Still waters run deep.

If Ryan would have been someone who was easily flustered he might have blushed at her words but instead he kept the embarrassment locked inside his person, the only betrayal in an involuntary flinching with his right hand. “Oh, yes. I know that.”, he replied letting his eyes linger on the floor for a moment before settling himself back next to her with care. He looked back at her just in time to see her smile at him with such a warmth that he felt once again like he shouldn’t be at the receiving end of such an emotion.

Watching him settling once again in his previous position she eyed him for a few long moments, not quite sure what else to do at this very moment but to rest her sapphire hues on his face which appeared to be calm while hard edges proved her assumption wrong. She caught herself staring, blushing a little at the realization, uncertain of what was expected of her and what she should better not do. However, the urge to lean in once again, to feel the warmth radiating from his body … it was overwhelming at this point, causing her to wonder why she even felt that way, never having experiences such sensations. Surely not with Dimitri who was seemingly bringing them together.

Nikola kicked at a stray pebble that managed to find its way in the hallway and watched it as it went into the training room. He hoped that Amanda would be easy to find so that he didn’t have to awkwardly stand around and wait for her. With a smile on his face, he turned to Maya and nodded. “Okay good. No more leaving each other.” He hoped that that would stick and she wouldn’t leave him again for another five week vacation. It was bad enough the first time but now that they’re closer, he won’t know how he’ll manage. He looked away despite her apology, feeling guilty for touching her somewhere he probably shouldn’t. “I’m um… yeah… I’m sorry. I’ll watch where I put my hands next time.” He looked down at them as if they betrayed them somehow and looked back at her shyly, knowing that he wouldn’t find a scowl that he may deserve. He smiled weakly at her, thankful that she didn’t try hitting him or pushing him away.

Maya watched the pebble before it disappeared in the training and with a laughter she followed the little stone until the two of them finally found themselves in the room, that was indeed smaller than the gym and yet filled with all kinds of equipment that could be needed during the lessons with the handlers. "I couldn't agree more!" Maya said with a smile, not wanting to think about leaving again. It always left her devastated, the idea of having to go, leaving her friends behind, and ... doing things she couldn't forgive herself. It was then - with that thought in mind and the prospect of maybe getting to do something she actually would love to - that she looked around in hopes for the female handler to have already waited for her recruit and when she spotted the woman, her smile grew even wider and with an amusement grin on her lips she leaned in to whisper into his ear. “Stop apologizing and just avoid doing the same with Amanda." she giggled before walking ahead, approaching the other female.

I am SO ready for bed..

Did you already eat dinner? In that case I think you can finally get some rest.

"You know me very well, Maya." Although he realized that it probably wasn’t too hard to guess that a relatively lanky kid like himself would not like hand to hand combat. However, Maya wasn’t saying that because of his appearance. She knew that he didn’t like it because they were friends and she knew him. It made him smile a little wider. He never thought he could ever have a friend like Maya and yet, here she is. Nikola looked down to where she poked him and laughed lightly. "And I will never leave you either," he told her, going to poke her the way that she poked him. Except her realized that he ended up poking her breast on accident and blushed profusely. "I’m sorry! I didn’t mean— I’m so sorry." Nikola wondered if there was ever going to be a day where he didn’t make a complete fool of himself. 

Maya kept walking, refusing to let go of Niko's arm as they approached the first Training Room - where she assumed his sparring lesson to take place, unless they had changed anything about the recruits' routine, something she doubted considering Division's obvious attempt to teach its recruits to get used to a certain schedule - and with a gentle smile on her lips the Russian looked at him, beaming in pure joy at his promise. “See? Problem solved. We just won't leave each other and that way will never be alone. It's easy as that." she giggled excitedly before looking down her body when he poked her in the exact same way she had poked him. She noticed his uneasiness almost immediately but wasn't startled the way he seemed to be. “Don't you worry." she giggled even louder, seeing him blush ever so lightly and if it wouldn't have been for the cameras she knew where watching their every step she would have kissed his cheek, simply because the sight of him was so unbelievably adorable. But they had to be more careful, Maya knew that, and the solution for this issue was to keep their distance. However, she didn't want to consider that linked arms didn't leave such a good impression either.

