[ Tomassen confirms that Kaz had mentioned enjoying this Inej's company and...while she's pretty sure he hadn't used those words, exactly, she does smile a bit. There's still a nagging worry, at the back of her mind, about what this girl is like. Kaz is very selective about the people he lets into his space, so she knows she shouldn't be so worried. Especially not now that their son is a grown man.
But, she can't help it. She's seen what happened to him when he put his trust in the wrong person, how it had taken so many years of work to even remotely come close to recovering. Granted, he'd been a lot younger, when he and his brother had naively trusted Pekka Rollins. The worry sits on her tongue anyway. ]
Of course he is. You remember how long it took him to say he considered you his father. [ His prickly, seemingly standoffish nature was his armor. ]
I could always ask him to. [ She says, pensively stirring her stew. It's rare she invoked the mom card in this way, because she knows Kaz would bend over backwards to make her happy; she would never think of abusing that. ] I'd like to meet Inej.
[ And, after a moment more of nudging her potatoes around in her bowl: ] Is it silly of me to worry?
[ he can tell that the amusement has shifted into worry, her spoon soon nudging around her food rather than eating it. and tomassen finishes his last bites of stew before setting his spoon into the bowl, watching sofia think. letting her spit out what was bothering her. which was, naturally, that kaz was in over his head.
his relationship with kaz had been both rocky and not. now, they can finish each other's sentences, but when he was younger, it had been something of a struggle to land on the same page. both overthinking everything, or so tomassen's therapist informed him. he supposes it was natural, though, for kaz to have hesitation -- unlike with sofia, kaz had had a father that he had known, and loved. getting used to another was difficult at best.
he soon pushes those thoughts from his head with a slight shake. ]
Not silly. [ wise, really. ] But Kaz is hardly an idiot. Besides, the girl is barely five feet tall; I doubt she could get away with much.
[ including, but not limited to, robbing him senseless. and even more practically: ]
Everyone gets their heart broken once, or twice, or three times before they find the person for them. Assuming this girl is someone that will stick around, well -- [ and tomassen shrugs to himself. ] You can't protect him from everything, my darling.
I'm less concerned he'll get swindled or stabbed, honestly.
[ He could definitely take care of himself, if it came to that. Because while his time on the streets had been relatively short, she knows he had never forgotten the lessons learned. Nor had he let them get rusty, that sharp mind of his retaining everything like a sponge soaks up water. ]
I know. [ She says with a bit of a frown, soon indulging in an old bad habit: chewing on her lower lip as the anxiety welled up. ] I just—I'd hate to see him clam up again and think he's too broken.
[ Not that she thinks he'll spurn them, if he did. They'd finally leapt over those hurdles a few years ago. It's him pushing everyone else away, if they weren't already in his circle, that she's worried over.
Shaking her head, she blows out a sigh and a stilted laugh. ]
I don't know why I'm worked up over this. Poor Inej, I only know her name and I'm already casting her in a suspicious light.
[ ah, dear. his expression melts into something impossibly fond as he watches sofia struggle with the concept that kaz's tentative branching out into the world may end in abject failure. it's a worthwhile concern; after all, kaz had shunned the idea of dating when he was a teenager after an attempt not going very well. this felt a bit different, though. for one, kaz seemed content with having her as a friend. for another, tomassen would be shocked if inej was even remotely interested in touching anyone, particularly a man.
so he reaches out to take a hand in her own, bringing it to his lips in a kiss. ]
You're worked up over it because you're his loving, patient, beautiful, incredible mother.
[ mildly, squeezing her fingers in reassurance. ]
From Kaz's own report, she is quiet and neat, and doesn't invade his personal space. [ and, perhaps most importantly: ] He would have told me if he was in over his head -- and he has, to his credit. He isn't trying to deal with this on his own; he immediately called me when he realized the scope of the problem.
[ which, really, tomassen is rather impressed by. typically, kaz gives it a solid effort on his own first, but once the boy realized the enemy... well. tomassen offers sofia another warm smile before he presses another kiss to the backs of her fingers. ]
I adore you.
