[ She does correct him, which at first makes him feel anxious. As if there's a hidden hint that she wants him to say something about it. But she doesn't press beyond that and he wrestles with the nerves for a few beats, trying to convince himself that it's fine. She wasn't asking for his entire backstory. If there's anyone who would understand deep scars, it would be her. ]
Maybe. [ With the stress of not knowing where they stood being out of the way, he probably will start feeling less nervous about accidentally crossing a line. Well, he'll still be worried about it, because she hasn't had an easy time of things. Especially not physical things. And despite his current issues with touch, he's still anxious that he might accidentally set her off.
At least for now both of them are in a comfort zone. ]
I just took one. When I went to see you in Ravka.
Edited (Omfg words missing why) 2020-11-04 21:42 (UTC)
[ amused, gently running her thumb over his cheek again before allowing her hand to rest in his hand. not retracting it, but allowing it to remain close. ]
That was a few months ago, and I can guarantee you have done nothing but build more stress in your life since.
[ which worries her, him being here by himself. though he reassures her that he's fine and they talk almost every night, inej pokes and prods jesper for more information. and jesper, cagey as always, only tells inej that kaz misses her. which is useless information, because inej already knows that. ]
You could just come to Ravka with me.
[ she says thoughtfully. lizabeta would be able to go too, seated in a little carrier on his lap. she would be unhappy with the flight, but she is a quiet little bird. most of the time, anyway. ]
[ It's not that he's against the idea. It's just...he doesn't take breaks so often. Which probably accounts for why he carries so much stress all the time. Well, why he has it on top of his past issues. Which have gotten slightly better but still are a long way from great. ]
I've been fine. [ Though the idea of not having to worry about Inej being so far away is very tempting. There's also the point she brings up about his sleeping habits. Which are, quite frankly, awful. He'd slept incredibly well when he stayed with her in Ravka. And now he could potentially cuddle while they slept.
Also, they wouldn't be fighting a six hour difference. ]
I'll see what the office says about longer term remote work.
[ No promises. But he would like to fall asleep like they are now, holding hands, for longer than just her break. ]
[ she doesn't necessarily believe him on i've been fine, but remains quiet while he sorts through his thoughts. and when he finally says i'll see, it sparks a slight grin before inej tugs his hand toward her, to press her lips against the back of his hand. the movement gentle, experimental. she decides that she likes it. ]
I would find a bigger apartment so you could have an office.
[ to sweeten the pot, a little, as she squeezes his fingers. ]
And get breakfast, at the deli down the street, in Os Kervo.
[ she knows kaz brekker well enough to know that he needs coffee to function, so she hadn't wasted any time in finding the best coffee on the coast. ]
[ She kisses the back of his hand and while it startles him, just a bit, the gesture is a welcome one. It doesn't make him feel uncomfortable or panicked like so much new physical contact can. Maybe it's because he's gotten used to most contact on his hands. Or maybe it's Inej.
It could also just be his mind cooperating for a brief few moments. Either way, he's glad. ]
Your apartment is nice.
[ What a hassle to get another one. It's not like he'll die if he doesn't have an office. ]
Finally found a place you like? [ She'd mentioned it before, while he was visiting. They'd gone to a few different cafes, looking for good coffee. One of those places had been pretty decent, though it hadn't been proclaimed as "very good" by either of them. Seems she might've found a place finally. ]
[ he has such long fingers. slender, and his hands are soft. not really the hands of someone who has done manual labor. almost absurdly gentle, a sharp contrast with who kaz appears to be on the surface. ]
I did.
[ she lets the comment about the apartment slide; inej will figure out a larger place, if he's serious about coming to ravka long-term. ]
It is right on the water, with a view of the port. There are tables outside. Very romantic, in the right light.
[ the perfect place for a date, if she's honest. ]
[ Romantic, huh? He'd never put much stock into romance. Or even seriously looking for someone to spend his life with. After all, he had so many problems with touch. He had not only doubted ever finding someone who would understand but—the mere thought of even letting someone he liked touch him had been too revolting.
And yet, here he is. ]
What kind of light would count?
[ He asks, trying for nonchalant. Whether it comes across, he isn't sure. Or maybe it's undermined by him curling his fingers over hers, thumb running over her knuckles. ]
[ he does manage to sound very nonchalant, but inej hears the little tic of curiosity in his tone, punctuated by holding her hand a little firmer. as if he's considering something important.
she decides to indulge him, humming to herself in thought. ]
I think sunset, right as the sun begins to dip below the horizon. The rays reflect on the water, and the sun looks bigger than it usually is. And, if you are very lucky, you can watch the moon rise if you stay late.
