Super short this weeks folks for my sanity- Takes place right after Spock kicks Khan’s ass.
“Hey,
Spock. Are you okay?”
Spock didn’t
even turn around at McCoy’s question. “Of course I am not okay.”
McCoy
sighed and stepped up close to where Spock stood looking out the hospital’s
observation window looking out at the San Francisco skyline. “He’s going to be
all right. It worked.”
“He has
not yet awakened.” He heard the quiver in his own voice.
“It’s only
a matter of time. Thanks to you. You saved Jim, Spock. He’s coming back to us.”
Spock
turned around to see McCoy smiling. He patted Spock’s arm.
“It’s
all good, Spock. Get some rest. I’ll let you know the minute he starts to stir.”
“Thank
you.”
McCoy
went back into Kirk’s room. Spock closed his eyes, feeling the relief flow
through him. He turned and headed for the cafeteria. He could use some tea and
perhaps something to eat. It had been three days.
This was a reader prompt, sort of, and while I doubt she had quite this in mind, well…here you go.
“So, um, you want to learn to play poker?”
Spock nodded. “That is what I said.”
Jim bit his lip. Turned away from Spock to pour
himself a drink. Red wine tonight. A gift from Bones on his last birthday.
“Got it
on our last shore leave, Jim, been saving it ever since.”
Spock was in his quarters now. He’d come to play
chess, which they’d started to do once a week after the newly built Enterprise
had begun its voyage after the whole Krall mess.
They’d kept it pretty casual, at first. They’d
started in the rec room playing just one game each week. Though Spock won most
of them, Jim had a few good days in there, too.
It moved to their quarters when Jim was running
late one week and contacted Spock to say he would be later still. Spock had
suggested he would just bring the chess set there. Jim had hid his surprise and
agreed.
The next week, Spock had suggested playing chess
in his quarters, and ever since they’d alternated between Jim’s and Spock’s.
Never returning to the rec room. And they generally played several games now.
“Well, I think it was Bones who said he’d like to
teach you,” Jim said, taking a sip.
There had been talk of poker when they’d been
confronted by a hostile alien, or so they’d thought at the time. Balok. Jim had
bluffed and suddenly Spock became interested in poker.
“You do not wish to teach me?”
There was just the hint of a tone in Spock’s voice
that Jim could not quite place, but he knew it made him feel bad. “No, no. Not
at all, Spock. You want to learn, that’s fine. Um, generally, it’s more than a
couple of players though.”
“I see.”
“Yeah. So, you want me to find out if anyone else
is available to play with us?”
Which honestly, Jim was not at all keen on the
intrusion into his private time with Spock, and he feared it would quickly
become a thing where everyone played every week, and there would go any alone
time he had managed to obtain with Spock, which he’d won with a lot of effort,
but, if Spock wanted him to get a group going for poker, Jim would do it.
“Is that the norm for strip poker?”
Jim stumbled forward, spilling wine on the floor.
“What? Did you say…strip poker?”
“I have been doing some research prior to
broaching the subject with you, of course.”
“Of course you have.” Jim went over to the
bathroom for a cloth to wipe up the spilled wine. He bent down and cleaned up
the mess. “I don’t think that’s a really good idea. Sit down, Spock.”
Spock took his seat dutifully. Jim had already set
up the chess set, but as Jim sat across from Spock, it remained untouched.
“There are a series of hands that beat other
hands.”
“Indeed, I researched those.”
“Good. That gives us a head start. Basically,
poker is a lot of bluffing.”
“As you did with Balok.”
“Right. So, with the hand you’re dealt, unless you
get a royal flush dealt to you, which believe me, doesn’t really happen, you’re
usually going to want to convince those playing with you that you have a better
hand than you do. If I have two queens and you have a full house, that beats me.
But I want you to think I have something more than you do so you’ll fold. Or
basically, give in.”
“I see.”
“Which is what I did with Balok. I wanted him to
think we had a better weapon than he did, so he would fold. But he could just
have easily called my bluff. Which is why in poker, you call.”
