Star Trek

Flash Fic, August 21, 2020

Jim squinted against the sun coming from the west. He leaned back away from his mom to see better.

“Hey Mom?”

“Yeah? You ready for more chips?”

Chips. Jim loved chips. He started to reach for them.

“No. No. I mean yes. But…there’s a Vulcan boy over there.”

Sam snorted beside him causing Jim to look down at his lounging brother.

They were on the beach in Waikiki for a family vacation. Jim, his mom, and his stupid brother. The best part? Mom had dumped her hideous boyfriend just before they’d booked the summer trip.

Jim pushed on his brother’s pale bare shoulder. “You’re gonna get burned.” Sam had refused to wear sunscreen.

Sam flipped him off.

Jim narrowed his eyes.

“Oh, yes,” his mom was saying. “I see the Vulcan boy. I overheard someone at the hotel saying a Vulcan ambassador, his human wife, and their son were arriving for a vacation too.”

“Who cares?” Sam snapped.

Jim ignored him and kept watching the young Vulcan teen. He was super thin and tall, but for some reason, Jim couldn’t stop watching him.

“Can I go over to the water?” he asked.

“Yes, but stay where I can see you. And don’t go too far in. Only get your feet wet.”

“Okay.”

“He only wants to spy on the Vulcan,” Sam said.

“Shut up.”

“Leave your brother alone, Sam.”

Jim scrambled up from the sand, flipped off Sam, and made his way down the increasingly wet sand toward the water’s edge.

He glanced over to where the Vulcan boy sat with an older human woman, Jim assumed must he his mom. He didn’t know humans ever married Vulcans.

Jim crouched down to pick up shells, forgetting for a moment about the mysterious Vulcan, and instead concentrating on adding to his collection of souvenirs from Hawaii.

So far this had been the best thing ever. When they returned to Riverside, his mom would probably leave again to go on a science vessel, she’d been talking about it, and he wasn’t sure what would happen with him and Sam, but for now, this was great.

“Hello.”

Jim looked up sharply from picking up a shell to see the Vulcan boy standing next to him. Jim straightened and stood, wiping his sandy hands on his trunks.

“Oh. Hey.”

“What are you doing?”

“Getting seashells. The creature that lived in them no longer does, so I thought I’d take them with me. They’re pretty.”

The Vulcan looked down at his collection. “They are aesthetically pleasing.”

Jim smiled. “Thank you. I’m Jim.”

“Spock.”

“Hi, Spock. Want to help me collect more shells?”

“That seems an agreeable way to pass the day.”

Jim guessed that meant yes. He grabbed Spock’s arm to pull him down the beach with him. He felt a warmth where his fingers touched and Spock stopped moving, looking startled.

“Oh. Hey. Sorry. I didn’t mean to freak you out.”

“I am…not freaked out. Jim. What is your full name?”

“Jim Kirk.”

“It is…agreeable to meet you, T’hy’la.”

“What’s that?” Jim asked.

“I will tell you another time. Let’s go collect shells.”

Jim smiled, reached for Spock’s arm again, was just a little surprised when the Vulcan allowed it, and headed down the beach seeking shells with his new friend.

August 21, 2020

Flash Fic, August 19, 2020

It was Vanik’s idea to come sit by the community pool in his uncle’s apartment complex while his uncle’s boyfriend, Jim, did laps in said pool. Spock had not wanted to come sit under one of the faded umbrellas that clearly needed replacing, but Vanik had insisted.

“What if Jim is drowning and needs rescuing?” Vanik had reasoned.

Jim, who had heard, laughed. He was always laughing at Vanik’s interactions with Spock. It was a warm, pleasing laugh that always made both Vanik and Spock unreasonably pleased.

“I’m not going to drown, kid.”

“Certainly not if we are there to watch over you.”

Of course that reasonable, logical argument had worked. Spock agreed and the three of them had trudged down to the pool.

Vanik had pretended he intended to swim also by putting on a pair of swimming trunks his mother had thoughtfully purchased for him. Spock had come down in his usual clothing, though, at least, in deference to the August heat, he wore a T-shirt instead of a sweater.

