[ duh. don't you know anything about checkers, illya?
though it's probably a good thing that checkers isn't a two-handed sport, because daisy's steadfastly refused to let go. in fact, she's shifted in bed, clearing a little more space for him; her hand tugs on his until he's got no choice to come a little closer. the implication is clear: get in the bed. keep her company. let her cuddle. ]
[ he was trying to be nice daisy! if she insists on him taking the first move, he will though. he's scanning the board when he feels an insistent tug on his hand and looks up to find her shifting and scooting over to make...space.
he frowns, trying to make sure he understands what she's telling him before he gets to his feet. the hospital bed is far, far too small for this and his feet are going to just dangle off the side but...but okay.
it takes some work and he feels like he's going to fall off if she so much as breathes wrong but he eventually gets himself on the bed beside her, his side plastered to hers from shoulder to hip to leg. he has to let go of her hand so he can slip it around her shoulders before he finally settles into somewhat of a comfortable position
his legs do hang off the bed but the checkers board was un jostled. ]
[ full disclosure: she hadn't realized how small the bed was. maybe that's because he's got a foot of height on her, or maybe it's because she's just too tired to really care all that much, but either way, daisy realizes the Bed Dilemma once his body begins to squash up against her own.
this won't do. she can hardly wriggle around, let alone lay comfortably — but kicking him out? so not an option. instead, daisy shifts into him, allowing more and more of her body to lean atop his own; by the time she's satisfied, he's been able to shift more into the center of the bed, and her head rests snugly on his chest, her hair splayed out around it. very cozy.
she cannot reach the board from here, because her arms are not that long (and also because they are very comfortably resting too), but she can always dictate her moves and make him do the work. if they ever actually start the game. as for his question? well. that takes some careful thought. ]
I don't know. [ or not. ] I like spending time with you.
[ he's too tall for this bed. it's a tight fit at first and he almost suggests getting back up and retaking his seat but doesn't get that far before she starts moving around until half of her body's on top of his. it's....different to say the least. solo certainly hadn't done this when he'd been injured.
he doesn't know where to put his hands so they end up resting at his sides for the time being. ]
You do? [ he can't help being surprised. that sort of thing, it just doesn't happen to him. so, he's surprised. but underneath that, maybe there's a sliver of pleasure. of want of the same thing? he doesn't even know what he's feeling. ]
So, what do you want if you win? [ if not when. but, to soften that blow to her ego about her future checkers victory, he does pick up one of his hands to slide it around the curve of her shoulders, idly moving his fingers back and forth. ]
Mmmmmhm, [ a quiet, hummed agreement to his initial question, the sound reverberates in her chest, echoing through to his. she does like spending time with him. he's quiet, in his own way, and insufferably stoic in others — but illya's smart, and honest, and unflinchingly himself in a way daisy doesn't often get to appreciate. and he likes her, whether by his own choice or the fact that she's worn him down, and that helps too.
plus, some little voice in the back of her head adds, he's good at other things too. but she's not thinking about those things right now. ]
Something nice. [ without much thought behind it, the hand that's currently splayed out against his chest lifts; her fingertips trail weaving patterns that seem to mirror the ones he's tracing on her back. ] Connor and Fitz went to space.
[ momentarily, his mind catches on that because how had they gone to space? he's adjusting to the fact that technology here is well beyond what he'd known in the past but the thought of just taking a little trip to space just because they could is still enough to trip him up for the slightest of moments.
he does not know if he could take her to space and make it nice because space would, honestly, be an overwhelming experience for a man who's never been and who never thought he would go either. he was better suited for keeping his feet on the ground. ]
We can go somewhere. I do not know about space since I think I'd be...unprepared for that. [ to say the least. he was not going to admit often that he couldn't do something but, in this and to her, he would admit that space was a little out of his reach. ]
I still feel new here in comparison to a lot of people. The places I go are probably not meant for nice. [ the fighting rings and all. not really great to take someone to unless they were going to fight too. ]
But -- [ he is definitely not rejecting her request. he sighs and flicks his eyes down to watch the movement of her fingers across his chest for a few seconds. ] We can go somewhere. I will take you somewhere when you're feeling better.
