Sorry for the late update, guys, but there was this huge ass storm last week that took out my power for a few days, but now I have it back!
So, enjoy!
Rachel :)
Chapter 28
"Jim".
The blonde froze, standing just inside his bedroom, before slowly closing his door and turning to face the owner of the voice.
Nyota sat primly on the edge of his couch.
He blinked.
"You know... I'm getting some serious déjà vu here".
She rolled her eyes at him, but couldn't hide a small smile as she stood up.
"Walk with me".
Jim frowned, tracing her steps to the door behind him, "Why?"
"Walk with me".
"Why?"
"Because someone wants to talk with you".
"Who?"
"Professor Pike".
"Forget it".
Nyota sighed and turned back to him, "Jim... You just beat up another student".
"I just beat the shit out of a sick and twisted man who caused me harm first".
"That don't excuse your actions".
"It gives me a legitimate reason".
"It also gives Mitchell probable cause" She replied, "As well as over three dozen witnesses. Professor Pike's office. Now".
Jim stared, "... Alright, fine. I'll go to Pike's office".
He narrowed his eyes at her and pointed an accusatory finger.
"But not because you told me to".
He wasn't surprised to find both Spock and Bones already sitting in front of the large metal desk when he finally waltzed into Pike's office 20 minutes later, purposely having taken the scenic route to get there.
Marching over to the table, he stood between the two other mutants, the human holding his head up high and the Vulcan ducking his own in shame.
Allowing his empathy to rise closer to the surface, he picked up on Spock's anxiety, and placed his hand on the back of the man's chair in response, sending out calming buzzes through the faint contact with the Vulcan's shoulder.
He felt the cloudy air dissipate slightly, and Spock's appreciation hummed right back at him.
Pike smiled at him, though it didn't quite reach his eyes, "James, please, take a seat".
"It's Jim" He replied tightly, "And I'd rather not".
The man sighed, exasperation radiating off of him in waves, "You've been here one week".
"I noticed".
"And yet you've already caused grievous bodily harm to another student".
"I told you, you didn't know what you were getting into".
"I didn't expect you to hurt someone!"
"And I didn't expect to be hurt first".
"Yes, but can you prove this?"
Bones made a strange sound in the back of his throat, like he wanted to oppose that statement, but kept his mouth shut at the headmaster's dark look.
"James-"
"Jim" He interrupted, glaring right back at him, "How is that so difficult for you to remember?"
"Perhaps because that's your birth name" He snapped, "The name your parents christened you with!"
Now that was a low blow.
"Well, do you see them?"
"... See who?"
"My parents" Jim growled, "Do you see them anywhere here? In this room?"
"... Of course not, but-"
"Because my father went off and got himself killed and my mother might as well be dead for all I care!"
"But Frank-"
Jim abruptly stilled, and the room suddenly seemed to boil.
"Don't you fucking dare say his name".
In front of him, Pike paled terribly, and the blonde felt the ends of his sleeves burn off.
Clearing his throat, the older man nervously opened his mouth, "... James-"
"Jim!" He snapped, so fucking sick and tired of everything that had happened over the last few days, and all he wanted to do was to go home but of course he didn't fucking have one and now he could feel the heat from his hands on his arms and his chest and his face and that meant he probably looked like a fucking inferno right now and-
He felt a hand clasp around his wrist.
Startled, he jumped and spun around.
Bones sat still next to him, his hand gripping the fireball that used to be Jim's arm, his face set with steely determination and his jaw clenched, even as his skin was burned off just as quickly as it was healing.
"Calm. Down" He said quietly, voice strained.
Jim stared at him in shock for a full minute, before slowly glancing back down at his hands, studying with a strange fascination at how the doctor's fingers were reduced to ash before reforming every second before his very eyes.
That must hurt, he thought distantly, that must really hurt.
He didn't want to hurt Bones.
Closing his eyes, Jim took deep breaths, focusing on the firm but gentle grip the doctor had around his wrist to ground him, and, surprisingly, it worked.
Reopening his eyes a few minutes later, he noticed the flames gone, the sparks gone, the heat gone, but Bones's hand remained.
"You good?" He asked quietly, and Jim slowly nodded, "Yea... Yea, I'm good".
He gave a small smile as his hand finally fully healed, and he pulled back, the singed jacket sleeves the only sign that any of it had happened.
"... Thanks" He finally whispered, and Bones nodded, "No problem, kid".
Still in partial shock, Pike stared at the trio, confused.
He was sure that both Spock and Leonard were condemned to be their own company once they joined the Academy, and they had surprised him greatly by getting together a year later.
And now, it seemed, they would surprise him again.
They liked the kid.
They really liked him.
Because here they were, in front of him, the animated blonde standing in between the quiet pair, as they protected him.
As they cared for him, cared for him more fiercely that he'd seen them care for anyone but each other before.
He studied them carefully, as McCoy let go of the boy's wrist, his own hand reduced to dust before slowly but surely reforming.
He wouldn't allow himself that much pain for anyone.
So.
This was an interesting development.
Spock and Leonard McCoy were after taking to the dangerous teen in front of him.
Pike couldn't control him, he knew that the second he met him, just like how he knew he couldn't prevent one Gary Mitchell from using his powers against anyone he pleased.
But perhaps... perhaps George's son didn't have to go down the same route as Mitchell did.
Perhaps Spock and Leonard could help him.
... Perhaps James Tiberius Kirk could be saved after all.