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"The art of seduction always consists in hitting on the weak points of human beings."
STIEG LARSSON
^0^
Previously, in James Kirk's quarters:
Jim- "Give me a reason to go out with you."
McCoy- "Because I'm different."
Jim:- "Really? What color are my eyes?"
McCoy- "Well, at first glance they're brown, but in daylight they turn amber. And if you look closer, around the iris they're the color of honey. But when the sun hits you they look green, and they're beautiful."
"Spock, I am not giving you an order, I am simply making a request!" Jim stated.
Spock kept his expression unperturbed as he watched his captain. He knew that James Kirk was a consummate master at what humans called the art of persuasion. For a good while, Kirk had been politely expounding his ideas, to which he added subtle touches on his first officer's arm. Kirk was respectful, but had a natural inclination toward physical contact with his crew. As they conversed, Spock had noticed how his eyebrows arched precisely to enhance his attractiveness, how his gaze sparkled with mischief, and how his smile curved charmingly. He supposed that was Kirk's logical approach when he was trying to persuade someone.
The conversation was interrupted by the whistling of the door, and the ship's doctor, Dr. McCoy, made his entrance. McCoy flashed one of his typical smiles, tugging at the corner of his lips as he patted Kirk's shoulder.
"Have you managed to convince the walking computer that it needs a shore leave?" he asked immediately. As was his wont, the surgeon was to the point, wasting no time on unnecessary formalities or courtesies.
Spock raised an eyebrow and let out a barely perceptible sigh, using a fraction of his vast reserve of patience, stored in some corner of his tidy brain.
"The 'computer', as you call me, requires no rest periods. I am fully functional and my Vulcan nature ensures that my performance is unaffected by fatigue or exertion."
Jim nodded gratefully. Without a doubt, fortune had brought him Starfleet's finest officer, someone of whom he was deeply proud and toward whom his affection grew steadily and irrepressibly.
"Your performance, whether as first officer or scientist, is exceptional, far exceeding human standards," he added, winking at his friend. "But you have so many weeks of shore leave accumulated that the Admiralty has asked me to inform you that you should take a break."
Spock arched an eyebrow with his characteristic calm. "It is fascinating. However, I find no motivation to abandon my post. This lacks logic."
The doctor rocked back as he waved a hand in front of his Vulcan friend's face. "Damn it, Spock!, furloughs are designed to enhance crew performance, not to annoy people!"
Jim's long, chestnut-colored eyelashes flickered coquettishly. "It might be an opportunity to visit your family on Vulcan," the captain suggested, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning on the edge of his desk.
Spock dreamed for a brief moment of being fully human. He wished he could express aloud that his relationship with his father was far from close, that he had experienced condescending and contemptuous looks from full-blooded Vulcans when he was a child on Vulcan, and that the only thing that bound him to his home planet was his mother. Vulcan, to him, was more like a prison with golden bars. He had avoided returning there for many years. However, he knew he was not fully human, so he quickly decided that the logical action was to hide his emotions and thoughts.
The doctor noticed the fleeting hesitation in his friend. His blue eyes widened slightly as realization dawned in his mind. Jim had struck a chord. It was evident that Spock also had no family he longed to return to. "Welcome to the lonely hearts club!" he said to himself. He wanted to hug his friend, but doubted the Vulcan would be comfortable with an open display of affection.
The first officer made brief eye contact with the surgeon, a look that made McCoy wonder if Spock had the ability to read his thoughts. He dismissed that idea as absurd, knowing that the Vulcan had tactile telepathic abilities, but not long distance telepathy.
Jim noted the moment of connection that had formed between his two friends. He ran his hand over the smooth surface of his desk as an intrigued smile lit up his handsome face.
The doctor adopted an unusually soft tone as he spoke, "Look, I know we spend most of our lives together here on the ship and in our work. But I...I'd be honored if you'd like to join Jim and me on our leave. It would be a week of mountain hiking, fishing, and swimming in the cold waters of a beautiful lake on Earth."
Kirk was startled. "Hey, Bones, you're making plans without my input!"
McCoy turned to Jim, "If I had to ask your permission for every medical decision I've made about you, you'd probably be dead by now. Besides, I have no doubt that you wish Spock to accompany us. I'd bet my ass I'm right."
The captain nearly blushed like a teenager at Leonard's blunt statement.
"Ahem...I...sure...of course I..." Jim managed to articulate, before clearing his throat and concluding, "Bones reads in me like an open book. You'd make me very happy if you'd join us both!"
Spock bowed his head slightly, keeping his hands behind his back. "I do not consider the practice of fishing to be sufficient incentive to visit a place, Captain."
The stubborn Vulcan was probably enjoying the endurance game. "You can simply observe how Jim and I fish. Bring your Vulcan lyre and delight our ears with your music."
"Doctor, on more than one occasion you have claimed that my Vulcan tunes give you a headache," Spock observed.
McCoy rolled his eyes theatrically. "I was lying. I only said it to tease you a little."
"Dr. McCoy, your opinions are often...most disconcerting."
Jim cracked a smile and rose from the table. "That's part of the hidden charms of Bones. So, are we all agreed, gentlemen? We work together and go on vacation together." The captain gently rested his hands on the back of each of his friends, tracing comforting circles.
********
In the Shore leave.
(Livingston, Montana)
McCoy was immersed in his own thoughts as Jim continued his animated chatter. Jim's plan and his own had worked. Jim had opted to be subtle and flirtatious, while he had followed his direct and blunt nature. Well, now, what would be the next step?
They had lured Spock to a beautiful place, the ideal setting, quiet and discreet, where to carry out his idea of exposing to the Vulcan his intentions of having a love triad. Although he felt a little guilty for using his silly seduction logic against the gentle Vulcan. But, as Jim used to say, in love and war everything was permitted.
It was necessary that one of those two idiots to be the one to make the first move and admit that their love was playing three-way. McCoy wasn't going to be the first to speak up - he was a doctor, not a starship captain, seductive and pansexual! Nor was he a reserved Vulcan lined with logic from the tips of his toes to his hair! Leonard had a well-earned reputation for being grumpy and anti-romantic, and he wasn't about to let that change.
However perhaps he would have to take the initiative eventually?
"Well of course I would, dammit!"