I'm afraid KUS won't be updated for at least a week. I want to watch the film again before I start writing a different version of it. I could skip the movie and do another time skip to after the destruction of Vulcan with a few flashbacks maybe. Any reviews would be appreciated to help me decide!
I've changed how Jim becomes acquainted with Starfleet as he is (in my mind) more relaxed and happy and doesn't want to better his father anymore – he has accepted what happened. Besides, he has a hot Vulcan husband to live for now!
Hope you enjoy! Beware the time skip!
The first thing Jim had noticed when he woke was that he was warm and comfortable.
The second thing he noticed was the muscled chest his head was resting on.
The third thing he noticed were the deep eyes staring at him, love flickering in their depths, as his husband began to softly stroke his hair.
Jim smiled as he tried to move to kiss the Vulcan, before his body protested loudly and he hissed in pain. When he had righted himself, he noticed that the purring had stopped and Striyon had a distinctly worried look on his face.
"I apologise for being so rough. Do you require analgesics?"
"...Noo..." Jim was much too tired to be talking.
"Do you require sustenance? Water?"
"No." Still too tired to be talking and slightly annoyed by it, Jim attempted to dig back down into his lovers shoulder.
"Do you wish for a bath?"
"No. I don't." Jim would now admit that he was getting grumpy.
The Vulcan looked vaguely uncomfortable as he voiced his own secret wish, "Do you wish to... snuggle?"
Jim's anger broke, hearing the hesitation as Striyon practically whispered the last word, "Yes, I would like that very much." Jim sighed as he nuzzled into the warmth of his lover's chest, listening to his breathing and chuckling at the light purr that resulted.
After 30 minutes of silence, Striyon turned to the still snoozing Jim, believing that he was now asleep as his breathing had been relaxed for 14.7 of those minutes.
"I missed you Jim. So much. I never stopped searching for you. I could love no other. " Striyon admitted as he stared.
Jim hid his tears by burrowing into the warm chest beneath him.
"I love you too."
... 4 years later ...
"Just a bit higher... oh yeah... right there" Jim moaned as he tried to push his back into the hands slowly relaxing his aching body.
"Your response to stimulation is most fascinating." Murmured Striyon as he tried not to shiver in pleasure, his sensitive fingertips brushing along the blonde's spine. "The continuation of bodily contact is beneficial for the bond between us. It has been shown that bodily contact raises the levels of serotonin by..."
"Stop talking facts at me. It feels good. That's enough for me." Grumbled Jim, stretching like a cat in the sun.
"As you wish ashayam." Striyon nuzzled his hair as his strokes became harder, pounding the overworked muscles in Jims lower back.
Jim sighed as the ministrations continued, mind wandering as he relaxed even further. He found it hard to believe that already four years had passed. They had undoubtedly been the best of his life. Well, his life so far, as his husband loved to remind him. They would have many more years together as his aging slowed to that of his Vulcan husband.
Before their bed had even cooled from Pon Farr, Jim had agreed to leave his broken life on Earth and move to Striyons family home on Vulcan. The move had been hard, the landscape was unforgiving and the inhabitants were sceptical. There had only ever been one other successful vulcan-human mating and many Vulcans refused to believe a human could truly understand and assimilate into their culture.
Striyon had disobeyed his father yet again and decided to become a poet instead of following in Sepek's footprints. His gamble had paid off, culminating in his appointment as a Professor at the Vulcan Academy. Striyon claimed that is was "logical that his work gained commendation" as he had the most remarkable muse. Jim was very... appreciative.
Jim had often been left alone for days at a time, being unable to socialise with the stricter, less emotional Vulcans in the community. Striyon had actually been the one to push Jim from his loneliness; he had introduced Jim to the Head Engineer at the Science Academy. Ketes* was a long-time friend of Striyons father Sepek, an elderly Vulcan much too obsessed with his machines to pay attention to others prejudices.
It had only taken a few minutes for the two of them to begin to tinker together on an unfinished project that Jim offered some insight on. Ketes had been suitably impressed with his knowledge and demanded (as vocally as a Vulcan can) that Jim be instated as his assistant, much to the shock of every Vulcan on the Academy Council. They had attempted to convince him that logic dictated he take a Vulcan assistant but he had refused obstinately. After numerous attempts, they finally granted his request and Jim had been working with him for 3 years.
