Chapter 21 – Turbulence
The first thing Spock felt was sore. His shoulders and neck throbbed at his movements while his shoulders held a dull ache as if they had remained in the same position for so long. Next felt a weight on his body. Someone clung to him, though by the hold they were slumbering peacefully. Opening his eyes to the dark of the cave, Spock groaned lightly. He blinked several times before looking down to find his beloved Bria laying curled on top of him. His brown eyes wandered over her naked form, noting shamefully just how many bruises and bites she had on her back and shoulders alone.
Panic filled him; however, when he moved to wake her, but his hands were shackled...She had to restrain him. This both relieved and disgusted him. Why? Why did his Vulcan blood pull him with such need? Bria did not deserve this… "Bria?" He shifted under her, rocking his body sideways to try to jar her. "Bria...please wake up."
"Mm?" the sound of his voice fired up her mind before her body even twitched. She was groggy and slow, never one to wake up right away or easily, especially if she'd been sleeping deeply. Her eyes opened a crack, and the darkness startled her, the only light coming from the mouth of the cave. The candles had burnt out. So...two days? It was morning...so this would've been the third, but...she felt the rise and fall of his chest, his breath moving her hair which tickled her face, and warmth. Suddenly her eyes shot open and she sat up, "Spock! You're alive! And normal!" her face lit up with happiness and she heard the rattle of the chains. Quickly she reached up and undid the restraints, following his body as he thumped to the pallet. She hugged him tightly, "You're okay!"
Pulling away from her, Spock held his mate at arm's length, "My well being is not of importance. It is you that I am concerned for. Did I harm you? Where is the medical kit? I shall attend to your injuries..." It would be the least he could do...he must have been a monster by the looks of her body. She needed medical assistance. An ill sensation came over him at the thought of what he had done to her. He, from the looks of it, had been so rough with her, so careless. No. He knew he had not cared at all. His primal side would have cared only about pleasing himself. Spock could not bring himself to look his beloved in the eyes now. She must hate him...He dared not even cross his side of the link for fear of what he would find.
Ugh. This felt like something straight from the movie Twilight. Bria rolled off of him, grunting and reached over the side of the pallet, grabbing the bag and handing it to him. "You're infuriating," she grumbled, "Nothing you did to me was unwanted, but nothing I say will convince you of that. Yet you won't look at the link which I have wide open." She felt tears of frustration and pressed her lips firmly together, "You haven't even taken a look at yourself. You're such an idiot." She was…just happy he was alive, but he was so hell bent on believing it was an awful experience. For anybody else, maybe, but she would get over it.
Spock's brows furrowed in confusion at her anger over his concern and self-shame. He had harmed her...and she claimed to enjoy it. Glancing down at himself, the Vulcan became even more confused upon seeing he too had bite marks covering his exposed skin, as well as claw marks from where she dug her nails into him.
Hesitantly, Spock trailed over to her mind through the Bond. He had expected to find horror and disgust directed towards him, immense pain of their couplings...but he found none of that. In fact, the only pain, besides the dull ache of their prolonged activities and his workings on her, was that of mental hurt from his reaction to her. She had gone through so much for him and he wouldn't even hold onto her. To top it off, she had actually...enjoyed the experience. He shuddered at all the dirty talk she had spoken to him, despite it being a one-way stimulus. She had encouraged him, sought to please him...and now he couldn't even look at her.
Bowing his head in shame, Spock turned away from his mate, "Bria..."
She sat up; wincing at how the bite marks stretched and she felt blood seep from the ones on her back. She couldn't reach those to clean them, so for all she knew it could be puss as well. Reaching out she grabbed his bicep and tugged on him. "Don't fight me...come here. Look at me, /please/," she begged him, "I still want you, I love you. I did all of this for /you/! Please..." /'Don't break down, don't break down...'/ she coached herself. She had been expecting this, as sad as that seemed, but it still hurt.
"I lost control, Bria...I could have killed you if you had not bound me...It...horrifies me that I...I did that to you. It is a part of my biology...and it will not be the last time it will happen. I hurt you...used you...You are my everything, my life...and I belittled you for my own barbaric needs..." The Vulcan murmured as he turned to her, and, like a needy child to a mother, he curled his larger body against hers. He needed to tend to her, and he was being selfish once again for simply allowing her to circle him in her arms tenderly. "I am sorry, ashaya..."