[ it's lovely, really. ]
The best table is in the corner outside, facing the pier.
[ He wants to see that pier, he thinks. At the time she says is the best, because she hasn't steered him wrong yet. Maybe he'll visit again, for a little longer. Or maybe he really will just see about something semi-permanent. The thought fills him with both anxiety and interest.
So he tries not to think about it too much while Inej is on break for the holidays. Not an easy thing for him to do, exactly, but he does try to enjoy as much time with her as possible. In the present.
The holidays blur by, full of plenty of snow and gifts and more decorating than he's ever personally done before. Quite honestly, he hesitates to take any of it down before she goes. He'd never put much stake in celebrating the holiday with decor but this year had certainly changed his mind.
Right on the heels of the holiday is his birthday, which thankfully doesn't involve multiple big tops or the entirety of Kerch being invited. Instead, he spends most of it catching up on reading a book he'd meaning to get to and cuddling on the couch with Inej. They have a quiet dinner at a new place they both wanted to try. The day after, he's gently bullied into having Jesper and the others come over for a movie at the very least—it ends up being two movies and drunken game of cards that leaves Nina breathless with laughter in Matthias' lap.
He enjoys it more than he wants to admit.
A few days later Inej packs and flies back to Ravka. He's made peace that he won't see her for a bit. Or he thinks so, anyway. The reality is this: going to be bed that night, without her there, is almost painfully lonely. He tries to convince himself that it's a temporary thing.
Three days later, he's looked up how to transport Lizabeta. And after an incredibly slow feeling two weeks, he ends up at Inej's apartment door with bird in tow. Anika had called him stupid for even asking if she thought Inej would be upset at him for showing up unannounced. Her intuitions with people were also usually right, so he hadn't argued and bought his ticket.
Still, nerves have crawled up into his throat like they usually did. He knocks clearly, despite how hesitant he feels. Maybe he should have sent a message? A heads up? Maybe he's missed her completely. Maybe this was a dumb idea after all. ]
[ the two weeks since she left ketterdam has left inej feeling lonely. she talks to kaz nearly every day, but it isn't the same. and since their relationship has shifted, inej somehow misses him more than she had when she left the first time . . . which had been a painful amount.
still, she is busy between school, her parents, and various other pursuits. between keeping herself busy and making sure to schedule time in the day to talk to kaz, cleaning her apartment has sort of lapsed. so on a rare day off, inej is cleaning, her hair thrown up into a messy ponytail, in shorts and a tank top as she finishes mopping the floor.
she pushes some loose strands out of her face, about to drop onto the couch before she tackles the rest of the kitchen when she hears a knock on her door. she blinks before glancing toward the clock on her wall, her brow furrowing as she thinks. her mother had mentioned coming over, but she had said that it would likely be later in the day.
likely a solicitor. or maybe a lost neighbor. so inej leans the mop against the wall, dusting off her hands before moving to the front door, unlocking it before tugging it open, about to apologize for how she looks when she's faced with kaz and a pet carrier.
at first, inej just stares, dumbstruck. because she had spoken to him last night, half asleep in bed. she was fairly certain kaz had told her that he had a meeting today. but no, here he was, with what looked like a pet carrier on top of his suitcase, looking . . . nervous.
the shock soon melts into disbelief, which quickly transforms into joy as inej quickly closes the distance, slipping her arms around his neck for a kiss. gentle, soft, but definitely delighted as she murmurs: ]
Liar.
[ a meeting. inej would never believe him when she asked if he was busy again. ]
[ As it turns out, he doesn't have to wait long to confirm that she's home. He can hear muffled steps as she gets closer to the door and when she opens it, he feels like his heart leaps into his throat. In a good way. Her hair is a mess and it's clear she's been cleaning: there's a bit of dust on her cheek. Her tank top and shorts aren't exactly ratty, but he knows she only wears them when she's mopping or scrubbing.
She's positively radiant. Fuck, he missed her so much.
It's enough to overwhelm any hint of reactive disgust when she throws her arms around his neck to give him a kiss. One he's more than happy to return, the anxiety he'd been holding onto the entire way starting to bleed out of his shoulders. He circles his arms around her middle, pulling her close and actually grinning down at her. ]
[ in her rush to hold him, she skips over the fact that he has luggage with him. a bit more than a carry-on, and lizabeta, distracted by how he easily pulls her closer and his grin. instead, she lets herself be held, matching his grin with one of her own as she shifts her hands to his face. ]
You should have let me know, I look like a disaster.
