April 2022

Flash Fic, April 18, 2022

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Jim had been thrilled when Spock invited him over. It was totally unexpected and after the too long drive south which had exhausted him and made him irritable, it was definitely welcome.

Before being banished from Spock’s kitchen, Jim had found himself a cup to poor his coffee in. The cup looked like something maybe Spock had for a long time or had gotten second-hand as the lip on one side was chipped and it had World’s Best Dad written on it.

Jim frowned. Was Spock a dad? He hadn’t really thought about that. To Jim he’d been giving off gay vibes, which he guessed was silly considering he’d told Nyota he hardly had gaydar. Of course he sure could be bisexual like Jim himself was. But he guessed there was also the possibility Spock only liked women. He wouldn’t have thought so given the looks he’d given Jim, but hell, Jim had been wrong before.

There was always the chance that Spock had an ex-husband too and they had a child together through adoption or surrogacy as the Sulus had.

Only one way to find out. At least about the dad part anyway.

He took said mug full of coffee and made his way back to the kitchen. The edge of it anyway. Jim leaned against the counter and spent a moment or two watching Spock work the waffle maker.

Jim didn’t know why but there was something about watching Spock work that he found appealing. Maybe it was the man’s ability to super focus on it.

“Hey, Spock?”

And yet Spock didn’t jump or anything like he hadn’t known Jim was there. He simply turned around and looked a question at Jim.

Jim held up the cup. “You get this from your kid?”

“Negative. I secured it from the Goodwill as I did this waffle maker.”

“Oh, okay. I wondered. So, uh, you aren’t a dad?”

“I am not, no.”

Apparently though Spock must be of fairly low income prior to getting the job at the Science Institute if he did so much shopping at the Goodwill. Which was cool. But Jim was glad he’d gotten a better job.

“You paying alimony?” he asked, rather unthinkingly. It was probably a bit of a rude question. But Jim knew a guy whose much younger husband decided he was just too hot to be married to one guy and up and left him to move to New York. Even though it had been that young stud’s choice to end the marriage, Jim’s friend was paying a whopping amount of alimony for his ex to live in New York City.

Spock’s brows furrowed. “I am not.”

“You’ve never been married?”

“No.” Spock paused. “Have you?”

“God no.” Jim laughed. “Er that came out wrong. I’m not like completely opposed or anything, but I’ve never found anyone good enough…” That sounded bad too.

“For you?” Spock asked.

Jim laughed again, feeling his face heat. “That came out wrong too. I have foot in mouth disease.”

“Foot and mouth?”

“In. You know, the saying?” But Jim could see Spock did not. “Anyway, you know what? Never mind. I just haven’t found the one who makes me want to get married.”

Spock nodded then and turned back to pay attention to the waffles. Probably a good thing for Jim.

Still, Spock didn’t order Jim out of the apartment or anything so that was good.

