[Fanfiction, Star Trek XI, K/S] Arrows of Love
Title: Arrows of Love
Author: Renuki ala me.
Beta: verizonhorizon
Series: STXI AU
Rating: G.
Length: 3005
Warnings: None
Summary: In this AU, loosely based on Eros and Psyche's story, Jim Kirk has found out that not even being the God of Love makes him immune to his own arrows nor to the Fates' meddling. Written for ksvalentine.
Author's Notes 1:
Psyche is a lovely maiden in Greek Mythology who sadly got the bad side of on Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, when some suitors declared that Psyche was the more beautiful of the two. Psyche married Eros, Aphrodite's son (and become his immortal wife) after passing several tests to get the Goddess to divulge the location of her husband.
Here a site for more information on the Greek Mythology: http://www.theoi.com/
Author's Notes 2:
Bah! This would have been done sooner, but I was cursed with no idea actually what plot line to freaking follow. *has the urge to strangle her muse* (which.... means I actually have like three failed beginnings. >.> ) I think I lost my prompt too. *prays that this is still good*
...And for some reason this Sybok become like this Spock's Bones. O.o (And what I mean by that, he gets the job of making sure Jim and Spock don't get themselves killed.)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tiberius - god of the gods, grandfather of Jim Kirk - often visits Sarek - god of the Dead, and King of the Underworld - and Amanda - his queen - for chats and gives them information on what is happening on the surface and the world above. Sarek suffers through the visits because the dirty-blond-haired god is a bit touch-feely and would throws his arm around Sarek's shoulders, while Amanda watches with amusement. Tiberius also tells their children, Spock and Sybok, stories about the surface. He ruffles their hair, to the annoyance of both brothers, and when Sybok voice his displeasure the head god just laughs and ruffles his hair again, ignoring the glare Sybok gives him. Spock wisely keeps his displeasure to himself.
But today, Janice Rand - one of the Fates who measure the length and threads of life - watches with some surprise as Tiberius brings his grandson with him. While the adults talk, the young Jim Kirk - god of Love - greets the brothers.
“Hi! I'm Jim Kirk,” the young boy says with a smile. The sixteen year-old God of Love wears a golden tunic and pants, his ashen bow and the quiver of arrows on his back.
The sons of Sarek share their father's pointed ears and green-tinted features, Sybok's eyes are black and hard, while Spock's eyes are brown and kind. They both wear black robes tied with a sash.
Sybok stares at the blond boy before replying, “I am Sybok. This is my brother Spock.” He points to the seventeen year-old behind him.
Spock watches the golden and blue-eyed boy with curiosity. “Hello.”
From behind Janice, Gaila- another one of the Fates, observes the scene with a grin and predicts, “I imagine things are going to be very entertaining.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
On the fifth such visit, Janice raises an eyebrow at the scene she finds. It seems Spock managed to get his hands on one of the arrows Jim had with him and is inspecting it.
Jim gets the arrow back quickly before Spock can test the sharpness of the arrowhead. The God of Love shakes his head. “Oh no, you don't want to do that.”
“Why?” Spock looks at him with curiosity.
“Um... you just don't want to.”
“You do know, if you actually explain what it does, perhaps my brother will stop trying to test its sharpness,” Sybok argues from where he is sitting.
Jim sighs and tells Spock, “If you are hit by the arrows or even just scratched, you will fall in love with the first person you see.”
Spock tilts his head in wonder.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It has been about a year since Jim began to visit the Underworld with his grandfather, and now he starts to visit on his own.
The Three Fates watch the friendship between Spock and Jim grow, while Sybok finds himself with the job of making sure that Jim's ideas of adventure don't get his brother killed. This usually ends in Sybok yelling at Jim that 'Just because the palace is safe doesn't mean the area around it is! This is the Underworld! Stop trying to get my brother killed!' or variations on that theme.
The white-robed Janice watches as Jim says that one day he will bring the other two with him to the surface for more adventures.
