Big Reveals [for losthunter]

[boldygoing]

Jim has been in Starfleet Medical for eight weeks before he's finally released. Which is not to say he's been cleared for duty, mind you. But he's recovered enough not to need that kind of constant medical supervision, able to take the rest of his treatment as outpatient. He has physical therapy three times a week, exercises to do at home, and of course Doctor McCoy is still keeping an eagle eye on his diet, something that annoys Jim to no end.

Of course, that's nothing compared to finding out that his Starfleet-assigned apartment is buried under the crashed bulk of the USS Vengeance.

Jim doesn't really give a shit about the apartment itself. Yeah, it was kind of nice to have his own place, but it's never been home. It was just a place to stay whenever the Enterprise was in port. And though it was more decorated than his quarters onboard the ship, it was all meaningless knickknacks, nothing with any real sentimental value.

No, he's more pissed about the fact that nobody told him until a month after he woke up from the coma.

He understands why, of course. McCoy gave him the whole spiel about stress being bad for his recovery, about not needing to worry himself about things he couldn't do anything about, that by the time this happened Jim was already dead, but it's a heavy blow to realize that the loss of life was far, far greater than he'd realized. Tens of thousands died or lost their homes. Yet Jim Kirk lives, when he has no right to be breathing, let alone leaving the hospital.

And it's hard not to be in a foul mood when he realizes that the only place he has to stay on Earth is in Iowa, at the old neglected Kirk homestead. At least it's not likely to be bugged by Section 31, and Jim spends two entire days sweeping the place for surveillance devices, and another three to get the house in order, before he's reassured enough to have visitors.


[OOC: Image links to replace broken ones below:
23rd century Iowa
Mind meld position]

Comments

[losthunter]

"I can't imagine..." Hunter sort of knows how Jim is feeling right now.

"It would be weird for me to have to go back to my childhood home."

[boldygoing]

Jim nods a little, looking over at him. "I could probably even stay in my mom's room. I don't think she'd ever even know, let alone care. But it's... weird. You know?"

[losthunter]

"I can guess how that would feel..." Hunter starts setting up the bookcase. His own mother had passed away when he was just an infant. So he never knew her. And his father never kept any of her belongings.

[boldygoing]

Jim, in turn, never knew his father, so he's in good company.

Fortunately, helping put the bookcase together and fill it with books is something Jim can help with, since he doesn't have to lift too much at once, so he comes over to help Hunter. "Tell you what... if I don't hear from Starfleet about alternate housing by the end of the month, you and I can give this place a makeover. Deal?"

[losthunter]

Hunter will divide up the books, so they each have something to do. He gives Jim a slight, warm smile at his offer. "That sounds like a deal."

"It is not a fitting room for seduction techniques."

[boldygoing]

Jim is hesitant to admit it, but there's really no getting around it. "I might not... be up for that for a little bit. Side effect." It's bothering him more than he's letting on, but McCoy told him it's to be expected, after all the trauma his body went through. And that he'll get back to normal before too long. But Jim's always been impatient, especially with himself.

[losthunter]

Hunter looks up, a little alarmed that Jim might have thought he was being pressured into something he was not ready for. "Hey... I am in this for more than that." He chuckles. "I can wait. I promise."

[boldygoing]

Jim actually reacts in much the same way, afraid that he's been misunderstood in turn. "I know, I just... wanna make sure we're on the same page."

An appropriate metaphor, as they fill the bookcase with the novels and poetry that Hunter has brought.

[losthunter]

Hunter takes his time with his response. Busying himself for a moment, making sure those books are aligned nicely the bookshelf.

"I consider you as more than just a friend. You know that."

"And I will still flirt... because that is what comes natural. All that matters to me is that you are healthy and happy."

[boldygoing]

"I know that too," Jim agrees. "I just figured it'd be important to mention before anything got started that I can't finish," he adds, raising his eyebrows. There's no reason he can't flirt, too. It's just a blow to his ego to know that he's twenty-six and can't get it up.

[losthunter]

Hunter reaches over to take Jim's hand in his own. "Don't worry sweetheart. We will make up for everything, when you feel better."

[boldygoing]

Jim, of course, pulls Hunter's hand a bit closer and kisses the back of it. "Hey, nothing says I can't take care of you in the meantime," he says, smiling a little, a trace of the old flirty Jim Kirk peeking out from underneath the darker mood he's been in these last few weeks. "But Spock and the others are supposed to be here soon, so 'later' sounds like a plan."

[losthunter]

"I would enjoy that..." Hunter admits softly. He takes advantage of the opportunity to caress lightly against Jim's cheek when he kisses his hand.

"How are you feeling about what we are about to tell them?"

[boldygoing]

Jim considers that. "You know how some people rehearse what they're gonna say over and over, and then when the time comes, they screw it up? I've never been good at the whole 'planning it out' part," he admits.

"I didn't tell Spock any details, but I did tell him he's probably gonna call bullshit on the story, so he should be ready for a mind meld. Are you ready for that?"

[losthunter]

"I am not quite sure what I should be ready for." Hunter admits softly. "I think the thing that scares me more... is having your protective crew want me out of your life."

[boldygoing]

Jim may be only passingly familiar with tact on some days, but he's aware enough not to outright dismiss Hunter's concern. "Why do you think they would they do that?"

[losthunter]

"I have never been in a situation like this before. I am not sure what to think." Hunter realizes he is being a little foolish.

"They might think it is against time protocols or something stupid..."

[boldygoing]

"Starfleet does take the Temporal Prime Directive pretty seriously. If our Earths were the same, just separated by a few centuries, it'd definitely be a problem. But we both know by now that they're not. The Department of Temporal Investigations would've been on my ass about it months ago. And at this point, I'm pretty sure any damage would be done already."

[losthunter]

Hunter breathes a slight sigh of relief when Jim tells him that. "I guess that is true."

[boldygoing]

"They're more likely to just think that we're both nuts," Jim admits, grinning a little. "It's one thing to say that I met a future Spock who fell through a black hole, because at least that's got science to back it up. It's a whole other thing to try to convince them that I fell through a magical hole in the multiverse that happens to also be the doorway to Conference Room One on the Enterprise. Which is why the mind meld is probably gonna be necessary."

[losthunter]

"You are very much an Alice in your own Wonderland, aren't you." Hunter playfully ruffles Jim's hair.

"Well, I am as ready as I will get."

[boldygoing]

"'But I don't want to go among mad people,'" Jim quotes, smiling a little.

Jim's not sure anyone can truly be ready for a mind meld if they've never had one before, but he also has to admit that his own first experience was not a typical one, and he can't take it as the standard. "Then I guess we'd better head back downstairs."

[losthunter]

"I think we are about done here." The bookshelf is set up with the books now. It is something for Jim to enjoy, while he has to live in his old place.

"Lead the way..."

[boldygoing]

They have decent timing, as Jim can hear the distant rumble of a hovercar engine approaching from the direction of Riverside's tiny shuttle terminal. It'll be a minute or two before it arrives, however, so Jim busies himself with the food synthesizer, creating a lemonade for himself with the push of a button. "You want anything to drink?" he asks Hunter.

[losthunter]

"Um... sure..." Hunter tilts his head again. "How does that work?"