modern au kanej.

[wraithes]

a cute gif will go here eventually.

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[wraithes]

[ her eyes grow a little more bright, at the kiss to the back of her fingers, the kiss to her cheek. ]

I will hold you to that.

[ she warns with a slight grin, leaning forward to loop her arms around his neck again, to press in for another kiss. this time, almost as if to prove that she's trusting him at his word, she threads her fingers through his hair, her kiss a little deeper than before as she presses forward. ]

[ketterdamn]

I don't doubt it.

[ She hasn't backed off on a promise yet and this is one more. Besides, it's as she said: she's just trying to make sure she doesn't set him off by accident. Just as he is so careful about how he touches her.

There's not nearly as much carefulness in the kiss she presses in with, though he has no qualms about it. Not with her fingers threading through his hair and her body pressed so close. Her chest is against his and it sends a significant spark of interest straight between his legs. Another thing he's careful not to push against her with, even if he instinctively wants to.

His hands slide to her waist and then up and around to her back, fingers tracing the wings of her shoulder blades as he returns her kiss eagerly. ]

[wraithes]

[ his hands at her back cause her to press forward a little more, sighing softly into his mouth at the feeling. there's a tingling, underneath her skin, that she's never really felt before. a warmth spreading through her, coiling in her stomach as she shifts her weight once again, to be able to kiss him a little deeper. this is what this is supposed to feel like, intimacy, and love.

it's in settling in his lap a bit more that causes her to become a little more aware of just how far this is going. the feeling of him pressed against her, even lightly, causes a sudden tension to ripple through her, an anxiety that hadn't been there moments before.

it's a sudden shift, for inej, from feeling warm and enticed to her heart beginning to hammer in her chest, and she pulls away slightly, resting her forehead against his to breathe. she doesn't feel completely overwhelmed, but uncomfortable enough to pause, her fingers loosening in his hair. ]

[ketterdamn]

[ She leans into him a bit more and it warms him through. Not just because of the obvious reason, but also in that he likes holding her like this. Having her close, with or without the current configuration of her top off. He returns her sigh with a content hum of his own, slowly smoothing his hands down her back.

Of course, their moments don't always last long. Her weight drops more into his lap and she goes still, muscles tensing. Undoubtedly he's pressed against her and it's forcing her out of a comforting space. He can't help the sting of disappointment, but he understands. And he sets his hands on her waist where the ties of her robe are, avoiding skin. ]

Need to stop? [ It's felt good. More than good. But he doesn't want to push if it will stop feeling that way. There's also the fact that he won't say no to simply crawling back into bed and holding her without any pretense. ]

[wraithes]

[ there's a brief look of frustration that crosses her face, at the question. not directed at him, but herself. it's frustrating, to have to stop something that should be normal, but isn't.

it's also frustrating to associate kaz with that, of all things. something he would never do to her.

she's sorely tempted to say no, the hesitation clear as inej's hands slide to his neck, running her thumbs over his jawline as she focuses on breathing, and easing her pulse. she wants to keep going, but . . . ending this night in crying is probably not the best. ]

Yes.

[ she murmurs, the disappointment apparent in the tone of her voice. and she moves off of his lap, back to kneeling on the bed, tugging the robe a bit so it drapes around her shoulders, though she doesn't bother shrugging back into it. ]

[ketterdamn]

[ A flicker of frustration darkens her face for a moment and he gets it. Knows she isn't annoyed at him for asking the question. It's a look he's sure she's seen mirrored in his own expression before. Disappointment in themselves, for not being able to do something that seems so normal. So easy, for just about everyone else.

Before Wylan, Jesper had always mentioned the fun he'd get up to at parties or bars. Short lived mutual flings. Kaz never understood how he could do it. Now he at least has some idea of why. And shares Inej's frustration that they've got so many limitations to jump over.

Before she gets off his lap, he presses a soft kiss to her cheek, reassuring. ]

Did you want to change? [ Though she hasn't pulled the robe fully back up. It just might be more comfortable for her in something else, even if it's pajamas. ]

Come lie down, I'll call for breakfast.

[wraithes]

[ the soft kiss to her cheek does reassure her, in that he's truly fine with stopping. he even offers her the out of changing, which causes her to shake her head slightly. ]

I am fine.

