smartass_captain | The Academy AU for sensors

The night Sam Kirk walks into the Kirk family farmhouse his little brother throws a fucking beer bottle at his face. He misses. If he'd hit, the next several years might not have happened.

Jim is twenty years old and his life is a fucking mess.

He's no longer in the goddamn hospital every other month, but still in mandatory therapy until he ages out of the system on his 21st birthday. His therapist has worked with him since. Well. Since he got mandated one by the University of Iowa's children's hospital when they brought him home and nursed him back from the brink of being starved to death. Sam isn't here about Tarsus though. He's here because he heard little Jimmy just got out of a stint in county for petty theft.

Why's a guy stealing bread in this day and age? Jim doesn't give him a satisfactory answer. He can't. There isn't one. He'd been better until he'd left his personal device at home for a weekend boke trip. Without his meal schedule Jim can't function. But see, his body doesn't tell him when he's hungry anymore either, so Jim hadn't noticed until it was day three and he started hurting. All sense left him. Next thing he knows he's sitting in a jail cell being watched while he eats the food they gave him because anyone can see Jim Kirk is still too thin. Jim hates it. That look of fucking pity.

He was home and on his fourth beer of the evening when his fucking older brother strides in like he hasn't been gone for the last damn near decade of Jim's life.

"Sober up. I want you to come into town with me tomorrow and take a test." Sam had said. Jim thinks he told his brother to fuck off. He thinks he tried, but he might have stormed off so the other didn't see him break down into tears. He dodges Sam for three days before they bond over noon breakfast talking about when their mom finally found out about and ditched Frank. Sam asks where Winona sent him then, since neither of them believes for a second she stayed Earthside to raise him herself.

Jim lies.

But the lie works. And so he lets Sam drive them into town chattering the whole time about Starfleet. He wants Jim to take an aptitude test. If he passes, well. Dear ol' big brother's gonna whisk him away to San Francisco so they can enlist together. Sam got in, you see. Second attempt, so maybe Jimmy won't be going with him Right away.

"Jim." Jim corrects him. He's toying with the idea of maybe letting Sam talk him into this, but he's not forgetting the last damn near decade so easily. Not forgiving it yet, either. He tells himself he'll take the stupid test to shut his brother up. And hell, maybe he'll even beat his 'big bro' and pass on a first try. He aces it, hangover and all. Sam seems real keen on congratulating himself for giving Jim pointers the last couple days and Jim doesn't argue much.

A change of scenery seems like a decent idea.

All he wants to take fits into a single duffel bag he tosses into the back of Sam's beater of a truck and they make for San Francisco...

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From:

smartass_captain

Honestly, Jim's got no idea if this is supposed to be intimate or not. Way he figures, it may just be Spock trying to meet Jim halfway on the man being as tactile as he is. Spock's the only person Jim doesn't throw himself all over. Ironically, he's also the only person Jim would Like to be all upons. His eagerness to get Spock to realize Jim's flirting with him claws at him. With any luck he'll be pinning the goddamn Vulcan to his bed and kissing him senseless inside of a week.

Maybe to celebrate getting into their new classes? That'd be cute and romantic and not at all weird that he's planning shit like this, right?

Either way, Jim's content enough to walk sleeve in sleeve with Spock out across the campus.

"Oooh, yeah computer science is also something I'm interested in. Kinda...not sure where I want to put down though. Because I feel like I could do good in a computer lab, or in a jeffries tube doing some mechanical engineering. Then there's piloting..." Jim would be lying if he hadn't considered what it would be like to sit in the Captain's chair monitoring All of it, too. A ship of his own.

But every time he considers it, he thinks about the Kelvin and it tamps that desire down. He's not some starstruck kid chasing after his dad's legacy. But Sam knows what he wants to do. So does Spock. Jim's going to have to decide on Something if he wants to join Spock in those more advanced classes.