They’d brought down with them a pitcher of lemonade and three glasses.

Currently Jim was in the pool swimming. There were a few other apartment residents frolicking in and around the pool as well.

“Have you popped the question?”

“Hmm.” Spock was studying his PADD instead of paying attention to Jim or even Vanik.

“Have you popped the question?” Vanik asked again.

“What question?”

Vanik sighed. Reached for his lemonade. “The big one.”

Spock glanced at him and then right back to his PADD. “Yes, his classes are going well and he fully expects to be the youngest captain of a starship in Starfleet history.”

Vanik closed his eyes and counted to ten as his father had taught him. Sybok had assured his son that he would need this particular coping mechanism when dealing with Uncle Spock. Boy, had his dad been right.

“Not about Starfleet,” Vanik said, patiently.

Spock looked at him. “What other question would be important?”

“The one to secure your future with Jim.”

“That is hardly your business, Vanik.”

“It is. I have an invested interest.”

“Which is all in your head. You did have something to do with my meeting Jim, I will give you that, but that doesn’t afford you the right to interfere with our ongoing relationship.”

“It is hardly inference.”

“What would you call it then?”

“An interest.”

Jim suddenly appeared by their table, wiping his wet face with a towel. He was dripping pool water next to them. “An interest in what?”

“Vanik was inquiring into the advancement of our interpersonal relationship,” Spock replied.

Jim looked at him quizzically for a moment, then looked at Vanik. “Mine and Spock’s?”

Vanik cleared his throat. “It is a matter of universal interest, yes.”

Jim laughed again. Both Vanik and Spock straightened.

“I’m pretty sure the universe doesn’t give one whit about what Spock and I get up to. But, as it happens, we’re doing great.” Jim leaned over, ignoring the pool water dripping on Spock, to kiss him lightly on the lips. “Going back in. You two don’t have to stay. I won’t drown.”

Spock’s cheeks were lightly green. “We will stay.”

Jim smiled, kissed him again, and then ruffled Vanik’s hair, before turning around to go back to the pool.

Vanik made a face. “Chlorine.”

“Yes.” Spock went back to studying his PADD.

And Vanik decided he might as well stop pretending to go into the pool and actually go in. He ran toward the pool and jumped in, splashing water everywhere.

He heard Jim’s laugh.

It was good.

August 19, 2020

Flash Fic, August 17, 2020

“You were correct, Captain. This has indeed been fun in the sun.”

Jim looked at his first officer. Looking didn’t hurt, at least.

“Sarcasm, Spock?”

The Vulcan stared back at him with what Jim could only categorize as Vulcan insolence. It was particularly sharp and hurty.

And sure, he guessed, he had it coming. He winced when he heard a noise from the other side of him.

“Well, gee, Jim, do you think it might be because the three of us are burnt to a crisp from head to toe?”

“Trust me my burning flesh has reminded me of that. Energize.”

They reappeared on the transporter room of the Enterprise.

“Welcome back aboard, Cap’n,” Scotty greeted them. “I trust you had a relaxing shore…oh, aye, what happened to you lads?”

“We fell asleep,” Bones yelled. “Oh let’s have some drinks while we lie out on the sand under the hot sun’s rays.”

Jim grimaced. “Well I…”

The transporter doors opened and Uhura strode in.

“There you guys are. You’re a little late and I…wait. What the hell did you do to my boyfriend?”

“Ex-boyfriend.” Jim scowled at her.

But she came forward and helped Spock off the transporter. He moved as awkwardly and painfully stiff as he and Bones.

“I don’t know what was in those drinks,” Bones was saying, “but they knocked us off our asses. We fell asleep and you see the result of that.”

“Aye, a cooked lobster comes to mind.” Scotty glanced at Spock. “Er, ‘cept you, Commander. Uh, not sure what to make of you.”

Spock glared at the engineer balefully but he didn’t say a word. He’d had very little to say since they’d awakened on the beach.

“You got drunk and fell asleep, Spock?” Uhura asked him.

“Negative. I had decided to meditate and…”

“He fell asleep, too,” Bones added when it seemed that Spock wasn’t going to continue.

Jim nodded. “There was this nice ocean breeze and well…we were all kinda tired.”