[ not that inej places a particular emphasis on her appearance, but she would have at least put on nicer clothes. or brushed out her hair. or something that didn't make it very obvious that she had been scrubbing her kitchen for the last two hours. but she leans up for another kiss, this one lingering for just a bit before wrapping her arms around his neck again for a tight hug. ]
But I will forgive you.
[ she murmurs, feeling a crushing relief at the feeling of his arms around her waist. there's a lingering thought of how long is he here before she remembers that he brought the bird, and inej pulls away just enough to look up at him, brow furrowed. ]
Why did you bring Lizabeta?
[ she misses her little friend dearly whenever she leaves, but she prefers that kaz has something to be with in the apartment, even if it is just a little bird. ]
[ He says it, bordering on hesitant—not because he doesn't believe it, since he certainly does— but she's been told that by awful people. Complete strangers who only valued her for her looks. It might not sit very well.
But he also feels she is beautiful, inside and out. He wouldn't have flown the hundreds of miles to be here otherwise; she means that much. Which was honestly a startling realization, even if he knew he missed her. He gives her an affectionate squeeze around the middle, not letting go just yet, enjoying the bit of flush from her kiss and how she's still holding onto him. ]
Work said they didn't want to see me in Kerch for at least three months. Couldn't let Jes have Lizabeta for that long.
[ Besides, she kept his anxiety down on the plane, despite how drowsy she had been. Maybe seeing the sleeping bird had subconsciously lowered the nerves. ]
[ her lips curve into a smile at you're beautiful. because it is true, the compliments sometimes make her skin crawl, but it always sounds different, from him. mostly because he always sounds hesitant, nervous, and shy. and inej is about to return the favor by informing him that he is handsome when he tells her three months.
it takes a moment or two for it to sink in, but inej soon grins, her hands resting on his face, thumbs running over his cheeks. ]
You are staying with me for the semester?
[ it's hard to hide the excitement, and inej seems to realize that they are still sort of in the hallway of her apartment, but quickly decides she doesn't care as she presses her lips against the corner of his mouth, smoothing her hands down his chest to straighten his shirt. ]
Are you really? They will let you go away for that long?
[ She runs her thumbs over his cheeks and he tilts his head towards one of her palms, eyes shutting briefly at the warmth. He'd been hesitant the first few times she'd done this but he's adjusted. Mostly. There's still a vague discomfort under his skin but he finds he can ignore it more easily. ]
Yes. If that's too much, I can find a hotel.
[ The kiss to the corner of his mouth is reassuring but the nerves are starting to show. So much he should've planned and asked before coming here. Anika and Jes and even Nina had reassured him it would be fine and that he was over thinking it.
But what if he wasn't? ]
As long as my work is turned in, they don't care. The higher ups have been considering courting a firm over here to partner with, sounds like.
[ He'll be a test run on how the timezones affect everything. Even without that though, his boss had been enormously enthusiastic. Moreso than he thought he'd be.
Somehow, he has a feeling Anika must've said something. ]
[ almost incredulously, sliding her hands down a bit further to find his arms, pulling away just enough to find his hands, so she can squeeze his fingers. and almost to punctuate the thought, she tugs him inside the apartment, slipping past him to pull his luggage and lizabeta inside. ]
Of course you will stay here, I want you here.
[ lizabeta goes on top of the kitchen table, and inej opens the door to allow her to stretch her wings if she so chooses. but the little bird is sound asleep, beak tucked under wing. inej leaves the wire cage door open regardless before turning to kaz, stepping over to slip her arms around his waist, resting her chin on his chest with a warm smile. ]
But do not go into the kitchen, because the floor is wet.
[ saints knows she doesn't want to have to pick him up the floor. or be blamed for a new limp. ]
[ He lets himself be pulled into the apartment, getting out the doorway so she can get Lizabeta in. The little bird's cage is placed on the kitchen table, door open so she can stretch out. Well, whenever she's awake again. It's been a very long day for her so far. She rouses very briefly, small eye cracking open before it drifts shut and she tries to bury her face more in her wing.
He tucks his luggage off to the side for now. Before reaching over to tug Inej into another hug. ]
Can't say I'd want another spill. [ What a disaster that would be. ]
Hi. [ He tilts his head, pressing his cheek to her hair. ] ...I missed you.
