Chapter Text
“Why the hell did I come with you?”
Jim laughed before he answered.
“I’m pretty sure it was because I showed you the free drinks vouchers.”
McCoy continued to grumble as he followed along behind Jim.
“Cruise ships are cesspools of bacteria and disease. One idiot sneezing is all it takes and bam! You know they have morgues onboard, right? Why do you think those are there?”
“Here we are,” Jim said exuberantly as he stopped in front of a door. He slid a key in the lock and opened the cabins that would be theirs for the next week.
“You aren’t listening,” McCoy grouched as he followed Jim inside.
“Your stuff is here… so I must be through here,” Jim opened another door. “There we go.” He turned back to face McCoy. “So what do ya wanna do first?”
McCoy had slouched down on a couch.
“I still don’t know how you won.”
“Luck Bones! Pure luck!” Jim grinned.
“Yeah, I’m sure you didn’t rig anything,” McCoy rolled his eyes.
“Seven days at sea! Traveling across the Caribbean! We deserve this. You deserve to relax!” Jim had plopped down onto the couch with McCoy.
“Sure. But you never bothered to mention it was a singles cruise until you already had me here and it was too late.”
“Maybe you’ll meet the love of your life! It could happen.”
Jim didn’t flinch as McCoy glared at him.
“Ok, maybe you’ll meet someone nice to hang around with for a week.”
McCoy threw his hands up, exasperated, and fell back on the couch.
“Ok, maybe you’ll meet the bar and be drunk for a week.”
“That seems most likely,” McCoy finally managed a faint smile. “I can’t believe you drug me here. All these people are gonna be young and just wanting to hook up with someone new every night.”
“You’re young too; you just think you’re an old man,” Jim smirked and dodged the hand McCoy swung at him. “So, what do you wanna—”
Jim was interrupted by an announcement.
“Hello Enterprise guests, this is Captain Pike. Welcome aboard! We will be underway shortly, but first we’d like to make sure everyone is familiar with where to go in an emergency. Your lifeboat assignment is on the back of your cabin door; please make your way there now. As soon as we have all guests accounted for, we will begin our journey. Thank you all for joining us for these next seven days. Please ask any of us if you need anything.”
“Great. Start with an emergency drill. Really raises the confidence,” McCoy said as he rose from the couch.
“Bar,” McCoy stated as the emergency drill ended. Jim had turned to him and had barely opened his mouth.
“Ok,” Jim grinned, and led the way.
“How do you even find your way around in a place like this?” McCoy complained.
Jim didn’t bother to answer. He just continued walking towards the front of the ship where he knew there had to be a poolside bar.
McCoy finally gave up on complaining as they walked and began to look around. It was a nice ship he had to admit and a vacation was a good idea. He just wished Jim hadn’t waited to spring the singles part on him.
He was surprised to notice they had sailed. He knew they shouldn’t really feel any motion from the ship, but it was still a bit strange to see the land moving past them.
More people were starting to crowd in on either side as they walked. McCoy glanced around at the other passengers. He let out a sigh. He felt out of place. Jim always joked he was an old man in a young person’s body, but looking at the bright and perky faces around him made him feel even older than he was.
Jim had gotten ahead of him and he looked around to see him turning as they reached the front.
“I ordered for you,” Jim grinned as McCoy stepped up next to him at the bar.
“Oh lord,” McCoy shook his head as the bartender placed two drinks on the counter. “You know how much sugar is in that?” he asked as he looked at the two frozen drinks.
“Relax Bones, we’re on vacation,” Jim said, with a slap to McCoy’s shoulder as he picked up a drink. “Come on!”
McCoy reluctantly picked up the second drink. He followed Jim off to a small standing table. He turned his face up to feel the sun for a moment.
“You did pack sunscreen?” he asked, turning back.
“Yeah, yeah,” Jim said. “Look at all these people. Who knows who we’ll meet.”
McCoy looked at his friend’s enthusiastic face and smiled. It was easy for Jim. He smiled and people fell. McCoy would be content to get a nice tan this week.
He glanced around like Jim was doing, when suddenly his breath caught in his throat. His eyes had stopped on a man sitting poolside and he couldn’t turn away. The man radiated relaxed happiness as he chatted with the person next to him. The shirt he was wearing was a god awful floral mess, but somehow the man made it look good.
“Hey! Bones!”
He turned as Jim hit his arm.
“What?”
“What are you looking at? I’ve been talking to you and no answer.”
“Huh, nothing. What’d you want?” McCoy picked up his drink and sipped.
Jim gave him a knowing smirk.
“Which one?”
“Which one what?” McCoy asked back.
“Who you looking at?”
“No one,” McCoy said too quickly, and took another drink.
“Go talk to them.”
“No!”
“So you were looking at someone!” Jim grinned in triumph.
“No. Shut up,” McCoy snapped.
“Ok Bones.”
“Good. Thank you.”
“You know that’s the whole point of this cruise; to meet people,” said Jim a moment later.
“For crying out—”
“Maybe you will meet the love of your life! Hello ladies,” Jim addressed the last part to a trio who walked past.
“Maybe I’ll spend the week pretending I don’t know you,” McCoy said. He wanted to look over at the man in the terrible shirt again, but didn’t want Jim to see where he was looking.
“I’ll tell everyone you’re my fiancé then,” Jim laughed, “and that we’re into having more partners.”
McCoy turned a dark glare at Jim.
“Maybe I’ll cock block you every chance you get.”
“You wouldn't dare!” Jim said with mock surprise, followed with another laugh. “That’s a good threat.”
Finally McCoy let a smile through. “I don't want to be anywhere near you trying to put moves on anyone. I’ve seen that depressing show enough times.”
“You wound me Bones,” Jim smiled. “Did you see someone interesting though?” he asked in a more serious tone.
“Yeah, maybe, I guess,” McCoy admitted. He still really wanted to look again.
“Well, go talk to them. Come on, I’ll help. Where are they?”
“Over th…” McCoy finally turned to look back at the man poolside. “Oh,” he said with a disappointed note.
“Gone?”
McCoy nodded.
“Well, we’re on a ship. They can’t have gone too far,” said Jim.