[ he'd managed to not get himself injured in his dreams, which is lucky for him considering he'd been parading around with a gun through them at one point, but when he'd seen her, she'd been alright, at least in the instances they'd been together before attempting to get out, unsuccessfully making their exit and landing through someone else's dream. he'd assumed, had hoped, she'd at least gotten out then. ]
How far are you from the infirmary?
[ because he's definitely going to make sure he finds her now. ]
[Her voice pipes up on the earpiece, as well as from behind him. Okay, so she was on her way to the infirmary. But seeing for herself that he's just fine was more important to her.
And seeing that he really is unharmed has her smiling in relief. She's clutching her bandage wrapped arm close to her chest, but still moves in for a hug.]
[ he can hear the change in her voice, how it overlaps like an echo, both right into his ear and right behind him. he spins on his heel almost immediately, breath catching in seeing her standing there. the injury's already evident but from the looks of it, it's not as bad as it could be.
and not having seen her since their dreams, it's plenty of a relief, hand pressing lightly to the nape of her neck when she slips close to hug him, making sure not to pull her in tight as to avoid trapping that arm.
he remains there for a moment before reeling back, eyes squinting again, easing away from relief to something annoyed concern as he brings his hand in to lightly hold her arm. ] You get this looked at back at the castle?
The Doctor helped me best he could after he woke me up.
[She gives a light shrug of her shoulders as she watches his expression carefully. It's hard to tell if he's worried about her or simply annoyed she had let herself get hurt. In turn she winds up frowning, eyes glancing down and away as she lets out a soft exhale.]
I just need to get it properly set and wrapped. And then I'm either looking into painkillers or drinking enough that I don't feel a thing.
[The last part is an attempt at light humor. She's trying to keep him from thinking she's in over her head here, that she doesn't belong with the rest of the people here who have powers and can fight entire armies without any effort at all.]
[ he can probably take a shot at guessing which one. funnily enough, that doctor had actually been the one to take a look at his own broken arm in his return from the last mission. not that it'd needed more than just a bit of bandaging and a sling. at least he'd gotten the practice from it to look after clara too.
but kovacs is in the midst of both emotions, concern and annoyance all swirled into one, namely because it's difficult for him to ever stick exclusively to one. ]
Well, I can get you a drink, but only after you get your ass to the infirmary and get this in a sling. If I had to do it, so do you.
[At first, she thinks it's a nickname. And she's utterly charmed by the fact that her Doctor is out there making friends. And not only that, making friends with her friends. It makes her incredibly happy. But then she realizes he's asking a question, and the corner of her mouth quirks upward in amusement.]
Intense eyebrows, yeah. And if this is your way of trying to tell me what to do, I regret to inform you that I was already on my way to the infirmary before you distracted me.
[Forget the fact that she was the one that reached out to him first. There's a huff of annoyance as soon as she's done speaking, and she turns on her heel to leave. She hates being bossed around. She's the boss here, obviously.
But any annoyance she may be feeling fizzles out quickly, leaving her glancing back behind her before she gets too far.]
Walk with me?
[She's fine going in on her own. But wouldn't mind his company for the few minutes it takes to get there.]
[ it's not like kovacs would consider himself the friend-making type, and even now, about three months into his stay on this station, he wouldn't necessarily classify any of his relationships with the people on this station as "friends". though, if anyone were to perceive the way he spends his time, they'd probably think differently.
would he consider himself friends with the doctor? maybe. maybe not. it's definitely high tolerance. ]
You called me.
[ of course when clara snaps at him, he's going to point out the obvious, his own lips pursing out knowingly as she starts to walk away. he watches her, not even moving himself as she all too quickly turns back, his raised brow indicting he was already expecting it.
with her question, his lips quirk up into a helpless smile, sly as it is.
without a word, his eyes still on her, he takes slow steps to walk around to her side with the unbroken arm, his own hanging loose before almost subtly reaching out with splayed fingers, like a silent offer for her to take his hand. ]
[She's seen him smile so many different ways, and right in that moment, she realizes that it'd be nice to get to hear him laugh too. This isn't the right time to be tossing around attempts at jokes or humor, so she files away the desire to pull up sometime later when they're in private.
He probably wouldn't want anyone else here to know he's capable of things like laughter.
Her smile is as tired as the look that's in her eyes, the exhaustion from the mission finally catching up to her. But there's warmth in her gaze as she looks up to him, her eyes meeting his. The fondness in her smile is evident as well, though if he can't see the affection there he's likely to feel it as she gingerly slips her good hand over to hold his.]
