For the rest of this month and November (December will be my Christmas fic) we will have a Guess the Fic on Tuesdays.
I will post a line from one of my fics and we will see if any of you can guess it. It might be hard but at the end of the day I will update the post to tell you.
For this one, it will be the opening line of this fic.
“What is it you want, Captain? Above all things?” The Premier of the planet, Tolsing, asked him as she brought him through their Sacred Gardens.
Updated: Jay guessed correctly that the fic is Potions. This fic debuted on AO3 November 01, 2015. Here is the first passage.
“What is it you want, Captain? Above all things?” The Premier of the planet, Tolsing, asked him as she brought him through their Sacred Gardens.
Jim smiled. “The negotiations are concluded, Premier. There’s no need to offer me a bribe.”
She laughed, her cheeks dimpling prettily. She had been beautiful once, Jim surmised, was actually beautiful now, though she was hundreds of years older than him. The Tolsings lived even longer than Vulcans.
Her face was lined with age though and she had informed him she likely only had twenty or so years left.
“And I thank you for your diplomatic skills, Captain. They are much appreciated. I have already sent my report to your Federation praising you and the members of your crew. And we were thrilled to afford your crew shore leave after the negotiations were concluded.”
“You have a beautiful planet.”
“Indeed, and we are quite prideful in it.” She gestured to the gardens. “You must admit the fragrance of our flowers is without compare.”
Jim inhaled. “It really is extraordinary.”
She smiled again. “I make potions with their oil extracts and petals.”
Jim cocked his head. “Potions?”
“For anything you wish, Captain. They are magical.”
Jim smiled from his spot lounging on the couch. Spock had covered him with a fluffy autumn throw and propped him up with big squishy pillows. He’d also lit a fire in the fireplace.
“Probably a box of more medicine.”
“We will see.”
They were currently spending Jim’s medical leave in a mountain retreat in the Rockies. They would be there for an extended time as Jim had been severely injured in a blast on an away mission.
Spock opened the box and looked inside.
“Well?”
He pulled out a box of hot cocoa “Pumpkin Spice” was labeled on the outside.
“Oh my God! I love Bones.” Jim grinned at the look Spock gave him. “I love you way more though. What else?”
“Pumpkin tea for the hobgoblin,” Spock read from the note. He narrowed his eyes. “A light up autumnal gourd.”
Spock held it up and flipped a switch as it lit up.
Jim’s smile widened. “Ah, I love it.”
“Why does it have a face?” Spock queried.
“It’s a Jack o’ Lantern for Halloween.”
Spock shook his head. “Count Chocula Cereal.”
“Score! Bones thinks of everything.”
“Pumpkin Spice coffee and also various bags of Halloween candy.”
Jim’s smile turned soft. “All the comforts of home. That is so cool. I’ll have to send him a note to thank him.”
“Later. For now, you need to rest.”
“Rest? I’m already lying down, Spock.”
“You need to sleep.”
“I’m not a little kid who needs a nap.”
“When we allowed you to have your leave here instead of in a Starfleet approved medical facility you agreed to do everything that either I or Doctor McCoy said.”
Jim sighed. “I know. Okay.”
Spock knelt down beside him. “I almost lost you again, ashayam. Please indulge me.”
“Of course I will. I’m sorry.”
Spock leaned up and kissed him. “I am not. I am grateful. When you wake, you can have some of the cocoa.”
“Join me?”
Spock rolled his eyes. “You are not yet ready for that. I will have tea.”
He laughed. “Okay.”
“Be good and close your eyes.”
Jim smiled faintly, but closed his eyes. He was still very pale and tired easily, but yes, he was here, and Spock would care for him.
I opened my eyes to see the spot next to me in bed was currently empty. I placed my hand there and it still felt warm from Chris’ body. I turned onto my back, looking up at the carved wood ceiling. The room was well-lit with both candles and sunlight from the open windows.
