Flash Fic Tuesday

The Replacement, Part Two

“Captain?”

He’d almost called out Jim, but Spock was still somewhat unsure how far their friendship had progressed and though Kirk had once or twice told Spock it was fine to use his first name, and Spock had even done so a few times, there was something about Jim’s stance as he stood by the observation window that made him abort and switch to captain.

Still Jim turned to him with a warm, welcoming smile.

“Is there a problem with the ship, Mr. Spock?”

It was said cheerfully yet Spock detected an edge behind it. It was perplexing and he couldn’t have explained why it seemed strange.

“Negative. It was for a more personal matter that I sought you out.”

“Yeah?” He stepped over slightly to allow Spock to stand beside him. “I’ve heard you pretty much threw our counterparts right in the brig the minute they beamed aboard.”

“It was not as quickly as that, but it did not take long. They were very confused by what they encountered and unlike your party found themselves unable to adapt to their new surroundings. It took them quite a long time to guess they were no longer in the universe they had known.”

Kirk nodded. “I’m sure it was a shock considering what they were used to.”

“And yet you kept your cool and managed to do a very good job of blending in there.”

“Mm. I think it’s easier to play barbaric than civilized.”

“You may be correct.”

His captain smiled. “Was there anything else?”

Spock felt confused. He blew out a long breath. “None of that was of a personal nature,” he said carefully.

“No?” Kirk looked genuinely quizzical and that made two of them. “What then? You need a leave or something?”

“A leave? I do not. This does not concern me personally, but rather you.”

Kirk laughed then. “Me?”

“You have not said much about your experience in the other universe. I wished to know if you need…if there is someone you would like to confide in regarding your experience.”

Kirk didn’t respond for a long time and in fact he had turned away from Spock to gaze out at the stars.

“If you suffered abuse—”

“I didn’t.” The words were a soft whisper. “It wasn’t like that at all.”

“What was it like? The others implied the Terran Empire was ruthless and brutal.”

“Yes, it was. As far as I could tell, the Terran Empire is ruled by cruel and violent Humans who desire power above all things. Life means nothing to them. Not their own nor anyone else’s.”

“But you did not experience this firsthand?”

“I might have.”

“You…might have?”

“But he protected me.”

Spock frowned. “Who? I do not understand, Captain.”

Jim gave him a ghost of a smile and shook his head. “I know you don’t. And that’s why I haven’t said anything. In that universe, there never was a Nyota. Not for him.”

Spock tilted his head.

“Spock protected me in that universe. We were lovers.”

*While I hope to finish this little story this week, please note that I will be gone Thursday-Sunday for my nephew’s Vegas wedding so there are simply no guarantees. If it’s not, you can expect it to be next week. *

November 7, 2023

Flash Fic, September 19, 2023

The guys are back

“Still in love,” Jim declared with a hint of a smile.

He had just polished off two plates full of Spock’s stir-fried peanut noodles. It was a simple dish of soft lo-mein noodles, diced scallions, bean sprouts, and chopped peanuts in a savory sauce, but it was one Spock made often as it was a favorite of his, so he could not deny a bit of illogical pleasure to witness Jim’s delight in the dish.

“I am glad you enjoyed it. Normally I add a bit of a chili sauce to it but didn’t want to overwhelm you with spices if it was not to your taste.”

“Next time feel free to add it. I don’t mind some heat at all. But whatever, as this was very good.”

Spock nodded and picked up Jim’s plate to rinse it.

“I could do that.”

“It is no big deal. How were your classes?”

“Easy,” Jim replied, and for some reason it did not sound boastful.

“You are not challenged by them?”

“Not yet, but it’s early, right? I’m sure they’ll get more complicated.”

“Were you assigned homework?”

“Yep. Got it done in the library before I came here. I’m probably going to do some pleasure reading in my room for the rest of the night.“

Spock hesitated for a moment, but then went ahead and proposed it. “You could read out here in the common sitting room. It will not disturb me. In fact, I might prefer to have company while I attend to my own class curriculum.”

“Yeah?” Jim smiled. “Cool. Let me just go get my book.”

