Chapter Text
“Come on, Jim! Hurry up.” Leonard was pulling Kirk through the hallways towards the captain’s quarters. The action had been rather unexpected. Just moments before, the captain had been on the bridge making sure Spock and the other’s weren’t having any complications and confirming tomorrow’s arrival on the alien planet, Ometrap 5.
“I’m coming! I’m coming! Jeeze, Bones. You’re going to pull my arm off.”
Jim was laughing as he was tugged forward. It was rare that the older man had more energy in him than the blond, but tonight the doctor was nothing but energy.
“Oh, don’t be silly. Without slicing the joints it would be hard for a horse to even pull your arm off on the first go.”
Jim had no idea why his lover always seemed to have such random bits of information on him or why he chose to share that information at such odd times, but he figured it was just one of those things his doctor did and left it at that.
“Seriously, Bones. What is it?”
“Oh, stop yer yapp’n and just hurry up.”
The captain allowed his chief medical officer tug him towards his room before he was finally released. McCoy positioned himself behind Kirk’s form and grinned boldly. He placed one of his hands on Kirk’s hip, leaned forward, and whispered hotly against the nape of Jim’s neck.
“Go on. Open her up.”
Kirk didn’t know what to expect, but now he was feeling a bit frisky. He loved those rare moments when Leonard would go outside of what his expected behavior was and do something a little extra. It was always worth it too.
Jim opened the door and his bright blue eyes widened. Just inside the door was the glow of candlelight. Kirk stepped inside and saw that a dozen red candles had been lit around the room. To his right, a table for two had been set up with a delicious smelling meal hidden under a tray lid. It didn’t smell like the processed food from the ship’s cafeteria. It smelt like a genuine home-cooked meal. There was even a bottle of McCoy’s finest bourbon on the table off to the side and a glittering bottle of something unexpected.
“Is that wine, Doctor?”
The door closed behind them. Kirk was about to move forward when Leonard’s hands locked around his shoulders. Jim stopped and turned in the man’s hold to face him.
“Yes it is,” Leonard said with immense satisfaction. “I heard Nouveau Sang De La Vie goes great with pineapple-glazed ham.”
Kirk was shocked, but looked calm as he stared, with his eyes half-lidded, into McCoy’s handsome face.
“And how did you manage all of this, Leonard?”
McCoy grinned and gestured up delicately. As Kirk looked up towards the ceiling, the doctor said smoothly, “It just a little bit of Christmas magic.”
There, above the two men’s heads was a small familiar plant hanging from the ceiling. Kirk blushed and looked back at his lover.
“Oh really?”
“You’re not going to break tradition, are you, Captain?” Leonard chuckled lightly as Kirk wiggled just a little with beaten frustration. The blond was still smiling though.
“I suppose that would be rude of me, and I’d hate to ruin my good reputation.”
Kirk leaned forward and his lips pressed softly to McCoy’s. The two men stayed locked in each other’s embrace for a long while. Their lips pulled apart only a few times long enough to reconnect at a different angle. Within seconds, both men’s faces were flushed with heat and their bodies ached with a longing they hadn’t been able to experience release from since their escape from the Fornekhat world before their mission to Ankdor 3 had begun. They had just been too busy until now.
That was one reason why Kirk was so alarmed when McCoy gently pulled the two of them apart and said in a soothing tone, “We don’t want it to get cold, now do we?”
Kirk straightened himself out and pushed back the sensation of desperation. He was so in love and thankful to Leonard. Waiting a while longer wouldn’t hurt and he was very hungry and eager to see what was under the silver tray lids.
“I don’t suppose we do.”
Kirk followed McCoy over and sat down across from his beloved doctor. The older man lifted the lids from the two trays and the gentle scent of deliciousness was replaced with a flood of drool-inducing flavors and smells. On the table was a naturally cooked glazed ham and an assortment of side dishes. McCoy cut and served the food then poured Kirk a modest glass of whine.
“This is incredible, McCoy. How-“
“I’ve been saving it since our stop at the rest port,” McCoy politely interrupted. He sat at his own seat and lifted his wine glass for a toast. Kirk obliged him. “I thought that this year we could celebrate the holidays together.”
“Bones…” Jim’s eyes glistened in the firelight. He felt so much warm pressure building in his chest. He was so happy and pleasantly anxious in that moment.
Leonard caught the adoring gaze of his wonderful lover and had to clear his throat and straighten himself out before he began to get too emotional.
“We’ve been through so much together, and though you may not be the biggest fan of the holidays, I believe in the togetherness they’re meant to commemorate.” McCoy relaxed a little and eyed his lover passionately. “I have never been more sure or more in love with anyone before. I trust you with my life completely, and I am eternally grateful that, for whatever reason, we are still here together. You’re strong heart and mind have saved my life more times than I can count and you’ve done so much more for thousands of people, Jim. Tonight, I want to celebrate you. The most incredible man I know.”
Kirk was endlessly flattered, but he had to make a small correction.
“No,” he said simply. Leonard’s eyes opened wider as though he feared he had somehow managed to say something wrong. “To us. Without you, I wouldn’t have reason or company to celebrate Christmas or any other holiday.”
McCoy knew what Kirk meant. It wasn’t the literal meaning that the doctor took; it was the emotional security that he absorbed.
“Thank you, Bones. Thank you for,” Kirk laughed and gestured at the table. “For all of this. And for being you and being there when I’ve needed you.”
“Even if you are a pain in my ass,” Leonard teased.
“Right,” Kirk laughed then put on his most mischievous expression. “Especially then.”