starlogs | ( closed ) and I'm floating in the most peculiar way

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( closed ) and I'm floating in the most peculiar way

WHO: James T. Kirk & Leonard McCoy
WHERE: Enterprise
WHEN: February 14th (+ another thread later on)
WHAT: Waking up with no power and zero gravity isn't their idea of fun.
WARNINGS: Nothing aside from Bones panicking and Jim hating himself a little later on. Possible mentions of death too.

When things actually started going down, Jim was too fast asleep to realize. Even the faint glow filtering through the windows as the nearest ship blew up wasn't enough to wake him, eyes shut for a while longer. The fifteen minutes of peace that followed would be the last bit of decent and unhindered rest he'd likely get in a while.

It started with a strange tingling sensation, at first. As the systems started malfunctioning, it was the engines shutting down completely and the whole ship going dead silent that had him waking up. His heart thrummed to the beat of the engines and the warp core, and suddenly everything felt... misaligned.

He nearly startled awake at that, shoving the blankets off of him in one sudden move as he got to his feet. Except his feet touched the ground for about a second or two before his whole body started to float, as if weightless, and the more he struggled to reach the ground, the farther away he got from it.

"What the fuck—" he looked over sharply, seeing Bones's silhouette starting to lift from the bed even in the dark of the room. Despite the evident lack of gravity, he tried to glide over to him. "Bones. Wake up, wake up— Bones!"

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"Well, you picked one hell of a time to say something positive." Clearly Bones had to work a lot on his sense of timing. And see, if these were other circumstances Jim would definitely hug him, but sure. The doctor could keep thinking he wouldn't, if that made things easier for him.

One hand held onto the loose end of the belts and Bones's shoulder both, while the other gripped at the sheets, helping the doctor as they slowly crawled over to the other end of the bed. It was especially difficult to stop on top of the bed and not just keep floating mid-air, but with Bones's help he managed fairly well, clinging to the frame for a little while until he was sure they were still.

Once he was sure Bones was holding him down, he let go, turning to face the edge of the bed, his now free hands working quickly to fasten the belt there. It wasn't perfect, but he managed to loop the edge of the belt into one of the other buckles, definitely firm enough that it wouldn't come loose. Just to make sure, he tugged hard, sighing in relief when it didn't budge.

"Done." If he didn't sound especially accomplished it was only because... well, it wasn't like this made much of a difference. It only meant they wouldn't be floating around while the room got colder and they burned through what amount of air they had available. Still, he said nothing about that, turning towards Bones while he held onto the belts. "Let's get under the belts. Come on."

Mumbling something unintelligible under his breath, he waited till Jim finished rigging up the bed while keeping him in place. When he finished, he let go of Jim's hip and placed his hand on the bed under them. He was getting ready to move away from the blonde when Jim turned over to face him. Blinking down at him, he ended up staring silently at his best friend a moment before he nodded slowly.

"Yeah. Okay." Moving to grab belt harness of sort, he paused as his body pressed closer to Jim. After a moment, he felt his mind kick back in gear. "It's going to get colder. We should... probably stay close. I don't know how well the blankets will stay down on us and well, I'm the best heat source you got right now."

The logic was sound. Truth even. But at the same time, he found he liked the idea of just holding on to Jim this time. Shaking his head as though physically throwing out his strange thoughts before pressing his hand into Jim's chest to put him closer to the bed. "You crawl in first."

Jim actually stared up at Bones with a raised eyebrow as he waited for the doctor to work through whatever train of thought he'd gotten himself lost in. Once he spoke, Jim nodded, moving around to help Bones as he tugged them closer to the center of the bed, this time his tone taking on an amused edge when he answered.

"The lengths you go to just to get me all wrapped up around you. Honestly, Bones." The last few syllables dissolved into a chuckle, and he shook his head playfully. Still, he did as Bones told him and got under the belts first, tugging the covers up so they'd also be trapped underneath the belts. It couldn't cover much but at least it'd help.

Reaching out to get a hold of Bones's waist, he pulled him closer so he could follow suit and join him. "I've got you. Come on."