“So it is a means of lying.”
“Pretty much. Unless you really do have a royal flush,
then you aren’t lying.”
Spock inclined his head. “I am certain that I
would have no trouble knowing that you were lying.”
Jim laughed. “Yeah? Why do you think that, Mister
Spock?”
“I know when you lie, I can tell. So I cannot be fooled
by your bluff. We have known each other long enough for me to read you quite
well, Captain.”
“That’s it! You’re putting your money where your
mouth is.”
Sometime later…
“You won.”
Jim grinned. “Yep. Four queens.”
“But…”
“You only have a full house, Spock.”
“Yes, I know that your hand beats mine. It is simply
that your behavior during the match—”
“Game, Spock.”
“As well as your body language indicated that you
had a much lower hand than you were pretending to have and yet…”
“Yep. So you don’t know me as well as you thought,
Spock. Not my lies anyway.” Jim leaned back. “I think you should remove your pants.”
Spock’s cheeks greened. “Captain.”
He burst out laughing. “I’m totally kidding. I
know we weren’t playing strip poker, babe.”
Spock stared at him. “Babe?”
“I didn’t say babe,” Jim said quickly. “I said
Spock.”
“No. I heard babe.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Mister Spock.” Jim stood. “Will
you look at the time? I’m going to have to cut this short. I have about three hundred
reports to do.”
Spock stood too. “Three hundred, Captain?”
“Three hundred and two. I forgot a couple.” Jim
ushered Spock to his door. “As amusing as this was, next week, back to chess?”
“As you wish, Captain.”
Jim smiled, patted Spock’s arm. “Goodnight, Spock.”
“Goodnight…babe.”
The door of his quarters opened and Spock
disappeared through it.
Jim stared after him. Shook his head. Too much
wine going to his head. He laughed and turned away.
Spock pulled back from touching Jim, unable to prevent a
frown from appearing.
Jim winced. “Sorry. Sorry. It’s just I kind of ache everywhere.”
“Doctor McCoy released you from the medbay too early.”
“No, honey. I’m all right.”
“Yet I am unable to touch you in any way.” He tucked the
sheets and blanket around Jim’s prone form upon the bed. Carefully.
“Bones has me off for another 72 hours. Twenty four of
those on bedrest. It’ll be fine. I will. I promise.”
Spock remained unmoved by his declarations. It had been
a near thing. Jim had spent two weeks in the medbay, the first in a coma. Spock
had nearly lost him more than once in those two weeks. After Jim had fixed the
warp core was surely bad enough, but now that they were bonded, married, the
loss of Jim was without comprehension. Spock would not entertain the idea.
“I love you,” Jim intoned softly.
“And I you. But you take too many chances and—”
“Spock. I’m the captain.”
“All the more reason you are not expendable on away
missions.”
“Spock—”
“There has been discussion of late indicating that
Starfleet will restrict commanding officers from landing parties,” Spock told
him.
Jim frowned. “What? That is hardly fair.”
“What is not fair is how many times I have had to face your probable death,” Spock said, speaking more sharply than he meant to. But it had the intended effect, for Jim quieted down then, biting his lip and sinking against the pillows. His blue eyes were shiny but there were no outward signs of tears.
“I’m sorry,” Jim said softly, faintly.
It reminded Spock too much of the time Admiral Marcus
had advised he was about to murder the entire Enterprise crew and Jim had
turned to face Spock and all the rest of them to say he was sorry. Spock had
never seen Jim look so hopeless.
Spock lowered himself to sit on the bed beside Jim and
held out his hand toward Jim so that Jim could rest his hand in Spock’s rather
than having Spock seize his hand. Jim put his warm hand on Spock’s, palm side
down.
“Ashaya, I would never seek to turn you into something
or someone you are not. I only ask that, now that we are two, perhaps three or
more some day—”
Jim’s eyes widened.
“That you recall there is someone who waits for you,
always, to return safely to them.”
