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[evocation]

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

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[hardwearing]

[ Well there's no use denying it when he can feel his cheeks burning. He just holds up his phone. ]

I'm calling the clinic.

[ Can he flee the room tho? ]

[evocation]

[Nope. Kyna's sitting up fully now, reaching for his free hand. Her smile is turning into something more mischievous.]

Have you seriously never been called hot before?

[hardwearing]

[ Kynaaaaaaa. ]

Never so persistently.

[evocation]

[She pulls herself up onto her knees, which takes a little more care than usual because of her ribs, but it's doable. Kyna settles her hands on his chest, head tilting.]

Oh, sorry. I thought I actually had to work at getting you all flustered.

[hardwearing]

I'm not flustered.

[ He totally is. And also trying to ease her back down because she's supposed to be resting goddamnit. ]

[evocation]

[Resting is for chumps. And she'll ease back a little, but only after looping her arms around his neck.]

Man, I can't even get you to blush while we're having sex, and this is all it takes?

[hardwearing]

[ Wash sighs through his nose, even as his hands settle on her hips. ]

That's different.

[evocation]

[She presses against him, and this time, she sounds genuinely curious rather than teasing.]

Different how?

[hardwearing]

[ Kyna don't do this to him your ribs are busted. ]

I-- it just is? It's like I'm in a different gear or something.

[evocation]

[Sorry, Wash. Kyna is very close, leaning into him and ignoring the twinge in her ribs.]

Do people not flirt with you or something?

[hardwearing]

I mean, sometimes. I don't really know what to do with it, though.

[ He's a CO. It's not appropriate. ]

[evocation]

So I'm teaching you, is that what you're saying?

[hardwearing]

No, I meant... it's just been a long time since I've actually been in a position to do something about being flirted with. Some of the recruits on Chorus seem interested but it wouldn't be right.

And even when it was appropriate, I've never been very good about flirting back.

[ He's not smooth. He'd always gotten flustered like this. ]

[evocation]

It's okay.

[She leans up, lips pressing against his for a moment.]

You're doing fine with me.

[hardwearing]

[ He could argue that, seeing as she's had to take the lead at practically every turn, but it's much more fun to just dip his head and kiss her properly. ]

I think I'm getting the hang of it.

[evocation]

[Kyna steals another kiss and then grins up at him.]

So which of your recruits were hitting on you?

[hardwearing]

It doesn't matter, I think I drilled the interest out of most of them.

...training drills, I mean.

[evocation]

Why? Are you brutal or something?

[hardwearing]

Yes.

I don't ask for anything they can't do, but I push them hard. Every soldier has to break, to overcome the civilian mindset.

[evocation]

[Huh. Okay. Kyna frowns a little, thoughtfully.]

What's the civilian mindset?

[hardwearing]

A civilian chooses to do things. If they're tired of running, they can stop.

A soldier can't ever quit. They have to dig deeper, push to the limit and then find a way to keep going. Not just because they've been given an order, but because everyone else's survival might depend on theirs someday.

[evocation]

Jesus, that's intense.

[And suddenly, she thinks she understands a lot of his habits much better.]

We're not at war or anything. You can go easier on yourself.

[hardwearing]

Kyna. What about current events makes you think this is a good time to slack off?

[evocation]

I didn't say slack off. God. I mean you don't have to act like... I don't know. Like if you're not all wound up every second that something awful is going to happen. Don't you get exhausted?

[hardwearing]

...yes.

[ He is very tired. But he also honestly doesn't know how to stop. ]

I've never been wrong before, though. Something awful always happens.