Chapter Text
Ever since Nori had died, their daughter had been… Different. Which was understandable, Khan hadn’t quite been the same himself, grief pushing him into his work for the sake of what Nori had wanted and for his daughter. The loss affected them both so greatly, and Khan sat idly by, watching as Uzi quickly became angry, angsty, and distant in her own right.
Deep down, somewhere within himself, Khan knew it was his own fault, that his sudden distancing himself was the catalyst to Uzi’s change in behavior. No longer was the happy little girl who would cling to her father, instead replaced by a burning bitter fire.
And he only had himself to blame.
But khan didn’t let those thoughts bubble to the surface, and he fought them violently when little bits did. He didn’t want to think about that, or how terrible of a father he was.
3:47 AM
The door to their little apartment like home slid open with a mechanical whir, the gears that moved it whined quietly, and Khan made a mental note to check on them later.
He had worked all night long, and part of the day earlier too, a bad habit he just couldn’t seem to kick, something he had picked up when Nori passed. Easier to work for the protection of the people than allow oneself to feel that terrible grief is what he always said!
To himself at least!
Optics glanced around the cluttered open space of his shared living area, taking quiet note for anything out of place, or maybe he was hoping to spot Uzi up late at night, grabbing a snack he could scold her gently for(it was the only interactions they really had anymore, and he missed his daughter). But as always, everything was in its place. The seating neatly put together with decorative throw pillows(they had been nori’s), the stray door leaning against the wall, all of it was normal.
Well
Minus one thing.
As Khan turned towards the front door, awkwardly worming one foot out of his tightly laced boots, Khan’s eyes landed upon Uzi’s own boots, neatly tucked away by the door like he was getting ready to do.
So, she was home, that’s good. Ever since she had made friends with that murder drone guy she had a bad habit of sneaking out.
Khan smiled softly, getting his boots off the rest of the way and oh so carefully stashing them right next to Uzi’s. His looked so much bigger than hers… it may not have been a huge thing, but the sight would be something he would cherish forever.
He shimmied the thick winter coat he always wore off, carefully hanging it up by the hood near the door.
Khan… wasn’t going to bother Uzi. She needed all the sleep she could get, considering her late night adventures out into the cold wasteland of their world…
But there was a nagging in his mind… maybe he could just… check on her?
Yeah! Just make sure she’s actually here and sleeping soundly in her bed.
Lingering before her bedroom door, he fiddled nervously with a stray string from the sleeve of his turtleneck, staring straight ahead with hollowed out eyes. Who knew checking in on your daughter could be so nerve wracking?
But, he had a job to do as a semi okay dad occasionally! So Khan took a deep breath and quietly opened her bedroom door, stepping into her purple lit room with hesitant foot falls…
Only to be met with a sight he… had not been expecting, something so surprising he had staggered back with a look of shock.
Uzi was fine, she was safe, for the most part. There she was tucked into her tall bed, purple hair all messed up and missing her iconic beanie, though it wasn’t far from home.
The problem came to… the massive disassembly drone wrapped around her protectively.
His arms wrapped around Uzi’s sleeping form, fingers digging into the pajama shirt she was wearing… though one hand held her beanie tight as well. What was kind of scary was those bladed wings that folded over the majority of Uzi’s body, keeping her close and shielded from the world around them… and his tail was curled in close, twitching carefully in his sleep.
It was dangerous, horrifying even, the drone designed specifically to purge their kind was right there, cuddled up with his daughter…
But… as Khan’s eyes blipped back to look at Uzi, engulfed in the heat of a Disassembly drone… he couldn’t help but notice how…
Soft, warm…. And happy she looked. The way her mouth hung open slightly as she rested, the tiny smile that tugged at her lips, probably so happy to be in such a warm and…
And loving embrace.
Every circuit, every wire, every tiny piece of Khan wanted so badly to pull her away, to keep her safe from the very monster that had taken Nori away…
But he didn’t let himself.
N, her murder drone friend… looking back to him only confirmed in his mind… he couldn’t separate them, at least not right now. The larger drone looked even more happy than Uzi, a big soft smile on his face as his head was nuzzled lightly into her shoulder, the tight hold he had on her… Khan wasn’t sure he’d even ever seen a murder drone sleep before.
What was clear to him though… was that they loved each other, and this warm embrace was something they needed.
With a soft sigh, Khan backed away, glancing to Uzi one more time before he left, closing the door once more, and letting the two kids rest peacefully like they deserved.
He could grant her that, at least. A moment of solace in what he knew was a chaotic and tough life right now.
Besides… it had been so long since he had seen Uzi look so happy and content.
She deserved to hold onto that for as long as she could.
What kind of father would he be to rip it away from her?