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Jim leisurely walks alongside Spock, their civilian clothes picking up little pods from the knee-high grass. The air is warm and fresh smelling, a welcome change from the busy atmosphere of the city at their backs. Spock reaches for Jim’s hand once the shining skyscrapers are hidden from view by towering, wispy trees. He still isn’t comfortable with displaying such affection in front of others, but when it’s just the two of them, he adores the feeling of Jim’s embrace. A warm contentment flows through the connection, and Spock knows Jim can feel his affections echoed back.
The pair weave their way through the landscape. The planet bares a resemblance to Earth, but the flora is more blue tinted, and the sky a little more purple, but those differences are part of what makes it so beautiful. It seems no matter how many new planets they find, every one has something uniquely wonderful about it, and that something is what drives both of them to the stars, the thrill of discovering new wonders.
“Come here,” Jim says, pulling Spock towards a large flatish rock jutting out of the ground. They sit down, shoulders pressed together, Jim rubbing his thumb over Spock’s knuckles. He sighs, leaning against his lover. “It’s beautiful here.”
“It is a pleasant place.” Spock replies.
“You doing alright? I know it was really crowded in there.” Spock recalls the events of that morning — the ridiculous amount of chairs crammed together around the stage, the surge of people all attempting to leave the room at once after the presentation was over. Spock would normally have stayed back and let the crowd dissipate, but he and Jim were required in a meeting with Admirals’ Pike and Marcus directly after the conclusion of the presentation. He also recalls — with warmth — the way Jim had confidently cut through the masses, successfully keeping a berth between the pressing surge of bodies and Spock.
“I am quite well, I experienced very little discomfort from physical contact with strangers as you did an exemplary job at preventing any contact.”
Jim glowed at the praise. He had been trying very hard to keep people away from the Vulcan, knowing how much of a strain it would have been for him to block out all of the unwelcome feelings he would have picked up.
“Good,” he said, squeezing Spock’s hand. “Oh! I have something for us.” Spock raises an eyebrow — a gesture Jim finds adorable — when he reaches his hand into his pocket and produces two small brightly coloured fruits.
He shows them to Spock who asks, “Terran oranges?”
“Indeed,” he says the word often employed by his lover with a grin, “mandarins to be exact.”
“I was not aware they were able to grow those here.”
“Me neither, but while you were on that call with the Vulcan ambassador I wandered through the commerce hall and one of the vendors had all sorts of Earth produce, apparently she oversees the Terran-style greenhouse at the university in the city.” Spock ‘hm’s, regarding the oranges with mild curiosity. “Have you ever had one?”
“I have not.” A breeze picks up, lightly tussling Spock’s bangs. Jim can’t help but stare at him, marveling over the depths of his dark eyes, the sharp lines of his cheekbones softened by his expression. He could stare at this man for hours and never grow tired of it.
“Well good, I love showing you new things.” Jim turns his attention to the oranges, digging his thumb into the top to begin peeling it.
Spock observes him, allowing himself to enjoy the concentration on his Captain’s face and the way the sun highlights his soft golden hair. He watches him tear away the peel, forming a little pile on his pant leg.
“Why is it not common practice to eat the skin?” Spock asks.
“Uh,” Jim frowns, “I guess it doesn’t taste very good.”
“Perhaps. However, I have observed multiple Terran recipes that utilise both the zest and the skin itself."
“Hm.” Jim pauses. “Well, now I’m not sure.” After a moment’s thought he grabs a small piece of the peel and pops it in his mouth.
Spock’s eyes widen slightly.
As Jim chews his face scrunches up. “Mm, it’s really bitter.” He feels Spock’s amusement through where their legs are pressed together. “Wow, no it does not taste like the inside at all.” Spock’s lip twitches in a small smile. Jim holds out another piece, “Wanna try?”
“I will trust in your judgement.”
Jim laughs, a wide smile spreading across his face, Spock’s heart thrums at the sight. As illogical it is, he loves how easily Jim smiles, how openly he wears his joy on his face. He especially loves it when he is the one that brings out that smile.
“A logical decision, Mr. Spock.” He finishes peeling the orange before pulling it apart and removing the strings of pith from the center. He hands the larger half to Spock.
Spock carefully tears a segment away, trying not to break the thin membrane. He places it in his mouth, noting that it holds almost no taste on the outside, before biting down and the sweet, tangy juice fills his mouth. He studies the taste, comparing it to other Earth fruits and cataloguing its similarities to other alien flora.
“What do you think?” Jim looks at him expectantly.
It is unlike most Vulcan foods, and he decides he enjoys the bright, almost refreshing sweetness. “It is good.”
Jim grins, “I’m glad you like it.” He starts eating his own half.
They sit in silence for a while, enjoying the fruit and the scenery, and of course the company. Jim starts peeling the second one and says, “Reminds me a little of my academy days, actually.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, Bones was always hounding me about eating more fruits and vegetables, and eventually he realized these were one of the only ones I’d eat so he would always shove a few in my backpack before I left for the day.” He laughs, “Can’t tell you how many times I forgot about them and ended up with orange juice all over my PADD.”
“I am grateful for his efforts to strengthen your health in a time you were likely neglecting it.” Spock responds.
“Ha! Yeah, I probably would’ve ended up with scurvy or something if it weren’t for him.” Jim hands Spock the larger half of the orange again.
Spock inclines his head, “Indeed.”
Jim tells him about the time Bones convinced a fellow cadet to hack into Jim’s meal plan and replace all of his preselected meals with healthier ones, and how Jim managed to hack the system and not only fix it, but to alter Bones’s meals as well. Spock can imagine the Doctor had some choice words to say about that.
When the oranges were gone and the peels shoved haphazardly into Jim’s pocket the pair stayed and watched the sun approach the horizon, the sky shifting into a bright magenta colour. Orange light filters through the frilly branches swaying gently in the breeze. Spock looks away from the view to find Jim watching him, a profound fondness written across his face. Jim leans in and presses his lips against Spock’s, who brings his hand up to cradle the back of his neck. The kiss is loving and tender, the scent of oranges still on their breath.