I don't want to go to space either. [ half an admission, half a reassurance; they can both be wary of putting their feet in a lunar launcher for their own reasons, and neither will have to do it. that part, at least, works out okay.
she considers his own admission, though, a little more seriously. in her time in new amsterdam, daisy's seen a fair handful of places — from high-end high rises scoped out for social engineering to the literal underground for training purposes — and yet, she wouldn't really consider any of them "nice". at least not in this context. a context she's not entirely sure she's ready to name.
it's not a date, per se. it's just spending time together. but they don't claim to be anything official. there would have to be feelings on both sides for that, and daisy's still fairly confident those feelings are just on her end, and even then, she doesn't really want to own up to them. owning up to how she feels means putting herself at risk when things inevitably go south.
but that doesn't mean she doesn't appreciate his offer. ]
[ it's his turn for his cheeks to flame and really, it is completely her fault that the memory of a sushi restaurant is enough to make him blush. outside of her, no one is going to understand why he reacts like that and it'll just look strange.
he blows out a breath and shakes his head. ] If you want to, we can. If you consider that as somewhere nice.
[ he'd just be watching her hands the entire time. ] I would offer another cooked meal but that isn't really going out and there are two people staying with me now so it would be...
[ crowded. he reaches up and tries to wipe the redness off of his cheeks before she notices. ] So, choose a place you would like to go and I will take you.
[ the universe will grant you a pass this time, illya, because daisy's simply too worn out to pay much attention to any small movements outside her immediate field of vision. the hand he lifts to sweep at his cheeks doesn't stop him from touching her with the other, thus: out of sight, out of mind.
honestly, it's kind of impressive she's keeping her eyes open at all. after all, one of the side effects of space-age super medicine is its intense drowsiness, intended to allow the patient to sleep while the body repairs itself at comparative warp speed. ]
Can you surprise me? [ a little bit of laziness, yes, but it's also a legitimate request. she'd like to let him choose, this time, after she forced the choices on him during their last meal. ] Doesn't have to be a restaurant, either.
I can do my best. [ he'd never done anything like that, not outside of work. he'd gone out with various people for the purpose of gathering information or conveniently taking them out during a lull in the night but planning and then taking someone out purely for personal reasons was and would be a new experience. ]
Give me a little time to see what is available. [ he is not trying to get out of it before you think otherwise. he needs time to over analyze and overthink this and she needs time to recover. it works perfectly. ]
Are you going to sleep again? [ should he go? should he leave her alone so she can sleep in peace? ]
No, I'm awake. [ murmured over a yawn, hand gently curving over her mouth. so super duper awake. who wouldn't believe that? ] I thought we were going to play checkers.
[ if he would ever take his turn, that is. black has to go first, and since he insists on being the black marks, he'll just have to suck it up and play. or he can just lay here and be an excellent pillow if he'd rather. that's also an acceptable option. ]
Yes, you sound very awake. [ she sounds like she's going to pass out at any moment. really, should he leave? he doesn't want to be an obstacle in whatever healing she still has to do.
instead, he grumbles something about stubborn and ridiculous in russian and reaches to move a black piece up on the board. ]
You were talking to me. I didn't want to interrupt by taking a turn at checkers. I was listening to you.
Thank you. [ a very prim "thank you". mostly for agreeing with her, even if the sarcasm is practically dripping off his every word. she's taking his statements very literally for once in her life... primarily because it suits her to do so. ]
You can take a turn at checkers and still listen. You were stalling. [ she turns her head to squint at the board, considering. ] Mm, that one. [ very specific pointing ] Move that one to the right for me.
[ this is not how you play checkers... and yet... ]
[ illya gives her a look for that one and then looks at the board and then back at her before reaching forward to move the piece to the requested spot. ]
This is not how you play checkers.