“You do not read on an e-reader?”

“Sometimes. But for this book, it’s a real one.”

“What is it, if I may ask?”

Jim grinned. “An old-fashioned murder mystery. There’s a sort of side romance between the detective and his assistant but mostly it’s the mystery.”

“I see. Tea?”

“That would be great.”

And as Jim disappeared into his room to get his book, Spock felt oddly…satisfied.

September 19, 2023

Flash Fic, September 12, 2023

It occurred to Spock as he began to prepare the noodles that he hadn’t questioned Jim about his allergies. He knew that Jim had mentioned some. And since Spock’s ‘go-to’ noodle recipe included peanuts, he thought he’d better ask.

He set the jar of unopened dry roasted peanuts on the counter and made his way to the door of the bathroom.

“Jim?” He rapped lightly.

“Come in.”

With a shrug, Spock opened the unlocked bathroom door. Jim, completely nude, had just stepped out of the glass shower and was reaching for a towel off the towel bar.

“Whoa! Whoa!” Jim exclaimed, quickly covering himself.

Spock, face turning a dark shade, quickly backed up and exited the bathroom, rushing back to the kitchen.

He turned on the kitchen sink and splashed his face with ice cold water. He was mortified. He wondered if he ought to leave the dorm for the night. Was that the appropriate thing to do?

He’d have to leave a note of course.

While Spock was still trying to decide what to do, Jim suddenly appeared before him, fully clothed in sweatpants and a tank top. Spock couldn’t meet his eyes.

“I apologize.”

“Didn’t you hear me say don’t come in?” It was just a question, with no censure or anger behind it.

Spock stole a glance and noticed Jim looked merely curious.

“I thought you said come in. Normally my hearing is exceptional.”

Jim’s lips curved ever slightly. “Maybe ‘come in’ was what you wanted to hear.”

“Jim—”

“I’m kidding. Trying to lighten it up for both of us considering such an embarrassing incident. What did you want?”

“To know if you were allergic to peanuts.”

“I’m not. I’m not really allergic to most foods. I’ll eat anything really. I have a touch of asthma they think was from having weak lungs when I was born prematurely. And some perfumes and incense. That kind of thing.”

“Very well. And I apologize again. You should feel safe enough here to shower without being ogled.”

Spock was surprised when Jim laughed.

“I don’t think your very quick peek at the sight of my body could really count as ogling. And stuff happens, Spock. No big deal, really.”

“They you still wish to dine with me?”

“I’m still hungry, so why would I change my mind?”

“Then I will commence making them.”

“Great. I’m just going to sit over here in the living room and respond to some messages while you cook.”

Spock turned to cooking and as he did so, he could not deny, to himself, anyway, that he would gladly ogle Jim given the chance.

September 12, 2023

Flash Fic, September 05, 2023

“Hey, thanks for holding the door,” Jim said, as he dragged in the chair to the dorm room he’d be temporarily occupying. “This is kind of heavy.”

The very hot Vulcan stood aside wearing what Jim would consider his “puzzled by a Human” look. He was tall and thin with very dark hair and eyes to match. Jim didn’t know how he was going to feel living with a guy that sexy.

“You brought furniture?”

He had a sexy voice too.

“Yeah. Well, just the chair.” He set it down just inside the door and wiped his brow with his forearm. “Damn it’s warm in here.”

“I keep it set to a degree comfortable for Vulcans,” Spock said. “I will adjust it. Cadet, I do not understand why you would bring furniture with you to my residence when your stay is quite temporary.”

“Jim.”

“What?”

“My name. You can call me Jim. Anyway, I get it I do. But my mom insisted on sending it to me. I mean obviously she thought it would go into my dorm and didn’t know I wouldn’t have one. It’s a Kirk chair.”

“A what?”

“It’s my favorite chair back home. I mean we all have our favorite chairs, right?”

Spock’s brows furrowed.

“We do in my family anyway. My brother used to have one but he spilled all this stuff all over it and stained it and then he wouldn’t sit on it anymore.”

“Cadet—”

“I’m babbling, aren’t I?”

“Yes.”

