Jim couldn't help the smile that spread across his face as he sprung out of his bed. A warm early summer breeze blew through their open dorm window and it ignited something that propelled him to start his morning. Summer was just on the brink and every soul resonated with a restless spirit. The academy gave them three weeks of summer leave. They thought it better to let them free than to have to deal with classes full of cadets who wanted nothing more than to be at the beach. Only a week and four days left, Jim noted as he marked down the calendar on his PADD. He pulled the blankets from his still sleeping roommate who grumbled disgruntledly.
"Bones! Up and at 'em! Only a week and four days 'til summer vacation!" Jim chirped.
The dark haired man rolled over and glared at the bright eyed and bushy tailed man. He growled lightly, knowing it would do no more to scare the man than it would to cause him to laugh, which he did. Leonard McCoy stood from his bed and pulled his uniform from his closet. He muttered to himself as he prepared for the day, cursing Jim every once in a while.
"I swear there is no one on campus that is more excited about the summer than you are Jim. Honestly, I could deal with all of the others, but I got stuck with this buffoon." The man sighed as he looked over to the blonde. "Well, let's go. The faster we get to the mess hall, the faster I can get to my quiet classroom."
Jim smiled and threw his arm around the older man's shoulders, leading him out of the room. Jim chatted away, mostly to himself. He didn't expect much of a response from his friend this early in the morning. Bones would grunt occasionally to acknowledge that he was slightly listening, but for the most part he glared at everything that passed. He wanted nothing more than to get his morning coffee. Much to Bones' dissatisfaction their trip was interrupted as a shorter man ran into the two, knocking Bones over while shouting for them to turn around. A small explosion followed shortly after in a room to their left that caused the door to nearly come off. Jim stared wide eyed at the door then down to Bones then back at the man who was returning their way.
"What the hell was that?!" Bones spat as he picked himself up off the floor.
" 'M terribly sorry lads," the man apologized as he approached. "I didn' know how large the explosion could have been. I rushed from the room soon as I knew it'us about to burst. Hope yer alright." The man rested a hand lightly on Bones' arm apologetically. Bones let out a huff and a small 'I'm fine.'
"What were you working on? And I have never seen you around the dorms before, what's your name?" Jim asked curiously.
"Name's Montgomery Scott. Most people call me Scotty. I just arrived about two weeks back. I'm in engineering and I was workin' on a project. I got me calibrations off a wee bit and you saw the result," the man gave a hearty laugh and held his hand out to Jim.
"Jim Kirk," he reciprocated the handshake. "It's a good thing you didn't completely wreck the door, although I am sure your roommate is going to be pretty cross when they see what you have done. Especially when they hear they are going to have to find a place to stay while the door is being repaired."
"Good thing I don't have a roommate then," Scotty chuckled. "Only me that has ta worry about a place to stay."
"Well then why don't you room with us? We have a couch you could stay on, if you don't mind it," Jim offered.
"Jim are you serious? I already have to put up with you! Now you are inviting over the guy who blew up his dorm within a matter of two weeks?"
"I sure am Bones," Jim wrapped his arm around Scotty's shoulders, "Come one, it will only be for about a week. Then when his door is fixed he can go back to his room." Scotty smiled at Bones innocently.
"Fine," the older man grumbled.
"Well, what do you say Scotty?"
"Ay, sounds grand to me. You will hardly notice me, I spend most'a my time in the labs workin' on projects that I don't keep in my room."
"See Bones? You won't have to worry." Jim smirked at the older man, teasing him. "We are headed to the mess hall, would you like to join us?" Jim pointed at Scotty.
"Sure thing. Though I can't stay long, my class starts soon," Scotty smiled, and followed the two as they continued their trek for breakfast.
"Bones normally don't stay long either. He decided to take the early morning medical classes because he thought he would be able to get away from me, but I am an early riser." Jim nudged Bones shoulder who rolled his eyes with a light smirk.
"Jim is a compulsive liar. I took the classes so I could finish my course earlier, and because I can sleep through them, considering I already know what they are teaching. And my name actually isn't Bones. It's Leonard McCoy. This kid decided to start calling me that and I never hear the end of it." Bones smiled to the Scotsman briefly with an acknowledging nod.
