Sorry for the late chapter, but I have mock-finals starting this week and I'm so stressed I could probably break rock with the strength of my headache alone!
Also, okay, so, I technically lied, there isn't much action in this chapter, but the end of it DOES have a little snapshot into the plot, and tells you guys what's coming next, so, for now...
You'll just have to put up with the fluff!
Horrifying, I know!
Rachel :)
Chapter 36
The next few weeks were good, were really good, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Jim was genuinely truly happy.
Bones and Spock were everything he'd ever dreamed about, kind and caring and just so fucking perfect it made his heart ache with every gentle touch and warm smile.
They always asked for permission to kiss him.
Always.
And after everything he'd been through, both with his mother's husband, his life in Vegas, and that disaster of a relationship with Mitchell, it was... refreshing.
Jim grinned as Bones leant in close again, a question in his eyes, and he nodded, closing the gap between them for a chaste kiss.
From behind him, Spock's grip tightened on his waist, and he hummed appreciatively, leaning back against the man's chest with a content sigh.
On the chair opposite them, Uhura rolled her eyes, "How about toning down some of that PDA, huh?"
"Oh, shut up" He teased, "You're just jealous!"
"Oh yes, that's definitely it" She commented, "Jealous of having to watch the three of you finally come to your senses and now act so sickly sweet I want to vomit?"
"As I said. Jealous" He finished, sticking out his tongue at her, before pulling Bones in for another kiss just to rub it in.
"Oh, go get a room!"
The doctor laughed against his lips before pulling back, "She does have a point, kid".
Jim mock glared at him, "Traitor".
Spock huffed a laugh against the back of his neck, and he turned to face him, a smirk playing at his mouth, before leaning in and placing a kiss on his cheek, "You're on my side, right?"
"I'm not much for public displays either".
"Well you sure don't act like it" He shot back, gesturing at the Vulcan's possessive hold on him as he sat in his lap.
"You are quite... cuddly".
"And I don't see you protesting either".
"Alright!" Bones finished, "We'll tone it down a bit. Happy?"
It was much to the trio's chagrin that the entire room responded with a loud "Yes!"
Jim smiled as he finally left his last class, finding Spock leaning back against the wall outside the room, waiting for him.
"You know, I'm getting a serious case of deja vu here" He commented, as the Vulcan straightened up with graceful ease and fell into step next to him, "It almost feels like you're about to tell me you've spoken to Pike and I'm about to join your defence class".
Spock gave him a wry look, "You're already in my defence class".
"I know. And god, is it tantalising seeing you in those tight t-shirts just... stretching".
He was rewarded with a light green flush dashing across the older man's cheekbones.
"Yes, well, it's Friday night, and our first months anniversary. Leonard's cooking".
"So it's edible, then?"
Because for all his genius, logic, and memory, Spock still burned water with ease.
"Yes" He replied tightly, causing Jim's smile to widen, "It is... edible".
"Good" the Blonde said, "Let me get changed back at mine, and I'll be over then. Is it a black-tie event?"
"That... would be preferable, yes, but wear whatever you like" Spock finished, as they arrived at the younger mutant's room, and Jim turned to him, holding out his hands.
The Vulcan smiled, and met the boy half way with his two fingers, a simple kiss, before nodding once and turning on the spot, walking away to leave Jim to get ready by himself.
He still had to bribe the cook for a bottle of wine, after all...
Laughing, Jim stumbled out of Spock and Bones flat much later that night, more than a little tipsy and his tie hanging undone around his neck.
The bowtie had been a joke, of course, but both the doctor's and the Vulcan's eyes had darkened when they saw him in it, so the blonde counted it as a success.
"Come on, I'll walk you back" Bones smirked, the more sober of the three.
Turns out not only could Spock not cook, he also couldn't hold his liquor, and even now he was swaying slightly as he leant forwards to pull Jim back into his arms.
"May I kiss you, my beautiful petakov?"
He didn't know what the Vulcan word meant, but he nodded all the same.
The older man placed one, gentle kiss on his forehead, then his nose, causing him to laugh "You're drunk!" before finally, finally, on his mouth.
Jim pulled away, smiling, and allowed Bones to tug him away from the warm inviting body in front of him.
"Come on, kid, you're hardly sober yourself".
He gave Spock one last fleeting look before walking with the doctor down the hall, hand in hand.
"I had fun tonight" He admitted, and Bones smiled softly at him, "I'm glad. So did I".
"Plus, you know, you can make one mean vegetarian curry".
"I pride myself on my work".
Jim snorted, swinging their hands back and forth, completely at ease with the casual touch, knowing full well that he could trust his boyfriend not to use his power against him.
And based on the small smile the doctor sent his way in return, he was proud of the small yet very significant gesture.
Coming to a stop outside his room, he turned to face the older man, and gave a wide-eyed innocent look, "I don't suppose there's any chance I could entice you to... oh I don't know... maybe come in?"
Bones snorted, "Not a chance. We agreed to take this slow, kid, and none of your raging teenage hormones or puppy dog eyes are going to change that".
"Damn" He sighed, "Well, at least it was worth a shot... Goodnight kiss, then?"
He made a big show of rolling his eyes and huffing, "If I must..."
And before Jim could even begin to doubt himself, the doctor had leant in and placed a gentle, tender, loving kiss on his lips, pulling away with a chuckle, "Goodnight, kid".
"Night Bonesy" He grinned in return, managing to snag the man's shirt collar and drag him down for a much less innocent kiss before finally realising him and opening his door, "See you tomorrow".
"Brat" He called after him, affectionately, but Jim only stuck out his tongue in response before disappearing into the dark room, shutting the door behind him and collapsing against with a grin rivalling that of a love-sick teenager.
Well, he mused, that certainly was one word for him...
Turning around, he flicked on the light switch with his left hand and tugged at the loose bowtie with the other.
Blinking against the sudden brightness, he tore off the choking contraption and tossed it to the corner of the room.
"Still not picking up after yourself, then?"
Jim froze.
A split second later, he had teleported to the other side of the room and had spun around to face the unknown intruder.
Except, the problem was, he did know her.
He knew her very well, in fact.
Because directly across from him, perched gracefully on the edge of his couch, blonde hair swept back into a loose ponytail and blue eyes as piercing as ever was...
Jim blanched.
"Mother?!"