I’m trying this again, a fan fiction site separate from the one I use on AO3. For now I’m not widely advertising it while I see what I do with it.
I’m posting a work in progress that takes place after Star Trek Beyond, called Where My Demons Hide.
I’ll probably post photos and stuff that inspire me. Right now I’m fixated on a picture of Zachary Quinto in the snow that I just have to use for Spock.
Decided to do a little sequel to last week’s
“I thought I’d see you at the Halloween Dance last night.”
Jim was pretty sure he hadn’t had enough coffee for this. But he took a fortifying sip of the creamy brew, because as many joked who knew Jim his coffee was almost all cream with a little coffee.
He smiled at his best friend. “Didn’t you? Guy dressed up like a vampire?”
“There were dozens of vampires,” Bones pointed out.
Which is what Jim had counted on.
“I don’t think I saw you either,” Jim murmured. “What were you dressed as?”
“Humpty Dumpty.”
“What? Man. I would have liked to have seen that.”
Bones narrowed his eyes. “I was pretty hard to miss if you were there. I know you told me you were going to ask, um, Peyton something.”
Jim nodded sagely. “Right. Transferred out of the Academy.”
Bones laughed. “He did not. He was the Dance.”
Jim scratched his neck. “Interesting.”
“So you didn’t ask him.”
“Nope.”
Jim yawned so big his jaw popped.
“So then—”
“Good morning, Doctor.” Spock took the seat next to Jim at the cafeteria table.
“Morning, Spock. I was just trying to find out from Jim why I didn’t see Jim at the Halloween Dance.”
Spock nodded and took a bite of his toast even as Jim reached over and stole a strawberry from his plate.
“Bones said Peyton was there,” Jim said, pointedly.
“Ah.” Spock shrugged. “Perhaps he was there as a last hurrah as they say.”
Jim snorted. “’They’ may say that but you’ve never said that in your life.”
Bones looked at them. “Something going on with you two?”
“Bones, do you know if Marcy Winters has a boyfriend?”
“Hell if I know. Why?”
Jim shrugged. “No reason. How about whether Arnold Milton went on a training mission with Captain April and came back with a disease?”
“I’m pretty sure that’s private information even if I did know that,” Bones told him. “Why the questions?”
Jim glanced at Spock and smiled. “Nothing.”
Bones leaned back with his arms crossed. “I don’t think you were at the Dance, so where were you?”
“I meant to be. But, uh, well, Spock and I never made it.”
“Spock and…” Bones gaped at him. “Are you two–?’
Jim flashed him a smile. “Mmmhmm.”
His friend looked at him and then at Spock. “Is that a-a hickey?”
Jim laughed. “Now you see why we didn’t make it to the Halloween Dance. I took one look at Spock in his costume, and well, how could I resist?”
“I am sure I will regret asking, but what was Spock’s costume?”
“A pre-Surak Vulcan warrior,” Jim said, dreamily.
“Oh for God’s sake. I’m late for class.” Bones rose.
“Your class doesn’t start for another hour,” Jim pointed out.
“Then I’m late for something else. See ya.”
Jim stole another strawberry.
“Do you regret not making it to the Halloween event, Jim?”
“Are you kidding, babe? No regrets. The only thing I’ll regret is if you don’t wear the costume again tonight.”
“You are impossible.”
Jim laughed and held up a strawberry to Spock’s lips. “Told you.”
“I want your opinion on something.”
Spock’s gaze rose and he lifted his teacup to his lips. “My opinion?”
Jim flashed him a smile. “As a neutral observer.”
“Very well.”
“I was thinking of asking Peyton Lucking to the Halloween dance at the Academy Hall. He’s pretty cute and I think he’s into me. What do you think?”
“I believe he has transferred out of the Academy.”
“What? I just saw him.”
Spock nodded. “It was quite recent. Family issues, I believe.”
“Well. Damn.” Jim sighed. “I liked him.”