[ inej has discovered that for someone who does not like being touched, kaz is quickly discovering that certain kinds of touching are enjoyable. he likes hugging her, in particular, and inej is only too happy to oblige, sighing to herself as she lets him wrap his arms around her. ]
Clearly, I was gone for two weeks.
[ it's clear her tone is gentle teasing, rather than seriously incredulous. she gently rubs his back, the movement lazy as she listens to his heartbeat. and after she feels him rest his head upon hers: ]
I missed you too.
[ also clearly, given she's done nothing but touch him since he showed up on her doorstep. and as she lets her hands rub along his back, something occurs to her. an item on her to-do list for the weekend that she hadn't quite managed to accomplish. ]
I have absolutely no food in the house.
[ she had been meaning to go grocery shopping, and then her mother decided to just have her over every night instead. whoops. and inej tilts her head a little to rest her chin on his chest, lips curving into a faint smile. ]
Something we will need to fix, if I have two people and a bird living in the house.
[ Time had seriously dragged by. Not only from the fretting about getting everything squared away but also– he'd spent so much of it keenly missing her presence. He doesn't know why he thought it would be easier than it had been the first time. Because it seriously hadn't been. If anything, it had been worse.
So he's eagerly soaking up her touches now, the jumble of anxiety he'd been holding onto really starting to dissipate. ]
We can go for groceries, when you want. I brought what was left for Lizabeta, just in case. [ If they'd gotten stuck at the airport or something, that would not have gone over well for the little bird.
Who is steadfastly ignoring all of this to sleep, still.
Tilting his head down, he presses a careful kiss to her hairline, the gladness of being here starting to truly settle in. ]
I should probably let you finish what you were doing.
[ the kiss to her hair prompts another soft smile, and inej pushes herself up onto her toes so she can press her lips to his cheek. ]
You should go take a hot shower and rest.
[ a hot shower sounds good to her, too, but kaz is the one who just spent a ton of time on a plane. he could probably use the shower and the nap. and inej loosens her hold around his waist only to lean up again for another kiss, this time gently brushing her lips against his. ]
It will not take me long to put away what I was cleaning, but you should rest until we go get some food.
[ and inej gently nudges him in the direction of the bathroom. ]
The bathroom is already clean, so everything you should need should be in there.
[ He's still getting used to the casual affection. It's not just the vague, squirming discomfort from the occasional skin to skin contact that startles him. No, it's just that he's gone so long without anything like it. Even the hugs—he'd forgone them for years, always too worried it would make him ill.
But he can't say he really minds the change. The kiss she brushes onto his cheek is...warming. ]
Alright. [ No argument here, because he does feel wrung out. Not only from a night spent tossing and turning but from an entire day gone to going through the airport. And then anxiously staying awake on the plane itself.
Washing away the weird and stale plane stickiness sounds immensely appealing. As does the imminent nap after. Maybe he'll get some actual rest with Inej being nearby.
He does lean in for one more soft kiss before he lets her go to head off towards the bathroom. Showering is a quick and spaced out affair, the hot water doing wonders on the stiffness in his shoulders. Soon enough, he's dried off, changed, and crashed out on her bed, extremely ready to embrace sleep for once.
At some point, he thinks he hears her rinse off as well, but he's too tired to keep track. ]
[ she lets him wash up, focusing on cleaning the rest of her apartment. he seems to go straight from the shower to bed, which doesn't really surprise her. the last time she had come back to ketterdam, kaz had slept in. inej has a sneaking suspicion he doesn't sleep as well as he says he does when she isn't around.
in the middle of cleaning, she gets a facetime call from her mother, and inej balances her phone on the sink so asena can see her. their conversation is brief, but inej tells asena (with no small amount of warmth) that kaz surprised her, and is going to stay in ravka for the next handful of months. and to inej's surprise, asena actually seems . . . well, happy is probably the wrong word. pleasantly surprised might be better.
she instructs inej that she expects them both for dinner. inej manages to buy another night of time. give kaz the chance to recover from the jet lag, and asena reluctantly agrees. after that, inej hops in the shower to wash up, changing into loose pajamas, and drying off her hair as much as she can before stepping into the bedroom.
kaz is appropriately passed out, his hair something of a mess, face partially tucked into the pillow. adorable, really. her lips twitch into a faint smile before she gets into bed herself, running a hand along his back lightly, meant to be soothing as she murmurs: ]
What am I going to do with you?