From:

sensors

It would definitely be cute and romantic and not at all weird! However, they are both fucking stupid so put a pin in that for later.

Spock is back to an almost serene (insomuch as he is ever serene countenance as they walk and discuss their futures. Starfleet is the first place Spock has felt he could ever even try to belong, and Kirk is one of the reasons for it. He considers his fellow cadet's indecisiveness for a moment, rolling the thought over in his head.

"Command would suit you well," he finally says, decisive.

The thing about Spock communicating such is this: of course he knows about the Kelvin. He has looked up and read up on the entire thing, knew before even coming to Starfleet Academy at least some of it. But all this time, he has never treated Kirk as though he is attempting to chase a legacy he does not deserve. Even hearing that Kirk wanted to meet and surpass his father's tenure at the academy had not drawn such a conclusion from him. Spock is earnest to a fault, and this is his opinion based off what he has observed, not what anyone else has done or told him.

"People are drawn to your personality." A beat. "I would not be opposed to such a commanding officer."

High praise from Spock, who has held polite derision for many of their instructors up until this point.

From:

smartass_captain

Jim can't help but to roll his eyes at the first. It prickles against that refusal to go through life as simply 'George Kirk's son'. There's no reason why he Couldn't do command track, is the thing. Jim knows he's capable of the coursework.

But Spock keeps talking before Jim can open his stupid mouth. His steps falter a little. It becomes Spock leading them and Jim tagging along without paying attention to where he's walking. The words kinda ricochet around in his noggin for a bit. There's a flush of red on his face so Jim turns to look with sudden intense interest at the building they're walking past instead. Spock's serious about this. About him.

"...Yeah." He should be spouting glib commentary. Inane nonsense that doesn't mean anything. Casual cockiness at odds with how nervous he feels in truth. But he just repeats that in his head a few times instead. This can't be real.

"I'd be lying if I said I'd never thought about it." Jim finally settles on. He's not meeting Spock's gaze until he can be certain he's calmed down. "Have to imagine most cadets do at least once."

From:

sensors

Spock almost startles, to see the flush on Kirk's face. Almost. He does not, however, and wisely does not call attention to it as Kirk had not called attention to his own earlier, had he noticed.

Illogically, it almost feels as though his heart skips a beat in his side. That he finds the human as charming as he does has been a consistent issue for Spock, and that is clearly not changing any time soon despite the unlikelihood of Kirk being interested in him. He repeats this to himself several times before he says anything else; by now it has reached the point it rests on Kirk to lead them to the restaurant they will eat at, so he allows him to do so.

He looks at Kirk out of the corner of his eyes, briefly unable to hide the fondness there should Kirk so much as turn his head to see it.

"I have not," he says simply, "I am uniquely unsuited." The way he says it does not indicate he thinks that he cannot. No. He simply has no desire to be whatsoever. The extent he wishes his level of leadership to be is simply over a group of scientists. That, he thinks, would be enough.

From:

smartass_captain

They argue about it a little on the way to the Thai place. Jim settles into his chair on one side of the small table having barely looked at their surroundings so drawn into the conversation is he.

And well.

Argue isn't the right word. Jim can't even begin to start before Spock is factually pointing out reasons Jim could perform well in Command. And the thing is? Of all the options Jim presented to himself, if he considers it without the baggage of his old man...Command's where he wants to be. Where he thinks he could do the best. Jim just hadn't wanted to admit that to himself. Spock makes it easier. Soon the idea isn't Spock taking science classes and Jim regulations. It's Jim on a ship, in that chair, with Spock serving as a Science officer. He knows without a doubt Spock could get himself to that spot.

Could Jim get himself into the Chair?

A challenge. Jim sets a confident smile on his face. He can't let Spock show him up, can he? He'll do it. Soon the conversation shifts to the papers they'll have to write. To hurrying to get back to their dorm so they can look at the potential classes they can slot into instead of the ones they wish to leave.

