"You did it on purpose," Monica complained while looking at the hickey on her chest. The couple was still on the bed, but only Khan had started to dress up.
"My mouth simply happened to be there," Khan deflected as he tied his shoes.
"I wanted to wear a dress with nice cleavage," Monica pouted. "Now I can't."
"I'll put the next one further down," Khan promised.
"So, you did it on purpose!" Monica shouted as she leaned to her left to grab Khan's arm and pull him.
Khan laughed and let Monica pull him. His head ended on her shoulder, and his smirk broadened in front of her pissed expression. Still, her feelings told a very different story.
"It might help me remain calm knowing that you are carrying my mark," Khan explained, and Monica could only give up on her fake annoyance.
"You could have told me," Monica whispered as she lowered her head and reached for Khan's cheek. "I would have left something on you too."
"Next time," Khan teased before welcoming the arrival of Monica's lips.
"I really wanted to show you that new dress," Monica revealed once the kiss ended.
"You can wear it later," Khan suggested, "When we are alone."
"We both know where my clothes end when we are alone," Monica giggled.
"I wouldn't say no to a nice spectacle," Khan stated, and Monica knew that part of her had already accepted that suggestion.
"Scoundrel," Monica said through her happy smile. "Let's not stay too long at the party then."
"I hoped you'd say that," Khan admitted.
Monica chuckled before pushing Khan down to deliver another kiss. His hands instinctively reached for her naked waist, but she pushed on his chest to separate herself and give a warning. "We'll be late if you don't get dressed now."
"But your bed is so comfortable," Khan joked while crossing his arms in front of his eyes.
"You don't have to come," Monica pointed out as she began to play with her curls. "I can deal with all my suitors on my own."
"How many are we talking about?" Khan wondered.
"Well," Monica voiced. "That depends on how big the party is. Yet, I'll probably be the most sought woman in the room anyway."
Khan lowered his arms to glance at Monica, and she wore a complicated expression. She knew that Khan wasn't doing too well, but lying to him wasn't an option.
"Won't they have fiancées?" Khan questioned. "I thought wealthy kids got engaged at a young age."
"Some are," Monica confirmed. "Still, I remain a descendant from one of the wealthiest families, and you know how beautiful I am."
"I do know that," Khan whispered as he reached for Monica's belly button and traced his way up to the hickey on her chest. Monica grabbed his wrist but let him draw circles around that mark.
"I won't be able to keep up at this pace," Monica gasped once Khan placed his palm on her chest.
"Your ship begs to disagree," Khan joked while moving his hand to Monica's side to pull her down.
"Khan," Monica called when she landed on Khan's shoulder. "We'll get caught if we don't slow down."
"Would it be so bad?" Khan asked, even if he knew the answer.
"My mother would really kill you," Monica scolded, and her tone sweetened when Khan immersed a hand in her hair to pull her closer. "Even if your achievements forced her to spare you, she would still send me away and do anything in her power to bury the story."
"Bury the story?" Khan repeated. "I know my background sucks, but that sounds extreme."
"I'm," Monica hesitated, and some shyness engulfed her when she pointed her puppy eyes at Khan. "Due to a certain scoundrel, I'm not pure anymore. Covering this up might improve my opportunities."
Khan understood Monica's point. He had actually already thought about the topic near the beginning of his relationship. He knew how important that step had been for Monica, and her decision only added fuel to his feelings.
"Are you too shy to say virgin?" Khan teased since the matter had no solution, and a grunt left his mouth when Monica bit his shoulder.
"Idiot!" Monica shouted as she straightened her back and pulled Khan up to push him away. "Get dressed already instead of teasing me!"
Khan laughed and let Monica push him out of bed. The upper part of his uniform was on the floor, so he bent forward to pick it up. Still, some seriousness fell on him when he started to wear it.
"Hey, Monica," Khan called as he approached his luggage in the corner of the room.
"I'm not listening to you anymore," Monica complained.
"If something really happens," Khan continued while showing his back to Monica, "I'll take the blame for everything. With my background, it should be easy to convince others that I tricked you."
Khan didn't speak those words lightly. He had thought about the topic during the trip, and his selflessness had pushed him in that direction. That relationship could ruin Monica, and he planned on protecting her if something happened.
