A continuation of the strip poker Spirk
“Making
any progress?”
Jim looked
up from his tropical drink. Orange and red with a cute little blue umbrella
sticking out. He leaned back in his chair and gazed serenely at Bones. “Huh?”
“With Spock,
genius.”
“I don’t
know what you’re talking about.”
“Didn’t
you two bond over chess and poker?”
Jim frowned.
They were at an outdoor bar on Risa, enjoying a very much needed shore leave. “As
friends, Bones. I mean isn’t he kind of, sort of, with whatshername.”
Bones
snorted. “Uhura.”
“Yeah,
that one.”
“You’re
such a juvenile. And no, they broke up.”
“Didn’t
they get back together after the whole rescue thing, ‘oh no, I have been
injured, Nyota’?”
“You do
a really bad Spock imitation by the way. They did, yeah. But they broke it off
again.” Bones sipped his whiskey. “Rumor has it was because of some blue-eyed
dreamboat.”
It was Jim’s
turn to snort and roll his eyes. “Get real.”
Bone chuckled.
“I notice you immediately assumed I meant you.”
“Fuck
you. Anyway, this is all bullshit.”
“Spock
likes you.”
“Well,
of course he likes me. As much as Spock likes anyone, of course. We’re friends.
Like you and me.”
“Definitely
not like you and me. Okay. I see, because you are really a juvenile, I have to say it in a way you’ll get it. He
likes you likes you.”
“Does
not.”
Bone sighed,
somewhat dramatically Jim thought. “Who else has he asked to play strip poker
with?”
“That
was a joke.”
“Spock
joke? Since when? He’s got the red hots for you. Or in his case the green hots,
I guess.”
“Do you
ever listen to yourself?” Jim finished his tropical drink. “And forget all this
crap. I’m here to get laid, not talk about my first officer.”
“You
sure you want to do that?”
“Why not?”
Bones
shrugged. “Do you really want to mess things up with Spock by fucking around with
some nameless temporary lover?”
“There
is no Spock!”
“All right,
if you say so.” Bones stood up. “I have a massage appointment, so I’ll see you
later. And try not to get yourself in trouble.”
“It’s
shore leave.”
“Exactly.”
Jim watched
his friend walk away. He mumbled, “There is no Spock.”
And yet,
he continued to sit right where he was, not making a move to go seek out
anyone. Stupid Bones.
The
waitress came by to pick up their empty glasses.
“Another
one?” she asked.
“Sure
and maybe some fries, too.”
“Coming
right up.” Then she tilted her head. “I think that Vulcan is looking for you,
sir.”
Jim
glanced over and saw that Spock had entered the bar inside and was glancing
around. His stomach did a little flip. Must be the drink.
“Tell him
I’m out here.”
She
smiled. “He’s really cute.” Then she went inside.
A moment
later, Spock appeared.
“Captain?”
“Hey,
Spock. Have a seat.” He gestured to where Bones had been sitting.
“I
thought the doctor was with you.”
“Oh.
Were you looking for him?” Jim felt a little disappointed.
Spock
sat down across from him. “Not in particular.”
“I’m
surprised you came down. You don’t usually do shore leave.”
Spock shrugged
slightly. “It was mentioned that you were in this bar and I thought it might
be…appropriate…to join you for a drink.”
“You?
You’re going to drink?”
“A tropical
iced tea.” Spock paused. “Unless my presence is unwelcome.”
There
was just the tiniest bit of vulnerability in Spock’s brown eyes that Jim was
not used to and he realized, maybe, just maybe, Bones had been right.
Jim
smiled. “No, Spock. It’s not at all unwelcome.”