“I never want to hurt you ever,” Jim replied.
“I know. So I ask, only, for your consideration,” Spock
said. “And I will give the same back to you.”
A small smile appeared and though it was not Jim’s full
wattage smile, Spock would take it. “You got it.”
“You should rest now, T’hy’la.”
“Are you going to the bridge?”
“Negative. Mr. Scott is there at present. I will work
here in our quarters to watch over you.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I do, in fact.”
The smile widened. “Sorry about the birthday sex. Or
lack thereof. When I’m better—”
“I am unconcerned for whether I get, as you said, ‘tail’
for my birthday,” Spock said, severely. “I just want you to be better. ‘Tail’
can wait.”
Jim laughed softly. “I love you. So so much. You have no
idea.”
Spock tapped his fingers on his head, which made Jim
laugh again.
“All right. Maybe you do.”
“Sleep. When you wake you can have something to eat.”
Jim lowered his lashes. Looked at Spock innocently. “Ice
cream?”
“We shall see. Rest.” Spock rose, leaned over and cautiously kissed Jim’s forehead. As birthday’s went, it was not Spock’s finest, but Jim was alive and beautiful and in their bed, and that was acceptable.
“Well.” She giggled. “He is. Look he’s kicking his legs.”
Sure, enough Jim, aged six, sitting on the edge of the biobed in the
medbay, swinging his legs back and forth. Spock had the very human urge to
pinch the bridge of his nose.
“This is not amusing, Nyota.”
“Spock, Leonard said it’s temporary. The effects should wear off in a few
hours.”
“Or a few days. The Morapai on the planet were not very specific.”
Jim, blue eyes wide and stark in his face, glanced toward them. “Spock.”
“You’d better go to him. Poor baby looks freaked out.”
“He is not the only one.”
Nyota touched his arm. “Spock, it’ll be okay. Jim will go back to normal,
and in the meantime, you’ve got this.”
“I have not had much experience with children.”
“Maybe not, but you’re going to be fine. And this is not an ordinary
child. This is your husband.”
She pushed him toward little Jim, whose bottom lip had begun to tremble.
Spock felt his heart clench.
“Jim, there is no reason to be upset,” he said gently.
“Are you kidding?” the little boy asked. “My feet don’t reach the
ground!”
“The doctor says it will be gone in just a short time and you will be
yourself again.”
Little Jim’s teeth pulled at his bottom lip. He’d seen Jim do it dozens
of times. Now seeing him as a boy tugged at Spock’s heart.
“What if Bones is wrong?” His tiny voice warbled.
Spock had the same thought, of course, but he could not admit this to
Jim. “He is not. He spoke to the elders on the planet. You only have to have a
little patience.” He paused. “If you wish, I can take you to our quarters to
wait, rather than your having to stay here in the medbay.”
“Yeah. Please. You know I hate it here.”
Jim struggled to get down and when Spock saw that he was getting frustrated,
he went over to the biobed and lifted Jim off and to the floor.
He went to release the boy’s hand, but Jim tightened his grip and so
Spock didn’t try to pull away again.
Spock was grateful they didn’t run into anyone on their way to the
quarters, because he knew Jim would not be happy to have his crew see him like
this, and though Spock figured the word had likely spread, it was better not to
get the visual confirmation.
Once they were in their quarters, Spock turned to Jim. “Would you like
something to eat?”
“I want to take a shower.”
“Very well. But it has been a while since you have eaten, so when you
come out, I will replicate you something. Your choice?”
“Spaghetti?”
Spock nodded. “Do you wish for me to assist you, Jim?”
Jim seemed to think about it. “Maybe. I-I don’t think I can reach the shower handle.”
“Go in and get undressed and I will be in there in a moment.”
After Jim went into their bathroom, Spock looked toward his meditation
alcove hopefully, but he forced himself to squelch the desire. Right now he
needed to support and help his mate, not be concerned for his own needs.
Straightening he went into bathroom.