The heat of the room hits Jim in the chest when they walk in. He laughs a little in his startle, having forgotten that they cranked it up. He disappears for a quick shower before dropping himself at his desk in just his underwear while he begins searching up reference material on his PADD he wants to include in his paper.

"Hell, after having to explain myself to you all evening, the paper almost feels like it'll be easy." Jim says, one corner of his mouth curling up into a smirk. "I'm gonna knock this out before bed while it's all fresh in my brain."

He forgets in his focus to try to look any more enticing than he may already sitting at his desk and working. The paper first. The classes he ought to be in. A clear goal in mind even if it'll take come coming around on. And the reward in the back of his mind for getting through all of this? Seated on the other side of the room. He's gonna kiss the hell out of that Vulcan to celebrate, just see if he doesn't.

From:

sensors

It feels... Right to be sitting across a table from Jim Kirk debating. Spock is gratified by the mutual conclusion at the end of their meal and tells Kirk such.

He feels more confident than he has in a long time, or ever, to know that he has helped influence Kirk to where he is both best suited and will be happiest. He is born to captain not because of his father but in spite of him on his own merits.

The room is much, much more comfortable when they return, and Spock cards his glance toward Kirk's shocked laugh, about to offer the 'happy medium' again as Kirk realizes just how warm it is going to be, but the upset never comes. He simply leaves to shower and returns in the state of dress he will be most comfortable in.

Undress.

In any case he studiously, as always, does not let his gaze linger (while Kirk is looking at him) and goes for his own shower. He is not quite so unclothed when he emerges, but he is in simply loose pants and light short-sleeved shirt, the most dressed down Kirk will have ever seen him.

He sits at his own desk to work, but as they do, the image of Kirk as he currently is while he discusses the paper with Spock sits with him and sits with him and sits with him. He keeps resolutely turned toward his screen so that Kirk cannot see the very slight flush that splashes across his cheeks.

It is good like this, however. Spock is happy. He believes Jim Kirk to be happy and engaged as well, which is satisfactory.

He will simply meditate tonight to situate his thoughts and pull them gently away from peeling the last piece of clothing from Kirk's body and pinning him to the mattress.

And he does! It does not help, but he does.

Their papers are turned in promptly; there will be a day to process them before announcing the verdict, but Spock is confident it will go in their favor.

This is what he is on a call with T'Pring about in that interim day, in their dormitory in his dressed-down state and allowing her to go over the list of courses Spock has picked from the options to take and offer her opinions as a second set of (Vulcan) eyes.

The call is nearing its conclusion, though, and T'Pring informs him, utterly deadpan, that her mother sends her regards.

"Your mother has made her dislike for me clear since before we bonded," he replies, an extremely dry statement of fact, "and as such her regards are her relief that I have left Vulcan. You may also give her the regard of my satisfaction from not being on the same planet as her. I trust you to relay the message as given."

And then, with a slight tilt of his head reserved for people Spock holds at least a measure of affection for, he adds, "I have found our conversation illuminating and engaging. Thank you, T'Pring. I will contact you again when our schedules allow."

And that is the end of the call; Spock hangs up and returns to his work.

From:

smartass_captain

Jim's gone bright and early the next morning to go and support his brother and Bones for their first hour flight sims. Neither one of them is either very good or enjoys the simulations so he's ready for it to be stressful. Just not quite as stressful as it ends up being. Even by the time he gets there Bones and Sam are working each other up into even more bad moods talking about all the dangers of spaceflight and (in Sam's case) bemoaning why they need to know how to do this at all if they're going to be in labs all damn day.

Working on research papers. Jim's offering of coffee only seems to make things more tense as the pair are now caffeinated and pissy, but at least Jim's got a cup to see him through. Bones has to get his legs to stop shaking after long enough to drag himself off to the clinic for a shift, so Jim hauls Sam out to a cafe to calm down once the whole ordeal is over.