Jim nodded. “I tend to talk a lot. Anyway, when my mom found out I was enlisting she wanted me to have my favorite chair so I’d get a bit of the home feel, you know?”

“Likely she should have waited until you were settled before sending it.”

“Yep. But you can’t really say no to Mom. I can’t anyway.” He smiled. “Which room am I in?”

Spock turned and indicated the one on the left.

“Cool. Hey, so why did you get a double if you weren’t going to have a roommate anyway? I mean before me.”

“I use the extra room for meditation.”

“Ah, gotcha. I’ll just, uh, move this into that room and then grab my bag of other stuff.”

“I will move the chair, you may collect the remainder of your belongings.”

Spock moved over to the large chair to pick it up.

“I don’t want you to have to go to any trouble,” Jim protested.

“It is no more trouble than anything else,” Spock said, vaguely. He picked up Jim’s Kirk chair like it weighed nothing at all and quickly headed for the room he had designated as Jim’s.

With a shrug, Jim went to grab his duffle bag he’d left just outside the door and then shut it behind him when he reentered the dorm.

He followed Spock into the room that was meant for him. He sniffed as he looked around. Spock had placed his chair on the far side of a single bed.

“What?” Spock asked.

“You used incense in here, huh?”

“Yes, I use it for my meditation. It is a Vulcan incense.” He paused. “Is that a problem?”

“Nah. I mean, I just have a few allergies. No big deal.” He smiled.

Spock stared at him. “Would you like to switch rooms?”

“Oh no. I mean your clothes are already there, right? And you’ve already stayed there. Isn’t this your last year?”

“Clothes can be moved.”

“I don’t want to be any trouble.” Jim coughed. His nose twitched.

Spock arched a brow. Jim was pretty sure Spock was about to announce how much trouble Jim already was, but to his surprise, Spock did not.

“We will switch rooms.”

September 5, 2023

Flash Fic, August 08, 2023

And we still continue…

It was hard to be quiet and not make a spectacle of yourself when you can even stand upright, Jim reflected as he slumped against the wall directly next to his apartment door.

A temporary apartment Jim hoped he’d be able to abandon in the six months they’d claimed it would take for them to rebuild the Enterprise on Yorktown. It was an all right place, Yorktown, but he was glad now he wouldn’t be staying there.

The door to an apartment opened suddenly down the hallway and Jim knew who it would be even before he heard the exclamation, “Captain!”

A moment later, strong Vulcan arms were propping him upright.

Jim managed a grimacing smile through his cracked lip and bloody teeth. “Hiya, Spock.”

“You are injured! What has happened?” Spock’s nostrils flared. “Orion pheromones.”

“Yeah, sorta. Can you help me inside?”

Spock didn’t hesitate, of course, and a moment later the door was opened and Jim was deposited on the couch while Spock went to fetch a first aid kit.

And then Spock was knelt down in front of Jim, using a wet cloth to gently wipe the blood from around Jim’s mouth.

“You were assaulted?”

Jim nodded.

“Did you summon the authorities?”

“No. She was long gone.”

“She,” Spock repeated with inflection.

“An Orion female I spotted at the bar. She reminded me of Gaila. You remember her?”

“Yes.”

Jim shook his head. “I guess I’m out of practice.”

“I do not understand.”

“For one-night stands. That was my intention, but hers was to rob me.”

“She inflicted this damage?”

“Nah, her co-conspirator.” Jim winced as Spock made him open his mouth for him to swab some of the blood. “Gross. Give me a moment to rinse, will you?”

Spock produced a bowl and an antiseptic mouth wash. “Already thought of that.”

Jim almost protested and said he’d go into the bathroom, but it wasn’t like he had a ton of dignity here at this point. He took the mouthwash, took a big gulp, swished it around and then spit it into the bowl. The blue mouthwash was tinged with pink from the blood.

“Did you lose a tooth?” Spock asked, setting the bowl aside.

“No, thankfully. He punched me a few times, they grabbed my credits and ran off. I stumbled here and you know the rest.”

“You should have reported the crime.”

“Maybe, but I’m pretty embarrassed. I’m off my game, that’s for sure.” He sighed. “And a little woozy from the pheromones.”

