Mirrors - [Spock's Quarters] - [Jim and Spock]

[original_fine]

No matter the emergency, at some point most beings needed to attend to certain needs. Food. Elimination. Rest.

Curiosity.

Jim knew that Spock knew where he'd gone when he'd left the bridge, because he'd told him. And he knew that Spock would be intensely curious. And for his part, Jim needed Spock, too. There was a lot to think about, and try to

Comments

[sehlatbear]

Spock had meditated through most of the night. Jim had slept, on the edges of Spock's awareness.

It was early, before dawn if they had been on either one of their home planets, when he approached their bed.

Jim, t'hy'la, it is time to wake up.

[original_fine]

The funnel, in Jim's mind which was not thinking about it, was dark gold, an alloy of warm colors and intense energy. And it held.

He could not feel, exactly, what it was doing. He knew strain, but he was working and it was to be expected. So he was not sure if it worked, if Jim could draw from it. He would not know, perhaps, if he was drawing too much.

I... think so.

[sehlatbear]

So much imprecision. Jim can feel Spock's worry.

Come farther away from it; will it hold?

He will watch over Jim, ensure his mate's safety as much as possible.

[original_fine]

It felt imprecise to Jim--it was all a representation of something esoteric and essential, not concrete like a starship nor easily read or teased out like a lover.

But perhaps, Jim, thought, that was just in how he was thinking about it. He made an effort to trust in this, as much as he trusted himself and Spock. This could be no less. He had asked what he could do. It was time to show it.

He backed away, towards Spock, whose worry was nearly palpable, and certainly as real as the gold spiral spun from that which was himself. It was his own connection to Jim, separate from Spock's and different. But here, in this mental landscape, Jim could work with it, could make somewhat more conscious a fluke of the circumstance which had brought them here.

Yes. Yes, that feels different.

The tug inside him, the itch not satisfied but refocused.

[sehlatbear]

Spock... examined Jim in this place of pure intellect. He did not know enough about the nature of their connection, that which held Jim and James together. But the funnel, though a bit rickety, appeared to be working without pulling too much.

We must return to our selves, then, and I will examine you.

He did not believe in intuition or guesses or hunches. There was no real reason to assume this was going to end in disaster. Things of this nature with Jim... had a tendency, however, to contain more than one gathered upon first inspection. The situation must be monitored.

[original_fine]

Promise?

Jim couldn't resist a little lasciviousness. He knew he was doing the right thing. He was doing the only thing he could, under the circumstances. To ignore the possibility would be wrong. He wondered if Spock would be able to tell if it was working.

And he waited for that backwards pull into his own body, where strain had already set in somewhat though it would be some hours before it became serious.

[sehlatbear]

It would have been reassuring, on some level, to pause in that garden again, to watch the stars of his people in the company of his mate. But Spock was more concerned about the stress Jim's body would be experiencing.

Even Jim's innuendo-laden tone did not soothe him - the man would attempt humor human about sex no matter what his actual condition.

He opened his own eyes and looked across at Jim, who had a fine sheen of sweat on his forehead.

"Jim, how do you feel?"

[original_fine]

"Fine," Jim said automatically, then stopped to actually take stock. He felt a little warm, that tug he'd noted inside Spock's mind now noticeable in his body, though only when viewed obliquely. His expression was turned inward, assessing, until it cleared and he looked steadily at Spock.

"It must have worked. I can't feel anything specific but there's a sort of strain." He smiled winningly. "I can handle that."

[sehlatbear]

Spock leaned across the short distance between them and used his fingers on Jim's chin to turn the man's face to each side, looking at his eyes carefully. He petted with both hands down Jim's neck and across his shoulders, as though he could learn something just from the contact.

"Perhaps you can, for a time. You will tell me if you tire too much or too quickly."

[original_fine]

Jim submitted to Spock's patting, wondering what he hoped to find. And cocked his head to the side, fixing Spock with a reassuring look.

"Trust me, Spock," he said lightly. "When have I ever sacrificed myself for no reason?"

[sehlatbear]

The single brow, arching high, should have been expected.

The words, perhaps, were not.

"Jim, I would not have you sacrifice yourself at all, though I understand why you feel you must do this."

[original_fine]

Jim's eyes held warmth for his lover, understanding Spock's concern and wanting to alleviate it.

"Spock. I've always come back. I'm not interested in sacrificing myself at all. I'm not a martyr."

He reached out for Spock's hand.

"You'll know, if I get in trouble."

[sehlatbear]

"Yes."

Spock rose in one smooth motion and offered a hand to help Jim to his feet.

Though I would prefer it not reach that point.

[original_fine]

Jim took Spock's hand and rose, standing quite close to him for a moment, basking in Spock's warm presence.

"Me and trouble, Spock? Like oil and water."