Our Days Were Rough (Kirk/McCoy PG-13)
I think this is the metaphorical palette cleanser for my brain after the tentacle porn.
Title: Our Days Were Rough
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Kirk/McCoy
Word Count: 1,415
Warnings: douchey admirals
Summary: For the hc_bingo prompt wild card (exhaustion) and siluria's Alphabet Meme prompt L is for Legendary - Leonard listens with his arms crossed in front of his chest as Jim and Spock highlight (Admiral Komack's word, not his) what they went through.
+++
Jim looks like absolute shit.
And yes, that is his professional fucking opinion, thank you very much.
The admiralty had wanted a quick debriefing before the full one so they'd have some statement for the PR people to say on the news.
They'd barely even had time to at least change into fresh clothes. He and Jim are the only ones wearing civvies, the first items of clothing they'd seen. Leonard knows the only reason Jim's wearing a damn scarf is to cover up the bruising on his neck. He levels a glare in Spock's direction, irritated by how serene the Vulcan looks, like they hadn't just come out of complete and utter chaos.
Well-ordered chaos, but still.
Leonard listens with his arms crossed in front of his chest as Jim and Spock highlight (Admiral Komack's word, not his) what they went through. Leonard details how he became the acting CMO and that, yes, he had been the one who'd operated on Pike once he'd been returned to the Enterprise.
Komack asks about the Romulan ship, which has Jim tiredly gesturing with his hands a metaphorical size comparison between it and the Enterprise. When he raises his shoulders to spread his hands out wide, the edge of the scarf slips to reveal purple and blue skin, and Leonard just wants to hurry up and get the hell out of there so he can drag Jim to Medical where he can't complain about wasting resources on him when there are those much worse off.
"From your description, Cadet Kirk," Komack starts, sounding far too interested to Leonard's ears, "this Romulan ship sounds like the same one that led to the destruction of the USS Kelvin twenty five years ago."
Leonard clenches his jaw, not liking how in one sentence the admiral managed to disrespect the ranking that Jim had earned, if only temporarily, as well as reference his father and remind all of the admirals of how young and inexperienced Jim is.
Hell, we all are, Leonard reminds himself. And we still managed to save the Federation just fine.
Jim looks uncomfortable as he gives his answer. "Nero himself confirmed as much, yes."
"I'm sure you can understand how the press might spin these events knowing it's the same ship. Your father's sacrifice is legendary." Komack pauses, making a show of scrolling through his PADD like he's checking his notes. "If you don't mind telling me, Cadet Kirk, how exactly did you get on the Enterprise while on academic suspension and, therefore, had been grounded?"
Leonard feels his back stiffen at the question and the way Komack is acting like a disappointed father who'd caught his child ignoring the disciplinary measures that had been set forth, like he'd caught Jim climbing out the window after curfew.
It's supposed to throw Jim off, Leonard realizes. And he's so damn tired that it just might work.
Jim's eyelids are looking heavier as he nods slightly, and Leonard isn't even sure if it's to look like he's listening or because he's falling asleep in his seat. Leonard doesn't want to stick around to find out, though, because he doesn't want to allow Komack anymore time to get Jim to fall into the trap he's trying to set.
"Excuse me, Admirals," Leonard interrupts, layering on the accent a little thicker because he knows it makes him sound more charming. "But until after the full debriefings, I am still the acting CMO and Kirk the acting captain, which makes his health one of my top priorities. He - hell, all of us - could use a full night's sleep. I think you've heard enough this evening to give the press a statement."
He can feel Jim's eyes on him now, but Leonard doesn't acknowledge his gaze, instead keeping his focus on the admirals seated in a row opposite from them. Komack looks like his blood pressure is getting dangerously high, but the rest of them look sympathetic, like they're finally registering how much time has passed since that initial distress call and how much stress the Enterprise's crew has been under since then.
It's Barnett who speaks first. "We'll reconvene in thirty eight hours. Get some rest and process everything you've gone through because we'll be expecting to hear it in detail. Dismissed."
The admirals file out and then Spock departs with a nod, leaving Leonard and Jim sitting alone in the conference room.
"I can't believe you just did that," Jim says with a smile that struggles to stay on his face before breaking into a yawn.
"I didn't think it would actually work," Leonard admits, standing and stretching out his limbs. He's been on his feet for so long that sitting had felt weird. He watches Jim stand slowly, deliberately. "Am I going to have to carry you?"
Jim makes a sound that could be either confirmation or denial before he leans in close, grabbing Leonard's forearm and leaning into him like Leonard is the only thing keeping him on his feet. "I could fall asleep right now."
"Are you a horse?"
Leonard feels Jim's smirk against his neck. "No, but I am hung like one."