“Unfortunate indeed,” Spock murmured.
It was the next day that Jim said, “So I think I’ll ask Macy Winters to the dance.”
Spock blinked, leaned back in his chair and arched his brow. “What does her boyfriend think?”
Jim’s jaw dropped. “Her-her boyfriend?”
Spock nodded solemnly.
“Since when?”
“It was quite recent.”
“Isn’t that what you said about Peyton?”
Spock shrugged. “I might have used similar words.”
“Hmm. Okay. Well. Damn.”
“Milton.”
Spock looked up from his soup the next day. “Milton? Not Arnold Milton.”
Jim frowned. “Yeah. Why?”
“You have not heard the rumors?”
“Rumors?”
“He went on a training mission with Captain April and managed to get infected with the planet’s disease.”
“A disease? You’re joking!”
“Vulcans do not joke, Jim,” Spock assured him.
“That’s just great. The dance is tomorrow. Who am I supposed to go with?”
Spock dipped his spoon into his soup. “Me.”
“Did you just say you, Spock?”
“I did.” His gaze rose to Jim’s face. “Will you?”
Jim grinned. “Will I?” He laughed. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Spock’s lips quirked. “No costume though.”
“Oh, you’re wearing a costume. Not sure what yet.”
Spock sighed. “Very well. But nothing complicated.”
Jim leaned over and kissed him.
“Or offensive.”
Jim kissed him again.
“Or anything that requires makeup.”
Jim laughed. “Shhh.” And kissed Spock again. This time he did not speak.
“Are you, uh, coming to the party?” Jim asked Spock, as the were finishing up their lunch at the Academy cafeteria.
Of course given the blank stare Spock gave him, Jim figured he likely had the answer.
“Party?”
Jim tried not to let it bother him that he’d mentioned the Halloween party probably four times since mid-September and a few more since October began. Of course he knew it wasn’t important to Spock, but he thought, maybe, since it was important to Jim, he might remember.
Fat chance.
“Halloween party at the Sulus house.”
Spock nodded. “Right. I recall now. If it is all the same to you, I would rather skip it.”
Jim tried not to be disappointed. But the truth was, this was more than just the Halloween party. Spock had been showing a decided lack of enthusiasm about anything to do with Jim lately.
They’d started out hot and heavy but now…clearly Spock had gotten everything he’d wanted out of Jim and now knew they didn’t have much in common.
Other than Jim was crazy about Spock. Didn’t seem to be mutual, though.
Jim forced a hopefully convincing smile. “No, that’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”
“You may, of course, attend yourself.”
“Oh, I will.” He almost added he didn’t need Spock’s permission. But that would set things off on a bad note, he guessed, so he refrained. “Anyway, got it. So I’ll see you.”
He didn’t want to make any promises of tomorrow or the next day or whatever, because honestly he didn’t know when he was going to see Spock again, it certainly wasn’t going to be by any plans made by him. If Spock wanted to see him, Spock could plan something.
But Spock barely looked up from his PADD as he called his goodbye.
With the help of his best friend, Bones, Jim chose a bat Halloween costume and went off with a group of friends, Bones included, to the party. He had a great time.
“So what’s with you and Spock?” Bones asked Jim a few days after the party as they had breakfast at a café on a Saturday morning.
Jim shrugged. “Nothing.”
“What do you mean nothing?”
“Just what it sounds like. I think it’s over.”
“Yeah?”
“Pretty much. I haven’t heard from him in days and even before that he was pulling away from me.”
“I’m sorry, Jim. I know you were really into him.”
He sighed. “I still am. I’m in love with him, Bones. But he doesn’t feel the same, so I have to move on. I feel pretty stupid about the whole thing.”
Bones frowned. “Why?”
“Me? Get caught by all that love nonsense? Never in a million years. Except I did. So the joke’s on me.”
“Well, again, I’m sorry. I did wonder when you went without him to the party.”