And I'll be sure to make it up to you later.
[In the event she does trip and he catches her, that is. Or maybe she's referring to making up for the fact she was just nonsensically cross. Who knows?]
[ it's typically hard to feel any real sense of relief in coming back; the station isn't home, and really, it's been a long time since kovacs had any place that he could refer to with that word. but there's something here in the way of reassured ease, when she accepts the offer of his hand to wrap her fingers around his like it's one last way of promising that she's here, that she's safe.
even if she still has that injury of hers to take care of. he can see that even more than that, she's exhausted, probably even more so than he is. despite all the sleeping done in that castle, there'd clearly been no chance for actual rest, considering the exertion that came from those dreams.
but the relief of his smile is there, huffing a faint hint of a chuckle to her promise, and he briefly brushes his thumb against her knuckles before coaxing her into a walk towards the infirmary. ]
All your other limbs intact? No damage to report elsewhere?
[She insists, holding in a chuckle through her slight exasperation. It's almost amusing how he went from trying so hard to seem like a bad boy asshole to holding hands and showing her concern in public. It's always funny how these things work. Going from zero to completely consuming in no time flat. She wonders where the switch happened, whether it was the sex or something that fell into place sometime after.
There's also a realization that she's just said his name out loud. And while they're not exactly surrounded by people, the walls have ears here. And he definitely doesn't introduce himself by his first name to most people.]
You don't mind me calling you that, do you? Where someone else might hear, I mean. Is it a problem?
[ he's hardly the type to make a scene with these smaller displays of affection, but he won't necessarily go out of his way to try to hide it either. at this point, he thinks he's made it fairly clear that he's not going to get too chummy with just anyone, still wearing a face that tends to snarl or look disinterested, so even if he's caught with his hand in clara's, he wouldn't necessarily expect someone to take that as a suggestion that he's all around friendly either.
then again, with how much time he's already spent with the group aboard this station, he knows he's not necessarily completely closed off to them either. it's obvious by now just how necessary it is for all of them to work together, and if he wants to make sure his deal come through, he knows he needs to play nice.
but then there's clara's question, which he has to take a moment to think about what she's asking. turning to her, he raises a brow, considering it for a moment before his lips purse, letting off a shrug from one shoulder as he looks ahead. ]
Don't see why it would be. It's my name. [ but technically more personal than kovacs is. he gets what she's asking. ] Where I come from, everything's ... gotten impersonal. Surnames just tend to run easier. It's clean. Formal. People don't call me Kovacs cause I make them. It's cause they're not interested in anything else and I usually don't care if are.
[ he looks back to her, shrugging again, though almost a little more modestly. ] Rei was the first to start using Tak. [ clara had seen her, in the dream. ] Later, when the Envoys became our family, they used it too. Just these days — not really a lot of people around to use it anymore.
[ considering he doesn't have any family anymore. he sighs, giving a soft squeeze to her fingers. ]
But you can use whatever name you want. Anytime, anywhere.
[There's a give and a take when it comes to navigating figuring him out. Most times she thinks she has him pegged completely. Others, he surprises her. This is one of the times he gives her a bit of a surprise. Her eyebrow arches at the realization that basically everyone where he's from sucks.
More and more she understands exactly why he's as abrasive and rough around the edges as he can be. With her, he tries. Or maybe the softness he shows her just comes naturally. Her hand shifts in his, turning just enough that she can squeeze in return.
This conversation is good. It's keeping her mind off the pain she's feeling, and helps keep her grounded.]
I'll be sure to keep that in mind.
[She says in a way that sounds like trouble for him later, accompanied by a mischievous little glint in her eye that shines through the exhaustion. What sort of ridiculous names could she call him, she wonders?]
But just so we're in agreement, I'm laying claim to calling you Tak while we're here.
[Is she playing at being possessive to tease him? Or is she being serious? It's not likely she's going to let him know. The smile she's trying to turn her head away to hide is answer enough.]