Spock's eyes brighten, but Sybok isn't thrilled. “Great. More ways you can try to kill my brother.”
Jim narrows his eyes at Sybok and says fiercely, “I won't allow Spock to die.”
The Fate senses that there is something more than just friendship between the two, but she isn't sure. Perhaps...
When she come to the Three Fates' loom, Janice touches the thread of Jim with her eyes closed. Then, she moves her fingers and touches Spock's thread.
She opens her eyes and smiles, Aha, it's romantic love that I sense. Although, it's still in its newborn state. I wonder... Getting a idea, she turns to look at the other Fates, “Hey, Gaila and Chapel...”
Chapel looks up from working on a new thread, “Yes?”
“I have a idea that you may like.”
Gaila perks up and grins, she drawls, “Oh? Do tell.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Wait, let me get this straight, you want me to 'borrow' Jim Kirk's bow and arrows and give them to one of you, who will then shot him and Spock with one of those arrows.” Morpheus, the god of sleep and dreams, raises an eyebrow as he continues, “Arrows that make people fall in love with the first person they see.”
Janice Rand crosses her arms and tries not to glare. “Yes. Will you help us?”
Morpheus smiles at her. “Oh, of course I will help. It's not every day that a God of Love is going to be shot by one of his own arrows. It would be nice to see the crazy boy get a taste of his own medicine. So, when will we act on this plan of yours?”
“The next time he comes to visit.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sitting on a black rock, Gaila is flicking imaginary dust off her white robe as she waits.
“I got them!” Morpheus shouts and grins as he holds up the bow and arrow set. He almost throws it to Gaila before thinking better of it and just walks toward her.
“I could tell. He's been pouting for awhile.” Gaila drops down from her rock and grins at him. She takes the bow and arrows when he hands them over, “Thanks!”
Morpheus found another rock to lean on. “You are welcome. Let's hope your aim will be true.”
Gaila nods and readies the bow. She takes aim at the pouting Jim Kirk and Spock, who is offering comfort and telling Jim that they will find his bow and arrows. She fires and watches as the arrow scratches Jim on his left arm. The same arrow flies past Spock as well. Gaila can't tell if she hit Spock or not. She will have to wait until Janice Rand comes back to find out. “Well, I know for sure that I have got Jim.”
Janice walks up to them with a smile. Gaila yells at her, “Hey! Did I get Spock as well?”
“Yes, you did,” Janice yells back in reply, “But Kirk thinks only he was hit, and it's seems he is trying to make it look like he is immune to his own arrows. We will see soon if he is right.”
“I hope he isn't,” Morpheus muses before he narrows his eyes, “We'd better leave now! It looks like Sybok is coming this way.”
Gaila looks at the bow and arrows for a few seconds before she puts them on the ground. “Alright, let's go,”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The good news is that the arrows do affect the God of Love...
The bad new is that Jim has stopped visiting Spock in the Underworld.
Spock becomes visibly distraught at his friend's disappearance just when it begins to be clear that Spock feels more than just friendship to Jim. Amanda worries over her son, and while Sarek doesn't show his worry or anger on his face most of the servants and workers decide that they will be tip-toeing around him for now... just in case.
Sybok just looks like he is about to murder someone, who may look just like Jim Kirk.
Janice stares at the loom as if demanding that she be given answers to her questions while Gaila paces their room.
Chapel sighs and wonders if they shouldn't have meddled.
But then a few days later, something changes, and Chapel watches in surprise as Spock's despair turns into determination. Spock searches for his brother.
“Brother, I need your help.” Spock says as soon as he finds him.
Sybok turns to look at his brother in curiosity. “What for?”
“I am going to search for Winona and ask if she knows where to find Jim, I need to find out why he stops visiting.” Spock narrows his eyes. “Do not try to kill him when we find him.”
Sybok smirks and laughs at his brother. “I will try.”