They’d been pulled closed before, so I knew Chris had opened them and lit the candles. I allowed no servants to enter my bedchamber when Chris stayed over. I glanced over and saw him standing there at the window looking out on Bulwary Street, no doubt at the carriages and riders passing by. There’d be fewer now. Though I knew London was never really deserted, even when the Season ended, which it had more than a month earlier.
“You’re up early,” I said.
“Have to be off,” Chris replied, not turning around. “Traveling out of London and to the Country seat this afternoon.”
I knew it of course, but the words and the meaning behind them still hit me hard. We wouldn’t see each other nearly as much over the next several weeks. He would be off to his family’s estates and me to mine. Miles away from London and our almost nightly visits.
I sat up then and swung my leg to the floor.
He turned then, his blue eyes sweeping over me. “You don’t have to get up, Zach. I wasn’t going to bother you.”
“No goodbye?”
“Wasn’t last night’s activities enough of a goodbye?” He smiled, sweet and almost shy. “Temporary anyway. It’s never truly goodbye.”
I rose and went to him. “And it shan’t ever be, Christopher.” I pulled him into my arms, and we kissed deep and slow.
He leaned against me, resting his head against my shoulder. “And when are you off?”
“Not until tomorrow morning. I’ve got some things to settle up here today.”
“Autumn is my favorite time in the country,” he murmured. “Only that we are parted is my one regret.”
“We will make time as always.”
“Yes.” He put his hand on my cheek, the bristle of the growth of beard on my jaw. “I love you. Only you.”
“And you have my love in return. May your journey be a safe one.”
Spock had never picked up a hitchhiker in his life and he wasn’t about to start. Or so he thought.
It was pouring rain and he was driving his hover car on the way back to San Francisco from a smaller city outside of it where he had been visiting a friend.
Well, it had been a booty call. If he were honest and Spock always was. But that friend was leaving Earth tomorrow and Spock would not see him again.
He saw a figure of a male walking by the side of the road in the rain with his head down and huddled into a barely acceptable coat. The road was desolate and there were no other cars around, so Spock wasn’t sure where the man had come from, but he found himself slowing down, though he felt foolish doing so.
He pressed the button that would roll down the window but he kept his thumb near so he could easily raise it again if need be. It was phaser proof.
“Do you require assistance?” Spock asked.
The man lifted his head and Spock spotted the bluest of eyes. His face was wet, but for some reason it didn’t seem like it all came from the rain. The eyes were red rimmed.
“Thank God,” he said. “I thought no one would ever help me. I need to get to San Francisco. My bike broke down miles ago. I’ve been walking ever since.”
And Spock recognized him then. Pike had spoken of him and Spock had done his research after he learned about him.
Spock made a decision. “Get in.”
He saw the gratitude in the man’s face as he quickly got in the passenger side next to Spock.
“Jim Kirk.”
“Spock. I know who you are.”
“You do?”
“Yes. Captain Pike has told me about you and…we are roommates.”
Kirk stared at him as Spock began to drive toward San Francisco. “Wow. You-you’re the Vulcan everyone was talking about. You’re at the Academy?”
“I will be when the semester begins. And yes…I am.”
“And we have the same dorm?”
“Evidently.”
Kirk smiled. “My luck is improving. Thank you. For picking me up. I was getting pretty despondent thinking I’d never find civilization.”
“You are welcome.” Spock nodded. “And as it happens, we are quite literally, going to the same place.”
Jim leaned back a little in the seat, closed his eyes, and smiled. Then he opened them as Spock got nearer to the city.
Jim leaned forward in excitement. “Are you hungry? I’m hungry!”
Spock’s lips twitched. “I could eat.”
“Pull over there! There’s a restaurant.”
And Spock did. This seemed clearly to be the beginning of something. He simply did not know what.
Coming up for October we will see Harvest/Autumn themed flashes, maybe some sort of spooky…we shall see.
