“Tiny!” The Doctor called out, chasing after Grani. “Don’t think you’ll escape that easily!”
“You can try, Doctor, but you won’t catch me like that!” She sprinted past the marker and handed a small stick to Courier, who took off like a bolt of lightning; the Doctor, in a last ditch burst of speed, reached Angelina and passed off her stick, leaving the two runners to watch the rest of the relay from the sidelines.
Grani watched her opponent take deep and heavy breaths. “Alright there, Doc? I’ve never seen you run that fast.”
“I’ve been practicing,” she replied, smirking. “No wonder you’re a Vanguard; if you can move your legs like that, you can run circles around anyone in Reunion.”
“They only announced this exercise a few days ago, though. What were you training for?”
The Doctor shook her head. “I’ll tell you when I meet my goal. For now, could you do me a favor?”
“Of course!” Grani bounced to her feet, still full of life. “What is it?”
“I’m really thirsty. Can you go get me some water?”
She nodded and jogged off, giving the Doctor enough time to think through her next attempt. When the mountless cavalier returned, she gulped down half a bottle of water and glanced at the sports drink Grani had brought with her. “They still sell that flavor?”
“Only in a few places,” she nodded, handing her the bottle. “You like these, right?”
“Yeah, thanks.” The Doctor didn’t open the bottle, simply setting it next to the other and sitting for a moment.
Grani scooted a little closer. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
“Oh, yeah, totally fine.” Her deflection was almost immediate, but she had a plan at last. “Are you doing anything after this finishes up?”
“Dinner - I could eat this whole field right now.”
The Doctor chuckled. “Alright, and after that?”
“No, that’s about it. I have a couple books I need to finish, but…why do you ask?”
“Do you play chess?” She wrapped a few strands of silvery-blonde hair around her fingers. “I mean, you fight like I imagine a knight would, but I wasn’t sure if you knew the rules.”
Grani smiled. “You wanna have a game night?”
“Sounds like fun!” She reclined over the back of the bench, stretching until she felt a satisfying pop. “Sooo after dinner, I’ll just come up to your room?”
The Doctor suddenly realized she had something to do before she could eat. “Uh, yeah, sure! Your team’s totally crushing us, aren’t they?”
“Well, you let SilverAsh be team captain, after all.”
“Right, right.” She glanced off the field and back to the complex. “I uh…I’ve gotta go, urgent stuff. I’ll see you tonight?”
Grani nodded. “Can’t wait, Doctor! I’ve been wondering what your room looks like.”
“N-nothing!” She waved her off. “Good luck!”
The Doctor grabbed her gifted drinks, took a deep breath, and flung herself forward, sprinting from the track their “field exercises” were occurring on all the way to her room. If she’d ran like that, maybe she could have won after all…
A few hours later, after a deep clean of her room and herself, the Doctor greeted Grani at the door in her usual casual outfit with a beaming smile. “Right on time, as usual. Come on in. I know you just ate, but can I get you anything?”
“Water, please!” Grani glanced around the small apartment and whistled. “It’s all so clean! You didn’t have to do all this for me, Doctor.”
‘Oh, you have no idea,’ she thought to herself with a mental sigh.
As the Doctor brought her guest her water, she stopped inspecting the decor and sat at the table. “Okay, Doctor, I hope you’re ready to lose!”
“Oh, you think you can beat me twice in one day?” The Doctor began setting up an…unusual chess set. “We’ll see.”
“Wait, Doctor, is this custom-made for Rhodes Island? It’s still the normal layout, right?”
She nodded. “Kal’tsit’s the White Queen, and I’m the Black Queen.”
“You said earlier I was a knight,” Grani continued as she examined the pieces, “but I’m the Black King. Any reason for that?”
“Uh, no, none in particular.”
Her opponent raised her eyebrow with a knowing grin. “Sure, Doctor. You’re first.”
Three games of chess later, and the Doctor was thoroughly defeated; she had poured herself a glass of wine, set it on the table by her couch, and collapsed into said couch face-first, staring into the leather with incredible focus.
“You’re really torn up about losing to me…” Grani observed, still sitting at the table. “We were just playing, Doctor-”
“But if I can’t beat you, how am I supposed to ask you out?!”
“You’re fast, and you’re smart, and you’re brave, and you’re so humble and hardworking. How can I possibly compare to that?”
“But…” She was still at a loss. “How does that prevent you from asking me on a date?”
The Doctor pounded the couch with her fist. “Because people don’t like people weaker than themselves, Grani! Sure, you’ll protect me all day, but that’s not the same as wanting to…to…I’ve said too much already. You can just go.” Fortunately for the heartbroken Doctor, Grani not only didn’t understand that line of logic - well, not logic, exactly - but didn’t care…Besides, there was one thing the Doctor had that Grani didn’t.
“You know, Doctor, there’s something you have I never will.”
Grani took a seat at her feet. “Two things actually.”
“What?” The Doctor looked over her shoulder. “Grani, what are you-”
“One: you have curves. Do you know how many people think I’m a man when they first meet me? That’s not why they call me Tiny, but still…”
She sat up. “But that’s because I don’t like leg day.”
“Two, and I know this one will convince you.” Grani hopped across the cushions until she landed directly next to the Doctor, their thighs touching. “You have my heart. I don’t care about any of that other stuff, Doctor; I like how focused you, how stubborn you, and it amazes me that little old me could have this kind of effect on you…and you’re really cute when you’re trying too hard.”
The Operator set her head on the Doctor’s shoulder. “I really do. Getting to stare at your butt while you were fussing was a nice bonus.
“Wha-” She sighed. “I’m glad you liked it. So, you wanna go on a date?”
“We kinda already did, didn’t we? I mean, I’m already here, after all.”
The Doctor shrugged. “I didn’t think of it as one.”
“Well, that’s an easy fix!” Grani leaned in hard enough to knock her new pillow on her side and rested her head against her chest. “There we go…Do you mind if I take a nap? It’s been a long day.”
“Y-you don’t want a blanket or anything?”
She shook her head. “This is fine.”
“O-okay.” The Doctor tentatively reached out her hand and began patting Grani’s head. “You’re sure?”
“Well, if you want, you can carry me to the bed.”
And with that, Doctor.exe completely crashed, and a smiling Grani stayed the night with no further issues.
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