AN: Written for a prompt from tumblr:
prompt, modern au: There is something strange about his Japanese colleague Spock, Jim thinks. It's not him being all cold and unemotional like a brick wall or whining every verbal fight with Jim in his unique sarcastic-as-hell way, there's something different, which rubs Jim the wrong way. Sometimes Spock looks almost afraid, and he wears only long-sleeved shirts, even it's so hot that's Jim is melting. He looks lonely. So one day Jim invites him to a night out with his friend Bones and himself.
Trigger Warning: Eating Disorders, Anorexia
Spock fumbled with his phone. He would check his emails, his messages, his voice mail. But there was nothing new. Dr. McCoy, the man who always claimed that love at first sight was a dumb fairy tale, found it oddly endearing. He didn't know why he enjoyed the shy, awkward man but he did very much.
"So how long have you and Jim worked together?" he asked easily, taking a sip of his beer.
Spock looked up at him, putting his phone down. "Five years."
McCoy smirked. "I'm sorry. He's a real pain in the ass. Usually people can't stand being in the same room for five minutes let alone work with him for five years."
"Hey!"
McCoy turned around to see Jim, right behind and carrying his and Spock's drinks. He handed the glass of wine over and kept the beer for himself.
"I am not that bad," Jim says. "I've been told by many people that I'm a joy."
McCoy rolled his eyes.
"I do find him to be rather nerve-wracking at times," Spock said.
"See. When quiet people agree that you're annoying, you know you have to be bad," McCoy pushed his empty beer-bottle aside.
"Spock? Quiet?" Jim scoffed. "He's just shy right now because he likes you."
"Jim!"
"No, he really does. He's into doctors."
McCoy leaned slightly over the table towards Spock. "Really?"
"His last boyfriend was a doctor."
"Jim," Spock interrupted. "I can speak for myself."
"And what do you have to say?" McCoy asked.
Spock held his head up with confidence. "I do not date men I barely know."
"Then let me get to know you."
McCoy scribbled his phone number down on the corner of a napkin. Spock took it with steady hands though he was practically having a meltdown on the inside. He drained his glass of wine.
"That was smooth," Jim said later that night as they walked to McCoy's apartment.
McCoy shrugged.
"I haven't seen you charm someone like that in years."
"You don't go on all my dates."
"Ok, one - you haven't had a date in years and two - I'm always there on the dates that go well. I'm like a good luck charm."
"You're the least lucky person I've met. You're clumsy and can't control your mouth 90% of the time."
Jim laughed. "Fine. But does this mean Leonard McCoy is back on the market?"
"Maybe… for one person in particular."
Jim let a whoop of triumph. "I'll tell him that you two have arrangements this weekend. How's a movie sound?"
"Jim -"
"He'll be so excited! I mean, you won't be able to tell but he'll be glowing from the inside."
"Let me call him myself and make plans. I'm on call this weekend. I don't know want any plans to be concrete."
"Ok. You call him. You dial his phone number and call him."
McCoy stared at him, pulling his bottom lip into his mouth.
"Oh!" Jim exclaimed sarcastically. "You didn't get his phone number, did you? No. You just wrote yours on a dirty napkin like some 90s movie."
"Just give me his number, Jim."
"Later. You'll seem desperate."
Jim laid his empty beer bottle on the coffee table, running a hand through his hair. Spock finally seemed to have opened up that night. He actually looked like he was enjoying himself and being in other's company. It was a small step but good enough for now.
"We just got back from a bar? Why are you drinking?"
Jim was pulled from his thoughts by McCoy. The doctor leaned against the doorway to the small apartment's living room. His hair was wet and messy. He wore sweatpants that barely clung to his hips and a shirt that was old and frail.
"I only had one beer tonight," Jim said.
McCoy sighed. "Why are you even here still? I thought you left."
"Nope."
"You just sat here drinking my beer while I showered."
"Aw… Bones, you know I like your sexy after-shower look."
McCoy rolled his eyes. "Don't you have anywhere else to be?"
Jim shook his head. "I actually wanted to talk to you about something."
McCoy sat down next to Jim, resting his arms on his legs. "What's wrong?"
"Does Spock act… weird to you?"
"Compared to who?"
"No one. He doesn't strike you as someone who's trying to hide something?"
"Are you trying to tell me he's a spy out to get me?"
"No, Bones. Be serious for a second. As a doctor, what do you think of his behavior?"
"He's just shy."
"But it was 69 degrees out and he was wearing a jacket. And he's a lot more than just shy. Didn't you notice him dodging questions?"
"So he may have some anxiety or self-esteem problems."
Jim sighed and leaned back into the couch.
"Are you really worried something is wrong with him?"
"It's not like he's always been like this, Bones. He used to be a little more outgoing - not a whole lot - but he at least didn't wear sweaters and coats all the time."
"Is that why you wanted me to meet him?"
"No…I wanted him to get out and meet some people but it's been bothering me for a while."
McCoy patted Jim's knee. "Jim Kirk. The humanitarian."
Jim crossed him arms across his chest. "I don't know what to do."
"Just keep an eye on him. Invite him out more. Try to get him out of his shell and see if he opens up. It could be nothing."
Jim nodded but he knew that it wasn't nothing.