“How long is this going to go on?”
Jim tilted his glass back and took a large swallow of the burning whiskey. “Hmm?”
Uhura sighed and took a drink from her own glass. She flicked her head in the direction of the group across the room. “How many days?”
“How many days what?”
“Captain, you’re so tedious like this. You and Spock not speaking. How many days so far?”
“You’ve got your nose all up in everyone’s business. You probably know.”
She snorted. “Four days.”
He smirked. “See?”
“You know he only spoke up because he is your friend and is concerned for your safety as both your friend and your first officer.”
He finished his drink. “Are you through?”
She sighed again. “Yes.”
“Excellent.” Jim rose from his seat and without looking back at Uhura he went up to the table where Spock sat with a group made up of his science department. “Commander.”
“Captain.”
“Can we talk?”
Spock excused himself and they moved to the side of the room. Jim shifted awkwardly, not looking at him.
“So, uh, listen. I guess maybe I overreacted, so for that, I’m sorry.”
“I accept,” Spock said quickly, “and offer my own apology for stating my point in an abrupt and insensitive way.”
Jim nodded. “Okay. So, if you, I don’t know. Want to play chess—”
“Yes.”
Jim glanced at him. Nodded again. “We could do it in my quarters or—”
“Yes.”
Jim blew out a breath. “Uh. All right. See you there in a few minutes then.”
He left the rec room and headed for his quarters. It felt better to be talking to Spock again, but he couldn’t deny he still felt…stiff and awkward. Kind of like they had just before it all went to shit on Altamid.
He dreaded returning to that non-friendship.
Only a moment later, Spock appeared, requesting entry, so Jim let him in.
“Spock, I think we need to talk more,” Jim said as soon as Spock entered. “Look, I feel that…things are kind of off with us. Maybe that’s why it was so easy for us to get into that big fight, I don’t know. But I really don’t want to return to the way things were with us when you wanted to leave.”
“I did not want to leave. I felt it was my duty to—”
“Yeah, I know. That’s semantics, Spock.”
Spock’s dark eyes darkened, if that were possible. “You wished to leave also.”
He nodded. “I did. And…I just don’t want us to reach that point again. Where we’re barely friends.”
“I do not wish that either.”
“I know I have an issue, Spock, and I am working on it.”
“An issue, Captain?”
Jim exhaled. “I have these feelings surrounding you and I’m…I know they need to go away or at least be controlled.”
“What feelings?”
“Lord, you don’t intend to make this easy, do you? Soft ones. Feelings that go beyond friendship, I guess, and I’ve had them a long time, so I know a whole bunch of this is my fault because of my inability to deal with it, but I don’t want it to be awkward between us because of unwelcome feelings on my part.”
Spock sucked in a breath. “And if they are not?”
“Huh?”
“If your softer feelings are not unwelcome, what then?”
Jim’s jaw dropped open. “Spock, what are you saying?”
Spock stepped close, but his hand on Jim’s face. “I share your softer feelings.”
March 6, 2020 at 4:10 am
Softer feelings indeed! I love it when they talk it out like that. So vulnerable and so loving. And that moment when Spock admits he has feelings too? Swoon!
Lovely flash!
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March 6, 2020 at 7:09 am
Thank you! Greatly appreciate it. The ones next week are super duper short, so… ❤
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March 6, 2020 at 9:51 am
Man, you sure do know how to start out suspenseful and just go nuclear with the suspense, don’t you? I love aos Jim like this, too. Where he actually lets Spock get a word in edgewise. Though I’m guessing during their fight, he probably didn’t! I love this. Thank you so much! You really fulfilled my tos/aos cravings this week! And like normal, left me panting for more. But…you know…I’m used to it. I’ll get by. Till next Wednesday! Short will be fine!
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March 6, 2020 at 10:20 am
ha yes well…have’t made as much progress as I probably should for the bang. I have to have at least 6,000 done by the end of the month and probably should have more or I’ll have to drop out. not that I wouldn’t still post my story anyway, with or without the bang, I will. It’s probably already time to think of May flashes too! ha ha. Anyway, thank you. I think we (you and me) just love AOS Jim. And if all we are left with is fanfiction after their three movies, than we will have to make our own joy! ❤
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March 6, 2020 at 11:22 am
Thank goodness you are up to the task of making our joy!!! See, you have to write more than just for another 4 years! I’ll be joyless if you don’t.
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March 6, 2020 at 1:08 pm
❤
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March 6, 2020 at 2:33 pm
There would be no joy in Mudville (aka ao3) if mighty Ivan struck out (stopped writing within four years)!!!
Love this flash! I was concerned at the start, but kudos to Uhura for giving one of these stubborn boys a nudge! Jim told her off in the cutest way. “You’ve got your nose all up in everyone’s business. You probably know.” Lol! That made me LOL! Love their mutual declaration of softer feelings! Great job!! ❤️💚🖖😘
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March 7, 2020 at 9:39 am
❤
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March 6, 2020 at 10:33 pm
I meant to add that it made me chuckle how Jim apologizes: “So, uh, listen. I guess maybe I overreacted, so for that, I’m sorry.” Jim’s “I guess maybe” and then the little “so for that”! Lol! He’s qualifying what he’s sorry about. Not the entire issue, just the overreacting part. In other words, he is still going to do it again Spock. Lol!
Then Spock’s ready acceptance and immediately agreeing to play chess and play in Jim quarters. Spock isn’t letting Jim back out of anything. Over-eager much, Spock?! Lol! I just want to hug these two goofballs!
Cheers to softer feelings!
❤️💚🖖💕
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March 7, 2020 at 9:38 am
Yep. he’s still Jim after all LOL
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March 7, 2020 at 6:16 am
Was sad at the start with them not talking but then they did and oh! softer feelings! 😀 ❤
Loved this and could definitely read more but alas, a flash fic 🙂
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March 7, 2020 at 9:39 am
Yep a flash 😀
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