Author: Update schedule? What update schedule? Things will probably continue this way--lots of updates real quickly followed by long dry-spells. Sorry. Thank you for your patience and patronage!

Disclaimer: Seriously?

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"You know, I wouldn't have thought someone like you would have that much bite to you," the older cadet told the scowling Chekov. "You got quite a temper."

"Zhey should naut hafe insulted her," Chekov growled. "It iz not her fault being how she is."

Chekov tried his best to keep out of fights, and succeeded for the most part. Afterall, there was no insult that could be thrown at him that he hadn't heard at least once before.

But, his acquaintances? Well, that was a different story.

For the most part, his acquaintances were mature and strong enough that they could handle anything thrown their way—or, at least, that's what Chekov liked to believe. But, he knew that there were always certain buttons that could be pushed that would get underneath the protections that his acquaintances had.

Chekov really didn't like it when people were picked on for being different.

So, when one of his half-human acquaintances was being ridiculed and she found herself unable to fight back, Chekov had stood up for her.

The older cadets really hadn't like the verbal dressing-down a 14-year-old managed to pull on them. So, they engaged him physically.

Chekov didn't have any formal fighting training, but what he had learned, he had learned the hard way. He fought dirty.

"I don't think that one guy's ever gonna be able to have kids," the cadet sitting next to him mused.

"Why did you help me?" Chekov asked, curious.

The cadet shrugged, as if almost embarrassed to have to admit to actively helping Chekov. "I saw them picking on a kid who was defending the honor of a quite lovely young lady and, well...that was that."

"Sank you," Chekov said in all seriousness.

The other cadet waved a hand dismissively before wincing at the movement. "You know you're gonna get in trouble for that."

Chekov shrugged before cringing, a hand going to his shoulder. "It is alright. I do naut mind. I will be able to get around it."

"Really?"

Chekov nodded slightly, already thinking. "Of course."

The cadet stared at him for a long moment before laughing. "You know, kid, you've got some balls. How old're you anyway?"

"Fourteen," Chekov answered absently.

The cadet looked briefly astonished. "How the hell did you get in?"

Chekov drew himself out of his thoughts before giving the older cadet a bashful smile. "It was nossing..."

"Oh, c'mon, tell me. We got time..."

"It is naut interesting..."

The cadet continued to try and convince Chekov to tell him how he managed to get into the Academy so young, but his prying was cut short by a doctor coming in.

"JIM WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" the doctor half-snarled before stalking over the cadet sitting next to Chekov, grabbing him by the elbow, and yanking him to his feet.

"Easy, Bones, easy! I'm hurt, y'know."

"Why the hell do you do these things to yourself? Can't you just spend, oh, I don't know, one day without me seeing you?!" the doctor harangued the cadet, leading him away.

Chekov blinked and found himself snickering. He sighed heavily and leaned back against the wall, body protesting the movement.

Bones? What kind of nickname is that...?

He shrugged, figuring it didn't matter, before settling himself more comfortably, waiting to be seen.