[ though he did cross half the planet in order to stay with her. so inej supposes she can give him a pass on being a mess. just this once. ]
[ Consciousness completely blacked out, he doesn't come to until he feels the bed dip with added weight. It's a familiar shift and he knows it's Inej. She's taken a shower and has carried the smell of her shampoo with her into the room. The pull of sleep isn't strong enough to ignore her light touch though, and he sighs, carefully turning so he can face her.
Dimming sunlight is streaming in through the gaps on either side of her curtains, partially illuminating her face. It's catching right near her eyes, making the color of them go from a warm brown to golden. Radiant. In the complete opposite, he's certain he looks a mess. He'd laid down with damp hair and with the heaviness of sleep, he can feel the imprint of a pillow crease on his cheek. ]
You could come closer. [ His voice is tougher than usual, coming out of sleep. Gentle though, as it normally is with her. ]
[ his hair is absolutely all over the place, and he indeed has a pillow crease on his cheek, with causes her lips to twitch into a slightly bigger smile. how cute. ]
I could.
[ thoughtful, as she reaches out to card her fingers through his hair, to gently comb it back into something resembling order. it's mostly a failure. ]
You are going to need to learn Ravkan.
[ she murmurs, her voice quiet, almost encouraging him to go back to sleep. and she scoots herself a little closer, so he can wrap his arms around her middle to use her lap as a pillow, if he so chooses. it's a little too early for her to properly go to sleep, content to read a little before retiring. but she wants to do so by being close to him. ]
[ There's another sigh, this one slow as she pushes her fingers through his hair. It feels incredibly good. Comforting, even. ]
Never been lost in my life.
[ His eye for detail and good memory usually meant he was fine with directions. Still, she has a good point: learning Ravkan certainly wouldn't be a bad thing. Especially if he's looking at staying for a longer period of time. If the three months really works out with work and otherwise, he could be committing to an even longer period. Inej's entire run of school, maybe.
Speaking of Inej, he moves to curl his arms around her middle, head pillowed on her lap. Another shift a moment later and he settles one hand on her thigh, finally settling. ]
Missed this. [ Two weeks and he's been an actual mess. ]
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timewasting2020-09-27 05:30 pm
no subject
Maybe. [ With the stress of not knowing where they stood being out of the way, he probably will start feeling less nervous about accidentally crossing a line. Well, he'll still be worried about it, because she hasn't had an easy time of things. Especially not physical things. And despite his current issues with touch, he's still anxious that he might accidentally set her off.
At least for now both of them are in a comfort zone. ]
I just took one. When I went to see you in Ravka.
no subject
[ amused, gently running her thumb over his cheek again before allowing her hand to rest in his hand. not retracting it, but allowing it to remain close. ]
That was a few months ago, and I can guarantee you have done nothing but build more stress in your life since.
[ which worries her, him being here by himself. though he reassures her that he's fine and they talk almost every night, inej pokes and prods jesper for more information. and jesper, cagey as always, only tells inej that kaz misses her. which is useless information, because inej already knows that. ]
You could just come to Ravka with me.
[ she says thoughtfully. lizabeta would be able to go too, seated in a little carrier on his lap. she would be unhappy with the flight, but she is a quiet little bird. most of the time, anyway. ]
At least that way I could ensure you sleep.
no subject
[ It's not that he's against the idea. It's just...he doesn't take breaks so often. Which probably accounts for why he carries so much stress all the time. Well, why he has it on top of his past issues. Which have gotten slightly better but still are a long way from great. ]
I've been fine. [ Though the idea of not having to worry about Inej being so far away is very tempting. There's also the point she brings up about his sleeping habits. Which are, quite frankly, awful. He'd slept incredibly well when he stayed with her in Ravka. And now he could potentially cuddle while they slept.
Also, they wouldn't be fighting a six hour difference. ]
I'll see what the office says about longer term remote work.
[ No promises. But he would like to fall asleep like they are now, holding hands, for longer than just her break. ]
no subject
I would find a bigger apartment so you could have an office.
[ to sweeten the pot, a little, as she squeezes his fingers. ]
And get breakfast, at the deli down the street, in Os Kervo.
[ she knows kaz brekker well enough to know that he needs coffee to function, so she hadn't wasted any time in finding the best coffee on the coast. ]
no subject
It could also just be his mind cooperating for a brief few moments. Either way, he's glad. ]
Your apartment is nice.
