Asking For the Moon (K/S) Pt 2 of 2
Jul. 29th, 2012 09:26 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gilda_eliseTitle: Asking For the Moon
Fandom: Star Trek (TOS)
Pairing: James Kirk/ Spock
Summary: Kirk takes Spock along on a diplomatic mission, hoping for an opportunity to discuss a future relationship between them after seeing what he thinks is reciprocated affection in a meld.
Notes: Originally published by Merry Men Press in First Time 64.
~~~~~
“Is this it?” Kirk asked as he peered out the window of the aircar.
“That’s it, Mister. See that path off to the left?” Their driver pointed out of the windshield. “You take that about a hundred meters and you’ll come to the entrance.”
Kirk opened the door and got down, absent-mindedly paying the man while Spock removed their luggage from the back. He barely noticed the ‘car pull away or the Vulcan walk over to his side. All he could see was the massive wall of rock that reared up in front of them.
Finally, he pulled his eyes away and looked around. They were in the middle of nowhere, from what Kirk could see. They’d left civilization behind along with the cooling effects of the ocean as they’d traveled from the shore deep into the mountain range that marked the interior of the continent. Green vegetation had given way to a vast expanse of rock and scrub, and then to the hard packed ground of the mountains where next to nothing grew.
“I assume this is our destination,” Spock remarked. Kirk couldn’t tell if he was being a smart-ass or just stating the obvious. Probably both.
“Somehow I imagined something a bit more....”
“Cultivated? Perceivable?”
Kirk gave Spock a look. “The man said to take the path on the left.” He motioned toward the sloped passage that disappeared behind the mountain. “So, that’s what we’ll do.”
As the trail wound its way through the mountains, Kirk thought at first that they might have lost their way. But a few minutes later they spied a set of pillars carved into the rock face. Past them, an opening, dark and somewhat foreboding, beckoned.
“That must be it.”
“One would hope so.”
Shaking his head at his friend, Kirk took the lead as they approached the opening. Nearer the entrance, he was able to make out some sort of structure just within the mouth of the cave. They stopped for a moment, Kirk throwing a look back at Spock before squaring his shoulders and taking the lead into the shadowy interior.
There wasn’t much to see. The structure they’d caught a glimpse of from outside was little more than a square room built to the side of the cave. Ahead, the path sloped away and seemed to disappear into the depths of the mountain.
Kirk peered into the gloom. “There doesn’t seem to be anyone around. How are we supposed to know where anything is?”
Spock nodded toward the room. “Perhaps the information we seek lies within.”
They entered the small structure. Inside, a table took up over half the space. Across its surface five rows of elegantly bound booklets were lined up in precise order. Each was enclosed in a box of clear material.
Kirk moved closer. “They have names on them.” He moved down the side of the table, silently reading each name. Finally, he pointed to one of the booklets. “This one’s ours.”
“The box appears to be locked.”
“Good thing I have the key, isn’t it?” Kirk pulled out the thin metal disc, their ‘ticket,’ and inserted into the slot on the box’s side. Instantly, the top parted down the middle and the two halves slid to the side.
Kirk removed the booklet from its place. As he opened it, Spock came to stand behind him and looked over his shoulder.
“Here,” Kirk turned and handed a small devise to Spock, “it’s one of the keys to our room.” He returned to his perusal of the booklet. “It’s got everything: keys, maps to the caverns, a timetable for events, and a menu. Everything we need. It’s as if they’d made sure we never have to meet another person.”
“Interesting. A unique method of ensuring privacy, I assume.”
“Why would they do that?” He looked back at the table. “One, two, three...” he counted to himself for several seconds. “There’s a hundred of them. Considering the size of this place, that’s not very many.”
“It would be a logical policy to minimize the number of guest allowed at one time. The fewer people, the less chance of disruption or disturbance to the caverns.”
“Makes sense. Well, we’re here and we’ve got our keys. Let’s go find our room.”
Outside the room, the rock-hewn corridor to their right beckoned.
Kirk looked at their map, bringing it up to within inches of his face. “I hope the light gets better. I can barely make out what’s on this.”