Jim stood by the shower, eyes watery. He was still fully clothed.
“Ashaya, come here.”
Spock dropped to his knees and held out his arms. Jim ran to him and
Spock pulled him close, hugging him tightly. He felt the wetness on Jim’s face
and his heart beat hard and painfully in his side.
“I just want to be normal,” Jim said, hiccupping.
Spock closed his eyes. “Shh. Come. Let us get your dinner. You can shower
later.”
Spock got Jim spaghetti and then a hot fudge sundae. The boy ate
silently, which was quite strange for Spock, because Jim was never silent
unless very troubled.
When he was finished, he asked Jim, “Do you still wish to shower?”
Jim shook his head. “Just go to bed. Maybe I’ll wake up myself again.”
When he was in bed and Spock had tucked all the covers around him, Jim
stared up at Spock, blue eyes still too watery for Spock’s liking.
“You make me realize one thing,” Spock said.
“What?”
“I want us to have a little boy who looks just like you someday.”
The slightest smile appeared on Jim’s face. “G’night.”
“Good night little one.”
Spock meditated for an hour and then pulled out a Murphy bed from the wall
to sleep.
He was awakened early by the sound of the shower running. He glanced at
the bed and saw that, sure enough, Jim was up. Spock flopped back down staring
up at the ceiling, waiting for the boy to find out what he’d want for breakfast.
Then he sat up. The shower was running. Little Jim had said he couldn’t
reach the shower handle. Spock slipped out of bed and to the bathroom door. He
opened it and peered in.
“Good morning,” Jim called cheerfully. “You can come in. It’s all right.”
Spock did and sure enough his full grown mate was back, grinning from ear
to ear.
Spock smiled in response. He could not help it. A part of him had doubted
that Jim would return to himself and Spock was inordinately glad his doubts
were for nothing.
“I’ll get your coffee,” Spock told him, then turned back to their room.
Bridge Crew Members, Cremley and Higgins, Speculate:
“Oh, my God. Not again.”
Cremley looked up from his station at Higgins. “Not
again what?”
Higgins sighed. “The captain.”
Cremley glanced over at the captain’s chair. At the
moment Rand was standing next to him, holding out a PADD for him. “What about
him?”
“Now look at the commander.”
Cremley knew he must be referring to the first officer,
so he glanced at the science station. Commander Spock was not there. In fact,
Cremley now noticed he had moved over to stand beside the captain. He rolled
his eyes. “Oh.”
“How can the commander be so blind anyway? Kirk isn’t
interested in Rand, he’s interested in the commander,” Higgins said, with a
shake of his head. “Both of them are so damn obvious about it.”
Rand moved off and onto the turbolift and Cremley noticed
Commander Spock made sure she had left before he went back to her station. He’d
never even said anything. He had just stood sentinel over the captain.
“I’ve heard rumors they’re together.”
Higgins snorted. “Nope. Well, not according to Uhura
anyway. And I’d think she would know.”
“Hmm. I thought for sure when she dumped the commander,
he’d run right off to Kirk. Those sad, pathetic gazes he aims Kirk’s way.”
Cremley shook his head.
“Eh. Kirk’s just as bad.” Higgins grinned. “In fact.
Watch this.”
Higgins got up from his station and swaggered, there was
no other word for it as far as Cremley was concerned, over to Commander Spock’s
station. Higgins leaned against the panel directly next to Spock and waited until
the Vulcan straightened and turned to look at him.
“Hey, Commander, I was wondering how that experiment in Lab
12 went. I heard so much about all your work and—”
Cremley watched Kirk’s chair turn in that direction so
fast he was surprised Kirk hadn’t toppled over. Then Higgins leaned in closer to Spock and
lowered his voice so that no one could hear him.
Kirk got out of the captain’s chair and sauntered, there
was no other word for it as far as Cremley was concerned, over to Commander
Spock’s station.
“Higgins, aren’t you away from your post?” Kirk
demanded.