"What are you saying now?" Monica asked in confusion.
"I'll even deny having ever touched you," Khan added as he lifted his luggage and put it behind his back.
Monica snapped. She didn't even bother to take a blanket with her as she left the bed and charged at Khan. Her hand reached for his shoulder, and his resolute face unfolded in her vision when she turned him.
Khan was beyond serious, and Monica could read that in his expression. However, his resolve only intensified her anger and fueled a loud slap.
"Monica, think about it," Khan stated, ignoring the second slap on his cheek. "At worst, they'll send me to a battlefield and try to kill me there."
Monica didn't want to hear those words. She threw another slap, but Khan blocked it by grabbing her wrist. She was ready to attack again with her free hand, but the following statements turned her anger into sadness.
"I'm terrific on battlefields," Khan stated. "I'll probably survive there and come back with more war merits. This is our best option."
"My best option," Monica sniffed as tears filled her eyes. "I'd sacrifice you to avoid problems."
"Your problems can't be fixed by fighting," Khan explained. "A stain on your reputation would have lasting consequences."
"I don't want to hear it," Monica sobbed.
"I know," Khan whispered while reaching for Monica's face and wiping her tears. "What we have is great, but we must be smart about it, which means preparing for the worst."
Monica's face fell on Khan's chest, and her tears left wet patches on his uniform. The scene was sad, but Khan knew it was necessary. That talk had to happen sooner or later, and the arrival in the Harbor was the best time.
"Khan, how much do you know about politics?" Monica asked while her face remained on Khan's chest. Her sadness transformed into resolve, but her question didn't give Khan the time to think about that change.
"What are you talking about?" Khan wondered before giving an honest answer. "I still have a lot to learn."
"Instead, I had multiple teachers educating me in all its aspects," Monica revealed.
"I know," Khan frowned. "We talked about this already."
"So, you know how much damage I can cause if I start acting crazy," Monica stated.
"Monica?" Khan called, and Monica lifted her head to show her angry expression. She wasn't faking it now. She was serious about her words.
"If you sacrifice yourself," Monica announced while pointing her forefinger at the center of Khan's chest, "I will create such a fuss that even the noble families won't be able to cover it up. I will bring so much shame on myself that the Global Army will forget your name."
"Monica, be reasonable," Khan tried to calm Monica down, but the effort was hopeless.
"Reasonable?" Monica repeated. "You know my temper. I'll go so crazy that Jenna will become a sweet memory."
"And who is going to benefit from that?" Khan argued.
"I don't care as long as you drop your idea," Monica declared.
"This is serious," Khan rebuked. "You have seen how I reacted before. We might get caught, and this is the best plan to handle the crisis."
"Then, we won't get caught," Monica claimed.
"You don't know that," Khan responded.
"We won't!" Monica shouted. "Mark me all over. Do anything you need. I don't care, but we won't get caught."
Monica sounded completely unreasonable, but that left Khan with no valuable arguments. Nothing he said would get through her temper.
"You are a piece of work," Khan commented.
"Yes, and I'm your problem to handle," Monica scoffed as she crossed her arms. "Just like you are mine."
Khan and Monica entered a battle of glares, but he quickly accepted defeat. The sigh that left his mouth made Monica smile proudly, and she giggled when he pulled her into a kiss.
The couple didn't need words to know what was coming. Monica soon left Khan's lips to descend through his neck, and he dropped the luggage to reach for his back pocket. However, a frown made its way onto his face when he found nothing.
Khan scoured his other pockets and even threw away his phone to give himself more room, but the search didn't lead anywhere. Monica also noticed something was wrong, so she stopped unbuttoning Khan's uniform to shoot a confused glance at him.
"I can't find condoms," Khan revealed.
"You had the last ones," Monica gasped.
"I thought you took some during the trip," Khan voiced.
"We used those," Monica exclaimed. "That's why I told you to empty the ship before the landing."
"I did," Khan claimed. "There was only one left."
Khan and Monica couldn't believe what was happening, but they knew neither was joking, and a sad realization soon fell upon them.
"We are fucked," Monica announced.