[ talking about the elements of his past has never come easy to him; when it comes to explaining his world, about stacks and sleeves, about how he ended up in this body after an extended period in prison, that's all surface detail, easy to skim through, but when it comes to all that really mattered to him, it'd taken those dreams to really peel back the layers, putting a focus through a lens he'd been hesitant to peek through again.
and yet, clara had seen a portion of it, and with the way she'd held him through it, it makes it all just a little less terrifying to revisit, even if the pain continues to throb when he talks of it, of the envoys, of rei.
but when the pain strikes, she squeezes his fingers and she's warm, the feel of her hand easing him to breathe easier.
his eyes find hers with her tease, the weight lightening to where the smirk appears in his expression again. no one's been calling him tak while he's been here, even if some have already picked up on takeshi, but then, she's the only one he's even given the name too. ]
There's that bossy authoritative thing I like again. [ which there's definitely no way he'd come to regret admitting to it. ]
In that case - [She pauses just long enough to use her hold on his hand to pull herself in closer to try and steal a kiss. It's harder now, since she can't use her other hand to tug him in to her. But she figures he'll realize what she's aiming for and bend down to make it easier on her.]
I insist you meet me in the shower later. No arguing, do as you're told.
[It's whispered as she pulls away, and she's proud of the fact she managed to get every single word out without blushing or laughing at herself.
They're just about at the infirmary now, which is exactly why she's just kissed him. Another quick peck to the lips has her reluctantly pulling away, backing up until she's closer to the infirmary's door than to him. She flips her good hand up in a little wave, fingers already missing the feel of his against hers. But she knows he'll be there for her later, and she's independent enough to not need to ask him to come with her inside. She can take care of this herself. ]
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How far are you from the infirmary?
[ because he's definitely going to make sure he finds her now. ]
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[Her voice pipes up on the earpiece, as well as from behind him. Okay, so she was on her way to the infirmary. But seeing for herself that he's just fine was more important to her.
And seeing that he really is unharmed has her smiling in relief. She's clutching her bandage wrapped arm close to her chest, but still moves in for a hug.]
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and not having seen her since their dreams, it's plenty of a relief, hand pressing lightly to the nape of her neck when she slips close to hug him, making sure not to pull her in tight as to avoid trapping that arm.
he remains there for a moment before reeling back, eyes squinting again, easing away from relief to something annoyed concern as he brings his hand in to lightly hold her arm. ] You get this looked at back at the castle?
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[She gives a light shrug of her shoulders as she watches his expression carefully. It's hard to tell if he's worried about her or simply annoyed she had let herself get hurt. In turn she winds up frowning, eyes glancing down and away as she lets out a soft exhale.]
I just need to get it properly set and wrapped. And then I'm either looking into painkillers or drinking enough that I don't feel a thing.
[The last part is an attempt at light humor. She's trying to keep him from thinking she's in over her head here, that she doesn't belong with the rest of the people here who have powers and can fight entire armies without any effort at all.]
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[ he can probably take a shot at guessing which one. funnily enough, that doctor had actually been the one to take a look at his own broken arm in his return from the last mission. not that it'd needed more than just a bit of bandaging and a sling. at least he'd gotten the practice from it to look after clara too.
but kovacs is in the midst of both emotions, concern and annoyance all swirled into one, namely because it's difficult for him to ever stick exclusively to one. ]
Well, I can get you a drink, but only after you get your ass to the infirmary and get this in a sling. If I had to do it, so do you.
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Intense eyebrows, yeah. And if this is your way of trying to tell me what to do, I regret to inform you that I was already on my way to the infirmary before you distracted me.
[Forget the fact that she was the one that reached out to him first. There's a huff of annoyance as soon as she's done speaking, and she turns on her heel to leave. She hates being bossed around. She's the boss here, obviously.
But any annoyance she may be feeling fizzles out quickly, leaving her glancing back behind her before she gets too far.]
Walk with me?
[She's fine going in on her own. But wouldn't mind his company for the few minutes it takes to get there.]
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would he consider himself friends with the doctor? maybe. maybe not. it's definitely high tolerance. ]
You called me.
[ of course when clara snaps at him, he's going to point out the obvious, his own lips pursing out knowingly as she starts to walk away. he watches her, not even moving himself as she all too quickly turns back, his raised brow indicting he was already expecting it.
with her question, his lips quirk up into a helpless smile, sly as it is.
without a word, his eyes still on her, he takes slow steps to walk around to her side with the unbroken arm, his own hanging loose before almost subtly reaching out with splayed fingers, like a silent offer for her to take his hand. ]
I'll make sure you don't trip on the way.
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He probably wouldn't want anyone else here to know he's capable of things like laughter.
