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“We could, you know, huddle for warmth.”

Jim made the suggestion not really even looking at his first officer. It was probably—okay it was—totally inappropriate. After all he was Spock’s superior, by rank anyway.

But the systems that regulated the ship’s temperature was offline and Scotty hadn’t been able to estimate when it would be fixed. In the meantime, it felt like a blast freezer in most everyone’s quarters, on this deck, anyway.

“Which is, you know, totally up to you,” Jim said, quickly. “No pressure. And it doesn’t mean anything except wanting to stay warm.” He paused to rub the back of his neck, self-consciously. “Unless you want it too.”

“Captain—”

“And if you don’t, that’s awesome too. Again, no pressure. None. Just two buddies huddling for warmth.” He attempted a grin, but it faltered, and he felt his face turn warm. He was pretty sure if he saw his face in a mirror just then it would be an alarming shade of beet red.

“Using one bed in your quarters to maintain optimal warmth seems logical,” Spock said, stoically.

Jim swallowed. “Okay then. Great.”

And so they did. Spooned together in Jim’s bed, clinging together for warmth, and Jim ignoring his unavoidable erection considering who occupied his  bed.

In the morning, after Spock had left his quarters to shower, Jim contacted Scotty.

“Hey, Scotty, how much longer before we get some regulated temps? It’s fucking freezing in here.”

“Captain?”

Jim frowned at the confusion in Scotty’s voice. “You know the temperature thing.”

“Aye, Captain. But it got fixed last night.”

“Oh.” Jim tried not to be disappointed by that. But then why did it still seem so cold? “When were you going to tell me?”

“I knew you were playing chess with the commander last night, so I let him know.”

“Wait. You told Spock?”

“Aye, sir. The system was operational at 2100 hours.”

“Kirk out.”

That was before Jim had even suggested sleeping together.

He went to the temperature control in his quarters. Sure enough it was set to a very cold setting.

“Computer.”

“Working.”

“Who set the temperature in this room?”

“Commander Spock.”

Jim laughed. Okay then.

“Computer, raise temperature thirty degrees.”

Jim glanced toward the bathroom between his quarters and Spock’s. He could still hear the shower running.

He almost went in to join Spock, but then though that might be the wrong thing to do, at least for now. But at least now he knew Spock shared his interest. And that was enough.