[ just in case she needed to hear it (again) for the evening. ]
[ She's so lost in her anxious thoughts that she misses his motion until he's carefully, lovingly, taking her hand in his, pressing the gentlest of kisses to the backs of her fingers. Sofia can't help but feel warmed from the gesture, the residual heat from his touch seeming to travel up and thaw the rest of her. Those pinched worry lines near her eyes soften as she smiles, mouth curving more a moment later at his reassurance.
It is working. His words always work, like some kind of magic, a spell she happily lets herself fall under.
And as he keeps going, talking about how this whole circumstance really came about, Inej's seemingly quiet nature, enough of her unease has been soothed. To make way for, to her surprise, her eyes looking suspiciously glossy.
So, she tugs her hand away to reach over and loop him into a hug, leaning down enough to press her cheek to his shoulder. ]
I love you.
[ She may or may not punctuate that with a small sniffle. ]
[ his response is immediate, arms wrapping around her in a warm hug. it's easy to tug her directly into his lap so he could better hold her, kissing her cheek with a warm chuckle, the noise deep in his chest. ]
I love you. [ into her hair, a palm running down her spine in comfort. ] And I promise you, everything will work out as it should, hm? The earth will crumble into the sea before your boy has anyone but you as the number one woman in his life.
[ As she's tugged towards him, she curls into herself further, so as to tuck herself in closely. His embrace is warm and soothing, the balm against the influx of apprehension and now...whatever this was. She blinks away the threat of tears, face feeling hot; she's certain her cheeks are blotchy. ]
I know, I know. [ He's right, of course. Things would work out in the end, she had to believe that. She does believe it. But, the niggling worry had shadowed her usual optimism, making it difficult to see through. ]
I'm not worried about being replaced. It's just—he's grown up so fast? Feels like just yesterday he was barely taller than the counter.
[ Granted, he'd gained his reedy height relatively quickly, outgrowing his clothes every three months. Still. ]
We did good, didn't we? [ That was the other cornerstone of her emotion—she's immeasurably proud. Yet, with this sudden development, it's as if she's been blindsided by him growing up and making decisions that showed how much he'd been listening over the years. It feels silly. She feels silly. In a bit, she'll feel joy. ]
[ indeed, it seemed like yesterday that kaz needed a stool in order to get to the top cabinets in their kitchen. tomassen reflects on it occasionally, though it clearly has hit his dear wife in a much different way than it has him. and so he laughs, gently nudging her away just enough so he can take her face in his hands, wiping away tears with a swipe of his thumb. ]
Good? [ incredulously, expression amused. ] We did fantastically. [ kaz, after all, was successful, beginning to heal, and able to make friends... for the most part. in his book, that meant their adventure into parenting was a large success. ] I think we may even be the best parents that have ever existed, even.
[ he presses a soft kiss to her lips, smile fond. ]
He's a good kid, with a good head on his shoulders. He'll be fine, Sofia.
[ At his laugh, she echoes it with a wobbly one of her own, blinking away the residual tears. It's silly. She feels silly. And yet, some of the apprehension feels like it's lifted. ]
Maybe we should get a gold star. [ She says, peeking up at him with a watery grin. While Kaz had certainly not made it easy on either of them, she knows she would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Especially right now, as she comes to terms with him being an independent adult. The pride is slowly overtaking her stricken mood, filling her enough she thinks she could burst.
With her head still tilted, she presses a soft kiss to his cheek and then mouth, smiling into it. ]
If you say it, I know it'll be true. [ That said: ] I'm telling him he should bring Inej on Friday.
[ warmly, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear as he chases her kiss with another soft one of his own. thoroughly satisfied with the end result of the conversation, because he would take sofia like this, in tears due to being so happy she could cry, over anything else. she deserved every ounce of happiness after the struggle and suffering she had endured. all she had ever wanted was a large family, and while they had been denied that (in part), he thinks he fell in love with her again (and again, and again) watching her navigate motherhood. it had completed her in a way nothing else had.
that thought softens his expression further, and he gives her a final kiss before letting his hands slide to her shoulders, then her arms, squeezing gently. ]
Ready for bed? [ he asks, tilting his head. trying not to sound too eager, but curling up with her after a long day was one of the best perks of being her husband, thank you very much. and, quite frankly, he could stand to give her a much better hug and cuddle than he could do now at their dining room table. ] I can clean up down here while you get ready.