Khan tried to devise solutions, but every thought led to a dead end. The Solodrey family didn't own the ship, so the couple had felt safe emptying its stash, but the Harbor didn't offer that freedom.
The Harbor obviously had medical bays and other shops that could sell condoms, but Monica was too famous to purchase them by herself. As for Khan, he didn't have friends there, so anyone would find a connection if he tried to buy them.
"Okay, let's calm down," Monica stated. "I'm sure there is something we can do."
"You are getting all worked up," Khan teased. "Did you grow to like sex so much?"
"Shut up!" Monica snapped. "Don't tease me even now!"
Monica wanted to add something, but Khan took her into his arms before she could get any angrier. The situation was serious, but he didn't want her to worry about it, especially after her recent speech.
"I'll find a solution," Khan promised. "Leave it to me."
"You better!" Monica muttered while hugging Khan's back. "Slowing down doesn't mean never!"
"I know, I know," Khan chuckled. "Besides, I never agreed to the slowing down in the first place."
"Scoundrel," Monica pouted. "You'll never stop teasing me about this, will you?"
"I'll remind you whenever we are alone," Khan laughed. "Though, it does make me a bit proud."
"Get dressed already," Monica complained while slightly pushing Khan away and tapping a finger on her lips. "I guess we won't be late to the party."
Khan left a goodbye kiss on Monica's lips before retrieving his stuff. His sheath, phone, and luggage soon returned to him, and he exchanged one last smile with Monica before leaving her flat.
'Condoms, condoms,' Khan cursed as he turned to his left to approach the first door that appeared in his view.
Monica had already booked a flat for Khan. The prices in the seventh district were reasonable, but saving money at the expense of a wealthy family didn't sound bad. Moreover, the purchase reinforced the idea that Khan would owe something to the Solodrey family, which was perfect due to Monica's mother.
Khan's flat was identical to Monica's. It had the same four rooms and open spaces, which felt a bit too big considering the size of Khan's luggage. He only had two tracksuits and a pair of elegant clothes, and no number of military uniforms could fill his new wardrobes.
Of course, Khan didn't care about any of that. He barely even inspected his flat as he threw his uniform into the laundry area and entered the shower. His mind was full of different thoughts, none involving his comfort.
'I need this party,' Khan realized as a transparent liquid fell on his head and washed away Monica's scent.
Buying condoms when it was only Khan and Monica was impossible, but that would change as long as one of them made a trustworthy friend. Monica's acquaintances weren't an option, so it was up to Khan to find someone for the task.
The party probably wouldn't provide what Khan needed, but he needed to seize the opportunity. Getting to know Lucian's friends would also give him a better perspective on the Harbor's social array, which he needed for multiple reasons.
As thoughts continued to flow, Khan found himself admitting that he felt better. The fight with Monica had ended with a terrible realization, but its contents had proven how they shared some crazy aspects.
Khan didn't want to see Monica go crazy, but her firm stance on the topic was reassuring, heartwarming even. Her emotions had also felt genuine during her speech, so Khan knew that she had spoken the truth.
Holding back was troublesome, but Khan could find new strength if he added someone he cared about to the equation. The fear of getting expelled or exposing himself wasn't always enough in his new state, but preventing Monica from suffering similar consequences could do the trick.
'She is growing on me,' Khan thought as he wore his elegant clothes and ruffled his hair.
Khan's relationship was young, barely a few months old, but that hardly mattered to him. He didn't experience emotions like humans, especially with his girlfriends. He was extreme, and his behavior had probably affected Monica or ignited her true colors.
Once the tight shirt was on, Khan glanced at the sheath resting on the bed. He would rarely go anywhere without his knife, but it was safer to leave it there. He trusted the new strength coming from Monica's crazy sides, but it might help stop the bad thoughts if his weapon was elsewhere.
Eventually, Khan opted to leave the flat without his knife, and the vast hall welcomed him. Its emptiness didn't surprise him, and he didn't even bother to check his phone. He knew Monica would take her time, so he waited.
Many minutes had to pass before the door of Monica's accommodation opened to reveal her enchanting figure. She wasn't wearing anything fancy, but her turtleneck sweater enhanced her flat belly, and she had the plaid skirt that Khan had chosen on Neo Station.