Leonard knocked on the door of the apartment of someone he frankly didn’t care to see, but, well, here he was. If they put up the picture of the best best friend in the world on some kind of list, he was certain he’d be A Number One.
The door was opened and there stood his nemesis.
Okay, not really. But—
“Doctor.”
“Asshole.” Leonard sighed. “Okay, okay. Sorry. Spock. Look, I don’t want to be here anymore than you want me to be here, but…for Jim’s sake I am. He’s really really upset over your fight and I think…whatever it was about…you should seek him out and make things right.”
Spock straightened. “You assume it was my doing?”
“Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t. I know Jim can be challenging. But the truth of the matter is, who cares who was at fault or who said what or did what? Does any of that matter if you end up losing Jim? Because I have to tell you, Spock, you are in danger of that. Jim doesn’t trust or love easily. And once you lost that, it’s probably gone forever. So be the bigger one here, Spock. Go to Jim and fix this. You won’t be sorry if you do that, but you may be otherwise.”
Leonard left then, hoping that what he’d said to Spock would be good enough. He had a class to go to then.
Much later he returned to a dark dorm.
He called out, “Jim?”
Because ever since his fight with Spock, Jim had been moping around the place.
“Lights.”
Leonard spotted on the table a six-pack of beer, a pizza, and a plate with a donut. There was a note too.
With Spock. Thanks. We both owe you. ❤
Leonard smiled and reached for the pizza. Then went for the donut first.
A continuation from Flash Fic September 04, 2020 (Who Does Spock Wake Up With?)
Jim rounds the corridor in the hospital in time to see Uhura step into Room 141. He tries not to bristle at the sight, but it’s a near thing. He clenches his fists as he continues down the corridor and to Spock’s room.
He hears the murmur of her voice as he approaches, but it is too low for him to make out the words she is saying to Jim’s boyfriend.
Jim was all too aware she wanted Spock to be hers. Had even considered Spock hers prior to Jim meeting Spock one night in a bar. Though he has never told Spock about it, she even confronted Jim a few days later to give him a piece of her mind about stealing her boyfriend.
Jim considers letting Spock have privacy with her for her visit and turning around to get coffee at the cafeteria. But Jim supposes he is just not that good a person and he steps into the room.
He is carrying the hot spiced tea Spock likes as well as a container of oatmeal Jim made himself for Spock’s breakfast, even though the hospital provides an “adequate” breakfast as Spock himself says.
“Good morning,” Jim calls out to alert them to his presence.
Uhura glances at him, eyes narrowed. “Morning.”
“Jim, you are earlier than I anticipated.”
Jim smiles and makes a big show of going over to Spock and leaning down to kiss him. Spock accepts the gentle kiss with enthusiasm.
“How are you feeling?”
Two days before Spock had slipped on a wet floor at the Academy and fallen down the stairs. Though he hadn’t broken anything, thankfully, he was battered and bruised and had a concussion. Though Spock had fought it, he was ordered to stay in this hospital for four days. This was his third and he would finally be released into Jim’s care tomorrow.
“Much improved,” Spock says. “I believe I could be discharged today.”
Jim shakes his head. “You aren’t the doctors. Here I brought you tea and oatmeal like you like it.” He sets the items on the tray before Spock and turns his attention back to Uhura. “So sweet of you to visit.”
“Well, that’s what friends do,” she replies. Uhura turns to Spock. “Looks like you’re in good hands, if I get a chance I’ll stop by late afternoon.”
“Thank you, Nyota.”
Spock watches her leave but Jim doesn’t bother. His focus has returned to Spock.
“Are you really okay?” He tries not to sound so needy and anxious but thinks he likely fails. He’d about had a heart attack when he had been alerted to Spock falling down the stairs.
Spock holds out his hand toward Jim, who gratefully takes it. “I am much improved, Ashaya.”
Spock has taken to calling him the endearment and Jim really likes it.
A lot.
He bites his lip.