[ Her smile remains as he tucks some her hair behind her ear. It goes even warmer, somehow, and she moves a hand to cup his cheek, thumb stroking along his cheekbone. While everyone in her family (and quite a few of her friends) had thought her crazy for marrying a man she had only known for about a week (if she's generous), she had never regretted her decision. Tomassen had been there through it all. Remains so, no matter what, with all the care she could possibly ask for. ]
Hmm, I think someone is. [ Sofia teases, recognizing the look in his eye. She knows this is basically his favorite part of the day, especially if he's had a difficult day. ] I'll do the dishes with you.
[ Something about them standing side by side, washing and drying, makes part of her settle. Reluctantly, she does withdraw from his lap, spooning up the last couple of bites of her food before she starts gathering up the dishes.
Between the two of them, cleaning up dinner and the leftovers is a quick affair. Feeling much lighter, she teasingly flicks water at him from her spot at the sink, laughing when he retaliates with whacking her with the towel he'd been drying with. Once everything is washed and dried and put away, they move off to get ready for bed.
Having washed her face and worked through the rest of her routine, she pulls on a nightgown. Which is more of a slip of silk and lace. Sofia comes up behind him, sliding onto the bed and looping her arms around his middle. ]
[ when they finish with the dishes, tomassen follows her dutifully to their bedroom, letting her slip away with only a single kiss (admirable of him, really) so she could do her nightly routine. he washes his own face alongside her, but soon leaves her to the rest of it as he meanders to their bed, sinking down onto the edge of his side with a long sigh.
the weight of the day is beginning to catch up to him; the prospect of what he still has to do. his mind is turning through the different calls he has to make in the morning when he hears sofia re-enter their bedroom, and he's about to shift to roll into bed properly when her arms slide around his middle, her front pressed against his back. ]
Hey. [ he murmurs, relaxing into her hold for a moment. he could fall asleep sitting up, truthfully, but he soon shifts a bit to turn slightly in her arms. ] I've --
[ but once he sees her, he arches his eyebrows, his eyes flickering down to the silk and lace nightgown she had selected for bed that evening. it hugged her form perfectly, accentuating her long legs. so -- whatever sensible suggestion he had been about to posit is out the window, and a grin settles upon his features, tipping forward to give her a gentle kiss. ]
[ There's a line of tension along his shoulders, the one that tells her that he's thinking about everything he has to do tomorrow. This case is going to a difficult one, likely worse than Rollins, and she knows he's turning it over in his head.
Which is why she's here to lighten the load he's carrying at least a little bit. So he can go to bed without his muscles being all locked up, likely to make him toss and turn in the night. She feels the high of success at his gaze when he turns and takes in her nightgown, eyes going a bit wide with delighted surprise. ]
You have, though I won't say no to hearing it again. [ Sofia returns his grin with one of her own before closing the distance for another kiss. And another. And one on his cheek, because she doesn't want to rile him too much.
With reluctance, she pulls away, scooting up towards the pile of pillows and folding the blankets down. ]
Come here so I can cuddle you. [ And so when his spark of energy wears off, he isn't drowsily falling asleep sitting up. ]
[ he follows her eagerly, returning her kisses, but he soon huffs a laugh to himself at the kiss to his cheek, taking the hint. she wants him to lay down and relax, and so he will. his eyes follow her to her spot on the bed, and tomassen soon surrenders to their nest, sliding underneath their comforter with a sigh. ]
I love you. [ informatively, settling back into the pillows with a tired grin. he nearly removes his glasses, but doing so would render his beautiful wife into something of a fuzzy blur... so he leaves them on for now, instead reaching out for her with a warm smile, dropping his head back against a pillow. ]
I missed you today. [ he adds with a tired sigh, watching her get herself comfortable, eager to curl up with her and breathe her in. ] I wanted to go home after lunch, truth be told.
