Caught in a bad romance

[sharpestscalpel]

The locked console gave a gentle trilling chime and McCoy looked over at it.

It didn't make that sound very often but, from the slowly spreading smile on his face, it was evident that he appreciated when it did.

The smile only widened as he read the communication sent from Earth. He readjusted himself in his pants as he scanned the words a second time.

That red silk had felt good, confining and constricting in all the right ways. Still, he'd have to buy her something pretty to make up for it. And if she floundered around trying to explain the new panties to that impotent fuckwad dicksnot of a senator she'd married, all the better.

McCoy's fingers were swift as he typed his response.

Aw, baby, there’s no damn reason to be like that about it. And you also know if Reggie gives you any trouble I’ll cut his fucking cock off and make him eat it like sashimi.

Hell, I’ll probably do that at some goddamn point anyway for fucking marrying my wife.

Besides, I know you found it and had two fingers in that pretty pussy faster than I’d be able to get into your pants if I’d been there. Don’t pretend to me it didn’t make you wet – you act like I don’t shitting know you, woman.

Just like you know I took the blue silk with me last time. Keep it in the top drawer of my nightstand for just in case I get lonesome.

You head of the Empire yet?

-L

He chuckled as he sent it off through protected, nearly invisible channels.

Comments

[sharpestscalpel.livejournal.com]

"Well, there's what I'm willing to answer but I'm curious what you want to know."

The console was, for the moment, quiet, so McCoy ambled over to the chair he'd occupied the night before and eased into it.

"You're here specifically because if you clutter up my sickbay any longer, I have to start reporting my doings to Fleet. Some regs I can't get around and keep my damn job, Blue. But if I release you to your own shitting quarters, I give you about a buck fifty of minutes before you're dead. And I ain't put all this effort in for that to happen."

[behnd-blueyes.livejournal.com]

That made sense, and Kirk agreed, so far as his own appraisal of his chances of survival went. But there was so much he wanted to know.

"So you're expecting some return on your investment," he said. "Which means you think I've got something to offer the current situation doesn't. What might that be?"

[sharpestscalpel.livejournal.com]

McCoy shrugged.

"You'll forgive the metaphor but you've got balls going after Pike. You fucked it up, but I don't figure you for stupid. I ain't power hungry - but I play the long game. You won't get this ship, boy, but you might damn well take more. That happens, I'll be around for it."

[behnd-blueyes.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he thought he was real clever, but Kirk had no place right now kicking up a fuss over his choice of colorful phrases.

"Never figured the ship was necessarily the end of the run. Not at my age. But I did figure it was the next step," he said slowly. He'd been right, at least, in his interpretation last night. "We talking alliance?"

[sharpestscalpel.livejournal.com]

"You never skipped a step on a ladder? Didn't have you in mind as an obsessive rule follower."

He left Kirk's question unanswered for the moment.

[behnd-blueyes.livejournal.com]

Kirk didn't miss the omission. He let it go, for now. There was almost a smirk in his eyes, a pale shadow of his former confidence. As if he still didn't fully believe he could be what he'd been, but it was trying to peek out just the same.

"One might say I tried to skip too many this time," he said. "But no. I don't consult the book on a regular basis."

What did McCoy want for himself? What position could he desire, that CMO was a step to? And how many rungs was he talking about skipping, himself?

[sharpestscalpel.livejournal.com]

McCoy had skipped right to CMO. He'd gone through the Academy as a gateway to medical school. He'd never been an ensign sucking cock in desperation for meal rations.

He wasn't ambitious but he was good at skipping steps. And he did get bored sometimes.

"You want to know why Spock came for you?"

[behnd-blueyes.livejournal.com]

Kirk shifted, straightened. That had caught his attention. He hadn't realized there was something of such import to know; damn crazy Vulcans were a mystery to him.

"Yes," he said.

[sharpestscalpel.livejournal.com]

"Then we'll trade. I'll tell you that goddamn good story - but first I want to know about your arrangements with Uhura."

[behnd-blueyes.livejournal.com]

Kirk tilted his head. It was too tempting an offer, and Uhura had clearly washed her hands of him, cold-hearted bitch that she was. Which was the only reason he'd side with her to begin with, so it was both unfair and totally reasonable that he hate her now.