[ for the most part. her heartrate has slowed, and she feels in the moment. it's the physicality, that bothers her. or did, in this instance. though inej does tug the robe a bit closer, closing it a little bit. her hair, after all, is still a little damp.

the offer to lay down, though, is tempting. so she scoots herself up into the bed properly, to slide underneath the blankets, the robe still loosely wrapped around her. craving closeness. she thinks she would be okay with being held like this. probably.

only one way to find out. ]

I wanted to keep going.

[ she murmurs, as he goes about calling for breakfast and climbing back into bed with her. disappointed, really. though how much further, inej isn't entirely sure. ]

[ketterdamn]

[ It seems like she's still here, in the moment, rather than being sucked in by her bad memories. That's good. He watches, briefly, as she tucks herself back under the blankets, the robe on loosely. There's nothing more he wants to do than to turn over and hold her.

First though, breakfast. Sitting up in bed, he reaches for the phone and calls down an order, sifting through a few minutes of pleasantries. It won't be too long, probably because he'd woken up beyond the typical breakfast rush.

That done, he refluffs his pillow before sliding back under the covers, shifting so he's close to her. Out of habit, he loops an arm around her middle, letting out a slow sigh after he settles. ]

We can keep trying. [ He'd wanted to keep going too. But not without her being completely there. It just means they'll have to work at it as they've been doing, little by little. He doesn't imagine either of them will be miraculously getting over their hang ups in the space of a day. ]

[wraithes]

[ the arm around her middle causes her to lean her head against his shoulder, a sigh escaping. ]

I know.

[ and she does, truthfully. and she knows it's unrealistic to expect that anything would happen immediately. but it's still a sting of disappointment, and of want.

still, she wasn't left shaking. so it could have been worse.

she tilts her head back a little to look up at him, inquisitive. ]

What did you order for breakfast?

[ she admittedly hadn't been listening very hard, lost in her thoughts as she tucked herself back into bed. ]

[ketterdamn]

[ She tilts her head against his shoulder and it's comforting in its familiarity. This, they can do. And this he's more than happy to indulge. It's nice to come back to after they try something new, pushing at the boundaries their memories have drawn up.

There's something about the warm intimacy that also helps take away the smarting disappointment when something doesn't go the way either of them were hoping. ]

Coffee, eggs, fruit, toast. Which apparently has some kind of famous plum jam. [ Kerch farm markets are famous for their jams, though usually they're a berry of some kind. Figures Shu Han has a different set, considering their weather patterns. It's typically warmer, for one. Sunnier, for another. He's going to have to be careful while they're out or he's going to be as red as a lobster by the time they get back. ]

You still want to stay in?

[wraithes]

[ plum jam sounds incredible, to be honest. and she ruminates on that for a little bit when kaz asks his next question, prompting her to hum to herself in thought. ]

We can explore the gardens.

[ she decides, cheek returned to resting on his shoulder. it really is a beautiful day outside, and while staying in bed all day with him sounds divine, they really should explore shu han. at least a little bit.

she had also bought a sun hat in the airport upon arrival, so she may as well use it. or give it to kaz, who needs it more than she does, if she's honest. ]

Maybe we can see the plum trees in person.

[ketterdamn]

[ At her answer, he glances towards the windows, seeing only bright sun shining through the curtains and sheets. Reaching over, he picks up his phone to double check and sure enough, they're in for good weather. Such a change from Kerch, where the sun only holds for hours at a time on most days. ]

They say it takes a few visits to see it all.

[ So this can be their first run through.

Flexing his foot, he test the stiffness of his leg, finding it mostly agreeable. They'll see if it stays. Though usually a good start means he has time before it really complains, if at all. ]

Likely. They're in season so they'll be sought after. [ Which should put them near the forefront of any maps or suggested visiting areas. ]

We can get pictures for Sofia.

[wraithes]

[ he seems to go through the motions of figuring out logistics for the day, which causes a something of a fond smile to form on her features. constantly thinking twelve steps ahead. ]

Pictures she can look at, anyway.

[ she says, tilting her head back to look up at him again, amused, before she pushes herself up a little bit to brush a kiss against his cheek. ]

You should go take a shower while we wait for breakfast.