[ Soon enough, he does make his way up the bed, sliding under the covers alongside her. As he moves around to get comfortable in lying down, she remains sitting up a bit longer, fiddling with setting her phone on the charger and turning down the light on her side. When she finally turns back to start getting settled, she catches his gaze and his words, the effect of both of them making a warm smile spread over her expression. ]
And I, you. [ Sofia says back to him, her index finger tapping him on his nose affectionately. She slips the rest of the way into the blankets then, curling in along his side with one leg haphazardly draped over his shin. Her hand smoothes along his chest idly, the thrum of his heartbeat a gentle reverberation under her palm. ]
I doubt anyone in your office would've stopped you. [ His staff looked after him as much as he did for them. ] Though, you would've only had Biscuit for company.
[ At least, for a little while, until she got home. ] Do you want to talk about it?
[ she slides against him easily, and tomassen immediately drapes an arm around her, hugging her close. her weight has an immediate soothing effect, and tomassen tilts his head to bury his face in her hair briefly, inhaling the scent of her shampoo. ]
Mm, well. Biscuit can certainly find better company; I'd hate to impose my presence upon him. [ he murmurs into her hair, squeezing her once before relaxing further into the pillows. at her offer to talk about it, though, tomassen thinks to himself for a moment, weighing out whether or not he wants to bring it up again. ] And it's nothing of great importance, just... worrying.
[ about next steps, about heleen, about how to keep them safe. at the thought, tomassen sighs, tugging her a bit closer, to entangle them a bit more. ]
So I wanted to see you, to make sure you were in one piece. [ he confesses, mouth still pressed into her hair. ] Which felt silly, as I knew you were safe at school and being blissfully unbothered by my aggravated fussing, and so I stayed uptown.
[ he had nearly lost her once, during the plague. he thinks that was the closest he had ever come to wishing death upon himself. life without her seemed meaningless. empty. devoid of color and joy and purpose. now, it was a bit more complicated -- they have children, and an extended family. other people they are responsible for, and more sources of joy to safeguard. all the same: ]
I would never forgive myself if something happened to you. [ he murmurs, tone quiet. ] I can't allow that.
[ She smiles, as he gives her a squeeze around her middle, at the comment about Biscuit finding better company. Ever since their ill-fated first meeting, Tomassen has always stayed far from her iguana, citing that the lizard gave him the creeps. Biscuit, on the other hand, seems to delight in making him jump. Maybe it's a bit like cats–they always knew who was allergic, somehow, and would inevitably spend more time around that person.
He goes on, then, to say it was mostly worrying. And that it had been illogical worry, but worry all the same. Sofia hums at this, letting him get his thoughts out without interruption. The hand on his chest slides up towards his shoulder and then partway down his arm before taking the path in reverse; touching to give him some comfort while they lay here entwined. ]
I know. [ He's always been protective over her, even when she'd felt it a bit silly. Still, there is a warmth in her belly over it, over how he makes her feel completely safe. ] You do know I'll be very upset if anything happened to you.
[ Her days of running with the...well, not the wrong crowd, necessarily, but a rougher group, are long over. She hasn't forgotten the lessons, though. Nor was she ignorant of the things Kaz had told her that he'd learned when he'd been on the streets–the casual brutality, the way pain was a language and a promise. She'd been very serious about finding whoever had shot Tom and inflicting the hurt tenfold. Making sure he healed properly and raising Kaz had taken priority, of course.
If someone actually managed to be successful, this time? She can't promise the same amount of restraint. ]
[ the slow sweep of her hand causes another slow exhale as he relaxes more into her, and tomassen makes a soft noise of acknowledgement, almost amused. upset is likely not the right word for it; furious and mildly homicidal, probably better. he's not entirely sure how he managed to talk her down after an attempted assassination, but he had.
using the twelve year old as fodder had probably not been fair, but it had worked. ]
I know. [ he repeats, loosening his hold on her long enough to readjust his grip, nuzzling his face into her temple before kissing her cheek, then her jaw. an arm slips around her waist to tug her nearly on top of him, so he could properly hold her, a hand running down her spine. ] Beautiful, brave, mad woman.
