Chaos' Heir

Khan's explanation responded to Liiza's silent question. She had only read about the Nele, but their pheromones had sounded terrifying. Khan being immune to them because of her was one of the greatest declarations the universe could ever give.

"When was this?" Liiza asked. "How long ago?"

"Hard to say," Khan shrugged his shoulders. "Six years ago? Eight?"

Liiza's disbelief turned into sadness. She couldn't help but imagine how Khan had felt so long ago and wondered how he had kept going until now.

"Have you known for so long?" Liiza asked, seemingly on the verge of tears.

"[Liiza]," Khan chuckled, switching to the Niqols' language. "[I've known since I left Nitis. I just tried to delude myself]."

Ten years ago, Liiza had told Khan that their love was special, but that was a testimony from her species. He was human, so that truth might not have applied to him.

However, Khan ended up meeting another species that confirmed that truth. The Nele didn't even do it through words. Khan had factual, undeniable clues that Liiza had been and would always be his one true love.

The sole idea that Khan had been alone and unable to do anything with that awareness for so long saddened Liiza to no end. She knew he hadn't had it good, but that was just too much.

"Don't look at me like that," Khan shook his head. "The story isn't over."

"Continue," Liiza ordered.

"I became close to the Nele," Khan explained, "Jenna, in particular. They reminded me of the Niqols, even if they were so different. That was one of the reasons why I liked Jenna, and she liked me."

Liiza could easily understand that. Even if Khan hadn't liked Jenna, he would have felt some attraction due to the similarities with the Niqols. Honestly, he had probably been starving for something not human at that point.

"But," Khan continued, "I knew I would have loved her like I loved you, and she couldn't replace you. I couldn't let her claim second place when I would have been her first, so we decided to remain just friends, with some perks, I guess."

"Perks?" Liiza repeated, her gaze growing colder since she understood something from Khan's tone.

"Her species' customs didn't give her many chances to touch people," Khan coughed, "Or be touched. I was around and emotionally unavailable, so being the kind and understanding man I am …"

"I can still return to my arranged groom," Liiza snorted.

"We slept together," Khan explained, "Naked. Sometimes we took baths together. Though we never did anything. Except that kiss, but I was dying, so it hardly counts."

Liiza felt like strangling Khan. The hands on his chest actually grew colder, but the opposite reaction unfolded. She burst into a loud, stupid laugh that made her lie back on Khan. Liiza was jealous beyond reason, but she had missed that idiocy too much to care about it now.

"Were you about to die?" Liiza asked, supporting her head to stare down at Khan from his right. She even took his left cheek, tilting his face toward her.

"I have gotten close to dying many times," Khan admitted, the mood turning serious as he grabbed a strand of his blue hair, "But that was the time I turned into this."

"I remember this from when you met [Zaza]," Liiza nodded. "Your mutations?"

"It's a long story," Khan sighed. "A needlessly convoluted story that still haunts me, but yes, my mutations."

"Do you hate it?" Liiza asked.

"Not anymore," Khan said, diverting his gaze. "I think."

Liiza wore a genuine smile, rubbing her thumb on Khan's cheek. They had to catch up on so many things, but she memorized all those unrelated questions for later.

"Since I couldn't be with Jenna," Khan resumed his story, "And she wanted me to be happy, she pushed me toward Monica. She had already shown interest in me, and Jenna believed we were compatible, so I kept an open mind."

"This Monica," Liiza mentioned. "Was she the one you were about to marry?"

"Did you read it when looking me up?" Khan tried to tease, but Liiza ruined his plans.

"Your warmth changes when you talk about her," Liiza revealed. "It gets milder, more human."

Khan stared at Liiza in disbelief, only to lower his gaze. That part was hard to explain. He wasn't even sure he could find appropriate words.

"Monica wasn't perfect," Khan stated. "In many ways, she was crazy but was also a great match for my toxicity."

Khan's mind went on a trip down memory lane. He recalled Milia 222 and those first, timid kisses in its asteroids. Khan remembered the Harbor, the many missions, and Baoway. Monica had been the longest relationship of his life, and for good reason.

"I didn't love her, initially," Khan continued. "We approached it as humans, like it should be for humans. It was slow, a bit casual, and pure, but she gave me so many things. More than half of what I am and have now is thanks to her."

Liiza's jealousy flared when she saw the pain in Khan's face, but that was the whole point of that conversation. She had to learn that to pay her price.

"I don't know when I started loving her," Khan stated, "But I did. It was a different love, unlike ours, but love nonetheless. I know it was."

Liiza's lips parted, but she promptly closed them. There was no point in saying what she had in mind since Khan knew it, too. Liiza believed Khan had loved Monica, but he did that as a human, while he was so much more. Because of Liiza, that more limited emotional spectrum couldn't suffice anymore.

"I truly wanted to be with her for life," Khan admitted, "Marrying her, having children. But I kept getting stronger and finding more ways to become less human. It got to the point when her body shook in fear whenever she was with me."

Liiza removed her hand from her chin, lowering it to place it on Khan's shoulder. She couldn't imagine how he must have felt during those times when love wasn't enough once again.

"But I had to keep going," Khan declared. "I had to go even further, and she knew it. I think the fact that she couldn't get pregnant was the last straw. She broke up with me to let me go forward without restraints, and here I am."

"She broke up with you?" Liiza asked.

"She knew I wouldn't have done it," Khan sighed. "I would have tried to fix it, but I guess she was right."

Khan peeked to his right, glancing at Liiza. The white and blue glows mixed before a question escaped his mouth. "Was she?"

"You found the Nak," Liiza pointed out, turning Khan's face toward her so she could lean forward to kiss him. "You kidnapped me."

"After Monica," Khan said, placing his forehead on Liiza's and closing his eyes, "I just couldn't do it anymore. A Princess offered to marry me, and it would have been the right choice, but I just couldn't. This is my first time touching a bed since Monica, too."

Liiza couldn't help but shake. She felt Khan's pain but was also happy. She was jealous, but the proof of her weight on Khan's heart was right before her. Even his tattoo was still there, acting as a declaration of love that defied reason, space, and time.

"If you are fine with all this," Khan continued, "I will be your husband. I will treasure you for the rest of my life and burn anything and anyone that gets in our way. Still, I need to know one thing."

"What is it?" Liiza asked, and the blue light resumed shining on her face.

"Do you really see the world like I do?" Khan asked.

"I told you," Liiza replied seriously, knowing something was up. "It was my world to begin with. I don't just see it. I live in it."

"So," Khan specified, "Am I not alone anymore?"

Liiza's heart broke once again. It hurt her how much she understood where Khan was coming from. She knew his eyes were similar to hers now, but he had lived with humans, while she had the Niqols.

Khan had basically lived in a different reality from everyone around him, sensing things no one could feel and seeing colors others were blind to. That even applied to his emotions and, probably, his very understanding of the world.

"You aren't," Liiza promised, kissing Khan again, a trace of mad resolve hidden in her bursting passion. "You'll never be again."