Of course, the moment Jim said shit like that, his face reddened. He felt like the skin got set on fire and he couldn't get it to cool even in the progressive cooling of the room. Biting into his lip, he refused to answer that and just helped Jim slip under the belts. Then when it came time to get him in there, he actually hesitated a bit.

And quite honestly, Jim's grabbing him by the waist really didn't help matters at all with getting that blush to go away. Closing his eyes a moment, he finally nodded his head. "Yeah, alright." He answered almost in a gruff whisper before working his way under the makeshift tether. Once he was mostly strapped in place, he managed to curl the other side of the blankets about him so they would mostly stay over him.

Except now... after Jim's comment, he didn't feel inclined to just latch on to him. They should be fine a little longer. No point doing exactly like Jim said and looking.. what? Desperate to be close to him? Was that what it was? All he knew was his hands were coiled in a death grip on the covers and he still worked at fighting down the heat in his face and neck while staring into the darkness that was the ceiling overhead.

Well then. Good job, McCoy. You've made yourself look like a right idiot. Closing his eyes, he let out a soft sigh of resignation.

Jim was teasing Bones with that remark anyway, so he didn't really expect to get an answer to it, not anything more than possibly the doctor telling him to shut up or go to hell. So the lack of answer didn't surprise him, and considering the darkness and the fact they were otherwise preoccupied, he didn't notice the blush spreading across Bones's face either.

He helped the best he could as Bones slipped into the bed, mimicking the doctor by tucking the covers here and there so they wouldn't float off as easily. Once he was mostly settled down, he turned to face Bones, starting to reach towards him only to stop once he had already shifted closer.

"What, don't tell me you changed your mind already," he said a little lightly, eyebrow raised and arms reaching out towards Bones almost expectantly.

Staying still in that position still felt strange. The weightlessness being the biggest part of that, but feeling like a real heel added right on to that. And maybe he sank a little lower in the covers when he felt Jim move to face him. Biting at his lower lip, he finally let out the breath he was holding.

Logic told him to just shut up and accept the offer to be close. But well, that just made his face heat up more. At this rate he might burst into flames and Jim would have plenty of heat to survive by, assuming it didn't eat the oxygen up first. Turning his head toward Jim finally, his brow furrowed.

He wanted to snap at him with a sarcastic remark and tell him to figure out warmth on his own, but he couldn't even formulate the words right then without looking well, stupid. "You're a real ass sometimes." He pointed that out finally not finding anything better to work with at that point so he just settled with simple.

Too bad he knew the current situation wasn't likely a good one to get in a fight with Jim. For all they knew they'd suffocate in there or die of dehydration. And he really didn't want that time spent growling at each other. "Look, if it irritates you, I'll be fine. Just... let me know if you start getting cold." Cause he didn't need Jim getting hypothermia or anything else of the sort. He'd figure something out for getting Jim warmer.

It was definitely not the answer he was expecting to get. Granted, he had poked some fun at Bones, but it hadn't even crossed his mind that the doctor would take it to heart. It had just been some light teasing anyway, mostly with the intent to distract Bones and pull his thoughts away from the current situation.

Certainly nothing that he thought warranted being called an ass for. Raising his eyebrow even higher, he looked confusedly at the doctor. "What the hell, Bones? What did I do now?"

But evidently Bones had no interest in making sense now, apparently. Maybe he was already suffering from low oxygen levels. Fuck if he knew why the doctor sometimes acted the way he did. (Jim did some pretty crazy shit, granted, but at least he was consistent.)

Letting out a faint, if somewhat exasperated, huff, he rolled his eyes, turning on the bed and away from Bones so he was lying on his back instead, arms crossed over his chest. "You know what? Fine. Be that way. See if I give a shit."

Really, that was a good question. Other than being himself, Jim really hadn't done much different than usual. It wasn't his fault Leonard felt like the butt of the jokes cause of all the confusing feelings going on. Cause really, facing down those feelings wouldn't do him a damn bit of good. Especially now that Jim was angry.

