Title: Unexpected Developments (2/?)
Series: Insontis II
Characters: Kirk, bb!Spock, various
Word Count: 1500 (this bit)
Rating: K+
Warnings/Spoilers: Lack of real plot, ghastly amounts of fluff, etc. If you're in search of story with depth and substance, this is not the universe you're looking for. *Jedi hand wave*
Summary: In which reassurance is given, and nothing but fluff really happens until the next chapter.
A/N: I haven't forgotten about this! Just trying to find my voice again for TOS after a stint in the AOS. More of this and a few missing scenes from TOS episodes forthcoming in the next couple of weeks, if all goes to plan.
Starfleet does not pay him enough for this.
How the devil this child managed to squirrel himself away in this tiniest of out-of-the way Jefferies tubes which intersect the Science laboratories is a minor temporal miracle, one which is only superseded by the incredible feat of the captain himself managing somehow to accomplish the same end (much to the wide-eyed incredulity of the child in question).
"If I am unable to get out of here again, you will be the one to explain to Doctor McCoy the reason for my state of impairment tomorrow, Spock," he mutters, wedging himself into yet another awkward contortion in order to face his currently diminutive First Officer.
"I clearly underestimated your abilities, both physical and mental, Captain-Jim." Dark eyes blink solemnly at him out of the half-darkness, clearly equal parts amused and annoyed.
He snorts a muffled laugh. "I was able to track you down anywhere on this ship long before this handy mental bond-thing, pi'nerian. You are not as adept in hiding from me as you believe, at this or any other age."
A scowl of half-shame, half-resignation flickers across those expressive little features before it is carefully schooled away into false calm.
"You forget, you are also unable to hide mentally in such a telan, Spock. Why do you make such an illogical attempt to conceal your thoughts from me?"
Spock fidgets with a corner of his tunic for a moment, in an almost adorably childish gesture of uncertainty.
He frowns, wishing not for the first time that there was more information out there about such things; he is woefully out of his depth and not likely to change that state without some cultural violations their visiting ambassadors will not be too thrilled with. "Are you unhappy with this, Spock? I am certain one of your Vulcan elders would be capable of dissolving the bond and reinstating it with a more suitable Vulcan candidate."
The idea sends a strange pang of nausea through him, but it is anyone's guess at this point if that is instinctive Vulcan bond reaction or simple human jealousy. Granted, it doesn't much matter at this point, all things considered.
"I am not unhappy." The words are quiet but genuine. Kirk relaxes slightly, because that at least lifts a little of the unease on his end at least.
"Then what is causing you such distress, Spock? Because until you discovered this a few hours ago, I would have said you were more…content, for lack of a better term, than you have been in a long time." A small mewing sound draws his attention to the other side of the child, and he sees a white head poking up over the updrawn knees. Smiling, he reaches out and pets the kit's head briefly, eliciting a rumbling purr of approval.
Spock watches in silence for a moment, before glancing up at him with an almost wary expression.
"What is it?"
"I am…unaccustomed, to reading human emotions, Captain-Jim," the child says finally, shifting uneasily in the cramped space. "And to have done such a thing, without a non-telepathic species' permission or consent and full knowledge of its consequences, however unintentional…"
He stares across the intervening space in consternation, because obviously Spock has grown in recent days – enough to realize the ramifications of such a thing, at least. This is news to both him and obviously to T'lar, as neither of them had thought twice about discussing the matter in Sickbay without including the child in the discussion.
Yet another lesson he has been far too slow to learn. Honestly, he marvels more every day how Bones and his First Officer ended up so successfully navigating this same situation only a few scant weeks ago, in his own abruptly gifted second childhood.
"Spock –"
"A lack of intent does not negate the act, and –"
"Spock, stop." He sighs, draws a hand slowly over his face and settles into a more comfortable position against the opposite wall. "One, however mature you may be, Spock, you are yet a child. And no adult, of any species, would think of condemning a child for an innocent act of self-preservational instinct. Would such an action be in any way logical?"
Spock's eyebrows furrow. "It…would not. But –"
"I am not finished. Two, have I ever denied you something you needed, Vulcan or human, at this or any other age?"
"Negative."
"Then this would have been no different had you discussed the matter and the knowledge been shared. Therefore, your concerns are ill-founded."
Spock shifts uneasily.
"You still appear troubled, Spock. Use your words, pi'nerien. I am not Vulcan; I will not react as a Vulcan would to things which fall under the human half of your heritage."
"I…" The child glances away for a moment, and then looks back, as if gathering the courage to speak. "I am able to sense your emotional reaction to this development," is the quiet response, and for a moment Kirk can only blink, totally confused.
"Okay? I don't understand why that should…" He grinds to a halt of realization, suddenly understanding what has likely been picked up on. "Oh, Spock – that has nothing to do with you!"
"I daresay that is not entirely accurate," is the dry reply, sounding so much like his older self that it makes the captain want to laugh.
"Well, of course it does, but not in the way you assume. Spock, I have misgivings rooted in similar concerns to your own; I am uneasy because I feel as if I somehow have taken advantage of you. There are different boundaries between children and adults in human culture, and this just…feels wrong to me, despite the fact that such a connection is quite common in your own. That is a xenosociological difference that is entirely my issue to deal with, and not yours. I'm sorry I've given you cause to believe otherwise."
Spock frowns.
"I am also concerned that this may seriously change things between us when you regain your proper age, Spock. I know my First Officer to be a most private individual. I am…concerned, that this could become an issue, when the facts are fully known."
Spock blinks at him, obviously mystified. "Captain-Jim, such a bond can only be unintentionally formed when a previous connection of some kind already exists. Only the physical state of one recipient and the intensity of that connection has changed in this instance."
It's now his turn to stare. "What."
"I do not see that you have cause for concern, as this connection already existed at least in the most basic of forms between us prior to this ship's even encountering the Insontis planet."
"What?"
"Is your hearing suddenly impaired, Captain Jim?"
"Seriously, what?"
"You were unaware of this?"
His head hits the back of the shaft with a dull thud, only increasing the pounding that has become constant there. "I was very definitely unaware of this, yes, Spock. What the…I don't even know the first thing about what this, even is!"
Spock looks down at the bat-kit, which is now clinging to his knees, ears and tiny wings drooping as if picking up its owner's dismal mood. "I have not the knowledge myself, to relieve your concerns, Captain." The words are quiet, almost too quiet, and something breaks a little inside him at the use of the title. "I do not even know how to alleviate your physical discomfort, which is currently manifesting itself as a result of my unconscious actions."
A dismal meow punctuates the sentence, and Kirk raises an eyebrow, wondering absently if the creature has empathic tendencies; he really didn't research the species other than to ascertain if one of his crewmen might go into anaphylactic shock should he allow a pleading Vulcan child to bring the furball aboard.
"Well." He pinches the bridge of his nose for a moment, and then exhales slowly. "I suppose we must do what we've always done in these situations, then, hm?"
Spock eyes him warily over top of a white furry ear. "What precisely is that, Captain-Jim?"
He grins across the intervening inches. "Let's make it Bones's problem, and go hide in the Observation Lounge until he calms down. What do you say?"