“I knew a man once, a family friend,” he says. “He fell down the stairs and hit his head. Said he was fine, at first. But later he died. He had bleeding on the brain and didn’t get checked.”
“Ashaya, I have been checked. I will be fine.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.” Spock lifts the cup of tea and removes the lid, taking a sip.
Jim sees the pleasure in Spock’s eyes he fails to hide. Spock is pleased Jim has learned his preferences. And Jim knows Spock has learned his. Even in the only month and a half they have been together.
Jim sits on the side of Spock’s bed, after releasing Spock’s hand so he can dig into the oatmeal.
“I sense some tension between you and Nyota,” Spock says after a bite or two of his breakfast.
“Hmm. She’s just sore she lost. And I won.”
Spock gives Jim that very slight smile he has come to love so much. And yeah Jim recognizes that word is there, in the equation.
“I was not aware I was a prize.”
Jim laughs. It feels good to laugh. Spock is here, with him, alive and going to be well.
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.
“So, should I join the Chess Club or the Ancient Literature in Modern Times Discussion Group?”
Bones glanced at Jim as they walked along the path between buildings at Starfleet Academy. “That’s like asking me if you should be a geek or a nerd.”
“Funny. I could, honestly, join both because they’re held at different times and days.”
“How fortunate,” Bones said, sarcastically.
Jim smirked at him. “You could join too.”
“No, thanks. I’m up to my eyeballs in courses about being a doctor on a starship. They’re kicking my ass. I have no free time. And any free time I have is spent studying. But I have no free time.”
“And you repeat repeatedly.”
Bones grinned. “You know it. But knock yourself out, kid. Hopefully all that nerdity won’t rub off on me.”
“That’s not a word.”
“Totally is.”
****
When Jim got to the Wednesday Night Chess Club initial meeting he was a little surprised to see a lot of females. And maybe that was a little sexist of him, but it still seemed strange for him to be like the only guy.
He spotted Uhura, from the bar, over by a wall, so he went over to her.
“You’re interested in chess?”
She shrugged. “Why not?”
“I don’t know. It’s just…”
Uhura rolled her eyes. “Look around, Kirk. Most of the cadets here aren’t interested in chess. Not really.”
Jim glanced around the room and then spotted the tall Vulcan in the corner wearing a black turtleneck sweater, black jeans, and black boots. He was surrounded by females.
He blew out a breath. “Oh. Professor Spock.”
“Yes, Professor Spock. Why’d you think everyone was here? Why are you?”
“To play chess, duh.”
“You’re one of the few, I’d say.”
Jim watched her watch him. “Including you.”
Uhura smiled. “He’s really cool and gorgeous. Brilliant. Why wouldn’t I be interested? Aren’t you?”
“Whether I am or not has nothing to do with the Chess Club,” Jim told her. “I didn’t even know he was behind it.”
And that was true. Spock was gorgeous, just like Uhura had said, but Jim wasn’t pursuing the Vulcan professor. He had plenty of interest from other cadets, he certainly didn’t need Jim mooning after him too.
But after three chess matches, all of which Jim won easily because those he played with hadn’t paid the slightest attention to the chess game, he decided to leave.
He was headed out the door when Spock called to him.
“Cadet Kirk, leaving already?”
He turned to face Spock. It was on the tip of his tongue to compliment him on how good he looked in black, before his brain reminded him that he wasn’t going to be like everyone else, gushing over Spock.
“Yeah, it’s uh…to be honest my opponents weren’t much of a challenge so I don’t think the club is for me.”
Spock inclined his head. “Perhaps you would care to challenge me?”
Jim smiled a little. “You, Professor? Bring it on.”
****
A few matches later, some Jim had won, he leaned back in his chair, stretched his arms up in the air and yawned.
“You have an interesting playing style,” Spock murmured.
Jim grinned. “You mean you’re surprised I managed to beat you.”
“It is a rare occurrence when I am bested,” Spock admitted.