Oh, the idea’s plenty amusing, just not when it’s involving me.

I hope you don't blame me for still laughing though.

"Great. Vocabulary over hitting people. At least Russian doesn’t give bruises." He smiled warmly at her, meaning the words. He was never any good at fighting and if she could get him free from sparring for a day, then he would be more than grateful. Nikola met Maya’s eyes for a moment and nodded, a small smile on his lips. "Technically you have to leave when you go home, but I think I get what you mean." He paused, realizing that maybe he wasn’t supposed to say that part out loud. Blushing, he added, "I mean, yeah. I understand." 

“I knew you would like that." Maya chirped happily as they kept walking, glad to notice that Nikola seemed not too fond of hand-to-hand combat as well. It was definitely just adding to the many reasons why they were friends, considering that she never quite knew what to think of people who enjoyed such activities just for the mere thrill of hurting another person. Defending oneself was another matter of course, and even if she would manage to talk him out of today's sparring lesson she still wanted to make sure that he had that covered. “Hmm, seems like I am spending more time down here anyways, considering the lessons I got to teach every now and then, but of course you are right. I, however, meant that I will never leave you as in ... here, I will always be here." she giggled and poked his chest gently right where she assumed his heart to be.

"Ehm…" Skylar took a tentative step backwards and crossed her arms in front of her chest. She felt her cheeks starting to burn and was immediately annoyed by the reaction. "Thanks. I love it a lot but… but I’m not sure that I.. ehm.. would be a good teacher or anything." No one ever asked Skylar to show them what she knew, thinking her too arrogant and selfish to even consider taking time to enlighten them. In most cases they had been right of course and she often would just snap at them but right now she just felt overwhelmed by the simple request.

“Oh, don't say that. I am not a teacher either and here I am teaching you guys Russian. Or are you telling me I suck at it and everyone has just been nice about it? In that case I should probably reconsider my career choices." she laughed, not even caring that her career choices and her ability to actually make her own decisions had gone down the drain some time ago now. “What does ... uhm, 'how are you' and 'my name is ...' mean? We could start a conversation!" she squealed, before the sound died down since Maya feared to scare off the girl with her excitement.

Have that little faith in me, Maya?

Hey, it's not necessarily a bad thing. But I can assure you this has nothing to do with faith.

Evaluation # 2 || Maya Andreyev || Agent

This conversation was turning rather painful in the matter of a moment, Chiron gathered but was determined to not just bail that easily. After all there were few people inside Division who hadn’t openly challenged him about his views on the organisation on at least one occasion. It was nice not having to talk against a wall or be driven into a senseless argument whether this place was good or just plain evil. “She’s right about that. But you also don’t have to be down here all the time.” Sometimes they would engage agents in the teaching of recruits as well but it didn’t occur that often. If Chiron had time that he could spend top-side he usually did. “Not really. Just following an impulse.”, he said not willing to admit the real reason why he had been attending the lecture.

“I don't mind ..." Maya said before looking up, doubting this answer to satisfy the taller man while at the same time Maya didn't wish to reveal more and most likely be sent to the psyches or check upon in order to find out whether or not she was taking her meds. “An impulse? What's that supposed to mean?" she wondered genuinely with a tilt of her head not quite sure what he was referring to. “Would you mind to enlighten me?"

Rachel laughed. “Now I’m disappointed. You should always carry chocolate bars with you.” She squeezed the other agent tightly when Maya embraced her, happy for the familarity of the touch. “That would be great actually. Death by misuse of Russian language is not on my list.” Her face was lit by a wide smile. “I’m good. Not much going on right now. And you?”

“Rain check?" Maya offered with a laugh, glad that nothing had changed between them even if Maya's recent fears had prepared her for something else. But being with Rachel was actually easy, normal and effortless, and she was grateful that the girl provided her such. “Told you! I suggest you take a few lessons, taught by me, then. Success guaranteed." Maya added then, a smile still on her lips before she nodded slowly. “I am glad to hear that. I guess everything has be calm lately which is a good thing. I am certainly not complaining."

