Air'Ros 8/?
Title: Air'Ros
Author: HandwithQuill
Rating: NC-17 overall
Pairing: Kirk/McCoy
Warnings: Au in which Leonard McCoy is not the CMO of the Enterprise. Kinda, sorta Cupid!Bones.
Summary: A mission takes the Enterprise to the planet Cамракот durning the Ritual of Lufsum. There Jim meets Air'Ros. Based on the myth of Cupid and Psyche.
A/N: Beta'd by the always awesome ken_ichijouji
Jim contemplated the sea green planet with white clouds swirling over it that slowly turned beyond the view port in his quarters. His eyes kept coming back to the largest island on the north pole. He brought his hand up and traced where he knew Glowan to be.
The next morning after the negotiations were halted, there was a message on his PADD from Chancellor Cynedóm saying that it would be at least three days for the report to be confirmed. With all of this unplanned time off, he had sat in on the peace negotiations. When Bones left this morning, he had said that he had a family obligation that would keep him away that night. So Jim had beamed back up to the ship to take care of some paperwork and let the crew that hadn't gotten shore leave yet see him.
He had planned to spend the night on the ship, but the ache in his chest had him considering going back down just in case Bones showed up.
His comm panel going off pulled him from his thoughts. “Sir,” the communication officer said, “there's a personal communique coming in for you from Admiral Pike.”
“Patch it through, Ensign.” Jim sighed. This was Boyce's fault, he knew it. Sitting down at his desk, he stared at Admiral Pike as he appeared on the screen. He could see Pike's custom made wheelchair from behind his head. After two years, the scarring on his throat was only visible to those who had been there after the operation to remove the Centaurian slug.
“Admiral Pike,” he said, sitting straight up. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Jim.” Pike leaned forward on his elbows. The tone of Pike's voice caused good and bad feelings to flash thought Jim. It was full of parental exasperation.
“Yes, Chris?” Jim kept a straight face.
“I had a nice conversation with Phil yesterday.”
“Oh?”
“Jim, what's going on?” Pike sighed.
“Not the mineral talks, they have been halted until tomorrow. Ambassador Ratkins says that the Peace Negotiations are going well.”
“Who is it, Jim? And are they worth it?”
“Worth what?”
“Jim!”
Jim leaned forward in his seat, placed his fists on top of each other and his chin on them. “I don't know, Chris.” he sighed. “It's only been a week, and I know that we'll be leaving soon, but...I want him here, Chris. I want to show him around the Enterprise. I just want him where ever I am.”
“Jim, you are a people person and you've kept yourself aloof for a while now. Could you just be reacting to a pretty face that has no consequences?”
Jim laughed. Laughed long and hard. “I've never seen him!” he exclaimed before explaining the situation to Pike. “Chris, it's not just sex. Not that the sex isn't awesome, but last night we didn't do anything. We talked, all night. There's something about him that makes me feel...I don't know, safe? Free? Able to tell him anything. I mean, I told him about Frank! And Sam!” He paused, ran a hand back through his hair. “Chris, I’ve only known him a week and...” He swallowed hard, eyes flicking up to meet his mentor's, voice trembling when he continued. “I told him about Tarsus.”
“Jim.” Pike sighed, covering his mouth with his hand.
“I know!” he rubbed his face with his palm. “But it felt right. Everything about him feels right. It's only been a week,” he said again.” Neither spoke anything for a few moments. “Is it so wrong,” Jim asked, “To have this? To want this?”
“No, kid, it's not,” Pike said quietly. “But I'm worried about you. This isn't something that we even try to prepare you for at the Academy. Learning not to invest too much of yourself in the people you meet out there. That's something that's learned as you move up the ranks. If you put too much of yourself out there, you will get hurt. And I don't want that.”
“I know, Chris.” Jim said, a shy smile gracing his lips. “And thanks for that. It means a lot, you know that. “So,” Jim said slowly. “You're not the only one who hears gossip. I heard that the Hawkings was in space dock last month.”
“Jim.”
“What?” he asked. “You asked about my love life, why can't I ask about yours? But not too much detail please, we are talking about my Mother.”
“Since when are you so interested in anything to do with Winona?”
“She's my mother,” Jim said with a shrug and a sigh. “We have our issues, but they're getting better. We've gotten to the point that our pre-recorded messages to each other every six months are now every three months. And I want her to be happy. Which, getting back to the point, you would do as you are much better for her than any of her last few boyfriends.”
“I’ve known,” Pike was shaking his head, “your mother for years, and she has never given me any indication that it was something that she would want. And I no longer have much to recommend me.” He motioned to the wheelchair.
“That won't matter to her. And she probably doesn't know you're what she wants. Don't let that stop you.” Jim watched Pike's face. He was wavering; this was something that he wanted, he just needed a little more of a push. “Chris, trust me on this. I don't want you hurt either.”
“I'll think about it,” Pike sighed. “Just as long as you think about what I said. Be careful.”
“I will,” he said sincerely.
Pike nodded. “Pike out.” The screen went blank, but Jim stared at it a moment more he before stood, gathered some clothes, and made his way to the gym.