"Were you a practicing doctor before join Starfleet Len'rd?" The scot inquired as they rounded into the mess hall.
"For a couple of years. Then my wife divorced me and I had practically nowhere else to go, so I enlisted." Scotty followed the southerner to get his coffee while Jim picked up his food. A smile played across Jim's lips as he watched the two chat.
"I suppose I should call ya Dr. McCoy then," Scotty smiled.
Bones' face visibly brightened at this. "I wouldn't mind. Although I hardly hear it anymore because of Jim." The man's usual scowl returned as he looked over at the blonde. He laughed lightly when Jim smiled. "You can call me whatever you like."
"Alright." Scotty smiled at his two new friends. "Our classes are in the same direction, Len'rd, would you be so opposed to walking together?"
"I actually wouldn't mind that," Bones said and nodded for Scotty to lead the way. The two waved to Jim as they carried on their conversation, heading out of the hallway and to their classes.
Jim smiled, watching the two then looked around the mess hall for a free place to sit. He felt the chipper attitude from before return as his eyes landed upon the always empty seat across from the raven haired, stick in the mud, Vulcan professor. The cadet made a beeline for the seat and sat very indiscreetly across from him, as to pull his attention away from the PADD he always had in his face. The Vulcan turned an emotionless eye on him and Jim smiled. When Spock registered who it was Jim could have sworn the Vulcan let out an inaudible sigh and placed his PADD down.
"I do not remember inviting you to sit with me at breakfast during any of the chess sessions we have held. I was sure our relationship was clearly confined within the walls of the academy's library." Spock's voice held a heavy amount of masked irritation, which only amused Jim further.
"Really? I thought we were really getting along and that it would be socially acceptable for me to share a meal with you in the mess hall?" Jim held Spock's eyes challengingly. The Vulcan's dark eyes were relatively emotionless as most were, but Jim saw a spark that wanted to desperately rise to the challenge, but stayed dormant.
"There was no discussion, nor any indication that we were to meet and socialize outside of the library, and I have an eidetic memory if you wished to question my capability of marking the social cues held within the conversations shared over our games of chess." Spock moved his eyes away from Jim's, feeling successful in his attempts to drive away the unwanted visitor.
Jim shook his head lightly with a laugh, "you may be a genius Spock, but you know nothing about humans. Normally if you spend regular time with someone, two to three hours at a time like we have, you are considered friends and are allowed to sit together whenever. It isn't all textbook and social cues. Sometimes it just depends on how the wind blows and if the sun rises at 6:00 or 6:01. But then again sometimes the blinds are closed or they don't wake up in time to watch the sunrise."
Spock knit his brows together, "I do not understand why you would rely upon such an imbalanced relationship."
"You aren't supposed to understand." Jim laughed. "It's just what humans do. Like Bones for example-"
"I assume you are referring to Dr. McCoy."
"Yeah. He grumbles and growls at me all the time and complains that he would rather have a different roommate, but honestly he wouldn't leave me."
"How can you tell? He does not show any signs of wanting you around," Spock inquired.
"I just know. It's just a feeling you get when you have friends. You don't always need them to tell you if you want to spend time with them, or tell them that they can spend time with you. In Bones' own way he shows affection to me by calling me names. He honestly worries if I come home late on a day I don't have to work. I've had him hit me over the head a few times for not telling him I was going to be in late," Jim laughed and shot a smile at the Vulcan whose attention had become drawn by the fair haired man.
"Fascinating," Spock muttered.
"So what do you say Commander?" Spock lifted an eyebrow at this, already used to the boy calling him by name. "Are we friends?"
Spock took a moment to contemplate over what Jim had said. A smirk twitched at the corner of his lips as he stood with his PADD. "I do not believe we are friends yet. Perhaps if you improve your chess skills and beat me in a game this afternoon then I cannot oppose to you sitting with me during breakfast." Spock walked away, leaving a mildly shocked and amused Jim sitting at the table. He turned around for a second to look at the cadet. "But you may call me by name as you always have, Jim."
