Chapter 25
When Spock returned to his rooms at eleven, he was met with the rather suggestive sight of a shirtless Jim Kirk sitting at the breakfast bar, and a smirking Leonard McCoy crouched down in front of him.
Letting the door slide shut behind him, the noise alerted the blonde that he had arrived, and he met Jim's eyes from across the room. Setting down his briefcase next to the door, he raised an eyebrow at the boy, and the younger mutant grinned.
"Oh no, Bones, I hate to say it, but it looks like we've been found out".
The Vulcan's eyebrow rose even higher as the doctor jumped in surprise, immediately scowling at the boy and whacking him over the head.
"Shut it, brat. And put on your goddamn shirt!"
Jim stuck his tongue out and McCoy glared once more before kicking his medical bag out of the way as Spock came over.
They brushed fingers softly, the action going unnoticed by Jim, and the doctor gave his boyfriend a warm smile reassuring him that yes, our boy is fine even if he is shooting his mouth off, and Spock's lips twitched upwards in response.
Taking the seat next to the blonde, the Vulcan shrugged out of his jacket and slung it over the breakfast counter.
On his other side, Jim spun the stool around to face him, a salacious grin on his face.
"Hey pointy".
He raised his other eyebrow at him.
Bones snorted.
"Ignore him Spock. Turns out, not only does coffee make him awake and somewhat coherent, it also ups his flirting game".
"Aha! So you do admit I have mad skills!"
"No, brat, I didn't say you were skilled, I said you flirted too much!"
Listening to their banter, Spock couldn't help but notice that the boy had previously ignored Leonard's command to redress, and now, with one elbow resting on the counter and the other thrown over the back of his chair, it gave the Vulcan quite the... shall we say, pleasant view, of the tense shoulders, toned chest, and taut stomach.
Perhaps disobeying doctor's orders occasionally had some benefits after all...
"Spock... Spock... Spock!"
He blinked and raised his gaze to meet amused hazel brown eyes.
Jim flexed in a rather... fascinating way, grinning unabashedly across at him, "See something you like, counsellor?"
"Aesthetically speaking, you have what I believe humans call a 'Dorito' shape, a pleasing body type to look at, though personally speaking, I believe the phrase 'Ectomorph' is more accurate, as you have a high percentage of lean muscle despite being underweight. Therefore, speaking specifically as half human and as a scientist, I do indeed 'like' what I see".
Jim stared.
McCoy snorted.
"Well, you got what you asked for, kid".
"Shut up" He muttered, cheeks flushing as he ducked his head, and Spock couldn't hold back a fond smile at the sight.
It did not escape his notice, how his boyfriend's lips were graced with a similar expression.
"Right" McCoy said, clapping his hands as he straightened up, "I think it's high time we showed ourselves to the outside world, don't you?"
"No" Jim answered immediately, and both men turned to him, surprised.
He nervously got to his feet and paced, avoiding their gazes, "I just... I don't want to... I mean, if I see him I'll-"
"You won't be alone" Bones said firmly, "We'll be right behind you, no matter what, and even if we weren't, you have to face him sometime".
"I know, but I... I can't... I don't want to- to-"
"Hey" McCoy interrupted, gently taking the teen's arm and leading him over to the couch, "Don't worry. We know what Mitchell's like, perhaps better than anyone... We won't let him hurt you again-"
Jim snickered.
The two older men blinked in shock.
"You think I- I- that I-" He fell down onto the couch, "Oh my god, no! I'm not worried about him... hurting me, god knows I could flatten him if I wanted to! That's what I'm afraid of!"
Spock frowned slightly, "You are worried about... about you hurting him".
"Well... yea" He replied, as if it was obvious, "I mean... after what he did to you, and then forcing me to date him, not to mind all the people in between... I might actually kill him".
It was concerning how nonplussed he was about that statement.
"Well, as much as he deserves it... he's not worth going to prison over".
"Who said I'd get caught?"
Bones paused, "... Taking the whole 'I hate my ex' thing a bit far, aren't you?"
He smirked sardonically, "My ex? We weren't exactly dating long".
"A week?"
"Five days" He corrected, collapsing back in his seat, "That's all we lasted. Five. Fucking. Days... And you know what the sad part is?"
His head fell to the side so he could look at them.
"That was the longest relationship I've ever had".
McCoy swallowed and cautiously took a seat next to him, "... You're only 17, kid. You're too young for relationships".
"Are you telling me you weren't dating someone at my age?"
The doctor glanced over at met Spock's concerned eyes.
"... That's different. I was... older. Forced to grow up. I was dealt the shit side of life and... I aged from it".
"... And who's to say I haven't?"
They turned sharply back to the teen, meeting his haunted gaze for a split second before Jim looked away.
Spock cautiously took a step forward, "... Where are you from?"
"What?"
"Where are you from?" He repeated, "It's not in your file... Where did they find you?"
The blonde seemed to think for a minute, "... Those are two very different questions".
"You move around a lot?" Bones asked quickly.
His mouth twitched at something ironic.
"Yea. You could say that".
"I could?"
"You shouldn't... But you could".
The Vulcan frowned, "Where you grew up and where you were recruited were vastly different locations?"
"If by vastly you mean a few states apart, then yea, sure".
"Where are your parents?"
"Well. You know where my father is".
Both men flinched.
"And my mother is... you know what? I honestly couldn't tell you".
His self-depreciating smirk cracked their hearts a little.
McCoy spoke first, "You haven't spoken to her in a while, then?"
"Not for a few years, no".
"So, who were staying with?"
"No one".
Spock slowly walked over and took a seat on the other side of the blonde, "Who watched over you while your mother was away? I understand that she went on multiple missions even after your father's death".
"Her husband".
"Your step father?" He corrected.
"Her. Husband" He repeated with more force.
The Vulcan filed that little piece of information away for a later date.
McCoy frowned, "So, why did you just say no one?"
Jim looked between them, fists unconsciously clenching and unclenching with his nerves, "... Look, guys, you're going to need a hell of a lot more than a friendly interrogation to unlock the Tragic Backstory"
"So it is tragic".
He glanced sideways at the doctor, "... Didn't you say something about going out?"
"I did".
"... So are we going to do that?"
"Not unless you tell us about your past".
"Will you tell me about yours?"
Both the Human and the Vulcan looked away.
Jim smirked, "I thought so... And I don't know about you guys, but I need some fresh air... Come on, let's go for a walk".