.

.

"Kazuma, come here a minute."

"Hm?" Kazuma rounded the corner, walking to the couch where Veena was lying. "What is it that you need?"

Veena smiled and patted the couch cushion, propping herself on her elbows and waiting for Kazuma to sit. He did; promptly she rested her head against his lap, and laid back down.

This wasn't the first time Veena had accosted him like this - in point of fact, Kazuma was quite used to her randomly wanting to lie her head on his lap, either after a long mission or after her early bouts with Yato. The only difference now is that he could card his fingers through her hair without hesitation, stroking the soft skin of her nape without having to hold back his smile.

"Mm, this feels good," Veena said, and she cuddled against his lap, turning so that her cheek was flush against his stomach. "You've always known just how to stroke me."

"You make it sound like you're a cat," Kazuma said, smiling.

Veena sighed. "That was actually my poor attempt at flirting with you."

Kazuma laughed, softly. He felt her rest cheek against his lap again; quietly he began untangling a few errant strands of hair.

"Did it bother you before?" She shifted on her forearms, looking up at him.

"Why do you ask?" Kazuma said. Veena frowned.

"I was just thinking how careless I was with you, all these years." She rested her cheek back on his lap, thoughtfully. "I used to touch you like this and you never once stung me. I can't help but think that was cruel of me. Parading myself in front of you, offering something you couldn't have."

"I never thought about it that way," Kazuma said. "Being near you made me happy."

Veena smiled.

Before they were lovers, Kazuma would have to bite back the urge to kiss her nape, or let his fingers brush against hers. Sometimes, just being near her was overwhelming, and he would have to check himself and focus on the task at hand. But now he knew that she liked it when he kissed her; that she smiled whenever he'd nuzzle his face against her ear.

They kissed. Veena had pushed up on her arms to kiss him, and long pieces of hair fell over her face. He pulled back slightly to push back the strands, and she tilted her head, letting their lips brush and she smiled, softly. Then she leaned back against his lap, tucking herself against his body.

It was the happiest he felt in years.