[ he looks up at her, expression impossibly fond, before he presses a gentle kiss to her mouth, his hands sliding up to gently cup her face, thumbs brushing over her cheeks. ]
I think I'll work from home, tomorrow. [ after a moment, pressing another kiss to her lips. ] Sleep in, have breakfast with you, take you to school. [ an anxious need to be near her, but he has been trying not to push himself hard, and seeing as he was picking up another stressful case, it was only a matter of time before sofia and kaz both needled him into submission. ] We can have lunch together at your favorite deli.
[ all of this is really leading up to tomassen not working at all, but. whatever. he doesn't dote on his wife the entire seven or eight hours she is sleeping every night; there is room to make up when they awake. so he gives her another kiss, murmuring against her lips: ]
I can pick you up, and we can go out to dinner, wherever you like.
[ Sofia declares, fierce even through a warm smile tugging her mouth up at the corners. She lets Tomassen tug her over him, chuckling at the tickle of his beard against her cheek. After a moment, she adjusts so her hip isn't digging into the crease of his thigh, both hands settling on his shoulders.
Returning his kiss, she pulls away just enough to rub the tip of her nose against his, playful and affectionate. ]
Hmm, this is sounding less like you're working from home and more like you're taking a day off.
[ Not that she minds terribly. He had a tendency to dive head first into his cases and this one would be no different. She's thankful that Kaz is older now and is more well-attuned to being able to bully Tomassen into taking breaks. ] Are you certain you want to wake up that early when you could sleep in more?
[ She already knows the answer, but, worth asking anyway. ]
[ he grins into her kiss, settling back into his pillows with a hum. indeed, it does feel like more of a day off... which he knows he shouldn't take, given the amount of research he has to do. but he's hard pressed to find a reason not to, especially given how sofia is draped over him. ]
And miss a chance to serve you? [ he tsks, almost offended at the suggestion. ] Absolutely not. Besides -- [ and he tilts his head just enough to press a kiss to her cheek. ] -- I'll sleep in more than I normally would anyway, I promise.
[ and, with an affectionate squeeze, he adds: ]
I'm going to be better, this time. [ about taking care of himself. ] It won't do to burn myself out so early, as you've so eloquently said. Perhaps starting this venture with a break is a good idea.
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timewasting2020-09-27 05:30 pm
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But, she can't help it. She's seen what happened to him when he put his trust in the wrong person, how it had taken so many years of work to even remotely come close to recovering. Granted, he'd been a lot younger, when he and his brother had naively trusted Pekka Rollins. The worry sits on her tongue anyway. ]
Of course he is. You remember how long it took him to say he considered you his father. [ His prickly, seemingly standoffish nature was his armor. ]
I could always ask him to. [ She says, pensively stirring her stew. It's rare she invoked the mom card in this way, because she knows Kaz would bend over backwards to make her happy; she would never think of abusing that. ] I'd like to meet Inej.
[ And, after a moment more of nudging her potatoes around in her bowl: ] Is it silly of me to worry?
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his relationship with kaz had been both rocky and not. now, they can finish each other's sentences, but when he was younger, it had been something of a struggle to land on the same page. both overthinking everything, or so tomassen's therapist informed him. he supposes it was natural, though, for kaz to have hesitation -- unlike with sofia, kaz had had a father that he had known, and loved. getting used to another was difficult at best.
he soon pushes those thoughts from his head with a slight shake. ]
Not silly. [ wise, really. ] But Kaz is hardly an idiot. Besides, the girl is barely five feet tall; I doubt she could get away with much.
[ including, but not limited to, robbing him senseless. and even more practically: ]
Everyone gets their heart broken once, or twice, or three times before they find the person for them. Assuming this girl is someone that will stick around, well -- [ and tomassen shrugs to himself. ] You can't protect him from everything, my darling.
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[ He could definitely take care of himself, if it came to that. Because while his time on the streets had been relatively short, she knows he had never forgotten the lessons learned. Nor had he let them get rusty, that sharp mind of his retaining everything like a sponge soaks up water. ]
I know. [ She says with a bit of a frown, soon indulging in an old bad habit: chewing on her lower lip as the anxiety welled up. ] I just—I'd hate to see him clam up again and think he's too broken.