Jim had actually gained a name for himself as his work gained acclaim, even extending to other disciplines such as design, programming and communications. The Council still refused to admit they had been wrong, but Jim allowed them to get away with it. Their attitude had improved remarkably after the first offer of a post at a competing establishment on Romulus.
He was known as 'Wuhsu'* to the rest of the universe so that no one came to gawk at a human living on Vulcan. He had enough of that from everyone else on the damn planet.
All in all, the past few years had made Jim more comfortable in his own skin. He no longer blamed himself for how his life had turned out but still refused to contact his mother, even though he understood now how it felt to be in love so deeply that the death of your husband would destroy you.
It was Jims turn to cook dinner and he intended to do it well and then manhandle his lover to their bedroom. Jim grinned as he continued to stir the chocolate sauce, Striyon wouldn't know what hit him!
His dirty musings were broken by the shrill beeping of the communicator screen in the iving room. Jim smoothed down his shirt and checked the number – unidentified. He answered the call suspiciously, the screen flashing up with a rather stuffy looking admiral looking as if he were doing a job well beneath him.
"Greetings. My name is Admiral Clifton*. I am attempting to contact Wuhsu. I have an urgent request from Starfleet."
"Speaking." Jim answered, standing strong in front of the disbelieving expression. "What's the request?"
"Your work has recently come under the scrutiny of Professor Marvin Johnson*, the Head of Engineering at Starfleet Academy." The Admiral continued, still sceptical.
"I've heard of Professor Johnson. His work is well respected."
"Yes." Clifton looked annoyed at being interrupted, secretly making Jims inner anarchist cackle. "He has asked me to approach you to work with him on a new highly confidential project. He believes your input will benefit both the research team and Starfleet cadets."
Jims eyes widened as the request sunk in. That was... unexpected.
"We are willing to offer you a position as a visiting Professor for 3 years complete with off-campus accommodation, wages and numerous other benefits. This has already been negotiated with Professor Ketes on behalf of the Vulcan Science Academy. Their only condition was that you must agree to the move."
The twice-damned, secretive, manipulative, likeable bastard.
"I am honoured to be asked but I will have to discuss this with my husband before I can give an answer."
The Admiral looked as though he had swallowed a lemon, he was obviously appalled by how Jim had not immediately said yes.
"Of course. I will leave you a communication channel by which to contact me at the earliest convenience."
"Thank you Admiral."
The Admiral ended the communication before Jim finished his sentence, leaving Jim wondering how to tell his husband.
It looked like the after-dinner festivities would have to wait.
"It would be a valuable opportunity t'hy'la. This has truly set precedence for other Vulcans who wish to experience such different cultures within their youth. I have only known of one other Vulcan who has had such an offer."
Jim sighed as he snuggled further into the Vulcan before continuing brokenly, "I understand that Striyon, but Starfleet. Starfleet of all people. You know how I feel about them."
Striyon held Jim closer on the couch they were currently laying on, gently playing with his soft hair.
"I thought you no longer blamed Starfleet for the issues in your life."
"I don't blame them. That doesn't mean I like them. Besides I wouldn't want to leave you." Jim's whisper trailed off into silence as he refused to look his lover in the eyes.
"I feel I must inform you that I have already contacted the Academy and given notification of our acceptance. I am most intrigued by the similarities between pre-reform and Terran poetry and have been planning for some time to visit Earth, San Francisco in particular, to continue my studies on the emotionality of Terran texts."
Jim gaped at the smug Vulcan, mouth opening and closing humorously.
"Y-Y-You didn't..."
"I can assure you ashayam, I did. We leave next week."
Jim sighed in defeat against the purring Vulcan, "You were planning this with Ketes all along weren't you?"
Jims only answer was the smirk on his husbands face.
* Translations:
Ketes - integrity
Wuhsu - a person distinguished from others by a special quality
Both human names have been made up as they don't really feature again in this fic. Well, Marvin Johnson might but only really in passing.