captivity

[full_of_wrath]

Kirk gets called in. Mostly because Khan has made two duty officers guarding his cell ask to be relieved, one of them in tears.

He creates a lot of wear and tear, in general.

Comments

[full_of_wrath]

His eyes fly open, stunned and clear, and he's upright, clutching at his chest like he thought he might not wake again.

Fortunately, Kirk will get his wish. Instinct kicks in and he flies at him.

[kobayashiwhatnow]

Kirk ducks and punches as hard as he possibly can, knowing full well that to Khan it will still hardly be an impact. He remembers the rage he'd felt the first time he hit, and hit, and hit him, the hatred and desperation he'd felt at having finally found Pike's murderer.

It's not hard to muster that up for this, to try to lend himself strength.

[full_of_wrath]

The blow glances off, Khan doesn't seem to feel it. Still dazed, his momentum carries him into the opposite wall, and he whirls to face him there, trying in a hurry to absorb what is happening.

[kobayashiwhatnow]

He goes for a two-handed blow this time, wanting nothing more than to make him bleed--to at least knock him to the ground. To leave a tiny scratch.

[full_of_wrath]

It succeeds in rocking him back, a little, though his expression remains vacant as it did the first beating.

Kirk is not someone he can hurt or alienate. He's the closest thing to a chance he has.

[kobayashiwhatnow]

It doesn't stop Kirk from landing another blow, and another, he'll go to a dozen if Khan doesn't stop him.

[full_of_wrath]

By five, he's been driven backwards against the cell wall. On twelve, his legs give out, and he slips to the ground, arms tucking behind his back to keep his fine boned hands out of harms way.

[kobayashiwhatnow]

Kirk realizes that Khan isn't fighting back. But he keeps pressing on, because he can't hurt him (not really). His knuckles are throbbing and he keeps going, letting the pain fuel him.

He can't even pretend he's fighting out of self-defense or surprise now.

[full_of_wrath]

What eventually happens is his eyes roll back to white, hair a mess, cheeks at last coming up in a flush from the pattern of abuse. His bottom lip is splitting a little, not enough to bleed yet.

[kobayashiwhatnow]

Jim's muscles give out before Khan does. He knees him in the face, wanting to make him bleed just a little, before he has to relent and stagger back to sit on that bed-shelf.

He's in very good shape, and yet he's sweating and panting now.

[full_of_wrath]

His head snaps back at the knee, colliding with the metal behind him with a frightening sounding crack that'd mean serious consequences for anyone even a little bit less than he is. But he manages to lift his head upright with a ragged gasp, trying to blink his eyes back into focus.

[kobayashiwhatnow]

His hands are already bruising and swelling. He looks over at Khan, and finds he has no regrets. He probably should, there's probably a Star Fleet codified rule about that, but fuck it.

He's sure Khan's fine. But in case he's not...

"How many fingers am I holding up?"

[full_of_wrath]

"Mmh?"

He asks, hands still laced behind his back, lip bleeding freely now.

[kobayashiwhatnow]

"Hey. Hey."

He snaps his fingers (or tries to; they don't cooperate and just touch weakly against each other), and so he kneels in front of Khan to examine him.

He feels such terrible joy at seeing that blood trailing down Khan's chin.

[full_of_wrath]

"Oh come." He whispers, voice audibly slurred. His hand lifts up to rub over his chin, collecting the drop of blood rolling down his skin. "That won't do, captain."

Quick as a snake, his fingers dart out, and smear the red over Kirk's bottom lip, push the remainder into his mouth. He'll need his hands, for what's to come.

[kobayashiwhatnow]

Kirk recoils hard, falling almost drunkenly backward. He sucks his lip clean, then remembers himself and wipes what's left off on the back of his wrist.

[full_of_wrath]

The bruising will begin to resolve itself almost instantly. Khan's split lip is already mending, and his gaze is more focused.

"Did you wish to continue, or was that enough?"

[kobayashiwhatnow]

He glowers at him for the sense he's being mocked. Even if Khan didn't intend it that way, it's incredibly frustrating to watch someone heal in a matter of seconds while he's winded and aching.

"Must be nice."

[full_of_wrath]

"Not out of context."

He says, misunderstanding, licking at the blood dazedly.

[kobayashiwhatnow]

"Not fighting back won't get you any favors."

Because Kirk can't figure out why Khan didn't throw a punch. He hadn't fought back the first time Kirk tried to beat him down either, but that had been different.

[full_of_wrath]

"If I hit you, I'll kill you."

He points out, succinctly.

"I don't want to see you hurt. I've been protecting you, you may have seen, since Qo'noS."

[kobayashiwhatnow]

"And you're still in here."

That would piss off most people.

[full_of_wrath]

"I'm a murderer. I suspect I will be in cells for a very long time to come."

He admits, arm stealing about his knees.

"I'm only sorry it was your man killed in the fire, not Marcus himself. I will break his neck if given half the chance.

[kobayashiwhatnow]

The barest mention of Pike has his adrenaline pumping again, but Kirk is too intelligent to fly off again. Especially with the mention of Marcus.

It's possible Khan is lying about Marcus, but Kirk doubts it.

"And promising you he'll face justice won't make any difference to you."

[full_of_wrath]

"I've seen the 'justice' your Federation believes in. It doesn't have much space for protecting people like me. If he's taken in he'll be put on trial by his peers, who will see only what they wish to."