He asks Sam to look over his paper thinking that, you know, flight stuff might not be Sam's forte but the man loves his papers. Jim and he have talked at length about the kind of stuff Sam is genuinely interested in and while Jim's never going to get the same kind of pleasure from it his older brother will he is genuinely glad to see the man finding his place. He wants to do the same, you know?

But when Sam looks it over, the expression he's giving Jim is incredulous more than appraising.

"You want to go into Command? Seriously??"

The words dig harder because Jim's surprised to hear them. He thought he'd done a pretty good job explaining his intended path through the Academy in his own words. But that's not what Sam's asking. And Jim squirms in his seat.

"Yeah. I think I'd be good at it."

"Like it's that easy."

"Wh-No, obviously not. This isn't a paper to say why I should have a ship now, Sam. It's about why I should be allowed to test into higher classes to prepare me to get there." Classes at a higher level than what Sam is taking. That would put Jim out of the Academy before he graduates. His baby brother who rolled up to his aptitude test hungover and still managed to ace everything. Because apparently Jim just doesn't have to try at anything.

Just shows up and has it handed to him on a silver platter.

"Spock and I were talking about it last night and he thinks--"

"You really think the Vulcan knows what it's like out there for us? What it'll mean for You to have to smile and nod for every goddamn admiral who wants to talk to you about Dad??"

"His name is Spock, first off, and Yes like I said, I was chatting him up about it."

"Course you were chatting him up. I'm telling you that's a waste of time."

They're still fussing on the way back to Jim's dorm. No longer arguing exactly. Sam's upset and Jim can't for the life of him figure out why.

"If you didn't want to look over my paper in the first place you should have just said so." Sam doesn't say anything at that and Jim makes a disgusted sound in the back of his throat before they walk the last floor in silence so Jim can go pick up the books he needs to return from his room and hit up the library. He's so distracted being annoyed at Sam that he doesn't think to announce himself when he opens the door to catch Spock dressed down in a way he only Ever is when he's comfortable talking with a hot Vulcan lady.

He's pretty sure he hears Sam choke behind him at the snippet of conversation they overhear.

If Sam's needling about Jim's plans hurt, Spock not telling him that he was fucking engaged takes all the fire out of him. He stares down at his bed for several seconds. How did everything get so fucked in less than a day? He scoops up the books he wants off his desk.

Shoves them into his pack.

"Going to be studying, don't wait up for supper." Jim calls out over his shoulder as casually as he can manage. He steps back out into the hallway and seals the door.

"You're trying to sleep with a guy who's engaged, huh?" Sam finally asks after they get back into the dormitory lobby. Jim glares at him but that one, he figures, he deserves.

"Nope." Jim replies with extra emphasis on the P. "News to me."

"Hey, better to find out before you waste time, right?" Sam tries to console even though he's kind of shit at it. Jim shrugs. Maybe it doesn't matter to his baby brother after all.

"Yeah, sure. I'm gonna head to the library." While the original intent was to find a few new books and come back, now? Jim thinks it's time to spend some time away from the dorms for a while. Go find a drink or seven.

Ah yes, he thinks to himself while he wanders campus. Nearly forgot what it was like for that other shoe to drop. Every goddamn time...

From:

sensors

Spock should have heard them coming. He was too engaged in his conversation with T'Pring, however, and by the time he turns to greet Kirk (and note that the elder Kirk (derogatory) is present), he is already shoving books into his bag and leaving. There is something strained in him that is not normally present around Spock and Kirk does not even give him time to speak before he is gone.

Spock is, frankly, mystified. However, he attempts to attribute it to human fluctuations in mood and the fact that Kirk and his brother often seem to be at odds with one another.

Something about it is off, but he forces himself to not think about it as he continues his studying, eats alone (which he has not done in weeks now), and goes to bed.