A smile spread across Jim's face as he watched the Vulcan exit. He let out a loud whoop of joy when the man was out of the room. He quickly wolfed down his breakfast and sprinted out of the mess hall and to his class rooms, wanting nothing more than for them to fly by as quickly as possible so he could kick some Vulcan butt in their next chess battle that afternoon.
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The summer breeze floated across the courtyard, calling out more cadets than normal this afternoon. Jim found his usual spot under a tree across from the window that lead into Spock's class. He enjoyed watching the Vulcan and occasionally making face at the other cadet's whose eyes wandered out the window. He earned a laugh here and there and he pondered over making signs requesting the students help him prank their professor. He turned the thought away for a later date and focused on the sunny afternoon that begged the attention of nearly all of Spock's tree shaded him enough to keep him cool against the sun that beat down invitingly. Relaxed against the tree, Jim felt his eyes slipping closed. He tried his hardest to keep them open, but succumbed to the warm afternoon.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Opening his eyes Jim saw the grass beneath him and felt the tree against his back. Upon turning his face upward he found himself somewhere he had never been before. A large lake sat before him and it reflected the light purple glow of the sky help above. Small and bright, white orbs floated in the sky like stars. Not far off Jim could hear the rush of a waterfall. He stood and walked across the grass. A warm yellow sun cast a brilliant orange and yellow light around him as he stepped out of the shade of the tree. The light bounced off of the tree's white bark and deep red leaves. Jim looked around, amazed at the colourful and beautiful scenery that surrounded him. Trees with deep green leaves, pink blossoms, and purple leaves stretched as far as his eye could see. But none of the compared to the massive tree he had been sleeping under. It seemed to be the center piece to which all the life on this world thrived. Birds off all colours, sizes, and songs perched in it's branches. Orbs of light trailed off of it as if that is where they had bloomed from. Jim would not be surprised if they had.
Jim followed the edge of the lake, glancing into the crystal blue and purple water occasionally. He glimpsed small creatures swimming around peacefully playing with each other. Some resembled jellyfish, but when looked at closely, they had small human like bodies hidden in the tendrils. They would tease the fish the occupied the lake or sit upon lilly pads and blossoms, sunning themselves. Jim had to laugh as they played tricks on each other by pushing the other back into the water while they were enjoying the warm sun. The lake soon branched off into a river that was lined with dark wooded trees whose low hanging branches held ivory, round leaves almost resembling pearls. They cascaded down as if they longed to touch the water. Jim lifted a hand to run it across the branches. The leaves were soft to the touch, not unlike that of the down stuffed inside a pillow. A smile spread across his face as he watched the colours of the sun reflect across one of the leaves in his hand.
He neared closer to the waterfall, the sound overtaking the songs of the birds and the whistle of the wind across the leaves. The rush was powerful and loud, but sweet, like each drop hitting the surface was a tiny bell and the expanse was simply a symphony of a million bells. It made Jim feel warm as the waterfall came into sight. It rushed over a cliff of vibrant green grass and tall blossomed trees. The wind carried the leaves down with the waterfall, allowing them to gracefully rest upon the surface of another small lake at the bottom. The man looked around the lake, his eyes traveling the crystal blue edge carefully; searching. His search did not last long before his eyes met the darker ones of a man sitting by that lake.
"Jim," the voice came warmly from the man with a smile.
Jim was startled awake by a slight nudge to the thigh and the sound of someone clearing their throat. His head snapped up to look into the dark coloured orbs of the Vulcan he was waiting for. He gave a sheepish and toothy grin to the man. Spock simply nodded for him to stand.
"Will your antics ever end? If i remember correctly, this is about the fourth time this has happened in the past weeks." Spock said as he strode toward the library.
Jim jumped up and fell into step beside Spock. "It is not going to be the last. It is just so warm and comfortable outside, and watching your class is so boring," the blonde teased.
Spock raised an eyebrow, "then why do you insist on sitting out there and waiting for me?"
"Like I said, it's a friend thing. Hard to explain, I just like to do it." The trotted up the library steps and through the door, heading for their usual chess board in the corner. "Since you are Vulcan I doubt you could ever truly understand."
"I am half human," Spock commented as they sat and started their game.
"Are you serious?" Jim's mouth fell open in disbelief. "But you look and act so Vulcan."
