Apologies

"No, really Vector, you didn't do anything that needs to be apologized for," Toni repeated, rubbing her forehead slightly. "If anything, the one who ought to be apologetic is Scorpio, but somehow, I doubt she cares enough to offer one."

She didn't like having the droid on her ship. Didn't want the droid on her ship. Would have, in fact, been happier to just have Blizz pull the droid apart for the requisite databanks instead of subjecting her to control codes and reanimation.

But at the moment, that wasn't the point. Vector had certainly gotten the worst of the trip this time around; between Scorpio's gases that had put him in danger, and Modiri smarting off to the Dread Masters in such a way as to have them all Force-manipulated—and hadn't she snapped at Modiri for that one—the diplomatic Joiner with combat skills had been left somewhat the worse for wear.

"But we almost attacked you," he said insistently.

"Almost. It's not like I don't know how to defend myself, Vector, which I did. You had more than just bruised ribs by me throwing you to the floor."

"...we got better?"

At any other time, the attempt at a joke, his attempt to alleviate her temper, would have been heavily appreciated. As it was, she only sighed, briefly putting her head in her hands before running them through her hair.

"Vector. You don't owe me an apology for something that was outside your control," she said, holding on to her patience by a thread. "It's not you that's upset me."

"You are upset, though."

"There's a lot of reasons to be upset," she pointed out, not unreasonably. "Having a somewhat mad droid on the ship doesn't exactly inspire me towards calm, you know."

He looked pensive, going quiet for several minutes.

Oh, it was unreasonable of her to expect him to understand; from what she'd gathered of Kilik life and lifestyle since he'd joined her crew, they focused on the many, not the few. Toni was the exact opposite of that; her small, surprisingly dedicated crew, was exceptionally important, even the ones she didn't fully trust.

"Would a hug suffice?" he asked, breaking into her thoughts.

Toni blinked, and stared at him for a moment, surprised.

"Come again?"

"A hug," he repeated, though he sounded less sure of himself. "It... is the thing friends do when the other is upset..."

A hug... how long had it been since she'd gotten one of those? That brief embrace with Saganu on Hoth... Sanju on Balmorra. Before that?

She sighed a little, feeling ire draining away like water from a broken glass; here he was, trying to be thoughtful, and she was letting her stress and temper get the better of her. It wasn't fair to take these things out on Vector.

She hadn't quite expected him to take that sigh for acceptance, so she startled a little when he pulled her closer, then found herself caught by mild amusement when she was forcibly reminded that the top of her head only just came up to his shoulder.

But he was warm. His arms around her were gently, almost uncertain, and after a moment she brought her own up to loop around his waist, tucking herself more compactly up against him.

It was... nice. To be held. She hadn't thought Vector might be the cuddling sort, but then, perhaps he had only been waiting for the opportune moment to volunteer. He had made an excellent pillow after that whole affair with Kothe...

Toni closed her eyes and shoved that particular memory away. She didn't need to get annoyed all over again.

"...we think we understand a little more," Vector said, making her lean back a little to watch his face. "You are upset because we were put in danger."

"Of course I'm upset about that," she huffed a little. "You were a diplomat before your transfer, not a fighter, and this trip wasn't like the rest."

"We do not regret the decision to be transferred," he said patiently. "There are dangers, but there is also knowledge. We have seen many interesting things, met many interesting people, since joining this ship."

She frowned a little, then sighed.

"Still, maybe... you ought to stay on the ship for a little while. I can take Temple out, or Lokin-"

"We prefer to remain at your side."

Toni blinked. That had sounded unusually vehement for him, and his hold on her—that she hadn't stepped out of because it really was comforting—had briefly tightened.

"Vector?"

It was his turn to frown, but it was a thoughtful one.

"We do not enjoy the thought of you walking knowingly into danger without us there to make sure that those who try to harm you are properly punished for it," he finally said. "We were not so harmed by the events on Belsavis that we need to retreat to recuperate. We prefer to remain with you to ensure that no real harm comes to you."

She just blinked at him, surprised and a little touched. True, Modiri often brought along both Torian and Blizz when they went out, so she would be covered, but she thought she understood what he meant.

"All right. If you're certain about that..."

"We are," he said firmly.

Toni knew a losing battle when she saw one, so she just sighed, and shrugged with a small smile. It was strange, the warmth his words gave her, but she appreciated them too. She started to lean against him once more, but before she could, her holocom went off, making the annoying chirp that she'd assigned as Modiri's specific callsign.

"...I should take that," she sighed a little.

"Yes. We will be waiting."