April 18, 2022

Flash Fic, April 15, 2022

His co-pilot, Suroc, had been the closet to one he’d had and Spock had to bury him.
Not that Suroc had been a friend in the sense Humans thought of friends. The older Vulcan had kept to himself, generally only responding to Spock when spoken to, and while he had not been rude or unpleasant, Suroc and Spock had very little in common.
Before their supply run, Spock had spent the night with another Vulcan, Senra, a male Vulcan who generally had no more use for Spock than Spock did for him, but they did meet occasionally for physical release.
The rest of Spock’s life was spent in study at the Vulcan Science Academy, or had been before his ill-fated flight. Spock’s own father, Sarek, had asked him to make the cargo run, it was expected to be routine, and as it happened, it was anything but.
Now faced with meeting an enigmatic Human like Jim Kirk, Spock found that he could not resist the pull, though he should.
Spock located the cheaply acquired small appliance, made sure it was clean, and the plugged it in to heat up to make Jim waffles. With a quick search for recipes on his laptop, Spock figured he was reasonably prepared.
A moment later, Jim tapped on his door, and Spock called out for Jim to just come inside.
When Jim did, Spock noticed he carried two things. A box about the size of a cereal box, and a thermos.
Before Spock could make any inquiries, Jim explained.
“I figured you didn’t have any means to make coffee, so I brought my own.”
Spock agreed that was correct, but he vowed he would rectify that in the very near future. He was aware there was an online business that often guaranteed purchases would be delivered the next day. He would see to that later.
“Pancake and waffle mix,” Jim held up the box that was labeled “Bisquick’. “I’m guessing you don’t make waffles often and this is probably way easier.”
Spock took the box from Jim and eyed it. “Thank you. This probably will be sufficient.”
“Cool.”
And Jim gave Spock such a warm smile that Spock had to tamp down his arousal. He turned abruptly and went into the kitchen to see if he had the ingredients required to add to the mix,
He counted to ten in his head, finally getting his logical mind back in order.
He could do this.
“Need any help?” Jim asked from right next to him. He smelled like he maybe had just showered and Spock realized that indeed his hair was a little damp, though he had a smattering of a what Humans of this period referred to as a ‘five o’clock shadow’.
Spock’s mouth went dry.
“Spock?”
He cleared his throat. “I do not need help. You should sit in the other room and wait where you will not be in the way.”
That surprised a laugh out of Jim which did nothing to slow down the rapid pace of Spock’s pulse.
“Okay, sure. I’ll go do that.”
Spock let out a relieved breath, and tried not to notice was a great ass Jim had. This might have been a mistake.

Back with these guys on Monday

April 15, 2022

Flash Fic, April 14, 2022

Spock found himself thinking of Jim the entire weekend.

It was not ideal.

Jim was gorgeous, Spock could not deny. And there was something primitive in Spock that made him want to claim the Human. He fought it though.

Spock was going home. Or he intended to, anyway. Entanglements of the sort Jim represented were not something he should even consider. But he was being drawn to Jim like a moth to a flame.

He had been on a routine cargo flight. Bringing a shipment of supplies to the other side of Vulcan when his ship had begun to malfunction. He’d thought he was going to crash on the surface of Vulcan, but suddenly Spock and his co-pilot had lost consciousness.

When Spock awoke, his co-pilot had informed him of some kind of time warp they’d passed through, he could not explain it, and then suddenly they were in the air space of some planet Spock later learned was called Earth and their ship had been shot down by fighter jets.

The co-pilot had been killed on impact, but Spock survived, and was forced to hide all evidence of the crash when it became clear he was in a time and on a planet that definitely did not accept him.

And now, here he was. Trying to find a way back to his own time and Vulcan.

Ever since Jim had left to see his family though, Spock could not stop thinking of him. He did not exactly regret not going. It had been for the best, but Spock found himself on Sunday night listening for Jim to arrive home.

Worse still when he did hear Jim, Spock opened his apartment door and stepped into the hallway. It occurred to him belatedly that he might have startled Jim. Too late.

But Jim, who was at his door sticking his key in the lock, greeted him with a warm smile.

“Hey Spock!”

“Good evening, Jim. I was coming to see how your weekend with your family was.”

“It was good. I’m bone-tired though. And hungry. I should have picked something up on the way home.”

Spock heard someone who sounded just like him say, “I have a Belgian waffle maker.”

He did. He’d purchased it at a Goodwill store.

And Spock realized that not only did he not wish to be alone at that moment, he wished specifically to be with Jim.

Jim’s smile widened. “Do you? Do you happen to have mad waffle making skills?”

Spock’s lips twitched. “They are acceptable.”

Jim nodded. ”Good enough. Let me just put this stuff down in my apartment and I’ll be right over.”

“Excellent.”

Spock went back into his apartment to dig out that waffle maker. His heart thumped wildly in his side and he had to remind himself, it was just a few waffles among friends. A friend. Yes, Spock hadn’t had one in…well, perhaps, never.