[ that way, they can leave right when they're done eating. ]

[ketterdamn]

Right.

[ Immediately, a faint bit of color rises in his cheeks at the implication. Because of course he's going to take photos. Just. Not all of them will be for Sofia's eyes. Certainly not if he manages to get one with Inej's top off.

Which feels weird to think of, but she had just slid off the top of her robe. So it's not exactly an unprompted thought. ]

I suppose. [ Though he's currently loathe to move from where he is. Inej helps at least, sitting up as she does. He used the arm looped around her middle to give her a squeeze and leans up, stealing a kiss before he lets go.

Before he can convince himself out of getting up, he rolls out of bed to go collect his clothes for the day and make his way carefully to the bathroom. By the time he finishes washing up and dressing, breakfast has arrived and the two of them take their time with it, not exactly in a rush. They're here for a while, probably, and the gardens aren't going anywhere.

The walk to said gardens is a pleasant one, despite the strong sun, and seeing as it's a weekday, there aren't many visitors. They manage to avoid the group of what's clearly a classroom trip and end up near the orchard, lined with rows and rows of fragrant trees and their fruit. ]

Used to climb trees like this.

[ Before. Well, before everything. ]

[wraithes]

[ it's truly beautiful, shu han. she's captivated by the seemingly endless stretch of trees dotting the landscape, pushing her hat back a little bit to get a better look at the nearest plum tree when kaz speaks up. ]

Did you?

[ she asks, briefly entertaining the idea of a younger version of kaz climbing a tree. something that would be much more difficult now, with his leg. the lower branches of the tree have little to no fruit on them, clearly picked by lazier tourists (or, perhaps the opposite, tourists who got up before noon). her eyes are on a plum that's a bit out of her reach, and inej lets go of her hold on kaz's fingers to stretch her hand out, to stand on her toes, seeing if she can reach it.

( she can't. ) ]

I don't think you would need to climb them anymore anyway.

[ she continues, tossing him a slight grin. he's fairly tall, after all, able to reach the out of reach fruit fairly easily. ]

[ketterdamn]

All the time. My father had apple trees.

[ Several varieties, he thinks. Not that he knows any of the names or could remember them now. He does remember seeing bright green ones and others that tended towards dark red and even pink. And the smell of the fruit in those early autumn days, when he'd been sitting in the branches.

Some of these trees are shorter and newer, most of their lower branches missing the fruit from the hands of eager tourists. Inej looking to be one of them, though her reach misses the mark by at least half a foot. ]

Not really. [ He says, grinning, as he easily steps in to pick the fruit she'd been aiming for and handing it down. ]

[wraithes]

[ it's a little odd, to think of the fact that kaz had parents outside of tomassen and sofia. though inej knows that he must have, at one point. the two just adore kaz so wholly and completely that inej can't really picture them not as a family unit.

her grin widens, as he steps closer to get the plum for her, and she takes it in her hands, amused. ]

It's a good thing I like climbing trees, then.

[ she says, rolling the plum between her palms, dusting off any dirt or whatever else has landed on it during its time on the tree. ]

And also that I have you.

[ketterdamn]

Trees probably aren't much of a challenge compared to gymnastics, huh?

[ Especially not one like this, with lower starting branches. A kid with some determination could at least get up to the lowest one, he thinks. Inej has quite good balance, he thinks she could easily get up to the top.

But, at least in this case, it's easier to ask him to grab one. He didn't even have to really reach that much. ]

Now you're sounding like Tomassen. [ In an amusing way. He's taller than Inej, that's certain—almost everyone is. But Sofia is taller than him and her height has also come in handy around their place, especially in the kitchen. ]

Come on, it looks shadier in there.

[ As the rows of trees grow more dense, the branches have blocked out some of the sun. He'd prepared for being out in it but it would be nice to have a break.

And, as he recalls, the sounds around will be dampened, trunks and branches muffling what trickles in. It's not exactly loud in the gardens at the moment, but people are passing through. Other tourists, mostly. ]

[wraithes]

The trees are definitely easier. [ for sure. ] And Tomassen is not that short.

