universal_charm | You can't contain him! [ action ]

[ He was not a bedridden man.

Well, he should have been, but he did not play one well at all. He was fairly sure the nurse was ready to suffocate him with his own pillow, which would be a bad scenario for them both - mainly him. He didn't enjoy the idea of going through the dying process again, thanks. So, instead, he decided to escape. Oh, he knew he'd probably have to come back for his check ups and stuff, but he wanted to stretch his muscles and be out amongst the people. Listening to them chatter on the journal wasn't all it was cracked up to be after about a week or more.

So, in an astounding feet of spy craft, he snuck out of the clinic, dressed in sweats and found himself at Natasha's coffee shop, wondering if she might even be there, or who he'd see inside. Just the idea of coffee was delicious, since he had been restricted to water and a few juice drinks on his best rest and observation.

He went to the counter to order, at least being smart enough to get decaf, but maybe he asked for whipped cream in there just because. His hands warm from the cup, he settled down to watch the flow of people, feeling better with them around him, with being out and about and... being alive. ]

[ ooc: he's just sitting drinkin' his coffee, so come on by and bother the clinic escapee! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Natasha is behind the counter when Kirk walks in and it's been a while since she's seen him, things have been keeping her preoccupied elsewhere and she's been letting her own surveillance of the goings-on in Luceti falter a bit because of it. She takes one look at him when he walks in and turns to lean against the counter, waiting while he approaches and obviously noting details that she's not giving voice to just yes. Instead, all she starts with is-]

You look like crap, Kirk.

_{[ He looks over at her, surprised and pleased. He had missed Natasha in his year away, and even before then. He always wondered what happened to her, and he guess he got his answer. She was still here. Well, had been here for three days. Okay, the time-skipping was still hard to reconcile sometimes.

He gave her a grin, easier to manage than when he'd first arrived. ]}

I get that a lot lately. I'm deciding to take it as a compliment.

What happened?

[She's already making him a coffee without him needing to ask. She'd quickly come to learn what her regulars prefer - even the ones that have tastes that lend to particular moods. It's one way her memory's serving for something useful here, anyway.]

_{[ Oh, how to say this. He was all for being honest and upfront, and he
once heard that the more you talk about something, the easier it is to
accept.}

So, finally, he shrugged, watching her stir the coffee. ]

I died.

[She freezes, her hand going still as her gaze flitted to his face, her own expression inscrutable as she studied him a moment. Then she purposefully went back to making his coffee.]

Glad to see it didn't take.

Yeah, I am too. Apparently, I got a dose of a super soldier's cells and they seem to be doing the trick.

_{[ He shrugged. ]}

Still a bit wobbly on my feet sometimes though. Guess I don't heal quite as fast as the real thing.

[That has her setting his mug down with a quiet clink, her narrowed gaze coming back to meet his.]

What do you mean, super soldier cells?

Exactly what I said. A bio-engineered super soldier.

_{[ Khan. God, just thinking about him made him shudder, not for what he
was... for why he had been made, and why he had been driven to do what he
did. He didn't like what that said of his race, of his ancestry. Even now
he wanted to hate him, and he did, but at the same time, he saw a justice
in what Khan had wanted. ]}

And that... what, brought you back to life? [Her brow is furrowed as she takes this in.]

I guess. I don't really know the science of it, but it worked. Bones must have done something, but I don't remember. I died in the radiation decontamination chamber - or I thought I did, and Spock wasn't there for what Bones did, so he doesn't know either. I just know I'm alive, and based on what Uhura said, I have to assume I have Khan's cells in me.

From the way I feel, I assume they're dealing with working the rest of the contamination out of my system.

Radiation contamination. [She echoes him, giving him an unimpressed look as she slides his coffee across the counter to him.] Honestly, Kirk.

What can I say? Someone had to kick that nuclear core back into place.

_{[ He took the cup and smiled at her, like that was perfectly normal of
all things. Except it wasn't, and he knew it, and if he wasn't careful he'd
break. He liked to think he was strong, but dying, going through that
process... it was to much for anyone. ]}

[That was something she understood, and there was something still fragile in the way he grinned at her, a vulnerability she could read in the cracks that told her he wasn't taking this as calmly as he wanted to appear. She had the tact not to point that out. Instead, she motioned to Eugene to take over at the counter for her and waved Kirk towards one of the booths as she came around the counter.]

And I'm sure you pulled the task off heroically. Just try not to make it a habit, would you?

Well, you know, I'll try to keep it from happening, but with my crazy life, I make no promises.

_{[ He shook his head, but was grateful for her presence as she came
around with him. He sat where she motioned after stopping to get some cream
and sugar and the only sound for a second was the clink of his spoon
against the mug. ]}

Well, now we're all caught up on me. What about you?

[She sank down across from him and studied him for a moment, inclining her head.] Yes, sometimes it comes with the territory. Still. Be careful. If you can.

[At his question, her lips quirk and she makes a vague motion around the coffee shop.] Things are going smoothly enough. I'm not sure what you've missed, or how long you've been gone. Everyone got sent to an amusement park for a week or so and they apparently remodeled the buildings while we were gone.

I was there for the moon amusement park, had some fun. It was almost right after that I got sent home.

_{[ He sipped his coffee, letting the liquid burn down his throat and
infiltrate his sinuses. It felt good, hitting his belly, warm and rich.
Natasha knew her stuff. ]}

I got told it had been three days when I got rescued in the woods. But it's been a year for me. Still causing a bit of a headache.

You can't contain him! [ action ]

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