[It's a long time before her tears finally stop. Less because she's calm and more because she's exhausted. Her throat is raw and her mouth tastes like it's full of sand. Her entire body feels weak. She can feel the reassurance in his every touch, but it's hard for her to believe it. Not on the heels of the fight she & Chekov had. Not when she can feel Li's agenda throbbing between them.
She hears the offer in her name, and finds that hard to trust as well. Despite what others may think, she does know Li, and that he rarely does anything that doesn't benefit him in some way. When she's gone to him for comfort before, he's gotten something out of it.
She doesn't want to be left alone if she says she wants to stop.]
I need some water.
[So instead she says "pause." She pushes herself up slowly, intending to slide out of bed and get something to drink. Either that will give her the time to feel ready for sex again, or she'll have pulled herself together enough to handle being alone.]
⊕ march 15th, late evening
She hears the offer in her name, and finds that hard to trust as well. Despite what others may think, she does know Li, and that he rarely does anything that doesn't benefit him in some way. When she's gone to him for comfort before, he's gotten something out of it.
She doesn't want to be left alone if she says she wants to stop.]
I need some water.
[So instead she says "pause." She pushes herself up slowly, intending to slide out of bed and get something to drink. Either that will give her the time to feel ready for sex again, or she'll have pulled herself together enough to handle being alone.]