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Holidays were generally disregarded onboard starships. There were many different cultures intermixed and instead of celebrating it all, it was better to simply forego the effort. Those who celebrated holidays celebrated privately but it was never a shipwide event. Halloween was excused from this.
Every year, there would be a huge Halloween party and a costume contest for anyone who was interested. It was a huge event that even people who didn't celebrate Halloween showed up just for the chance to socialize.
The captain had spent a week beforehand decorating one of the rec rooms for the party. It was draped with orange, white, and purple streamers and fake cobwebs. There was a smoke machine and strobe lights(that didn't flash of course). He'd really gone all out with the theme this year and it was something.
Spock really found no logic in spending so much time decorating for a celebration that would last no more than a few hours. He had explained this to Jim who had only brushed him off, claiming it was tradition.
Spock couldn't argue there, if Vulcans could argue. Tradition was sacred, even if human tradition was strange and complex.
He would not question his captain's judgment of human culture, as such an exemplary example of it.
This party was notorious as one of the best parties of the year, regardless of whether you celebrated the actual holiday. Or so Spock heard. He had never attended before. Jim had begged him the two years previous, but he had always found an excuse to get away. Parties had never been his speciality. He imagined it came naturally to some people to want to converse with a large group of people and get crazy but he found he got overwhelmed too quickly and the conversation drained him.
Over the years, he'd learned to just skip parties completely because he'd never had a good time. The people he attended the party with always found others and left him so he was always standing alone and feeling very alone as well. It was very uncomfortable and difficult for him to step out of himself and introduce himself to others. He practically depended on others to be with him at these kinds of social events to keep him grounded. At parties, they had all left him by the end of the night.
Parties had left a lasting negative impression on him, and so when Jim asked him, he immediately made up an excuse so that he wouldn't subject himself to such torture. He'd rather be stowed away in the lab working under the light. But when he had turned Jim down the first time, he hadn't anticipated the look of disappointment that crossed the captain's features. It almost hurt Spock and for a second he wished he could take it back, just a second.
The next time was an automatic "no" as well. Parties had no appeal to him.
But now he was running out of excuses. He knew the time for another party was coming, it had been nearly a year since the last one. Jim would ask him.
Jim waited for him to finish his work at his station. They were the last two on the bridge when they both entered the turbolift alone.
"Heavy workload today, right?" Jim chuckled beside him and Spock nodded.
"Indeed. The stress levels of the entire bridge have risen by 12% in the last 12 hours."
The captain's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? 12% huh? Seems we need a winding down after all that work."
Here we go.
"Like a party, perhaps."
Spock tried not to sigh. Really tried.
"The Halloween party is tomorrow. I was wondering if you were going."
"I am not," Spock said almost instantly. "I must check over reports-"
"Don't you want a break from all of that? Come out and have fun with your friends! It'll be fun! Don't give me that look."
"I can not give you a physical expression, captain," Spock retorted flatly and Jim groaned.
"You know what I mean, Spock. C'mon, what's so bad about parties?"
"Everything," The Vulcan mumbled under his breath. Unfortunately, Jim heard him.
The captain's face twisted into a puzzled scowl. "You can't hate everything about a party. There must be something good that you like."
Spock just blinked at him. There was quite clearly nothing.
"Well, you haven't been to this party. It's not a lame party. Besides, you know tons of people that are there. Worst-case scenario, you find me."
"I do not see the benefits of a party, captain," Spock said, trying to ignore those last words that touched something tender in him.
"It's fun! It could be so much fun, Spock! You let go and--and you dance and hang out with the people you love!" Jim was smiling again, a golden sunshine in the darkness of space. "Look, I won't push you if you don't want to go, but you can't say you don't like it if you don't try it. And plus it would be really great to have you there. It would make me so happy."
Spock opened his mouth to say something but found no words leaving it. All he could think about was the many times he had asked Nyota to define what a "friend" was and how to take the next best step to secure Jim as one. 'Support' was number one on the list. He needed to support Jim. Parties made him uncomfortable. But they weren't the worst thing in the world. Worst case scenario he shows up and leaves if it sucks, right?
"I will...see if I can be there," He finally managed and Jim lit up like a glowstick.
"Yay! I'm so glad!" Jim giggled a little bit which went straight to Spock's heart. The turbolift opened and Jim was walking out of it before he suddenly turned around. "You need to wear a costume though!"
And then the turbolift doors closed right as Spock said, "what."
A costume. He should've known he'd have to wear a costume.
What kind of costume was appropriate for these kinds of things? He had no idea.
He was completely lost on what he could possibly be until.
Until it struck him.
He would dress up as his captain.
He would dress up as Jim.
The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea.
Procuring the outfit would be the hard part.
"Nyota, could you er--"do me a favor" as you humans say it?"
"Yeah of course," Nyota looked up from her station. "What's up?"
"Is there a way to procure me hair gel?"
"Why?"
"Nevermind, it is not important," Spock was already turning away when her hand tugged on his sleeve.
"Hey, wait. I think I can...find you some."
She got him the hair gel as she promised. And now he required Jim's uniform shirt.
Luckily he knows Jim's schedule inside and out. They usually have alpha shift together, but once a week, Jim usually takes a double shift and checks in with the crew. Spock used this time to sneak into his quarters through their shared bathroom.