Higgins stopped abruptly and stood up straight. “Well,
yeah, Captain, but I was taking a bit of a break.”
“You just came back from lunch. You need another break
already, Mister Higgins?”
Higgins reddened. “No, sir. Sorry, sir.”
He rushed back to be next to Cremley but he was
grinning. “See? The two of them. Ridiculous.”
Cremley watched as their two commanding officers leaned
in close and shared a look. He shook his head. “You’re wrong.”
“About what?”
“Those two are definitely sleeping together. There’s no
way anyone could act that way and be platonic. They’re doing it.”
Kirk’s hand rested on Spock’s arm as he smiled at the
first officer. He said something in a low voice that caused Spock’s eyebrow to
raise. Kirk threw his head back in laughter. He squeezed Spock’s arm.
“See you later for chess, Mister Spock. My quarters 1900
hours.”
Higgins pursed his lips. “Okay. Okay. I think, maybe,
you’re right.”
As Kirk walked back toward his chair, they both saw
Spock’s gaze go straight to Kirk’s ass.
It was ten minutes past the time Jim was
supposed to meet them, but Spock knew that was hardly unusual. Ever since
Admiral Evans had retired, Jim had been taking on far more duties than he
probably should. He’d told Spock that he was only going to HQ for an hour or so
that Saturday morning, but an hour after he’d left, Jim had messaged him that
he would just meet Spock and Surak at the San Francisco Zoo.
“He’s not coming,” Surak said, forlorn.
“He did not message me indicating that.”
Spock paused as he surveyed the crowd. “He will be here.”
Spock hoped he was not lying to his son.
And then a moment later, he felt the prickle
of Jim nearby just as Surak hopped up and down.
“Daddy’s coming!”
Sure enough, Jim came into view. He’d changed
from the admiral’s uniform he’d worn that morning and now wore ripped blue
jeans, a gray T-shirt, and a red plaid flannel shirt over that, left
unbuttoned. He looked, of course, completely gorgeous.
Surak immediately started to run toward him.
“Surak, no running.”
His son ignored him and reached Jim in
seconds. Jim swooped up the boy with a laugh, holding him close.
“Hey there, Tiger.”
“Not a tiger, Daddy. Lion.”
“Oh. Right. Yeah. A lion. Hey there, Lion.”’
Jim reached Spock with their son and leaned
in to peck Spock on the lips. “Hi, Sweetheart.”
“You are late.”
“I know. Went home to change.” He smiled at
Surak. “To make up for it I’ll get you the biggest stuffed animal of your
choice.”
“Yay!”
“Jim.”
“Oh, come on, Spock. If I can’t spoil our
son, who can I spoil?” His smile widened. “I’ll buy you one too, if you want.”
He winked at Spock, who rolled his eyes.
“Sa-Mekh already got the tickets.”
“Of course he did. Your Sa-Mekh is very
efficient. Shall we?”
Once inside, he set Surak down so that the
boy could walk, though it was more like running, and Spock hoped that meant he
would be burning a lot off of his manic energy, something he somehow had gotten
from Jim, though they were not biologically related.
“Jim.” They stopped before an enclosure with
flamingos.
“Hmm?”
“I have been thinking about a blue-eyed,
blond-haired child.”
Jim glanced at him. “I’m sorry?”
“I am speaking of expanding our family. Surak
was created through me and a surrogate. I would like to suggest using you and a
surrogate for our next child.”
“Our next?”
Spock nodded. “It would please me greatly for
that child to resemble you. If you recall, when we first bonded and married, we
spoke of filling our home with the love and laughter of children.”
“Uh. Well. Yeah. We did.” Jim watched Surak
for a moment and then looked back at Spock. “With the job—”
“We can handle it, Adun.”
“Are you sure? Because the bulk of it will be
on you. And you did mention wanting to move more into diplomacy and perhaps
ambassadorship, like your dad and the other you.”
“There is time for that, Jim.”
