#TH 07. ┊ bittersweet festive warmth. ( FEILIEN. )

[thiefofcrows]

   The second that grin bloomed across Matt’s features, Kaz knew something teasing and lighthearted was coming. As it always did. He couldn’t resist his own answering smirk and a playful scoff escaped him — of course, Matt wasn’t wrong, though. Everyone he’d encountered here, save for their enemies of course, liked him and obviously Kaz Brekker was no exception. From what he remembered of Jordie, he and Matt would get along so well that he was sure they’d drive him a little mad … but he would enjoy every second of it nonetheless. It was a silly and pointless thing to think about, considering that Jordie was long gone, but … it gave him a strange sense of bittersweet comfort anyway.

   Kaz followed Matt’s pull easily when he’d shifted to lean against the wall — and, while the feeling of Matt’s fingers combing through his hair sent a pleasant, warm shiver through him, it didn’t make him any warmer. It merely drew him in further, seeking to absorb as much warmth from Matt as possible and he found himself wondering if he’d done it entirely for that purpose. If he had, Kaz certainly wasn’t complaining about it either, even though every now and then, his dark gaze would sweep around them in anticipation of their current privacy being interrupted. He offered a slight, one-sided shrug in response to Matt’s question.

   ❝He used to love this time of year. We’d both been told all about Ketterdam’s celebrations from our Da, before … ❞ he trailed off briefly as the deeply unsettling memory of finding their father dead, his innards strewn across the lawn, at nine years old flashed in his mind. It was by far the least terrible thing that he’d experienced, considering everything else, but … it had still left him with nightmares all the same. He cleared his throat quietly and elected to leave that detail alone, assuming Matt could at least surmise that their father had died somehow. ❝While we obviously made it to Ketterdam, he never had the opportunity to partake in the festivities.❞ Kaz let out a soft sigh before quirking dark brows, that answering smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth again.

   ❝And, if he’d be kicking anyone’s ass, it’d be mine,❞ Kaz murmured, his forehead brushing slightly against Matt’s — not quite leaning into him, but nearly. ❝After all, I’m the one running a criminal empire, which I doubt he would’ve approved of.❞ He reached up with one hand to idly cup Matt’s cheek, his gloved thumb smoothing over skin whilst the other clutched Matt’s jacket. It was almost as if holding onto it would keep him close, or suspend this moment in time indefinitely.

{♚ x @thiefofcrows x} Continued from here

 Honestly speaking, Kerch’s holidays were still somewhat alien and confusing to Matt, and he still didn’t quite understand the origins of Nachtspel, but that absolutely did not stop him from enjoying it nonetheless. And while he no doubt missed the food from Shu Han, he had to admit that he’d grown fairly used to Kerch food over the past couple of years. Perhaps even started to enjoy it. Especially the holiday-themed food and drinks. While he was fond of food at any given time, it just seemed that little bit sweeter and tastier during the holidays. Although he suspected that sharing it with the person he loved might have something to do with it, as well.

 Despite his own, nearly child-like excitement, however, he hadn’t failed to pick up on Kaz’s melancholic mood at times. He hid it well, but not well enough. Still, like so many times before, Matt didn’t pry even if he had a vague idea of where it stemmed from. Instead, he simply dialed up his own enthusiasm and redirected Kaz’s attention whenever necessary. In the end, it had been, by all means, a successful day and Matt was almost unwilling to return to the Slat and let it end just yet. But the prospect of hiding away in Kaz’s room for the rest of the night with no one else around was enough to convince him to leave the festivities behind.

 He was humming quietly to himself as they walked —some melody stuck in his head that a couple of musicians had played in the streets— and, for once, wasn’t really paying too much attention. So he was a little confused when they didn’t enter the Slat, but stopped short of the entrance and remained outside instead. The confusion didn’t last long, however, and he knew what Kaz’s intentions were as soon as he leaned the cane against the wall. So he offered no resistance when he felt an arm around his waist and gladly let himself be pulled into a kiss.

 Even now, it still made his heart leap out of his chest and his knees grow weak, despite it being a fairly common occurrence nowadays. He was also acutely aware of the fact that they weren’t in the safety of their own four walls, and although there was no one around at the moment, it didn’t mean it was going to stay that way. Holding hands out in the open was one thing, kissing quite another and he had to admit that he was genuinely surprised by it. But… he sure as hell wasn’t going to complain about it.

 Whenever they broke apart, Matt let out a content sigh as he cupped Kaz’s cheek and caressed it with his gloved thumb. He’d never grow tired of it. Of this. Of Kaz, of the way he made Matt feel. It wasn’t just happiness, and excitement, and comfort, but also like home. Like he finally found the place he belonged after spending his entire life feeling out of place.

 Opening his eyes as the other spoke, it took Matt a second to place the name. Jordie. His brother. “Of course, he would’ve liked me. Everybody likes me,” he grinned, but it didn’t last for long and quickly transformed into a soft smile instead. “I hope so. I’m sure there’s nothing scarier than a big brother looking out for his little brother. I hope he thinks I treat you well enough and doesn’t feel the need to kick my ass.”

 Pulling away from Kaz, he leaned against the wall, then reached out to pull him close once more. His hands reached up, one pulling off Kaz’s hat, the other combing through his hair, before coming to a stop in the back of his neck. “Is that why you seemed absent from time to time today? Because you were thinking of Jordie?”