[ Not that she thinks he'll spurn them, if he did. They'd finally leapt over those hurdles a few years ago. It's him pushing everyone else away, if they weren't already in his circle, that she's worried over.
Shaking her head, she blows out a sigh and a stilted laugh. ]
I don't know why I'm worked up over this. Poor Inej, I only know her name and I'm already casting her in a suspicious light.
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so he reaches out to take a hand in her own, bringing it to his lips in a kiss. ]
You're worked up over it because you're his loving, patient, beautiful, incredible mother.
[ mildly, squeezing her fingers in reassurance. ]
From Kaz's own report, she is quiet and neat, and doesn't invade his personal space. [ and, perhaps most importantly: ] He would have told me if he was in over his head -- and he has, to his credit. He isn't trying to deal with this on his own; he immediately called me when he realized the scope of the problem.
[ which, really, tomassen is rather impressed by. typically, kaz gives it a solid effort on his own first, but once the boy realized the enemy... well. tomassen offers sofia another warm smile before he presses another kiss to the backs of her fingers. ]
I adore you.
[ just in case she needed to hear it (again) for the evening. ]
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It is working. His words always work, like some kind of magic, a spell she happily lets herself fall under.
And as he keeps going, talking about how this whole circumstance really came about, Inej's seemingly quiet nature, enough of her unease has been soothed. To make way for, to her surprise, her eyes looking suspiciously glossy.
So, she tugs her hand away to reach over and loop him into a hug, leaning down enough to press her cheek to his shoulder. ]
I love you.
[ She may or may not punctuate that with a small sniffle. ]
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[ his response is immediate, arms wrapping around her in a warm hug. it's easy to tug her directly into his lap so he could better hold her, kissing her cheek with a warm chuckle, the noise deep in his chest. ]
I love you. [ into her hair, a palm running down her spine in comfort. ] And I promise you, everything will work out as it should, hm? The earth will crumble into the sea before your boy has anyone but you as the number one woman in his life.
[ even this pretty mysterious girl named inej. ]
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I know, I know. [ He's right, of course. Things would work out in the end, she had to believe that. She does believe it. But, the niggling worry had shadowed her usual optimism, making it difficult to see through. ]
I'm not worried about being replaced. It's just—he's grown up so fast? Feels like just yesterday he was barely taller than the counter.
[ Granted, he'd gained his reedy height relatively quickly, outgrowing his clothes every three months. Still. ]
We did good, didn't we? [ That was the other cornerstone of her emotion—she's immeasurably proud. Yet, with this sudden development, it's as if she's been blindsided by him growing up and making decisions that showed how much he'd been listening over the years. It feels silly. She feels silly. In a bit, she'll feel joy. ]
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Good? [ incredulously, expression amused. ] We did fantastically. [ kaz, after all, was successful, beginning to heal, and able to make friends... for the most part. in his book, that meant their adventure into parenting was a large success. ] I think we may even be the best parents that have ever existed, even.
[ he presses a soft kiss to her lips, smile fond. ]
He's a good kid, with a good head on his shoulders. He'll be fine, Sofia.
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Maybe we should get a gold star. [ She says, peeking up at him with a watery grin. While Kaz had certainly not made it easy on either of them, she knows she would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Especially right now, as she comes to terms with him being an independent adult. The pride is slowly overtaking her stricken mood, filling her enough she thinks she could burst.
With her head still tilted, she presses a soft kiss to his cheek and then mouth, smiling into it. ]
If you say it, I know it'll be true. [ That said: ] I'm telling him he should bring Inej on Friday.