Staying silent at first he let his fingers fidget with the covers a moment and much to his dismay, the more he thought about the whole damn thing, the hotter his skin felt. And it was not helping with making him feel warmer. It just made it feel colder. Still, after a moment he reached out across the space between them and curled his fingers over Jim's shoulder.

"'M sorry." He mumbled the words softer this time, before shrugging a little pointlessly. Pulling his hand away just as slow, he started to turn away onto his opposite side. "Just... feel stupid cause maybe you're right and I do like finding reasons to be close to you right now. Probably just bein' an idiot. Over sentimental or whatever." He frowned to himself and pressed his face against the bed to maybe smother himself or something. But the mumble he made into it was still intelligible. "I know I'm useless right now."

Need a doctor, he was your guy. But this stuff? Jim would be better off with Spock. Or even Scotty. Hell, probably even Chekov.

"Whatever," Jim shrugged off the hand, the reaction more immediate and thoughtless than he meant it to be. He didn't want to be upset at Bones, even less so in the situation they'd gotten themselves stuck in, but he couldn't help bursting out in a way almost rough and callous in response to an all too familiar pain.

But that was stupid. Bones was his best friend, not some arrogant Academy thug, and Jim wasn't a kid in his early twenties anymore. If nothing else, what Bones said next eased some of that immediate hurt, and he sighed audibly as he closed his eyes a moment.

"You don't need reasons to be close to me, Bones," Jim muttered, opening his eyes again and turning his head to the side just enough to look at Bones's back. Even if there was no need for it, Jim would always welcome Bones closer if he wanted a hug, or just... hold hands or sit close to each other. And at least then he didn't have to worry about explaining why he liked that so much.

Reaching a hand out, he pressed it lightly between Bones's shoulder blades, thumb drawing slow circles there. "You're not useless. There's no one else I'd rather be stuck here with," he said, then added after a pause. "In this universe, I mean. Not this particular situation. But only because I'd rather you be safe elsewhere."

Being shrugged off stung. A lot. He felt it all the way to the center of his chest and gut. But he’d just done the same thing without the actual push away from him. So Leonard was well aware he deserved that. And honestly, he was ready to bury his face in a pillow and save the room some oxygen if only to try to drown out all this stupid mess he just put them in. Like they needed his damn confusion on top of near death circumstances.

Then Jim had to go a say a thing like that and for a moment all he could do was press a hand over his face. That possibility of combustion obviously was still very real. And maybe the moment he felt Jim’s hand on his back he shivered and tension started to bleed out of his back and shoulders that had built up since they started floating. Long story short, he was doomed. Because he knew damn well that if all Jim had to do was touch him? He was way too far gone on him for this to ever be normal again.

And Jim saying he didn’t need a reason? On top of basically saying the exact same thing he thought constantly when they got tangled up in some mess together. Grouse and complain as he did, he knew he wouldn’t rather be with someone else.

Which was why he turned over and caught Jim’s hand as he moved closer. Pulling that hand to his chest a moment he curled the other arm about his best friend’s waist and pressed his face into his neck hiding there. Even if it would become abundantly clear he was still blushing his ass off, at least Jim couldn’t see it. That would have to do for now. “I’m not leaving you.” Not like everyone else in Jim’s life. All those people that kept picking up and leaving, that wasn’t gonna be him. “If I had my way, I’d rather us go out together.” Because he didn’t want to be left behind. “It kills me every time I nearly lose you. You know that, right?”

Brow raising as Bones turned around to face him again, he didn't so much as move, and definitely didn't pull his hand away when Bones reached out for it. Finally he turned too so he was on his side, his own hand snaking around Bones's shoulders when that arm curled around his waist.

If he felt Bones's face particularly warm against his neck, he wasn't about to point it out this time around. He closed his eyes instead, curling up close to him, his hand sliding up and down the doctor's back in what he hoped would be a soothing touch. Well, as soothing as it could get when they were stuck on a dead ship in the middle of space.