“You are fortunate she did not take you to some location where after she had her way with you she and her cohort murdered you.”

“It was just a petty crime, Spock.”

Spock nodded. “As I said, you are fortunate. I suggest you now get out of those clothes and into a shower. Then bed to sleep it off.”

Jim smiled faintly. “That’s exactly my intention.” He rose from the couch and swayed a bit.

“Do you need assistance?” Spock asked after steadying him.

“Nah, I got this. The worst of it’s over.” Jim searched his eyes. “I saw Uhura at the bar with a friend.”

“I see.”

“Does that bother you? I mean, I don’t know if it was a date or anything, but…it might bother you.”

“I have made peace with the end of the relationship, Jim. As I indicated before I am not suffering from heartache.”

“Okay. Good. Thanks for the help, Spock. See you tomorrow? Maybe we can have breakfast.”

“I am amenable. Goodnight, Captain.”

“Night.”

August 8, 2023

Four

“I can’t believe it.”

Spock blinked. A moment ago, Jim was smiling and laughing, seated at the dining table across from Spock, those blue eyes of his sparking with mirth and affection that made Spock’s heart beat faster. Anticipation had flowed through Spock that this would be a terrific night of intimacy and perhaps even declaration he had been hoping for.

But Jim’s tone had changed to be ice cold and every trace of enjoyment slipped off his face as if it had been an illusion.

“What is it? What is wrong?”

“Franks is here.”

“Your stepfather?”

“Yes.” Jim shoots daggers toward a tall, gray-haired man sitting at a table several feet away from theirs. “Ex.”

“I assure you he will get nowhere near you ever again.”

“I’m not afraid of him.” Jim thrust aside his napkin and rose. “I have to go.”

To Spock’s shock, Jim stormed out of the restaurant.

He took care of the bill and then hurried after him. He didn’t have far too go. Jim was by the Pier, gazing out at the ocean.

Jim shook his head when Spock approached. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin things for tonight.”

They were on a very brief shore leave. It was back to the Enterprise tomorrow.

“You did not.”

“Yeah I did.” Jim sighed. “Of all the damn places for him to show up. I don’t know why I still let him get to me.”

Spock pulled him close, arms wrapped around him. He could feel a lot of turmoil coming from Jim.

“What are you thinking?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Let me see.”

Spock put his hand to Jim’s face.

“What you want doesn’t matter, you are no one.”

Spock narrowed his eyes and looked at Jim’s face. “That is so far from the truth as to be truly astonishing.”

Jim’s lips curved slightly. “Yeah?”

“You are everything and I love you.”

“Well, if you of all people, love me that has to count for something,” Jim said in an overly jovial manner.

“I will gladly see that he is wiped off the planet, if that is what you desire,” Spock said, quite seriously.

Jim sighed and shook his head. “His very existence doesn’t bother me, Spock. I promise. It just…I was having a really good night, and him being there just surprised me.” He grabbed Spock’s hand. “Let’s go back to the hotel.”

“Definitely. But give me a moment to settle with the restaurant. I will be right back.”

Spock left Jim there for a moment. And of course he already had settled, with the restaurant anyway, but there was something else he needed to do.

Jim was giving him as strange look when he reappeared. He reached up and straightened Spock’s hair. “How’d you get your hair messy?”

Spock replied, “I am sure I do not know.”

June 13, 2023

Flash Fic, June 06, 2023

I recently rewatched The Finest Hours with CP. I just love that movie and he’s great in it.

It got me thinking of my own fic that was inspired by it, Bitter Frost and if you haven’t read it you are missing out in my opinion. And yes I do so say so myself! Anyway I thought a little flash to remember it by was in order.

“Do you ever think about him?”

Spock looked up from his meditation mat to his captain sitting behind the desk in their quarters. “Him?”

Jim smiled gently. “The one you met in the past when you wanted to save us both from the Marconians.”

“Yes,” Spock admitted. “I loved him.” He rose from the mat and walked over to Jim. “I love you more than anything or anyone I have ever known, but yes, I loved him. In many ways he was like you but in others? Quite different. He was sweet and kind and-“

Jim laughed. “I’ll try not to take offense to that.”