“Yep. That was pretty much the end of it. I mean, I don’t care that he didn’t want to go to one stupid party, I get that he’s not a party guy, it was just…the accumulation I guess of not really being present in anything we did and acting like I was an afterthought. It hurts. It does. But I will definitely get over it.”
“Yeah you will.” Bones looked past him. “Morning, Uhura.”
“Hi guys. I’d ask to join you but looks like you’re done with breakfast.”
“We are,” Bones said. “Sorry about that. Rain check?”
She smiled, squeezed Jim’s shoulder, and said, “Sure. Next time. See you guys.”
When she moved away, Jim made a face. “Well that was weird.”
“What?”
“She squeezed my shoulder with like…affection.” Jim laughed. “Normally she acts like I have cooties.”
“You do have cooties,” Bones said. “But maybe you’re just growing on her.”
“Like a wart.”
Bones chuckled. “Seriously.”
“More likely she’s just cheerful because she won.”
“Won what?”
“Spock. You know she wanted him before I met him. She’s probably already made her move.”
“I don’t know.”
“I do. And I have to pick up candy for tonight.”
“I thought you already got candy for trick or treaters.”
“I did.” Jim grinned. “I ate it. You coming over to watch scary movies?”
“Sure sure. I’ll be there.”
His doorbell rang and Jim rose from the couch, picked up the bowl of candy and opened the door of his apartment.
Only it wasn’t the kids from the apartment building.
“Oh.” Jim blinked. “Spock?”
“May we speak?”
“Uh.”
Spock looked past Jim. “I was unaware the doctor would be here.”
“Yeah, uh.”
Bones came over and took the bowl of candy from Jim. “I’ll take care of the door. Why don’t you and Spock go speak in the bedroom?”
Jim moistened his lips. “Right. This way.” Even though Spock certainly knew the way to Jim’s bedroom.
“I hope I didn’t interrupt anything,” Spock said at once when Jim closed the door.
“No. Just dumb Halloween stuff.” Jim exhaled. “Are you here to make it official?”
“What official?”
“That it’s over between us. You didn’t need to. I figured it out for myself.”
Spock closed his eyes briefly. “That is not why I am here. In fact, it is quite the opposite. I am here to apologize.”
Jim frowned, confused. “For what?”
“Being…a crappy boyfriend.”
That startled a laugh out of Jim. “What?”
“Not the words I would have chosen,” Spock admitted. “True nonetheless.”
“Who—”
“Nyota. She overheard your conversation with Leonard.”
“Oh.”
“It is…sometimes I get in my own way and I did not mean to likewise get in yours.”
“What does that mean?” Jim asked.
“I have no excuse, but my father has been unwell lately and I allowed my concern to take over everything. Until Nyota told me that you said our relationship had ended, I was unaware I had made so many mistakes. I analyzed all our recent interactions and—”
“Spock, stop.” Jim pressed his fingers to Spock’s lips. “I didn’t really care about the party, though I was a little disappointed, it was all the other stuff. You could have told me about your dad. I would have understood. Is he okay?”
“Yes. He is doing much better.”
“I thought you didn’t like me.”
“I love you, Jim.”
Warmth infused him.
“Yeah?”
“Yes. And I do not want our relationship to be over. If you will give me another chance I promise not to be a crappy boyfriend.”
Jim laughed and kissed him. “You’re on.”
Twenty minutes later, they returned to the living room. Jim had a hold of Spock’s hand.
“Guess what? Spock is staying to watch the movies with us.”
“Swell,” Bones said, but Jim didn’t miss his smile. ”You were in there a long time.”
“Well. We did have to do a little making up.”
Bones made a gagging noise so Jim tossed a Snickers at his head. It landed.
“Nailed it.”
“Sit down you two and watch the movie.”
“What are we watching?” Spock asked, drawing Jim close to him.
“Halloween, of course.”