Once there, he changed out of his uniform, punched in a program into the computer, put in some ear buds, and stepped onto the treadmill. The screen in front of him came to life, showing a narrow street lined with trees colored in autumnal shades. The treadmill started with his first step. Interacting with each placement of his feet, the computer piped the sound of pavement or the crunching of leaves into his ears.
Trying to look at the situation logically, he was a bit perplexed by his need for the other man. It almost seemed unnatural. As he had repeatedly told Pike, it had only been a week. He had never felt this way about anyone this quickly. Even with Gaila, it took awhile to feel this much for her. He truly couldn't imagine going back to not having Bones in his life.
The treadmill started to incline a little as the screen showed a hill upcoming. It was probably a good thing to spend the night on the ship. Get some perspective. But it would be strange to lay in a bed with on one else there. He had gotten used to that quickly; waking up in the night, Bones no more then six inches from him. It was so easy to curl around the other man.
The right side of the treadmill lifted as the road banked. Jim focused on his breathing and the slaps of his feet, letting himself zone out. After the appropriate amount of time, the computer started a cool down phase, then came to a stop. Jim grabbed his towel, mopping his face as he wandered into the locker room to shower.
It was definitely good to spend some time apart, he thought as he stepped under the spray. Chris was right. Things were moving too fast. And he was investing too much of himself into something that was just a fling. He was just lonely, and Air'Ros had never really said anything that indicated that he felt the same. He rinsed off, dressed, and returned to his quarters.
The best way to get used to sleeping alone, he thought slipping into bed, was to sleep in his narrow standard issue bunk. The sheets smelled like the ship's laundry and not Bones and sex. He rolled onto his stomach and buried his face in his pillow. After a few seconds, he moved onto his side and pulled the pillow against his body. A few more seconds, and he balled his sheet up and bunched it between his knees.
Shifting back onto his back, he laid one arm across his waist and the other under the pillow. He concentrated on his breathing, using that to try to drift off to sleep. His eyes were starting to droop when his comm unit beeped again.
“Yes?” he called.
“Sir, there is another communique coming in for you. It's from the planet, no visuals, just audio.”
“Put it through.” Jim sat up, frowning. Who would be contacting him from the planet. “This is Captain Kirk.”
Silence, then. “...Jim?”
“Bones,” he whispered. “Bones, how...?”
“We-I finished up my business earlier then I thought I would. Are...are you needed on your ship?”
“Where are you?”
“Your room.”
“Be there in five.” He jumped out of bed and ran to the transported room.
Air'ros 7 Air'ros 9
Author: HandwithQuill
Rating: NC-17 overall
Pairing: Kirk/McCoy
Warnings: Au in which Leonard McCoy is not the CMO of the Enterprise. Kinda, sorta Cupid!Bones.
Summary: A mission takes the Enterprise to the planet Cамракот durning the Ritual of Lufsum. There Jim meets Air'Ros. Based on the myth of Cupid and Psyche.
A/N: Beta'd by the always awesome ken_ichijouji
Jim contemplated the sea green planet with white clouds swirling over it that slowly turned beyond the view port in his quarters. His eyes kept coming back to the largest island on the north pole. He brought his hand up and traced where he knew Glowan to be.
The next morning after the negotiations were halted, there was a message on his PADD from Chancellor Cynedóm saying that it would be at least three days for the report to be confirmed. With all of this unplanned time off, he had sat in on the peace negotiations. When Bones left this morning, he had said that he had a family obligation that would keep him away that night. So Jim had beamed back up to the ship to take care of some paperwork and let the crew that hadn't gotten shore leave yet see him.
He had planned to spend the night on the ship, but the ache in his chest had him considering going back down just in case Bones showed up.
His comm panel going off pulled him from his thoughts. “Sir,” the communication officer said, “there's a personal communique coming in for you from Admiral Pike.”
“Patch it through, Ensign.” Jim sighed. This was Boyce's fault, he knew it. Sitting down at his desk, he stared at Admiral Pike as he appeared on the screen. He could see Pike's custom made wheelchair from behind his head. After two years, the scarring on his throat was only visible to those who had been there after the operation to remove the Centaurian slug.
“Admiral Pike,” he said, sitting straight up. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Jim.” Pike leaned forward on his elbows. The tone of Pike's voice caused good and bad feelings to flash thought Jim. It was full of parental exasperation.
“Yes, Chris?” Jim kept a straight face.
“I had a nice conversation with Phil yesterday.”
“Oh?”
“Jim, what's going on?” Pike sighed.
“Not the mineral talks, they have been halted until tomorrow. Ambassador Ratkins says that the Peace Negotiations are going well.”
“Who is it, Jim? And are they worth it?”
“Worth what?”
“Jim!”
Jim leaned forward in his seat, placed his fists on top of each other and his chin on them. “I don't know, Chris.” he sighed. “It's only been a week, and I know that we'll be leaving soon, but...I want him here, Chris. I want to show him around the Enterprise. I just want him where ever I am.”
“Jim, you are a people person and you've kept yourself aloof for a while now. Could you just be reacting to a pretty face that has no consequences?”