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[ warmly, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear as he chases her kiss with another soft one of his own. thoroughly satisfied with the end result of the conversation, because he would take sofia like this, in tears due to being so happy she could cry, over anything else. she deserved every ounce of happiness after the struggle and suffering she had endured. all she had ever wanted was a large family, and while they had been denied that (in part), he thinks he fell in love with her again (and again, and again) watching her navigate motherhood. it had completed her in a way nothing else had.
that thought softens his expression further, and he gives her a final kiss before letting his hands slide to her shoulders, then her arms, squeezing gently. ]
Ready for bed? [ he asks, tilting his head. trying not to sound too eager, but curling up with her after a long day was one of the best perks of being her husband, thank you very much. and, quite frankly, he could stand to give her a much better hug and cuddle than he could do now at their dining room table. ] I can clean up down here while you get ready.
[ after all, she was the one who cooked. ]
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Hmm, I think someone is. [ Sofia teases, recognizing the look in his eye. She knows this is basically his favorite part of the day, especially if he's had a difficult day. ] I'll do the dishes with you.
[ Something about them standing side by side, washing and drying, makes part of her settle. Reluctantly, she does withdraw from his lap, spooning up the last couple of bites of her food before she starts gathering up the dishes.
Between the two of them, cleaning up dinner and the leftovers is a quick affair. Feeling much lighter, she teasingly flicks water at him from her spot at the sink, laughing when he retaliates with whacking her with the towel he'd been drying with. Once everything is washed and dried and put away, they move off to get ready for bed.
Having washed her face and worked through the rest of her routine, she pulls on a nightgown. Which is more of a slip of silk and lace. Sofia comes up behind him, sliding onto the bed and looping her arms around his middle. ]
Hi.
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the weight of the day is beginning to catch up to him; the prospect of what he still has to do. his mind is turning through the different calls he has to make in the morning when he hears sofia re-enter their bedroom, and he's about to shift to roll into bed properly when her arms slide around his middle, her front pressed against his back. ]
Hey. [ he murmurs, relaxing into her hold for a moment. he could fall asleep sitting up, truthfully, but he soon shifts a bit to turn slightly in her arms. ] I've --
[ but once he sees her, he arches his eyebrows, his eyes flickering down to the silk and lace nightgown she had selected for bed that evening. it hugged her form perfectly, accentuating her long legs. so -- whatever sensible suggestion he had been about to posit is out the window, and a grin settles upon his features, tipping forward to give her a gentle kiss. ]
Have I told you that I love you today?
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Which is why she's here to lighten the load he's carrying at least a little bit. So he can go to bed without his muscles being all locked up, likely to make him toss and turn in the night. She feels the high of success at his gaze when he turns and takes in her nightgown, eyes going a bit wide with delighted surprise. ]
You have, though I won't say no to hearing it again. [ Sofia returns his grin with one of her own before closing the distance for another kiss. And another. And one on his cheek, because she doesn't want to rile him too much.
With reluctance, she pulls away, scooting up towards the pile of pillows and folding the blankets down. ]
Come here so I can cuddle you. [ And so when his spark of energy wears off, he isn't drowsily falling asleep sitting up. ]
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I love you. [ informatively, settling back into the pillows with a tired grin. he nearly removes his glasses, but doing so would render his beautiful wife into something of a fuzzy blur... so he leaves them on for now, instead reaching out for her with a warm smile, dropping his head back against a pillow. ]
I missed you today. [ he adds with a tired sigh, watching her get herself comfortable, eager to curl up with her and breathe her in. ] I wanted to go home after lunch, truth be told.
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And I, you. [ Sofia says back to him, her index finger tapping him on his nose affectionately. She slips the rest of the way into the blankets then, curling in along his side with one leg haphazardly draped over his shin. Her hand smoothes along his chest idly, the thrum of his heartbeat a gentle reverberation under her palm. ]
I doubt anyone in your office would've stopped you. [ His staff looked after him as much as he did for them. ] Though, you would've only had Biscuit for company.
[ At least, for a little while, until she got home. ] Do you want to talk about it?
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Mm, well. Biscuit can certainly find better company; I'd hate to impose my presence upon him. [ he murmurs into her hair, squeezing her once before relaxing further into the pillows. at her offer to talk about it, though, tomassen thinks to himself for a moment, weighing out whether or not he wants to bring it up again. ] And it's nothing of great importance, just... worrying.
