thenearshore | 008

[Jae-Ha bursts into a happy laugh that's nowhere near held back like his normal, more polite ones. He's not laughing at Hazel, or at least he's trying not to seem like it, but he's so endeared. That blushing face is the best thing he's seen today! That, the soft brush against his cheek once more, and those last words all warm him from head to toe.

Here in this happy moment, he can only think about how much he's come to care about Hazel. It's just repeating in his head. He cares so much.]

So are you.

[Irreplaceable... yeah he is, he knows!! But more seriously, he loves hearing it. He still can't look up for how much he's blushing, so instead he presses his palm more insistently against Jae-Ha's cheek and ducks his head further to rest his forehead on his shoulder.

Irreplaceable. To think, they both think so... He sure won't be able to stop blushing anytime soon. Damn it, Jae-Ha and Feelings.]

You're doin' a fine job of humblin' me. [his emotions are everywhere....]

What would it take to earn that face each day? I'd love to know.

[Even if he's hiding it now, the mood between them is this happy buzz that he can't shake. He squeezes Hazel's hand, his other hand smoothing up the back of his neck and more into his hair. It's just a better angle for him to, like this.]

Oh, you're doin' that too.

[God... With his face hidden he feels like he can admit this instead of sassing his way out of it. He's too happy to still have this hand in his and the other touching him so warmly. As much as he resents this place, and being quite literally thrown together and told to deal with it, he couldn't have asked for a better end result than this.

Even if they weren't stuck together as god and shinki, he wouldn't be able to let Jae-Ha go now. Says something that it took a hangover to get here, but never mind that— Jae-Ha is important, and Hazel can't afford to lose him.

Also, he's cute.] Each and every day?

[What kind of cute answer is that... Jae-Ha chuckles, leaning his face a little more into that hand at his cheek as a sort of affectionate gesture beyond everything else. Is he doing that? Ah, he wants to know exactly how, so he can replicate it each time.]

Each and every day. It's not like me if I don't aim high. [So, every day, every day!!]

[He's 12 again... He's 12 and Jae-Ha trying to make him blush every day is thrilling. He looks up from his shoulder but doesn't lean back, so they're still just as close. Hello, side of Jae-Ha's face. Looking good.]

Y'got aspirations, and I gotta respect that. [Every day... the sparknotes on making him blush?? Touch him a lot? Er.] Just keep this goin' and it'll be a walk in the park.

It's thrilling just thinking about it.

[Why does he always have to use the word thrilling. At the same time, he hasn't been horrible enough to say arousing yet, so at least he's behaving that much. He turns his face just slightly to look back at Hazel, his own pleased little smirk in place.]

I'll have to be careful not to play all of my cards at once. [Does he even know what cards are... he's learned.]

[Does he know what cards are... That's not as important as his stupid smirk, which Hazel resents for making his stomach turn over just by being this close. Honestly, how much would it take to just lean all the way in...

That would be too many thrills. Maybe.]

I dunno, there's somethin' to be said for a man knows just what to do. [He'll take a greatest hits collection?? Thanks.] How many cards do ya have?

[tell him]

[They sure are close. One minute Hazel's saying he's the boss and to just follow along with him, and the next he's talking like this? Jae-Ha is getting mixed messages, but then again, he's not sure which ones he might be reading into too much. It's clear that there's mutual interest here, or at least curiosity, but... It's more than a little daring, isn't it.

But he still has to force himself to keep his eyes on Hazel's eyes and nowhere else on his face.]

You're asking for me to share my secrets? [Hmmmmmm. He seems to consider this deeply, and then slowly answers with:] 25 years worth.

[He thinks he's so cool.]

[Ah, Jae-Ha doesn't know what cards are.]

Ya must've been a mighty ambitious baby. [LAME... Well those two seconds he was flustered by thinking Jae-Ha was smooth were really good seconds, while they lasted. He'll resume being flustered by how he's looking at him like he'd rather be doing something else... Hazel can think of a few things.

Pity that Jae-Ha can't read lists.

Despite this uncool response, his face is still warm, and there's no denying how much he'd like to educate Jae-Ha about cards... or whatever would follow that. He's not practically on top of Jae-Ha for his health, ultimately.]

I reckon you'll get by just fine with that pretty face.

Don't take it so literally!

[Stop, he's feeling that judgement and it's very rude. His eyes wander now that he's defending himself, flicking down to his lips and then back up to his eyes.]

I have more than a pretty face to get me by. [Come on!! He's still running his fingers through Hazel's hair, slowing just a bit in his distraction at how close they are. Really, they've been close like this for a long while, too... He is dying slowly with all of this tension, and loving it all the while. So that's great.]

