[ Vasiliy smiles, just barely, breaking eye contact—humble. He's been raised not to take credit for that which he does that is out of the ordinary, but it's hard now, being recognized for it by Konstantin. It's different, harder to deflect than praise from a supervisor, because he really, really wants Konstantin to think these things, in a way he's never wanted anyone to. Not this desperately. ]

I did what I had to. I know you would do the same if you could. I'm in the presence of a space hero. This is just— [ Another hacking fit. God, he's nauseous—he hopes he doesn't throw up in the mask, that if the CO poisoning manifests in that way he'll at least have enough of a warning to pull the mask to the side. He knows from experience that it's a distinct possibility.

It takes him a few seconds to catch his breath enough to speak again, focusing on the warmth of Kostya's broad, masculine hand over his shoulderblade. It's good, that he doesn't know what this does to him, even now, even when he's lightheaded and more exhausted than he's ever been in his entire life. ]

It's just smoke. I wasn't that close to the fire.