just gonna leave this here (an excerpt from chapter 2 of my wip ft. Jesper’s feelings and Nina and Inej being worried and also a little done with him)
“Is this an intervention?”
Nina and Inej exchanged a glance. “Not exactly,” Inej said finally. “We’re just worried.”
Jesper groaned and sunk lower into the couch. “This is an intervention.” This time, Inej said nothing. “Y’know, I thought I was done with these after rehab.”
“Making jokes about your addiction won’t make us pity you and stop,” Nina interjected. “Inej is right, we’re worried.”
“You have no reason to be.” When Nina snorted and Inej raised an eyebrow, his pout intensified. “I’m serious! I have a job, I’m not behind on any bills, I’m paying off my debts, I’m fine!”
“Mhm. When was the last time you left your house of your own accord?”
“I went out to get groceries earlier today,” Jesper said. He prayed that for once in his life, Kaz hadn’t talked to Inej.
“Kaz had to literally drag you out of the door,” countered Inej. “Try again.”
“I went to get drinks with my coworkers three days ago.”
“Because one of your coworkers needed a ride and you felt bad.”
“Matthias’s birthday party?”
Nina snorted again. “I threatened to gut you if you didn’t show up.”
“Jesper.” Inej looked at him intensely. He squirmed. “Do you know when the last time you invited me to go somewhere was?” He didn’t say anything. He knew it had been a long time. “Six months ago. How long has it been since your breakup?”
Five months, three weeks, and two days. He shrugged.
“Don’t pretend you don’t know the exact number of days,” Nina said. Jesper grumbled.
“About six months,” he answered begrudgingly. “But that doesn’t mean anything!”
“Like hell it doesn’t,” Nina shot back. “You used to pester us at least once a week and now it’s been six months. If you think that isn’t concerning you’re lying to yourself. You’ve spent six months wallowing, and we let you, but now it’s time for an intervention.”
“I’m just processing,” argued Jesper.
“Okay,” Inej interrupted, cutting off Jesper's protest. “Not the point. Wallowing or processing, it doesn’t matter. It’s still been a while, and we want to help you.”
“How do you plan to do that? By ambushing me at my house and pestering me about why I’m not fixed yet? It was a long, committed relationship, forgive me for not waking up the next morning ready to fuck the next person I see,” he snapped. It was harsh and unfair and he’d feel awful about it soon enough, but he didn’t really care. Inej and Nina had seen him at his absolute worst, what was another tantrum?
His outburst was met with silence. They both knew he didn’t mean any of it- that he got defensive and moody when confronted, said things he didn’t mean because they were the first things to pop into his head and his impulse control was shot. Sure enough, the guilt started seeping in, a nasty feeling in his chest that made him slump back against the couch.
“I’m sorry,” he said. Inej raised an eyebrow, and he sighed. “That wasn’t fair. I know you’re trying to help. I know I’m being an asshole. Thank you for trying to help.”
(if youre interested in following the progression of this fic itll be on ao3 eventually and i will periodically put little snippets on here)