April 14, 2022

Flash Fic, April 13, 2022

Jim had to admit he hated seeing his big strong dad sitting in a recliner chair with a blanket draped over his shoulders and he felt the need to punch Sam in the nose for his earlier assurance their dad was okay. It brought home for Jim that his parents weren’t going to live forever. No one did, of course. But…

“There’s my baby!” His mom rushed at him, pulling him into a very tight and long hug.

“Don’t maul the boy, Win,” his dad grumbled.

“I’m not a baby or a boy,” Jim protested as his mother dragged him forward.

“Sit down on the couch there across from Dad. What can we get you? Are you hungry? Do you want a sandwich? I have fish in the freezer. Or maybe you’d rather have steak?”

Jim laughed. “Mom. I’m good.”

“You left right after work though right? You didn’t eat? You didn’t eat one of those awful, greasy fast food burgers while you were driving, did you?”

“Mother, leave him alone.” But Sam was grinning.

“Well.” She sniffed. “He’s probably hungry.”

“In a bit, Mom. I want to see how you and Dad are.”

“Fine, fine. You didn’t have to come all this way,” Dad said. “But since you did, how about a game of chess later?”

“You’re supposed to rest.”

“Chess isn’t going to wear him out, Mom.”

She stuck her tongue out at Jim’s brother.

“Jim almost brought someone with him.”

Jim almost did kick him then. “Shut up. Why did I tell you?”

“Because you tell your brother shit like that.”

Mom looked at Jim doubtfully. “You met someone, Jim?”

“Why do you all react like that?”

His father chuckled and patted Jim’s leg. “Because you’re bookish.”

“I am not bookish. I’ve had plenty of dates and things. They’ve all just not worked out.”

“Who are you sweet on?” his dad asked.

Jim groaned. “I’m not sweet on anyone. I just…I like my neighbor. I only just met him which is why I didn’t bring him.”

“If he’s like that Gary person, no thank you.” His mom shuddered. “He gave me the creeps.”

“He’s nothing like Gary.”

“What about Ruth? She was snooty,” Sam pointed out.

“I still say she stole my bracelet.”

Jim buried his face in his hands. “He’s not a snooty thief either.”

Dad laughed outright. “What’s loverboy’s name?”

Jim stood. “You know what, Mom? I am hungry. Starving in fact.”

“Okay, okay.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the kitchen. “You do look too skinny.”

Jim loved them. He did. But man was he glad he hadn’t brought Spock.

April 13, 2022

Flash Fic, April 12, 2022

I’m going with Sam looks quite a bit like Dad

Jim decided to seek his brother out first when he arrived at his family’s home in Napa. He found Sam in one of the vineyards, bent over at the waist, and speaking.

“What are you doing?” Jim asked, frowning with puzzlement.

“Talking to the grapes.”

“Lost it have you?”

Sam snorted and straightened. “Funny. Been at the house yet?”

“No. Wanted to see what you had to say about things. Mom and Dad aren’t as forthcoming as they could be.”

Sam nodded and eyed him. “You’re looking tired, little brother. You didn’t have to come up here this weekend.”

“I think Mom wanted me to and besides I wanted to check on Dad.” Jim pointed to the grapes. “What are you the grape whisperer?”

“I prefer wine whisperer, thank you very much. I just think talking to your plants helps.”

Jim smiled. “Okay. So what’s the situation?”

“They let him leave the hospital last night. He’s doing good. Has to take it easy for a while. Which you know he’ll hate.”

“He’s especially going to hate not being out here with you. The two of you love putzing around these vineyards.”

“Yep. But he’ll be well enough soon. Keeping busy down there in the city?”

The city was always San Francisco for Sam. Jim knew his brother seldom went there, didn’t like it there, couldn’t understand why Jim did.

“Yep. “ Jim smiled. “My physics classes are going well. Teaching a bunch of geniuses keeps me on my toes.”

“Bet none of them are even close to you, though.” Sam rubbed the top of Jim’s head.