Jim
nodded. “Yeah. I mean, if you think there is. By the time a baby would be born,
I’d probably be okay to take some parental leave.”
“I am certain.”
His mate blew out a breath. “Well.”
“Come on, Daddy.” Surak reached for Jim’s
hand and tugged him from the flamingos and down a pathway toward the next
exhibit. Spock dutifully followed.
For the moment, Spock let Jim just enjoy the
day with Surak as their little boy, excitedly dashed from animal to animal.
When they reached the lions, Surak grew pensive.
“Daddy?”
“Yeah, kiddo?” Jim crouched down next to him.
“Why are they in a cage?”
“Well, the enclosure protects them from us
and us from them. It’s not ideal, of course. But see these animals are here because
this zoo works for conservation and to preserve them so they don’t become
extinct like so many other animals that used to roam the Earth. They study them
so they can protect them from being destroy by humans. And maybe when you have
children of your own someday, these beautiful animals will still be here on
Earth.”
Surak put his little hand on the glass. “I
want to help save them.”
“That would be fantastic.”
Surak turned to Jim, putting his hands on Jim’s
face. “Up.”
Jim laughed. “Okay, okay.” He stood up and
picked up their son, carrying him to the next exhibit.
And later, when they
wandered the gift shops so that Surak could choose his animal, a stuffed lion,
of course, bigger than the boy himself, Spock thought dryly, as Jim also
allowed Surak to pick out one of those giant sugar flavored hard candy on a
stick, Jim leaned over and whispered to Spock, “Yes, let’s do it. Let’s have
another.”
The little dark haired boy with the not quite bowl
cut and the pointy ears held up his hands for Jim to inspect.
“Hm. Keep them up. Might as well practice. Do the
ta’al so we can surprise your Sa-Mekh with what you learned.”
The boy made a face. He used one tiny hand to move
the fingers apart on the other tiny hand.
Jim tried not to laugh. “Better. You’ll get there.”
He resisted, barely, ruffling the hair of Surak. Spock had taken a bit of flak
for naming his son after the most famous Vulcan, but as was typical Spock, he didn’t
pay them much attention.
“Okay. So. Now, your Sa-Mekh left you in my care
for the night. Did he tell you that you can have pizza?”
“No.”
Jim nodded. “Did he tell you that you can’t have
pizza?”
“No.”
“Hmm. Well, that’s too bad. How can I be a terrible
influence then? All right, sit at the table.”
Surak, who was all of four years old, dutifully scurried
over to Jim’s dining room table and crawled into a seat. He didn’t need a
booster seat anymore but it was a near thing.
Jim went to the kitchen and opened the box for the
pizza meant for Surak and took out two slices. He took out two slices of his
own pizza too, and went to the table with both.
“Yours has a cauliflower crust and vegan cheese.”
Surak wrinkled his nose. “Yuck.”
Jim laughed. “I’m totally kidding. It’s a regular
crust, tomato sauce and regular cheese. You’re vegetarian not vegan.”
Surak picked up a slice and took a bite, chewing
happily. He eyed Jim’s piece. “That looks good.”
“Oh it is. But it’s got pepperoni on it and your Sa-Mekh
would be very angry with me if I let you have it. He wouldn’t leave you with me
anymore.”
Surak agreed with a nod and continued to eat his pizza.
He also got sauce all over his little face.
“You’re supposed to eat it not wear it,” Jim
admonished, but not too severely. “You want more?”
“No. Maybe for breakfast.”
“Ha, fat chance on that. Your Sa-Mekh wouldn’t let
you eat pizza for breakfast.” Jim got up and went into his kitchen for a wet
wipe and returned, wiping Surak’s face and hands. “PJ’s?”
“Please.”
He was so darn cute saying please. Just like a
little adult. None of this ‘pease’ other little obnoxious children said.
He took Surak’s hand and walked with him into the bedroom
where he’d left the bag that Spock had given him with Surak’s things he was to
use for the night. He unzipped it and dug inside, pulling out feety pajamas.
