Chapter Text
Spock found Jim standing on top of a hill overlooking the city center. The young boy’s back was to Spock, but he could see Jim had his arms crossed in front of him and the boy was trembling. Spock felt an answering ache in his side as he stepped up to Jim.
“I have been looking all over for you.”
Jim glanced Spock’s way, his bottom lip wobbling. His clear blue eyes were filled with unshed tears. He turned his head away, back to gaze out over the city.
“My mother just informed me,” Spock said, softly. He heard the waver in his own voice, unable to control his own distress at the news.
“It’s so unfair,” Jim said in a choked voice.
Spock agreed. Wholeheartedly, he agreed. But he was the older of them. It was up to him to try and make the best of this. And then there was the matter of Jim being his bondmate. He must make things right for his mate. As much as he was able to, anyway.
“Your mother has no choice, Jim. She must go where Starfleet orders her to go.”
For the past five years, Commander Winona Kirk had been stationed on Vulcan, where she lived with her young sons, George Samuel and James Tiberius. Their residence had been next door to that of Spock’s parents, Sarek, and his wife, Amanda, a human. Jim had been only eight when they’d moved in while Spock had been ten.
Initially leery of each other, Spock and Jim had become very close friends. So close in fact, that they had formed a bond, a mental link, as was common among Vulcans, and their parents had accepted this as the way it was to be. When Jim was nine and Spock eleven, they had partaken of the initial bonding ceremony generally conducted between Vulcan children. Their bond and their friendship had become even closer.
Now Jim was thirteen and Spock fifteen. And they were to be parted. Temporarily, Spock knew, but the revelation that they would no longer be next door to each other was painful for both of them. Jim’s mother, a Starfleet research scientist, had received word that she was to be reassigned to a planet called Tarsus IV. Logically she intended to take her sons with her.
“I hate Starfleet.”
“What about your resolve to join it one day yourself and command a starship?”
Jim wiped at his eyes. “I changed my mind.”
“Jim.” Spock put his hands on Jim’s arms and turned Jim to face him. “It is unwelcome news for both of us. But we are still bonded. We will still have our link and we can message each other every day.”
“It’s not the same, Spock. She’s such a bitch.”
“You do not mean that.”
“Yeah, I do. I asked her if I could stay here with your parents and you and she said no. I have to go with her. It’s so unfair,” Jim said again.
It had not even occurred to Spock to ask if Jim could stay with them but when Jim mentioned he had and been refused, Spock could not deny feeling disappointed.
“She is doing what she feels is right for you and your brother.”
A tear leaked from Jim’s right eye.
Spock reached up to wipe it with his thumb. “It will be all right. This will change nothing for either of us.”
“How can you say that? This changes everything.” Jim pulled away from Spock and turned his back. “When I look out my bedroom window, I won’t see you looking out yours anymore. Remember how great that was? Even when you weren’t there at first, I’d wait for you and call your name.”
“And we would talk well into the night until either my mother or yours told us to be quiet and go to sleep.”
Jim nodded. “Yeah. How can we give that up, Spock?”
Spock did not know. “We have been given no choice.”
“And that’s why this sucks. Adults get to decide what is good for us. We can’t have any say in the matter.”
“One day we will,” Spock tried to assure his mate.
Jim turned back to Spock. “What if you forget me?”
Spock would have laughed if Vulcans allowed themselves to feel humor. “I could no more forget you than I could forget myself, Jim. You are my t’hy’la. My bondmate. You are in my mind and I am in yours.”
“Yeah, but—”
“I will not forget you, Jim. Ever.”
He licked his lips and nodded. “Okay. But what if you find someone else you like better?”
“Someone else I like better?”
“A girl. Or a Vulcan. Or a Vulcan girl.”
Spock shook his head. “There will be no one else for me. I know you know this, Jim. You have studied Vulcans and their telepathic links since you have been here. You are distressed and not thinking clearly.”
“But if you get to talking to someone—”
“There is no possible way I will ever be with anyone else but you, Jim.”
“If you’re sure,” Jim said in a small voice.
“I am sure.”
Jim stepped close to Spock and then waited for Spock’s arms to come around him. Spock pulled Jim close.
“I don’t want to go.”
“I know,” Spock said against Jim’s blond hair. “But you are being very brave.”
Jim huffed a laugh. “No, I’m not.”
“Come, your mother was concerned for you. She will be worried until she knows you are safe.” Spock took Jim’s hand in his. There was no one on the hill but them and no one to see. This would never be proper behavior in public. For that matter, their hug was not either. But Spock allowed Jim liberties he would allow no one else and as long as they were only affectionate in private, it would be fine.
Once they were down the hill, Spock released Jim’s hand. It was only a short walk from the hill and city to their homes. The two of them had made the walk numerous times. It was safe to walk anywhere on Vulcan by themselves but Spock could not help but wonder if it would be safe for Jim on Tarsus IV. He would be concerned for his mate. Sometimes Jim was reckless.
A reckless Jim could be fairly controlled on Vulcan, especially with Spock always by his side. But Spock had no direct knowledge of Tarsus IV, though he fully intended to research it before Jim and his family would leave.
Winona Kirk was waiting outside of their house when Jim and Spock approached. She came over to Jim and gave him a brief hug. “I was worried.”
“Sorry,” Jim mumbled.
She smiled. “I know you are, honey.” She looked past Jim to Spock. “Thank you, Spock, for finding him.”
Spock nodded. “I will see you later, Jim.”
“Bye, Spock.”
He watched as the Kirks went into their house. Within a week, Jim would leave Vulcan. Spock had not been without him for five years. He exhaled very slowly, and then went into his own house.
“Spock, is that you?” Mother called from the kitchen.
“Yes, Mother. I located Jim and returned him home. ” Spock made his way to the kitchen where Mother was preparing their evening meal.
“I knew you would find him right away.” Mother gave him one of her gentle smiles. “How are you feeling, Spock?”
“I am adequate.”
“I know you must be upset at least a little at the news.”
“To be upset would be illogical as it would not change the outcome.”
Mother nodded. “I suppose that is true enough. But it’s all right if you are, you know. I think even your father would understand. Jim is your best friend as well as your bondmate.”
“It will not be forever,” Spock replied, perhaps in an effort to convince himself. If Commander Kirk were stationed on Tarsus IV for five years as she had on Vulcan, Jim would be eighteen and Spock twenty. It seemed like a long time from now, even if it was not forever.
“You really like him,” Mother said.
“You know that I do,” Spock said with extreme patience.
She smiled again. “I do know. But it surprises me sometimes. Still. I’m just an illogical human, Spock.”
“Indeed. You cannot help yourself.”
Mother laughed. “No, I don’t suppose I can. It will be all right, Spock. You’ll see. The time will pass in a blink of an eye.”