Jim was by no means small, or he didn’t think so, but both his dad and brother were giants and liked to remind everyone around them of their superiority.

“Come to the house then. Oh, and I’m going to ask Aurelan to marry me soon. You remember you met her last time you were up here.”

“I do, yeah. Congratulations.” Jim had liked the pretty petite brunette.

Sam grinned. “She hasn’t said yes yet.”

“She will.” Jim fell into step beside his brother as they hiked uphill a bit to the house from the vineyards. “I almost brought someone with me this time.”

“Oh?” Sam asked, surprised.

Jim laughed. “You make it sound like no one would want me.”

“Hardly. You’re a brilliant scientist that comes from a great family and you’re not bad looking. You just never seem to settle on someone you want us to meet.”

“Not sure I’m to the point of settling in this case either,” Jim admitted. “Just…a guy moved into the apartment next to mine and he’s pretty cute and I like him.”

Sam nodded. “So why didn’t you bring him?”

“We’ve only seen each other a handful of times. I think he got a little freaked when I made the suggestion he could come with me. Hell, we haven’t even had a first kiss. So I don’t know. Seemed pretty fast.”

“Well, you’ll know when and if it’s right.”

“Like you have with Aurelan?”

“Exactly. “

They reached the back door of the Spanish style villa. Sam opened the door and let Jim go in first.

“Mom? Dad? Look what followed me in!”

April 12, 2022

Flash Fic, April 11, 2022

The minute the words were out of his mouth, Jim wanted to take them back. He knew they were idiotic. They barely knew each other and it was just way too early for “meet the family”. He wasn’t even sure anything they’d done so far even counted as an actual date. And he’d put Spock on the spot to have to come up with a polite way to decline. Jim would be doing that himself if the shoe was on the other foot.

“Forget I said that,” Jim said, forcing a smile. “I know that was crazy and way too soon. Sorry.”

He could see signs of relief in Spock’s expression though he was trying to fight them. “It is only that—”

“No.” Jim laughed. “I know. We just met a few days ago. Sometimes my mouth works faster than my brain. Some other time, maybe, but for now, I’m good.”

“When you return, perhaps, on Monday evening, I would like to have you over to my apartment for dinner,” Spock offered.

It was a nice Segway into getting out of the way too awkward gaffe Jim just did.

“That sounds great.”

Spock nodded. “I hope all goes well with your family.”

“Thanks. My dad is doing better already. Why don’t you have a seat and I’ll serve dinner?”

The evening turned out to be very nice once they got over Jim sticking his foot in his mouth with the stupid invitation. Dinner was delicious if he did say so himself and they spent the meal talking about each other’s work.

When it was over, Spock helped with the dishes, and then excused himself to go home.

All in all slow progress, progress, yes, but slow. Jim was pretty impatient sometimes so it was hard to force himself not even to try a kiss with Spock, but he had held back, figuring even that might be a bit too fast for this strange guy. Because yes Spock was different somehow then anyone Jim had ever met. But he liked him.

April 11, 2022

Flash Fic, April 08, 2022

Now that he was faced with returning to Jim’s apartment for dinner, Spock regretted accepting the invitation to dine with the Human.

It wasn’t at all that Spock didn’t like Jim. In fact, he did. Which was precisely the problem.

Spock was infatuated with Jim. He was gorgeous and interesting. He was exactly the sort of “type” Spock would be interested in on a normal basis. But his situation was anything but normal.

Spock had wished to work at the Science Institute for the simple reason it would afford him the use of the Institute’s extensive science knowledge. Extensive for the primitive period Spock found himself in anyway. His hope was that there would be some way to discover a way for him to return to his own timeline.

And if he reached that hope successfully, anything Spock found here in the present would need to be “ditched”, including any friendships forged.

Spock’s ship had somehow crossed into this primitive time in the 21^st Century and crashed. The ship was unsalvageable, but he had hidden the pieces in the warehouse he’d taken shelter in that he had later been forced to vacate. He’d buried those pieces underground in that area in case there would be something he required to return.

