boldygoing | Chag urim sameach

Entry tags:

hunter,
ic

Chag urim sameach

Another year.

Even when you record the exact stardate for every log you make, there's something about the impersonal, cold numbers that still makes time blend together. Without the changing of seasons, that smell of drying corn and frost on the air, there's little to mark the passage of time in a way that really sinks into your bones and tells you that today is any different from yesterday.

That's why it's all the more important to seize those little moments as they come along, ways to make the day feel more special.

It's not the first time that Jim has smuggled his boyfriend onto the Enterprise, not by a long shot. By now he knows the precautions well, locking the door and making sure his schedule is cleared for the evening. Zunar, now fully grown and fluffy as ever, lies draped across the neatly-made bed while the kneazle watches his human at work finishing up the last few tasks at his desk. The rest of his quarters are softly lit, the low table in the open area laid out with covered trays, a bottle of wine in a bucket of ice with a pair of glasses, and an unlit menorah. Outside the small window above his bed, the stars shine through the black as they always have, wrapped in the gentle blue glow of low warp.

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On his end, Hunter also took precautions. He made sure that before he activated his PINpoint, that he was alone in his apartment. And that the doors were locked. And that no company was expected.

When he arrived in Jim's quarters, he smiled at the low lit setting, and how Jim had prepared both food and wine. Zunar was greeted with a pet, and a small muttering of 'good evening', before Jim turned his attention to his boyfriend.

"Everything looks great."

"Mrrow," Zunar answers, arching into the touch and butting his furry head against Hunter's hand.

Jim gives Hunter a small, tired smile over the edge of his workstation, and touches the corner of the screen, darkening it as he turns to get up. "Hey. Happy Hanukkah. I hope you're hungry."

What is this? Are there now kitty treats left behind where Zunar can find them?

"You look tired." Hunter is concerned. He can't imagine how hard Jim has been working these last couple of months.

"I am. What is on the menu tonight?"

"It's fine. Been a long week." More than the week, if he's honest. But Jim gets up and comes to greet Hunter with a kiss. "How's the Academy going?"

Small talk and dinner is a more comfortable topic than the fatigue that's slowly been licking at the edges. Replicated food still isn't as good as fresh, but Jim is satisfied enough with its attempt to create a festive meal, even if it's not anywhere close to as good as his grandmother would make. "Fried fish, matzo ball soup, latkes, and noodle kugel for dessert. The wine's blackberry, the real stuff. The last of my stash."

"It is keeping me busy. But I am starting to really enjoy some of the courses that I am taking. And learning about different cultures and species." Hunter smiles.

"Everything sounds great." Next time, Hunter makes a mental note to bring some homecooked food to Jim. Even if it is from a homecooked store.

"Oh yeah?" Jim gives Hunter a tired but confident smile. "Must be pretty interesting to hear all of this stuff for the first time. What's your favorite class so far? Been making friends?"

Once they've sat down, Jim briefly recites the blessings and lights the candles in the center and the rightmost side, casting a little candlelight across the table for them to eat by. Not really romantic, exactly, but the tension that's been working its way into Jim's entire body seems to loosen a little with Hunter here. Zunar rubs against Hunter's legs, giving him a pitiful look in hopes of being rewarded with some of the fish.

"I am enjoying the fact that I can still do my art classes. And learning different diplomacy methods. It is great meeting new people too."

Hunter is quiet while Jim recites the blessings and lights the candles. And grins down at Zunar, when the kneazle seeks some fish. He will definitely give a small piece in response. He is a sucker for the kneazle.

"I have a few classes with Faris and Chanath too."

"You're definitely gonna get a lot of practice," Jim agrees with a smile. "Especially once you get out here. It's tricky work sometimes, first contact I mean. But a good diplomat is the key to creating a friendship instead of making a new enemy through some cultural misunderstanding."

News of their mutual friends has Jim looking a little more energized, though some of that may also be due to the meal as they begin to eat. "Oh yeah? You're looking out for them, then? Or are they looking out for you?" It's a gentle sort of tease, one without anything behind it other than fondness for all three parties. "Culture shock is a hell of a thing."

"It helps that because of my knowledge of the Nexus... I am comfortable with meeting new species that I might have not known about."

Hunter chews his food thoughtfully. "A little of both. It is nice to know that I am not the only one who is going through that Culture Shock."

The latkes are the right crunchiness on the outside, soft and warm on the inside, and for a few minutes there's a comfortable silence as they eat, with little comments here and there. Zunar meows until Hunter lets him up, and then settles on his lap, purring and occasionally reaching out a paw toward his plate to try to steal another tidbit.

There are so many things that Jim could say, giving voice to some of the feelings that have been building in him over the last few months. But a lifetime of keeping his problems to himself is a hard habit to shake, and so he doesn't, just enjoying this time with Hunter and hoping it's not the last time.

It's been in the back of his mind for three years, no matter how hard he tries to forget about it, for the timeline's sake. Something happened to the other Jim Kirk's Enterprise. Will it happen here too? Will it turn out the same? For all their similarities, there are notable differences, and it would not take much to send him down a different path altogether.

But he can't tell Hunter. His boyfriend would only worry. This is sparing him, not letting him know.

So instead Jim smiles and pours the wine. "What do you want to toast to?" he asks instead.

