I do hope you found this to your liking -SarayaStrange, thank you so much for the request!

Honestly, guys, the only reason some of these requests took so long for me to get to is because of my upcoming trip. I promise to get them done before I go--thanks for your patience!

You placed a hand on your heart as you hid behind a large metal panel, hiding you from the lead weapons science officer that often came to check on the Enterprise's weaponry and such. Or at least that's what you assumed he was there for. You have worked on the Enterprise for years but you never cared much for any of the men around you. Until Khan came around. Suddenly you became quite self-aware.

It was interesting enough, your race, having enhanced abilities and being seen as a higher species to then suddenly be given a ship all to your own. The leading ship of Starfleet full of genetically stronger humans quickly became known as the most feared crew in space. Even the Klingons learned to keep their distance. And yet, despite the apparent advantages and privileges you and your people could exploit, the Enterprise crew stayed humble and well behaved, something Starfleet greatly appreciated.

That being as it was, the Enterprise was always sent on dubious missions, tasked with things only people of your skill could withstand and accomplish. You were an engineer and found great pride in being in the belly of the Belle, making her tick and watching her come to life in battle and while exploring. Everything was relatively peaceful for a time. But then came the news of a newcomer, every much like the rest of you. But the poor man was tested on, therefore immensely powerful due to the head start his genes already gave him.

Khan didn't like the idea of being thrown into a ship full of his kin. He would be ostracized immediately once news of his past got around. For months he despised his job but he found one good thing among it all.

You.

Khan never thought himself shy. He was always the loud one, showing off and hiding his fears and insecurities being sneers and laughter. That is until he saw you. Now he made embarrassingly large amounts of visits to the engine room for no reason other than to see you, if not be in the same area as you.

Since his test,s he had gotten waves of anger and sudden urges to become violent. He hated that part about him. Before he was caught and Starfleet saved him, he prided himself on being level headed and sincere when he needed to be. He had a mother at one point and she never neglected to teach him how to behave.

Now he looked for any and all reasons to be an utter jerk to others. It saved him the pain of attachments and the fear of hurting anyone close to him. He can't hurt anyone if there are no loved ones to hurt. But you made him feel calm and collected, even if you didn't know he existed.

Or so he thought.

The both of you were ignorant to the other's feelings for each other so it took an agonizingly long time for anything to come of it. As it turned out, it was his past and your voice that ended up bringing the two of you together, but not in a way either of you expected.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It had been almost a year since Khan's arrival and you were pleased to see he was starting to make a few friends. You also took note of the looks he would give you and the feel of his gaze on you as you worked or passed him in the hall. Before, when he was first new, you entertained the idea to step up first and offer to be his friend. But now, judging by the girls that hung on his every word and followed him around like puppies, your presence would be more of a nuisance than a help.

You both knew each other well enough, having gone on away missions together and working in the same area. This friendship you felt with him had the potential to be fast, strong, and amazing, but he always backed out when it became tangible.

You shook your head as you stared down at a few engine room specks on your PADD while you ate lunch. You sat alone and you preferred it that way, at least while you were working. You could feel his stare on your back as you did your best to ignore him. You didn't have any plans to be part of his "harem". As tempting as it may be with his skills and looks, you favored a more real relationship; no idol worshiping.

Khan clenched his fist under the table as another girl started praising him with a sickening slow sultry voice. He kept his eyes on you as he did his best to suppress his anger. He had been haveing fits of anger and his reputation was starting to suffer for it. Usually looking at you did or being near you did the trick, but lately, he had been craving more. He wanted to see your face all the time. He wanted to hear your voice. He wanted to see your eyes rest on him without the look of pity or sorrow that he seemed to get from you. The woman next to him leaned in closer and whispered in his ear.

That did it.

He yelled, standing then tipping the table over. The girls screamed and scampered off. Red hazed his eyes as he glared around the room. He blinked hard and tried to shake the anger free but it wouldn't leave. He reached down and took a chair, throwing it into a wall, creating a sizable dent. Crewmen pulled out phasers as women ran to get help. Khan continued to rampage until he heard your voice.

You stood up once you heard him call out in anger. You watched with a mixture of worry and sorrow as he fought with his inner demons. You knew of his experiments, you took the liberty of researching how he was found and brought aboard. You didn't fear him like the others were starting to. Your heart dropped as he got worse, his hair falling into his eyes. Right before he threw another chair you stepped forward from the wall of scared bystanders and reached a tentative hand out, your voice just above a whisper.

"Khan?"

He froze for a moment before turning to you. You watched as his body instantly relaxed and his eyes locked on with yours. You took another step forward but he flinched like you struck him. You lowered your hand and furrowed your brows.

