Chapter Text
This assembly calls Captain James Tiberius Kirk. Your inspirational valor and supreme dedication to your comrades is in keeping with the highest traditions of service, and to reflect the utmost credit to yourself, your crew, and the Federation, it is my honor to award you with this commendation. By Starfleet Order Two-Eight Four Five Five, you are hereby directed to report to Admiral Pike, USS Enterprise, for duty as his relief.
Jim had felt like celebrating after he’d gone through the ceremony where Pike had handed over command of the Enterprise officially, but to his disappointment, no one wanted to join him.
“Oh. Sorry, Jim. I kind of made plans with—”
“No, no, it’s okay, Bones.”
“I just didn’t think about it. Tomorrow?”
“Sure.” He smiled.
Sulu was a no too. “I have this date with this great guy named Ben. Sorry, Captain. I really like him and—”
Pike had been wheeled away by his wife, Una.
Even Scotty said with his first time back on Earth in many years, he and Keenser had made other plans.
And if Jim felt oddly bereft, well, what could he do?
As he made to depart from the Academy, thinking he’d just grab something to eat, and a bottle of booze, and celebrate himself, he spotted Spock with Uhura. They were walking together and Uhura was talking animatedly, waving her hands.
Jim hadn’t even other bothered asking them. Why put himself through what could only be negative?
But then he spotted the other Spock, the one from Delta Vega, who had been so kind to him. The one who had treated him like he was someone very special.
For a long time, Jim watched him from a distance, vaguely aware he might seem like a stalker or something. But in that moment he felt so sad and a little bit vulnerable.
After a bit, he lost sight of the Vulcan, and with a resigned sigh, Jim stepped off campus to go get himself food and drink. But then he spotted the Vulcan and he appeared to be waiting for something.
“Hi.”
“Hello Jim. You are alone?”
“Yep. Kind of as usual, really.”
“Hmm.”
“You waiting for someone?”
“Indeed I am. You.”
Jim laughed. “Me?”
He inclined his head. “Indeed. My hotel is not far from here. Would you care to accompany me?”
Momentarily stunned, Jim didn’t move. “Really?”
“Unless you would rather not.”
“Oh no. I mean, yes, I’d like to.”
“This way then.”
Jim couldn’t believe his good fortune, but he followed after the older Spock. In a way it was difficult to think of him as Spock, considering the other one, but Jim supposed this Spock had the name and DNA and all that first.
So, yes.
Spock.
“Are you hungry, Jim?” Spock asked them as they walked along.
“Yeah.”
“We will pick you up something from the hotel restaurant. I have recently dined.”
“I don’t want to be any trouble.”
“It is no trouble. A hamburger?”
Jim laughed. “How did you know?”
Spock shrugged. “I have some experience.” He stopped in front of a luxury hotel. “This is it. The Federation did insist on putting me up here. It is too much, really.”’
Jim smiled. “Well deserved if you ask me.”
They went inside and stopped at the restaurant.
****
“Mm. That was insanely good.” Jim wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Thanks. You didn’t have to. Really.”
Spock waved this away. “It was nothing. A simple thing. And as you said earlier, well-deserved.”
For some reason, Jim flushed with pleasure. And he was rather embarrassed by it.
They were seated in the “living room” area of Spock’s suite. And it really was. He could sort of see why Spock thought it was a bit much.
It was a Penthouse.
When they’d first arrived, Spock had shown him the separate bedroom with the king-sized bed with a bathroom bigger than Jim’s dorm room. It had one of those big tubs that had a whirlpool. With a separate glass shower big enough to fit the entire bridge crew of the Enterprise.
Hardly any exaggeration.
There was also a full sized kitchen as well as the living room and a magnificent outdoor deck with a view of all of San Francisco.
Jim had thought about sitting out on the deck, but the evening was turning to night, the sky darkening and the temperature dropping.
“Something is on your mind, tell me.”
Jim shook his head. “No, not really.”
“Jim.”
“Well.” He shrugged and looked away. Then looked back at the coffee table where his trash was from his burger. “I should…clean this up.”
“Jim. I will get that later.”
But Jim ignored him and rose from the couch, picking up the trash. Spock reached out and closed his fingers over Jim’s wrist.
Jim’s gaze flew to his. He felt his bottom lip quiver and knew he was in danger of a ridiculous emotional display. He tugged and Spock let go. He averted his eyes and made his way to the kitchen to dispose of the trash.
His back to the entrance to the kitchen, he was still aware Spock had followed him. He blew out a breath. Turned around.
To find Spock standing very close to him. So close Jim swore he could feel the warmth of his body.
“Why are you so different?” Jim whispered.
“Then who, Jim?”
“Everyone.”
“Explain.”
“You…you treat me with…I don’t even know. Awe, maybe. Like I matter. Like I’m someone very special. Different than everyone I’ve ever known. And I…”
He took a step closer. Reached out and put his hands on Spock’s arms.
“I want what he had.”
“Jim?”
His moistened his lips. “I saw…so many things in that meld on Delta Vega. Things I want. I know…”
Spock put a hand to Jim’s face. Spread his fingers across the cheek, but it wasn’t quite a meld. It was still almost unbearably intimate. Jim knew he was shaking, and he just couldn’t help it.
“What do you want, Jim?”
Jim’s breath hitched. “Anything you can give me.”