“Idiots,” she muttered. “Come on, Spock.”

Jim opened his mouth to protest her splitting with his boyfriend, decidedly not ex, but one look at Spock’s stony face made him shut his mouth again. Instead he turned to Bones.

“You have something that can fix this right?”

“Such as?”

“A spray or something that puts us back to normal.”

“You haven’t been normal since…”

“Bones,” he whined.

Bones sighed. “I have a spray that will give you some relief but you’re going to have to deal with this for a few days, Jim.”

“I can’t wear my damn uniform over this burning hot flesh.”

“I’ll put you out for forty-eight hours. You too, Spock. And me.” Bones sighed again. “Come to the medbay and I’ll spray you down.”

“Okay.”

Jim walked with his legs kind of bowed so his stinging red skin didn’t have to touch as he trundled after Bones.

****

He’d been in his quarters wearing the tiniest pair of briefs he could find, and nothing else, with the temperature set to Delta Vega, when there was a light tap at his door.

“Enter” formed on his lips before he realized he should ask who the hell it was considering his state of undress, but it was too late and the door slid open.

“Spock.”

Well, at least Spock had seen him naked, so that wasn’t a problem.

“It is extremely cold in here,” Spock said, flatly.

“Er yeah. Computer raise temperature twenty percent.” He surveyed his boyfriend. He hoped his boyfriend. “You look improved.”

Spock nodded. “It still hurts but it is manageable.”

Jim took a step back when Spock approached him. “No offense. I love you a huge amount but I think touching me right now would probably kill me.”

“Doctor McCoy—”

“An exaggeration. But yeah. I mean the spray helped. And he gave me some to keep applying but I gotta say, I’m damn miserable. I’m sorry, Spock.”

“You are not to blame.”

Jim closed his mouth. Opened it. “I’m not?”

“Of course not. I blame Doctor McCoy.”

“Bones? What…you know what?” Jim smiled. He walked close to Spock and leaned in to kiss him. That didn’t hurt, at least. “Me too. I agree to blame Bones.”

Spock arched a brow but did not respond to that. Instead his gaze went to the bed. “Am I permitted to sleep here tonight?”

“You’re always permitted to sleep here. Want something cool to drink?”

Spock nodded. “Yes.”

Yep, still his boyfriend. And despite the sunburn, Jim felt good.

August 17, 2020

Flash Fic, July 31, 2020

When I think of Going Boldly, it’s hard to believe I wrote 114,00 word fic in five months. But I did. And so I thought I’d choose them as my last Kirk and Spock to revisit for my July flashes.

It was nearly ten at night as Jim stood outside the rented cabin in Aspen, gazing up at stars that seemed so very far away.

It was light though. Being July. It was beginning to show signs of getting dark, but still he could see pretty well everywhere.

The door of the cabin opened.

“Ashaya?”

“Yep. Out here, babe.”

Jim waited for Spock to join him, smiling all the while.

“Your Christmas tunes are still playing in there,” Spock said, with a barely contained reproach to his tone. “And your egg nog martini is waiting.”

Jim laughed softly. “I know. Sorry to make you crazy.”

“That you have been doing for a number of years.” Spock searched his face. “You received a troublesome message?”

“Lisa Michaels has died.”

“Your counselor back on the Enterprise.”

Jim nodded. “Yeah. I mean obviously I hadn’t seen her for years. But…I’m sorry for her. And her family.”

“Natural causes?”

“Yeah. She was good at her job. She told me at the end of the first mission she intended to put in for the second one.”

Spock frowned a little. “I don’t recall her then.”

Jim gave him a sad smile. “She wasn’t. See, when she told me, we joked about whether I would approve her or not and she was sure I would but…”

“You did not,” Spock guessed.

“I did not, yeah. I had a bit of a bastard moment then. And rejected her.” Jim sighed and turned into Spock’s arms. “I regretted after but by then it was too late. I never talked to her again either. Bones sent me the message about her death. She wanted me to talk about things I just…I talked to you about them.”

“I know, adun. And I am sure that she understood.”

