With all the heat going on it might be hard to think Christmas! Just two more to go after this.
Spock was not sure why he continued to sit in a chair at a table in a drinking establishment he should have departed at least an hour ago.
But here he sat.
It was a strange place to end a relationship that was simply not working for either party, but it was where Nyota had chosen to meet. And to find that they both had mutually wanted to end their romantic connection had been a relief to Spock.
Yet here he sat, after Nyota had departed, sipping on a now cold cup of Oolong tea. Waiting…for something.
And then that something literally jumped into his lap.
“Hiya.”
Spock found he had an armful of Human male. The man’s arms were wrapped around Spock’s neck, and he was quite clearly very intoxicated.
“Want to have sex?” the drunk asked, actually quite charmingly.
Spock could not deny an almost overwhelming attraction to the sandy-haired, blue-eyed Human. And one of the reasons his relationship had not worked with Nyota had been that Spock preferred men.
“I do not think that would be wise,” Spock replied.
The bright sunny smile that accompanied the question disappeared.
“No?”
“You are quite intoxicated.”
“Well…you know. It’s the holidays. I think I head one too many peppermint mocha martinis.”
“I think, perhaps, it was several too many.”
The smile returned. “You may be right. My name is Kirk. Well, Jim.”
“Is it Jim or Kirk?”
The drunk laughed. “Jim Kirk. When I’m not wasted, I attend Starfleet Academy. Do you know it?”
Spock’s lips curved upward slightly. “I’m familiar with it, yes.”
“I’m on command track,” Jim said, slyly. “After the winter break, I’m taking the Kobayashi Maru. You probably don’t know what that is.”
“I have heard of it.”
Jim looked surprised. “Yeah? What’s a tall, dark and incredibly handsome Vulcan doing in this place anyway?”
“Having a cup of tea.”
This made Jim laugh. “There are better places to have tea.” He hiccupped. “Sorry.”
“You are quite correct about the tea. I was about to return to my apartment for a better cup.”
“Oh.” Jim nodded. “Okay. Well nice to meet you. Wait, what’s your name?”
“Spock.”
“Nice to meet you, Spock.”
Jim got off Spock’s lap but he swayed, very unsteady on his feet, and as Spock stood, he noticed several patrons at the bar counter area eyeing Jim with ill-intent.
“I believe you should accompany me to my apartment, Jim,” Spock said.
“I thought you didn’t want to have sex with me.”
Spock shrugged slightly. “That is not entirely accurate.”
Jim frowned. “So you do?”
“Not while you are intoxicated.” Spock glanced around the bar again. “But I fear you are not quite safe here. I can provide you with coffee at my apartment.”
Jim blinked at him. “Yeah?” He moistened his lips and followed Spock’s gaze around the bar. Then he returned to looking at Spock. “You’re right. I’ll go with you.”
Spock was relieved. “Come then.”
A short while later Spock replicated a cup of coffee for Jim in his apartment. He’d heard it should be black, but Jim insisted it had to have cream and sugar, so Spock made it that way for him.
Spock set Jim up on the couch, checking with him first to ensure he did not think he would vomit.
“No. No, I never have,” Jim said. “You know, no matter how drunk I’ve gotten.”
Spock had made himself spiced tea and then sat in a chair across from Jim.
“Do you make a habit of overindulging?” Spock asked, after a few moments of observing Jim.
“Not anymore,” Jim said, vaguely. “This is a nice apartment, Spock. What do you do?”
There was no point in avoiding answering, so Spock replied, “I am a commander with Starfleet, my specialty is science.”
Jim’s eyes widened. “Oh my God. And here I was going on about the Academy and the command track.”
“Yes, I do apologize for not making it clear earlier. And for further disclosure, I teach a few courses at the Academy.”
“None that I’m taking.”
“Correct.”
“Well…uh…I’m not normally like this.”
Spock inclined his head. “That is good to know. And believe me, Jim, I am not in the habit of filing reports on cadets who enjoy leisure time.”
“That’s good to know.” Jim smiled a little and sipped his coffee. “This is pretty good for replicated coffee. So, what were you doing there? In the bar.”
“I ended a romantic relationship this afternoon in that bar.”
“Really? Wow. That sucks. And you know during the holidays.”
“It was a mutual decision, and as a Vulcan, we do not participate in many celebrations.”
“Okay, but still. I’m sorry.”
“It was not working for either of us and I believe our platonic friendship will endure. And what about you, Jim? What happened today?”
“Oh.” Jim nodded. “It’s kind of a long and pathetic story. When I was just barely in my teens, my brother, Sam, left home. He was three years older than me. We lived with our physically and emotionally abusive stepfather. Mom was hardly there. She never got over our father’s death.”
“George Kirk,” Spock said softly.
“Yep. Sam couldn’t stand being there in Riverside anymore and he decided he was better off just about anywhere. I begged him to stay, he wouldn’t. I begged him to take me with him, he wouldn’t do that either.”
“He abandoned you to an abusive stepfather.”
“He did. Things went from bad to worse and a bunch of really shitty things happened. I never saw him again, not for years. I didn’t even know what happened to him. Fast forward to today. I was doing some Christmas shopping browsing. Then I noticed this man standing and laughing with a group of guys near the store I’d been at. I knew who he was immediately because he looked just like my dad.” Jim sighed, close his eyes and laid the back on his head on the couch. “I briefly thought, ‘a Christmas miracle’, right? Ha. What a stupid thought. But yeah, I thought it was fortuitous to see him. We’d reconnect over the holidays. Maybe even have a dinner together as two grown men.”
He paused for so long, Spock prompted. “It did not go that way.”
Jim raised his head and opened his eyes as he gazed sadly at Spock. “No. I did approach him. Visions of sugar plums were dancing in my head. I walked up and said, ‘Sam?’ And he looked right at me but through me, if you know what I mean. He knew exactly who I was, I could tell, but I told him I was Jim anyway. Then he looked at his friends and actually said, ‘did you guys hear something?’ and they all laughed like it was a great big joke, and then he turned around and walked away in the opposite direction with his friends.”
Spock felt a pain in his side where his heart was. “I am very sorry he treated you that way.”
Jim nodded, swallowed. “I’d never felt so humiliated and hurt in my life to be honest. I started walking and before I knew it, I ended up at the bar and I started loading up on Peppermint Mocha Martinis.”
“As it happens, perhaps it was…fate.”
“Fate?” Jim asked doubtfully.
“You fell literally into my lap. And though, as I said before, I was not interested in sex while you were unable to consent, I am interested in you, Jim.”
Jim blinked and then smiled slowly. “Yeah?”
“Indeed. And I hope by your bold question, you are also interested in me.”
Jim laughed then. “Yes.”
“I propose you get some rest, take a nap in my bed, and when you wake, we will have a very nice dinner where we will discuss our future association.”
“Association. I like the sound of that.”
“While you rest, I will go to the store for foods that are appropriate for a holiday celebration.” Spock paused. “And perhaps a holiday wreath.”
Jim gave him a bright smile. “Thank you, Spock. This day doesn’t nearly suck as much as it did earlier.”
“I concur.”
Jim set his coffee down and Spock helped him to stand and lead him to Spock’s bedroom.
He was only mildly surprised when Jim hugged him. He didn’t linger, but Spock could still feel the warmth of his hug.
“Thanks again, Spock.”
“Merry Christmas, Jim.”
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 