Still the plain truth of it was that Spock did want to spend time with Jim. He was the only one so far he’d forged any kind of friendship with and Spock was a bit lonely. So, after getting things settled in his apartment and removing the knit cap and setting it on a nearby table, Spock left his apartment for Jim’s.

The door opened only seconds after he tapped on it and Jim, smiling so brightly his little rabbit front teeth showed, stepped aside to let Spock in.

Jim had changed out of the suit he’d been wearing into what was called sweatpants and a gray tank top with the words California Dreaming written across the chest.

“Something to drink? I don’t have Sake, but I have some beer or wine. Iced tea and soda too.”

“Iced tea would be ideal.”

Jim nodded. “I’m a strictly unsweetened guy but I have sweetener if you want. I keep it on hand when friends come over. I have Sweet & Low, Equal, Splenda, and like regular sugar.”:

“I prefer unsweetened as well.”

Jim took a glass out of cabinet, filled it with ice from the freezer, and then poured tea from a pitcher.

“The food smells good,” Spock said as he took the tea from Jim. And it did. Spock hadn’t eaten much all day and he realized he was hungry.

“It’s a pretty simple stir fry but I think you’ll like it.”

“You are not a vegetarian, are you?”

“Nah. And I bought some shrimp to cook up on the side for me that I’ll toss into my portion. But I knew you would only want the vegetables.”

“Did you anticipate inviting me for dinner?” Spock asked.

To Spock’s surprise, Jim blushed a bit and then laughed.

“You found me out.”

“Found you out?”

“Yeah, I mean, I did want to invite you. Truth is, I really like you and wanted to ask you out. I even went to the restaurant where you said you worked. Congrats on getting that Science Institute job by the way.”

Spock felt a bit nonplused. But the longer he remained silent the more uncomfortable Jim looked.

“Uh, did I say something wrong? Not interested in guys?”

“I am,” Spock admitted.

“Not interested in me?”

Spock blinked. “You have looked in the mirror, have you not?”

Jim laughed. “Uh yeah, but—”

“I am very interested in you,” Spock said bluntly.

“Yeah? That’s a relief.”

“It is a bit…complicated.”

“You’re married? In a relationship?”

“No. Nothing like that. My time here in the city might be short.”

Jim deflated some, but he nodded. He was still smiling. “Okay. Well, we can just see where things take us. As a matter of fact, tomorrow after work I’m driving to Napa to see my family. I’ll be back Sunday evening.” Jim shifted a little and glanced away and then back at Spock. “You, uh, you could come with me.”

The guys will be back Monday!

April 8, 2022

Flash Fic, April 07, 2022

Totally Modern Jim

Thursday after work and Jim came into the hallway of his apartment floor with his arms full of groceries for that night’s dinner. After all he could hardly live on take-out alone.

He was carrying a few more reusable bags than he probably should, but he didn’t really want to make several trips. And he had a few things he intended to take with him to Napa when he left the following day after work.

“Here, allow me to assist you.”

Jim almost jumped. It was a near thing, but he hadn’t been aware of Spock being behind him as he struggled with his key to open his apartment door until he was right there taking grocery bags from his hands.

It bothered Jim that he wasn’t more aware of his surroundings. His building was pretty safe but he knew of a guy who lived a couple of blocks over who’d been robbed at gun point getting into his apartment.

Fortunately, this was just Spock and Jim had no clue why but he sorta trusted this weird guy.

“Thanks,” he said breathlessly, when he finally got the key into his door. “Bit off more than I could chew.”

Spock followed him into the apartment, most of Jim’s bags in his hands.

Jim had a moment where he was embarrassed by the state of his apartment. “Uh. Sorry. Place is a mess. I’m not much of a housekeeper.”

“And I am not much of a judge,” Spock assured him. He put the reusable bags onto the kitchen counters.

Jim smiled. “Thanks for the help.”