[ What a hassle to get another one. It's not like he'll die if he doesn't have an office. ]
Finally found a place you like? [ She'd mentioned it before, while he was visiting. They'd gone to a few different cafes, looking for good coffee. One of those places had been pretty decent, though it hadn't been proclaimed as "very good" by either of them. Seems she might've found a place finally. ]
no subject
I did.
[ she lets the comment about the apartment slide; inej will figure out a larger place, if he's serious about coming to ravka long-term. ]
It is right on the water, with a view of the port. There are tables outside. Very romantic, in the right light.
[ the perfect place for a date, if she's honest. ]
no subject
And yet, here he is. ]
What kind of light would count?
[ He asks, trying for nonchalant. Whether it comes across, he isn't sure. Or maybe it's undermined by him curling his fingers over hers, thumb running over her knuckles. ]
no subject
she decides to indulge him, humming to herself in thought. ]
I think sunset, right as the sun begins to dip below the horizon. The rays reflect on the water, and the sun looks bigger than it usually is. And, if you are very lucky, you can watch the moon rise if you stay late.
[ it's lovely, really. ]
The best table is in the corner outside, facing the pier.
no subject
So he tries not to think about it too much while Inej is on break for the holidays. Not an easy thing for him to do, exactly, but he does try to enjoy as much time with her as possible. In the present.
The holidays blur by, full of plenty of snow and gifts and more decorating than he's ever personally done before. Quite honestly, he hesitates to take any of it down before she goes. He'd never put much stake in celebrating the holiday with decor but this year had certainly changed his mind.
Right on the heels of the holiday is his birthday, which thankfully doesn't involve multiple big tops or the entirety of Kerch being invited. Instead, he spends most of it catching up on reading a book he'd meaning to get to and cuddling on the couch with Inej. They have a quiet dinner at a new place they both wanted to try. The day after, he's gently bullied into having Jesper and the others come over for a movie at the very least—it ends up being two movies and drunken game of cards that leaves Nina breathless with laughter in Matthias' lap.
He enjoys it more than he wants to admit.
A few days later Inej packs and flies back to Ravka. He's made peace that he won't see her for a bit. Or he thinks so, anyway. The reality is this: going to be bed that night, without her there, is almost painfully lonely. He tries to convince himself that it's a temporary thing.
Three days later, he's looked up how to transport Lizabeta. And after an incredibly slow feeling two weeks, he ends up at Inej's apartment door with bird in tow. Anika had called him stupid for even asking if she thought Inej would be upset at him for showing up unannounced. Her intuitions with people were also usually right, so he hadn't argued and bought his ticket.
Still, nerves have crawled up into his throat like they usually did. He knocks clearly, despite how hesitant he feels. Maybe he should have sent a message? A heads up? Maybe he's missed her completely. Maybe this was a dumb idea after all. ]
no subject
still, she is busy between school, her parents, and various other pursuits. between keeping herself busy and making sure to schedule time in the day to talk to kaz, cleaning her apartment has sort of lapsed. so on a rare day off, inej is cleaning, her hair thrown up into a messy ponytail, in shorts and a tank top as she finishes mopping the floor.
she pushes some loose strands out of her face, about to drop onto the couch before she tackles the rest of the kitchen when she hears a knock on her door. she blinks before glancing toward the clock on her wall, her brow furrowing as she thinks. her mother had mentioned coming over, but she had said that it would likely be later in the day.
likely a solicitor. or maybe a lost neighbor. so inej leans the mop against the wall, dusting off her hands before moving to the front door, unlocking it before tugging it open, about to apologize for how she looks when she's faced with kaz and a pet carrier.
at first, inej just stares, dumbstruck. because she had spoken to him last night, half asleep in bed. she was fairly certain kaz had told her that he had a meeting today. but no, here he was, with what looked like a pet carrier on top of his suitcase, looking . . . nervous.
the shock soon melts into disbelief, which quickly transforms into joy as inej quickly closes the distance, slipping her arms around his neck for a kiss. gentle, soft, but definitely delighted as she murmurs: ]
Liar.
[ a meeting. inej would never believe him when she asked if he was busy again. ]
no subject
She's positively radiant. Fuck, he missed her so much.
It's enough to overwhelm any hint of reactive disgust when she throws her arms around his neck to give him a kiss. One he's more than happy to return, the anxiety he'd been holding onto the entire way starting to bleed out of his shoulders. He circles his arms around her middle, pulling her close and actually grinning down at her. ]
You would've guessed it otherwise.