"I know," he murmured with a nod, chin brushing against Bones's temple in the process. He'd known that since Bones risked his own Academy record by dragging him along onto the Enterprise for the first time. Granted, it had all worked out pretty great in the end, but Bones couldn't have possibly known that then.

So no, it hadn't crossed his mind that Bones would turn his back on him. Not ever, and no matter what.

"You're not losing me, Bones. I'm right here, I always will be," he offered, a platitude more than anything, when he knew damn well he couldn't make a promise like that. "And we're gonna be fine, you'll see. I'm sure someone on the Eluvio's working to get to us, and if not..."

He trailed off as another thought came to mind. "The comm devices. We should be able to get in touch with someone there." However, the comm devices were currently floating around mid-air, a little too far from his reach.

Leonard didn't rush. He simply pressed Jim's palm to his chest and slipped his own hand over it. Letting his fingers settle between Jim's, he rolled his thumb softly over the side of Jim's hand gently. In the same way, his pinky slid over Jim's in a slow idle motion that was no more than that. Soft and gentle contact.

His eyes closed slowly, a soft breath leaving him when Jim nodded against his temple forcing his head to move just a little with that motion. God help him, but he was a damn goner and he knew it.

Angling his head, he moved until he could feel Jim's chin against his forehead and just a slight move more till it slipped into the dip at the bridge of his nose. "I know you'll be there as long as you're able." His voice was quiet, nearly resigned in saying that. He knew. Jim would always storm forward and save the universe and he'd tag along for the ride. He knew that was how it went. And he wouldn't want Jim to be anyone else but himself.

That was the person that meant most to him anyway.

Turning his head a little at the comment about the communicators, he stared into the darkness of the room and arched a brow. "That's gonna be real fun to find." Pressing his hand flat against the small of Jim's back, he let the fingers splay out over it softly. "We'll look in a little bit if ya like. Just... mind stayin' like this a bit?"

All the small and seemingly casual touches had been just fine before, when Jim had a task to get done and could focus his mind elsewhere. Right now, though, he couldn't stop himself from narrowing down his attention to even the smallest brush of Bones's fingers on his hand, so much so that he had to close his eyes for a moment and take a slow, steadying breath.

Despite everything, it was soothing. The touches, the closeness. Even when he had nothing to do, nothing to think about but their current situation, he felt calm and safe and (ironically enough) grounded. Though he knew Bones was likely panicking inwardly, Jim just hoped he offered at least at least a fraction of that calm to the doctor by keeping him this close.

"Yeah... no rush. We can look in a bit," he nodded, breathing quiet and slowly. His hand moved up to the back of Bones's head, fingers sifting lightly through his hair. "You never know. Our luck might turn and I'll get smacked in the face by one of the comms before we even start looking."

Tipping his head into Jim's hand in his hair, he let out a soft sigh. He liked it. More than he wanted to admit. And that likely showed in the way his hand squeezed Jim's under his own. Turning his head, he knew his forehead brushed against Jim's jaw as he narrowly avoided his lips touching Jim's neck.

"Well, keep hopin' it's your luck and not mine." Cause damn it all, but he had the worst luck of all. So if anyone was gonna be cashin' in on that happenin'? It would definitely not be on his account. "Then again, I think we skate by on yours more often than not."

Leonard felt so safe and warm against Jim. He was... thankful that Jim let them stay still. Cause seriously he didn't want to lose this right now. "In all truth, I just know things'll turn about one way or another." He released Jim's head just long enough to lightly cuff Jim with his knuckles under his chin. Soon it returned to its spot spread over Jim's. "You're like some kinda lucky charm or somethin'." It was a partial tease, but he really did have that much faith in Jim.

"Considering the things you've lived through in the past few years, I'd say you're pretty lucky," Jim hummed softly, trying not to think much about the doctor's warm breath on his neck. "But maybe it's just me rubbing it off on you. Who knows."

Either way, though, it worked for the best, so Jim wasn't about to complain. But Bones couldn't really say he'd been unlucky as of late, not with all the crazy things they'd lived through over the years. Well, luck might be a part of it, but Bones was also brilliant and Jim knew that played an instrumental role when it came to getting them out of a tough spot.

