Enjoy, relax, breathe :)
Khan didn't appear bothered in the least by the article when Kirk informed him of its existence. In fact Kirk supposed that Khan wasn't going to respond at all until he had nearly turned to go;
"Is the Lieutenant aware?"
Kirk frowned in confusion before turning back to Khan, the Augment remaining impassive as ever, not a hint of curiosity or concern on his face.
"Is that important?" Kirk asked.
"A mere inquiry, Captain"
"She's fine"
"Where is she headed?" Khan asked again.
"Excuse me?" Kirk folded his arms.
"Given her involvement with myself and newly disclosed background, it stands to reason-"
"What involvement?" Kirk said, his voice cold, hoping if anything to stop this line of questioning.
"Lieutenant Winters is in a position of vulnerability and I hardly expect the masses will leave her be"
"What are you saying Khan?" he asked.
"You're responsible Captain"
"What's the matter? Got a crush?" Kirk snapped. Khan frowned in confusion. Crush? He paused to sift the word in his mind, wondering how it could possibly relate to this conversation, staring to his left at the wall. Kirk sighed.
"I'm sure she'll have a word with Admiral Marcus, whatever happens would be up to him I suppose"
At the very mention of Admiral Marcus, Khan's head snapped forward, eyes narrowed on Kirk, a look of undisguised disgust and hatred plain across his face. He took a step forward, closer to the glass.
And yet strangely enough, Kirk thought he saw a crack of desperation in the Augment's face.
"I can assure you now that Admiral Marcus' interference would-"
"You killed the only person who might stand in her defense"
"So you'd stand witness to her immolation?"
"Why do you care all of a sudden?" Kirk tilted his head, as if he could read Khan better that way.
"Why don't you Captain? Khan responded. Even if his eyes would never fall on Reyne again, he couldn't contain the purely selfish joy when he thought of her. Khan always thought he could choose that which he remembered and that which he forgot. Yet Reyne still remained unwavering in his memory.
Product of an abusive household…body count…involved…star crossed lovers…product…product….PRODUCT.
Pieces of the article flashed through her head. Everything was muffled as if Reyne was underwater.
"Honestly Reyne you just have to play it safe and-"
"What?" Reyne said quietly. She hadn't heard a word of whatever McCoy was saying.
"Reyne you look like you're going to pass out. Sit down" McCoy suggested gently.
"I'm fine" Reyne lied. Everything was coming apart.
"Reyne-"
"I said I'm fine!" Reyne snapped, harsher than she'd meant. She regretted it instantly upon the look of pity McCoy was giving her, looking at her now with the lens of a doctor as if she was a wounded animal in need of a strong sedative…or perhaps a cage.
As the proper restraints were applied, Khan was led out of his cell to where he would be escorted off the ship. Soon he was seated again, surrounded by at least six security guards. He couldn't so much as scratch his cheek without one of them flinching.
Yet their attention was soon diverted by something else.
"Ma'am you need clearance for this area"
"Why?"
"Security reasons ma'am"
"I spent a week in his cell I hardly think I need security, Holden"
Khan couldn't help but turn his head in her direction. The guard, the aforementioned Holden, grunted before stepping aside.
Reyne's legs felt like liquid as she took slow steps toward Khan, eyes focused on his cuffed wrists.
"Lieutenant" he said, softer than he'd meant to.
"I…felt bad about…not saying goodbye" Reyne slowly forced herself to meet Khan's gaze.
"Your companionship was…interesting to say the least" Khan replied.
Reyne took a small step closer, as if he would suddenly snap and lunge.
"So…do you know where you're going?" she asked.
"Whatever facade of judicial authority they deem fit, I presume"
"Take a step back ma'am"
Both Reyne and Khan's attentions were diverted.
"What?" Reye asked.
"Step back ma'am"
"Really Officer, these are a mere formality" Khan snapped, a surprising amount of ire in his words as he lifted his restrained hands "I could dispatch all of you in an estimated thirteen seconds. Would you like a demonstration?" He growled, rising to his feet, realizing with irritation that this display was all because his conversation with Reyne had been interrupted.
Before she could even think, despite the guns pointed at both of them, Reyne swiftly reached out and cupped the side of Khan's face, turning so he looked at her. It was so quiet and still that one would hear a pin drop in the room.
Reyne's eyes flicked at the bench he had previously been sitting on. Slowly, Khan sat back down, just the tiniest bit miffed.
It was another full five minutes before the security resumed their ordinary positions, but by no means had they relaxed.
Khan continued to look at Reyne, mapping every detail as if he would forget her in the moment he stepped off the ship.
The PA system alerted everyone to the fact that landing was ten minutes away.
Another minute passed before Reyne slowly bent down, pressing her lips to Khan's cheek.
"Goodbye Khan" she said softly.
Then Khan gently pushed his mouth to hers, a gesture expected by neither of them, lasting a second before Reyne pulled back. Their eyes locked a minute longer and in that instant, Reyne felt more exposed than the day they had first encountered one another.
All of her walls, armors, and layers gone in his presence, reduced to a tender vulnerability, flayed down to the bone, yet no defense was necessary. He saw everything yet made no move to exploit it despite it being well within his ability.
Later, as Reyne stared out a single window at the blue expanse of earthen sky, in almost suffocating solitude, she allowed for a single tear to make its way down her cheek.