"It is my choice to act upon and emulate my Vulcan heritage more thoroughly than that of my human half. I was raised on Vulcan and it was expected of me to live up to my father who was ambassador to the Earth, where he met my mother." Spock moved his pieces across the board, unphased by this conversation.
Jim took a moment to think of his move while turning over the new information in his head. "I guess it does make more sense. You have these quirks, where sometimes I think you act so human. Like when you show your sense of humor, or you smile with your eyes." Jim chuckled lightly.
Spock knit his eyebrows together. "I hardly believe that any emotion can be read through my eyes as I have had training to shut out all emotion that does not benefit the situation as a whole."
"Your brain may be Vulcan, but your eyes are human. I suspect your mother had the same chocolate brown orbs," Jim smiled and moved his piece.
Spock was taken aback for a moment. There were plenty of compliments of how his eyes were more like his mother's, a lighter brown and emotion filled rather than dark brown and emotionless. With his training to dampen his emotions he was sure no one would notice the slight colour variation. But James Kirk paid just enough attention to catch the smallest detail. The Vulcan blinked and he looked over to the blue eyed man. No one except his mother thought of his eyes as a chocolate colour. Rather they compared it to mud or dust, nothing positive. Spock was unsure if it was simply in Jim's human nature or if he were complimenting him.
"Spock it's your turn," Jim said after the moment of silence made him impatient.
"Yes," Spock said, moving his piece. "My mother's eyes are this colour. Most Vulcan's have darker coloured eyes. Though many have told me, it is hardly logical that my eyes are any more human or Vulcan."
"Eyes are the window to the soul Spock," Jim moved his piece, pulling one of Spock's from the board, having knocked it out of play. "Yours just happens to show human emotions."
Spock contemplated what Jim said over the next few turns. They made their usual banter and small talk, but Spock could not get his mind off of this. He remembered his years of meditation, he even continued it every night. He believed that he had control and yet Jim spoke of how easily his eyes could deceive him. He contemplated over meditating more each night to gain better control over his emotions when Jim tore him away from this thought.
"It is actually really amazing, you being half Vulcan, half human. You can be all stoic and keep up that facade of intelligence and emotionlessness. But when you need it you can show emotion, even if it is just with your eyes, or a small smile. Like around friends, you can laugh and joke, even cry. But around students, or admiral's you can keep your cool so easily. It is pretty admirable," Jim smiled and took another of Spock's pieces. "I almost wish I could do that. But I pretty much run off of emotion 24/7. I don't know if I would be able to handle composure like you do."
Spock's eyebrows lifted minutely and the corner of his mouth lifted at this. "It is illogical to think that you could hold the same composure as a Vulcan. It takes years of training and meditation. You can hardly sit in the same position in your seat while playing a game of chess."
Jim looked up at him with a smile and let out a barking laugh. The two continued their game in good spirits. Jim was able to get Spock to crack another joke and he swelled with triumph, despite having lost the match royally. Jim couldn't knock the smile off of his face as they stood and headed out of the library. Even though he knew it wasn't the best of ideas, Jim nudged Spock's shoulder with his own playfully and the man raised an eyebrow at him.
"Sorry," Jim chuckled, "force of habit. I constantly try to remember that Vulcan's like their little bubble of space because of the touch telepath thing. It is just something I would do to my friends back home whenever we were having a good time. Although, I suppose since I lost the match I can't call you a friend yet."
"It is alright Jim," Spock spoke with his usual tone, his eyebrow relaxing into his stoic look. "Although I would disagree in you saying that we are not friends. After this game it is clear that what you said this morning is true, and I would not mind spending my morning meal with you."
"Really?" A smile spread across Jim's face and he walked backwards to face the man. "Spock, you have such a roundabout way of doing things." He chuckled. "Though I guess that fits what I said this morning. Friendship is pretty unpredictable."
"With this I bid you goodnight Jim," Spock nodded and headed toward his quarters and Jim headed toward the dorms.
"See you at breakfast Spock," he shouted back to the man.
Upon arriving in his room he was greeted by two cheerful faces. Well one cheerful face and the other that turned into a scowl. Jim smiled back, kicked off his shoes and laid on his bed. Scotty sat comfortably on the couch that would be his bed and Bones sat at his desk, his chair turned so he could converse with the scotsman.