“None is meant, ashaya.” He touched Jim’s face. “I would follow you to the ends of the universe and have. My goal then was to save you. That would never change. But you have always had an edge he never did. He was the kindest man I have ever known. And I apologize if that affection for him bothers you.”

“It doesn’t. I mean we talked about that. I just wondered is all. I sometimes think about Ambassador Spock, so I wondered if you do him. “

“I do. But he is gone. He has been gone for hundreds of years now. His happiness with Sadie was genuine. I am content that he had a grand life.” Spock leaned in and kissed Jim. “But ours is surely grander. Come to bed so I can show you just how much I love you.”

June 6, 2023

Flash Fic, March 21, 2023

Still using the manip J did for me!

I had this done and am still not ready with WTE chapter so I figured, why not?

This is the OMS from my own story The Closer I Get to You. I thought it would be fun to revisit them here as Jim cares for an under the weather Spock.

Jim was feeling his age, all his aches and pains, and he wasn’t too happy about it. No one lived forever he knew and guessed he had fewer years ahead than those he left behind.

But at the moment, he couldn’t focus on the pain in his creaking knee. Spock, normally in much better shape than him, had a terrible cold.

They’d both been surprised he’d managed to get one. But had one Spock had.

So Jim was currently stirring Plomeek soup in a big pan on the stove of their Yellowstone cabin. Spock was grumpy. It was winter and he hadn’t wanted to come to the cabin in the winter and Jim had insisted.

Now with his cold, he was grumpier still while maintaining he was not at all in a bad mood.

Jim guessed Spock might be in a worse mood had he known that Jim received a very strong email from the Fleet asking him to do a publicity run for the newest crew of the Enterprise. The Enterprise-B.

“You’ll be retired. It won’t be you in command anymore. But they’re going to ask you to be there, to make it some sort of stunt, to look good for Starfleet, to hand it off to the younger guys, and…don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Accept.”

And yes, Jim remembered every word his counterpart from…well Jim didn’t know where he was from exactly, but those words still rang in his head.

The soup heated, Jim ladled out a generous portion with some home-baked Kreyla (not by him of course) and brought it on a tray to Spock who rested in bed in their room.

The Vulcan’s hair was adorably rumpled even as he almost glared at Jim.

“I brought you soup and bread.”

“It’s cold.”

Jim smiled and set the tray on the bed in front of Spock. “I turned up the heat, you should feel it soon.”

Spock picked up the spoon and placed it in his soup. He took a tentative sip. “It’s not terrible.”

Jim chuckled. “I made it from your own recipe. I did have to synthesize the Plomeeks, though. They don’t grow in Yellowstone.”

“Too cold to grow anything,” Spock groused.

That wasn’t quite true, but Jim understood the sentiment.

If it was up to him, now that they were retired they’d live at the cabin full-time. Spock emphatically disagreed.

Jim sat in a chair by the bed and once more looked at the message from Starfleet.

“You should say no. For him.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I know you don’t, and I’d say more but I’m sure my Spock wants to kick my ass as it is. Just…please. Don’t. It’ll mean so much to me, to him. Don’t.”

“What is that you are doing, Jim?” Spock asked with a sniff.

Jim smiled. “Nothing really. Just about to reply to an email.”

“From?”

“An admiral of Starfleet.”

“You are retired,” Spock unnecessarily reminded him.

I respectfully decline. At the moment, I am taking care of my husband and bondmate. Ask Commander Scott.

Jim hit send. Looked back up at Spock.

“You have a birthday coming up. What shall we do for it?”

“It is—”

“Illogical, yes I know. But let’s do something anyway.”

Spock arched a brow. “Such as?”

He laughed. “I don’t know. But I’ll think of something.” He rose from the chair and leaned in to kiss Spock’s forehead. His husband harrumphed, but Jim saw the warm mirth in his dark eyes before he could hide it.

March 21, 2023

Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto)

Fan Fiction and Personal Ramblings

Tag

Follow Blog via Email