#spocktm

      despite  jim’s  reputation  as  a  laidback  player,   he’s  actually  quite  stressed  out  at  least  75%  of  the  time.   while  he  gives  off  the  illusion of  being  fun   &   carefree,   he  cares  a  lot  about  learning   &   doing  well  in  his  classes.   so  those  who  are  closest  to  him  know  that  he  spends  quite  a  bit  of  time  in  the  library.   when  he’s  not  in  class,   sleeping,   or  partying,   he’s  there.   he  keeps  to  a  strict  routine  in  order  to  get  things  done.  

      today,    he’s  scheduled  the  whole  night  for  studying,   &   his  favorite  place  to  do  that  is  at  the  back  of  the  7th  floor  in  the  quiet  zone.   there,   he’s  commandeered  an  entire  little  table  to  himself.   his  bag  is  set  on  the  floor  beside  his  seat,   &   before  him is  his  tablet  computer.   papers  are  strewn  all  across  the  table,   notes  scribbled  down  on  scraps  of  handouts  that  he’ll  never  look  at  again.

      (  everything  is  on  the  academy’s  database,   so  why  does  he  need  a  hard  copy?   he  doesn’t.   it’s  a  giant  waste,   if  you  ask  him.   but  he  supposes  considering  the  flourishing reforestation  on  the  planet,   it’s  not  quite  as  wasteful  as  in  centuries past.  )

      it’s  been  hours  since  he  first  sat  down,   hours  since  he  last  looked  up  from  his  work.   he  glances  around  for  a  moment  as  he  stretches  out  his  back,   rolling  his  shoulders  as  he  yawns.   &   it’s  then  that  he  sees  him.   spock.

      he  doesn’t  know  the  vulcan  too  well,   but  he’s  always tried  to  be  nice   &   say  hello. in  fact,   he’s  going  to  do  just  that.   he  could  use  a  short  break  anyway.   rising  from  his  seat,   jim  approaches  spock  quietly,   a  small  smile  on  his  face.

      “ hi,  spock,  ”    he  says.     “  how’s  it  goin’?  ”

of course it all goes wrong.

he’s been screaming at the glass wall for hours, begging to be let out. steady hands tremble, leaving bloodied fingerprints against his prison. he sinks down to his knees. it’s all too confusing to remember -- flashing lights. jim, spock -- spock. spock had been taken.

his memory feels like it’s been STOLEN from him. spock... spock -- how did -- he screams again in frustration and slams his fist against the glass. his communicator is gone. the crew is probably looking for them now, but... where is spock?

the door opens through the wall, revealing FREEDOM -- but instead of giving him a chance to run out, they bring in another visitor. spock. god, it’s spock. green blood coating his shirt, his face. the same as leonard. “what have you done to him!?” leonard shouts, shakily trying to get to his feet. “what have you --” there’s another FLASH, and he feels sick. 

   She’s sitting, shaking, cross-legged on the ground, panting. Vision blinking in and out -- fuck, breathe, breathe... hands shake as she grapples for her phone.

   ❝    𝚃𝙾  𝙼𝙸𝚂𝚂  𝙷𝙸𝙼  𝚆𝙾𝚄𝙻𝙳  𝙱𝙴  𝚃𝙾  𝙸𝙼𝙿𝙻𝚈  𝚂𝙾𝙼𝙴  𝙵𝙾𝚁𝙼  𝙾𝙵  𝙰𝚃𝚃𝙰𝙲𝙷𝙼𝙴𝙽𝚃,    ❞    lips  curl  into  an  almost  unnoticeable  frown,  this  topic  of  discussion  one  that  dredges  up  obvious pain  –  his  father  is  a  subject  he  loathes,  &  his  chest  feels  tight  at  simply  the  thought  of  him.    ❝    i  assure  you  that  that  i  possess no such  feelings  toward  my  father,  captain.    ❞    he  levels,  his  unwavering  calm  lilt  just  barely  peaking  in  a  hint  of  panic  –  lips  pull  taut,  dark  eyes  drawing  away  from  the  other’s  face.    

   ❝    i  would  still  request  he  be  transported  to  earth  aboard  a  different  vessel,  jim  —-  i  beg  you.    ❞

      he  knows  what  it’s  like,   to  some  extent.   he  knows  how  it  feels  to  have  a  poor  relationship  with  someone  who  raised   you.   the  situations  are  different,  of  course,  but  they’re  not  SO  different  that  he  can’t  relate.   they  had  both  been  conditioned  by  harsh  words  to  flinch  at  the  slightest  remark.   they  both  suffered  great  losses  &  endured  unspeakable  trauma.  they  are  alike  in  this,  as  they  are  in  many  things.