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[evocation]

This is Kyna. You should just text me if you actually want me to answer.

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[evocation]

Whatever. I don't mean you and you know it.

[Wash is easy to relax around. She can't quite explain it, but there's something soothing about being here with him.]

[hardwearing]

...when was the last time you talked to Harlan and Tucker?

[evocation]

[That seems like a sudden subject change, and she pulls away to look up.]

Today. Why?

[They're up each other's asses all the time, Wash.]

[hardwearing]

Are they okay with you staying here?

[evocation]

I didn't ask. They're my best friends, not my parents.

[hardwearing]

Their opinion still matters. And I doubt they have anything good to say about me.

[evocation]

They don't even know you. If they've got shit to say I'll set them straight.

[hardwearing]

[ It's clear that Wash doesn't understand that, can't wrap his head around why it is Kyna seems to like him, but he's already decided not to push her away. He just sets her bag down at the foot of the bed and leans in to help her lie down. ]

Come on. I'll call the clinic to see if any of the healers do house calls. And then tell you some stories.

[evocation]

[He's sweet, she thinks. Tucker never trusts anyone, and Harlan is pissed that she got hurt, but she thinks they'll come around. Before she lies down, she shoots him a grateful little smile and reaches up to smooth down his hair.]

They'd better be embarrassing ones. I told you that stupid turtle story.

[hardwearing]

[ His eyes flutter closed at the touch, as affection starved as ever. ]

Don't worry, I can think of a few things.

[evocation]

Good.

[She grins, hand sliding down to caress his cheek as she finally lays back. Her ribs protest, but it isn't unbearable.]

Thanks for taking care of me.

[She thanked him before, but it feels worth saying again.]

[hardwearing]

[ It's the least he can do, it was his fault, he thinks, but doesn't say. She'd just argue. And he's learning. Instead he shifts down the bed to get her shoes off, make her a little more comfortable. ]

You're welcome.

[ One story, then he'll call the clinic. ]

I think I've mentioned that my armor's airtight? It can be used as a space suit, in full vacuum. And we had a few missions like that. Just out in space, with jet packs to get around.

[evocation]

[Honestly, he's starting to spoil her at this point, but she's not complaining.]

Seriously? That's awesome.

[hardwearing]

Yeah, you'd think, but it's actually pretty scary. Out in space, there's nothing to slow you down. No way to stop yourself until you hit something. So it's my first time using a pack in vacuum, and they're being really specific that they're for course correction only. Not propulsion. Just little bursts to get you going the way you need to, right?

[evocation]

[Okay, admittedly that sounds less awesome.]

Right.

[She's already wondering what the hell Wash did.]

[hardwearing]

I'm the rookie. Everybody else is talking about Georgia... to this day I still don't know what happened to him, if something went wrong with his pack or he just made a mistake, but apparently he shot off into space and they never found him. Which freaked me out, obviously.

The mission's a bust, but that's not the point of the story. The point is, the enemy dropped a nuke before they left, and Niner's picking us up in a drop ship before it goes off. I'm talking seconds on the bomb, and everyone else uses their pack and gets inside. Not me. I'm just floating out in space with nothing to kick off, too scared to fire my pack. Didn't want to end up like Georgia.

So Carolina pulls out her grappling gun...

[evocation]

[She's trying to picture it--a younger Wash stuck outside the ship, too afraid to use the pack because his teammates were screwing with him, and she's already grinning.]

Oh my God. What did she do?

[hardwearing]

She got me right in the crotch with it, and yanked me into the ship.

I never lived it down. Hauled in by my balls.

[evocation]

[He's not even kidding. He's totally serious when he says it, and Kyna bursts out laughing, which is a mistake, because it feels like being stabbed repeatedly in the side.]

Fuck, ow.

[She manages to dial it down to breathless giggling, but she can't stop, and it still hurts.]

Are you screwing with me?

[hardwearing]

Unfortunately, I'm not. It happened, and the others never let me forget it.

[ It's good to hear her laugh, even if it's painful -- which has him pulling out his phone to call the clinic. ]

You okay?

[evocation]

[She waves a hand dismissively.]

I'm fine.

[Just sore as hell.]

I hope you don't think I'm gonna let you forget it. I thought you were cool, Wash.

[hardwearing]

Oh, you're completely wrong. I'm not cool. Badass, but not cool.

[evocation]

Hot and badass doesn't equal out to cool?

[hardwearing]

[ Wash shakes his head, as if he's an expert on the matter. ]

Three totally different concepts.

[evocation]

Bullshit they are. Are you saying I was just tricked by your pretty face and cool armor or something?