[ about next steps, about heleen, about how to keep them safe. at the thought, tomassen sighs, tugging her a bit closer, to entangle them a bit more. ]
So I wanted to see you, to make sure you were in one piece. [ he confesses, mouth still pressed into her hair. ] Which felt silly, as I knew you were safe at school and being blissfully unbothered by my aggravated fussing, and so I stayed uptown.
[ he had nearly lost her once, during the plague. he thinks that was the closest he had ever come to wishing death upon himself. life without her seemed meaningless. empty. devoid of color and joy and purpose. now, it was a bit more complicated -- they have children, and an extended family. other people they are responsible for, and more sources of joy to safeguard. all the same: ]
I would never forgive myself if something happened to you. [ he murmurs, tone quiet. ] I can't allow that.
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He goes on, then, to say it was mostly worrying. And that it had been illogical worry, but worry all the same. Sofia hums at this, letting him get his thoughts out without interruption. The hand on his chest slides up towards his shoulder and then partway down his arm before taking the path in reverse; touching to give him some comfort while they lay here entwined. ]
I know. [ He's always been protective over her, even when she'd felt it a bit silly. Still, there is a warmth in her belly over it, over how he makes her feel completely safe. ] You do know I'll be very upset if anything happened to you.
[ Her days of running with the...well, not the wrong crowd, necessarily, but a rougher group, are long over. She hasn't forgotten the lessons, though. Nor was she ignorant of the things Kaz had told her that he'd learned when he'd been on the streets–the casual brutality, the way pain was a language and a promise. She'd been very serious about finding whoever had shot Tom and inflicting the hurt tenfold. Making sure he healed properly and raising Kaz had taken priority, of course.
If someone actually managed to be successful, this time? She can't promise the same amount of restraint. ]
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using the twelve year old as fodder had probably not been fair, but it had worked. ]
I know. [ he repeats, loosening his hold on her long enough to readjust his grip, nuzzling his face into her temple before kissing her cheek, then her jaw. an arm slips around her waist to tug her nearly on top of him, so he could properly hold her, a hand running down her spine. ] Beautiful, brave, mad woman.
[ he looks up at her, expression impossibly fond, before he presses a gentle kiss to her mouth, his hands sliding up to gently cup her face, thumbs brushing over her cheeks. ]
I think I'll work from home, tomorrow. [ after a moment, pressing another kiss to her lips. ] Sleep in, have breakfast with you, take you to school. [ an anxious need to be near her, but he has been trying not to push himself hard, and seeing as he was picking up another stressful case, it was only a matter of time before sofia and kaz both needled him into submission. ] We can have lunch together at your favorite deli.
[ all of this is really leading up to tomassen not working at all, but. whatever. he doesn't dote on his wife the entire seven or eight hours she is sleeping every night; there is room to make up when they awake. so he gives her another kiss, murmuring against her lips: ]
I can pick you up, and we can go out to dinner, wherever you like.
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[ Sofia declares, fierce even through a warm smile tugging her mouth up at the corners. She lets Tomassen tug her over him, chuckling at the tickle of his beard against her cheek. After a moment, she adjusts so her hip isn't digging into the crease of his thigh, both hands settling on his shoulders.
Returning his kiss, she pulls away just enough to rub the tip of her nose against his, playful and affectionate. ]
Hmm, this is sounding less like you're working from home and more like you're taking a day off.
[ Not that she minds terribly. He had a tendency to dive head first into his cases and this one would be no different. She's thankful that Kaz is older now and is more well-attuned to being able to bully Tomassen into taking breaks. ] Are you certain you want to wake up that early when you could sleep in more?
[ She already knows the answer, but, worth asking anyway. ]
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And miss a chance to serve you? [ he tsks, almost offended at the suggestion. ] Absolutely not. Besides -- [ and he tilts his head just enough to press a kiss to her cheek. ] -- I'll sleep in more than I normally would anyway, I promise.
[ and, with an affectionate squeeze, he adds: ]
I'm going to be better, this time. [ about taking care of himself. ] It won't do to burn myself out so early, as you've so eloquently said. Perhaps starting this venture with a break is a good idea.