[ daisy, would you just go to sleep? you were going to fall asleep before this game was finished. ]
And I wasn't stalling. [ how dare you. he moves another black piece forward. ] Go.
Well. [ does it matter? ] I'm comfortable, and you have long arms. You can move the pieces for me.
[ hell, they could play virtual reality multiplayer checkers through the neural network if they really wanted to. but the physical checkerboard's a small touch of something they shared together, and daisy's quite fond of it now. ]
The one opposite, to the left.
[ the beginning of checkers is pretty boring, if she's honest. ]
Oh, so it's my fault for being tall. [ just remember who pulled who into the bed. but, illya dutifully moves her piece as requested. it's still early so there's no real strategizing to do so he moves another black piece out and looks over at her.
speaking of being in bed: ] Your doctors are going to be upset if they find me like this, you do realize. I don't think I'm supposed to be here.
[ not that he's moving but again, he doesn't want to hinder her recovery in anyway. that is the absolute last thing he wants to do especially to her. ]
I don't care. [ matter-of-factly, even as she turns her face to smother a yawn against the fabric of his shirt. ] I want you here.
[ maybe it's the drowsiness she's battling. maybe it's the brush with death. maybe it's the fact that she spent so much time talking to markus, feeling like she was hearing a mirror of her own choices as he explained why he dove in front of a bullet for connor. she's not sure why, but the simple fact that she does want him here is clear to her, and she doesn't mind telling him so. she wants him to know that, as a matter of fact. ]
And I'm still technically in bed, so I don't see what the problem is.
[ she gestures at another piece, barely even looking at the board. she has no idea what's going on, but it doesn't really matter. ]
[ 'i want you here'. it's said so quickly and so matter of factly that illya jolts a little. it's getting harder and harder to tell himself that the things she says and does are things she does with everyone. because the opposite means there is...something more to her words and that is impossible.
at least, that's what he's thought for the majority of his life. and he has been fine with that. he didn't need another person to have a fulfilling life. he had his work. then, there was this place and the removal of everything he had known.
and now her. a presence that has become more and more familiar over the past few weeks. he doesn't know what to say or if he should say anything. maybe he's still misreading it.
or maybe he isn't and what's trying to happen here is something he is unprepared for and terrible at. oh god. ]
Then, I'm here. [ his voice is uncharacteristically quiet and gentle. he'll blame his mess of confused thoughts on that one.
and he doesn't forget to move one of her pieces forward. is it the one she wanted to be moved? he doesn't think so but oh well. ]
[ his reply comes slowly, in a voice that's quiet, almost soft. so slowly, in fact, that by the time he does manage to speak, daisy's eyes have fallen shut, her breathing gentle and calm. she's not quite asleep, but comfortable. safe, in fact.
whether or not he moved the checkers piece is, suddenly, far less important. ]
Stay. [ a low exhale, and daisy stretches, her arm draping more snugly around his torso, cheek pressed against his chest. ] Please.
Go to sleep. [ it was obvious that's where she was headed. she was going to fall asleep on him and he was going to be stuck here for however long that lasted. he tries to situate his legs a little better but eventually gives up.
he does move the checkerboard aside before reaching up and moving his fingers slowly, tentatively through her hair. again, he considers moving to touch her skin just to see what she might be feeling but it feels too much like he's invading her privacy especially when she's falling asleep on top of him. ]
I'm not going to leave. [ the words are a promise. ] Go to sleep. Rest. Ty v bezopasnosti.
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[ duh. don't you know anything about checkers, illya?
though it's probably a good thing that checkers isn't a two-handed sport, because daisy's steadfastly refused to let go. in fact, she's shifted in bed, clearing a little more space for him; her hand tugs on his until he's got no choice to come a little closer. the implication is clear: get in the bed. keep her company. let her cuddle. ]
What will you give me if I beat you again?
