Several months ago
It had been a Long Ass month. Being kidnapped had been bad enough, having to dodge Rue and ultimately push him away for her sanity and his health long term had.. been draining on top of the physical exhaustion that still hadn’t faded. Kark, the Force had struggled its way back into her muscles, her breathing. Everything had felt so uneasy as it recovered.
Kerissa had told Nash that she’d gone onto a research trip before she left. It wasn’t a lie. But one week had turned into two thanks to the unexpected kidnapping and almost sacrifice, Savi barely getting her ass out of there before it was too late. It had taken a few days before she’d texted Nash.
Just made it home. I need a few days.
A few days extended out, but they chatted intermittently even as it did. It was a relief honestly, Savi was great but she was worrying. Talking to someone who just thought she was tired or… busy. It was easier. Comforting, in the normalcy it echoed. Eventually though, she’d finally felt up to another of their coffee dates.
So there she was, the Kessurian-Ryn leaning back deep in the plush loveseat the cafe had tucked into a corner. Another one sat opposite the coffee table she’d taken. Oddly, a book nor a tablet was in her hand, simply nursing the tea she’d ordered in her hands, letting the warmth seep into her fingers. Despite Selen’s warm climate, she was bundled up as if it was about to rain, montral muffs on.
Music glided into the little shop on quick feet that slid through the door as if friction didn’t exist. Jackson Nash swaggered up to the counter, and with a smile ordered a peppermint cappuccino latte with whipped cream and orange sprinkles. With his drink in hand, he jived his way across the shop to the corner table where his favorite horned hybrid was currently wrapped up.
With a flourish and flip of his hair, he performed an exaggerated bow. “O’ Great Warm one of the heated heart, bless me with a seat beside you; that I may find solace from the Chill Eternal” he flashed a bright smile towards her as his head raised to peek at her.
Kerissa chuffed, a short laugh followed by patting the seat beside her.
“You very well may My Liege of the Flucating Temperatures. Though mind the vessels, lest we venture too deep and be punished for taking the warmth for granted.”
The tea was still steaming hot, thank you very much.
Kerissa had looked up to meet his gaze, and underneath the thick layer of clothing there wasn’t much of her on show. Her face bore a pale pallor, clearly not well, eyes with bags beneath them and a slight redness. It wasnt terrible enough to question her being out, but so close to her, it wasn’t her usual lively, fully healthy condition.
Yet, voice unbothered by whatever state she was in, she smiled, “How was the trip?”
His confident grin lowered a bit as she met his gaze, but he still offered a warm smile as he took the seat next to her, leaning shoulder against well insulated shoulder. “My trip? Usual stuff really. Went to some parties, did some shows, lit a factory on fire, nothing too exciting” he gently nudged her with his elbow then took a long sip of his drink.
“Now, I’m no stranger to being fashionably late, but you seemed to have taken a pretty long one yourself. You ok? Pick up something nasty? Wait - Should I be worried about catching cooties?” He feigned worry with a touch to his chest
“A factory on fire? Youre gonna have to tell me about that.” Kerissa shook her head, sipping her tea a moment before he did and then steadily lowering it back into her lap.
Cooties- He got a laugh from her, true, rolling her eyes, “Too late you already had them.”
The deflection was easy but she had disappeared. The issue was she could hardly just tell him she was kidnapped by the cult she was born into while trying to help find a way to destroy an artfecat that would take it down. And.. that she got almost all of her karking life force drained out of her before the follow up team go to her.
She weighed her words, sipping the tea again before answering, “Pretty much everything that could go wrong did. It’s not a sickness but I’m.. still technically recovering. I’ll be fine, really. And it’s certainly not contagious, unlike your cooties.” She booped his nose.
His head tilted back as he was booped, then lulled forward like a bobblehead - back and forth. He looked a bit bummed by her words and offered an apologetic smile before he gave her another nudge and scooted in close, leaning his back against her so he could kick his boots up and over the arm of the seat. “You should get someone to do your itinerary. Might help keep Some things on track.”
He takes another sip, head leaning back on her shoulder. “I heard of this.. super fruit. It’s yellow beads of fruit around the seeds inside this purple skinned star shaped fruit. Can’t remember the name of it. My manager says it gives a total detox though, might look into it if you are looking for help”
“Oh I had one. It was that bad.” Kerissa said, with some amusement flooding in. It was hard to be to morose with Nash lopeing around. There was definitely.. not quite exasperation. But there still a tone of upset around what happened, tempered by Nash being himself.
She leaned into his lean, the pair partially propping themselves up against the other.
“Sounds a bit sketchy to me.” She commented after a moment of contemplation, “I’d be down though, so long as it isn’t being protected by some weirdos or some kist.”
“Ah, bad news then.” He snapped his fingers, disappointedly. “It’s guarded by these people who absolutely insist that you give them credits for Kist. You go in, find some neat socks all on your own and Wham!”
He punched the air to accentuate
“They hit you with “Sir you need to pay for those” and “Sir your bike isn’t allowed to be parked inside” like there were signs up somewhere but there Weren’t I checked.” He hid his smirk by taking another long sip of his latte.
