Spock was surprised, really, each time he woke up to find Jim Kirk sleeping next to him. Everyone, Jim included, called Jim his boyfriend. And that term was still strange to him. It was such a Human term. And didn’t entirely encompass all that he felt or intended with regard to Jim. So far, he had not used it.
He had not intended to obtain a boyfriend in his life. He was there to be a member of Starfleet and though that had certainly not changed, he had the added…benefit of someone to share that with.
Spock had met Jim at a gathering mutual friends had given. They’d started talking and then somehow ended up back at Spock’s apartment and bed. Spock did not do one-night stands and apparently, as they’d been together since then, his record of not having one-night stands was still quite correct.
Spock had to get up early that morning as he had an eight o’clock class to teach and he preferred to be there well before the start. He generally met his friend, Nyota Uhura, for tea on such mornings, and though he now had a…Jim…that did not change.
He also knew Jim didn’t have a class until that afternoon, so Jim preferred to continue sleeping on such mornings. And waking Jim up when he was not ready to be was always a mistake. Jim could become quite grumpy.
Still, after Spock’s early morning shower, after dressing, he leaned down to kiss Jim’s forehead. Jim continued sleeping right through it.
When Spock opened the door to his apartment to leave, he was startled to find someone standing there.
He could see the Human male was likewise startled, and his hand was raised as though he was about to knock.
He was very tall and blond with familiar blue eyes. Spock surmised, logically, that he was somehow related to Jim.
“May I help you?”
“I’m looking for James Kirk. I was told he might be here.”
“You are?”
The blue eyes narrowed just a fraction. “His brother. Is he here or not?”
Spock considered that. “It was my understanding his brother is missing.”
“Guess I’ve been found.” The man shrugged. “Jim? Are you in there?”
“He is asleep.”
“Wake him.”
Spock blinked. “I do not…”
“Spock, it’s okay.”
He turned to see a bleary eyed Jim standing just behind him. He still wore his pajama bottoms and had pulled on one of Spock’s bathrobes over that since Jim normally slept without a shirt. Jim’s hair stood on end and he looked young and vulnerable.
And Spock had to leave.
Yet he did not want to leave Jim with this giant unknown brother. His protective instincts took over.
Jim’s brother now sort of pushed his way into the apartment and Spock was about to reach up and pinch his neck when Jim moved forward between them.
“Sam, what are you doing here?”
“Came to see you. I heard you were in San Francisco. I’ve been looking all over for you. Some dude at your dorm said you were with him.” Sam’s gaze went to Spock, briefly, before switching back to Jim. “I’m passing through and thought we could have breakfast or something.”
Jim hugged himself. “Uh.”
Spock bristled. “When was the last time you saw Jim? Was it not when you left him to deal with your stepfather alone? And now you simply show up one day and ask to have breakfast?”
“Spock,” Jim whispered. He put his hand on Spock’s arm. “It’s all right. I’ll have breakfast with him.”
Sam gave Spock a superior smile.
“Then I will arrange to have my class handled by another instructor and I will join you.”
“Controlling much?” Sam said.
“Hey,” Jim snapped. “Back off now.” He took a step toward his brother. “You can just leave.”
Sam put up his hands. “Okay, okay, sorry.”
“Yeah, sure you are. You come here unannounced out of the blue to Spock’s home and then be a dick to him? You have some balls, Sam.”
“I’m sorry. Really. I’ll buy breakfast.”
Jim gave him a look before turning back to Spock. “It’s okay. You go teach your class and I’ll have breakfast with this dumbass here.”
“Jim—”
“It’ll be okay. I don’t want to subject you to any unnecessary drama.” Jim turned back to his brother. “Meet me at the café in thirty minutes. I need time to shower and get dressed.”
“All right, fine.” Sam backed up and out of the apartment. “See you.”
Spock watched him leave. Made sure he did.
Then he turned to…his boyfriend.
“Are you certain you wish to see him alone?”
Jim smiled, though it was strained. “I don’t think he’s out to hurt me, Spock. Probably wants something. Which I can’t and won’t give him. Once I tell him, he’ll probably be on his way.”
“Message me as soon as you arrive and as soon as you leave breakfast.”
Perhaps Spock did sound controlling. And he did not mean to, but he didn’t know Jim’s brother nor his intentions.
Jim kissed him. “Okay.”
And Spock was glad Jim had not argued.
While he was leaving tea with Nyota, he received a message from Jim saying he was seated at a table for breakfast.
Then when his class was over he checked his messages again and there was nothing.
But as he stepped outside he spotted Jim approaching him. And it was all he could do not to pull Jim close in an illogical display of Human weakness.
“Hey,” Jim greeted him. “How was your class?”
Spock shook his head impatiently. “Same as always. Your brother?”
“Same as always.”
“Jim…”
“Can we go to your apartment?”
Spock nodded. “Very well.”
Which made him realize something. Something important.
Though his apartment was really just a short walk from campus, Spock found himself growing impatient to get there. And once he did, he immediately turned to Jim.
“Are you well?”
“Of course I am.”
And without having to ask, and Spock was not sure how to do so, Jim moved close and put his arms around Spock, who could not help but sigh in relief as his own arms closed around Jim. He closed his eyes.
“Better?” Jim murmured.
“Much.”
Jim nodded against him. “You were a bit tense.” He moved his hands up and under Spock’s shirt, his fingers touching the bare skin of Spock’s back which soothed him further.
“It has been a difficult day. Jim, will you share this apartment with me?”
Jim drew back, just a little, for Spock would not let him go far, to look at Spock. “You want me to move in?”
“Yes. With a certainty. You have been spending almost every night here anyway.”
“Sure. But, uh, I wasn’t sure you actually liked that. I don’t know. Sometimes I thought…”
“What?” Spock asked softly.
“Maybe I was pushing you more into this relationship than you were actually wanting. Probably more than you were comfortable with. I just…I’m pretty crazy about you, Spock.”
“You…are wrong.”
Jim gave him a quizzical look. “About what?”
“I want this relationship.” Spock blew out a breath. “I am…not as comfortable with all of this as I should be, I cannot deny that. But I am learning. And I want to learn more. I am very much enamored of you, Jim, and I do want you to stay here with me all the time.”
Jim smiled. “Yeah?”
“Very much so. And what happened with your brother?”
“You could barely stand to wait huh?”
Spock gave him a look.
Jim chuckled. “He’s gone. He didn’t ask me for anything. He’s on his way off planet. We may see each other again. I don’t know. But he really did just want to see me after all this time, I guess. Things are not okay between us, not even a little, but we’ll see.”
“As long as he did not make you feel any worse, than I will not pursue him.”
Jim laughed again and then looked at Spock’s face. “You’re serious?”
“Of course I am. I cannot have him harming my…boyfriend.”
The smile Jim gave him was glorious. He leaned into Spock to kiss him.
When they came up for air, Spock said, “Jim.”
“Hmm?”
“Will you…?”
“Of course I will.”
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 