The perks of being a parent [Bendytimed to before podpop]

[gogopowersuit.livejournal.com]

Oh boy.

Samus has had an excellent start to her new job. She was a little wary to take on the responsibility of security. After all, she always considered herself better as a free agent rather than part of the organized system. She always seemed to need to bend the rules in order to get things done. Leon understood this, though, and still offered her the position. Maybe it would even give her a bit more freedom in her methods, having to answer to less superiors. Maybe this would be a good thing.

Except for the fact that it now gave her adopted bird son even more unsupervised freetime around this very dangerous ship, which is exactly why the new Chief of Security was sitting with her head in one hand next to the passed out Komali in the Med Bay instead of in her new office in the precinct. Oh the joys of being a single parent.

Comments

[prettycoolguy]

He tilts his head very slightly to one side. "I don't make a habit of being overly familiar with my superior officers."

[gogopowersuit.livejournal.com]

And then it clicks. She's his boss. She pauses before telling him, "You really don't have to call me ma'am."

And by that she means 'Really. Don't.'

[prettycoolguy]

He exhales. "If you insist, m-"

He just catches himself. "...Nevermind."

[gogopowersuit.livejournal.com]

"Why the sudden formality? Just because I'm Chief of Security?

[prettycoolguy]

"There's nothing sudden about it," he says. He almost called her ma'am again. This is killing him. He can't do it. It's too well ingrained.

[gogopowersuit.livejournal.com]

"It's just strange is all. I never called you sir when you were first officer. I only call you your rank because you seem to use it as a name."

She isn't even trying to push or tease him. She's being honest. She really found the formality odd.

[prettycoolguy]

The Chief just looks at her and suppresses the urge to shake his head.

"It's not my name."

She knows what his name is. There's a beat, then he adds, "Do not use my name."

[gogopowersuit.livejournal.com]

She looks him in the faceplate. She's probably one of the few able to pick out his eyes behind the orange metal, and it's probably because she's behind her own helmet so much they might as well be their faces...

"I know," she states rather simply. It's an answer to both his statements.

[prettycoolguy]

It's a little unnerving. Being able to pick out where a Spartan's eyes are through the visor is a rare ability. He's silent for a moment.

"If you don't want me to address you as "ma'am", I will not," he says finally. Really, he will try.

He turns. "I won't keep you any longer, Samus."

[gogopowersuit.livejournal.com]

Samus nods. She considers him and herself equals, perhaps why the 'ma'am' struck her as odd. Still, she guesses that she should probably get used to being one of the "superior officers" on the ship. Not that there was exactly a lack of respect coming her way before...

She entertains the thought of keeping Chief on his toes by officially noting his departure with a 'Dismissed.' She decides against it.

"See you around," she finally says and lets him leave.

[dis-courageous.livejournal.com]

When he's safely gone, Komali opens his eyes, "Mister Chief is kind of ridiculous about some stuff, huh?"

[gogopowersuit.livejournal.com]

Samus turns, and Komali gets a little ruffle of the feathers on his head when she realizes he is awake. She tells him, "A little bit, but that's just how he is."

There's a pause. She's happy Komali is okay and awake enough to talk, which is excellent because she has something that she needs to discuss with him.

"So, do you wanna tell me what happened with Sherry?"