He is in what amounts to fitful meditation when he receives a call; it being from Doctor McCoy and the time of night both make something clench tight in his side; the explanation does not help in the least, but Spock hurriedly dresses and heads out to meet both McCoy and Kirk to assist in getting everything sorted out, hopefully before any faculty notice.

It is chilly for anyone out, but extremely cold for a Vulcan—Spock forgot a jacket in his rush, but it does not matter. What matters to him is Kirk.

From:

smartass_captain

It's an odd scene, and not a good one.

Dr. McCoy appears to be stone cold sober trying with mixed success to drag Jim back to the dorms. And Jim? Is a fucking mess. It doesn't help that he absolutely does not want to be touched by McCoy and has ended up toppled over into the grass after his latest little fish flop got him out of the doctor's grip.

"Fer fuck's sake Jim, you need t'let me see you--"

"Fuck off!" Jim half slurs, half groans. The ground is spinning. "Didn' assssk you t'show up."

He reeks of cheap rum and of sweat and blood. His face is bruised. His knuckles bloody. Someone must have contacted Leonard and the doctor? Contacted Spock.

From:

sensors

For just a moment, Spock feels cold but not because of the temperature.

The smell of rum, sweat, and blood is strong enough to his nose that Spock actually cannot help wrinkling it slightly before he forces his expression to return to normal.

He shoots McCoy a look, who returns it with worry and exasperation in his face. Spock crouches on the grass next to Kirk, brows knit tightly. "You require medical attention. As you have previously stated that Doctor McCoy is the medical professional you prefer when needed, it would be preferable for you to allow him to do so."

He knows that reasoning with an inebriated person does not work. He does not enjoy entertaining paths of action he is aware of the certain failure of; however, he will at least be able to say he attempted to before simply bodily hauling the human off of the ground.

And for the fair warning:

"Should you continue to refuse, I will be forced to move you myself."

From:

smartass_captain

Bad enough that Leonard of all people has to see Jim like this. Had to haul his ass out of the bar before Jim ended up fighting the whole damn place after the first bastard earned it. Jim knows he's a hypocrite. That he's kept Bones from doing the exact same thing he's doing now and he hates it. He hates that instead of being mad at him Bones is trying to help.

No one tries to help.

Sam's words dig underneath Jim's skin. HIs breath comes out in a broken sob. Just one. Because then Spock shows up and Jim fucking breaks. His fingers dig into the grass, pulling musty wet earth scents up to the surface for something to grip tight to. He strangles his breath in his chest.

Feet in his vision. Jim knows those lightweight linens. Spock hadn't even gotten dressed to come out here.

Why? Why are they being Nice to him??

Pity. The word comes up unbidden from where Jim's pushed aside his problems the whole time he fled from them in Iowa to come running to Starfleet. Like the jailer standing over him in his cell watching to make sure he ate every last bite of his meal.

Fucking Pity.

Because they know Jim doesn't belong here. That this is all he is and they feel Bad to see him slam himself against the walls. Sam tried to tell him, tried to remind him of who and what he is. He's not cut out for this. And if he stays with Leonard and Spock who are so fucking brilliant he'll only weight them down.

"Mind y'r own business." Jim hears himself growl out. He doesn't want to do this. Doesn't want to be here. Doesn't want to be seen. But they are. Jim is. "What t'fuck would you know about any of this?"

"Don't listen to him--" Bones shoots at Spock before sighing down at his best friend. This is bad. The kid's blackout drunk and damn near feral.

"If I want to get fucked so hard they break my goddamn spine I'll do it. If I wannt pick a fight with th'whole goddamn fleet who thinks they're better'n me I fucking will! Fuck the Academy, fuck starfleet, fuck the Chair and fuck both of you. Just. Leave me 'lone."

The moment Spock reaches for Jim he's getting his sleeve grabbed. Jim's fingers are dirty, his grip too-tight were Spock human.

"Don't. Fucking touch me unless you mean business. I'll beat th'shit out of you." Jim snarls. "I don't need...t'be babysat!"

