Work Text:
"Mornin'...."
Zeb, who was standing in the Ghost's galley prepping breakfast, turned an amused glance to the being that greeted him.
"Mornin' Sunshine! Sleep alright?"
"Mhmm.."
Kallus could be said to be many things. 'Morning Person' was not one of them.
Zeb chuckled lightly at the state of him. He was barefoot, dressed in soft, dark sleep pants and one of Zeb's oversized shirts. His hair was ruffled, sticking out at odd angles and he was using a hand to rub at his eyes.
Stepping away from the plate of waffles he was warming, Zeb wrapped his arms around Kallus' waist, pulling him into a gentle hug. Kallus sank into him, appearing for all the world like he had fallen back asleep as he snuggled into the broad chest before him.
Zeb marveled as he cradled him, burying his face in silky hair as he did. They'd really only recently begun interacting at this level of intimacy, having finally been comfortable enough to be vulnerable around each other. It still surprised him when Kallus didn't jump back from sudden contact, or go rigid at a hand on his shoulder. By anyone's standards, imperials just weren't touchy, but Kallus seemed to be unlearning that particular stigma quickly. Zeb thought his heart might burst right out of his chest when he awoke to a single chaste kiss from the man snuggling him in his bunk one day.
"Hey, made some caf for you."
Kallus inhaled sharply and shifted to look up at him, despite his tired appearance, his caramel eyes were practically sparkling. "Those are the best words to have ever left your mouth."
Zeb laughed as Kallus untangled himself, grabbing for the mug he was offered. He'd learned that the best way to get his boyfriend to open up to anyone was to make the man a cup of caf.
"Is there anyone else awake?"
"Neh, s'too early for the kids an' I think Hera an' Kanan are actually sleepin' in for once."
Kallus hummed a confirmation and leaned up against the counter next to Zeb, eyes closed and warm mug close to his face.
It was nice, just being able to enjoy each other quietly like this. The ship's chaotic energy didn't typically lend to simply existing.
Zeb began coating his waffles in what some would call a 'morally questionable' amount of syrup.
"Zeb, that CANNOT be healthy."
He scoffed, "Well, you're one to talk, mister 'caf is life'!" Kallus gave him a look from behind the mug.
"But really, you should eat somethin' too. Anythin' you'd like? I can make it for you."
"I confess I've not had a chance to take inventory since our last supply run. What do we have available?"
Zeb opened the cooler and stuck his face into it. "Hmmm, waffles, eggs, pancakes, waffles, puffer bacon..... did I mention waffles? We got a lot of 'em."
"That makes sense, considering it's about the only thing I see you eat aside from jogan."
"Hey, they're good! An' they barely cost anythin' so may as well stock up!"
Kallus set his mug down and crossed his arms, peering at Zeb quizzically. "Are they? Good, I mean."
Zeb whipped around dramatically, hand to his chest. "Don't tell me you've never had 'em? We need to fix that right now!"
Kallus looked like he was going to protest but Zeb interrupted. "Here! Try some of mine so you can decide if you like it or not." He carefully cut up a piece from his plate, holding the fork out. He was quite surprised when, instead of taking the fork, Kallus leaned forward slightly and took the proffered food in his mouth. It was in that startling moment that a drip of warm syrup escaped, streaking down Kallus' chin onto his shirt. Both of them made a small sound of surprise, Kallus lifting a hand under his chin to keep more from falling while Zeb searched for a cloth.
"Karabast, my bad, should have just handed you the plate.." He began trying carefully to wipe the sticky substance from his partner's face, failing to pick up very much of it. Kallus, after finishing his bite, chuckled softly at the situation.
"It's alright, I really should have just taken the fork. I had wanted to shower this morning anyway." He looked down at the streak on his shirt. "Hmm."
"Yeh, you'll wanna do that before Ezra gets up, the kid really-"
Zeb stopped dead in his tracks, eyes widening and ears flicking.
In his second startling move of the morning, Kallus was in the process of removing his shirt, elbows and fabric up over his head. Zeb's eyes trailed up flexing muscle, resting on the golden curls covering the human's toned chest.
This wasn't the first time he'd seen the ex-agent shirtless, he'd seen flashes of skin as he changed in their bunk before, but Zeb typically let him have his privacy. Nighttime cuddling usually involved a set of warm sleep clothes. This was the first time Kallus was so......open with it. Within Zeb's reach.
Zeb's hands curled at the thought, shaking his head, he tried to continue his train of thought. "Uh, kid, has a bad habit of takin' really long showers."
He could really use a cold shower about now.
Kallus neatly folded the shirt and placed it at the edge of the counter -'Were his biceps always that big?'- then refolded his arms over his now exposed chest, settling back against the counter.
He jumped slightly as his eyes met with Zeb's intense gaze. "Is something wrong?" Zeb had been caught staring. He grabbed his plate of food, turning away to settle himself. -'Gods, why were his pants so far down his hips?'-
Shaking himself again he attempted to respond, "No! Nothin's wrong, I just....haven't, y'know, really seen you do that before."
