Enterprise High

being a high school AU of ST: XI

with many hijinks

and much angst

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Chapter Fifteen: Shore Leave

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It was Sunday night of the next week, and everybody was at the Shore Leave, nursing drinks. They had worked on the hovercar all day. Even Scotty was so tired that he wasn't constantly talking about the plans he had for it. A couple of non-Hoverclub members were there, including Gaila, Janice Rand, Gary Mitchell and Elizabeth Dehner, Kevin Riley, Helen Noel, and Ruth Bonne, who Kirk had been in love with in elementary school. Now, though, she was a committed lesbian, which saddened him greatly, although he cheered himself up by asking if he could watch. The slap was worth it.

At nine, Kirk drew Bones to one side. Kirk felt strange around Bones, now. He hadn't liked the way Bones had attacked that night last week. He didn't mind being used for sex—well, he did, but… it was complicated. Sex was great. It was sex, how could it not be great? But he had been reminded of a time when sex hadn't been great, when it had been terrifying because it was new and wrong and strange, but he'd done it anyway. He had felt that creeping sensation coming over his body again when Bones had kissed him, like he was just going to do it, not enjoy doing it.

Bones looked guilty. Kirk's skin crawled as Bones's fingers accidentally brushed his elbow. They had moved out of the small, main light to a corner table, dimly lit.

"Listen," said Kirk. "I'm sorry I was so weird last Wednesday. But—I was just—" He shook his head. "I don't know. It just didn't seem right. I like being with you, don't get me wrong, because I think I even sort of like you, but you just—you sort of handled it wrong, no offense, but you didn't ask me, you just assumed—"

"Alright," said Bones, throwing up his hands. "I know. I'm sorry, Jim, I really am. But—I guess I had gotten this vibe from you about you being okay with it. And I felt—really voracious, that night. Like I couldn't stand it anymore. I objectified you and I apologize."

"I was okay," said Kirk. "I'm not sure if I still am, though. I know the feeling, like you just have to stick your dick in something." He grinned, breaking the tension of the moment. "It honored me that I had been chosen to be the recipient of said dick, but the recipient really ought to be asked."

"I know," said Bones, looking ashamed. "I'm really sorry."

There was an awkward silence. Kirk tapped his foot, wishing he could speak to Bones. He considered saying something about how he'd never noticed how blue Bones's eyes were before, or the way his hair stuck up in the strangest places, or the freckles scattered across his arms…

"Heard you slept with Helen," said Bones, not really knowing what to say.

"Yeah, Tuesday," said Kirk listlessly. "She's great. Really sweet. Kind of insane, too."

"Seems steady to me."

"Well, in that she's so into psychology. She was saying the weirdest things while we were sixty-nining."

"Why would you tell me that? Why?"

Kirk perked up. "What, you're not interested in oral? It's—Bones, it's the best. I think it's my favorite position."

"You would think so."

"God, man, have you tried it?"

Bones sipped his iced tea, nose wrinkled. "I'm not a sex toy."

"Okay, seriously. Let's do this right now. I mean, you don't even know." Oh man, thought Kirk. I would just love to go down on Bones.

"Please stop. My disgust isn't mingling well with my hard-on."

"You are a man of many emotions."

"All of them contradictory, let me assure you. Jim, why do you sleep with so many people?"

Kirk was taken aback. "What? Uh, because it's fun?"

McCoy raised an eyebrow. "Seriously, Jim. You haven't thought about it? It's your defining characteristic."

Kirk had definitely thought about why he slept with so many people, and he knew why, but he wasn't about to tell Bones. He didn't plan on telling anyone. But for some reason, he'd never really expected anybody to ask him about it. None of his psychologists were aware of his reputation—they didn't care enough to talk to his teachers or peers—and so sex had never come up before.

He decided to tell the truth a little. "I dunno. Maybe intimacy."

"What d'you mean?"

"Well, I always—I never knew what to do with people. You know, I could only ever read them for my own benefit. And then, when we were in Iowa, my mom was off planet all the time, and it got—it got really hard for me to identify with other humans, and I got really detached. I had depression, actually. I got better as soon as I started sleeping around. It was the physical contact, I guess."

"That's pretty analytical of you, Jim," said Bones, not entirely fooled. "I remember you bein'… different, after a while, after you moved, but I figured it was just you growing up."

"It was that, too," said Kirk, holding his glass tightly. "Unhappiness does things to you, ages you. I feel much older than I am."