From:

sensors

Speaking of words digging under someone's skin, what Kirk says feels like thorns, knives, cutting deep; McCoy's reassurance does not help though Spock appreciates the attempt.

And Kirk just keeps going. Spock is not sure what caused this breakdown, what made Kirk react like this, or what is making him attempt to push them away.

"We will not be leaving you alone," is what he says just before Kirk grabs his arm. Spock's eyes flick down to his fellow cadet's hand. "What they think has no bearing on the truth of your worth, Cadet Kirk." It has been a long time since he tacked Cadet on either verbally or mentally, but he is compartmentalizing very quickly all at once in ways he has not had to since childhood. He is trying to take into account that Kirk is deeply intoxicated, that he likely will not remember what he is saying. However, for Spock, when people say things to him, they mean them.

He has still not fully grasped the ease with which humans lie.

"You will also not be, as you say, 'beating the shit out of' me. Should you desire to not be 'babysat,' you must act in ways that do not require it." His voice is quiet and clipped, but not cold.

"Both of us together should be able to drag his ass back inside," McCoy says, and Spock nods sharply once before adjusting his position in order to get a proper grip on Kirk to haul him up to his feet despite the way the human is still gripping to his arm. Even through the fabric of his sleeve, Spock can feel echoes of intense, jumbled emotions through transference—he does not understand them.

"It would be preferable if you would comply."

From:

smartass_captain

"Careful--" Bones murmurs as Spock hauls Jim up.

"Fuckin'...hate you both--!" Jim slurs. He tries to take a swing once he's on his feet but he misses by a good half a foot because Leonard knows better. The doctor knows better than most that Jim can really go nuts in a brawl if he feels trapped. Spock's not going to let Jim struggle though.

The only thought in Jim's head right now is Not letting his voice break. If he starts sobbing he's not going to stop.

It's probably for the best to stop him from making this worse.

From:

sensors

Indeed, Spock is not going to let Kirk struggle. He has not been this upset or angry in a very, very long time, but he does not lash out even though he illogically feels as though Kirk saying he hates them (hates Spock) has reached into his side and ripped his heart out. He does not lash out, he does not lash out, he does not lash out—

—Spock says nothing, but he does shift his hand enough to apply a nerve pinch and then catches his dead weight as soon as Kirk is out.

Then he straightens, hauling Kirk up with him and over his shoulder like he weighs nothing, and gives McCoy a nod so that they can get him inside, treated, and put to bed.

McCoy is, unfortunately, able to see the brief flash of hurt in Spock's eyes before he shutters it away behind what appears to be cold indifference.

"I will leave him to your care once we have taken him inside." Because he needs to step away. Needs to be alone. Needs to be where no one will see it if he breaks down.

Even more illogically, he finds that he desires to be in his mother's presence.

From:

smartass_captain

"Well. That solved one problem." Leonard growls out around a frustrated sigh. He'd be more mad and asking Spock what the hell he did but to be honest? Whatever he did Jim deserved and worse given the man's trying to fight them both while being three sheets to the wind. "I appreciate ya coming out, despite...this."

It's damn clear he wouldn't have been able to get Jim inside without knocking the man out like Spock had and he probably would have earned a black eye or worse for his trouble being in Jim's flailing range.

Spock doesn't answer. Leonard kind of expected that.

Great. Now He needs a drink dealing with all of this and can't have one. Spock's really fucked up about all of this which Bones didn't even know was possible. And Jim...mad as Bones is at the kid, he didn't run off to go and get himself hurt for no goddamn reason.

"Yeah I'll put him in my room for th'night. Keep an eye on him." Not like Bones is going to get a lick of sleep while he's worried if his best friend's given himself alcohol poisoning or taken anything worse than shitty rum. Thankfully, Leonard rooms right next door to Jim and Spock. He knows the security for their room by now, so Spock's free to leave while Bones gets Jim cleaned up, put into sleepwear, and checked over.