“Maybe.” Jim kissed him. “Let’s go back inside. I want that egg nog martini and I’m in the mood for some Christmas music.”

“In July.”

Jim laughed again. “Yep. Come on, babe. Love you.”

“And I you. Always.”

And that is a wrap for the July flashes.

Hope you enjoyed them!

July 31, 2020

Flash Fic, July 29, 2020

Today we revisit Didn’t We Almost Have it All

Spock considered that, really, he was lucky. A strange idea for a Vulcan to consider, but one he did, nevertheless.

Because in spite of his many mistakes over the years, and miscalculations, his T’hy’la was seated across from him currently concentrating very hard on his PADD.

Jim had recently taken on duties from Starfleet. From their home. Jim still didn’t or wouldn’t travel much. But what he did do for them seemed to help him a bit.

“More coffee?”

“Hmm? Oh. No. Um. Thank you.” Jim hadn’t looked up.

Spock stood and went into the kitchen for more tea. He looked out the kitchen window. It was raining. There was a bit of thunder and lightening too. The humidity was not particularly comfortable either.

It was then that he noticed a tiny, worn, faded sticker at the bottom right of the window. With a frown, Spock leaned in to look at it. It appeared to be an image of the mythical Santa Claus, but much of the face was missing. Over the top of the image were faded words Christmas in July. Or at least Spock thought that’s what it said.

“Jim?”

“Yeah, sweetheart?”

“There is an old sticker here on the window.”

“What?” Jim finally looked up from his PADD over to where Spock stood. “Oh. That. Yeah. That was from…” He scrunched up his face. “Think I was five.”

“That long ago?”

Jim stood up from his PADD and walked over to Spock, who wrapped his arms around him and pulled him close. “Yeah. There was a festival in the city. Not Riverside. Iowa City. Mom took us. That was all before…Frank. Anyway, I got that sticker. I stuck it on the window when she wasn’t looking. She got mad, but she couldn’t manage to get it off either.” He shrugged. “Been there ever since.”

“Do they still have a Christmas in July Festival?” Spock wondered.

Jim shook his head. “I don’t think so. Too much trouble I guess for such an old-fashioned thing. It was fun though. Back then.”

Spock watched Jim process those memories. He moved his face closer to Jim’s so that their cheeks were touching. Touching Jim in some fashion always soothed him. It was an addiction he had no intention of breaking if Jim would indulge him.

“Were you working on Federation tasks?”

“Nah. I finished all that this morning. I was…Spock, remember what I mentioned when we got married?”

Spock was torn between moving away from being cheek to cheek with Jim so he could look into his eyes and wanting to stay there. Curiosity won out and he pulled back to stare into those beloved blue eyes.

“About children?”

“Yes. I know, maybe you aren’t ready, with-because of your son, but…there’s a little girl…she’s part Orion, part Human and part Romulan and no one wants her, and I was thinking…” Jim stopped. Sighed. “Too soon? Too much?”

“Jim. I did not say no.” Spock hugged him close, held him. Jim was shaking and Spock knew that was because this was so very important to him.

Maybe to both of them.

“Show me.”

July 29, 2020

Flash Fic, July 20, 2020

This revisits the Kirk and Spock from You Were Meant for Me

When Jim walked into their apartment he was already speaking.

“Oh, my God, it’s hotter than Vulcan out there. Or, you know, what I imagine it to be.”

And Jim was bright red and sweating.

Spock frowned minutely. “Are you overheated?”

“Well. Yeah.” Jim looked past Spock, who had been waiting in front of the door for Jim to arrive. “Why is Bugby sitting on a pile of fake snow on the dining room table? And what’s that in his lap?”

Bugby was Jim’s stuffed purple bear. The second one of course. Spock had replaced the first one Jim had ruined with his tears. Over Spock. But those were memories Spock did not wish to visit.

“It is replicated snow rather than fake and it is quickly melting.”

Jim walked over to the table and stared at his bear.

“My apologies it is so hot the snow is melting too fast. I hope I did not get him too damp.”

“What the…?” Jim scooped Bugby up. He pulled out the little envelope with his name on it. “What’s this, sweetheart?”

“A surprise.”

Jim laughed. “Apparently. Why the snow?”