Chapel blinks and leaves to go tell Gaila and Janice. They should know. Janice Rand breaths a sigh of relief when she hears. “We should follow them and make sure their search doesn't fail.” Gaila suggests as she finally stops pacing.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“I hope they will leave soon,” Gaila says as she leans against a tree. “Why didn't we follow them in again?”
Chapel sighs and answers, “Because when Demeter asked us to fix what she thought was a problem, we told her no. She thinks we are annoyances. It's best that we don't make ourselves known to Spock and Sybok just yet...if ever.”
“Now, I remember.” Gaila pauses as a terrible thought comes to her. “They will ask her where Winona is, won't they?”
“They will. Perhaps, because they repaired her shrine, she may in fact answer them,” Janice remarks from her seat near a tree.
While Demeter may have grown tolerant of Sarek and thinks the three Fates are just annoyances, she still hates Winona for helping to get Sarek and Amanda, Demeter's daughter, together. Winona didn't win any favors when she claimed she did nothing: Amanda left of her own free well with Sarek, falling in love with the ruler of the Underworld without Winona's influence. Demeter didn't believe her.
“Hey! They are leaving the shrine!” Gaila exclaims, looking gleeful at the thought of finally leaving.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Winona glances toward the far left of her shrine and narrows her eyes, but she turns her gaze to the two brothers and greets them. “Oh! You must be Spock and Sybok. It's a pleasure to meet you.” She smirks at them, “And you must be here to find out what happened to my son.”
Spock blinks in surprise and nods. “Yes. Is Jim well? Did... something bad happen?”
Winona laughs gently. “Oh, don't worry. Jim is fine.”
“Can you tell us where we can find him?”
Chapel really doesn't like the smile that Winona has when she says sweetly, “Oh, I will! But, on one condition, which is passing the three tests I will give you. Then, I will tell you where my son is.”
Spock nods and agrees, “Very well. What is my first task?”
“You see, in a woods near here is a cave, which has such beautiful flowers by its entrance. I ask that you bring me some.”
The three Fates don't hear Sybok or Spock's reply because they are trying to remember why the cave feels familiar. They all pale when they remember. Gaila leaves quickly to ensure the two brothers will not die. Meanwhile Janice Rand and Chapel confront Winona, who is looking straight at them. Winona smiles sweetly again. “Hello, Janice and Chapel. It's a pleasure to see you.”
“Are you trying to kill them? You know what's in that cave,” Janice snarls at Winona ignoring her greeting.
“No, I'm not.” Winona smiles faintly. “One of you must go to tell my son about Spock and my tests.”
“Why?” Chapel asks suspiciously.
“Because I know my son will not allow Spock to die if he knows what is going on. I will tell you where to find my son, but you must hurry.”
Winona's plan begins to dawn on them, and Janice is pleased. “Well, well.” She addresses Chapel, “You stay with Winona. I will go help Gaila at the cave.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Blue flowers that shimmer like a rainbow in the light grows near the cave's mouth, Sybok scowls darkly. “I have a bad feeling about this cave.”
“Even if you did, brother, we must finish the task.” Spock takes a step toward the cave.
Gaila is about to yell at them to stop when someone else intervenes, warning, “Stop! Don't go any farther!”
Spock stops and turns to look for voice. It's coming from a small red fox. The fox speaks again, “A monster lives there. Please don't go any farther. I will get the flowers you need myself.”
The fox goes to get the flowers before Spock or Sybok can reply. The little creature grabs several flowers with its mouth and comes back, holding up the flowers to Spock.
Spock takes them with a smile. “Thank you.”
“You are welcome, but please leave now before the monster comes out to feast on you! Please!”
Gaila sighs in relief as Spock and Sybok leave. She is about to follow them back to the shrine when she stops, because she hears the fox whisper to the woods, “Your boyfriend and his kin are safe now, mister.”
Gaila tries to stop her laughter as Jim Kirk steps out of the woods. “He isn't my boyfriend. He is a friend.”