Her smile is as tired as the look that's in her eyes, the exhaustion from the mission finally catching up to her. But there's warmth in her gaze as she looks up to him, her eyes meeting his. The fondness in her smile is evident as well, though if he can't see the affection there he's likely to feel it as she gingerly slips her good hand over to hold his.]
And I'll be sure to make it up to you later.
[In the event she does trip and he catches her, that is. Or maybe she's referring to making up for the fact she was just nonsensically cross. Who knows?]
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even if she still has that injury of hers to take care of. he can see that even more than that, she's exhausted, probably even more so than he is. despite all the sleeping done in that castle, there'd clearly been no chance for actual rest, considering the exertion that came from those dreams.
but the relief of his smile is there, huffing a faint hint of a chuckle to her promise, and he briefly brushes his thumb against her knuckles before coaxing her into a walk towards the infirmary. ]
All your other limbs intact? No damage to report elsewhere?
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[She insists, holding in a chuckle through her slight exasperation. It's almost amusing how he went from trying so hard to seem like a bad boy asshole to holding hands and showing her concern in public. It's always funny how these things work. Going from zero to completely consuming in no time flat. She wonders where the switch happened, whether it was the sex or something that fell into place sometime after.
There's also a realization that she's just said his name out loud. And while they're not exactly surrounded by people, the walls have ears here. And he definitely doesn't introduce himself by his first name to most people.]
You don't mind me calling you that, do you? Where someone else might hear, I mean. Is it a problem?
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then again, with how much time he's already spent with the group aboard this station, he knows he's not necessarily completely closed off to them either. it's obvious by now just how necessary it is for all of them to work together, and if he wants to make sure his deal come through, he knows he needs to play nice.
but then there's clara's question, which he has to take a moment to think about what she's asking. turning to her, he raises a brow, considering it for a moment before his lips purse, letting off a shrug from one shoulder as he looks ahead. ]
Don't see why it would be. It's my name. [ but technically more personal than kovacs is. he gets what she's asking. ] Where I come from, everything's ... gotten impersonal. Surnames just tend to run easier. It's clean. Formal. People don't call me Kovacs cause I make them. It's cause they're not interested in anything else and I usually don't care if are.
[ he looks back to her, shrugging again, though almost a little more modestly. ] Rei was the first to start using Tak. [ clara had seen her, in the dream. ] Later, when the Envoys became our family, they used it too. Just these days — not really a lot of people around to use it anymore.
[ considering he doesn't have any family anymore. he sighs, giving a soft squeeze to her fingers. ]
But you can use whatever name you want. Anytime, anywhere.
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More and more she understands exactly why he's as abrasive and rough around the edges as he can be. With her, he tries. Or maybe the softness he shows her just comes naturally. Her hand shifts in his, turning just enough that she can squeeze in return.
This conversation is good. It's keeping her mind off the pain she's feeling, and helps keep her grounded.]
I'll be sure to keep that in mind.
[She says in a way that sounds like trouble for him later, accompanied by a mischievous little glint in her eye that shines through the exhaustion. What sort of ridiculous names could she call him, she wonders?]
But just so we're in agreement, I'm laying claim to calling you Tak while we're here.
[Is she playing at being possessive to tease him? Or is she being serious? It's not likely she's going to let him know. The smile she's trying to turn her head away to hide is answer enough.]
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and yet, clara had seen a portion of it, and with the way she'd held him through it, it makes it all just a little less terrifying to revisit, even if the pain continues to throb when he talks of it, of the envoys, of rei.
but when the pain strikes, she squeezes his fingers and she's warm, the feel of her hand easing him to breathe easier.
his eyes find hers with her tease, the weight lightening to where the smirk appears in his expression again. no one's been calling him tak while he's been here, even if some have already picked up on takeshi, but then, she's the only one he's even given the name too. ]
There's that bossy authoritative thing I like again. [ which there's definitely no way he'd come to regret admitting to it. ]
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I insist you meet me in the shower later. No arguing, do as you're told.
[It's whispered as she pulls away, and she's proud of the fact she managed to get every single word out without blushing or laughing at herself.
They're just about at the infirmary now, which is exactly why she's just kissed him. Another quick peck to the lips has her reluctantly pulling away, backing up until she's closer to the infirmary's door than to him. She flips her good hand up in a little wave, fingers already missing the feel of his against hers. But she knows he'll be there for her later, and she's independent enough to not need to ask him to come with her inside. She can take care of this herself. ]