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he frowns, trying to make sure he understands what she's telling him before he gets to his feet. the hospital bed is far, far too small for this and his feet are going to just dangle off the side but...but okay.
it takes some work and he feels like he's going to fall off if she so much as breathes wrong but he eventually gets himself on the bed beside her, his side plastered to hers from shoulder to hip to leg. he has to let go of her hand so he can slip it around her shoulders before he finally settles into somewhat of a comfortable position
his legs do hang off the bed but the checkers board was un jostled. ]
What do you want?
[ since you'd already gotten him in bed. ]
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this won't do. she can hardly wriggle around, let alone lay comfortably — but kicking him out? so not an option. instead, daisy shifts into him, allowing more and more of her body to lean atop his own; by the time she's satisfied, he's been able to shift more into the center of the bed, and her head rests snugly on his chest, her hair splayed out around it. very cozy.
she cannot reach the board from here, because her arms are not that long (and also because they are very comfortably resting too), but she can always dictate her moves and make him do the work. if they ever actually start the game. as for his question? well. that takes some careful thought. ]
I don't know. [ or not. ] I like spending time with you.
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he doesn't know where to put his hands so they end up resting at his sides for the time being. ]
You do? [ he can't help being surprised. that sort of thing, it just doesn't happen to him. so, he's surprised. but underneath that, maybe there's a sliver of pleasure. of want of the same thing? he doesn't even know what he's feeling. ]
So, what do you want if you win? [ if not when. but, to soften that blow to her ego about her future checkers victory, he does pick up one of his hands to slide it around the curve of her shoulders, idly moving his fingers back and forth. ]
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plus, some little voice in the back of her head adds, he's good at other things too. but she's not thinking about those things right now. ]
Something nice. [ without much thought behind it, the hand that's currently splayed out against his chest lifts; her fingertips trail weaving patterns that seem to mirror the ones he's tracing on her back. ] Connor and Fitz went to space.
[ she doesn't necessarily want to go to space. ]
Could we go somewhere?
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[ momentarily, his mind catches on that because how had they gone to space? he's adjusting to the fact that technology here is well beyond what he'd known in the past but the thought of just taking a little trip to space just because they could is still enough to trip him up for the slightest of moments.
he does not know if he could take her to space and make it nice because space would, honestly, be an overwhelming experience for a man who's never been and who never thought he would go either. he was better suited for keeping his feet on the ground. ]
We can go somewhere. I do not know about space since I think I'd be...unprepared for that. [ to say the least. he was not going to admit often that he couldn't do something but, in this and to her, he would admit that space was a little out of his reach. ]
I still feel new here in comparison to a lot of people. The places I go are probably not meant for nice. [ the fighting rings and all. not really great to take someone to unless they were going to fight too. ]
But -- [ he is definitely not rejecting her request. he sighs and flicks his eyes down to watch the movement of her fingers across his chest for a few seconds. ] We can go somewhere. I will take you somewhere when you're feeling better.
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she considers his own admission, though, a little more seriously. in her time in new amsterdam, daisy's seen a fair handful of places — from high-end high rises scoped out for social engineering to the literal underground for training purposes — and yet, she wouldn't really consider any of them "nice". at least not in this context. a context she's not entirely sure she's ready to name.
it's not a date, per se. it's just spending time together. but they don't claim to be anything official. there would have to be feelings on both sides for that, and daisy's still fairly confident those feelings are just on her end, and even then, she doesn't really want to own up to them. owning up to how she feels means putting herself at risk when things inevitably go south.
but that doesn't mean she doesn't appreciate his offer. ]
I'm guessing we won't go out for sushi again.
[ very funny. ]
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he blows out a breath and shakes his head. ] If you want to, we can. If you consider that as somewhere nice.
[ he'd just be watching her hands the entire time. ] I would offer another cooked meal but that isn't really going out and there are two people staying with me now so it would be...