He went to Jim's closet and pulled out one of his uniform shirts, looking at it quizzically. It should fit, albeit a little short on the sleeves and big around the middle, but it will do.
Spock took it off the hanger and wrapped it up nicely, tucking it under his arm. He was getting ready to leave when the door schwipped open and Jim was there.
Spock darted into the closet before Jim could see and kept himself entirely still, hoping that Jim wouldn't open up the closet and discover him. There would be so many questions.
He heard Jim whistling as he went into the bathroom, and soon the shower started. Spock slowly slid the door open to check that the coast was clear and left out the front door to his quarters. He was near breathless at the thought of Jim almost discovering him.
But he got the shirt.
The decision to rip it was almost instinctual. He promised himself he would pay for it later.
The day of the party came and he was nervous, in a Vulcan way of course. What if Jim found his costume offensive? What if nobody liked it? What if he had missed the point of Halloween?
He pushed all of these worries aside and simply imagined what Jim would do.
What would Jim do?
He would be confident and stand tall and not care what others thought.
Spock straightened his shoulders and looked at himself in the mirror. He felt a little vulnerable with a cut through his shirt, a boob window of sorts, and his hair was gelled back with a swoosh like the captain's.
Spock almost smiled to himself.
It was perfect.
Spock showed up to the party which was dark and there was already a crowd. It was overwhelming, but he remembered what Jim said.
Find him. Find Jim.
He weaved through the crowd, determined to find his captain, but he couldn't find him anywhere.
"Love your costume!" Someone said behind him and a little tension in him eased.
"Thank you," He said, "I like yours."
As he made his way through the crowd, people complimented his costume, which must be a good thing, right?
He was emboldened by their words and yet, he still couldn't find Jim anywhere.
Spock did however run into the doctor, who was dressed like a plague doctor(of course).
"Well I'll be," Leonard gasped at Spock's costume. "Not only did Jim convince you to come, you actually wore a costume."
"I simply want to uphold Terran traditions, doctor."
The doctor chuckled. "'Course you do. Jim is going to freak when he sees your costume."
"Freak?" Spock frowned.
"No, no, no," Leonard quickly amended. "I mean in a good way. He'll love your costume, Spock. It's great."
The Vulcan visibly relaxed. "Oh. Have you seen him? I cannot find him?"
"I saw him over on the dance floor a few minutes ago. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll find each other."
"Thank you, doctor," Spock nodded and headed in the direction of the dance floor. He was usually pretty good with finding Jim. He had no idea why it was so difficult now. In his quest, he bumped straight into someone, nearly knocking both him and them off balance.
"My apologies," He said immediately, while the other said "Sorry!" simultaneously.
Wait a minute. He knew that voice.
"Jim?"
And sure enough, it was Jim. He was wearing...Spock's blue uniform tunic and his golden hair was pushed down on his forehead to look like bangs. He even had on fake Vulcan ears and a tricorder around his shoulders.
"Spock?" Jim said back, completely speechless. They both looked at each other completely astounded. They'd dressed as each other.
And then Jim burst out laughing and Spock found himself smiling.
"I can't believe it. You look...oh my god..."Jim reached up to gently touch his hair. "Is that one of my uniform shirts?"
"It is," Spock nodded his head, so pleased that Jim liked his costume. Not only that, they were dressed as each other. "Is that one of mine?"
"Yep," Jim smiled widely, proud of himself.
"I know your schedule well," They both said simultaneously, which sent Jim into another round of laughter and caused Spock to snort(which then sent Jim into ANOTHER round of laughter).
When Jim finally recovered, he said, "I'm so glad you came! I was hoping you would!"
"I only came for you," Spock said quite honestly and then Jim's eyes widened slightly.
"This isn't your scene, right? How about we take some punch and some pastries and go out in the hall for a little?"
Spock's heart swelled with relief at hearing those words and he nodded, infinitely grateful to have a friend like Jim. After they retrieved a little feast, Spock let Jim lead the way out into the corridor, which was illuminated by the blue light of star trails. They sat in a little nook in front of a window and just talked about everything. It was quiet, and intimate and Spock's mind occasionally drifted to how bright Jim's eyes were or how soft his lips looked.
"Even if you hadn't come to the party, I still would've found you so we could just talk. The party's nice and all, but I really like spending time with you."
Spock's cheeks felt warmed by Jim's wonderful words. "I share the same sentiment. You make for a worthy chess opponent."
Jim chuckled softly. "I think you're wonderful, do you know that?
"You-" Spock looked up in disbelief, into Jim's eyes for any sign of joking, but he looked sincere. "Thank you."
"I do. You show up to a party you don't even want to be at, being all supportive and wonderful just for me."
"Just for you," Spock repeated and this time it was Jim's turn to stare.
"I'm going to kiss you now," Jim gasped before leaning toward Spock and pressing his lips against the Vulcan's.
They were soft and tasted like something sweet. Spock's hands went to cup Jim's face and he found his whole world had narrowed down to the soft press of Jim's lips against his and the warmth between them. They kissed for hours or for minutes, it didn't matter.
Only later when they returned to the party did they find out they won best couple's costume, and the picture that hung on the fridge of the rec room for years to come showed Jim and Spock standing next to each other, hand in hand as Jim kissed his cheek.
In summary, Spock liked parties very much.