"I'm sorry," said Bones, frowning in sympathy. He reached out to touch Kirk's hand. This time, Kirk felt warmth and concern, and some tingles. He smiled at Bones, sweetly, and Bones smiled back, just as sincere.

x

Gaila was standing on a table, entertaining everybody with a story about how she'd been cornered by some girls a few years ago who were offended by her habit of sleeping with anything that breathed.

"They called me a slut, among other things," she said, brushing her copper red hair out of her eyes. "And I just said, 'What, that's your term for enthusiastic sexuality? Come on, I'm an Orion,' and then one of them had the gall to say I should have been kept in the slave trade, so I got suspended for a week for violence against a peer. Her face never really looked the same. See, I'm fine with insults about my sexuality, but my heritage?" She made a face. "Bitches. I made sure to sleep with all of them later, out of spite. I've never had so much fun doing orgasm denial."

Kirk and Bones had come back from their talk.

"Can you do anything about your hormones?" Kirk asked. "Not that you'd want to, I guess."

"Lots of Orions on Earth or in Starfleet take supplements to keep their hormones at a human level, but my philosophy is that it's my body and I can do whatever I want to with it. Of course, from that argument, it influences your bodies—I mean, I've slept with (almost) all of you at one time or another—but, be honest, did anybody dislike the experience?"

Everybody but Spock shook his or her head emphatically.

"See? No harm, no foul, to borrow an idiom. I do good works." She grinned widely. "Monogamy is not the way to go."

"Aye aye," said Scotty, raising his cup in a toast. They exchanged winks.

"It's not that bad," said Gary Mitchell mildly, his arm around his girlfriend Elizabeth Dehner. "I mean, we break it for the occasional threesome or swing party, but you'd be surprised how amazing sex with the same person can be."

Gaila shook her head. "I'll take your word for it. Variety is the spice of life. You know, I really love English."

"The language has its moments," agreed Elizabeth. "Gaila, don't you get tired of switching from one person to the other all the time?"

"Don't analyze me the same as you would anybody else," Gaila warned. "I'm just different from you humans. Right, Spock?"

Spock looked up from his PADD. "Your genetic makeup does indeed deviate from our and their own."

"'Our and their own…' What are you, then?" she asked him, slinking across the table and bending down to his face. "Human or Vulcan? I've slept with Vulcans before. They're a passionate race."

Uhura's heart sped up, but something inside her knew everything would be fine. Indeed, Spock merely raised his eyebrow at Gaila's approach.

"Vulcan males are immune to Orion hormones," he said calmly, "and my human side is easier to control than you think. The Vulcans you had intercourse with must have been inebriated or otherwise impaired."

"Hey," said Gaila, drawing back. "Ouch."

"I do not mean to insult you, but to Vulcans, one-night stands are illogical. I doubt the Vulcans you had intercourse with were in full command of their facilities."

"I can be logical," said Gaila earnestly. "I pointed out that pleasure would be doubly achieved by our joining, and that no harm would be done, nor would any time be lost, since I can whittle the full treatment down to about an hour and a half."

"Something tells me that it's not just humans who think with their dicks," said Kirk contemplatively.

"Actually, both of the Vulcans I slept with were female."

There was a bit of a silence as everybody in the room took a moment to appreciate the image. Spock, irritated, cleared his throat. Everybody jumped, flushing. Gaila looked pleased.

"Distracted you guys a bit?" said Gaila coyly.

"A bit," said Kirk hoarsely. "I would pay money to see that." Uhura, eyes wide, looked like she agreed.

"Human sexual responses are so interesting," said Chapel distantly. "Males tend to be sexually aroused by female on female sexual intercourse, while for females, the opposite is true."

"Gay is great," said Kirk. "Who cares why? Please, Gaila, tell me more."

"You had your chance," she said, shrugging away from him. But she tossed him a melting smile over her shoulder despite.

"Tell me where to set up the altar to Kirk, God of Sex," said Gary, leaning next to Kirk. Gary had been a close friend when they were young. He was Jim's age, seventeen, but still a junior. He had short, thick black hair and a blunt, unkind face that often broke character to smile widely.

"Anywhere's good," said Kirk. "I haven't had much of a chance to talk to you. How's life?"

"Going well," said Gary, sipping his black coffee. "I'm enlisting right out of high school. They need psychics in the 'Fleet."

"Psychics?"

"My Esper rating is off the charts, evidently," he said. "You know how some Vulcans are touch telepaths? That's me, and then some. Liz too," he gestured at his girlfriend, who was talking to Scotty, "but she's not as powerful as I am." He grinned.

