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(no subject)

Who: York and Carolina
When: morning august 8th
Where: York's place
What: a breakfast date and lots of Important Talking
Warnings: nothing right now, will label thread if that changes

It's that time again: clothing optional breakfast date time. A little awkward now that they both have other Freelancers crashing with them, but as soon as he heard Carolina was coming over for a date North cleared out quickly, citing that he was getting soft and had to go for a run. Which left York alone in the apartment in his underwear, with no intention of getting dressed and breakfast fixings on the counter.

This was the first date they'd had since his sacrifice, and while nothing had to change, he was worried things would. Or maybe excited? Since she hadn't cancelled said date. But they were still getting used to each other again, relearning the boundaries that had certainly changed. He was going to take Carolina's lead on this one... they hadn't gotten to talk about it yet what with the others showing up.

He's just setting water to boil for coffee when there's a knock at his door.

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Feelings have never been Carolina's strong suit for the most part. Being raised by a man who was emotionally distant and cold at the best of times meant she stumbled into things and had to figure them out all on her own. It's something she envies York for, the way he can be so honest about his feelings. When he told her he still loved her it had made her think a lot about how she felt about it.

Of course having two more dead friends show up out of the blue made it harder to find some time alone to actually talk about it. Especially since her apartment has gone from comfortable to almost too crowded almost overnight. But she knows they need to talk about things sooner rather than later and takes the plunge first, setting up another breakfast date.

She knocks on the door and then lets herself in, not quite wearing underwear but a pair of tight black yoga shorts and a strappy sports bra. It was casual enough that it looked like maybe she was going out for a run instead of a date with York. "Morning," Ah yes, good morning York's ass. Looking good as usual.

"Morning," York greets her, stepping back and swinging the door open wider so she can come in. He's a little more covered up than last time, but boxer briefs and a thin clinging tank leave absolutely nothing to the imagination. And he doesn't bother trying to hide how his gaze lingers on her figure as she enters the apartment.

Maybe one of these days she'll wear lingerie. He knows she likes pretty things too, from their first encounter... but this is more 'Lina' and suits her just fine.

"I didn't know what you wanted to make so I just pulled out everything I had and you can choose from there." There is, in fact, a wealth of ingredients out on the tiny counterspace.

She doesn't mind how he looks at her, they've moved past pretending they haven't been looking. After all, why else would they both keep up the tradition of clothing optional breakfasts? Her smile is genuine as she steps inside and takes a look at the spread on the counter.

"York, my usual breakfast is a protein bar before my morning run. I shouldn't be trusted to pick what we eat."

"That's a good point, I guess... okay, we liked crepes, right? I'll teach you to flip a pancake."

He can take a break from oogling her to put away the stuff they don't need and make some room on the counter. He does note that her bruises from the encounter are almost gone, which is a very good thing. And maybe they're ready to talk about it now.

"So how are you feeling..?"

Carolina leans back against the counter, elbows holding her up as she keeps looking at York. Just because he's taking a breaking from ogling doesn't mean she has to. Though once York asks how she's feeling she looks away, one hand touching her neck self consciously. It was hard enough explaining the bruises to Maine, that she'd been caught out of armor by something that tried to crush her throat.

"I'm good, really." It's almost a surprise to her that it's true. "I meant to talk about... what you said when we were dealing with your shadow. Except then North and Maine happened and..." Things got complicated, she got distracted trying to get a seven foot giant settled.

York measures out some flour, dumps it into a bowl and glances at Carolina again, at the way her eyes cut away and she touches her neck. He can imagine that wasn't easy to explain to Maine... he'd gone over the situation with North so he knew what had happened and it wasn't easy to talk about. To remember seeing Carolina be attacked.

But then she redirects, and.

"Yeah we should... talk about that. I. You were saying something, when it showed up. Do you want to start there?"

It still blows her mind that York can throw around words like love without any hesitation. She can't remember the last time she said she loved in anyone, not in so many words. Not since she was a kid, definitely.

Telling him she loves him back isn't an option, not yet. Not because she doesn't but because she wants him to know it's real, that she isn't saying it out of obligation.

"That's probably the best place to start." Dammit. She would rather assault a pirate fortress than try to put this into words, at least pirates wouldn't notice how awkward she is. Talking about her feelings is hard even on a good day.

Action on the other hand... It's pure impulse that drives her to reach out to touch York's face gently, to kiss him properly. She wasn't good with words but actions she could do.

She can't say it yet but that's fine because York doesn't expect to hear it. He just wants to know what she was thinking of what they've been doing, if they're on the same page there.

He turns to face Carolina at the gentle touch, his eye bright and hopeful and curious -- and then wide with surprise as she leans in. Her mouth is soft on his and his lips part instinctively, even before he's processed what's happening. Carolina is kissing him.

Holy shit Carolina is kissing him and he's just standing there like an idiot.

It feels like an eternity but it's really only a moment before he's taking a step forward and kissing back, the careful restraint he's spent years cultivating breaking into a million pieces as something warm and ecstatic spreads through his chest. His hands come up, settling on her waist and sinking into her hair, his touches still cautious but eager. And as much as he's telling himself to go slow he's running his tongue over her bottom lip to ease her into a deeper kiss, because they must both want it.

