Captain's First LOL [for losthunter]

[boldygoing]

With the restrictions on his food intake finally lifted, and with months to go until the Enterprise is ready to fly again, Jim Kirk has had all the more reasons to visit the Nexus and explore, particularly the markets. Whether it's finding interesting otherworldly seedlings for Sulu, tracking down a source of authentic Vulcan kreyla for Spock, or bringing home volumes of Russian literature for Chekov, there's always something to bring back for somebody.

Jim's been warned about LOLs before. Both through the brochure he picked up the first time he arrived here, and by some Nexus veterans, namely Hunter and Samus. But in the months since he's been visiting the multiverse, he's still never seen the phenomenon, not even once.

And so it's easy to forget for a moment that he has to be cautious.

He's discovered a Jewish cafe on one corner of the commercial district that's offering free samples to passersby, and it's been ages since he's had real, hand-made vorschmack on rye. So he doesn't think twice before accepting one of the samples on offer, and there's nothing to indicate that there's anything in it other than the usual bread, fish, and other typical ingredients he'd expect. At least, not until the woman running the sample cart asks him how he likes it.

Jim fully intends on simply complimenting her on the flavor of the food, but what comes out instead is, "It's good but not as good as my Grandma Ruth used to make." He blinks in confusion. "I don't know why I just said that. I wasn't going to tell you that." And again... he says more than he intended.

"Oh dear," the woman says, looking mournfully at the sample tray. "I used the wrong seasoning again. Sorry about that." And then she whisks the tray away, vanishing into the depths of the cafe with no explanation or any indication that she plans to return.

And only now does Jim remember the warnings he was given.

"Oh shit. This is not good." He doesn't know what the hell it's done to him, aside from making him chattier than he intended to be, but he doesn't want to go home like this. Especially not when he can't be certain there won't be more coming. And there's only one person he knows he can go to for help.

Jim calls up the coordinates for Hunter's apartment, hurrying to get his ass over there, muttering to himself under his breath.

Comments

[losthunter]

"I finally got around to removing that annoying pea." Hunter makes a fairy tale reference. "Makes it easier to sleep."

"And I thought once you had awoke, that you would want something to eat."

[boldygoing]

"I appreciate that. Thanks." Jim is not the type of person to do the 'oh you shouldn't have' thing when people offer him food. Other things, sure, but never a meal.

"You know, a lot of people would've taken advantage of a situation like that. You really are a great guy, Hunter." He'd hoped he was making the right choice in coming here, and now more than ever he knows that he was right.

[losthunter]

"I could never take advantage of you..." Hunter points out. "There were a few questions that I had wanted to ask, but I didn't want you to feel forced into answering any of those questions."

[boldygoing]

"You chose your words pretty carefully," Jim agrees. "It was like the world's longest word association game and I've got a lot of tripmines in there." He figures it's an apt enough metaphor, as one usually doesn't see such explosives until they've been stepped on, and getting away without a big boom is a delicate exercise to say the least.

[losthunter]

"I still set off a few of those tripmines, accidently." Hunter leans against the counter for a moment.

"It really sucks that you were forced to reveal classified details. Even though it did lead to me getting to know you better."

To know that Jim has nightmares and why. To know why he is so careful around food. To know the things that Jim sometimes just can't stop thinking about.

[boldygoing]

"You did, but I honestly don't think you could've avoided triggering at least one," Jim tells him, moving to lean against the counter too at Hunter's side, an unspoken gesture of support. He wouldn't be surprised if Hunter is upset about it, and Jim knows a thing or two about blaming yourself for something you couldn't avoid doing.

And he understands the guilt about unintentionally prying secrets out of someone, too. "If it helps, you're not the first. I had a talk with Samus after I got out of the hospital, gave her the cover story about what happened, and she still figured out part of the classified bits I wasn't telling her in about thirty seconds."

[losthunter]

Hunter wraps his arm around Jim's waist, when Jim leans against the counter at his side. And nods slightly. "I am glad you felt safe enough to come to me, despite what was said."

He chuckles. "That sounds like Samus."

[boldygoing]

Jim reciprocates the gesture only once Hunter makes the first move, subconsciously testing the waters to make sure they're okay. Yeah, Hunter said that everything is fine between them, but Jim needs to reassure himself that it was sincere, not just something said to calm down a panicking friend.