He scowls out of reflex and shakes himself loose of Jim's grip and walks outside so Jim has to jog in order to catch up. He almost feels bad because he knows Jim really is exhausted, but Jim also deserves it a little for the bad joke.
They walk to their room in silence, Leonard adjusting his pace as they go when he notices Jim dragging.
"Are they going to make it sound like I was out for revenge?" Jim asks once they're in their room with the door shut behind them.
The question has Leonard freezing just inside the doorway as Jim continues to the partitioned off sleeping area, kicking off his shoes as he goes. Leonard should have known that Jim had caught on to what Komack was playing at even if he was half-awake.
"Bones?" Jim calls, peeking around the wall, and he just looks so damn young with his hair all tousled and still in those layered T-shirts with that damn scarf, but Leonard recognizes the pain in Jim's eyes, the eyes of someone much older than either of them, all too easily. Leonard sees that haunted gaze in the mirror every time he catches himself thinking about his own father.
He can't think of anything to say, so he just goes into the bedroom, resting his hands on Jim's waist as he draws him in for a kiss. It's a hard-craved physical contact with no other intentions, the slow drag and slide of their lips against each other as they simultaneously celebrate and feel guilty about being alive.
Leonard's hands move on their own accord, unwrapping the scarf from around Jim's neck like the wrapping on a present because, really, that's what Jim is - this gift to him that turned his life around, helping him move beyond his darkest days, and now it's his turn to do the same for Jim.
He plants featherlight kisses on each dark bruise as he exposes them, knowing how close they came, how he could have died in the space around Vulcan and Jim on Earth. The enormity of it all crashes down on him, the weight of it crushing without the adrenaline that's been flowing through his blood for days.
"Jim..." His voice cracks a little, but Jim doesn't acknowledge it, just loops his arms through Leonard's to rest his hands on the back of Leonard's head.
"I know," Jim replies, but Leonard has no idea which of the things he's feeling Jim knows if not all of them. "Come on; my doctor said I have to get a full night's rest."
Jim only strips down to the white long sleeve shirt he'd been wearing under the black short sleeve one, which Leonard thinks is a good call because if he sees how bruised Jim's body really is, it'll just delay the sleep they both so desperately need. Leonard undresses similarly so they can pretend that this is how they normally sleep.
They give in to the siren song of Jim's bed because it's closer, wrapping around each other in search of an anchor that will keep the dreams away for at least tonight. Leonard feels Jim pressing a kiss to his cotton clad shoulder before his breathing deepens and evens out with sleep, and Leonard is soon to follow.
Title: Our Days Were Rough
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Kirk/McCoy
Word Count: 1,415
Warnings: douchey admirals
Summary: For the hc_bingo prompt wild card (exhaustion) and siluria's Alphabet Meme prompt L is for Legendary - Leonard listens with his arms crossed in front of his chest as Jim and Spock highlight (Admiral Komack's word, not his) what they went through.
+++
Jim looks like absolute shit.
And yes, that is his professional fucking opinion, thank you very much.
The admiralty had wanted a quick debriefing before the full one so they'd have some statement for the PR people to say on the news.
They'd barely even had time to at least change into fresh clothes. He and Jim are the only ones wearing civvies, the first items of clothing they'd seen. Leonard knows the only reason Jim's wearing a damn scarf is to cover up the bruising on his neck. He levels a glare in Spock's direction, irritated by how serene the Vulcan looks, like they hadn't just come out of complete and utter chaos.
Well-ordered chaos, but still.
Leonard listens with his arms crossed in front of his chest as Jim and Spock highlight (Admiral Komack's word, not his) what they went through. Leonard details how he became the acting CMO and that, yes, he had been the one who'd operated on Pike once he'd been returned to the Enterprise.
Komack asks about the Romulan ship, which has Jim tiredly gesturing with his hands a metaphorical size comparison between it and the Enterprise. When he raises his shoulders to spread his hands out wide, the edge of the scarf slips to reveal purple and blue skin, and Leonard just wants to hurry up and get the hell out of there so he can drag Jim to Medical where he can't complain about wasting resources on him when there are those much worse off.
"From your description, Cadet Kirk," Komack starts, sounding far too interested to Leonard's ears, "this Romulan ship sounds like the same one that led to the destruction of the USS Kelvin twenty five years ago."
Leonard clenches his jaw, not liking how in one sentence the admiral managed to disrespect the ranking that Jim had earned, if only temporarily, as well as reference his father and remind all of the admirals of how young and inexperienced Jim is.
Hell, we all are, Leonard reminds himself. And we still managed to save the Federation just fine.
Jim looks uncomfortable as he gives his answer. "Nero himself confirmed as much, yes."
"I'm sure you can understand how the press might spin these events knowing it's the same ship. Your father's sacrifice is legendary." Komack pauses, making a show of scrolling through his PADD like he's checking his notes. "If you don't mind telling me, Cadet Kirk, how exactly did you get on the Enterprise while on academic suspension and, therefore, had been grounded?"