Kallus sounded a bit self conscious, "I apologize..."
Realizing his error, Zeb quickly spun around. "It's okay! I thi-" he forgot Kallus was so close to him. They collided, Kallus slipped backwards, bracing his hands on the counter behind him, Zeb falling with him, managing to keep his own weight from crushing the other by bracing his own hands on either side of Kallus.
The two of them froze as the plate clattered to the floor, faces nearly touching with their proximity. Zeb cursed internally, he really should step back, ask if Kallus was alright and apologize. But he couldn't move, couldn't breathe when he saw amber eyes run from surprise to something....else. Determination, like he'd been waiting for a chance. Zeb only had time for a quiet, surprised inhalation before a tremoring hand tugged at his beard, pulling him forward and-
Soft. Warm, soft and inviting. He tasted like syrup and fresh caf, sweet and earthy. Zeb groaned, sinking deeper into the kiss, hands raising to cup his mate's face. Kallus gave a satisfied sigh, melting into the touch.
Zeb's mind erupted into a nova of exclamation points when he felt the tip of a tongue gently trace his lip. He heard a soft moan when he allowed it access, heat stirring low in his body as his own slid over it. They tangled, kissing deeper, tongues roaming and tasting, needing to take in every detail. Ashla, he was so sweet, he needed more-
Zeb broke the kiss with a start when he realized he'd begun trailing his tongue over Kallus' chin, lapping at the spilled syrup there.
"S-sorry, got a bit carried away..."
He gave a sharp breath when he really looked at Kallus. His face was stained red and his eyes were half-lidded and glassy, pupils wide. His lips were wet and panting as a flash of pink darted out over the lower one. He looked like he'd been devoured. When he responded, his voice sounded strained.
"It's....quite alright. I definitely will be needing that shower though."
They both looked down to see that the collision had left a splatter of syrup across Kallus' bare chest. Zeb felt a heady combined wave of embarrassment and arousal as he took in what his clumsiness had wrought. A trace of sweetness still lingered in his mouth.
Green eyes met with glazed gold and the words left him before he could stop them.
"I could take care of it for you."
Kallus paused, shivered.....then nodded.
Slowly, clawed hands slid low until they reached soft-clad hips, gripping and tugging upward. Kallus gasped, wrapping his arms around powerful shoulders as he was hefted up and settled onto the countertop, granting Zeb easier access to his body.
Zeb pressed a hot kiss to Kallus' cheek before trailing many more down his jaw, stopping to drag his lips across the fluttering pulse point of his throat. The heat in his abdomen from earlier tightened when he heard a breathy 'oh!' above him and felt fingertips tugging the long fur under his ears, urging him lower.
He could feel himself beginning to purr, his body rumbling as he dipped his head lower, taking in the sugary smell before running his tongue experimentally over it.
The tight heat turned sharp as Kallus moaned.
Encouraged, Zeb licked a long, rough stripe up the middle of the heaving surface.
"Stars, that is quite a texture," Kallus sounded like he'd run a marathon.
"I-Is it too much? I can slow down."
A hand suddenly gripped the back of his head, pulling him closer. "Don't you dare!"
Zeb's head was absolutely spinning, lightning sparked through his groin as he tipped forward, latching onto the soft skin before him and sucking.
Kallus writhed, a broken sound of pleasure ripped from his throat as Zeb moved to rasp at a nipple, covering his mouth and cursing into his own hand when a fang was dragged over it.
Zeb wanted desperately to hear him, unrestrained as he was pleasured, needed to hear his own name fall from those pretty lips. Enraptured, he tried his absolute best to lave every last trace of syrup off of the body squirming and moaning in his arms.
He peeked up at the beautiful scene above him and swore. Kallus appeared ruined, looking down at him with lust and adoration, gorgeous hair haloed with a soft glow from the ceiling light like a sensual deity, shifting and sighing little delighted sounds and oh, how he needed!
He moved as though he were starving, Kallus being the only thing in the universe that could sate him. He licked and mouthed, bit and sucked until slick skin was red from the attention. He slid to his knees, brought up his hands, hooking claws into a dark waistband, rubbed his cheek longingly over the proud tent there, lost in scent and sensation.
And heard a thunk.
The Phantom undocking.
The others were awake.
Suddenly remembering how un-private the location they were in was, he cursed and pulled away, hands snapping back like he'd been burned.
He quickly stood, somewhat shaky and cleared his throat. "We should....should....uh."
Kallus grunted in reluctant agreement, sliding off the counter and rested the back of his head against the upper cabinet.
Zeb grimaced as he took in the mess left on the floor. "I can take care of this if you wanna head to the shower now."
"That's too bad, I think you missed a spot."
Zeb laughed and turned to give his boyfriend a flirty wink, but stopped when he saw the expression he was being given.
Kallus' hand was hovering over the door control where he had locked it, trapping them in together.
Zeb swallowed hard, transfixed on the searing look in the human's eye as Kallus reached over,
Grabbed the warm bottle of syrup,
And dumped the rest of it all down himself.