"I thought we had to be careful," Khan commented.
"My style has the priority," Monica scoffed, "And I wanted you to see it on me."
Monica performed one of her elegant bows that involved slightly lifting the corners of her skirt, and Khan didn't even pretend to remain calm. His gaze stayed glued to the scene, and Monica showed her shy smile under his watchful eyes.
"You better hurry up with those condoms," Monica whispered as she hurried toward one of the elevators.
Khan shook his head, but his mood only improved while he followed after Monica. They didn't dare to do anything outside their flats, but their happy expressions could send clear messages to anyone watching.
"The cab should be already here," Monica announced once the couple entered the elevator. "Also, you should have bought something else. You can't survive the social life here with a shirt and a pullover."
"The uniforms are mandatory in the embassy," Khan complained. "Why would I need more elegant clothes?"
"I will have to attend many of these parties," Monica pointed out. "I believe you'll follow me to all of them, so you'll need more clothes."
"Shouldn't we focus on studying?" Khan cursed.
"Says the guy who barely sleeps to train more," Monica pouted.
"Are you sure I can't wear the uniform at these parties?" Khan wondered.
"Khan," Monica called in a scolding tone.
"Alright, I'll buy new clothes," Khan sighed. "We can use those trips to be together."
"I'll fill your wardrobe in no time," Monica giggled.
"You just want to see me wearing different stuff," Khan teased.
"Shirts do suit you," Monica whispered, and the two exchanged a meaningful gaze that the opening of the elevator forced to an end.
The doorman was still behind his desk, and Khan nodded at him before proceeding forward and engaging in casual jokes with Monica. Still, the man ended up calling him before he could cross half of the hall.
"Lieutenant Khan, a word?" The middle-aged man called.
The event surprised Khan, but the previous interaction with the doorman made him nod at Monica and approach the desk. Yet, the middle-aged man didn't speak even when Khan reached him. He remained silent while gesturing at Khan to come on the other side.
Khan complied and walked around the desk only to see one of the interactive menus depicting his exit from Monica's flat. The recording didn't have anything incriminating, but his idiotic smile could tell many things.
"Only the elevators and the flats don't have cameras in this district," The doorman explained, "And I can't refuse to hand over recordings if requested."
The recording wasn't an issue, but Khan couldn't explain why the doorman would mention it. Still, the latter promptly explained his reasons.
"Soldiers must look out for each other," The doorman stated, and his feelings confirmed his good intentions. He was only a second-level warrior, so Khan could read him easily.
The gentle purpose of that unexpected warning surprised Khan, but he wasn't the type to refuse it. He couldn't offer anything to the doorman, but he could show him some respect.
"What's your name?" Khan asked.
"Perry, sir," The doorman responded.
"Perry, you can drop the sir when we are alone," Khan declared, "And avoid the Lieutenant since we are at it."
"I'll ignore the second part, Lieutenant Khan," Perry laughed, and Khan smiled back before leaving the desk to return to Monica.
"What did he want?" Monica whispered once the building's exit grew close.
"We can't sleep together," Khan replied while lowering his head to keep his lips hidden from possible cameras. "I'll explain more in the cab."
The cab was already outside the building, and Khan and Monica didn't hesitate to enter. The passengers' seats offered some privacy, so Khan explained himself, and a long conversation followed. The two tried to find solutions to the issue, but only a deeper knowledge of the Harbor could provide them.
The trip turned out to be quite long. Lucian's accommodation was near the embassy, which stood toward the center of the Harbor, and the cab needed almost an hour to reach it.
Once Khan and Monica got off the cab, they found themselves in a small district filled with vast but short buildings. Those structures had long, dark windows that seemed to act as walls for the flats in their insides, and the floors appeared taller from the outside.
The illumination from the white pillars was also dimmer in that district. That different glow created a cozier environment and probably highlighted some of the areas Khan had spotted on the interactive map.
Monica led the way since she was the only one with Lucian's directions. She entered one of the buildings nearby and confirmed her identity on a scanner on an empty desk before gaining access to an automatic elevator. Khan went with her, and the machine soon brought them to the last floor.
