"Sentimental Tune"--Tegan and Sara

300 words? What? Rules were made to be broken, you know. Even if I made them.


Spock cannot honestly say he is surprised when Jim disappears. They are on shore leave, and Jim needs the rest, but a quiet, still Jim Kirk is exceedingly rare. It is less than 24 hours into leave and Jim is going stir-crazy. Spock had been the one to suggest they go out, so technically he brought this on himself. He should know better by now.

There is no use reprimanding himself, however. When Jim gets like this, he is a force of nature. There is no stopping him, and Spock knows better than to try. So he waits. Jim will return for him soon enough. He always does.

"Hey!" Spock turns in response, though he does not really have to.

"Jim," he says simply, without inflection. Spock does not have to give such clues with him.

Jim grins, holding up two slips of paper. Spock raises and inquisitive eyebrow, which makes Jim laugh.

"Tickets," he says, taking Spock's arm. His fingers brush Spock's skin at the junction of palm and wrist, tracing abstract designs. He is careful to avoid Spock's fingers, as he always (well, usually) is when they are in public.

"Tickets, Jim?" Eyebrow again.

Still grinning, Jim says, "Old movie theater. Can't believe there are even any left. But I found one." His blue eyes are shining happily.

"You do seem to have a tendency to discover what does not wish to be found, Jim." Spock fixes dark eyes on Jim, lips quirked upward just slightly.

"You love it. Don't lie."

"Vulcans do not—" Jim waves his free hand dismissively.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," he says, giving Spock a look. His index finger shoots up to graze Spock's fingertip, dragging it down over his palm and back to the wrist.

"Jim." There is a warning tone in Spock's voice. Jim gives Spock an innocent look. So Spock bends down slightly to whisper in Jim's ear. "I would… greatly appreciate if you would desist, Captain."

Jim may have shivered slightly. But to his credit, he does not break his step. "Stop what, Mr. Spock?" he asks softly. Curse those beautiful lips. Spock tenses.

"If you do not cease immediately, I shall have no choice but to kiss you."

Jim grins. "And what's so wrong with that?"

"Jim." Warning again. Jim winks, touching his fingertips to Spock's again, but softer this time, chaste. Spock's ears tinge slightly green, but he relaxes.

They walk in silence for awhile after that, Spock simply enjoying Jim's company, the soothing coolness of his shoulder and hands. Then Jim breaks out into a smile, pointing. "Spock, look!"

The theater is a classic, all neon flashing lights and old music. A bored-looking teenage boy takes their tickets, and Jim drags Spock inside, eyes bright and excited. He takes Spock's hand unthinkingly, pulling Spock toward the back of the theater. It is dark, but Spock can make out figures in the nearly-empty theater, scattered in ones and twos. Jim sits them down in the back row, just left of center.

The film is old, likely 21st century, judging from the way it must be projected onto the screen. Fascinating.

"Spock." Jim's voice sounds disapproving. But when Spock looks over at him, he is smiling slightly. "Spock. Stop taking apart the projector with your mind. We're off duty, Science Officer. Just watch the movie."

Spock gives a short nod and turns back to the screen. He supposes the film is meant to evoke an emotional reaction (especially as Jim had long ago taken his hand), but Spock fails to see the romance.

He tells Jim this as they exit the theater, and Jim laughs. "How did I, of all people, end up with the most unromantic being in the universe?" he asks melodramatically.

"Negative," Spock responds. "I merely found the film unrealistic and quite, as you say, unromantic."

Jim grins wickedly, leaning in to press his lips against Spock's ear. "Well then, in the interest of cultural sharing, why don't you show me what you consider romantic?"

"Is that an order, Captain?"

"You remember what you were saying earlier about not doing things like that? You're driving me crazy, Spock. Better watch it before I indulge my exhibitionism."

Spock shoots a glance at Jim. "Relax, Spock, I'm not gonna jump you in the middle of the street." Then he adds, "But I swear to God, just you wait till we get back to the hotel…"

Left eyebrow. Jim grins. The sun is setting, fingers of reddish light filtering through the skyscraper windows to the street.

Spock is not normally inclined to be sentimental, true. But he cannot ignore the way the fading light settles on blonde hair, the happy, unrestrained glittering in blue eyes. He tries to clamp down on these sensations, but Jim seems to sense them anyway.

"Why, Mr. Spock, you romantic," he says breathlessly, grasping Spock's hand. "I believe there's hope for you yet."


The last quote? Shamelessly stolen from the first episode of TOS. Because I love it.

And... Yeah, I don't even know on this one. It just kind of... Happened. Hope it's decent. Drop me a review and let me know. It feeds my motivation/self esteem.