“Perhaps if we proceeded...”
Kirk grinned. “In a hurry, Spock?” He tucked the booklet under his arm, keeping hold of the map in his hand. “Okay, let’s go.”
While the floor of the corridor was smooth and polished, it was still an unnerving experience. As they proceeded slowly downward, the sides of the cave gradually narrowed and it felt as if they were traveling into the bowels of the planet and away from the comfort of the light. That light had almost disappeared when they approached a bend; a soft glow emanated from the other side.
They took the turn—and stopped.
“Fascinating.”
“I’d say that’s a word and a half for it.”
Kirk slowly let his gaze take in the view before them. The cave had finally opened up and had spread out in all directions. Below them, a jungle of exotic flowers was laid out with no discernible pattern, a riot of colors that would put any rainbow to shame. A scent that caught at the senses without overwhelming filled the cavern.
“Where do we go from here?”
“We appear to have three choices,” Spock responded, as he nodded toward the ground in front of them. The path they stood on split in three a few feet ahead, two arms following the walls of the cave to each side, the third disappearing into the vegetation. Small, inset plates in the ground lit the way.
Kirk looked at the map again. “Our room is to the left. I say we go there first. After we unpack we can decide what we’re going to do next.”
They took the passage on the left, following the directions through the cave. About a third of the way through, the path split off again, this time taking them along a pathway that bisected the next cave. On each side, crystalline stalactites and stalagmites grew in abandon. Each turn brought new wonders, so the plain, stone tunnel that finally faced them was something of a shock.
“I think we’re almost there,” Kirk said, as he once more perused the map. “This passageway seems to leads to our room.”
It did. At the end of the corridor, a large wooden door was set into the wall. Kirk took his key out and placed it in the slot set above the door’s handle. There was a soft click and the door silently opened. They gave each other a look and then stepped inside.
“Impressive.” Kirk dropped his luggage by the door and then walked to the center of the room to look around. The spacious room, too, had been hewn from the rock, the carpeting and drapes softening what could otherwise have been oppressive. A large bed was set to one corner, swathed in a curtained canopy. Across the room, a table and chairs was set in front of a wall that was draped from one end to the other in a rich brocade.
“I wonder what’s on the other side,” Kirk remarked as he moved over to where a small panel was set in the wall. With the push of a button, the curtains parted to reveal another cavern, a series of pillars all that separated it from their room. He walked out onto a small platform, the ground continuing for another ten feet or so before giving way to an immense pool of water.
Spock came up beside him. “I had heard of the Lagoon Gardens. I had not appreciated just how large they were.”
Kirk leaned out to get a better view and looked both ways. The water stretched out in both directions, but while one continuous body, it was interspersed with pillars and partial walls of stone, giving the appearance of separate pools. Lichen and moss, in a myriad of shapes and colors, clung to its surfaces. Not more than thirty meters away, Kirk could make out the outer wall. Here and there, breaks in it allowed patches of sky to be seen.
“We must be on the outer edges of the mountain range.”
“Actually, the reverse,” Spock corrected. “What you see is an enclosed valley.”
Kirk turned to look at his friend. “I thought you’d never been here before.”
“I have not, but I knew of their existence.”
“You seem to know an awfully lot more than that they existed.”
“Once I was aware that we would be visiting Arzor, I made a point of learning as much as I could about the planet, its people and their history.”
“Yes, I suppose you would.” Kirk looked back out on the water. “I can’t imagine that these caves could not but be a big part of their history.”
“Prehistory would be more precise. The caverns were already here when the first settlers arrived. The original inhabitants went extinct millennia ago, so what the caverns’ original purpose were, no one knows.”
“I wonder if we’re allowed to swim in it.”
“I assume that information would be in the booklet we were given.”
Kirk turned and walked briskly back into the room. He picked up the booklet from where he’d placed it on the table and took a seat in one of the chairs. He opened it and started flipping through the various pamphlets. “I can see why Brandon encouraged me to book more than one day, this place is huge. A person could stay here a month and still not see it all.”