“These are them?” he asked, surprised. They were kind of golden and brown and had a furry looking collar around the throat. “Is it supposed to be a lion?”
Surak said, “Yes. I like lions. Sa-Mekh said we
can go look at them at the San Francisco zoo on Saturday. Are you coming?”
“Of course I am.” He removed the boy’s shirt and
pants and then helped him into the pajamas, noting the feet were paws. He
couldn’t help but smile at the image of Spock picking these out.
With Surak all situated in his absurdly cute lion
pajamas, Jim took him back out of the living room.
“Okay, you can watch one program and then it’s off to bed. I promised your Sa-Mekh you’d
be put to bed at a reasonable time.”
“Popcorn.”
“What?”
“You said I could have popcorn.”
“I did? Oh. Yeah. I did. All right.”
“Caramel popcorn,” Surak reminded him.
“Your Sa-Mekh will not thank me for getting you jacked up on sugar.”
But he led Surak into the kitchen to pop the popcorn
and melt the caramel. He then mixed the two, threw it in a bowl and went back to
the living room with Surak, both of them curling up on sofa to watch the show
Surak had picked out for them to watch.
It was a couple of hours later when Jim sort of
blinked awake at the sound of someone accessing the apartment door. Surak
stayed completely asleep against him.
Spock walked in, arching that picture perfect brow
at him.
“How was he?”
“Completely perfect and adorable, of course.” Jim
shifted and Surak woke up, rubbing his eyes as he did so.
“Look, kiddo, here is your Sa-Mekh!”
Surak scrambled up from Jim’s lap and ran to
Spock, hugging his legs. “You are earlier than anticipated.”
Spock leaned down and scooped his son up into his
arms. “I am. I finished early and could not wait to return to you.”
“And to Daddy!”
Spock met Jim’s gaze over their son. “And to
Daddy.”
Jim leaned over and kissed Spock’s lips. “Welcome
home.”
“Huh?” Jim’s steps faltered in the grocery store where
he walked beside Bones.
“You know. For Valentine’s Day.”
“Oh. Um. Sure, I guess. Does she like chocolate?”
Bones smirked. “Doesn’t every kid?” He stopped
before a display of brightly colored heart shaped boxes. He eyed Jim. “What
about you?”
“Me? Since when have we exchanged Valentine’s Day
gifts?”
“Not with me, genius. Aren’t you…well whatever…?”
“Involved in a sexual relationship? Yes.”
“So, there’s like no feelings there or anything.”
Jim eyed the glittery boxes with a baleful stale. “None
worth these monstrosities.”
“A romantic to the end, our Jim.”
“Well. It’s not, um, you know. Not like that.” He
felt himself turning hot and red, probably to match the candy boxes. But
really.
“I see.”
“Well, it’s not like we have, you know,
conversations and stuff. Candlelight dinners.”
“So, it’s just bend over and take it?’ Bones chortled
and Jim turned redder. His friend held up his hands. “Kidding. You know what? I
just don’t care that much about whatever goes on between you guys.” He made a
face. “Maybe chocolate is a bad idea. A toy? Like a doll? Or maybe jewelry.”
“Or maybe a gift card and let her pick out her own
gift.”
“That’s no fun. And not much thought into it.”
Jim shrugged.
“I know, look who I’m talking to.”
“You know my family isn’t much into gift giving
and celebrations.”
“I know. That would mean you’d actually have to
see each other.”
“Exactly. And God knows why we’d want to do that.”
Jim picked up a large pink, sequined box. “How about this one?”
They watched the tall, slender Vulcan enter the
story and briefly pause in the doorway as he surveyed the store.
Jim opened his mouth to call out to him but Bones
elbowed him in the stomach. He gave Bones a look.
“Let’s see what he does,” Bones whispered, drawing
Jim away to the next aisle.
They watched as the Vulcan, Spock, stepped over to
the display of heart shaped chocolate boxes. Jim frowned but Bones grinned.