“Oh. Then he is the one you desire.” The fox blinks at the god, and when Jim opens his mouth to deny it, the fox continues, “I can smell it, even if you deny it.”
Jim shakes his head and pets the fox on the head. “It's best if we leave, now. I give you my thanks, fox.”
The fox bows and says, “I wish you good luck with your boyfriend.” With that said, the fox speeds off.
Jim Kirk rolls his eyes before trailing after Spock and Sybok, Gaila follows behind.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The second test is getting wool from sheep, vicious and strong sheep, or so says the nymph who arrives to stop Spock and Sybok from getting themselves killed.
“It could have been worse. It could have been man-eating sheep,” Gaila muses as she sits on a tree branch.
Janice looks up at her in irritation. “I'm going to pretend you didn't say that.”
The nymph continues talking to the brothers. “You will have to wait until noontime. The sheep will go into the shade, and then you can get the wool from the tree branches.”
Sybok looks between the nymph and Spock. He remarks to his brother, “What is with people with the last name Kirk and them trying to get us killed?”
Spock glares at his brother before turning his gaze back on the nymph. “I thank you. We will follow your advice.”
“Good, I bid you farewell.” The nymph smiles before leaving, mumbling something about her job being done as she walks past the tree in which the Three Fates hiding in.
“Is he ever going to actually show up himself?” Gaila asks, kicking her legs as she glances down after the nymph left.
“I'm sure he will before the tests are done.” Chapel answers as she continues to sit on the grass.
Thanks to the nymph's intervention, the two brothers collect the wool without any problems.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Good, now for your last test, I-”
“Hold it!” Kirk steps in the room, glaring at his mother. “Enough with the tests.”
The Three Fates silently cheer from their hiding place while Sybok glares at Kirk. Winona smiles at her son brightly, “Oh, I thought that it would take you until the middle of the last test to finally reveal yourself.”
“What do you mean by that? Did you-” Jim's rant is stopped by one single 'Jim', and he twists around to see Spock walking toward him.
“Why did you did stop visiting?” Spock asks quietly as he takes another step closer.
Jim fidgets, looking a rabbit surrounded by wolves. “I....”
“Son, if you don't tell him, I will tell!”
Jim takes a deep breath and hangs his head. “I lied when I said that I was immune to my own arrows, I wasn't. I fell in love with you, Spock, on that day. ...I stopped visiting you because I was afraid I will one day just grab you and kiss you...among other things.” He looks up and almost takes a step back in surprise at Spock's close proximity.
“I was hit by the same arrow,” Spock admits quietly and blushes green, and Jim stares at him in shock.
“He is telling the truth, son.” Winona explains from the sidelines. “It seems this is one big misunderstanding.”
Jim and Spock don't hear her because they lock eyes with each other and step even closer together. Jim smiles sweetly as he takes a step. “You know, Spock, I think I was falling in love with you even before my arrow hit me.”
Spock takes the last step. “It is the same for me.”
Sybok raises an eyebrow, “Why are they getting close...oh, they just kissed.”
Gaila cheers when she see the two boys lock lips, while Winona just continues to smirk as she grabs Sybok's left arm and stares knowingly at the hidden place of the Three Fates. Winona pulls Sybok outside with her, and Sybok snaps at her, “You can let me go now.” After she does, the older brother sighs, “I guess I will have to wait before I get a chance to punch Jim Kirk.”
“You will have to wait,” Chapel remarks as she takes a seat near the two.
Sybok stares at the now visible Fates. “Why are you here?”
Gaila scratches the back of her head as she continues to stand, “Well, we kind of started the whole mess.”
Sybok glowers. “I'm going to make you pay.”
“Oh! I can't wait!” Gaila replies, laughing merrily.
Winona ignores Gaila and Sybok's playful fight and obverses to Janice Rand, “Perhaps next time, you should just leave matters of love to me. I am, after all, the Goddess of Love.”
“Perhaps.” The Fate glances back at the shrine in which the God of Love and the boy he fell in love finally got their happy ending and she smiles.