Jim laughed. Laughed long and hard. “I've never seen him!” he exclaimed before explaining the situation to Pike. “Chris, it's not just sex. Not that the sex isn't awesome, but last night we didn't do anything. We talked, all night. There's something about him that makes me feel...I don't know, safe? Free? Able to tell him anything. I mean, I told him about Frank! And Sam!” He paused, ran a hand back through his hair. “Chris, I’ve only known him a week and...” He swallowed hard, eyes flicking up to meet his mentor's, voice trembling when he continued. “I told him about Tarsus.”
“Jim.” Pike sighed, covering his mouth with his hand.
“I know!” he rubbed his face with his palm. “But it felt right. Everything about him feels right. It's only been a week,” he said again.” Neither spoke anything for a few moments. “Is it so wrong,” Jim asked, “To have this? To want this?”
“No, kid, it's not,” Pike said quietly. “But I'm worried about you. This isn't something that we even try to prepare you for at the Academy. Learning not to invest too much of yourself in the people you meet out there. That's something that's learned as you move up the ranks. If you put too much of yourself out there, you will get hurt. And I don't want that.”
“I know, Chris.” Jim said, a shy smile gracing his lips. “And thanks for that. It means a lot, you know that. “So,” Jim said slowly. “You're not the only one who hears gossip. I heard that the Hawkings was in space dock last month.”
“Jim.”
“What?” he asked. “You asked about my love life, why can't I ask about yours? But not too much detail please, we are talking about my Mother.”
“Since when are you so interested in anything to do with Winona?”
“She's my mother,” Jim said with a shrug and a sigh. “We have our issues, but they're getting better. We've gotten to the point that our pre-recorded messages to each other every six months are now every three months. And I want her to be happy. Which, getting back to the point, you would do as you are much better for her than any of her last few boyfriends.”
“I’ve known,” Pike was shaking his head, “your mother for years, and she has never given me any indication that it was something that she would want. And I no longer have much to recommend me.” He motioned to the wheelchair.
“That won't matter to her. And she probably doesn't know you're what she wants. Don't let that stop you.” Jim watched Pike's face. He was wavering; this was something that he wanted, he just needed a little more of a push. “Chris, trust me on this. I don't want you hurt either.”
“I'll think about it,” Pike sighed. “Just as long as you think about what I said. Be careful.”
“I will,” he said sincerely.
Pike nodded. “Pike out.” The screen went blank, but Jim stared at it a moment more he before stood, gathered some clothes, and made his way to the gym.
Once there, he changed out of his uniform, punched in a program into the computer, put in some ear buds, and stepped onto the treadmill. The screen in front of him came to life, showing a narrow street lined with trees colored in autumnal shades. The treadmill started with his first step. Interacting with each placement of his feet, the computer piped the sound of pavement or the crunching of leaves into his ears.
Trying to look at the situation logically, he was a bit perplexed by his need for the other man. It almost seemed unnatural. As he had repeatedly told Pike, it had only been a week. He had never felt this way about anyone this quickly. Even with Gaila, it took awhile to feel this much for her. He truly couldn't imagine going back to not having Bones in his life.
The treadmill started to incline a little as the screen showed a hill upcoming. It was probably a good thing to spend the night on the ship. Get some perspective. But it would be strange to lay in a bed with on one else there. He had gotten used to that quickly; waking up in the night, Bones no more then six inches from him. It was so easy to curl around the other man.
The right side of the treadmill lifted as the road banked. Jim focused on his breathing and the slaps of his feet, letting himself zone out. After the appropriate amount of time, the computer started a cool down phase, then came to a stop. Jim grabbed his towel, mopping his face as he wandered into the locker room to shower.
It was definitely good to spend some time apart, he thought as he stepped under the spray. Chris was right. Things were moving too fast. And he was investing too much of himself into something that was just a fling. He was just lonely, and Air'Ros had never really said anything that indicated that he felt the same. He rinsed off, dressed, and returned to his quarters.
The best way to get used to sleeping alone, he thought slipping into bed, was to sleep in his narrow standard issue bunk. The sheets smelled like the ship's laundry and not Bones and sex. He rolled onto his stomach and buried his face in his pillow. After a few seconds, he moved onto his side and pulled the pillow against his body. A few more seconds, and he balled his sheet up and bunched it between his knees.
Shifting back onto his back, he laid one arm across his waist and the other under the pillow. He concentrated on his breathing, using that to try to drift off to sleep. His eyes were starting to droop when his comm unit beeped again.
“Yes?” he called.
“Sir, there is another communique coming in for you. It's from the planet, no visuals, just audio.”
“Put it through.” Jim sat up, frowning. Who would be contacting him from the planet. “This is Captain Kirk.”
Silence, then. “...Jim?”
“Bones,” he whispered. “Bones, how...?”
“We-I finished up my business earlier then I thought I would. Are...are you needed on your ship?”
“Where are you?”
“Your room.”
“Be there in five.” He jumped out of bed and ran to the transported room.
Air'ros 7 Air'ros 9