I claimed 6 prompts on the Spirk Advent Calendar this year (one of which was my own prompt), and though I can’t say for sure I will do all of them, I will be busy doing those so updates might be slower on AO3. Never fear this week’s blog flash has already been written
I am really not sure! HA. I had gotten notification from WordPress that I could renew this site for two years at the one year price and so…even though I wasn’t sure I was going to continue (FYI I had less than a month to go) I did it. Now I don’t have to bother with it until…yep 2028. Not sure I’ll be alive still but there you have it.
So this is a bit of a Vanik AU in that everything I have established in other stories does not apply here. I thought it would be fun to kick off October with him. Enjoy!
“What is that man doing?”
Spock slowed his pace and glanced toward the patio his nephew pointed out. They were on their way to pick up some dinner as Vanik was temporarily staying with Spock while Spock’s brother, Sybok, was being diplomatic on some planet. He’d been rather vague about it and Spock figured whatever it was must have been illegal because Spock knew his brother.
The man Vanik referred to had a very large pumpkin on a patio table and he was, rather gleefully, cutting it up.
“He is carving a pumpkin into a Jacko-Lantern.”
“What is that?” Vanik wondered.
“A Halloween decoration. On Earth, Halloween is celebrated in October and Mr. Kirk is creating one of the ubiquitous decorations seen at this time.”
“Mr. Kirk? Then you know him?”
Vanik had stopped walking so Spock was forced to do the same.
“He is my neighbor,” Spock said, evasively. “And he attends Starfleet Academy.”
“I am curious to inspect the pumpkin closer.”
Spock stiffened. He didn’t exactly object to Vanik meeting his neighbor, but it was…complicated.
“I do not think we should disturb him.”
“Oh, I don’t mind,” his neighbor called through the patio fence. “Bring ‘em over. My Jack-o-Lantern is nearly finished.”
Given that, Spock could hardly refuse.
A moment later, Kirk was opening the gate to his patio for Spock and Vanik.
Kirk gave him a funny look but smiled engagingly at Vanik.
“Hello there. I’m Jim.”
“My name is Vanik and I am Spock’s nephew,” Vanik moved over to inspect the pumpkin.
“Vanik, huh?”
“My brother’s son is staying with me temporarily.”
“I see. Is that why you said we had to stop seeing each other?”
“Temporarily,” Spock reminded him.
Vanik glanced their way. “Is Jim your boyfriend, Uncle Spock?”
“No,” Kirk said.
“Yes,” Spock said at the same time.
Kirk said, “Yes.”
Spock said, “No.”
Jim shook his head and went to where Vanik stood.
“You did not have to stop seeing him because I am visiting,” Vanik told his uncle. “I have speculated that Jim first said no because he does not wish to label your relationship if Spock is not ready to do so. Spock said yes, because he wished to seem ‘cool’ by using a term familiar to Humans. Given that Spock said yes, Jim switched to yes because he felt it was safe to admit to their emotional connection after all and Spock pivoted to no because he feared Jim did not view their situation as seriously.”
Jim laughed. “Give me a break kid.”
Vanik shrugged. “It was the logical conclusion. Do you have more pumpkins to carve? I would like to attempt one myself if permissible.”
“I don’t but I guess I could get more if you’d like.”
“We were just on our way to dinner.”
Vanik said to Jim, ”Perhaps you could join us.”
“Well I…”
“I am sure Mr. Kirk has other plans.”
“Do you?” Vanik asked.
“Nope.”
“Then you can come with us. And then after, perhaps we can get additional pumpkins.”
Spock inwardly sighed. “Very well. Let’s go.”
As Jim fell into step beside Spock and his nephew he said, “Can we get pizza?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Damn. I mean…darn.”
Spock felt his lips twitch. “Perhaps a small one.”
Jim grinned and they continued on their way.
You may have noticed I skipped last week. I didn’t really have any ideas for a flash so I skipped it. I’ll be back this week for one to end September with.
Can hardly believe it’s almost October