"Just because some people have it worse, doesn’t mean that you don’t have it bad," he told her as he continued to look at it uneasily. All he really knew about it thought was that he should put pressure on the wound. As if he had a bandage for that at the moment. Finding no other option, he tore off a piece of his shirt and pressed it to the wound to stop the bleeding as much as he could. "There. Does that hurt?" If it did, it might be more serious, but of course, he wouldn’t know that either. He wished he had become a doctor like his parents wanted him to be instead of a con man.

Maya blinked when he suddenly tore on his shirt until a piece of fabric ripped from it, just to be pressed onto her wound. A part of her was glad that he cared so much, that he didn’t seem as careless and rough as some of the other handlers. It was a relief, really, even if Maya considered it a waste of effort and energy in her case. She was feeling … fine. There honestly was no reason for him to worry about her while there were others who could have needed his care more. “I don’t feel anything.“ she murmured before shrugging, hoping that the small smile on her lips would make sure to cease his concern.

Despite Maya’s attempt at silent treading, it wasn’t enough to keep from waking poor Keira. It was perhaps instinct rather than sound that caused the girl to vacate the sleeping state. Her mind informed her quite speedily that someone was approaching, and being that her eyes and ears were not apprising her of just who that person could be – i.e., whether they were friend or foe – she was jarred from sleep abruptly to identify who was in the room with her.

Seeing Keira start caused Maya to take a few steps back again, not wanting the other girl to think that she had been sneaking up on her or anything like it, knowing that most people were not too fond of such gestures and some even liked to express their dislike in a violent physical way. She didn’t consider Keira one of those but hoped that her backing off a little would calm her down nonetheless. “Hello, sleepyhead.“ she returned with a warm smile before winking at the other in amusement before she got herself a chair and pulled it next to Keira’s, sitting down a moment later, books neatly placed on her lap.

Skylar just blankly stared at the other brunette, not sure if she could fully grasp what she was trying to tell her. Logically it was what someone would say and she had read enough articles on the subject of abuse to realise that it wasn’t how things should be but that was just the part of her that was always thinking things through. Her subconsciousness didn’t agree with that assessment and so the recruit had never found it particularly disturbing. Had she revealed too much right now? She decided to not dive deeper into the subject matter if she could at all avoid it. The hassle was too big for her and Maya wouldn’t understand if she tried to explain and she was entirely unsure if she could even explain it at all.

Maya merely shrugged. “It helps passing the time.“ she answered less serious than the recruit probably had hoped for and winked at Skylar before finishing to tend the girl’s wounds as she strapped the second bandage around her knuckles. “But to answer your question … I don’t think so. It’s one of the very few people I seem to be good at. I guess … I just hope by caring about people they see that the world isn’t all that bad and start caring for others as well. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? For everyone to be treated the way they want to be treated themselves? For not intentionally hurting others because they think it’s fun or a nice way to pass time?“ Maya wondered, this time genuine in her answer, before she looked down slightly embarrassed. “You must think I am crazy. I am not one of those people who believe that if people just got along there would be no wars and no conflict but … just imagining it is pretty nice.“ she finally stated before a warm smile brightened her expression.

Daniel was glad she decided to talk to him a little bit, well he would have wanted more time, but that was too much to ask, maybe he could have some bit of training and some bit of knowing her. Okay maybe that was going too fast… it wasn’t like he liked, liked her, but he was charmed by her surely. Maybe it was the lightness in her step or how she was able to make people calm and understanding. Or maybe it was because she was different from the agents, and instructors around Division. It was quite a curious thing. 

At the lack of answer from the boy and his seemingly flustered exterior Maya couldn’t help herself but giggle, an almost childish sound, light and deprived of any seriousness or stress that she might have felt before their conversation. This boy made her smile and even though that couldn’t be considered a hard task around her, he did accomplished it with such an ease that turned out to be contagious. “I am glad you like it.“ she laughed, having to cover her mouth with one hand in an attempt to conceal her amusement in hopes to not offend him. “And just between the two of us - You seem very likable as well. However, I would appreciate for you to use less naughty words. Don’t even consider to ask me for translations of those.“ she said, the words meant to rebuke him but that thought was forgotten once a teasing tone grazed her voice, not showing that the Russian did have any intend to correct the recruit in front of her. She found him too amusing to do so anyways and at least he didn’t use that kind of words that would have left her gasping for air due to the shock she was experiencing.