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Jim laughed and Spock had to admit that he didn’t understand that reaction at all.

He  opened his mouth to ask, but stopped when Jim suddenly buried his face in his hands and let out a rather long and loud exhale.

“Jim? Are you…well?”

“No. I mean, who would be?” Jim laughed again, but then lowered his hands from his face. His eyes looked a little wet. “This is nuts. I finally meet a guy I really like and he’s an outer space alien capable of mind control.”

Spock stiffened. “It does not work like that.”

“Maybe not. But how do I really know? Humans…or Earthlings, from now anyway, we don’t just have mind connections, bonds of that sort, with anyone else.”

“I am aware.”

Jim nodded. “And yet you look offended.”

“I am offended,” Spock agreed. “I would never attempt to control your mind or any other part of you, Jim. In your interactions with me thus far have I given you any reason to believe in any way I would seek to harm you or master you?”

“No,” Jim said, softly. “But put yourself in my shoes, Spock. If I came to where you lived and said I was from the future and we were fated mates, how would you react to that?”

“I do not know.”

“It’s just…this is a lot to process all at once.” Jim stood. “Anyway, we should probably get our stuff together and check out. We have a bit of a drive ahead of us.”

“Very well.” Spock stood too, intending to fetch his overnight bag.

Jim put his hand on Spock’s chest. “I will process it, though. I don’t know where this leaves us.”

Spock nodded. “I only know that with our being T’hy’la, it is going to be very difficult for me to be parted from you.”

“It will anyway. And I wish I could say we’ll figure this out, but I don’t know that we can or even how we would begin to. You can’t stay here. I mean, unless we can’t send you back, and God, I hope, we can.”

Spock said nothing to that.

“You must know how impossible it is for you to stay here, Spock. With that green blood—

“My heart is also in my side,” Spock explained.

Jim’s eyes widened. “Damn.

“Yes, another complication.”

“Anyway, let’s get on the road.” Jim leaned in and kissed Spock, and it was somehow even more thrilling, more poignant than even before.