[Another victory!! Hazel smirks, lightly pinching at his cheek this time. They're really close, still, so much that Jae-Ha's hand in his hair and body touching his in just enough places to be exciting but still... lacking. Hmm.]

Sure, sure. There's your winnin' personality... [the joke: he does think so, actually] And that body's not not helpin' your case.

[He blushes when Jae-Ha is cute at him, but not when he says this... Has there ever been a worse priest?? Sin is everywhere.]

[He's teasing so much. All of this teasing, this smiling, this playing around— Jae-Ha likes to think he's a patient guy, but even while this tension is a little incredible to feel, he's getting so restless just sitting here like this. Something snaps in him at that body line, mostly, like a shiver up his spine. How close can he get, without crossing a line...? Because he really wants to. He really...

This is not priestly behavior. But that's just fine. Jae-Ha's hand finally slips out of Hazel's hair as he traces a finger down his jawline, instead. Gripping at his chin, he lifts it just enough to have him at a slight angle. They're already so close, it would be so easy. In the back of his mind, a worry spikes that this might already be crossing a line.]

You make it... really difficult to hold back.

[Well, if it hadn't been obvious that all of this light flirting was driving him crazy, that should send the message well enough.]

[Speaking of sin... Or speaking of shivers, like the one that runs through Hazel the moment Jae-Ha's touch reaches his jawline and doesn't stop. He doesn't resist at all, pressing lightly against Jae-Ha's cheek at the same time to make sure he doesn't look away. It isn't likely, he can feel that— but it's worth making his interest abundantly clear. Repeatedly, even.

Does it really matter if they cross one more line, after all the rest they've already crossed? It's obvious they've both been thinking about it, and debating it...

Well, he's not a tease for his health, either. He lets go of Jae-Ha's hand after all of this time, smoothing his hand over his shoulder and leaving it to rest at the back of his neck. The rest of him can't get any closer without crossing that line, so - this.]

You're flatterin' me. [He's much quieter again, looking into Jae-Ha's eyes for some kind of definitive sort of - permission? He's literally talking about holding back...] Should I say "go on"?

[There's no pulling back from Hazel, no hesitation, no worries. A knot curls tighter in his stomach and he's hyper aware of every way Hazel's hand slides to the back of his neck. This is... too much, probably. This is bad news for multiple reasons. It would bring trouble for Hazel, in so many ways, and what if—

In the middle of all of his worrying, permission comes just like that. A look followed by those words has him holding his breath for the moment. How can he stop at that? He doesn't have the strength to say no to that.

He doesn't know how things have ended up this way, but right now, he doesn't want to think about it or any of the consequences. He just wants to think about those hands on him and Hazel practically in his lap as he closes the distance to kiss him. It's so sudden and not lacking in any way, with how much he's been wanting to do this for— how long now? It doesn't matter. He's done it now.]

[Jae-Ha's worrying and Hazel knows that, from knowing the man and from being connected to him the way he is. It's not as strong a feeling as Jae-Ha's usual moping, but it's a vague sensation - his hesitation could cut the tension between them with a knife, and for a second Hazel wonders if he's going to pull back. He'd have every right to, even if it would be disappointing—

But he's not disappointed, after all. There's barely any distance left to close, but Hazel still has the distinct impression that it's leagues between them until Jae-Ha's lips are finally on his. He doesn't waste time in responding, tilting his head up into the kiss and wrapping his arm more securely around Jae-Ha's shoulders.

It's obvious he's been thinking about this for some time, too. They're sure doing this. What a nice day off.]

[This works out just perfectly. If it's their day off (from nothing), then they can set aside any worries or hesitations to just indulge in this. He's not even bothering with the constant thoughts reassuring himself that this is fine, this isn't strange, this is expected and casual, because he's too busy reacting to the buzz running through his body now. He's taken an inch and now he wants a mile, but he's not clumsy enough to fumble during all of this. He's a gentleman, after all.

His now-free hand slips around Hazel's waist to the small of his back, pressing there so that when he leans forward into this kiss, he won't just knock Hazel over on the couch. Instead, it's a very purposeful sort of leaning, even if they're already a little tangled up with how they've been sitting. Jae-Ha just wants to enjoy this kiss.

He is definitely enjoying it, at least. Hazel is warm and soft and Jae-Ha only wants to bring him as close as physically possible. The hand on Hazel's chin slips back along his jaw to lace through his hair again, as his kissing does just fine at keeping Hazel's head angled.

He could kiss him like this through their planned lunch and all the way to dinner, if he wasn't stopped. And he definitely doesn't want to stop and comment on any of this. He's not thinking ahead; he's only feeling.]

