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[a_shadow]

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[originalcopy]

[A look of concern passes over his face before he can stop it. Obviously she was fine and all that... but for just a second the thought of it twisted through him. He pushes past it to focus on the bit before that. Because, that's probably one of the most Tex reasons for anything ever. Of all time.]

I have to admit, there are things I miss about the robot. For example; I forgot how much stubbing your toe fucking hurts.

[He chuckles softly.]

Did you at least get your armor?

[a_shadow]

[ She sees that look cross his face. ]

I was in bad shape, but it's been a few months and I've regained a lot of strength now. So it's fine.

I do have my armor. I would have been pissed if I didn't.

[originalcopy]

What happened? Was I there?

[a_shadow]

No, you weren't. It was after you disappeared.

[ She turns her head slightly, looking out into the bar. He's not going to like this, she knows. ]

The ship was crashing onto a planet and I wanted to save both of my bodies. So I jumped to the robot and tried to launch this body out in an escape pod. The launching mechanism didn't work right and I had to climb into the tube and push. I fell when the escape pod did, and it crashed. The robot was damaged from the fall, so I had to jump to a temporary body that the aliens on the planet had available for me. And then this body ended up in a coma for...a while.

[ She manages to glance at him for a moment, then looks away again. ]

After the coma I had to live in the body for the entire recovery—no jumping to the robot. I did it, though. Hardest part was relearning to walk.

[originalcopy]

[Initially he blanches and just blinks blankly a couple of times.]

You... what...

[His expression turns to a glower. The thought of a crash, of her plummeting to the ground so hard that...]

You had to relearn- to walk.

[a_shadow]

[ Her expression darkens to match. ]

Don't, okay. It turned out fine.

[originalcopy]

What do you mean, don't?

[To his credit, he keeps his voice down. Instead he leans in.]

Am I not supposed to care about you getting hurt? Just because [insert helpful air quotes] we're not a thing? That's not how it works.

[a_shadow]

[ She huffs, just a little. ]

That's not what I meant. I just mean it already happened. There's no point getting overly concerned. I'm fine now.

[ She pauses, glancing away again. ]

Well, better, anyway. I won't consider myself 'fine' until I'm in the same physical shape I was before, but I'm getting there.

[originalcopy]

I'm not overly concerned. [He mutters quietly into his drink. It's just the whole crashing part is somehow worse because of what happened at the Gulch.]

So, what can I do to help?

[a_shadow]

[ She rolls her eyes. ]

Mm...nothing? I'm fine. I'll be fine.

[originalcopy]

[He scoffs.]

Look, I know the whole 'big-badass-Freelancer that doesn't need any help' is kinda your thing... but you don't actually have to do everything on your own.

[Whatever else they are or aren't, they're still a team as far as he's concerned.]

[a_shadow]

[ She rolls her eyes. ]

I know that. I do.

[originalcopy]

So. I could- I don't know... spot you at the gym or something.

[a_shadow]

[ She smirks, but decides to humor him. ]

Yeah, sure. Absolutely.

[originalcopy]

Wasn't so hard now, was it?

[He gives her a crooked, just starting to get properly buzzed smile.]

And I'm going to hold you to that too. So no thinking I'm going to forget about it or let you back out.

[a_shadow]

[ She snickers. ]

I'll hold you to it, too, so no wimping out.

[originalcopy]

[He shrugs and fishes around the bowl for an intact pretzel.]

Hey, I'm spotting. How hard can it be?

[He just has to stand there and say vaguely encouraging things unless she actually needs his help... right? It's not like he volunteered to actually work out too.]

[a_shadow]

[ She rolls her eyes with a good-natured smirk. ]

I guess we'll see.

[originalcopy]

I guess.

[He sips.]

Wait. You know I'm just spotting you... right.

[a_shadow]

[ That pulls a bigger smile out—an actual smile. ]

We'll see.

[originalcopy]

Fuuuck that.

[He rolls his eyes but he's not snarking in a bitchy way.]

I know you haven't seen it yet... but this body is in good shape already.

[a_shadow]

You don't need to brag.

[ She's still smiling, though. ]

Want to go head-to-head?

[originalcopy]

I have not yet begun to brag.

[He snerks and holds up the glass in a little mock salute. But her question has him raise a curious eyebrow.]

Are we talking a 'who can do the most squats' head-to-head... or the 'you're going to kick my ass' kind?

[Not a no, just curious.]

[a_shadow]

[ She smirks. ]

I could be persuaded into the latter, but I did mean like competition. Want to race?

[originalcopy]

Race? Like running?

[He considers it and then shrugs. On one hand running sucks. On the other, she's admitted that she's not at her best... and he's buzzed enough to completely overestimate his odds at beating her at anything.]

Yeah, okay. Why not?