The tears fell and she nuzzled his hair, holding him tightly. She was glad he was holding her again. She hadn't wanted to bind him but he was right, it had been for her own safety and well-being. She wouldn't have been able to go to the bathroom, eat, drink, sleep...that reality had struck her yesterday, after all her own stubborn denial, but she did it all anyway. It was all worth it to have him here with her now, "I can and will do it over and over again if it means you'll be with me. I forgive you, Spock, I forgave you before this even started. Taluhk nash-veh k'dular, so much. You needed me, so I provided, because I need you in my life. I told you...I can't handle another heartbreak."
Spock nodded, pulling away to gently lay her down her stomach. He winced physically at the marks. One in particular looked red and started to have a clear, runny yellow liquid mix with the blood. "Do you wish for me to clean this or have McCoy do so? There is no need to stay here any longer. You clearly detest the environment...and the people."
He did not wish yet to verbally say his affections back to her as his self-loathing still was evident. However, he allowed wave after wave of affection to flow into his Bria's mind. Soon, he would, he knew, speak what she wanted to hear, but as of the moment, they seemed too...loving for one such as he who had treated her so. Spock would earn her love once more first.
"The people aren't so bad...I like your father, but the rest of the council is what I dislike. While watching other Vulcans interact with the crew, I found them interesting," Bria sighed, "I'd rather no one else see me like this...I'll have Ayano perform a woman's physical later," she added as she felt her inner thighs and abdomen throb. The more she moved, the more aware she became that she was beyond sore, "I did good with my front, but I can't reach by back. I have to ask...do you want them all to heal, and re-mark me when we make love properly?" With how much he hated seeing them, she was curious.
Spock mauled over the proposal as he began to tend to the wounds. He wouldn't lie, as Vulcans do not lie, he rather enjoyed the way the marks looked on her. They would show she was his...but she had so many that it looked like an animal had chewed on her, which to some extent /did/ happen. "The one on your right shoulder that is already healing, we can leave. I will tend to the others." The Vulcan stated as he finished rubbing in the medicine into the wounds. "I will make another at a later time of my own will. Now I must propose a similar question to you. What of the marks you made? I did not know you found such...appeal in the biting of a mate. I have counted five thus far."
"Five?" Bria giggled softly. She hadn't counted, just bit. "Maybe the one on your shoulder, too," she offered. The bites on her body started to feel better, "Your beast rather enjoyed it, so I gave him what he wanted. I made sure to clean those, too, while you were unconscious. I thankfully only had to use three tranks; one so I could restrain you, the other two so I could get you to sleep while I did. I had tried without, but your whimpers and the rattling of the chains made me feel like I was neglecting you."
Spock lips tugged at into a slight smile as he tenderly placed tapped gaze pads over the areas. Leaning down, he pressed his lips to the back of her neck after brushing her hair out of the way. "It is fascinating how willing you were to care for me despite everything. I will have to, as you would say, make it up to you." Amusement filled the male at the spike in her scent and temperature, "Not now, ashaya. You need rest."
"Going off of your 'no lying' moral…I couldn't take anymore, anyway…I can't help my body's responses, though," Bria shrugged, rolling over to face him, and she reached up, caressing his face. She was glad to finally see his dark chocolate brown eyes again, without him being wild or refusing to meet her green gaze, "Now that we're mated and married," she shook her head, the thought still new to her, "You're going to learn the real me real quick. I hid things and didn't mention stuff because I didn't know how you'd react, or what you'd think of me once you knew. Now there's no going back," she ran her hand along his chest, finding comfort in the fuzz sliding between her fingers.
His flaccid penis caught her eye and she tilted her head curiously, a smile and a blush finding its way on her cheeks. She hadn't had much…time to look at it, even after she chained him up. She used to /own/ weirder toys, but to see a double ridged green cock on a /man/ was what got her doing a double-take. It had felt absolutely amazing, too. Looking back at him she giggled noticing he was actually taking time to admire her own body.
Having only truly seen her naked after his Fever passed, and that only briefly out of concern, could not resist the temptation to gaze over her when she took the time to examine him. Despite the bruises and the other wares of the previous two nights, he found Bria's form most pleasing. Spock had often imagined how she would look in the state she currently lay in. He did her little justice as her natural beauty could not be imagined. The Vulcan categorized every curve, dip, and smooth flesh before he met her gaze. His face flushed green, "Perhaps...after you have healed we can perform such activities of our own minds..." Spock brushed his hand against her cheek before claiming her lips in a light kiss, "You are beautiful, my Bria..."