The different quality and luxury of the district became clear as soon as the elevator opened. The larger buildings didn't involve a higher number of flats. According to what Khan saw, the place had far fewer accommodations, but their size was incredible.
The elevator had opened at the center of a massive flat that seemed to encompass the entire floor. Some walls were almost transparent and allowed Khan to gaze at the windows in the distance, while others hid private areas that probably involved pools and similar services.
The sight couldn't shock Khan since he had seen something similar during his meeting with Raymond. Still, the many different strands of mana that reached his senses gave him an idea of the number of people on the scene, which was far from small.
As for Monica, she was already aware of the flat's size, and she didn't hesitate to leave the elevator to step into the big main hall. She planned to deal with her social obligations as soon as possible, but her status worked against her.
"Monica Solodrey!" A woman from behind a half-transparent wall exclaimed before approaching a passage that gave her a clear sight of Monica. "I almost thought Lucian lied to me about your arrival."
"Anita, it's so good to see you," Monica responded as her elegant façade activated.
Anita approached Monica and delivered a kiss on both of her cheeks before taking her hands. Surprise mixed with her happiness when she inspected Monica's figure, and praises soon left her mouth.
"You look fantastic," Anita gasped. "How did you lose so much weight? I need to know your secret."
"You know my mother," Monica laughed while using the entirety of her self-restraint to avoid glancing at Khan. "She always knows how to make me look good."
"I would be jealous if I didn't know how your mother is," Anita joked before joining Monica in her laugh.
"Oh, Anita," Monica voiced while turning toward Khan. "He is-."
"Lieutenant Khan, of course," Anita interrupted while leaving Monica and approaching Khan to stretch her arm toward him. "I was confused about your popularity with women. Not anymore."
"Pleasure to meet you," Khan politely smiled while shaking Anita's hand.
"You might be one of the few who actually deserves to be here," Anita stated. "Come, I have many friends who can't wait to meet you."
"Friends?" Monica promptly repeated.
"Yes," Anita confirmed. "Gwen, Zoe, and Vida are here. Even Selma the slut is around, but she has probably already found a hidden corner and a man if you know what I mean."
"Anita, don't tell me that you are drunk already?" Monica joked.
"How do you expect me to survive these events otherwise?" Anita scoffed while taking Monica's hand. "Come now. Drop the hottie to the vixens so you can help me deal with those annoying suitors."
The announcement would normally push Khan to join the conversation and find a way to remain with Monica, but a familiar presence suddenly touched his senses. That mana was somewhat different from his memories, but his feelings reacted before his mind could make a connection.
"Wait, Anita," Monica continued to laugh. "Lieutenant Khan is my guest. I can't just-."
Monica interrupted her line after noticing how Khan had lost interest in the conversation. Something else had attracted his attention, and he walked toward it, uncaring of the fact that he was in an unknown environment.
Khan entered the room where Anita had come from before glancing at a metal wall to his left. Only a half-closed door separated the two vast spaces, and a specific voice stood out among the murmurs generated by the many groups around him.
Many voices flew at Khan, and people even tried to reach him, but nothing could make him stop. He advanced toward the half-closed door to cross it, and a sense of peace immediately spread inside him.
"So, the Niqols delivered this amazing booze," A young man almost shouted from the bottom of the room while a group mainly made of women attentively listened to him, "And the entire dorm got wasted in a matter of hours. It was hilarious."
The women laughed due to the man's loud tones and gestures, and one of them managed to ask a question before her companions. "Didn't you have a superior there?"
"Well," The man grinned, but his mouth hung open when he noticed Khan. Still, his surprise only lasted for a second, and his smile widened again as his tale resumed. "A friend took care of that. Isn't that right, Lieutenant Khan?"
"Someone needed saving more than others," Khan stated. "Do you remember who he was, Mister Ildoo?"
George exploded into a laugh and reached for a bottle on a table behind him before throwing it toward Khan. The sudden gesture made the women around him gasp, but Khan easily grabbed the booze mid-air and even opened it to take a sip.
The room went silent, or, at least, Khan couldn't hear anything. Only George existed in his senses as pure happiness invaded his mind. His journey in the Harbor had looked grim, but those problems instantly vanished. He couldn't imagine himself struggling to face them if George was with him.