Now Spock was a little embarrassed, really. He felt foolish for his ideas. He cleared his throat. “Christmas in July” he spoke softly.

“What was that?”

Spock pursed his lips. “Christmas in July. You are enjoying my discomfort.”

“Only a little.” Jim leaned over and kissed him. “You’re so cute. What’s the note say?”

“Read it.”

Jim took out the slip of paper and scanned it.

Spock knew what it said. Had written it. And had re-read what he had written at least a hundred times. Illogical of course.

Jim, ashaya, I will always worship you. Merry Christmas in July. Please go to the bedroom.

Jim grinned. Waggled his brows. “Now that’s the kind of present I like. My Vulcan fucking me in bed.”

“Jim…”

“I really need a shower to cool down first though. I’m sooo hot.”

Jim kissed him again and then turned to head toward their bedroom. Spock glanced toward the kitchen where he’d left the container of peppermint ice cream on the counter to soften. With tinsel next to it.

“Foolish Vulcan,” he muttered.

He went into the kitchen and returned the ice cream to the freezer. He followed Jim to the bedroom.

He was in time to see Jim standing in front of their bed, mouth hanging open at all the holiday garland and tinsel Spock had decorated with.

In the middle of their bed was a ring box. Spock knew the moment Jim’s gaze landed there.

He turned to gape at Spock. “Spock, I…”

“You were…are…meant for me. Will you…?”

Jim reached down and lifted the small black box into his hand. He lifted the lid and gasped at the sight of the platinum band within.

“Yes.”

“Does that mean…?”

“It means everything.” Jim had thrown his arms around him and was kissing him all over. Spock did not mind.

“A bond and a marriage and…”

“Everything.”

Spock pulled him close, held him. He had no intention of letting him go for a very long time.

July 20, 2020

Flash Fic, July 15, 2010

Today we revisit Jim and Spock from It’s Over.

Spock figured he knew where to look. Same place Jim was at the last time they had a fight, sitting on the floor of the library by the books.

But when Spock went there, no Jim.

This agitated Spock to the point he was annoyed. He could not understand why Jim was so unpredictable.

He took out his communicator. “Have you seen him?” he asked without greeting.

“What you do this time, Spock?”

He was very tempted to pinch the bridge of his nose as he’d seen Jim do when he was frustrated.

“Why do you assume I am at fault for our disagreement, doctor?”

“Because you wouldn’t know how to be sensitive if…”

“Is he there?”

“No.”

“Would you tell me if he were?”

“Probably not, but he’s not. Haven’t seen him and he hasn’t contacted me either. I saw him this afternoon over a pepperoni pizza. We were working on the plans for the Christmas in July festivities.”

Spock barely held back his sigh. “That is what the disagreement was over.”

“Oh?”

“He asked me to take part and I said no.”

“Figures.”

Spock shook his head. “It is illogical. Do you have any idea where he might have gone? I looked in the library but…”

“Which?”

“The Academy’s Cadet Library.”

“Nope. You already found him there once. Try the city one. Over on Baker.”

“Spock out.”

This time he did pinch the bridge of his nose and made his way over to the city library. It took him thirty minutes to make it across the city.

He stopped at the main desk just inside the front door. He was aware that most of this library had been digitalized long before and there were very few actual books.

“Where is your book section?” he asked, just short of a demand.

“What subject?”

“Literature and the actual physical books.” Spock paused. “Did a blond man with striking blue eyes come in here?”

The lady shrugged. “Beats me, honey. Literature books are on the second floor way in the back. Just a couple shelves.”

Spock turned and headed for the stairs rather than the lift. He followed the signs to the literature section and sure enough, Jim was seated on the floor, knees pulled up to his chest. He was staring at Spock as he approached.

“I have been looking for you.”

“Guess you found me.”

Spock’s jaw tightened. “I checked the Academy Library.”

“You said I was too predictable before.”

“Clearly I was wrong and you are most maddening.”

Jim tilted his head back to gaze up at Spock as he looked down on him. “Is it over again?”

“I do not know what about my face right now leads you to believe in anyway that I am amused,” Spock said carefully.