Bria kissed back, but the weight of responsibility and worry had been lifted, and she accidentally broke the kiss as she yawned, her hand covering her mouth, "I would thoroughly enjoy that," she murmured tiredly after it passed, "T'Pau said they'd return for us after three days...so will that be later, or tomorrow? There's no way to contact them, is there?" She didn't want to sleep...she wanted to hear his voice more, listen to his breathing, feel his heartbeat under her hand; all signs he was still there, that everything was okay.
"Tomorrow," Spock replied softly, gently stroking her hair, "Rest, ashaya. I will not leave your side. Your body has been strained over these past two days. You do not wish for the others to see you in a weakened state do you?" Shifting to lay beside her, he pulled his mate into his arms, keeping her close with her head tucked under his chin. "Sleep..."
X
Jim was ready to pull his hair out. He hadn't gotten shore leave extended, but the week wasn't up yet. They were in the dining hall of the Embassy, but he couldn't eat. Spock and Bria been gone for three whole days. Today was the fourth and he couldn't believe how anxious he was. Sarah was beside him, but all he could do was glance between his food and the double doors.
Sarah shifted in her seat, poking at her food before sighing louder than she meant to, "…Jim, they'll be here on time. When have you known Spock to be late? Well, besides Bria's birthday party, but he was waiting on a gift. I'm worried too, but it's not like they would be stranded here either. I mean, there are plenty of ships." In truth, the brunette was just as worried as her boyfriend. Had something gone wrong? Was Bria alright? Would she see her sister again? Something else bugged her too. Jim acted more worried than anyone. He had tried pulling all sorts of strings to get the leave extended, and was absolutely furious that he couldn't. Clearly he knew something she didn't.
"It's not that..." He was worried if Spock was even /alive/, or hell, if Bria was. If the Vulcan had seriously injured his lover, or killed her, he would be distraught and inconsolable, and never the same. There were so many things that could go wrong; he'd seen them during the meld. "I just...Spock told me it was really dangerous. I'm worried for Bria...can you guess what he'd be like if she was hurt?" he smiled lopsidedly, unable to really put any effort into it.
Shaking her head reach reached up, putting her first two fingers together, and jabbed his forehead lightly, though still enough that he blinked in surprised. "I'm the only one allowed to worry so much. I've had years of practice of it. Bria is fine. Spock is fine. How do I know? Because one is a woman who survived /five years/ practically dragging little scardy-cat Sarah around a, and pardon my language, fucked up world. The other is a Vulcan who had to put up with /you/ and your jump-first-look-second attitude. You don't know my sister like I do. She can handle anything that comes her way. Why don't you believe the same about Spock?" She wasn't...comfortable ranting like this to Jim, but she couldn't stand seeing him so...anxious and not try /something/.
"I'm not at liberty to explain," Jim sighed, and he shook his head, "You're right, though. Bria's crazy enough to accept the whole ritual thing and go through with it despite the dangers. I had to convince Spock she'd be okay. I just want my best friend, my First Officer, to come back all in one mental piece." He heard the doors squeak open and his head snapped over. "SPOCK!" he shot up out of the bench at warp five and bolted down the hall.
The said Vulcan looked up in enough time to prepare himself as the Captain ran towards him. He braced his stance so that when Kirk barreled into him, they didn't tumble over. His brows furrowed in confusion down at the blond, "Captain? This is a rather...unusual form of greeting." Spock looked to Bria, but she only smirked and shrugged. Hesitantly, he patted his shoulders, unsure of what to do in the man's arms. It..was not unpleasant, however, to be in his arms as odd as that sounded.
Sarah watched with a prick hurt, but not from Kirk...mostly. She was a little upset that he just took off in the middle of their conversation, but she was used to people ditching her so she got over it. No it was the fact that obviously not only did her boyfriend keep the fact that her sister was in an apparent dangerous situation with Spock, but /Bria/ too. Sighing, Sarah got up and made her way over to the others, shaking her head in amusement at their silliness.
Bria reached out and squeezed the Captain's cheeks as well, and they made faces at each other, "Why show touchy-fweely Cap-tan?"
"Cuz I cawn!" Kirk responded.
Spock's was completely and utterly confused by this...strange, very strange, behavior as well as the odd sensation on his posterior. He could not even form words at the display as he had never seen two humans, although technically Bria was Fylakas, interact in such a manner. It both worried and mildly amused him. Such odd beings...