"Khan are you-"

He stepped back again, glancing from the weapon drawn crowd then back to you as he shook his head.

"Get away. I'm a monster," he whispered as he tore his eyes away from you.

You watched as he ran off, the crowd parting like the sea to let him pass. You had half a heart to follow him, just to make sure he was alright, but you didn't want to make things worse. But you couldn't get his reaction on seeing you out of your head. It was like but by merely calling out to him and him seeing you brought him out of a warpath spell.

Khan breathed hard as he stood in an abandoned observation deck. He ran his hands through his hair as he fought back tears. He had been doing so well but now he feared he would soon loose the ability to hold back even from you. He looked up as his hands clasped behind his neck and hung there. The sound of the ship hummed as he closed his eyes and saw the look on your face.

Pity. Sorrow. Worry.

But no fear. Not yet.

His nightmares were getting worse and there was nothing the doctor on board could do. Starfleet said there was little to be done with his side effects and that giving him a job and a crew family would help him recover. He let out a groan as he leaned forward, placing his hands on his knees. So much for that idea.

Khan stood and got a good look at where he was. Glad there was no one else around he contacted the captain to call in sick for a few days, just enough time for him to plan a way off this ship and away from potential victims of his outburst. Away from you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You told the head engineer that you wanted the rest of the week off. The way Khan reacted to you was bothering you. In a good way. From what you learned from his reports he may be relapsing. And you had an idea.

You hummed to yourself as you made your way to Khan's quarters but paused when you saw his receding form turn the corner away from his room in the opposite direction. Intrigued, you followed him. You watched as he seemed to be checking off a list on his PADD, looking skittish as people passed him. Once he made it to the door of an old observation deck, you decided to make yourself known.

You walked in after him and the words of greeting died on your lips. The room was filled with supplies and what looked like an enhanced escape pod. IT was clear Khan knew more than weaponry mechanics. You accidentally kicked a tool and the sound of it scraping the floor as it went flying across it made Khan jump, turning to see you.

"(Y/n)," he whispered breathlessly.

You coughed to hide a  blush that came from hearing your name like that. Especially from him. You raised your hand a bit and gave him a tiny wave with a smile.

"Hi."

Khan took a step back. Even in the last few days, he had been feeling himself slipping more and more. He couldn't risk hurting you. Even just a little bit. If only you hadn't followed him, he didn't want to part like this.

You countered his look of fear and sadness with kind eyes and a small smile. You took a step forward, not wanting to lose the chance to help him.

"Please, Khan, I know you fear your anger but I don't."

That gave Khan pause. The look he saw in your eyes gave him hope that you knew, even just a bit of how he felt and what he had gone through. You may be more advanced than the normal human but he being advanced twice over he could see in your eyes that you were telling the truth. He relaxed his shoulders and bowed his head.

"But you will. If you think getting to know me will help me then you are wrong. I was sent here to get to know people but all that has done is make things worse. I don't-," he looked up at you, his eyes brimming with tears, "I don't want to hurt you (Y/n)." He started to shake. From anger or tears, you knew not.

You took a step forward and breathed easy when he didn't back away. So you walked up to him until you were nearly toe-to-toe with him. His eyes searched your face as you searched his. Khan felt the calmest he had ever felt. He itched to reach out and pull you to him. Maybe then he would know what it would fell like for his heart to beat steadily.

You reached up and daringly cupped his cheek. He leaned into your touch and you smiled.

"I read what happened to you. I saw the report files and photographs. And before you tell me to leave you alone and to find something better to do than talk to a "monster", I'll have you know there is nothing I would rather do than stand here and be there for you."

Khan's breath hitched. This had to be a dream. But he realized it wasn't when you stepped forward and your hand dropped, running down his chest then snaked around his middle. He stared down at the top of your head as you pulled him to you, wrapping your arms around him and setting your head on his chest. His heart beat wildly but not out of rage.

You hugged him tighter, urging him to hug you back. "Would a monster let me hug it?" You whispered a hint of a smiled pulling at your lips.

Slowly Khan lowered his arms and gently hugged you back. But you moved your arms so he would have to bend down a bit and rest his forehead on your shoulder. You cradled his head and rubbed his back as his gentle hug turned desperate. You let him hold you for as long as he needed, murmuring kind words to him as he soaked up your love and willingness to help.

Khan turned his head and kissed your cheek, whispering against your ear. "You do understand that you have made it severely impossible for me not to fall in love with you."

You giggled as you ran a hand through his hair. "Somethings go both ways."

Khan let a smile brake over his face as he held you, breathing you in. Perhaps he doen't need to leave the Enterprise after all.