Jyn has been staring at the ceiling of the hull for at least an hour. She knows this because she's regained most of the function in her arms. Give it a few more hours and the toxin should be completely out of her system. At least that's what Kay said… before he left her on the kriffing floor.
Their target had barely managed to scratch Jyn with the knife, but that was all it took. The poison's effects were almost immediate, her limbs lagging far behind her thoughts. By the time Jyn had escaped to the ship, she was completely numb from the neck down.
That's how Kay had found her, laying half inside the hull, hall on the retracting cargo ramp. He'd unceremoniously dragged her aboard, pried the data chip from her frozen grip, and gotten the ship into hyperspace. And then he'd just kriffing left her here. Granted, he'd already confirmed that the toxin wasn't lethal, just paralyzing, but still.
Jyn has spent that majority of that hour imagining ways to dismantle him when the cursed droid tumbles back into the hull. She can turn her head to look at him, but it's slow and takes all of her concentration.
"When we get back to base," she tries to point an accusatory finger at him, but her arm just kind of flops pathetically in his direction, "I'm telling Cassian you left me on the floor."
"Go ahead. I will tell him you went in alone despite his instructions not to."
"I was being smart. You needed to have the ship ready for immediate take off."
"Perhaps we would not have needed to take off immediately if you had not gone in alone."
Jyn growls because damn it, he has a point. Still, she stands – or lays here – by her decision. Kay would have slowed her down. Jyn works better alone… or she's used to it, anyway. That's why she took this assignment in the first place. Kay's only here because Cassian all but begged her to bring him. Some of her anger dissipates at the thought because, well, it's Cassian.
K-2's hydraulics whine as he bends down and extends his hands toward her. Jyn's instincts volley her heart into her throat.
"What are you doing?"
Kay pauses but doesn't retract his hands. "I am carrying you back to your room, though I would advise going to the cockpit, instead. Sitting up right will increase circulation in – "
"No." She spits reflexively. Some part of her mind is aware that she's being utterly ridiculous, but it's drowned out by her pulse pounding in her ears. Kay jus stares, and she wishes so badly that she could just disappear. "I'll manage on my own."
"You were just complaining about being left here."
"I know, I know, I know, but..." There's a dark feeling pulling at her chest. Of course she doesn't want to be left here, but it's just occurring to her how vulnerable she, right now. The idea of letting someone near her, not only that, but giving them completely control of her body, sends a wave of panic over her. Gritting her teeth, Jyn says, "That was when I couldn't even move my arms. I can manage, now."
She throws all of her weight into sitting up. It sort of works. Once she's there, she can't hold herself up (because she mostly lied about moving her arms) and she begins to pitch to the side. Kay grips her shoulders, keeping her upright. Even through the paralysis, Jyn can feel her cheeks flaming.
"You cannot manage." The droid says flatly.
"Leave me alone, Kay." She almost adds a please because karking hells, she doesn't want to do this. Her voice is so disgustingly small when she admits, "I don't like being carried."
K-2 remains where he is, looking at her in a way that Jyn thinks is intently. "Why?"
She blinks. "What?"
"Why do you not like being carried?"
Tucking her chin as far as she can into her chest, Jyn grumbles. "Because I've never been able to trust someone enough to do that."
Rely on no one but yourself. It was the most important lesson both of her fathers had taught her, and the cruel, unrelenting galaxy made sure she never forgot.
"Oh." Kay almost sounds disappointed, like he was hoping for a challenge. Jyn raises a defensive eyebrow. "That makes sense given the context of your upringing."
"But?" she says, daring him to continue.
"But you have a family, now. You can trust us." Jyn's so floored she can't even respond, so Kay goes on. "That's what Cassian says, that 'Rogue One is our family and we take care of one another.' I explained to him that as a droid, I do not have a family, per say, but I am admittedly more invested in the well-being of the five of you than other organics." His head swivels between her and the wall behind her. "If you still do not wish to be carried, I will at least drag you to the wall so that you can remain sitting."
Jyn can't reach up to grip her necklace, but its warmth sinks deep into her chest. She nods and Kay maneuvers her so that her back is against the wall, crates on either side keeping her upright. He starts toward the cockpit when she calls out and he stops. He may not care, but she offers a small, grateful smile.
"I'll get there." She says.
Kay nods once. "I believe that." And she knows he does.