They let go of each other and laughed, rubbing their faces before looking at Spock again, "I'm glad everything worked out," Jim smiled and hugged him again, "I was really worried about you."
Bria went over to her sister and smiled at her, "Yo," she hugged her tightly, "It's been one heck of a week…sorry if I smell. Spock and I haven't had a chance to take a shower," she muttered into Sarah's shoulder.
Spock could not understand why the Captain felt the need to continue to hug him. "As much as I am appreciative of your concern, I do not understand your repeated hugging. I would have thought that a simple hand shake, as per your customs, would be sufficient." He did not push away, however, and allowed him to hold onto him. It felt..awkward after some time, but the Vulcan remained in place. If the Captain wished to do this, he would allow it for the time being.
The younger sister pulled away first with a serious face, "I'm not exactly happy with you at the moment. My brilliant boyfriend over there is in hot water too, though. Next time you have to do something dangerous, I want to be told. I mean...Jim was practically clawing at the walls waiting for you guys to get back, and it made /me/ worry, and only a few moments ago he let it slip that you might have been in danger. I know you're going to do your own thing, and I understand that whatever happened is really between you and Spock...but I don't like being kept in the dark...I'll chew Jim out later, you're just victim number one right now because you're my sis...jerk-face."
Jim nuzzled his neck and sighed deeply, "It's a human thing, okay?" he didn't expect Spock to understand. It was Spock, after all. Hell, even he couldn't completely understand it himself. He was just...relieved to see him? It was more than that, though, wasn't it? "After what I saw in the Meld, I was worried what would happen. You're...you're my friend, Spock. What would I do if...you weren't you?"
Bria bit her lip, "I am sorry, sis...I didn't mean to. A lot was on my mind...I'll be sure to tell you next time, I promise." She shook her head, "I totally understand why you're upset. I'll make it up to you. I didn't particularly have an excuse, though I had to pull teeth to get Spock to say anything," she shrugged.
"I assume that you would grieve then eventually move on." Spock stated, swallowing at the sensation Jim created. "It would only be logical to do so. I do wish to know why you were confident that we would be fine while I spoke with you, however, now you admit that you had not actually felt this way."
Sighing, Sarah pulled Bria into another hug, "...I just I should just focus on the fact that you're okay...but you owe me cake and chocolate for this." Scrunching up her face, she glanced at the Captain and First Officer, "I'll have to grill Jim over this now...hmmm should I make him suffer or fry him?"
"I did at the time," Jim said firmly and pulled back to look at him, keeping his hands on his upper arms, "I got increasingly worried, though, as the days wore on. /I/ kept coming up with scenarios and being a pessimist. I'm sorry..." he dropped his hands and unsure what to do with them, he put them behind his back and clasped them, "Um...W-Welcome back then, Spock." He looked down, away...anywhere but him. He felt awkward now...he should've just kept to himself.
Spock folded his arms behind his back as well, tilting his head curiously at the Captain. He appeared to be acting even more odd than before. "There is no need to welcome me a second time as you have done so. It is most curious as to why you will not look at me." Hesitantly, Spock reach out and placed a hand on Jim's shoulder. The Captain had done this many times to him. It was a strange human gesture, yet it seemed to work when Jim looked at him. "I do not see that you have done anything wrong."
It was...uncertain how she felt about how Bria was encouraging this. Though...those two... Sarah stuck her tongue out at the brunette, but stayed in place, "The cake better not be lie in real life, or this portal jumper is going to put you through an infinite loop."
Jim smiled sheepishly and shyly, pink tinting his cheeks, "I just keep rambling. I'll stop now," he shrugged, but he relaxed, enjoying Spock's touch. He was hardly the initiator when it came to contact, so it was...cool, to say the least. maybe it was Bria's doing? "I'm glad you're back to your usual self, Spock. It's nice to have you with us again. I wasn't able to get shore leave extended, but it looks like we have a couple more days left of what we have. We can just enjoy ourselves."
Bria burst out laughing, drawing the attention of several people still in the dining hall, but she didn't care, "Oh boy, I needed that laugh. Things have been just so serious and uptight, it's nice to relax. No, it won't be a lie. I'll mess around in the kitchen if Eri'll let me and make you a cake, I promise," she beamed.
The Vulcan Starfleet officer raised a brow at the two women. He turned his gaze back to Jim, "That will be most acceptable as there no longer is a need. I may also add that I believe Bria feels does not enjoy this planet type." Pausing, Spock leaned a fraction closer as he lowered his voice, "I thank you for understanding, Jim."
