Flash Fic Friday, February 21, 2025

Spock watched from a distance as his captain embraced a young woman he’d just greeted on Yorktown. His stomach churned a bit when their foreheads touched as they gazed into each other’s eyes.

His relationship with Jim was new. But Spock had thought…

“Spock, what are you–?” McCoy had come up to stand beside him. He saw where Spock was looking. “Ah.”

Spock stiffened.  “Doctor.”

McCoy sighed. “Do you know who that is?”

“No,” Spock admitted. “Obviously someone the captain is intimately involved with.”

“Mm. But not in the way you think.” He put his hand briefly on Spock’s shoulder. “You should ask him about it, Spock. Don’t just assume.”

And with that, McCoy departed, leaving Spock to continue to watch Jim’s interaction with the young woman. After a moment, she hugged him again, kissed his cheek, and moved away into the crowd.

It was then that Jim turned and spotted Spock. He smiled and headed in Spock’s direction.

“I didn’t see you there,” Jim said.

“My appearance in the area is coincidental. I was on my way to pick up a package sent by my father.”

Jim gave him a quizzical smile. “You sound a bit defensive.”

Spock shrugged slightly. “I did not wish for you to believe I was following you to witness an illicit meeting.”

At that, to Spock’s surprise, Jim laughed. “Illicit meeting? Is that what you think?”

“I…thought perhaps.”

Jim shook his head. “I told you I love you. Don’t you believe me?”

“I do,” Spock replied. “But not everyone believes in monogamy even when feelings are engaged.”

“You do.”

“Yes.”

“So if I didn’t, why would I get involved with you?”

“I…” Spock pursed is lips. “Who is she?”

“I told you I was on Tarsus IV,” Jim said softly, his mood turning serious.

“Yes.”

“May was too. She was five at the time. I had to watch over her. Over a lot of them actually.”

“You were young yourself.”

“Mm. But they were younger, you know? And the adults near us were gone. So…anyway. After surviving that, together, you have a little bit of a connection. So when she knew she was going to be on Yorktown, she wanted to meet. We’re having dinner tonight. Want to come?”

“I do not wish to intrude.”

“You aren’t. I’d love for her to meet you.”

Spock took Jim’s hand in his and though he felt foolish and awkward, out of his element, he also knew he could not love this Human more. “I would enjoy that too.”

Jim smiled, squeezed Spock’s hand and turned to walk. “Let’s go get your package.”