No. 31: "Take it easy."

Surviving close calls seemed to be the theme of Nikolai's life, even when he was a child and his brother had tried to poison him. This latest one was no different, save that Grisha healing couldn't get him back on his feet right away. That was the problem with smoke inhalation; Healers could mend charred flesh and Genya could tailor away burn scars, but they couldn't remove the foreign particles that had filled Nikolai's lungs while he'd been trapped in the burning room.

The coughing fit that struck bowed him over his desk and left him clutching his ribs, which were taking a beating under his current condition.

"Nikolai…" Genya exclaimed as she came into his room. "You're supposed to be taking it easy!"

He didn't have the breath to respond. Genya moved her hands over him, helping his battered lungs absorb the oxygen they so desperately needed. When the fit had finally settled, Genya rested a hand on his shoulder, waiting.

"I loathe idleness," he wheezed.

"Be that as it may, you aren't doing yourself any good disregarding the prescribed bed rest," she chided.

He sighed and pushed himself to his feet. The coughing fit had taken a great deal out of him, more than he cared to admit, and he let Genya guide him back to his bed. She fluffed the pillows against the headboard before easing him into them. She then hovered her hands over his chest again, focusing with her power.

"Your ribs are bruised," she said a few moments later.

"I figured."

She went to grab a spare pillow from the corner and brought it back for him to hold against his chest, help support his ribs when the coughing came again.

"I can't heal them until your body's recovered more from the smoke," Genya explained regretfully.

"I know."

Nikolai dropped his head back with a beleaguered exhalation that made his entire chest twinge painfully. "What if Zoya drew all the air out of my lungs and the smoke with it?"

Genya's one good eye shot him a dry look. "That's called murder. Besides, the toxins are in your tissues now. It wouldn't work."

"Can't blame me for trying."

This time the look she gave him was more sympathetic. "Ravka is not going to crumble in a day while you rest."

Nikolai snorted. "You never know…"

Genya patted his arm. "We wouldn't let it."

"I appreciate it," he said genuinely. "But I can't just lie here all day. It's maddening."

Genya considered him for a moment, then said, "Wait right there."

She left for several minutes, and when she returned, it was with a chess set.

"I'm sure you know how to play," she said as she set it on the bed and began to put the pieces out.

"I do." He narrowed his eyes. "This isn't exactly what I had in mind."

"This is the best you're going to get."

Nikolai grimaced. "I don't want to take you away from things you need to do…"

Genya let out a light laugh. "Clearly, you can't be left alone lest you stray from that bed rest, so I'm needed here."

Nikolai wanted to be offended, but he couldn't exactly argue with her. So he shifted his legs to make room for the chess board to lie flat and helped her set the rest of the pieces up.

The first game went rather quickly, with Nikolai obtaining a swift victory.

Genya flushed. "I should have known I couldn't compete with that clever mind of yours."

"Sorry," he said abashedly. "I'm used to going for the kill."

"Mm." She scrutinized him for an extra beat. "If I leave for a few minutes, will you promise to not get up?"

Nikolai rolled his eyes. "Yes, mother."

She stood and took her leave.

Nikolai set the pieces back on the board and idly began a game against himself. It was hardly captivating. The pull of work drew his gaze back to his desk, and he was sorely tempted, but Genya said she'd only be gone for a few minutes, and he didn't want to invoke her ire upon her return. So he stayed put.

When she came back, she was dragging David along with her. She arched a mildly surprised brow at Nikolai, to which he responded with a smug smirk.

Genya pushed David into the chair by the bed. "Here's someone who will give you a run for your money."

David's brows furrowed at the chess set. "A game?" he said dubiously. "I have work—"

"You serve the king and the king needs a mental match," Genya interrupted. "Go on."

David huffed but nevertheless turned his attention to the board and grabbed the pieces to put back at their starting positions. White just happened to be on the side facing him, and David didn't even offer to turn the board so Nikolai could have the first move. Nikolai secretly liked that about the young man; he treated Nikolai as he would any other person, without reserve or hollow flattery. It was refreshing.

And so was the game. David had a keen mind and sharp focus, and the two of them spent several long minutes contemplating their moves and the next ones and the ones after that. Genya had watched in the beginning but quickly became bored by their apparent inactivity. Chess was a game half played in the mind, not on the board. Which was the perfect solution since it was Nikolai's mind that needed stimulation and his body stillness. Evidenced by the coughing fit that interrupted the game.

He'd set the pillow aside and was too absorbed in the jolting pain rocketing through his ribs that he didn't think to grab it. But Genya rushed back over and picked it up, pressing it into his chest and holding it there for him. His body juddered with several more hacking, guttural coughs before it finally stopped, and he collapsed back against the pillows in exhaustion.

"Easy," Genya soothed.

"This is torture," Nikolai moaned.

"I could make a tonic to suppress the coughing," David suggested.

"Thank you, dear, but no," Genya replied. "Unfortunately, the coughing is the best way to dislodge the smoke particles. I'm sorry."

Nikolai closed his eyes and rode out the waves of pain.

"Should I go?" David asked quietly a few moments later.

"Please don't," Nikolai rasped. "I appreciate- need-" he corrected, "the company."

No one moved. It took a few minutes before Nikolai felt strong enough to lift his head again.

"Now, I believe it's your move," he said hoarsely.

David exchanged a look with Genya before turning back to the game and moving his bishop.

It was a little harder to focus after the fit, but Nikolai was determined to at least keep his mind engaged. Genya remained at his side, one hand high on his back, whether waiting for the next fit or somehow using her power to subtly soothe his strained body he didn't know, but he appreciated the tender contact and proximity.

And the friendship.