Lucky you that you never have to do that again.

[ work himself half to death, that is. her voice is a murmur, as she lowers herself for another kiss, humming softly into the motion, her hands finding his face. ]

Because I am not going anywhere.

[ not without him, anyway. ]

[ Her weight settles across his hips and he grins as she touches his chest, fingers eventually tracing along his jaw. And she's mostly right—ever since she's set up shop in Ketterdam, it's rare she has to go away. The rest of her crew takes care of such things as she pulls the strings and gets the information, directing them where they need to go. It's certainly been less stressful, knowing she's relatively safe. Or at least has two feet on dry land, rather than at the mercy of the ocean.

(Perhaps just one foot on occasion, knowing how she likes to leap from building to building.) ]

I know. [ He murmurs against her mouth, a smile pulling at the corner of his own. His hands slip down to her exposed thighs, fingers tracing up under her skirt. ] Who else would boss me about?

[ After all, she's always been the exception, it seems. ]

You should try being scarier.

[ her tone is a bit wry, her thumbs running over his cheeks. his hands are starting to wander, as they tend to do when you aren't looking at them. like the scheming little thief he is.

she shifts her attention to his cheek, his jaw, and then his neck, gently nipping at the flesh before kissing gently to soothe it over, murmuring: ]

I might boss you around less if you were.

[ she knows people in the dregs with a body count that is downright impressive, for the barrel, who actively try not to wet themselves when kaz brekker walks by. but she supposes she's always had a different view of him. meeting as they did. ]

I'll take it under advisement.

[ Though they both know she'll never fear him like the rest of Ketterdam does. Their history is too close and complicated. The first impression he'd left on her had been slightly stand-offish, but the second one neared the level of a knight in shining armor. Something like a savior, even if moving her to the Barrel and the Dregs hadn't exactly been paradise.

But then, she had bodily autonomy. No more sick and greedy hands trying to touch her because they paid to do so. ]

Maybe I like when you boss me around. [ Honestly, there's no maybe and they both know that. His hands wander some more at the thought, the tips of his fingers tracing the inside of where her thighs connect to her hips. She nips at his neck and it makes him squirm, just a little, letting out a hum. ]

[ indeed, it was always hard to reconcile the monster of the barrel with the image of the boy who had explained to inej how unfair her contract was, how the better deal was with him, and how patient he had been in guiding her out of the menagerie, when he really hadn't needed to do that at all. he had protected her, and defended her, and given her a pathway to escape . . . well, hell, to be honest.

kaz brekker was never going to be a monster, to her. ]

Do you?

[ with a soft laugh against his neck as he squirms a little. his fingers are straying dangerously close to her underwear, but inej makes no move to bat his hands away. instead, she presses a kiss to his neck again, before she settles back on his hips, beginning to lazily unbutton his shirt. ]

I hadn't noticed.

No?

[ Though he's well aware she's teasing, amusement coloring her tone. It's in the way her eyes curve, the quirk of her mouth. It makes him want to kiss her again, though he knows he'll have another chance. There's no need to rush it.

Instead, he traces along the waistband of her underwear, running a finger underneath the top. He dips his hand between her legs and rubs her gently through the cloth, feeling a familiar little thrill for through him at the contact. ]

Should I be more obvious? [ He tilts his head, questioning and mirroring her amusement. ] Something like— Inej, bully me and tell me to behave?

[ she continues to unbutton his shirt, the movement wholly unbothered and lazy . . . but then his hands wander a bit too far, and she pauses in her motions (though his fingers between her legs feels lovely) to catch his wrist with a hand. ]

Mm-mm.

[ a disapproving noise, as she shifts that particular hand to her thigh -- but it's clear, that inej is relaxed, and stopping him isn't anything to do with her memories, or with stress.

just -- well, as he puts it, telling him to behave.

once that is sorted, inej continues to unbutton his shirt, delicately opening it before lowering herself to press a kiss to his neck again, and then his collarbone. ]

I tell you to behave at least three times a day.

[ she murmurs, amused. ]

Mannerless delinquent.

[ Oh, so it's going to be like that. She pauses in unbuttoning his shirt and grabs his wrist, moving the hand from between her legs to her thigh instead. Kaz occupies himself with touching her legs then, skimming his fingers near the sensitive insides down to the back of her knees, touch as light and teasing as can be.

After all, she hadn't told him he wasn't allowed to touch. Just that she doesn't want him distracting her by touching certain places.

(Really, she hadn't said anything, but he knows what she means). ]

Three seems low. Besides, I did warn you I had no manners. [ He had been honest about that.

Shirt finally unbuttoned fully, he lets out a quiet sigh when she kisses his neck, head tilting back to give her more space. His interest grows a bit more as she goes lower, pressing her mouth to his collarbone, and he wonders where this is going.

Because he does have an inkling, but she was occasionally full of surprises. ]

Just because you warned me doesn't provide an excuse for your behavior.

[ she says pointedly, pressing another kiss to his sternum, humming to herself as she takes her time, pressing her lips in slow kisses in a seemingly random pattern down his chest, to his stomach. it means she has to move down off his hips a little, which moves her thighs . . . depriving him of one last thing. ]

You should avoid wearing a shirt more often.

[ she says, pressing a kiss to his stomach, with a warm expression in her eyes as she glances up at him. ]

In case you were taking opinions.

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