"Glad to see you didn't stay out late without explanation again. I don't want to be rudely awakened at one in the morning again." Bones said to Jim.
"That was one time. Now you normally stay up in my nights off to make sure I get home safe and not late like a good little mama bird," Jim teased.
Bones rolled his eyes and turned back to Scotty, continuing their conversation and ignoring his annoying roommate. Jim relaxed on his back and stared up at the ceiling, specifically the lights. The orbs reminded him of the pseudo stars in his dream. Because of his focus Jim hardly noticed when the room's two other occupants stood and we're headed for the door until Scotty directed a question toward him.
"Len'rd and I are headed to the mess hall, would you care to join us Jim?"
"Huh? Uh, no I'll get something to eat later." He responded.
Scotty nodded and the two left. Jim turned his attention back to the light and his hand mindlessly fiddled with the locket under his uniform. He sat up and pulled the locket out. He pressed the button for the gauge and watched the line that had hardly moved in the past few weeks. He had been doing so well, but his stroke of luck ended after about two days. The blue barely passed the second of the five marks on the gauge. With a sigh he pressed the other button to call the alternate Spock. He was greeted with smiling, chocolate brown eyes and a 'hello'.
"Hey Spock. It's been nearly a week since we talked last." Jim smiled.
"And You have hardly made any progress in your task. But perhaps you have made progress in making my other self your friend?" The older Spock quirked his eyebrow in the same way younger Spock had started to do toward Jim.
Jim laughed lightly at the correlation, "I finally got him to acknowledge that we are friends and that spending time with someone more than once a day isn't a bad thing, and goes hand in hand with being friends. Although I suspect he already kind of knew this and was just toying with me the whole time."
Alternate Spock let out a soft breath similar to a laugh, "I can assure you that he was mostly aware of the social cues of friendship, although reluctant to give into them, as well as wanting to frustrate you. I mean well, though."
"I believe you. It was something when I told him that I suspected his mother had the same chocolate brown eyes that he did. And that they were more human than Vulcan."
Spock's expression softened, "our mother was the only one who would ever refer to them as chocolate brown. They were actually an object of ridicule on Vulcan as most have dark brown eyes that are emotionless. So in a way you complimented him."
Jim laid back on his bed and held to locket above him. He smiled at the thought of unintentionally complimenting his friend. Looking past the hologram of the older Spock his eyes once again caught the light fixture. Jim explained his dream to Spock and asked what alien planet the memory had been a part of. The older Spock's eyes flickered with sadness for a moment before they returned to their soft gaze.
"That memory was from a dream Jim often had. It was sort of like a sanctuary. As you have told me, you know that Vulcan's are touch telepaths and you have seen memories where I have no worry of being in close proximity or even touching the Jim of my universe. As Jim and I grew closer as friends, because of this we formed a mental bond. That sanctuary actually became a place where we could occasionally visit the other in a dream. It is quite a rare and extraordinary thing to do."
Jim listened intently with his mouth agape. He could hardly believe that could be possible even with a Vulcans telepathy. Yet he remembered it so vividly. The colours were bright inside his mind. He could remember the warm and comfortable feeling the place gave him. His heart ached lightly for he yearned to be within that realm again. He looked back to Spock and a soft sigh escaped him.
"I suppose it isn't the same without him," Jim said softly.
"I can no longer visit this place, as the bond is incomplete." Spock's eyes were sad for a moment once again.
"I am so sorry Spock. I promise to work harder to fill the gauge. I can't believe I am making you wait so long. Summer is already here." Jim groaned angrily at himself.
"It is alright Jim. As long as you complete your task within the time given, then I do not mind the wait. If you work hard, then you can do it, you somehow always make it through, even in no win scenarios."
Jim smiled. "I don't believe in them."
Spock couldn't help the smile that spread across his lips, "I must get back to my crew now. Live long and prosper, Jim."
"See ya Spock." Jim pressed the button on the locket and the hologram disappeared. Jim jumped up from his bed, feeling ready to attack anything that came toward him. With his new ambition bubbling inside him he headed to the mess hall to enjoy dinner with his roommates.