As you see the summer Jacaranda trees are in full bloom
In other news, M got a new job and starts on this coming Monday the 21st. The hours suck at 9-530 but it is what it is and it’s a job, so that’s excellent.
I updated my sound of music AU, My Heart Wants to Sigh today. Yay!
That’s it for updating for a few days as tomorrow I am away for a few days on the family getaway.
I do have a flash set up for tomorrow and Friday so all is not lost.
You’re a grand old flag
You’re a high-flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave
You’re the emblem of
The land I love
The home of the free and the brave
Ev’ry heart beats true
Under red, white and blue
Where there’s never a boast or brag
But should old acquaintance be forgot
Keep your eye on the grand old flag
If you are looking for the main Birthday story, Longer (based on the song by Dan Fogelberg, please go here.
“So, your birthday is Flag Day, huh?”
Spock heard the flirtatious tone in his mate’s voice even from his position by the door of the drinking establishment. He’d come looking for Jim.
Jim sat on a bar stool at the bar, next to a pretty blonde woman with a rather extravagant hairdo piled atop her head.
“Flag Day?”
“Oh. Well. An old Earth thing. Many years ago, centuries really, Iowa was part of the United States of America,” Jim said, cheerfully. “They had a holiday back then on this day.”
“Ohhh.” The blonde was leaning toward him, smiling brightly.
Spock sighed and approached.
Jim glanced at Spock, his smile not dimming even a little. “Hello there, Mister Spock. This here is…what did you say your name was?”
“I didn’t,” she replied, coyly.
“Birthday Flag Girl then. It’s her birthday. I bought her a drink.”
“I see that. Happy Birthday.”
“Thank you,” she said.
“This is my esteemed second officer.”
“First.”
Jim nodded. “And also a big pain in the a—”
“I am also the captain’s husband,” Spock interrupted coolly.
The blonde’s mouth pulled into an “O” shape.
“That too,” Jim acknowledged with a wave that nearly knocked him off the stool. Spock steadied him.
“And if you will excuse us, ma’am, I will be extracting him from this current situation.”
She shrugs a little and smiles, rather apologetically. “Can’t blame a girl, can you?”
Spock nods. “I cannot. But I assure you that he’s twice the big pain in the ass as he was about to say I was.”
She laughed at that. She really was attractive. But she could not have Jim. No one could but Spock. He was Spock’s “problem” to deal with.
Spock helped Jim to slide himself off the stool and he held onto Spock with a firm but trembling grip. The blonde woman excused herself then.
“Happy birthday, Flag Girl” Jim yelled after her.
Spock turned Jim toward the exit door but Jim wasn’t moving.
“You still mad at me?” Jim asked, gazing at Spock from beneath his lashes. Unfortunately for Spock he was adorable and sexy and Spock could not resist him.
“I am not. But you did over indulge. Come. It’s time to return to your farmhouse.”
“Not mine,” Jim mumbled. But this time he allowed Spock to take him to the door and outside. “I hate Riverside.”
“I know, ashayam. We leave tomorrow.”
Jim smiled. “Yeah. Love you.”
Spock returns the smile and the sentiment.
“Captain, it was never my intention to—”
Jaw tight, body rigid, his captain glared daggers of ice at Spock. “I don’t want to hear it, Commander. Get out.”
Spock stood just inside the door to Jim’s quarters. That his captain was extremely angry he made very clear.
“But—”
“I said get out. That’s an order.”
Spock tugged down his Science blue shirt, pursed his lips, and wondered if it was worth arguing further. Based on the cold fury in Jim’s eyes, he decided not. With a nod, he exited Jim’s quarters and went to his own.
Once there, Spock changed out of his uniform into much more casual attire, regulation pajamas. Then he went into the bathroom he shared with Jim, opened the door to Jim’s quarters and walked in.
Jim, arms folded in front of his chest defensively, gave him a look. It was mildly less hostile than before.
“Jim, may I speak?”
Jim turned away and walked over to his own wardrobe, pulling off his own uniform shirts. Spock waited. When he had pulled a T-shirt on, he turned back to Spock.
“Okay.”
Spock allowed himself to feel some relief. “It was never my intention to challenge your authority in front of the crew. I was out of line.”
“Yes.”
Spock approached Jim where he stood. “There is no finer captain in Starfleet than you. And there is no one I respect or admire more both as my commanding officer and as my friend. That I made you doubt that, I regret immensely.”
“Okay, Spock,” Jim said softly. “I forgive you.”
Spock felt that it should not be that easy and he wondered if indeed it was not. But Jim’s gaze was softer and more open than it had previously been.
“I will not do it again,” Spock promised.
Jim’s lips twitched. “Oh you probably will.”
“Jim—”
“But right now, we’re not captain and commander. We’re Jim and Spock. Off duty, out of uniform, out of words.”
Spock’s brows furrowed, but then cleared when Jim stepped close. Spock closed his arms around Jim and pulled him close. Jim’s arms came around Spock as he buried his face into Spock’s neck. Spock closed his eyes, grateful for Jim’s forgiveness and understanding. It was quite difficult managing a relationship with your commanding officer and made more so because that officer was Jim. Their relationship would never be easy for Spock. Or for Jim, he suspected. But it was more than worth it for both of them.
“I love you,” he whispered.
“I know you do,” Jim replied. And it was as good as Spock would get. He knew that. Jim had not yet said those words to Spock, but Spock was patient. They would come.
About the World Famous (Well Ivan’s World lol) Christmas in July flashes.
It’s hard to believe it’s just around the corner! So expect entries 02, 05, 07, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21. 23, 26, 28, 30
If there’s a story or flash or character you’d like to revisit for this momentous occasion, please say so in the comments. I plan to do a mix of TOS and AOS (and perhaps Pinto). I already know I will be revisiting the guys from November 2018’s Would You Rather but I am open for suggestions for all other.
Get those Christmas in July thinking caps on!
“Sometimes I feel invisible.”
Spock looked at his companion in surprise. They were walking side by side on their way to a student meet for Starfleet Academy cadets.
“I do not understand.”
Jim Kirk, sandy hair and bright blue eyes, gave him a sideways glance. “What do you mean?”
“You are the least invisible person I know.”
Jim frowned. “What does that even mean, Spock?”
Spock shook his head. “Everyone notices you, Jim. Everywhere we go, you are the first person anyone speaks to or looks at no matter who else is with you. I do not understand how you can believe yourself to be invisible.”
“Well. I mean, I guess they see the outside of me well enough, but they never go beyond the surface to see what’s going on with me. It’s all…shallow.”
Spock considered this. “Do you feel that is true of me?”
Jim stopped then, on the edge of the campus. Rather near the exit of the Academy though not that far from the Biology Building where the student meet was.
“Clarify.” Jim had a slight smile on his face as he used Spock’s own term against him.
“I believe that I see well below your outside appearance to what makes you who you are, but I wonder what your perception is.”
Jim’s smile widened and to Spock’s pleased surprise, Jim slid his hand toward Spock’s and touched his index and middle fingers to Spock’s,
“I know you see me, Spock.” He paused. “I see you too.”
As the warmth where their fingers still touched infused Spock’s entire being, he inclined his head.
“Are you quite certain we have to attend the student meet?”
Jim grinned. “I’m quite certain we don’t.”
“Really?” Spock asked, doubtfully. “We did say we would meet up with friends.”
“They’ll understand. Besides, I want us to see each other a little closer still.”
Knowing by that slight smirk what Jim referred to, Spock allowed himself to consider the possibilities.
“We could be late.”
Jim’s eyes danced. “We could be very late.”
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 