[ Inej, after all, is very difficult to fool. ]
no subject
You should have let me know, I look like a disaster.
[ not that inej places a particular emphasis on her appearance, but she would have at least put on nicer clothes. or brushed out her hair. or something that didn't make it very obvious that she had been scrubbing her kitchen for the last two hours. but she leans up for another kiss, this one lingering for just a bit before wrapping her arms around his neck again for a tight hug. ]
But I will forgive you.
[ she murmurs, feeling a crushing relief at the feeling of his arms around her waist. there's a lingering thought of how long is he here before she remembers that he brought the bird, and inej pulls away just enough to look up at him, brow furrowed. ]
Why did you bring Lizabeta?
[ she misses her little friend dearly whenever she leaves, but she prefers that kaz has something to be with in the apartment, even if it is just a little bird. ]
no subject
[ He says it, bordering on hesitant—not because he doesn't believe it, since he certainly does— but she's been told that by awful people. Complete strangers who only valued her for her looks. It might not sit very well.
But he also feels she is beautiful, inside and out. He wouldn't have flown the hundreds of miles to be here otherwise; she means that much. Which was honestly a startling realization, even if he knew he missed her. He gives her an affectionate squeeze around the middle, not letting go just yet, enjoying the bit of flush from her kiss and how she's still holding onto him. ]
Work said they didn't want to see me in Kerch for at least three months. Couldn't let Jes have Lizabeta for that long.
[ Besides, she kept his anxiety down on the plane, despite how drowsy she had been. Maybe seeing the sleeping bird had subconsciously lowered the nerves. ]
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it takes a moment or two for it to sink in, but inej soon grins, her hands resting on his face, thumbs running over his cheeks. ]
You are staying with me for the semester?
[ it's hard to hide the excitement, and inej seems to realize that they are still sort of in the hallway of her apartment, but quickly decides she doesn't care as she presses her lips against the corner of his mouth, smoothing her hands down his chest to straighten his shirt. ]
Are you really? They will let you go away for that long?
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Yes. If that's too much, I can find a hotel.
[ The kiss to the corner of his mouth is reassuring but the nerves are starting to show. So much he should've planned and asked before coming here. Anika and Jes and even Nina had reassured him it would be fine and that he was over thinking it.
But what if he wasn't? ]
As long as my work is turned in, they don't care. The higher ups have been considering courting a firm over here to partner with, sounds like.
[ He'll be a test run on how the timezones affect everything. Even without that though, his boss had been enormously enthusiastic. Moreso than he thought he'd be.
Somehow, he has a feeling Anika must've said something. ]
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[ almost incredulously, sliding her hands down a bit further to find his arms, pulling away just enough to find his hands, so she can squeeze his fingers. and almost to punctuate the thought, she tugs him inside the apartment, slipping past him to pull his luggage and lizabeta inside. ]
Of course you will stay here, I want you here.
[ lizabeta goes on top of the kitchen table, and inej opens the door to allow her to stretch her wings if she so chooses. but the little bird is sound asleep, beak tucked under wing. inej leaves the wire cage door open regardless before turning to kaz, stepping over to slip her arms around his waist, resting her chin on his chest with a warm smile. ]
But do not go into the kitchen, because the floor is wet.
[ saints knows she doesn't want to have to pick him up the floor. or be blamed for a new limp. ]
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He tucks his luggage off to the side for now. Before reaching over to tug Inej into another hug. ]
Can't say I'd want another spill. [ What a disaster that would be. ]
Hi. [ He tilts his head, pressing his cheek to her hair. ] ...I missed you.
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Clearly, I was gone for two weeks.
[ it's clear her tone is gentle teasing, rather than seriously incredulous. she gently rubs his back, the movement lazy as she listens to his heartbeat. and after she feels him rest his head upon hers: ]
I missed you too.
[ also clearly, given she's done nothing but touch him since he showed up on her doorstep. and as she lets her hands rub along his back, something occurs to her. an item on her to-do list for the weekend that she hadn't quite managed to accomplish. ]
I have absolutely no food in the house.
[ she had been meaning to go grocery shopping, and then her mother decided to just have her over every night instead. whoops. and inej tilts her head a little to rest her chin on his chest, lips curving into a faint smile. ]
Something we will need to fix, if I have two people and a bird living in the house.