Spock had retrieved their bags from near the door and proceeded to his unpacking.
“Brandon Parker, the senior delegate?”
“One and the same.” Kirk opened a pamphlet. “He was at my table,” he added as an afterthought, his attention on what he was reading. Apparently, Parker had also been right about the time it would take to do justice to the place.
“Have you found the information you require?”
“Not yet.” Kirk continued reading. After a minute he closed the pamphlet and returned it to the folder. “But I’ve just about figured out an itinerary for today. The way the place is lined up, we can check out three or four of the gardens, and then have dinner at one of the larger dining halls. We’ll end up not too far from here.”
“That would be acceptable.” Spock closed his bag and placed it in the wardrobe. “We may proceed whenever you are ready.”
“Now’s as good a time as any,” Kirk responded as he stood. He figured he could always unpack when they got back. After making sure he had his key, he followed his friend out the door.
~~~~~
As they walked through the Caverns, Kirk could not help but appreciate the quiet and solitude. From time to time, they would spot other visitors, often from a distance. Then, the people would disappear around a corner and he would have Spock all to himself again. Considering its size, he still thought it a strange way to run the place, allowing so few people in at a time, but the longer they were there, the more Kirk was thankful for it.
They had decided to visit the Crystal Garden first, and Kirk had been pleasantly surprised to find a gift shop to one side, tucked away in a small cave. He bought something for his mother, and even found a set of wine glasses for himself. After setting up to have his purchases delivered to their room, they continued on to the next garden.
The day passed quickly as they made their way deeper into the Gardens. They stopped only long enough for a light snack around noon, and then continued their exploration of the Caves. Kirk was delighted that Spock appeared to be getting as much enjoyment out of the place as he was.
He watched as his friend bent down to examine a particularly intriguing plant, its fibrous needles creating a low hum as they swayed in the artificial breeze. He turned and gave Kirk such a look of pleasure, that Kirk could only smile back, any words he might have spoken locked behind the lump in his throat. He loved this man so much, wanted him in every way, but he still didn’t know if he had the nerve to risk moments like these with a declaration of those feelings. So, at least for now, he pushed down what he felt and stepped away, leaving Spock to his own observations.
Afterwards, Kirk tried to forget that the moment had happened at all and to be happy with his status as Spock’s friend. As Spock’s best friend, he knew he had that. Why was it that he always seemed to want more? Eventually, he was able to ignore his desires and find contentment with just being with Spock.
As evening fell, hunger drove them to the dining hall. The place was small and intimate, not more than twenty tables in all. They decided on a table near the windows that overlooked one of the flower gardens.
A waiter appeared and after looking over the list, Kirk ordered a bottle of wine. As the man moved off, Kirk picked up his menu and started scanning the selections.
“Like everything else around here, they seem to only carry the best.” He shook his head. “You know, I never thought I’d see the day when I’d be glad I didn’t get to go on shore leave.”
“I assume Dr. McCoy and Mr. Scott were disappointed in your being called away.”
“Not really. He didn’t say it in so many words, but I got the distinct impression that Bones wasn’t bothered by it at all. To tell the truth, I think I’ve been something of a drag on them recently.”
“Indeed?” Spock remarked, one eyebrow lifting.
Kirk chuckled. “Don’t act so surprised. Contrary to popular belief, I’m not some hedonistic satyr who can’t control himself.”
“I never believed you were. But I did assume that they would miss your company.”
“That’s because you’re used to the way we are with each other off-duty. But when I’m on shore leave with Bones or Scotty, little actual time in spent just in each other’s company.”
“You acquire female companionship.”
“Something like that.” Kirk looked down at his menu again. More than any other time, he didn’t feel like talking about his ‘female companions.’ Spock had always taken Kirk’s dalliances in stride, often seemed slightly amused by them, but Kirk had always been slightly uncomfortable talking about them to him. Maybe because of who they were often a substitute for.
He looked up in relief at the return of their waiter. After sampling the wine, Kirk nodded in acceptance and their glasses were filled. Their orders taken, they were once more left alone.