[ crowded. he reaches up and tries to wipe the redness off of his cheeks before she notices. ] So, choose a place you would like to go and I will take you.
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honestly, it's kind of impressive she's keeping her eyes open at all. after all, one of the side effects of space-age super medicine is its intense drowsiness, intended to allow the patient to sleep while the body repairs itself at comparative warp speed. ]
Can you surprise me? [ a little bit of laziness, yes, but it's also a legitimate request. she'd like to let him choose, this time, after she forced the choices on him during their last meal. ] Doesn't have to be a restaurant, either.
[ the world is your oyster, illya. ]
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Give me a little time to see what is available. [ he is not trying to get out of it before you think otherwise. he needs time to over analyze and overthink this and she needs time to recover. it works perfectly. ]
Are you going to sleep again? [ should he go? should he leave her alone so she can sleep in peace? ]
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[ if he would ever take his turn, that is. black has to go first, and since he insists on being the black marks, he'll just have to suck it up and play. or he can just lay here and be an excellent pillow if he'd rather. that's also an acceptable option. ]
You're supposed to go first.
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instead, he grumbles something about stubborn and ridiculous in russian and reaches to move a black piece up on the board. ]
You were talking to me. I didn't want to interrupt by taking a turn at checkers. I was listening to you.
[ very raptly, in fact. ]
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You can take a turn at checkers and still listen. You were stalling. [ she turns her head to squint at the board, considering. ] Mm, that one. [ very specific pointing ] Move that one to the right for me.
[ this is not how you play checkers... and yet... ]
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This is not how you play checkers.
[ daisy, would you just go to sleep? you were going to fall asleep before this game was finished. ]
And I wasn't stalling. [ how dare you. he moves another black piece forward. ] Go.
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[ hell, they could play virtual reality multiplayer checkers through the neural network if they really wanted to. but the physical checkerboard's a small touch of something they shared together, and daisy's quite fond of it now. ]
The one opposite, to the left.
[ the beginning of checkers is pretty boring, if she's honest. ]
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speaking of being in bed: ] Your doctors are going to be upset if they find me like this, you do realize. I don't think I'm supposed to be here.
[ not that he's moving but again, he doesn't want to hinder her recovery in anyway. that is the absolute last thing he wants to do especially to her. ]
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[ maybe it's the drowsiness she's battling. maybe it's the brush with death. maybe it's the fact that she spent so much time talking to markus, feeling like she was hearing a mirror of her own choices as he explained why he dove in front of a bullet for connor. she's not sure why, but the simple fact that she does want him here is clear to her, and she doesn't mind telling him so. she wants him to know that, as a matter of fact. ]
And I'm still technically in bed, so I don't see what the problem is.
[ she gestures at another piece, barely even looking at the board. she has no idea what's going on, but it doesn't really matter. ]
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at least, that's what he's thought for the majority of his life. and he has been fine with that. he didn't need another person to have a fulfilling life. he had his work. then, there was this place and the removal of everything he had known.
and now her. a presence that has become more and more familiar over the past few weeks. he doesn't know what to say or if he should say anything. maybe he's still misreading it.
or maybe he isn't and what's trying to happen here is something he is unprepared for and terrible at. oh god. ]
Then, I'm here. [ his voice is uncharacteristically quiet and gentle. he'll blame his mess of confused thoughts on that one.
and he doesn't forget to move one of her pieces forward. is it the one she wanted to be moved? he doesn't think so but oh well. ]
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whether or not he moved the checkers piece is, suddenly, far less important. ]
Stay. [ a low exhale, and daisy stretches, her arm draping more snugly around his torso, cheek pressed against his chest. ] Please.
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he does move the checkerboard aside before reaching up and moving his fingers slowly, tentatively through her hair. again, he considers moving to touch her skin just to see what she might be feeling but it feels too much like he's invading her privacy especially when she's falling asleep on top of him. ]
I'm not going to leave. [ the words are a promise. ] Go to sleep. Rest. Ty v bezopasnosti.