“…Nash.” Kerissa started, looking at him with a raised eyebrow, “You’re an actual rockstar. How are you that broke?”
A slight laugh escaped her as she ended the sentence, not sure whether to judge or just to be amused at the ridiculousness of this.
He gave her an exaggerated shrug. “It’s the damndest thing, apparently someone unqualified for fan outreach keeps going around handing out free tickets to everyone who looks interesting.” He shakes his head in a disappointed matter.
“Its almost like that person should actually advertise and listen to y- his manager every now and then. Wild.” Kerissa answered, mildly side eyeing him.
“Ah see but, I can’t tell the guy to do that. Turns out he didn’t get out much, and meet some pretty cool people when he was allowed to go around. Don’t have the heart in me to tell him no, so he gets to go out to see his favorites every now and then, as a treat” the handsome smile snuck back onto his face as he glanced over his shoulder at her.
“He could hand out flyers advertising and not tickets.” Kerissa suggested but her smile had softened. “Where’s this fruit stand, maybe one of those favorites can handle getting him his favourite snack without attempting theivery.”
“Mmm, I don’t know. That involves owing favors and debts and I’m not really sure he’s ready for all those strings, y'know?” his boots take turns tapping against the arm rest. “Then again, maybe the fruit’s worth a few string. Who’s to say?”
“Maybe it’s a offer and not a favour nor a debt.” Kerissa sipped her drink again, letting herself lean somewhat into his lean. He was comfortable, what could she say. “One of the two in question has to be financially responsible.”
“It does balance things out I suppose” he strokes at an invisible beard, making a show of contemplating. “Should they enjoy sticking together, that is.” He gives his cup a little shake, then peered into it.
“I think they gave me someone’s else’s order. Actually I don’t remember ordering anything at all.” He gave it a sip before nodding. “Yup. Tastes more like Brittany than Nash.”
Kerissa snorted, shaking her head, “I was wondering how you ordered and got here so fast. You goof.” She nudged him, careful to not actually shift his position but notably adding pressure on his shoulder.
“I think we can skip the miracle fruit and stick with your usual shenangins, yeah?”
It was his turn to chuckle, a mischievous smirk pulling at his lips. “My usual shenanigans? In a coffee shop? My, that’s a bit scandalous, don’t you think?” He pressed back against her, adding a comfortable counter weight to her leaning. His orange eyes flashed brightly towards her.
“Karking hell-” Kerissa laughed, “Don’t go getting ideas, that’s not what I meant.”
Her face flushed though she was far from embarrassed. Just certainly not for that particular idea.
“How have the shows been going recently? Any more crazies?”
“You’ve been to one before, I haven’t had a concert of decent size without crazies. Or, more accurately, only someone a little loose in the mind would like what I put out.” He shrugged and sipped from his cup with an exaggerated movement, hiding the smirk that grew on his lips at her reaction.
“Well I mean the crazy crazies. Y'know, the- oh whatever.” She sat up enough shove him gently, shaking her head and finishing off the cup of tea. Kerissa was quiet for a moment, before speaking with more solemness than she meant to bring to this catch up but it spilled out before she could contain it.
“I’ve missed you.”
He was happily jostled at the shove, his lips still quirked in a smile. At her silence and suddenly weighted words, he tilted his head back, looking at her from an odd angle. He didn’t say anything, his eyebrows only furrowed as he inspected her.
After a moment though, they relaxed and he shifted so he could push himself upwards and towards her. He pressed a soft, off angle kiss to her lips. Not pursing anything more than the brief, comforting contact. He shifted in his seat to finally sit normally, shoulder pressed against hers before his arm slipped over and around her. He carefully held her, head tilted in towards her as he began softly humming a somewhat melancholic song.
She met his gaze at him stilling. There was more there, to her recovery that was not being mentioned. A latent something that was off.
Yet, she smiled into the kiss, accepting of its comfort and more than content to lean her head onto his shoulder. Kerissa closed her eyes, exhaling slowly and relaxing into him as he hummed.
Nash stayed like that, humming softly as he held her to his side. Eventually, the song came to an end, and he sat in silence for a whole two breaths.
“Hey, you want to come over? I’ve got this big weighted and heated blankets. We could put a holofilm on, just relax?” He tilts his head away so her could look down at her, orange eyes scanning her face. It was obvious there was more to what happened. But it was equally so that she didn’t want to share it at the moment
“Y'know, that sounds really nice.” Kerissa smiled, blinking a few times. She hadn’t been about to fall asleep, hell no. No. She sat up as he shifted.
“I don’t think I’ve watched a holofilm in years, I catch some shows every now and then but… Yeah no that’d be great.”
“Awesome.” He flashed a grin before swiveling in his seat to stand. He reached down, offering his hand to her with an exaggerated bow. “If you would be so kind to join me tonight, my lady.” He spoke with a thick, pompous accent
She laughed, taking the hand with utmost propriety. Or at least as much as she could manage.
She stood, curtesying lightly with the side of her pants, “My lord, it would be a dream come true.”
Kerissa straightened up, glancing back at the table to make sure nothing was forgotten, hand still clasped with his. She let him lead them out, smiling all the way.