Jim looked around and noticed everyone else had left. “Wow it must be late. Or they all left when I monopolized your time.”
“Perhaps some of both.”
Jim got up. “Thanks. I didn’t mean to keep you away from everyone else.”
“My purpose was to have meaningful chess matches and you provided those. I have no regrets. But we are behind the time I said I would utilize this room so…”
Jim held up his hands. “I’m leaving, no worries. Thanks again, Professor.”
“You will be here next Wednesday?” Spock asked as he walked Jim to the door.
“I don’t think so. This, uh, this isn’t really my thing.”
“I surmised you enjoyed playing chess.”
“And I do. But the players here tonight…I’m not sure why they were here, exactly,” Jim hedged. “But it wasn’t to play chess. Anyway, I’ve taken up enough of your time. Goodnight.”
****
The following Monday, Jim popped in at the Ancient Literature in Modern Times Discussion Group only to see most of the same cadets he’d seen at the Chess Club, including Uhura.
Jim sighed. “Don’t tell me. Spock again?”
“Of course,” she said coolly. “You sure managed to catch his attention on Wednesday. Back for more?”
And that’s when Jim noticed just about everyone there was glaring at him with open hostility.
“I don’t need this,” he muttered. He looked at Uhura. “Nope. Wrong room. See you.”
Just as he was stepping outside, Spock approached the room.
“You are leaving?”
“Yeah, don’t think this group is for me.”
Spock frowned slightly. “You are not interested in Ancient Literature?”
Jim nodded. “I am. It’s just…” He took Spock’s elbow and drew him aside. “Those cadets in there aren’t interested in discussing literature any more than they are interested in chess. In fact, they’re pretty much the same crowd.”
“I do not understand.”
Jim sighed. “Spock. They’re interested in you.”
Spock stared at him for a long time and then his lips thinned and he nodded. “I see. Would you like to discuss Ancient Literature in Modern Times privately over tea one afternoon?”
Jim smiled. “I’d love to.”
Spock looked at the door of the room. “In fact, Cadet…may I call you Jim?”
“Please do.”
“If you are free after the conclusion of this discussion at six-thirty, I would like to take you to dinner.”
For a moment, Jim wasn’t sure what to say. And when he finally did it came out stupid. “Uh.”
“If I have misjudged an interest then—”
“Yes. I mean…no. I’m…you’re asking me for a date, right?”
Spock arched a brow. “Yes.”
Jim moistened his lips. “And, uh, when you mentioned discussing Ancient Literature over tea? That was a date too, right?”
Spock nodded.
Jim let that wash over him.
“Then you are interested?”
“Yeah. I am. Yes. I’d love to have dinner.” Jim smiled. “I guess it would be easier to attend the discussion tonight so we can just go out after.”
“Indeed.”
“You know, all those women in there, they really like you.”
“While I am flattered by their interest, it is misguided.”
“Oh?”
“My interests with regard to mates lie with males.”
Jim’s smile widened. “My lucky day then. Shall we?” He indicated the door to the room.
Spock went in before him and Jim followed. And it was really hard not to preen in front of the others. But he tried. Really.
Jim Kirk and his recently acquired friend, Spock, a Vulcan, stopped at a board on Starfleet Academy where announcements, requests, and offerings were pinned to for other cadets to see.
Jim moved close, to lean in, and peer at the note Spock was looking at, and maybe, to get a little closer to Spock too.
He had a crush, so sue him.
“A long time ago, a Sadie Hawkins Dance was when ladies would ask out guys to a dance, instead of the other way around. Traditionally, in the old fashioned times, guys asked them. So when it was a Sadie Hawkins one, guys were supposed to wait for a lady to ask him.”
Spock nodded. “I see.”
“But that’s a long time ago. Now it’s sorta like, well, you ask someone you’d probably not ask usually.”
Spock glanced at him. “Why?”
Jim put his hand on Spock’s back to distract him away from the notices on the board. “Why what? Come on. Aren’t we going for dinner?”