"How unusually optimistic of you, doc," he said around a smile, voice lilting vaguely. His fingertips curled over Bones's ear, sliding from his temple and around the shell, down to the back of his neck. "Must be your lucky charm, at least."

“Mm… you make me a better person, but I don’t know about rubbing luck off on me.” He huffed a small laugh and playfully rolled his eyes even if Jim couldn’t see it. “Sure as hell try more things cause of you.” And go against his fears for that matter. Leonard had found he could overcome things that horrified him if Jim needed him to. And Jim never asked him to needlessly.

“Yeah well, don’t tell anyone. It’ll ruin my image.” Snorting softly, he started to laugh only to have the breath come out shakily as that hand swept over his ear like that. The arm about Jim’s waist tightened just a little as he lowered his head to press his eyes against Jim neck close to the shoulder. His voice came out a little off as he spoke that next word. “Mine?”

It hung in his head almost too hopefully before he pushed himself to say something else. He dared not cling to any hope like that, and really, Jim was just joking. “Well, having you around has worked so far, so I’m not complainin’.” Nor denouncing the idea that Jim could be ‘his’ anything other than just friends. “You make a good heater, too, by the way. If we’re listin’ off your good qualities.” Smirking just a little he smiled to himself still half hidden pressed against his neck.

Edited 2017-03-07 16:06 (UTC)

"Yes, and they always somehow turn out well. I'd call that luck, wouldn't you?" Granted, Bones's talent got him through a number of those situations, but he couldn't deny that sometimes a lot was left to chance. The doctor couldn't really say he was unlucky, no— not since he met Jim, anyway.

So yeah, maybe he was rubbing off on him a little. (Not in the literal fun way, though.)

"Guess you better keep me around for a good while longer, then. Although I'm not sure I'd say you don't complain, but... you know, it's grown on me," he said with a soft chuckle, arm tightening a little around Bones's shoulders, his head tipping down at his next words. "Mm, one of those days, is it? Well, not about to stop you if you wanna keep showering me with compliments."

And at least it kept them distracted, so.

"I call that pure idiotic stubbornness to roll over and die." He smiled just a little before shifting to slip further under Jim's chin and burrow closer into his chest. It felt a little silly, maybe foolish even, but he liked being able to disappear into Jim's arms like that.

It felt silly, but he wanted to pretend for a moment that this wasn't silly at all.

"I'll keep you longer than that." He said that firmly before huffing in amusement. "Please. You need the healthy dose of reality, darlin'." Releasing Jim's hand, he moved that arm to wrap around Jim as well, this one sliding up to rest at the back of Jim's neck. Playing at the short strands there, he let out a soft sigh. "On second thought, we don't need to add to the hot air in here when your ego inflates."

"As long as it keeps us in one piece, you can call it whatever you want," Jim shrugged, glancing down a moment when Bones curled even closer to him. He didn't point it out, though, instead just tightened his hold on him, a wordless way to say that he was perfectly alright with Bones being as close to him as he wanted or needed right now. Jim himself might need it just as much, anyway.

"Keep me as long as you want, and I'll do the same," he hummed, his smile opening up as he chuckled at the next remark, only to dissolve into a soft little sigh when he felt Bones's fingers playing with the hair at the back of his neck. It made his light poke at Bones's side and his jab at the last words a whole lot softer and warmer than he meant them to be. "Jerk. Shut up."

He instantly laughed when Jim poked him, the lighter nature of it making a ticklish sensation ripple over his skin more than it should. Smiling against Jim’s chest, he closed his eyes. Jim tightening the embrace only helped him relax more until most of the tension and upset and the situation bled right out of him. “Well, I may be a jerk, but I’m your jerk so you’re stuck with me.”

And really, someone needed to keep Jim’s feet planted firmly on the ground. Not that he had nearly as much issue with his bravado now than when they first met. Hell, Jim had literally grown up to be one helluva man and Leonard was proud to know him. He just refused to pour pointless platitudes on Jim when he needed honesty and depth of feeling. And a right bit of loyalty at that. Things people seemed too busy to realize Jim needed most of the time.

