Jim sits heavily on the seat of the shuttle, debating wether to turn back and grab his bike and ride off into the distance. He looks down, sighing heavily at the golden Labrador at his feet.
Yeah, that's why you can't go back.
After spending days of contemplating whether to take up Pikes challenge, Jim convinced Kai that joining starfleet might be a good idea. Kai disagreed completely but if Jim wants to join, he'll join.
Kai glares up at him with bared teeth. Jim doesn't feel like arguing with him. Not now. Instead, he stares out of the window of the shuttle
Every human has a spirit animal, (a daemon as they are referred to) representing your personality, traits and sometimes physical attributes. Humans and daemons can't live without each other, a daemon is a manifestation of a persons soul, non existent without said human. No one knows why or how they exist but everyone knows they're a pain in the-
Jim's thoughts are suddenly interrupted by a gruff voice from the back of the shuttle, protesting vociferously to a woman who really stood no chance in trying to calm the deep toned southerner. Instead, she urges the man into the seat next to Jim and gives him an apologetic look.
Great. Just what I need. Jim thinks as the man settles into his seat, reeking of bourbon and regret.
His daemon joins him shortly after, and it's the first time Jim really looks at either of them. The man is tall and broad shouldered, with dark hair and tanned skin, accompanied with hazel eyes flecked with emerald. Even unshaven and clearly hungover, he is very attractive. His daemon, a large wolf with dark chocolate fur and bright eyes, stares up at her partner curiously, as if waiting for something. She acknowledges Jim and Kai with a tilt of the head, but otherwise ignores them both. There's a long silence before the man gives in.
"I may throw up on you." He finally growls to his wolf. To Jim's surprise, the wolf just chuckles.
"Oh Len. It wouldn't be the first time." She replied, nuzzling his leg with her nose.
Interactions between man and daemon are always kept to a minimum. Touching your daemon is painful, like a burning flame ripping through your skin. When you're a child, the bond is weaker between you and your spirit. Daemons and children are free to play. It's when humans hit puberty that it starts to become painful, unbearable even. Which is why when 'Len' (as his daemon called him) threads his fingers through the soft, thick coat of his daemon, Jim gapes in shock. He must of made a noise, somewhere between a squeal and a startled gasp, because Len is looking at him though long eyelashes and raising an eyebrow quizzically and damn does that make Jim blush. When Jim fails to say anything the man raises his hand and cooly introduces himself as "Leonard McCoy"
Jim stammers out a "Jim Kirk" as he shakes Leonard's hand, trying but failing miserably to keep his infamous 'Kirk charm' persona. Leonard, however, doesn't seem to recognise his last name, or at least doesn't comment on it, for which Jim is eternally grateful.
Leonard then proceeds to rant to his daemon about the dangers of shuttles while she sits and watches him amusedly, leaning into the touch as he scratches his long fingers behind her ears.
"Shut it, old man" she growls affectionately.
"If I'm an old man what does that make you?" Leonard reposts. She doesn't dignify him with a response, instead she turns to Jim.
"Ignore him. He's just being unreasonable." She remarks lightly, causing Len to scowl and Jim to laugh.
"You try say that when we've one tiny crack in the hull, our blood will boil in thirteen seconds."
"I think these things are pretty safe" Kai suddenly interrupts, clearly aggravated. Jim rolls his eyes but nods in agreement. Jim and Leonard (now christened 'bones' due to a particularly long rant about his ex wife.) manage to talk for most of the journey. Bones' daemon introduces herself as "Léna" and even manages to get Kai to play with her for a while.
Once the shuttle lands Bones quickly undoes his harness and grunts a farewell to Jim and Kai.
"See you around bones." Jim calls after him.
"Bones?"
" 'all I got left is my bones' " Jim replies in his best impression of a southern accent, earning a laugh from Lėna and a grimace from Bones.
"See you around kid." Leonard drawls in a thick honey accent and yes, it sounds so much better coming from him. Leonard gets off the shuttle as fast as he can, (unsurprisingly) and Jim just catches sight of him and his wolf disappearing into a crowd of starfleet officers and their various daemons.
Don't grow attached Jim, we came here to prove a point. Not to make friends. Kai reminds him telepathically. With annoyance etched into his voice.
"Lighten up. It won't hurt to meet a few people."
When Jim opens the door to his new dorm, not knowing what to expect when he first sees his new roommate, he's shocked when he sees bones fast asleep, curled around his daemon. Her eyes snap open at the sound of the door opening and wags her tail in delight, making the older man grumble adorably in his sleep.
"Hello Jim, Kai" she greets quietly as not to disturb her human further.
Jim can sense Kai's slight shift in mood and he grins at the golden lab.
Stop it. Kai tells him. I can hear what you're thinking.
You're happy. Oh come on! Don't deny it.
Kai grumbles a weak argument.
"Hello" Jim replies to Léna "I guess we're your roommates"
"Yes you are. There was a mix up and as we all arrived to the academy late... Here we are."
"But you're on medical track?" Jim asks, perching on the end of his bed.
She nods her head slightly. She turns and starts to lick Bones' face and he squirms away.
"Dammit Léna! Lemme sleep!"
"Sorry. No can do. Rise an' shine sleepy. We've got a big day."
Len mutters something incoherently into his pillow.
"What was that?" Amusement clear in his voice.
"I said," Raising his voice a little, "I'm not your chew toy. Stop licking me you dammed dog!"
"Hey! Who're you callin' a dog?"
He growls halfheartedly, refusing to open his eyes. "Hey Jim." He says instead, dragging a hand down his face and in the process, ruffling his hair. He opens his eyes slightly, glaring at his daemon. "Why did you wake me up at..." He checks the chronometer quickly. "4 in the morning?"
Léna rolls her eyes, exasperated. "We've got that meeting with Starfleet medical. And of course there's that fancy fundraiser of Susanna and Dylan's you promised to go to."
Bones bolts upright making the wolf fall to the ground and start giggling uncontrollably.
"That's today?!"
"Yes. Like I told you. Repeatedly."
Len groans and clambers out of bed. And Jim does definitely not stare at the bare expanse of his back as the covers fall. No. Instead, he stares at the toned stomach and muscled arms of the man before him. A small part of him wonders why a doctor needs to be in such good shape. A much larger part of him beats that thought with a hammer and admires bones as he strides into the bathroom, turning on the shower and leaving Léna to circle around the room impatiently. She glances up at Jim after a while and tilts her head.
"Ok. You have questions."
Jim looks startled for a second, casting a glance at Kai before answering "yeah... He can touch you. How? How does it not... burn?"
She looks up to him sullenly. "We were always... close. Closer than normal... But when Len and Pamela divorced she really did take everything from him. I think maybe a little of his soul too. Anyway, it stopped hurting as much after that."
"So it still hurts?" Jim asks, confused.
"Yes. He just hides it well." On cue, Leonard walks out of the bathroom, having changed into his cadet reds and combed his hair neatly. He sighs miserably.
"Léna you ready?" He asks the wolf. She nods and strides towards the door with a flick of her tail. Len sits on the edge of his bed, tying his shoes. "You got plans today Jim?"
"Nah not really. I need to study." Jim lies.
Len snorts derisively. "Study my ass." He mutters under his breath. Jim blushes because he already has.
Twice. Kai reminds him, much to his chagrin.
Len makes his way over to the door, sending a farewell over his shoulder. He turns to Léna as the door closes.
I've been in a terrible mood haven't i?
Yes. You have.
...I'm sorry.
I know, Len. She rubbed against his leg reassuringly. Come on. Can't keep 'em waiting.