There's a second, just before York starts to kiss back, where she worries that she misread the mood. A fear she realizes is completely irrational as he starts to kiss her back. And it is... so good. With anyone else she might have been awkward, slow to figure out the best ways to kiss back but this isn't their first kiss. It might have been years since then but she remembers. One hand stays cupping his cheek while the other grabs a fist full of his undershirt to pull him closer.

That same self control she'd worked so hard on was crumbling in the face of finally getting a taste of something she'd been denied for so long. Caution has never been her strong suit and when she feels her tongue she opens up almost immediately, wanting him closer. Why did they- No, she knows York, knows this would have happened so much sooner if she hadn't been so wary of jumping in too soon. Why did she wait so long for this?

They're both half dressed and the kitchen is still covered in breakfast ingredients but she couldn't care less about all of that. Not when she has this for the first time in far, far too long.

Carolina opens her mouth and pulls him in and York goes, stepping forward to press their bodies together and lock his arm around her waist. The closeness is intoxicating, the slide of their tongues and solid warmth of Carolina against him making his head spin just a little. It doesn't help that he's dreamed almost this exact scenario and now it's happening -- if she was expecting just a peck and then more conversation she's out of luck. His fingers curl against her scalp and the soft skin of her lower back, and York quickly calculates the distance to the wall behind her. Just so that he doesn't slam her into it when he takes another step forward, pressing her into it.

His weight against her is real and insistent, and he reclaims the arm around her waist so that his hand can wander, stroking up and down her side as they kiss. Memorizing every curve and angle, finally sliding down and around to grip that ass he's so admired for so long, pull her just a bit tighter against him. Okay, so maybe he's not the best mannered right now, but if she really minded any of it she could have had him in a chokehold in the blink of an eye. She needs just say the word and he'll back off, and she's about to get the chance as he breaks the kiss for air.

There's a flush to his cheeks as he pulls back and opens his eyes, smiling at her. The hand in her hair shifts, pushes soft red locks away from her face and cups her cheek while he catches his breath, studying her. Making sure all this is okay.

"Hey," isn't the most eloquent thing he could have said, but his mouth curves wryly in acknowledgment of that and he's still got a grip on her ass, so it's kind of amazing he's forming words in the first place.

It's so easy to let everything rush over her, to tangle herself with him so thoroughly that all she can focus on is the heat of his mouth on hers and his body pressing hers back against the wall. Every touch of his skin against hers is a reminder of how much she missed this, missed him and it does more than a little to light a fire in her that she has no interest in snuffing out. When he gets bold enough to grab her ass and hold onto it she can't help but laugh into the kiss, returning the favor by sliding her hand up and under his shirt.

Her fingers shamelessly map out the topography of his muscles, reintroducing herself to familiar sights and learning the shape of new scars that she never got the chance to touch. The last thing in the world she wants is for him to stop touching her. In fact she could stand to have him touching her more. When he pulls back, Carolina is smiling at him, not an ounce of regret in her expression.

"Hey," She leans in to kiss him again, quick and soft before pulling back. She wants this, wherever it's going she wants it and she's pretty sure York does too. But first... she has to take care of one thing. "Delta, I think you should log off for a while."

That's probably an excellent idea, considering how just her smile and the implication behind her words has heat flaring in York. His stomach twitches under her touch, his hips pressed firmly against hers in a way that doesn't hide much. Yeah. Delta sends a burst of a cautious '???' feeling towards York but doesn't appear, doesn't speak, and York confirms the order gently. It's been over a year now since he had Delta log off. They don't keep anything from each other anymore, and D will hear him thinking about it later, obviously. But the now of this will be better without an audience.

"We just need a little privacy. I'll be okay."

There's a brief hesitation despite Delta's understanding, but then he's gone. And York is clutching at Carolina through the wave of emptiness as he's alone in his head. It'll be worth it, York knows, if this is going where he thinks it is, but he feels wrong and hollow right now and could use a distraction from it.

Luckily Carolina is still pressed against him, still holding him close, calloused fingertips against scarred skin. York focuses on her touch, on the curve of her mouth as bright green eyes watch him, making sure he's okay. He is. He's more than okay, he just needed a few seconds to adjust. But it's just them now. He dips his head and kisses her again.

"Why don't we relocate?" he asks her, voice low and eager.

There's no ignoring the rather prominent sign of his interest, no ignoring how much she wants him when she feels her own body answering in kind. She can tell the moment Delta logs off, the way he tightens his grip and rides out that silence she knows all too well. She knows it all too well, knowing to give him that moment to adjust before she gets a little more daring and slides her hand down to the waistband of his boxers.

Much as she would be fine if he wanted to do it right there against the wall, the thought of a proper bed is too tempting. Especially after spending so many nights sleeping on her couch. She's not going to complain about having Maine in her space but... god, a bed sounds good now.

"Bedroom?" Her voice is a match for his as she nudges him back, not too far, just enough for her to pull off her bra right there in the kitchen.

(( NSFW over here ))

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