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[ Time had seriously dragged by. Not only from the fretting about getting everything squared away but also– he'd spent so much of it keenly missing her presence. He doesn't know why he thought it would be easier than it had been the first time. Because it seriously hadn't been. If anything, it had been worse.
So he's eagerly soaking up her touches now, the jumble of anxiety he'd been holding onto really starting to dissipate. ]
We can go for groceries, when you want. I brought what was left for Lizabeta, just in case. [ If they'd gotten stuck at the airport or something, that would not have gone over well for the little bird.
Who is steadfastly ignoring all of this to sleep, still.
Tilting his head down, he presses a careful kiss to her hairline, the gladness of being here starting to truly settle in. ]
I should probably let you finish what you were doing.
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You should go take a hot shower and rest.
[ a hot shower sounds good to her, too, but kaz is the one who just spent a ton of time on a plane. he could probably use the shower and the nap. and inej loosens her hold around his waist only to lean up again for another kiss, this time gently brushing her lips against his. ]
It will not take me long to put away what I was cleaning, but you should rest until we go get some food.
[ and inej gently nudges him in the direction of the bathroom. ]
The bathroom is already clean, so everything you should need should be in there.
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But he can't say he really minds the change. The kiss she brushes onto his cheek is...warming. ]
Alright. [ No argument here, because he does feel wrung out. Not only from a night spent tossing and turning but from an entire day gone to going through the airport. And then anxiously staying awake on the plane itself.
Washing away the weird and stale plane stickiness sounds immensely appealing. As does the imminent nap after. Maybe he'll get some actual rest with Inej being nearby.
He does lean in for one more soft kiss before he lets her go to head off towards the bathroom. Showering is a quick and spaced out affair, the hot water doing wonders on the stiffness in his shoulders. Soon enough, he's dried off, changed, and crashed out on her bed, extremely ready to embrace sleep for once.
At some point, he thinks he hears her rinse off as well, but he's too tired to keep track. ]
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in the middle of cleaning, she gets a facetime call from her mother, and inej balances her phone on the sink so asena can see her. their conversation is brief, but inej tells asena (with no small amount of warmth) that kaz surprised her, and is going to stay in ravka for the next handful of months. and to inej's surprise, asena actually seems . . . well, happy is probably the wrong word. pleasantly surprised might be better.
she instructs inej that she expects them both for dinner. inej manages to buy another night of time. give kaz the chance to recover from the jet lag, and asena reluctantly agrees. after that, inej hops in the shower to wash up, changing into loose pajamas, and drying off her hair as much as she can before stepping into the bedroom.
kaz is appropriately passed out, his hair something of a mess, face partially tucked into the pillow. adorable, really. her lips twitch into a faint smile before she gets into bed herself, running a hand along his back lightly, meant to be soothing as she murmurs: ]
What am I going to do with you?
[ though he did cross half the planet in order to stay with her. so inej supposes she can give him a pass on being a mess. just this once. ]
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Dimming sunlight is streaming in through the gaps on either side of her curtains, partially illuminating her face. It's catching right near her eyes, making the color of them go from a warm brown to golden. Radiant. In the complete opposite, he's certain he looks a mess. He'd laid down with damp hair and with the heaviness of sleep, he can feel the imprint of a pillow crease on his cheek. ]
You could come closer. [ His voice is tougher than usual, coming out of sleep. Gentle though, as it normally is with her. ]
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I could.
[ thoughtful, as she reaches out to card her fingers through his hair, to gently comb it back into something resembling order. it's mostly a failure. ]
You are going to need to learn Ravkan.
[ she murmurs, her voice quiet, almost encouraging him to go back to sleep. and she scoots herself a little closer, so he can wrap his arms around her middle to use her lap as a pillow, if he so chooses. it's a little too early for her to properly go to sleep, content to read a little before retiring. but she wants to do so by being close to him. ]
Otherwise you are going to get lost without me.
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Never been lost in my life.
[ His eye for detail and good memory usually meant he was fine with directions. Still, she has a good point: learning Ravkan certainly wouldn't be a bad thing. Especially if he's looking at staying for a longer period of time. If the three months really works out with work and otherwise, he could be committing to an even longer period. Inej's entire run of school, maybe.
Speaking of Inej, he moves to curl his arms around her middle, head pillowed on her lap. Another shift a moment later and he settles one hand on her thigh, finally settling. ]
Missed this. [ Two weeks and he's been an actual mess. ]
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