Seeing her sister smile made any traces of, as Vulcans would call it, negativity dissipate. She pulled her into another hug before pulling back and jabbing her fingers at her forehead. "I vote that we either drag those to and make them watch cheesy romance movies with us, or we ditch them and explore. I must remind you, however, that we are not schooled in Vulcan so we /might/ get in trouble with the locals."
Jim's breath hitched and he swallowed thickly. "U-Um...how about we head up to our room? You can shower...your hair is a mess. Maybe we can play a couple rounds of chess?" he asked hopefully, "I...want to see if you're all there," he poked his First Officer in the forehead, "Considering all that's been going on..."
"On the contrary, while on our way here, I found I picked up on the Vulcan language easier thanks to the Bond Spock and I have now. That I can definitely explain if you want me to, it's pretty awesome," Bria grinned, "I still can't pronounce worth a damn, my new hubby's gunna have to practice with me on that, but I can get a gist of what they're talking about. Let's go to our room before we go exploring. If I don't shower I'm going to suffocate from all the sand that's in my pores," she made a face.
"It is logical to be concerned, and chess would be an appropriate means of testing one's mind." Spock nodded. After glancing at the women, he added another reason as to accept, "It appears that Bria and Sarah are wishing to explore New Vulcan which means that I have...free time."
"Awwwwwwww, my big sis has a /hubby/," the younger woman teased, poking at Bria's blushing cheeks, "You know, for your first anniversary you two should renew your vowels, or in this case /make/ vows so I can partake in your wedding." Giggling, she held up finger, "Oh before we leave I need to speak with Jim real quick."
"Awesome!" the Captain grinned brightly and he looked over to Sarah, "You guys gunna go off and do your own thing?" he asked. when Sarah looked at him he tensed, knowing he was in for a talking to later.
"You know...that sounds like an a really good idea. I'll talk to Spock about it. Have a Terran wedding next year, and just enjoy each other as Vulcan Bondmates right now," Bria was pleased by this idea, "I like it." Looking over at their men, she did notice how Spock's head was tilted, as if he had been listening in more ways than one, /'What do you think, ashaya?'/ she inquired, finding his curiosity to be amusing.
/'If you want it, I shall comply. Though you are not human, you were raised as such, and I believe humans value weddings.'/ Spock mused, rather enjoying the images of what she would like for a dress and theme. It would most certainly make up for the brutish ceremony they went through. His cheeks tented green when she discovered his musing and turned to the prospects of after the wedding. /'That is most acceptable as well, ashaya. However, I might add that such activities will not take a year to partake in.'/
Rolling her eyes at her sis since obviously those two were communicating through this Bond thing. Sarah looked over to Jim and crossed her arms silently. Ugh, she wanted to just rip him a new one right then and there...but that wouldn't be fair to him as she needed to say them in private. He hadn't known her long enough for her to have one of her 'moods' flare up, so he wouldn't know how to handle her. She shook her head after watching him squirm a bit under her half glare, "Jim...we'll talk later..."
/'Hmmm, I would hope not,'/ she purred through the link, /'With how I truly am, I'll probably be jumping you in a week...I'm rather insatiable,'/Bria sauntered past him, brushing her hand along his chest and giving him a smoldering look, before she went into the hallway, /'Besides, Bones gave me a depo. I was unsure of how this would affect things if I mentioned it before hand, so I kept quiet. I...do want children, as I mentioned previously, but I don't want them yet. I want us to get to know each other first...'/ she shifted, hoping he wasn't upset with her for not saying anything.
Jim bowed his head, "Yeah...I had a feeling." He hoped his secrecy didn't ruin things between them.
/'It is logical, as we have not known each for very long. We still have many things to learn of another before adding in a child. I see no reason as to worry.'/ Spock assured her, knowing that until they understood one another fully, each would be cautious of their actions and decisions. Turning to the upset Captain, the Vulcan found it to be…uneasy to see him like this. "Perhaps we should take our leave now?"
Sighing for the hundredth time, Sarah walked over to Jim and give him a half hug before following after Bria. He looked so pitiful it was already becoming difficult not to give into that look. They needed to talk though. Better it be over something like this than something worst.
"Yes, definitely. Let's go," he slung his arm around Spock's shoulders and led him out into the hallway. They went one way while the girls went another. They definitely needed to just relax and enjoy each other's company. He hadn't gotten a chance to play chess with Spock in a while, and it made him happy that would soon change.