Still. He could use what little mystique he still had.

"Which arrangements?" he asked with a little smile. "I mean, business or pleasure?"

[sharpestscalpel.livejournal.com]

That was a little more like it. McCoy thrived on insider information.

"Let's start with business. You can entertain me from there."

[behnd-blueyes.livejournal.com]

Uhura seemed established, if Kirk understood those damned things Pike had left her. He owed her nothing, not after all this.

"We were supposed to move together," he said. "Obviously I don't know the details of what went down, seeing as she must have cut me adrift the moment things looked fucked. She was going to take care of Spock. Figured, without Pike, even if that took longer and even if the accident it was traced to me I wouldn't spend too long languishing, long as no one broke with tradition and took me out right away."

His fist formed, unconsciously, on his knee.

"Cunt probably had one of the others lined up all along. Is it Sulu or Chekov? Anyway, didn't figure her for the figurehead type. Guess that was another mistake I made--she was so goddamned insistent that she needed someone in front."

[sharpestscalpel.livejournal.com]

"Chekov. Sulu tried as soon as Spock was gone - burned the fucking skin off his face. And a significant shitting portion of the rest of him."

[behnd-blueyes.livejournal.com]

Kirk stilled, the change apparent though he hadn't been moving before. For the first time he realized that it could have been worse. Unthinkably, considering where he still was, but... He wasn't ready to say he'd rather have his balls cut off and become a living anatomy model, but he was a lot fucking closer.

And here McCoy had been, through it all, quietly following orders but squirreling away what he could in the meantime. Like, for instance, him. And now he had the best deal of all. And it was... power, of a sort, Kirk realized.

"Fuck," he said. "He live?"

[sharpestscalpel.livejournal.com]

McCoy had no sympathy for Sulu. His initial treatment had ended in infection through his own goddamn idiocy.

"I carved out some necrotic tissue just the other day. He's a goddamn lot less of a man than he used to be."

It wasn't a smile. There was something hard at the edges of his mouth. If Sulu needed more treatment, it might be his last.

[behnd-blueyes.livejournal.com]

And that, somehow, illustrated something to Kirk. He was here, in this room, trading stories and fuck knew what else. Sulu was... Sulu wasn't even a consideration. To Kirk or to McCoy. It meant both that Kirk had something and that it was possible, any moment, to find out he didn't. Both of which he knew but damn well bore repeating to himself.

He was in McCoy's hands. And McCoy's hands were clever, dangerous things. Maybe even more than his mouth.

"You gonna tell me about Pike and his Vulcan?"

[sharpestscalpel.livejournal.com]

His hands steepled, the fingertips of his index fingers resting on his chin.

"How much do you know about Vulcans? Their mental powers?"

[behnd-blueyes.livejournal.com]

Mostly what they all knew. "They're touch telepaths. They can sense other things. They can manipulate minds--again, through touch." He thought. "You think he's got some sort of hold on Pike?"

His voice was disbelieving as he said it, unable to imagine the man he knew as captain could be so in thrall.

[sharpestscalpel.livejournal.com]

McCoy's laugh was easy, sardonic.

"You could say that. They are mates."

[behnd-blueyes.livejournal.com]

Kirk's furrowed brow was even more evident on his gaunt face.

"Mates," he repeated. "Like... That sounds like one of those goddamned nature vids."

[consort-regnant.livejournal.com]

McCoy's console trilled again.

To Leonard McCoy, Who Keeps on Surprising Me, After All These Years

Your boy's got balls, sugar. Or maybe not so much, anymore. Still, I do appreciate a man who's willing to try to shake things up so he can rise to the top. He's lucky he survived and can get smarter for next time – or get someone smarter for next time, to help him out. Is that you, babydoll? Are you finally getting a hankering to fulfill your own potential? Or maybe you're hoping it's me, and you're just trying to pique my interest, hm?

Either way, I borrowed Reggie's clearances and did a little looking into this blue-eyed boy's past, and I don't mind telling you he has one interesting history. And it's locked up tighter than the Empress's sex tapes. You've got yourself a new puppy, sure, but I bet you don't know what breed of dog he really is. Ask him about Tarsus IV, honey. Just for kicks.

