My apologies for the delay. It’s been a challenging week. But I’m back with an update on the chess guys. So here we go. (and paid up for another year here too)

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Jim wasn’t looking forward to Spock’s reaction when he noticed his injuries but he wasn’t going to hide it either. He wanted to see Spock as much as Spock apparently wanted to see him.

So he wasn’t surprised when the door of Spock’s apartment opened when his knuckles had barely rapped on the outside.

“Jim,” Spock said. “I am…what happened?”

Jim walked into Spock’s apartment, dodging Spock’s grabby fingers. He lifted his shirt to expose the bruises all along his torso. He didn’t see the point in not getting right to it.

“There was a fight.”

Spock’s dark eyes flicked up and down his body. “A fight? You can tell me about it on the way to the hospital.”

Jim laughed and backed away. “Nope. I had a doctor with me. I’ve already been treated as best I can. I’m okay, just some cuts and bruises.”

“You should sit.”

Jim didn’t argue with that and went to the couch, not surprised when Spock joined him there, and began to inspect Jim’s injuries himself.

“Who do I need to challenge?”

Jim laughed again. “No one. It’s over, okay?”

Spock’s gaze rose to focus on Jim’s face. “Explain.”

“The party was okay. Lots of chess geeks. One of them made a few stupid comments, I got pissed, and we got into a physical altercation.”

“Who and what was said?”

“That guy Chester. He said basically I was sleeping with you so I could win the chess tournament next week. Which,” Jim paused to roll his eyes, “is absurd, because I don’t even care.”

“That caused you to get into a fight?”

“No. It was when he implied that was the only reason someone would sleep with you and he called you a bunch of names and I just lost it,” Jim admitted.

“I see,” Spock said quietly.

“He’s just an ass. And you’ll be glad to hear Waincott kicked him off the chess club.” Jim smiled crookedly. “Me too, actually.”

“Jim—”

“I don’t care, Spock. All I care about is being with you. The stupid chess club is nothing. I hate bullies.”

“I have had my fair share of run-ins with bullies. When I was a child some of my schoolmates made comments on my mother.”

“What? You never say something about a guy’s mom.”

Spock nodded. “Indeed. I resorted to physical assault on the ringleader. They notified my father.”

“Did you get in trouble?”

“Not really. It was just stressed that I needed to control my emotions and remain logical.” Spock took hold of Jim’s hand. “In the future, there is no need to get into fights over insults directed at me. I would prefer you remain safe.”

“I wasn’t really in danger and I’m not going to let assholes shoot their mouths off.”

“I am requesting that you do.”

“Spock—”

“Jim.”

“I’ll try to avoid confrontations,” Jim said grudgingly.

“Thank you. And I have your assurance you are not suffering too much from your injuries?”

“Just a little sore and tired is all. But I’m really glad to be here with you.”

“I am glad too and I regret not attending the party with you.”

“Nah, you would have hated it. It was lame.”

“Perhaps, but I would have liked to have handled Chester myself.”

“I thought you wanted to avoid confrontation,” Jim said with a laugh.

“On my behalf, certainly. I can offer no such assurances when it comes to yours.”

“What? Now wait a minute.”

But Spock quieted him with a kiss and the truth was Jim didn’t mind.