Chapter 18: Apology

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Illya got back to the hotel quickly. He was scared his mother would follow him, but nobody seemed to be directly behind him when he walked back. Half of him wanted to stop by Solo and Gaby's room to talk about the mission, but the other half just wanted to go through the motives alone. He opened the door, and saw Gaby sitting on his bed. Her head looked up at him when he walked in. She tried to faintly smile at him, but she looked exhausted and pained.

"You're not supposed to be here," Illya said simply, avoiding conversation.

Gaby had a different approach to the situation. "I'm sorry about last night, Illya. It wasn't like you probably heard."

"I know," Illya sighed. "I'm sorry about... the... the..." He stroked his cheek, signifying the punch she received this morning. "I would never purposely hurt you, Gaby. I promise."

She nodded knowingly. "I know. I would never purposely be unfaithful, even though..."

"We never had a proper relationship?"

Gaby looked at him nervously, but he just smiled. "It's OK. You can say it. We never did have a proper relationship."

"I want that to change."

"No," he shook his head. "That can't happen. Not with everything going on. We have missions to complete..."

Gaby interrupted and took his hand. "After all of that is finished. After you're sent back here and I'll probably have to follow Saunders in America, we can runaway."

Illya smiled at her. "You're crazy."

"I know."

"I like crazy."

He slid his arm over her shoulder and she rested her head on his broad chest. "Don't give up on me." She whispered, and gently stroked his fingers.

"I never would." He kissed her forehead.

For the next ten minutes, they just sat in silence, feeling themselves in each other's arms. They felt safe, surrounded by danger. They felt like as long as they were holding each other together, nothing could break them. They knew it wasn't true or real, but it was nice to imagine.

"I'm not going back to my room." Gaby declared, looking up at him.

Any other day, Illya would've protested and sent her to the room because of the 'purpose of the mission'. This day felt different though, in fact, he was relieved she was going to stay.

"OK."

"Just talk to me, Illya. I just want to talk about normal stuff for once."

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