"I'm sorry you had to deal with my baggage on such short notice, but I'm kind of glad it was you. I'm pretty sure I don't have to get you to sign a nondisclosure agreement, right?"

[losthunter]

Judging by the fact that Hunter has tilted his head to lean against Jim and keep him close -- they are okay. In fact, Hunter feels even closer to Jim than before. It was a lot of baggage to deal with. But nothing that would make Hunter want to end what they have.

"I am sure we can create our own nondisclosure agreement." He kisses the top of Jim's head affectionately.

[boldygoing]

Jim appreciates the gesture, and lightly leans into the touch. "Most of what I said is okay to repeat, but the death thing should probably be kept between you, me, and probably Bones. Maybe the senior crew. Most of the rest of the crew know the cost I paid to save the ship, but they probably shouldn't know that you know. As for Tarsus..." He makes a conscious effort to keep his voice steady, and clears his throat. "Not even Bones knows about that."

[losthunter]

"I have noticed that 'we can't tell him' look sometimes, and I bet it is about the death thing. And if you decide to tell Bones or the senior crew about the dangers of LOLs, we can at least use that example of something you had to say, because you couldn't help speaking the truth."

Hunter squeezes his grasp a little tighter when Jim clears his throat. "I promise you Jim, that stays between you and me. Until you say something else."

[bed]

[boldygoing]

"Yeah, it is," Jim confirms. "There are some other details about Starfleet internal affairs that I can't talk about, but it's not about me." He knows that Hunter will understand and be okay with that, so he's not worried about Hunter's reaction to finding out there are more secrets being withheld.

"I know. I trust you not to talk about it." The captain tightens his grip slightly on Hunter's hand, both seeking and giving support. "With the security concerns... I've had to keep it to myself for years. I've never talked about it with anyone, not even a counselor."

[losthunter]

"I figured there were other details that were classified. It was one of the reasons I tried to phrase my questioning carefully."

Hunter pulls Jim close to him with his free hand. "That really sucks, Jim."

[boldygoing]

"Yeah," Jim agrees, accepting the hug.

Once they pull apart a little, he adds, "Maybe we should save that conversation for another time... I think I've dumped a lot on you for one day."

[losthunter]

"Supper will be ready in another ten minutes anyway." Hunter agrees with Jim's suggestion.

"And then if you feel up for it, we can watch a movie."

[boldygoing]

"I'd like that. I'd be nice to hear somebody else talking for a while." At the very least, Jim can have a little sense of humor about this. There were some ugly secrets dragged out into the open, but not everything that came out of his rambling half of the conversation was bad.

[losthunter]

"We will watch The Martian, see if it compares to the book at all." Hunter gets a pair of oven mitts, so he can pull out the lasagna and place it on the counter.

[boldygoing]

"That sounds great. I'd suggest the pirates series, but if it's five movies long I don't think we have the time today." Another thing to set aside for later among many.

[losthunter]

"Exactly my thoughts."

Hunter serves them both a plate of lasagna and some Caesar salad, and sets the plates on the table. "We can do that on another day."

[boldygoing]

"As well as camping and a dozen other things," Jim says, lightly teasing. "You've really never done anything like that?"

[losthunter]

"I like that we are planning future dates today." Hunter smiles softly.

He shakes his head, slightly. "My father never did any of those typical father-son traditions. No throwing the ball together. No camping. Even a supper together was a rare event."

[boldygoing]

Jim shrugs, digging into his meal. "I didn't have a dad to any of that with either. I did most of my camping after I left home." He prefers 'left' over 'ran away,' since the latter sounds more impulsive and childish to him. He was a child at the time, of course, but there was nothing impulsive or petty about his decision to leave.

[losthunter]

"And see, for me, I know how to survive in a city setting, because of being homeless after I left home."

"But camping is a completely different thing than that..."

[boldygoing]

"I guess that depends on how you define camping. I spent my fair share of nights under a bridge somewhere too. You're right though, cities are easier. It's really all about where your resources are."

[losthunter]

"You know, my first sexual experience was a man was after I had left home. I must have been 20 at the time." Hunter had purposely avoided talking about sexual experiences when Jim was affected by the truth LOL. He didn't want Jim to feel compelled to start listing his experiences.