Spock turned away and fell into step with Jim. “Why would you ask someone you would not generally wish to attend with?”
“Well, I mean, you wouldn’t ask Finnegan or something, but…”
“Certainly not.”
“I just mean you wouldn’t ask someone you disliked just to be nice, that kind of thing.”
They left campus and headed down the street to the restaurant they generally had dinner at every Friday night for the last two months. It had choices for both of them that made them happy.
“I see,” Spock said after several moments of silence. “Then who would you ask?”
“Well.” They’d arrived and Jim reached for the door. “Hang on.”
Spock went inside and Jim followed after him. The hostess sat them at what had become their usual table. Before they continued the conversation, Jim ordered a glass of red wine and Spock tea.
“Like someone you really like, but are afraid to ask out.” Jim shrugged. “That kind of thing. I don’t know, Spock. It’s kind of a stupid thing.”
“Do you go to dances?”
Jim laughed. “Nah. Not since I was in middle school. By the time I got to high school, I kinda thought they were lame. I have two left feet anyway. How about you?”
Spock shook his head. “Never.”
They placed their food orders, Jim spaghetti with meat sauce, and Spock some vegetable rice thing he was fond of, and the conversation turned to other subjects.
When their plates were cleared away, Jim asked, “Why the curiosity? Did you want to ask someone to the dance?”
And the funny thing was, Jim thought of Uhura. She was friends with Spock too, though the three of them didn’t really ever do anything together. Jim wasn’t too fond of her and vice versa.
But Jim knew Uhura liked Spock. That way. And it was possible Spock felt that way. Jim knew Spock was rather shy and reserved. Maybe he simply didn’t know how to approach her.
Spock was looking oddly at Jim. He didn’t respond to Jim’s question, so Jim figured he had to pursue it.
“Like, um, I don’t know. Uhura?”
And he inwardly winced at suggesting her.
“Nyota? I do not…Jim.”
“What?”
Spock looked down at his tea and then back at Jim. “Why would I be asking someone to the dance when I am already dating someone?”
And that had Jim staring at Spock this time.
“Wait. You are? Who?”
“You.”
Jim’s fingers gripped the stem of his wine glass so hard he was a little surprised it didn’t shatter.
“I…”
“I am feeling very unsettled to think that all this time my regard was not returned and that I have been a fool,” Spock said, softly.
“No.” Jim shook his head and bit his lip when Spock seemed to draw into himself. “Spock, no. I-I’m crazy about you.”
“You are?”
“Deliriously so.”
“Then we are dating?” Spock asked. “As I surmised.”
Jim went over all their interactions. Going for tea and coffee. Movies. Walks in the park. Even a picnic last Saturday. And every Friday night dinner at the restaurant they were seated at presently.
Well, hell. He was blind. They hadn’t done any kissing or-or anything else, really. Well, Spock sometimes touched his fingers to Jim’s in a weird Vulcan thing, he guessed, but…
“Spock!”
Spock blinked. “Yes?”
“This.” Jim put out his middle and index fingers toward Spock and Spock met them immediately. “This is…it’s an intimacy, isn’t it? For Vulcans.”
Spock pursed his lips. “Yes. I thought you understood.”
Jim blew out a breath. “I do now. I…well. I guess we were taking this slow.”
“Meaning?”
Jim smiled a little. “I should have been kissing you for weeks.”
Spock arched a brow. “You have been. Then I can surmise there is no one else you wish to invite to the Sadie Hawkins Dance?”
“Heck no.” Jim left credits on the table. “Let’s get out of here.”
They left the restaurant and stepped outside, into the somewhat chilly night air.
Jim turned to Spock, put his hand to Spock’s jaw and leaned in to share their first Human style kiss.
It was slow and sweet and warm. It did funny things to Jim’s stomach.
He pulled back, linked his arm through Spock’s and they headed back toward the campus.
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 