Eveningstar had suggested:

“I would like to suggest a Kelvin universe flash where Jim’s motivation or actions are doubted by everyone except Spock. Oh and Spock and Jim have yet to enter into a relationship, they are just friends…so far. Spock defends Jim and shows Jim his absolute loyalty! Jim puts his faith and fate in Spock’s hands.”

This isn’t quite that but I tried to make it have close enough elements. She also suggested: Another idea is a flash where Jim and Spock are in a damaged shuttle or life pod that is losing power, as they await a possible rescue. The only way for Spock to survive is going into a Vulcan healing trance to save oxygen. Jim obviously can’t do that without help from bonding with Spock.

I am working on this idea but it’s slightly more involved now than I wanted for a flash so I will likely write it as a one-shot to be published on AO3 in the future.

So anyway, here is today’s flash….

Jim waited until just about everyone else had shuffled out of the conference. All the admirals and their assistants. And many of Jim’s own crew members as well as colleagues.

Jim watched them all chattering as they exited. He felt a renewed sense of peace. And a little hot and sweaty honestly. He tugged at the collar of his dress uniform.

Uhura stopped briefly to say something to Spock, but then she moved on too.

In the end, the only two left were himself and Spock. And Spock lingered, Jim supposed, because he’d had a sense that Jim wanted to speak with him. They were often in sync this way.

Jim smiled when Spock approached him. “Glad that’s over.”

“Indeed.”

Jim glanced away for a moment, distracted by passersby. He looked back to Spock. “Listen, I wanted to thank you for what you said in there.” He shook his head. “Even Bones seemed to have doubts. That you believed in me, when practically no one else did, I just…thank you. It meant so much.”

“It was only the truth,” Spock said simply. “I knew that you could not have done what was implied. And now everyone else knows too.”

Jim’s smile broadened. “Thanks to you. You swayed them.”

Spock inclined his head. “And now what will you do with the shore leave we have been granted here?”

He blew out a breath. “I don’t even know. I’ve felt such relief that I honestly made no plans.” Jim laughed. “Right now, I’m starving and would love to just have a nice celebratory dinner.”

Spock hesitated only briefly. “I know a place that will meet your needs if you are amenable to me joining you.”

“Are you kidding? I’d love that.”

“Then, shall we?”

Jim accompanied Spock out of the building and down the street to a resort area with a beach and many restaurants facing the ocean there. He directed Jim to one on the corner, dark and intimate.

They were seated at a table for two right by the window. There was artificial candlelight and everything. It struck Jim as pretty romantic.

He bit his lip.

They’d passed many crowded, noisy restaurants. Some with members of their own crew, yet Spock had brought them there.

Jim looked up from his menu and realized Spock was watching him.

It could be that Spock knew after the events of what had just occurred, Jim wouldn’t really want to be surrounded by large crowds.

Or it could be that he was trying to tell Jim something.

He took a chance.

“Spock, this is a really nice place. Makes me feel…cozy and romantic.”

Spock did not immediately reply so Jim had a moment where he thought he might have gotten it wrong after all.

But Spock wasn’t ever really blatant with anything. He liked subtly a little too much for Jim’s tastes. But he guessed that was just who Spock was.

He continued on.

“I think, maybe, that’s what you intended?” Jim exhaled slowly. “I hope it is.”

When Spock looked down at the space in front of him, Jim tried to hide his disappointment. He had gotten it wrong. Spock had merely thought he wanted a quiet place after all the mess that had been Jim’s life lately.

Jim started thinking of what he could say to take it all back. Some way he could save them both from embarrassment.

“I am relieved.”

Jim’s gaze rose quickly to Spock’s face.

“I feared my interest was not reciprocated.”

Jim reached for Spock’s hand and was happy when Spock placed his hand in Jim’s.

“Same,” he whispered.

“Jim, may I ask you to spend your shore leave with me?”

“My cup runneth over.”

Spock’s eyebrow shot up.

“Yes, Spock. I’ll definitely spend it with you.”