[ sofia is just very tall. tomassen and inej commiserate frequently on the difference between being short and everyone else being exceptionally tall.

still, she shifts the plum to one hand so she can take his hand with her free one, letting him lead the way to a shadier bunch of trees. she interwines her fingers with his, letting the their hands swing lazily with the momentum of them walking. ]

I think Tomassen is just happy to have someone else in his life who is normal-sized.

[ at least, that's what he tells her, though inej suspects he would never say a single negative word against his wife. his griping over people being tall is strictly focused on kaz. ]

[ketterdamn]

He isn't, though sometimes he acts like he is.

[ Occasionally exaggerating how much shorter he is in comparison to both Kaz and Sofia. He's been doing it ever since Kaz passed his height when he was a teenager. Probably he'd been holding out hope that he'd remain an average height, though Kaz had always had a feeling he would be taller. His father, as he remembers, had been quite a big man, tall and broad shouldered. Though he thinks part of that had been due to his occupation. Farming is such a manual task.

Either way, he's ended up one of the tallest in any group he's in, aside from when Jesper's around. ]

Average height in Kerch is about five foot six; you're a few shades under. [ Not that he minds at all, as he allows their hands to swing from the natural sway of walking. ] I just think he's glad he doesn't have to look up to talk to you.

[wraithes]

Only a few shades.

[ she says pointedly, though she knows it's very much more than that. she's fairly certain kaz is over a foot taller than she is. which isn't something she minds, necessarily. it comes in handy, especially when she needs something on the top shelf.

she squeezes his hand lightly, tone turning thoughtful. ]

Most of the people in my family are taller than I am. I take after my mother.

[ though asena ghafa certainly doesn't look very short. inej has seen men twice her size cower at her glare. ]

[ketterdamn]

Mhm.

[ A few shades is putting it lightly. Theres at least a foot of difference between them, which should be more awkward than it is. He likes it though, especially when they're laying next to each other. It makes him feel like he can really wrap her up in a tight hug. ]

I forget she's shorter a lot of the time. [ He admits, having been on the receiving end of her fairly powerful judgment. It's never mattered that she only comes up to his chest, at most. Kaz is fairly certain she could frighten a bear back into its cave by simply looking at it with that expression of disapproval she occasionally carries.

Their relationship has certainly improved over the years, once she acknowledged he wasn't some asshole Kerch dating her daughter simply for her looks. Or as some weird power play. He thinks she sees him as mostly positive now. Maybe.

Tugging on Inej's hand, he leads them down a neat and shadier row of pear trees. And once he knows they're by themselves, gives her hand another pull so she's closer and he can loop her in for a hug. ]

Hey.

[wraithes]

[ asena had initially hated him, but now is positively charmed. or, at least, as close to charmed as her mother will ever be. she still wishes the island of kerch would sink into the sea and inej would move to ravka permanently. and asena hadn't been pleased that she decided to run away with kaz to shu han for time alone after the trial, rather than come to os kervo. but asena at least trusts kaz, now, with inej. and with her heart. that's enough.

inej is about to say so when kaz tugs her close, wrapping his arms around her in a hug. the movement causes a warm smile to brighten her features, and inej wraps her arms around his waist, leaning her chin against his chest to look up at him. ]

Hi.

[ she says warmly, eyes bright. ]

[ketterdamn]

[ Her whole expression lights up, warm as the dappled sun streaming through the branches. He wants to make her this happy all the time, for the rest of their lives. Maybe it's a bit fast to think of proposing, but he feels like they've been through so much. And something says that this is it. She's it.

When they get back, he'll ask Sofia for advice. For now, he's going to simply enjoy the time they have here.

Briefly, he tightens his hold around her middle, picking her up slightly as he hugs her. Once she's back on solid ground, he leans in for a tender kiss. ]

Love you. [ He murmurs it against her mouth, pressing a softer kiss right at the corner of her smile. ]

[wraithes]

[ he hugs her a bit tighter, and then lifts her up for a better hug. it sparks a laugh as she shifts to loop her arms around his neck, hands finding his neck as he kisses her. ]

I love you too.

[ easily, pushing herself up onto her toes to give him a light kiss. ]

You are in a good mood.

[ amused, as her hands shift to rest lightly against his chest. ]