By the time he finishes, it's about an hour before dawn and there's been no sign of Spock in the room. Leonard scoops up the man's jacket and heads on out to find the other goddamn infant caught up in all of this. His quiet Andorian room-mate is keeping an eye on Jim while he heads out.

Someone's gotta take care of these two.

From:

sensors

"I care for his well-being. It was logical to assist." Spock says it stiffly as he sets Kirk down where he is instructed to, and then nods. "I thank you for ensuring his safety."

After that is when Spock leaves. He does not return to the dormitory, instead stepping out into the cold in the hopes that it will cause him to be unable to focus on anything else. It is foolish and irrational, but he is not thinking about that just now.

He does not keep track of how long he sits out in one of the gardens, looking up at the stars—looking at Vulcan's presence in the night sky. He has never felt homesick until this very moment.

At one point he notes the dirt remaining on his sleeve and does his best to brush it off. He wonders, bitterly, why Sybok would ever want to loosen the reins on his emotions if it becomes possible to feel like this with no recourse.

Not that attempting to meditate helps, of course.

It is almost dawn before McCoy finds him and Spock's expression is at least back to its baseline; the hurt has left his eyes. So has the softness, however, that normally lingers in the corners.

"It is late, Doctor. Or early, depending on which way you consider the timing." An observation: McCoy at least should be getting rest while he is able. Spock is able to go far longer than a human without rest; his health will not suffer from a single night of brooding.

From:

smartass_captain

"Sure is." Leonard agrees. He reaches over and drapes Spock's jacket over the closest arm to him. Then slaps down a pair of gloves. Those are His, but he didn't see any on Spock's desk and wasn't about to go rooting around the man's things after everything else he's had to deal with tonight.

"Jim mentioned you don't do well in the cold. Put this on." It's not a question.

Leonard doesn't sit on the other side of the bench. At least not right away. While it's objectively true that until this moment they were both Jim Kirk's closest friends, they haven't exactly spent much time Together. Much less without Jim there as a buffer.

"This your first time dealing with a drunk? Human or otherwise?"

From:

sensors

"He was correct in stating so." Dry.

Normally, Spock might have some kind of pithy comment in response to the Not A Question. However, he is stung and raw enough that he simply puts his coat on. The gloves give him longer pause—sharing gloves is an extremely, hopelessly intimate gesture for Vulcans, all things considered. He is aware that is not the case with Terrans, but it still leaves him overwhelmed in a different way than he had already just been.

Spock puts the gloves on.

"No. However, Vulcans in an overwhelming majority deal with being inebriated very differently. And while I have witnessed intoxication in humans since my arrival on Earth, I have not had to closely interact with the concept previously." So: Yes and no.

From:

smartass_captain

"That oughta make you feel a little better Physically." The doctor has his own hands tucked into his pockets. It's cool out, but nowhere near Cold yet. Cooler than Leonard would like as a Southern boy but he'll manage.

After Spock explains, Leonard lets that linger in the air for a good solid minute. Just lets Spock take in the fact that he's not alone out here. That Leonard is clearly not here to take Jim's side or something. "Alright, first things first. He doesn't Actually hate you. Either of us." Bones starts. He's looking out across the gardens rather than up at the stars or at Spock.

"Ain't gonna make excuses for the kid. He was outta line. But he doesn't hate you, and if he'd actually managed to hit either one of us I think he'd have never forgiven himself. Don't rightly know what's gotten into him since last I heard you two had one hell of a day yesterday. But I've got an idea."

From:

sensors

"Thank you." Just that for a long moment, quiet. He looks over at McCoy as he speaks, brow slightly knit. The explanation both helps and makes him feel more lost over the entire exchange.

"I am still unused to the ease with which humans say things that they do not mean." This is not to say that Spock has never lied: he will not admit it, but he has. Through omission, mostly. However, it was never like this.