“Happy Valentine’s day by the way.” He snorted softly at the ridiculousness of the scenario before huffing. “I was actually planning on I don’t know... makin’ you dinner instead of eating replicator food. Guess that’s out. Raincheck?”

"Mm, guess I am." Jim sounded more happy and pleased about his predicament than he did bothered or upset. Honestly, whether Bones was in a good mood or complaining even about the weird smell in the air on a particular morning, Jim liked having him around. Even if sometimes it was near exasperating listening to the good doctor.

The reminder of what day it was had him letting out a soft laugh. "God. I forgot all about that," he confessed, shaking his head a little. "To be fair, we haven't had replicator food in a while." Only because they hadn't worked since they got here, granted, but still. Truth was they'd been settling with rations or quick meals more often than not since they got here, so yes, a proper cooked meal would be pretty great.

"For what it's worth, I had something planned too. Was gonna take you to some ice skating show Yuuri and Victor were putting together." And he also had that box of chocolates tucked away on a drawer, but it felt a little stupid bringing it up now. Like it was more important than it really was. So he kept that bit to himself, on the off chance he got to give the box to Bones some other time. "Raincheck on both counts."

"Hm." He hummed the sound at Jim's answer and shrugged just a little. "I guess you are till you tell me not to, I guess?" He sighed lightly and sank in closer to him, hoping that day never popped up. But he had issues with doing dumb things that screwed things up. Kinda like how this entire conversation started.

Least that turned out better.

Blinking his eyes open at the idea of Jim planning something for them, he smiled just slightly. "I had wanted to see that. Yuuri really sounded excited about that when I talked to him." He'd planned to go if only for the kid, but the idea of Jim wanting to go together made something inside heat up and coil softly in his chest.

"Sounds just fine to me. Be thinkin' about what you might want darlin'. I'll figure out how to make it happen."

"So... forever. And then you call me lucky," he huffed in a light teasing tone, though warm enough to make it clear he didn't really feel like having the doctor stick around for the rest of his life was a bad thing. If anything it was the opposite that he didn't even like imagining: Bones at any point not being a part of his life, in one way or another.

"I thought so too. He's pretty talented, from what I gather, so I figured it'd be a fun show, if nothing else." And then, of course, he hoped to rope Bones into making use of the rink along with him. Some other day later on. This kind of put a damper on things. Jim was just trying not to think about the possibility that they might not get another chance.

But it felt good to talk about it like they would. Like things would work out just fine in the end. "I'm not picky. Some southern dish you like cooking, maybe? Make it a surprise."

"Are you implying I'm lucky you want my presence forever?" Snorting softly in amusement, he shook his head the tiniest bit. Like he expected any less. But then, he found some of those ridiculous antics cute. Not that he'd own up to any of that. He was too busy feeling relieved that Jim had no plans of getting rid of him in the predictable future. "You're such a peach."

Humming a soft sound about Jim's description of Yuuri, he knew it fit. He liked the guy. Polite with a bright personality. "He's got a good heart. In fact, he's been learnin' first aid from me." He smiled a little at that and let his fingers start to press into the muscles of Jim's and idly work out the muscles that might be tense in his back.

"Sure, sure... I'll figure somethin' out. Though I'd prefer at least know one thing you want me to aim for."

"No, I was joking..." He breathed out a soft laugh, tipping his head in a faint nod. "Yeah, sure. That works." He was more implying that he might not be so lucky after all himself, but having to explain it now made him feel a little like a jerk. Besides, he knew damn well he was lucky, having Bones in his life. Wouldn't call it anything else.

"Oh, has he? And here I thought I was your nurse. Guess you'll teach anyone, won't you." Said in a teasing tone that almost implied Bones was easy in any way. Like Jim could talk. Well, not seriously, but he could poke fun at Bones about it. Still, that was nice. Bones might be grumpy as hell about it but Jim knew how much he liked people taking interest in the kind of work he did.

He was thoughtful for a moment, then— "Does 'delicious' count as something to aim for?"

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