No One's POV
Emily sat in her office, starring at the hypospray, mindlessly twirling it on her desk, head pounding all the while, debating for the tenth time on whether to actually take it, before finally giving in, picking it up and injecting it into her thigh, the slight hiss the only noise of it actually going in.
"J, I know you're recording this. But do not tell Khan." Emily warns, tossing the empty hypo into the recycle bin.
"My current protocols would allow me to alert the Commander if your health becomes concerning." Jarvis offers, clearly disagreeing with the Admiral.
"Yeah, well this isn't concerning. I have a migraine, Jarvis." Emily gripes, feeling irritated both because of her migraine and her AI's sass.
"Your third migraine in a week." Jarvis states blandly.
"I need to work J, it happens. I can't whine about a headache." Emily waves off. "Besides, I talked to Brooke already, so why am I even having this argument with you? She cleared me."
"I believe CMO Brooklyn Henderson gave you the hyposprays under the impression and instruction that they were a temporary relief, not a permanent solution. And, that you would return if the headaches and migraines worsened." Jarvis argues back.
"Jarvis. I am not having this argument with you. I'm fine. I need to work. I feel better already. So, if you're not going to contribute something useful to the conversation…" Madison snipes irritably, rolling her eyes as she expands a holo screen.
Jarvis falls silent, a holo screen moving just slightly out of Madison's reach.
"Okay, now you're just being petty." Madison snorts out loud.
"I would never." Jarvis replies, humor glittering in his tone.
Emily laughs, her mind returning towards her tasks now that it has cleared from the pain from her ever mounting migraine.
Madison's office doors slide open a moment later, Khan striding in purposefully.
"Uh, Khan?" Madison blinks, looking up from her holo screens.
"Mere jaan." Khan greets.
"Hello, Khan." Emily replies back, wondering exactly what her First Officer wanted.
"It is late, mere jaan." Khan states.
"Late? No it-"
"It is 1916." Jarvis supplies helpfully.
"Oh, yeah, I guess it is." Emily blinks, turning to look out at the slowly setting sun outside her office windows.
"I have come to retrieve you for a date, mere jaan." Khan informs, expression unchanging as if he was still talking about the weather or latest report.
"Wait- a date? When did- did I agree to a date? And when did you set this up?" Emily sputters slightly as Khan lightly grabs hold of her elbow and guides her to their private turbo lift.
"Jarvis, please save and close the Admiral's current work." Khan orders.
"Already done, sir." Jarvis chimes in too cheerily.
Emily only slightly sputters as they walk out of her office and Khan manages to buffer her into their private turbo lift, the lift rising towards their penthouse.
"I have been informed a date is the proper human courting custom in relationships; that it is seen as romantic, and would be preferable to the Augments' courting customs." Khan informs.
"How do you know- Did you talk to Persis? You asked Dalton and Everett didn't you?" Emily asks, not really expecting to get a straight answer from Khan since he hadn't answered her previous questions.
"Captain Dalton and Captain Everett have been your close friends for many years and are very knowledgeable about human relationships." Khan answers a bit vaguely, having managed to herd his mate out onto their deck where he had set up their patio with dinner, twinkling lights and roses.
It was all very romantic and sweet and thoughtful.
"Wait… How much different are Augment courting customs? What exactly are they?" Emily asks, now a bit alarmed and curious.
Khan only sits his mate down in a chair, pushing her food in front of her.
"Dinner, mere jaan." Khan urges.
"Okay, but I still want an answer." Emily bargains, picking up silverware and pointing at Khan, taking a moment to look at the food and work Khan had put into the date. "And thank you. This is wonderful. All of it."
"You are welcome, mere jaan." Khan replies, brushing his hand against hers.
Emily smiles, more than charmed and touched and feeling a warmth of deep affection that she got to see a softer side of Khan that no one else was privileged to see, taking a few bites of the seafood pasta Khan had made, before giving him a pointed look.
"Augments are a warrior race. Developed during a time of war and bloodshed. Males often killed enemies to show females they were superior mates." Khan explains.
Madison blanches slightly, staring at Khan blankly as if the thought didn't compute.
"Currently we have no enemies for me to kill and bring to you." Khan continues as if it was nothing.
"Right…" Madison says, wondering if her voice was as shaky as it certainly felt. Then again, it was her fault, she asked Khan to tell her. Damn her and her curiosity.
"Well, there's- there's no need for you to kill anyone right now, Khan. Killing people is generally bad. But you could certainly kill a few reports for me if you wanted to. I wouldn't mind that." Emily tries to compose herself. Honestly, how was this her life?
"Persis advised me that some of our customs would not hold, now. Your friends advised me to the ones humans traditionally sought after." Khan explained, looking to his mate as if searching for something like assurance.
"Well… They weren't wrong." Emily says. "And, this was really thoughtful of you. More than thoughtful. I love it. Thank you, Khan."
Emily can see Khan practically preen under her words.
The rest of the night went smoothly.
And later that night, when both Emily and Khan are in bed, Madison resting peacefully beside Khan, if Khan finished up a few more reports that she had previously on her docket, well Emily didn't say anything contrary.
Alright... So I lied about changing the rating right away. Lols. I needed another connector chapter... Or maybe I'll need another few. We'll see guys! It'll happen soon, probably. Haha.
On the other hand... We're seeing Emily & Khan's relationship develop more... Isn't Khan a cutie? ;)
Polkadottedgiraffe11