[Veronica]

[plantfood]

It isn't as though kissing Veronica Mars is the best thing about dating her, but Mathias has to acknowledge that it's certainly near the top of the list. Were it anywhere else, he would have to be a complete crazy person with no sense of sight or touch and no interest in kissing whatsoever. Since he is in possession of all those things, he can't deny that he likes kissing her very much and because it's so near the top of the list of great things about dating Veronica Mars, Mathias is currently leaning down, his arms around her back, mouth pressed to hers as he walks her slowly back toward the wall behind her.

They're in her hut, not his, only because Stacy is there. She'd never cause tension on purpose, but Mathias feels he knows her well enough now to know she might bust in on them and not think anything of it. He also knows Veronica would likely not be very pleased with such a turn of events and so they're here instead.

They've kissed. They've kissed a lot, but they haven't done much else. Mathias isn't one for pushing and he can wait, but it's been nearly six months now, so he doesn't still his hand when it slides up under the hem of Veronica's shirt. He barely even notices when his fingers spread over her ribs and then higher, kissing her all the while.

Comments

[plantfood]

At that, Mathias's mouth does turn up into a genuine smile and a soft breath of laughter escapes him. If nothing else, Veronica does know how to make him laugh, even in this situation, where he feels uncomfortable and strangely awkward.

"My father did the same for me," he offers, brushing his fingers over her arm gently. "It was very uncomfortable and at the end, I still didn't understand anything. But you know what I mean."

[neptune-sleuth.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I know." It's always a relief, getting people to laugh, breaking the tension. She relies on that ability, she knows she does, but only becomes it comes in handy all the time. Talking about this is dangerously like sharing her feelings. "I've just always been... cautious. I know this might come as a surprise, but I have this niggling tendency to want to call the shots."

[plantfood]

"You can," Mathias answers with a small, genuine smile. "I'm not trying to rush anything or ask for... a schedule, but I just want to know what..." He pauses, struggling to find the right words in English. Before Veronica, he's always been able to have this conversation in German and he's struggling with his English for the first time in a few months.

"Sorry," he apologizes again and gives a laugh.

[neptune-sleuth.livejournal.com]

"It would help if I knew," Veronica admits. Little though she wants to think about it, she knows he's been patient. It doesn't hurt that she trusts him, though that's not something she wants to think about either.

"You can... I was only surprised, I didn't... actually mind." Just saying it makes her flush, something prickling along the back of her neck, and it's times like these she actually remembers how young she is, that she gets all embarrassed about these things.

[plantfood]

Now that they're talking, he's nervous, and when Veronica says she didn't mind, he laughs again and rubs the back of his neck awkwardly with one hand. It's almost an invitation to put his hands on her again, but he doesn't, just offers her a faint smile.

"I never want to do anything that you don't want to do," he says honestly, deciding that's the best way to go right now. "I hope you know that already, but I thought maybe... it would be best to say it out loud."

[neptune-sleuth.livejournal.com]

"I know." It means a hell of a lot more than Veronica can say, being able to trust him like that, so certain he'll never push her anywhere she doesn't want to be. "I want to. Not - not now," she adds quickly, licking her lips, "not today. I don't know when, but... I do want to. It's just... the men who came before you - and there haven't been many - didn't necessarily... leave the best impression. It's... difficult to move past that."

It's not fair that he gets stuck with the mess that Cassidy and Duncan and the rest left behind, but she can't help that about herself. Even knowing that makes her sick, but she focuses on him, offering a wry little smile as she slides her hands up to his shoulders. If nothing else, it makes her appreciate all the more how patient he is, how good to her.

[plantfood]

Sadly, Mathias understands that better than he wants to, and he nods, wrapping his arms around Veronica again. After Ilyse, after all the pain she put him through, he knows how difficult it is to let someone back in and trusting them not to cause that same sort of pain. Veronica is worth that, though, and he hopes she thinks he is as well.

"Not today," he agrees with a smile, then presses a kiss to her forehead. He's less nervous now, less awkward, and it's easier to relax into her hands on his shoulders.

[neptune-sleuth.livejournal.com]

Closing her eyes, Veronica leans her head against his shoulder. She's so far from everything that came before; her whole life here is a reminder of just how far she's come and still she can't shake it. "Until then," she says, tone much lighter now, "we're pretty good at that whole kissing thing. Like, makeout experts here."

[plantfood]

"The best on the island," he agrees with a grin, rubbing his hands down the length of her back. "And that is not exactly something I mind terribly. It is more than enough."

It's not exactly a hardship, anyway, making out with Veronica. Just being with her feels great, but as cheesy as that sounds, he won't say it out loud.

[neptune-sleuth.livejournal.com]

As much as she hates to be the kind of girl who prizes a quality like safe so highly, there's no denying that, here and now, Mathias is exactly that or that it's one of the things she appreciates most in him. Sam was a great reminder that people leaving has nothing to do with the whims of some island. It's just people. Somehow, she doesn't imagine Mathias is going anywhere.

"Damn right," she says, smirking up at him. Just because she's thinking it doesn't mean she's about to actually say something as lame as thank you.

[plantfood]

"I am very good at what I do," he says with a teasing lilt to his voice, then nudges her chin up gently with the tips of his fingers, kissing her again. No pushing this time, one hand under her chin and the other resting against her back, but he still loves to do this. "Doesn't mean we should not get some more practice, though, ja?" he asks against Veronica's mouth.

[neptune-sleuth.livejournal.com]

"Oh, practice is very important," she agrees, smiling. "Don't want to lose touch." Threading her fingers in his shirt, she tugs him closer, head tipping up to kiss him again. With the talk, such as it was, behind them, it's easier still to let go and lean into him, remembering how much she enjoys this and him.