How you guys want Jim to find out they're dating? They tell him? Someone else mentions it? He walks in on them doing something unfavourable and awkwardly avoids them until he gets a serious talk from Uhura and Sponse's corner him about it?

Rachel :)

PS. Things get a little real in this chapter... But don't worry, it has a fluffy ending!

Chapter 30

Jim sighed for what felt like the millionth time that hour as he stared up at the plain white boring ceiling above him.

After Bones's rather staggering confession, they had all lapsed into a comfortable silence on this couch.

It hadn't taken long for his to get bored.

So to solve that, he did something drastic.

As usual.

Throwing himself across the length of the couch, he had placed his feet in Bones's lap and his head in Spock's, and had equal parts glared and puppy-dog-eyed them into submission.

So now he lay literally on top of the two men, almost certain that they were only pretending to be annoyed, and yea Spock's rhythmic petting of his hair was actually pretty nice, and Bones's hands holding gently yet firmly onto his legs made him feel a little more grounded, but none of that prevented him from still being bored!

He glanced up at the Vulcan curiously.

The older mutant remained staring down at his hair, almost transfixed by the blonde strands he was running his hands through.

He leather-bound hands.

Jim frowned.

"Why do you always wear so much leather?"

If Vulcan's could jump in shock, he was almost positive that that's what Spock just did.

Walnut brown eyes snapped to his, momentarily startled before closing off once more.

"... Leather?" He asked instead, fingers stilling, and Jim missed the comforting petting already.

"Yea, leather" He replied, "Leather gloves, leather jacket, leather army boots... I didn't think that was quite the traditional Vulcan attire".

"It's not" Spock replied, "I... It helps ground me".

"It helps... ground you?"

"My power" He clarified, "It's pure energy, not something that I can turn off whenever I like".

The boy frowned once more, "You can't repress it?"

Spock stared down at him curiously, and Jim was acutely aware of Bones doing the exact same from his side of the couch.

"What?" He asked defensively, itching to sit up, "Why are you both looking at me like that?!"

"You can... repress your powers?" the Vulcan asked, but his frown only deepened, "Well, yea, once I get used to them. I mean, it takes a lot of effort, and I'm pretty much exhausted all the time because of it but... I thought everyone could do it".

"... No, Jim, they can't" McCoy slowly said, "I've never heard of... of someone being able to do until... until now".

He shifted awkwardly, now really wanting to straighten up to be level with them, "Yea, well, if I had all of my powers turned on at once, I'd probably explode... But what has this got to do with leather?"

"Leather is a powerful insulator".

Jim stared up at him, "... You're kidding".

"Kidding?" Spock questioned, a solitary eyebrow raised.

"Joking, messing around, lying to me, whatever. You have to be" He explained.

"I would not... lie to you Jim".

The blonde shivered at the echo of Bones's same words only a day before.

"Well, you sure as hell can't be telling the truth right now. Leather? Seriously? That's why you wear it?"

Spock nodded, "If I did not, I would send out... sparks, as such. They are... quite painful".

"Wait, so, you're actually serious? You're literally the Duracell bunny?"

A pause, a frown, and then pursed lips.

"... Yes".

Jim couldn't hold back his grin.

"Oh my god... That's, like, wow... Oh my god... Is that not absolutely horrible?!"

The Vulcan thought for a moment, "Only as horrible as your own power, I would imagine".

"... Huh".

He relaxed once more on the man's lap, an action that did not escape either of the older men, and McCoy quickly used this opportunity to steer the conversation back into less... dangerous territory.

"How are you feeling, kid?"

"Feeling?!" He scowled, "What the hell do you mean feeling?"

Or not.

He gestured at the blonde's chest, "Your ribs? They any better?"

"You're the doctor here. You tell me".

He sighed and rolled his eyes, before leaning forwards and yanking up the boy's shirt, cool hands meeting scorching skin.

Jim startled slightly, before grinning suggestively down at him, "Bones, please, we have company!"

The man didn't even blink, just continued his gentle poking and prodding with a soft sigh, "Why am I always the one you flirt with? Why not Spock? And why not anyone else for that matter?!"

He pouted, "Because Spock never flirts back and I don't like anyone else! You two are my... You two are the only friends I have".

They both paused, Bones's hands suddenly stilling as they stared at him in surprise, but the blonde's cheeks merely reddened endearingly before he turned his head to the side and buried it in Spock's stomach, keeping his entire expression out of view.

The doctor swallowed, before sharing a meaningful look with his boyfriend over the hidden teen's head.

Spock immediately began petting the boy's hair once more, and after a brief pause, Bones started his medical check once more.

"Well" He began, clearing his throat somewhat awkwardly, "The good news is, you're healing up pretty nicely. A lot faster than I anticipated, actually".

"... And the bad news?"

Jim's voice was muffled from Spock's shirt.

"The bad news... is that it makes no difference since you're banned from the defence class anyway".

The blonde snorted, and reluctantly turned back to them, "Just my luck, huh? One of the few good things about this damn place, and I managed to get myself kicked out of it".

"Oh, come on, it isn't that bad. It's only for four or five lessons".

"And by then I'll be after doing some other stupid thing".

Bones smirked, "You really are a little trouble maker, aren't you?"

Jim scowled at him, "Hey! I am not little!"

"Sure shorty".

"I will end you!"

"Don't worry, I believe you, really, I do" He teased, sitting back, and the blonde glared at him for another split second before suddenly leaping from his seat and lunging at him.

Taken completely off guard, Bones jerked back, managing to lean over the armrest of the couch just that little bit too much, and falling over the other side.

From his place on the sofa, Jim burst out laughing, and even Spock couldn't hold back a smile at the sight.

Bones glowered up at him from the floor, only causing the blonde to laugh even harder.

The younger mutant grinned down at him, "Now who's the short one?"