Not wanting to return to their previous conversation, Kirk looked out onto the garden below them. “I’ve never seen so many plants all in one place.”
“Indeed. It has taken many years for the Arzorians to collect them.”
“I thought you said this place has been here for eons.”
“It has. But while some of the gardens, such as the Crystal Garden and pools are essentially in the same state as when they were discovered, much of the vegetation was little more than dust. Only through careful analysis were they able to determine what had once been here.”
“Well, I for one am glad they took the trouble to recreate them.” He smiled at Spock. “I’ve had a wonderful time today. I’m glad Bones recommended this place.”
Spock looked down a moment, and then gave him a curious smile. “As am I, Jim.”
~~~~~
It was quite late by the time they made it back to their room. They’d talked over their meal and then ended up finishing off the bottle of wine, something that had been a pleasant surprise to Kirk. While Spock was not above having a glass of alcohol from time to time, it was usually under extraordinary conditions. That he would match Kirk, glass for glass, was highly unusual.
Still, he seemed none the worse for wear during the walk back to their room. In fact, once there, while Kirk could think of nothing but getting out of his clothes, taking a quick shower and crawling into bed, Spock took the opportunity to change into a loose-flowing robe and then pronouncing that he was in need of meditation.
Kirk lifted his hand and waved him away. He was sprawled out on his stomach and couldn’t get up the energy for much else.
Spock walked over to the window and pulled the drapes open a couple of feet. “I will meditate out on the ledge in order not to disturb your sleep.”
“I doubt I’d hear a full phaser barrage at this point. I can hardly keep my eyes open.”
Spock turned toward the lamp on the table nearby. “I will turn this off, then.”
“No, go ahead and leave it on. No sense you stumbling around in the dark.”
“I do not ‘stumble around.’ In any event, the light from outside should be enough for me to be able to see my way.”
“Not once you close the curtains it won’t. Just leave it on, Spock. I promise, it won’t bother me at all.” He pulled the covers up over his head. “See? No problem.”
“Very well. Then I will wish you a good night.”
“‘Night, Spock,” Kirk answered, though so softly that he doubted Spock had heard him from where he most certainly must now be sitting out on the ledge. Kirk yawned. God, he was tired, and still had a slight buzz. Good thing, he realized. The bed was big, but not so big that he would have been able to ignore the fact that Spock was lying a couple of feet away. Better this way, he thought muzzily. At least he’d had the wherewithal to don pajama bottoms.
He must have drifted off because the next thing Kirk knew he awoke to a darkened room.
He shifted around onto his side and came up on one elbow. The drapes were still open, yet a glance at the chronometer told him that almost four hours had elapsed. He sat up and walked quietly over to the window. If for some reason Spock was still meditating, Kirk didn’t want to take the chance of disturbing him.
The ledge was empty but for the robe Spock had been wearing. Kirk picked it up. Spock’s scent and the warmth of his body still permeated the silken cloth. Kirk hugged it close and breathed deeply into its folds. He could give himself this, at least.
He heard the sound of water splashing and looked up. At the far end of the pool, Spock had broken the water and was turning to swim off in another direction. Figuring it must be okay if Spock was doing it, Kirk swiftly removed his pajama bottoms and slid into the water.
Kirk gave a sigh of pleasure. For some reason he’d imagined the water to be icy cold. It wasn’t. Instead, it flowed over his body in a comfortably cool sheet of liquid as he sliced through it, quickly making his way over to where he’d last seen his friend. He slowed, and then stopped as he came to the outer wall of the cavern.
In front of him the jagged walls had created an alcove, an intimate shelter with a floor about a foot below the water’s surface. To one side, more water flowed down the rock, the sound of it only adding to the tranquility of the place. To the other side, a wall extended out to create a small platform just above the water line.
He pulled himself onto the submerged ledge and sat. He turned, and through a break in the wall behind him he could see the river that flowed through the valley outside, cliffside to cliffside. At its end, a waterfall tumbled down, lit by the stars and moon above.