“You are quite welcome. I could hardly let you struggle when I could assist.”

Spock wore black slacks and a black pull over sweater this time. On his head was a wool cap pulled over to cover the pointy ears. His entire attire made Jim sweat.

“I’m about to make some dinner if you’d like to stay,” Jim offered, trying to keep the hopeful tone out of his voice. He’d been rejected before, sure, who hadn’t, but not by someone he was as into as he was into Spock, and that realization vaguely freaked him out.

Spock hesitated. And Jim deflated.

But then…

“I must return to my apartment for a few minutes as I was just coming home myself, but if it is acceptable for me to return in thirty minutes then I accept.”

“Oh. Sure.” Jim’s mood brightened. “Yeah, very acceptable. And you can ditch your hat too, if you’d like.”

Spock nodded. “Very well. Thank you. What will you be serving?”

Jim did not want to admit it, but his choice of groceries for that night had been for a vegetable stir-fry in the hopes he would get enough nerve to coax Spock into coming for dinner. Spock helping with his bags had made the entire thing far easier than he had hoped.

“Vegetable stir fry with sticky rice.”

“That sounds good. I will return in half an hour.”

“Great.”

Jim followed Spock to the door, he wasn’t even sure why, and then watched as Spock made the short trip to his own door. He closed his and went into his kitchen to unload his stuff.

April 7, 2022

Flash Fic, April 06, 2022

Jim was greeted by one of the owners, Ben Sulu, the minute he stepped through the doors of Sulu’s Asian Bistro.
“Hi Jim,” Ben called out from beside the cash register. “You just missed Hikaru. He went to pick up our daughter from school.”
Jim had been casual friends with the Sulus since they’d first opened the restaurant on the corner near his apartment building. He’d dined there many times, though, admittedly not recently. One of his last lovers was fond of the place and though Jim didn’t completely associate the Asian fusion place with that particular idiot, there was a small part of him that had been mostly avoiding the place.
He approached the register and grabbed one of the paper to go menus to take a look.
“Been a while since you’ve been in,” Ben remarked.
“Yeah.” Jim grinned sheepishly. “You know, uh, Allie liked this place, and well.”
Ben nodded. “Glad to see you.”
“You got a guy named Spock working for you?”
“You missed him too. Gave his notice yesterday. He was looking to get hired at the Science Institute. Guess he did.” Ben eyed Jim. “Friend of yours?”
“My neighbor. Fairly new.” Jim leaned on the counter. “Wondered what your impression of him was.”
“Good worker. Kept to himself. Had an odd thing where he always insisted on wearing a headband.”
Jim nodded. “He has pointy ears.”
“Does he?”
“Yeah, into that kind of thing, I guess.”
Ben shrugged. “All I know is he was a hard worker, very polite, and this was a temporary job for him. Is he a problem neighbor?”
“Oh, no. Nothing like that.” Jim smiled. “I, you know, kind of like him.”
“Oh.” Ben smiled. “Gotcha. I wish I could offer more intel on him then, but I don’t know much. He was here for only a very short time.”
Jim returned his smile and then glanced at the menu. “I’ll have the chicken rice bowl to go, please.”
Ben rang up the purchase. “Thirteen dollars and nine cents.”
Jim handed him his debit card.
A few minutes later, Ben was handing him a to go back with his rice bowl in it and Jim left the restaurant.
He was glad Spock got his job. But he’d been hoping to see him as he hadn’t run into him in the hallway of their building lately.
Jim wasn’t quite sure if he should impose on Spock again like he had the night he’d brought home a pizza.
But on the other hand, in a couple of days he was leaving to see his family in Napa. Jim just didn’t know what to do.
Which meant of course, he did nothing.
No sign of his neighbor in the hallway and no sounds coming from the apartment, so Jim went to his, chicken rice bowl in hand, and spent another night alone, wondering.

April 6, 2022

Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto)

Fan Fiction and Personal Ramblings

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