Leonard feels his back stiffen at the question and the way Komack is acting like a disappointed father who'd caught his child ignoring the disciplinary measures that had been set forth, like he'd caught Jim climbing out the window after curfew.
It's supposed to throw Jim off, Leonard realizes. And he's so damn tired that it just might work.
Jim's eyelids are looking heavier as he nods slightly, and Leonard isn't even sure if it's to look like he's listening or because he's falling asleep in his seat. Leonard doesn't want to stick around to find out, though, because he doesn't want to allow Komack anymore time to get Jim to fall into the trap he's trying to set.
"Excuse me, Admirals," Leonard interrupts, layering on the accent a little thicker because he knows it makes him sound more charming. "But until after the full debriefings, I am still the acting CMO and Kirk the acting captain, which makes his health one of my top priorities. He - hell, all of us - could use a full night's sleep. I think you've heard enough this evening to give the press a statement."
He can feel Jim's eyes on him now, but Leonard doesn't acknowledge his gaze, instead keeping his focus on the admirals seated in a row opposite from them. Komack looks like his blood pressure is getting dangerously high, but the rest of them look sympathetic, like they're finally registering how much time has passed since that initial distress call and how much stress the Enterprise's crew has been under since then.
It's Barnett who speaks first. "We'll reconvene in thirty eight hours. Get some rest and process everything you've gone through because we'll be expecting to hear it in detail. Dismissed."
The admirals file out and then Spock departs with a nod, leaving Leonard and Jim sitting alone in the conference room.
"I can't believe you just did that," Jim says with a smile that struggles to stay on his face before breaking into a yawn.
"I didn't think it would actually work," Leonard admits, standing and stretching out his limbs. He's been on his feet for so long that sitting had felt weird. He watches Jim stand slowly, deliberately. "Am I going to have to carry you?"
Jim makes a sound that could be either confirmation or denial before he leans in close, grabbing Leonard's forearm and leaning into him like Leonard is the only thing keeping him on his feet. "I could fall asleep right now."
"Are you a horse?"
Leonard feels Jim's smirk against his neck. "No, but I am hung like one."
He scowls out of reflex and shakes himself loose of Jim's grip and walks outside so Jim has to jog in order to catch up. He almost feels bad because he knows Jim really is exhausted, but Jim also deserves it a little for the bad joke.
They walk to their room in silence, Leonard adjusting his pace as they go when he notices Jim dragging.
"Are they going to make it sound like I was out for revenge?" Jim asks once they're in their room with the door shut behind them.
The question has Leonard freezing just inside the doorway as Jim continues to the partitioned off sleeping area, kicking off his shoes as he goes. Leonard should have known that Jim had caught on to what Komack was playing at even if he was half-awake.
"Bones?" Jim calls, peeking around the wall, and he just looks so damn young with his hair all tousled and still in those layered T-shirts with that damn scarf, but Leonard recognizes the pain in Jim's eyes, the eyes of someone much older than either of them, all too easily. Leonard sees that haunted gaze in the mirror every time he catches himself thinking about his own father.
He can't think of anything to say, so he just goes into the bedroom, resting his hands on Jim's waist as he draws him in for a kiss. It's a hard-craved physical contact with no other intentions, the slow drag and slide of their lips against each other as they simultaneously celebrate and feel guilty about being alive.
Leonard's hands move on their own accord, unwrapping the scarf from around Jim's neck like the wrapping on a present because, really, that's what Jim is - this gift to him that turned his life around, helping him move beyond his darkest days, and now it's his turn to do the same for Jim.
He plants featherlight kisses on each dark bruise as he exposes them, knowing how close they came, how he could have died in the space around Vulcan and Jim on Earth. The enormity of it all crashes down on him, the weight of it crushing without the adrenaline that's been flowing through his blood for days.
"Jim..." His voice cracks a little, but Jim doesn't acknowledge it, just loops his arms through Leonard's to rest his hands on the back of Leonard's head.
"I know," Jim replies, but Leonard has no idea which of the things he's feeling Jim knows if not all of them. "Come on; my doctor said I have to get a full night's rest."
Jim only strips down to the white long sleeve shirt he'd been wearing under the black short sleeve one, which Leonard thinks is a good call because if he sees how bruised Jim's body really is, it'll just delay the sleep they both so desperately need. Leonard undresses similarly so they can pretend that this is how they normally sleep.
They give in to the siren song of Jim's bed because it's closer, wrapping around each other in search of an anchor that will keep the dreams away for at least tonight. Leonard feels Jim pressing a kiss to his cotton clad shoulder before his breathing deepens and evens out with sleep, and Leonard is soon to follow.