"You are the best student I have. Above and beyond anyone else." His words were certain, but way too quiet and close to be firm.
Another moment of hesitation, but the frightened look in her eyes was... difficult to resist. (And a small part of his mind filed that knowledge away as something they may work on later, another weapon in her arsenal.) But then he shifted, holding her to him even closer, kissing her again. Longer and just a bit deeper, because there was only so much he could formulate, not right now.
Eventually, they broke off, though he didn't quite pull back, not this time. Instead, he leaned his forehead against hers, closing his eyes and trying to ignore that the towel had shifted with how close they were, with the kisses, the motions...
Instead, he focused on the scent of her, still warm from the shower which she seemed to have come out of an eternity ago, and so soft. "We will need to think through this very well, Natalia. We don't belong to ourselves, here." But... "I won't fail you, either."
Could he afford his folly to take away her future, the bright and amazing future that he couldn't not see?
It wasn't his folly alone, it was theirs (but she was barely more than a child...) and... and maybe they could be careful. Maybe they could ... could somehow share this warmth. Truly share it.
Because it was intoxicating, holding her this close and kissing her and talking with her. Like nothing he could readily remember - not waking up from stasis, not praise for well accomplished mission, nor even pride in the successes of those he trained. Nothing. And it also felt right in ways he couldn't justify. How could trying to take for himself be right?
He didn't have answers. Just more and more questions, and tiredness that he could feel way too acutely beneath the touch of her soft skin.
no subject
Another moment of hesitation, but the frightened look in her eyes was... difficult to resist. (And a small part of his mind filed that knowledge away as something they may work on later, another weapon in her arsenal.) But then he shifted, holding her to him even closer, kissing her again. Longer and just a bit deeper, because there was only so much he could formulate, not right now.
Eventually, they broke off, though he didn't quite pull back, not this time. Instead, he leaned his forehead against hers, closing his eyes and trying to ignore that the towel had shifted with how close they were, with the kisses, the motions...
Instead, he focused on the scent of her, still warm from the shower which she seemed to have come out of an eternity ago, and so soft. "We will need to think through this very well, Natalia. We don't belong to ourselves, here." But... "I won't fail you, either."
Could he afford his folly to take away her future, the bright and amazing future that he couldn't not see?
It wasn't his folly alone, it was theirs (but she was barely more than a child...) and... and maybe they could be careful. Maybe they could ... could somehow share this warmth. Truly share it.
Because it was intoxicating, holding her this close and kissing her and talking with her. Like nothing he could readily remember - not waking up from stasis, not praise for well accomplished mission, nor even pride in the successes of those he trained. Nothing. And it also felt right in ways he couldn't justify. How could trying to take for himself be right?
He didn't have answers. Just more and more questions, and tiredness that he could feel way too acutely beneath the touch of her soft skin.