Jim had the best idea. Or so he thought.

There was a ship-wide malfunction that was causing all sorts of problems with temperature control. His quarters were steaming hot and he could not lower them. Spock’s was icy cold.

He came up with the brilliant idea of going to Spock and telling him they should share Spock’s bed to keep each other warm.

Okay, yeah it was a blatant way of getting into bed with the Vulcan, but Jim had been hinting for weeks that they should act on their mutual attraction, assuming Jim was accurate in that assessment, and either Spock was being deliberately obtuse or Jim was being way too subtle.

This malfunction had been fortuitous.

“Hey Spock, I have an idea.”

“What is that, Captain?”

And Spock looked absolutely adorable. He had wrapped himself in several layers to ward off the cold in his quarters. He even wore a knit cap to cover his ears.

Jim smiled faintly and pointed to it. “Where’d you get that?”

“Nyota presented it to me. I believe she made it herself.”

“Cute.”

“You were saying, Captain?”

“Right. Since your quarters are so cold and mine are so blasted hot—”

“You are suggesting we exchange quarters until the situation is repaired?”

Jim closed his mouth.

Spock nodded. “That is a brilliant suggestion. The heat will not bother me at all. In fact, I will relish it. And since you are often too warm, you will be reasonably comfortable here. I must say, Captain, that is the perfect solution.”

“Uh, glad you like it.” Jim deflated. Well, hell. That was stupid. He should have guessed Spock would think he meant that. Honestly, maybe he should have meant that.

And as he watched, Spock prepared to gather his belongings to temporarily switch quarters with Jim.

In his head he could hear Finnegan’s voice, “Yeah, Jimmy, you’re an idiot.”

Yes, he was.

As soon as they’d made the exchange, Jim felt even worse. Sure, he was usually a lot warmer than Spock, but Spock’s quarters still felt like he’d be bedding down in an igloo.

He couldn’t stand it.

“Ah, Bones, how would you like a roomie?”

****

“You spent the night in Doctor McCoy’s quarters.”

Jim winced at the blatant hostile tone of Spock’s voice. He’d almost call it some sort of weird accusation if it hadn‘t been his first officer.

“Er, yeah. How did you know?”

“I went into my quarters for something I forgot and you were not there, so I asked the computer to locate you.”

Jim definitely heard some kind of attitude there. He stabbed at his pancakes as he contemplated his response to the almost angry Vulcan sitting across from him.

He shrugged. “It was cold in there and the blankets weren’t doing it.”

“Then why did you not advise me you wished to switch back?”

“I wouldn’t. You were happy to be warm. It was no big deal. Bones’ quarters are normal temp.”

“Did you share a bed?”

Jim laughed. “No. Geez. What exactly are you asking, Spock?”

Spock blushed. “I do not understand why you made the suggestion to change rooms if you would be uncomfortable.”

Jim sighed. “I didn’t.”

“What?”

“I wasn’t suggesting that. You just…assumed, so I let you think that.”

“Then what were you suggesting?”

“That I stay with you in your bed so we could huddle for warmth and uh you know, be together.” Now Jim was blushing.

Spock frowned. “Why didn’t you just say that?”

“I don’t know. You seemed eager to change quarters. I felt kind of foolish. Like I have for weeks,” Jim admitted. “I’ve been…” He licked his lips. “I’ve been trying to get you to notice me for weeks and take this-this whatever to the next level and well, I’m guessing you aren’t interested. And that’s totally okay, Spock.”

And he tried to make it okay, but honestly it would hurt, it did hurt, and he knew it. This was why he didn’t do love.

Yes, he was in love with Spock. Not just lust.

“Jim, you are not a subtle person.”

“Well, okay, but—”

“Why did you not speak plainly in your attempts to get me to notice you?”

“I guess I was trying to woo you?”

Spock arched a brow. “Consider me wooed.”

Jim closed his mouth, thought about it, and then asked, “What does that mean?”

“You will be sharing a bed with me tonight.”

“Oh.” Jim grinned. “Oh.”

Spock smiled slightly and shook his head. “It is time for shift.”

And side by side, they made their way to the bridge.