"I never knew," said Kirk, amazed.

Gary shrugged. "Didn't happen 'till I was thirteen. Something about maturity, they told me." His communicator squawked, and he took the call, apologizing to Kirk.

Kirk got drawn into a discussion with Spock, Helen, and Scotty about the Romulan situation. The Federation was currently negotiation with the Empire for trade rights and possible entry into the Federation at some future date. The Tellarites were up in arms over it, but the humans, Vulcans, and Andorians favored an end to skirmishes and fighting. Ezar, a Romulan Counsel, had begun the peace talks when he had visited Earth a few years ago. He had met and fallen in love with Barda, the Vice President of the Federation, a Vulcan. The Federation and the Empire had watched as Barda and Ezar courted, dated, and finally married, inviting increasing cordiality between the Empire and the Federation. Many Romulans were unhappy with the direction their government was going, but the Empire's structure was hindering its growth. A bad food distribution system and droughts and catastrophes across the Empire had caused a severe food shortage, and prominent Romulans were muttering about trade with the Federation. The accord was close to being signed.

"The accord is the only logical way to end the fighting and starvation," said Spock. "The Federation ought to take this opportunity to negotiate with the Romulans. They never talk. It is incredible that we have come this far."

Scotty looked incredulous. "They could jus' be trickin' us," he said. "We've never had unauthorized contact with any o' their planets. The food shortage could be constructed, and it'll turn out all o' this is a trap."

"I am sure that possibility has occurred to the Federation," said Spock. "You can be assured that they will do or have done sweeps of all known Romulan planets to establish the veracity of their claims."

Kirk said, "If I were in charge, I'd bring the Fleet near the Romulan system for a while after the treaty was signed to make sure the Romulans didn't try anything. And would say it was just to protect all of the new trading ships. I mean, the Romulans wouldn't be too happy about it, but then we'd be safe. Still, my hunch is that they're trustworthy. They have always kept their word, after all."

"James, I cannot see you being in charge of anything, much less a military operation," said Spock. "You have proven yourself to be a good programmer, but little else."

"Harsh," said Kirk, grinning at the unwarranted attack. "Thanks for the dodgy compliment, though."

"It would be illogical to deny your technical prowess," said Spock. "However, it would also be illogical to state that you are a good leader, as you have shown no previous aptitude for taking charge of a situation."

Helen laughed. "Oh, he can take charge," she said, a light in her eye. "Jim Kirk is a man of many talents, Spock. He'd surprise you. Other than being the sexiest guy I know, he's also one of the most compassionate. And of course, you're well aware that he's first in the class."

Spock's eyes narrowed. "Intelligence alone does not imply an ability to lead," he said. "Nor does a… a dominant sexual attitude. And compassion in battle can be a crutch."

Scotty frowned. "Ah think Jim would be a great leader," he said. "When we had t' break into th' race central cortex at Riverside, he took charge quite well. Ah'd choose him as a captain, if ah were given that choice."

"Sweet of you," said Kirk. "See, Spock? If I ever tried to mutiny, at least somebody would support me."

"Well, if it were between you two, ah'd prefer not t' take sides."

"James, the point is moot. I would never allow you aboard any vessel of which I were in charge."

"Oh, Spock. You're too kind."

x

It was cold and dark when they left. Out in the parking lot, Kirk paused by his motorcycle to look up at the stars. He heard footsteps approaching and glanced back. It was Bones.

"We might get to see some of those up close, some day," said Bones softly into his ear. "Not that the idea appetizes me. Spaceflight is horrifyin'."

"You're such a romantic," said Kirk, leaning naturally into Bones's chest. Bones wrapped his arms around Kirk and kissed him on the temple.

"Listen, about earlier—this might be a stretch, but d'you think you need to learn more about bein' in a relationship?"

Kirk felt his heart beat a little faster. "Practice makes perfect, I guess."

"What d'you think about going out with me?"

Kirk turned to face him. "Really? You'd put up with me?"

"I'd be honored if you could attempt to stay monogamous for a while. Of course, I wouldn't be too offended if you strayed, but I'm a one-person man, generally."

"I can do my best," said Kirk. "I'd love to be your boyfriend, Bones."

The smile lit up Bones's face. They kissed laughingly, lingering under the stars for a while.

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Uhura called Chapel and told her as kindly as she could, but Chapel cried anyway. Spock walked into the room just as Uhura started speaking to Chapel, and snuck silently back out again, his emotions threatening to overwhelm him.

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