Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto)

A continuation of the strip poker Spirk

“Making any progress?”

Jim looked up from his tropical drink. Orange and red with a cute little blue umbrella sticking out. He leaned back in his chair and gazed serenely at Bones. “Huh?”

“With Spock, genius.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Didn’t you two bond over chess and poker?”

Jim frowned. They were at an outdoor bar on Risa, enjoying a very much needed shore leave. “As friends, Bones. I mean isn’t he kind of, sort of, with whatshername.”

Bones snorted. “Uhura.”

“Yeah, that one.”

“You’re such a juvenile. And no, they broke up.”

“Didn’t they get back together after the whole rescue thing, ‘oh no, I have been injured, Nyota’?”

“You do a really bad Spock imitation by the way. They did, yeah. But they broke it off again.” Bones sipped his whiskey. “Rumor has it was because of some blue-eyed dreamboat.”

It was Jim’s turn to snort and roll his eyes. “Get real.”

Bone chuckled. “I notice you immediately assumed I meant you.”

“Fuck you. Anyway, this is all bullshit.”

“Spock likes you.”

“Well, of course he likes me. As much as Spock likes anyone, of course. We’re friends. Like you and me.”

“Definitely not like you and me. Okay. I see, because you are really a juvenile, I have to say it in a way you’ll get it. He likes you likes you.”

“Does not.”

Bone sighed, somewhat dramatically Jim thought. “Who else has he asked to play strip poker with?”

“That was a joke.”

“Spock joke? Since when? He’s got the red hots for you. Or in his case the green hots, I guess.”

“Do you ever listen to yourself?” Jim finished his tropical drink. “And forget all this crap. I’m here to get laid, not talk about my first officer.”

“You sure you want to do that?”

“Why not?”

Bones shrugged. “Do you really want to mess things up with Spock by fucking around with some nameless temporary lover?”

“There is no Spock!”

“All right, if you say so.” Bones stood up. “I have a massage appointment, so I’ll see you later. And try not to get yourself in trouble.”

“It’s shore leave.”

“Exactly.”

Jim watched his friend walk away. He mumbled, “There is no Spock.”

And yet, he continued to sit right where he was, not making a move to go seek out anyone. Stupid Bones.

The waitress came by to pick up their empty glasses.

“Another one?” she asked.

“Sure and maybe some fries, too.”

“Coming right up.” Then she tilted her head. “I think that Vulcan is looking for you, sir.”

Jim glanced over and saw that Spock had entered the bar inside and was glancing around. His stomach did a little flip. Must be the drink.

“Tell him I’m out here.”

She smiled. “He’s really cute.” Then she went inside.

A moment later, Spock appeared.

“Captain?”

“Hey, Spock. Have a seat.” He gestured to where Bones had been sitting.

“I thought the doctor was with you.”

“Oh. Were you looking for him?” Jim felt a little disappointed.

Spock sat down across from him. “Not in particular.”

“I’m surprised you came down. You don’t usually do shore leave.”

Spock shrugged slightly. “It was mentioned that you were in this bar and I thought it might be…appropriate…to join you for a drink.”

“You? You’re going to drink?”

“A tropical iced tea.” Spock paused. “Unless my presence is unwelcome.”

There was just the tiniest bit of vulnerability in Spock’s brown eyes that Jim was not used to and he realized, maybe, just maybe, Bones had been right.

Jim smiled. “No, Spock. It’s not at all unwelcome.”