Prompt: Kirk, McCoy - Knuckles
Dependable
Standing in the doorway to his dorm, Leonard took in the sight of his best friend - hair mussed, shirt torn, knuckles bloodied – for nearly half a minute before stepping aside and gesturing towards the bed.
″Again, Jim?″
Jim collapsed on his back across Leonard's bed and tossed an arm across his face without answering.
Leonard scowled when he saw that Jim hadn't removed his shoes before climbing onto his bed. He took a slap at them as he passed on his way to the bathroom to grab his personal med kit. A kit that he'd never had to use on himself, incidentally, yet out of which he'd gotten a fair amount of use.
Jim had kicked off his shoes by the time Leonard returned to his side and pulled over his desk chair and adjusted his reading light to shine fully onto Jim.
Neither spoke as he picked up Jim's left hand, cleaned it, and ran the dermal regenerator over the torn flesh. Finishing that side, Leonard tapped Jim's other arm, which was still covering his face, to indicate he was ready to see to that one as well.
As he took the hand that Jim offered him with a sigh, Leonard could see that the color was high in Jim's cheeks, but his gaze was sharp and alert rather than dulled by alcohol. Thank heavens for small mercies.
″Who was it this time?″ Leonard worried his bottom lip between his teeth as he cleaned the hand and then palpated each joint. Several of Jim's fingers were swollen but none appeared broken. When he didn't receive an answer he glanced up in time to catch Jim's gaze on his face, staring down at his mouth. ″Jim?″
″Doesn't matter.″
Leonard was glad he'd finally spoken, unhelpful though the other man was in this type of mood. He grunted in disgust and reached for the regenerator again, passing it over Jim's right hand.
″Just leave it, Bones. I needed to let off some steam. It's fine.″
″Didn't look fine when you walked in here.″ Leonard finished his task and examined both limbs one last time.
Jim pulled his hands away and turned them over. ″Looks pretty good now though. Thanks, Bones.″
″Jim-″
″Please, Bones. Not tonight.″ This time Jim met his eyes as he spoke. ″I don't want to talk about it tonight.″
″Fine.″ Leonard rolled his eyes and turned pull away, but his movement was halted by Jim's newly healed hands pulling at him, turning him back to face the other man. ″Dammit, Jim-″
His words, too, were halted, this time by Jim's lips. He felt himself being drawn down towards the bed and held against Jim's warm body, felt the hands move across his head and shoulders, hard and strong.
When Jim finally released his grip, Leonard found himself reluctant to pull back from the other man this time.
″Thanks, Bones. I mean it.″
″Yeah, well...″ Leonard sighed. ″C'mere.″
And he pulled Jim up by the neck and kissed him again, longer this time and far gentler with Leonard in control. ″You're welcome.″