It was like something out of a fairy tale, a wonderland of grottoes backlit by the heavens themselves, and he couldn’t imagine a more perfect place to finally confess his feelings. It was as if this place had been created specifically for that one purpose. All he could hope for was that, if what he’d seen was only the delusions of a yearning heart, his proclamation wouldn’t damage their friendship.
He waited, content in just sitting and taking in the sights and sounds around him. He knew Spock would be back soon. While the cave was large, much of it was too narrow and twisting for swimming. And there was plenty of time. Yet, he felt his heart start to beat just a little faster when Spock came into view, the Vulcan’s powerful arm and back muscles, contracting and then extending, as they propelled Spock through the water.
He almost passed Kirk by. It was only when he was even with the alcove that he stopped, a look of surprise passing quickly over his face.
“I thought you asleep,” Spock said as he tread water.
“I woke up.” Kirk patted the space beside him. “Come, sit down.”
Spock looked down at himself and then at Kirk, as if attempting to see through the water. After a moment, he nodded his head and swam over. When he sat, it was only inches away from Kirk. It threw Kirk off, having the Vulcan’s naked body so close to his own.
“I was surprised to find you gone,” Kirk finally managed to say.
“I was not fatigued. And this place,” he looked around, “is uniquely fascinating.”
“Yes, it is, isn’t it? It makes me feel like we’re the only two people on the planet.”
Spock turned and gazed at him for long seconds. Finally, with a look of resolve, he brought his legs up and moved over into the middle of the platform. He came up on his knees, so that the water covered only his lower legs. He held out his hand.
“Come.”
Kirk looked at him quizzically, but then shrugged and, following Spock’s lead, shifted over and knelt in front of his friend. “What is it, Spock?”
Ever so slowly, Spock brought his arms around Kirk’s body. Placing his hands on Kirk’s back, he pulled him closer until their bodies were pressed together from chest to groin.
Kirk’s heart was pounding. He’d wanted this, dreamt of this, yet he found himself almost paralyzed, caught in the heat of Spock’s body, in the eyes that seemed to see right into his soul. When Spock lowered his head, bringing his lips to Kirk’s, Kirk let out a moan and opened himself to the exquisite feel of Spock’s mouth on his, Spock’s tongue pushing in and demanding a response. Kirk brought his arms up and pulled the Vulcan even more tightly against him.
The kiss deepened, the low moans Kirk couldn’t seem to stop making, reverberating within the small confines of the alcove. Spock’s hands were all over him now, sliding down his back to cup his buttocks, then following the contours of his body back up to his chest. He felt Spock’s organ against his belly, its full, heavy heat dueling with his own, almost a replay of what Kirk had seen in the meld. Only now he was in his own body, his responses and Spock’s completely male.
Finally, breaking the kiss, Spock’s mouthed his way down Kirk’s jaw and neck, biting and sucking the tender skin.
“God, I’ve wanted this for so long,” Kirk said. His hand maneuvered between their bodies until he could wrap his fingers around their cocks. He began a slow glide, up and down, Spock’s low groan more gratifying than he would ever have thought.
“As have I,” Spock responded in a low whisper. “I thought to wait for you to speak, but I found I could wait no longer.”
They were words he’d never thought to hear. He brought his other hand up to cup Spock’s neck and renewed their kiss.
They were completely out of control, the kiss almost frenzied as Spock’s tongue thrust against his own. Kirk moved his hand faster, the two organs slipping through his fist. Both unwilling to part, their breaths were quick gasps of air before pressing their lips together once more.
Spock’s hands slipped down to squeeze Kirk’s buttocks, and then pulled their bodies even closer together. The feel of those fingers digging into his flesh pushed him over, and Kirk felt his orgasm wash through his body, the sticky heat of his seed spilling between their bodies. He had barely enough control to continue working his hand until he felt Spock follow him into completion.
All strength gone, Kirk slid further into the water until he was sitting on his feet, his face pressed against Spock’s chest. The only thing holding him up was the Vulcan’s strong embrace. He sat there, trying to gather his wits about him as his breath slowly returned to normal. As the haze of passion dispelled, Spock’s words came back to him. He pulled back and looked up.