“Oh, believe me, I’m well aware you’re fucking pissed. But so am I.” Jim waved his hand. “Fuck off.”

Spock sucked in a breath. “This is not the way to communicate between two people in a relationship. We should talk. Not resort to indelicacies.”

“Fine. Fine. Sorry. I’m sorry I just said that. You’re just…I want to rip the bangs…”

“Simply because I do not want to take part in the ridiculous Christmas in July celebration.”

“No, not because of that. But because the absolute derision and disrespect with which you spoke to me,” Jim said. “What are you going to do if I become your captain?”

“That is a big if.”

“Spock.”

“Will you get off the ground, please?”

Jim nodded and held out his hand. Spock leaned down, grasped it and pulled Jim to his feet and into his arms. He didn’t miss Jim’s gasp of surprise.

“I love you,” Spock said simply. “I know that I never say it and that you continue to doubt that I feel that way, but I do. I will always love you even if I fail to say it. I was in a bad mood and perhaps I was unkinder than I should have been.”

“Perhaps?” Jim pulled back to look at him. But then he sighed. “I could see you were frazzled and distracted, and I barreled right through it and you and shot my mouth off anyway.”

Spock exhaled and leaned his forehead against Jim’s. “This is what I meant when I said couples should communicate. Jim, I apologize for not behaving well earlier and my heated words when we argued. You are correct, you deserve better.”

“And I’m sorry too. For being ridiculously human again and for taking your words way too deeply and not staying after we fought.”

“I do wish you didn’t run away after every disagreement.”

“Not every one.”

“Jim.”

Jim grinned and kissed him. “I love you too. So much. But you know that. And I’m sorry I bombarded you with Christmas in July the minute you stepped into the apartment. You don’t have to participate.”

“Thank you.” He kissed Jim back. “Are you ready to go home?”

“I so am.” Jim grabbed his hand. “Let’s go.”

“And Jim? It will never be over.”

July 15, 2020

Flash Fic, July 06, 2020

Cadet Ashayam and our chocolate loving Vulcan…

“On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree.”

“On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.”

Spock looked up from his terminal to stare at his beloved, who was currently baking something in the kitchen of their apartment. He wore an apron that declared “Kiss the Cook”, a very thin blue T-shirt that matched the blue of his eyes, and jeans slung low on his hips and ass.

Which managed to distract Spock from what he was about to say.

“On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me three French Hens, Two—

“Jim.”

“Turtle Doves…”

“Cadet.”

“And a partridge in a pear tree.”

“Ashayam.”

“On the fourth…oh. Yeah, babe?” Jim had been leaning over putting a cookie sheet into their oven. Now he straightened and turned toward Spock.

“It is July.”

Jim smiled. “Yeah. I know. And?”

“Currently, we have the apartment being cooled by central air as it is one hundred degrees Fahrenheit outside.”

“Yep. Boiling out,” Jim agreed.

Spock nodded. “Correct me if I am wrong, but is that not a song you made me sing at holiday time with you when we were intoxicated on chocolate peanut butter martinis?”

Jim’s sweet smile widened into a huge grin. “That was a good time.”

“It was. But, then it is true, correct? That was the song.”

“Yeah.”

“Then…”

“Christmas in July, Spock.”

Spock leaned back in his chair and eyed his boyfriend. “Is that really a thing?”

“You bet your sweet Vulcan ass it is.”

“Mm. What are you doing?”

“Making cookies.”

“What sort of cookies?”

“Gingerbread men. And women. People. A sehlat or two.”

Spock sniffed. “It does smell appealing. But is that not also a winter treat.”

“Sure. But in the spirit of Christmas in July…” Jim shrugged. “Since the air’s on anyway, I figure you wouldn’t mind a few cool weather treats. Like the gingerbread. And some peppermint mochas.”

“Mochas?”

Jim nodded. “Yep. Extra chocolate in yours.”

Spock licked his lips. His gaze strayed to the tests he was grading. They were not due until Monday and it was only Friday night, but Spock did like to be efficient.

“Chocolate whip cream too.”

Spock pushed back from his desk and stood up. “The tests can wait.”

“That’s the Christmas spirit!”