Hunter enjoys the sensation of Zunar in his lap, and gives the kneazles little scratches every now and then. And teases the kneazle a little when he tries to steal more food. "Now now... don't make it look like I completely spoil you rotten."

Since Hunter has absolutely no mind reading capabilities, he doesn't know why Jim is so quiet tonight. Or the turmoil that is the back of the mind of the Enterprise Captain.

Something feels off. But Hunter just thinks it is because of other ship duties that might be on Jim's mind.

"I already have the best boyfriend in the universe..." He teases, holding up his glass. "And it would be too easy to say peace and happiness for both of us."

"How about toasting to my continued successful learning at the Academy, and that someday soon I will get to officially join you on board?"

"Mrrp," Zunar replies, blinking up at him innocently. You mean you don't?

Hunter's suggestion brings a real smile to Jim's face, and he taps his glass gently against his boyfriend's. "I can drink to that. To not having to smuggle you in under Starfleet's nose."

Whether or not something does happen, Jim can feel confident enough in Hunter's intelligence and abilities to know that he will make it to graduation, no problem. He takes a good drink of his wine, swirling the rest around idly in the glass. "Just two more years out here. That's the plan."

"It would be nice.... not to be smuggled in." Hunter agrees. He likes spending time with Jim. But he doesn't like that Jim has to hide him.

"Good thing you are worth my time. And waiting for..." He grins.

Jim smiles back, and sips again at the wine while he thinks. After a long moment, he sets down the glass on the table. "Do you ever think about the future? Past the next two years, I mean."

Hunter sips his wine, and copies the movement of setting down the glass on the table. "I imagine my future with you." He says cautiously.

"Having a chance to expand my education, and in something that wouldn't be offered on my world, is exciting to me. Thinking about the fact that I might be able to use my knowledge to explore new worlds is even more exciting."

"But most of all... I like the thought that I might have the chance to serve with you. On the same ship."

"You really mean that, don't you." Jim's smile is small but fond. "Not everyone's built for this life, out in the black. It can be months between chances for shore leave, seeing any other faces than your fellow crew. Doesn't feel like I'm ever off-duty sometimes."

Even now, locked in his quarters in the only private space he holds to himself, there is a part of Jim that stays prepared for a summons to the bridge. It isn't that he doesn't trust the crew, or that they're not competent in their jobs - but he is the captain, on his own time or not.

"I think.... mostly because I was so anti-social for a long time, and the fact that a lot of my artwork is done in a setting where I don't see other people for long stretches of time.... that I might be okay. I won't really know until I get here." Hunter notes with a smile.

Zunar's purrs gets a little louder, and he nudges his head into Hunter's hand, encouraging him to pet him.

Jim's smile doesn't waver. "Probably not. I thought I knew what it was going to be like, and for the most part, I think I wasn't that far off." He hadn't forseen how... samey things would come to feel, though. He's not burnt out, not really, but three years of space travel is somehow more rigorous than he'd expected.

He loves space. He always has. But it's lost a bit of its shine, and he's not quite sure where it's gone.

But he doesn't want Hunter to worry, either. This mission is unprecedented in its scale, and who knows whether Starfleet will want to send them out for another? Just the fleet psychologists alone are probably going to have a field day already with five years of crew records. And that's assuming they make it back in one piece.

Maybe nothing will happen. But with his birthday coming up - his thirtieth, at that - Jim can't help but dwell on the what-ifs, and on captains who never come home.

"Why don't you borrow Zunar for a week or two?" he suggests casually. "I can't take him on shore leave with me, and I'm sure he'd appreciate getting to stretch his legs a bit. It'll keep him from trying to escape into the Jefferies tubes for a while, too," Jim adds with a chuckle.

Yes yes... Zunar's trick works and he gets more pets.

"I hope you are doing okay. Considering that more weight is on your shoulders... than anyone else." Hunter understands a little bit more about the demands of a Captain after attending the Academy.

"I would love that. What do you think Zunar? Hmmmmm?" He bops the Kneazle's nose with a little affection.

"I'm all right," Jim assures him, and it's only a little bit of a lie. "Just kind of looking forward to getting my feet on solid ground for a little while. We're stopping off at Yorktown for reprovisioning in a few weeks, so I'll get some time off the ship in friendly territory. You don't need to worry about me."

Zunar's purrs just get louder, rubbing his nose against Hunter's finger in search of more pets. The kneazle does not like leaving his master, but there is only so long an intelligent and mischievous cat is content with the captain's quarters, no matter how spacious.

"Well I am glad you will have a chance to stop for a while." Hunter nods with a slight smile.

Hunter chuckles at Zunar's purring. And scratches his nose lightly.

"I will keep an eye on Zunar for you."

"I'm sure you will. Just don't spoil him too much," Jim adds with a soft laugh. "He's demanding enough as it is. You should see him if I've stayed up too late working on reports."

Which happens more often than he'd like to admit.

"Does he lie right on the paper, with big eyes telling you to get the hell to bed? Because I taught him that." Hunter teased.

"No, he just sits on my hands, and starts yelling if I don't pick him up and go to bed," Jim answers, chuckling. "But I wouldn't mind having you asking me to bed again," he adds, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.

Flirting. Normal. Everything is normal, and this is just another holiday dinner.

With a hint like that, Hunter smiles and slides out of his chair. He reaches Jim in a smooth step, and places a very slow and passionate kiss on the other man's lips.

"Consider yourself asked."

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