Anyhow, color me intrigued. If you'd keep me posted, I'd be much obliged. Maybe I'd even be willing to do a voice recording next time I tell you a dirty story.

- J

P.S. Can he still get it up? Just curious. I bet it's been a while since anyone fucked you through anything. Your sweet ass has it coming.

[sharpestscalpel.livejournal.com]

The console gave its gentle chime again and McCoy looked over at it before answering Kirk.

"Sounds that way - is that way from near as I can goddamn tell. Vulcans do not fuck around, Jimmy-boy. They mate for fucking life and there's this shitting mental bond. To borrow a fucking phrase, it's fascinating."

McCoy pushed up from his chair to amble over to the console. He didn't sit, just leaned over to read the latest message.

Fucking Tarsus IV. Blue's med records had a big gaping hole in them right around that time period and McCoy had been curious. Trust Jocelyn to get right to the meat of it. She was holding info back - it was typical of her but he didn't mind.

To Jocelyn McCoy, Whom It Is My Fucking Pleasure To Surprise. Among Other Things.

Baby, you know I play the long, slow game. Long being an appropriate descriptor in many goddamn ways. Think of this, maybe, as a little collaborative art project. i'd never fucking make a bid without you anyway, even though that's some shitting sentimental shit right there.

And, see, liquorlips, I knew you had a good eye for animal flesh. I'll work around to it. He's about damn due for a hormone shot, so I got a little little more leeway and leverage than I have otherwise earned.

Though he's coming along nice.

I'll keep you posted and fucking hold you to that voice recording promise.

-L

P.S. You know noone on this goddamn tincan has managed to flip my switch switch. Blue's too whipped to even look at his cock at the moment. I might have to hold him down and reintroduce him to his fucking nerve endings so he'll stop moping.

He looked back up at Kirk, casual but with intent.

"It's about fucking time for your shot."

[behnd-blueyes.livejournal.com]

A mental what? Kirk contemplated this, frowning, as McCoy attended to whatever the fuck was more interesting on his terminal. So, telepathy, but without the need to touch. Had Pike taken this on willingly? It seemed like a liability. In more ways than one--there was a reason Starfleet had forbidden certain contact with Vulcans. A reason Spock had those damned gloves. But if it wasn't willing... that had its own implications.

Either way, it made certain things make more sense. Things they knew, actions Spock and Pike had taken in the aftermath. Spock disappearing, and Pike returning shortly after. They were in league, that much was plain, but the deception--the depth of it--had been utterly hidden to the likes of Kirk.

It wasn't even fucking possible those two cared for each other. No one cared that much.

But where was Pike now? Where was Spock?

When McCoy stopped tapping away, his expression warned Kirk immediately. The interest there was specific, not general. Not hostly. And his own mix of emotions at those words... They were a reminder of his condition, of McCoy's power over him, of the potential, yet unknown, he had not entirely lost. Which, no doubt, was McCoy's intent. He only had his word to go on, anyway, about what was in it.

"Okay," he said, trying to keep both wariness and any possible enthusiasm from his voice. "But this thing--you're saying they're in on it together. Everything." Spock couldn't have been cut loose. They would have had to have killed them both. Some sort of fucked up psychic marriage, or something. The thought turned Kirk's stomach.

[sharpestscalpel.livejournal.com]

"I've watched them too long to think you could take one without the other. I was waiting for Spock."

There was a hint of disgruntled disappointment - and an oily undertond that made it clear: Spock had avoided a painful fate. McCoy wasn't angry; he had lucked the fuck out. But it still irked at him.

He retrieved a hypo from a drawer in the nightstand by his bed, adjusted it absently as he approached Kirk where he still sat on the sofa.

"Lean your head back."

[behnd-blueyes.livejournal.com]

What anyone's interest in that bloodness Vulcan was was anyone's guess. Certainly not Kirk's. Maybe it was the appeal of the aloof, or the forbidden and maybe that was McCoy's interest. Just attaining it.

"Hence Uhura's part," Kirk said. His eyes never strayed from McCoy's hand or the hypo, but he tilted his head back warily. "Didn't count on some psychic bullshit. What the fuck was Pike thinking, anyway? Can't Vulcans take over your mind?"