[Ah, so he is smooth when he's not speaking... What a relief. Hazel is already so thoroughly into this, but being held like that and pulled even fractionally closer nearly drives him crazy. All the feelings he's been skirting around this whole time, getting closer to and then backing away from, rush him at once and he has no time to think about anything but Jae-Ha and his pretty mouth.

He hasn't thought about the rest of the day since Jae-Ha mentioned it like an hour ago... The rest of the day really can be dedicated to kisses and holding even tighter around Jae-Ha's shoulders just in case he starts to slip backwards. His other hand slides to the back of his head, and he's putting absolutely no care into not tangling Jae-Ha's hair back there, but that's not important.

For all that it's been such a short time, he feels like he's been waiting for this for much longer. Maybe it's all the time they do spend together, and how much they've shared between them already - willingly or not. He notably does not credit their heaven-enforced connection at all, considering he'd kiss Jae-Ha whether or not they were told to work together... It's such a rush of feelings all at once.

So now, getting himself increasingly tangled up in Jae-Ha in all kinds of ways, Hazel really can't be bothered with anything but keeping him close and his mouth occupied. Lunch can wait and conversation can wait - they have time enough for those later. In the moment, he throws caution to the wind (or finds caution and throws it to the wind for a second time) and slides completely up onto Jae-Ha's lap. He has to twist a fraction more to keep kissing him, but he won't interrupt this by falling back now...!!]

[Oh, just like that, it's gotten even better. Hazel is in his lap, and Jae-Ha takes that as an opportunity to pull him even more flush against him. He can twist or shift however he wants to make it comfortable, so long as he's close like this. He even leans further back against the couch and shifts his legs a little to tilt Hazel towards him.

That hand in his hair just encourages him, tangling or not, and he gives a little hum into the kiss. Hazel is so... He's everything Jae-Ha can admire, and now he's here, warm and beautiful and pressed against him. This is a good day, after all.

He keeps this going until his heart is beating too fast and his hands are too tempted to wander, then finally breaks the kiss so they can just breathe. He doesn't pull back or away, lips still practically brushing against Hazel's as he exhales lightly. His fingers slip out of Hazel's hair to trail lightly down the side of his face and neck, lingering there as he watches him.

Well, that happened.]

[Hazel doesn't expect to be tilted around when he does this, but it's comfortable by the simple fact of letting him lean more into Jae-Ha, so he has... no complaints!! That hum sends another shiver through him, and it's all he can do to curl his fingers further into Jae-Ha's hair and let himself get lost in this. To have Jae-Ha this close and only drawing him closer... They're definitely on the same wavelength in that regard.

He's breathless by the time Jae-Ha breaks the kiss, the hand that was on the back of his neck sliding back toward himself to cup his face under his ear instead. They're still too close for Hazel to think about much besides everywhere he's touching Jae-Ha, and the breath on his lips that makes it really, incredibly difficult not to immediately kiss him like that again. He settles for a quiet, breathy laugh as he kisses him more slowly... and briefly, since he would also like to breathe today.

So, hey. That was fun. Could talk about it, could also just sit right here and admire Jae-Ha in silence for a while.]

[That second kiss is too much and not enough, just like the rest of this has been. Jae-Ha laughs softly against Hazel, tenderly touching at Hazel's jaw as he places one more kiss at the corner of his lips. It's so hard to just stop.]

Now I'm wondering why we waited so long. [So long, he says.]

[Ah, that's really sweet... too sweet; he can't resist chuckling again, lingering there and just enjoying being this close. After a moment of that he slides one hand down to pat Jae-Ha's chest. Yep, that was a thing they did, cool.]

Search me. [he's a bad priest....] Better late than never, I s'pose.

["Late." He wants to kiss some more, but he'll settle for looking at him instead. That's fine.]

[Late, gosh. Who's fault is that?? Well, both of theirs, but still.]

Now I know that when you say to leave it all to you, you actually mean I should do whatever I'd like. That's good to know, since it's so tempting, anyway. ♥

[He always does what he wants. This is fine.]

[Jae-Ha's, mostly?? Never mind, listen to this.]

That's a mighty liberal interpretation of events. [When did he even say that, he's too distracted by everything else to remember that - wasn't he bothered by Ukoku?? That doesn't count.

Anyway, he keeps his hand on Jae-Ha's chest, drumming his fingers thoughtfully. So much for leading not into temptation.] Well, it'll work.

[kiss him..... at will]

[Maybe it's a little bit of a stretch from what they were talking about... But Jae-Ha had been so distracted, he could only take it this way as well. But what does it matter? It's worked out in the end, if he doesn't think past this and refuses to consider the consequences. Right now, all he'll consider is how he likes how Hazel tastes as he leans in to steal one more kiss.

So much for no sin, yes. Well. With that gone and out of the way—]

Are you hungry? [Should he cook or like, keep making out. There are options.]

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