Spock is about to note that they did indeed have 'one hell of a day yesterday, but his wounded curiosity after the man states he has an idea of the problem gives him pause; he tilts his head slightly.

"Please elaborate on your theory."

From:

smartass_captain

"I'll be the first to admit 'family's a loaded word for anyone, but I'd be willing to bet Jim went ant told his brother about his plans for the classwork and he wasn't too pleased. Swear every time Jim tries to impress the man he just looks more and more like he sucked on a lemon."

The doctor levels out a long, frustrated sigh.

"The only other time Jim's let himself go anywhere near that bad before was when some big shot admiral showed up to check in on George Kirk's kids. Those two didn't speak to each other for two weeks after. Just don't seem like a good relationship."

It's not he whole truth, but then, Leonard can't know what that even is.

From:

sensors

Spock listens to everything that Doctor McCoy has to say without interruption. He briefly looks as though he will ask a question about the relevance of citrus fruits to one's expression, but he ends up not doing so. Instead, he sits slightly less rail-straight next to him and looks out across the garden they are in before he says anything at all.

"I am familiar," he finally says, "with that type of mandated delicacy." He does not indicate if he means it with family or otherwise, nor does he indicate if it involves himself or if so, he actually shows any measurable restraint of his normal flat delivery.

At length, he speaks again. "I have not changed my opinion of Jim Kirk as a whole." A beat, and he adds: "However, I am—" He pauses, attempting to find the correct word for it. Angry does not exactly suit. Nor does disappointed, though it is tempting to say as much. "Somewhat vexed."

From:

smartass_captain

"He didn't manage to poison himself but it's not great. Not sure how much of the night he's even going to remember." Leonard does break gaze with the garden then to see how Spock's doing. Impossible to tell, save for maybe he doesn't look quite so much like he's been propped up like a lawn ornament to sit on that bench. Maybe that's a good thing, maybe it ain't.

Jim was the one who could read the other's mood.

"As for the ugly feelings, you and me both. He's never gotten mean with me before. Assuming it's the same for you." Bones is pissed. It's the thing. But he's also worried Jim's in for the same spiral he himself is in the process of climbing out of. Leonard can see it but he's got no damn idea how to stop it from happening.

"No advice there. Gonna take all my willpower not to kick his ass myself when he's upright again."

From:

sensors

To Spock, the concept of forgetting an entire night is something unfathomable. He perfectly recalls everything from nearly his entire life, and now to have the memory of the past night burning in his head forever, and for Kirk to not even remember what he said—

—Spock does not make comment on that. He also does not make comment on the doctor calling their responses ugly feelings. "He has not." That much he can and will confirm. "He has been nothing but kind, accommodating, and helpful since our introduction."

And that is what Spock remembers the most, and will continue to remember. He hopes.

He also, of course, does not know how to stop Kirk's spiral from continuing.

"I do not like George Samuel Kirk." Flat. He has tolerated him up until this point, but if his behavior is why Kirk is in this state, his patience has reached its limit.

However, Samuel Kirk is not here. Doctor McCoy is.

"I thank you for taking the time to speak with me. It is appreciated. I am aware that we do not always agree, but you have always had my respect."

From:

smartass_captain

"Yeah? Well. Seems like we agree on the most important bits."

That despite the last few hours Jim is worth the effort to look after. That his brother? Kind of a tool. Maybe he'll get more details about the family out of Jim if he plays his cards right. Get some insight on what the situation is. How he can deal with it moving forward.

Maybe Spock too, if he bounces back from this. Leonard isn't counting on it, but neither is he writing the man off. Their fallout remains to be seen given they have to live with each other after this. Bones figures Jim better not be shocked if the man doesn't want to be hit on after tonight.

"Well. I'm gonna put in for an absence and make sure our cornfed idiot recovers alright. You heading back yet?"