“Isn’t that too sweet?”
“Shut up,” Jim whispered furiously.
Spock chose a big red heart with a ribbon bow and
then walked up to the front of the store to the register. He quickly paid and
left the store.
“Well?” Bones said.
“Well, er, what?”
“Come on, Jim. You have to get him something now.”
Jim bit his lip. He was so sure Spock wouldn’t be
into Valentine’s Day. It was so unlike him. They’d even talked about it before
and how stupid it was. It made no sense.
“I can’t get him chocolate, Bones.”
“Get him something else then.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know, do I?” Bones laughed suddenly. “Sexy
underwear.”
“Sexy…what?”
****
On Valentine’s Day, Jim went to Spock’s apartment.
After a particularly vigorous sex session, Spock said he would get them takeout
for dinner, and that Jim could take his time getting out of bed and getting dressed.
Jim got up, grabbed his clothes and went to go into the bathroom when he saw the big red heart box Spock had got for him. With a smile, he walked over to it. He’d left the wrapped package of the red silk boxers he’d bought for Spock in his book bag when he’d first got there as it had felt a little weird to give it straight away to him.
His smile widened when he spotted the tag Spock
had included. He flipped over the heart
shaped tag.
“To: Nyota, From: Spock.”
Jim dropped the tag and backed away, disappointment
coursing through him.
Of course it hadn’t been for him. What had he been
thinking, anyway?
Nyota was just a friend. That much Jim had known. So he knew there wasn’t any grand romantic
gesture on Spock’s part in giving her the candy. Likely, his mom had told him
to or someone like that.
His disappointment didn’t come from romantic jealousy.
But from his own foolishness at thinking he was getting a present. Gifts were
for suckers. Jim’s family had taught him that. And expectations were for fools.
He went to his book bag, took out the package and
stuffed it into the back of Spock’s sock drawer. Then he texted Spock.
“Oh, hey. Can’t stay for dinner after all. Sorry.
I’ll be in touch.”
Jim hit send before he chickened out.
He was on his way out when he spotted a white
envelop on the coffee table. He stopped. From where he stood he could see his
name in Spock’s ridiculously neat handwriting.
Jim bit his lip, walked over, and picked up the unsealed
envelope. Inside was a card.
It was a rather artistic drawing of a Vulcan with
a pulsing heart at his side, beating, or the drawing was meant to imply a beating
heart anyway. Inside were the words,
I want
you to live long and prosper…with me.
Just then the door to Spock’s apartment opened and
Spock stepped inside holding two bags of takeout. He stared at Jim.
“You are still here. I received your note and—”
Jim rushed over to Spock and threw his arms around
the Vulcan, kissing him hard. Spock
seemed startled a moment, but then returned the kiss with equal fervor.
“Bones is right. I am an idiot.”
“I do not understand.”
“I know. But I swear, from now on, I’m going to be
better.”
“About what?” Spock asked cautiously.
“About everything.”
“Then…are you staying?”
“I’m staying. And there’s something else.”
“What?”
“I’ve been practicing this. Um.” He leaned in and
whispered in Spock’s ear.
Spock’s arms tightened around him.
“Did I say it right?”
“What were you trying to say, Jim?”
“Happy Valentine’s Day, I love you, in Vulcan.”
Spock’s lips twitched but his eyes were shining. “I
love you as well, however, you did not say Happy Valentine’s Day.”
Jim frowned. “No? What did I say? I got the words
from your family and they said—”
“You said that you were mine forever, that you
were obedient, that you loved me…”
“Oh.” Jim smiled and nodded. “That’s okay then.”
“And you like to cluck like a chicken.” Spock
paused to let Jim laugh. “Sybok?”
“How did you know?”
Spock shook his head. “An educated guess.”
“We can reheat the food,” Jim said. “I have a present
for you in the room. I’m dying to see you wearing it.”
Spock arched a brow, but he hurried after Jim, leaving
the food containers on the coffee table as he passed by.