“You knew what I wanted.” It wasn’t a question.
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I wasn’t sure if what I’d seen was real.” Kirk sat up enough so that he could slide his arms around the Vulcan’s body. “I was afraid that it would change everything—and not for the better—if I said anything to you and I turned out to be wrong.”
Spock cupped Kirk’s face in his hands, staring deep into his eyes as his thumb gently brushed Kirk’s lips. “Jim, did it not occur to you that, if you could see what was in my mind, that I could even more easily see what was in yours?”
“I—” Kirk snorted in amusement. “I guess I was so preoccupied with my own dilemma, the thought that you might have seen anything didn’t even cross my mind. But if you were sure of me, why didn’t you say something?”
“While I was aware of what you felt, I could not be sure if you intended to do anything about it. There could be...difficulties in our being together. If you were to decide that those difficulties were too great....”
Kirk came up on his knees and lightly kissed Spock on the lips. “Whatever difficulties there may be, I think we can manage to overcome them, don’t you?”
Spock smiled and pulled Kirk close once again. His kiss was answer enough.
~~~~~
They spent the next two days exploring the Gardens—and this new relationship that had blossomed between them. They saw gardens of crystal and rock, their growth mimicking life, and gardens of plants and flowers too numerous to mention. Now that he knew what to look for, Kirk was amazed that he’d missed the signs that proclaimed what this place was and for who. The signs may not have been written in words, but they clearly manifested themselves in the very foundation of the place, in its very heart.
They discovered many spots of interest, yet every evening they found themselves back at the alcove that had seen their beginning. On their last night, they floated a basket of food and drink and celebrated their new life together.
Kirk sat in the water, his fingers toying with the stream of water cascading down the rock wall.
“I wondered why the water wasn’t colder. This water is almost hot.”
Spock stood near the ledge, drying himself off. “It comes from deep within the planet. The inhabitants have yet to discover its originating source.”
“I hope they never do,” Kirk responded, climbing to his feet and joining Spock on the ledge where they’d set out a blanket. He pulled a bottle of wine from out of the basket and proceeded to serve them both. Using the wall as a prop, he leaned back, savoring the liquid.
“Why would you wish that?” Spock asked. He’d sat across the blanket from Kirk with his legs crossed beneath him.
“Because it would take away from the mystery of the place. Now that I finally know what this place is all about, I think it would detract somehow if all its secrets were ferreted out. It deserves to keep some things to itself.”
“You may be correct. Even I have noticed a certain uniqueness to the place. There is something here...”
“You feel it, too? I thought it was just me. I wonder,” Kirk’s gaze wandered over to the nearby break in the wall and to the scene beyond, “if this place was always meant as a place for lovers.”
“That is difficult to say. Whatever the intention of the original inhabitants of the planet, it died along with them. The Caverns, and the ruins of a large city, are all that’s left to show that they were ever here.”
“And no one has any idea as to what happened to them?”
“None, though one theory holds that changes in their sun may have been responsible and that the caverns may have been their last retreat.”
“If that’s the case, making them into tourist attractions seems...almost sacrilegious.”
“Perhaps, but perhaps it is the Arzorians way of celebrating life—the life that was and the life yet to be.”
Kirk stood and wandered over to the edge of the ledge. The stars were only just beginning to appear as evening fell, the rose-hued sky slowly darkening into a rich blue.
‘The life yet to be.’ Kirk liked that. It had certainly been that for them. He imagined he’d have gotten up the courage to approach Spock eventually, but who knew how much time would have been wasted. Instead, being here had allowed Spock to take the initiative to bring them together.
They had both wanted more than the tepid affiliations of a casual friendship and so had forged a relationship that defied definition. But still not satisfied, wanting, demanding, a bond deeper than most people could ever know, they had hungrily reached for the burgeoning attraction and love that had grown between them.
Kirk felt the Vulcan’s arms surround him as Spock came up from behind and pressed his body against his. He rested his chin on Kirk’s shoulder.
“I will regret leaving this place in the morning.”
“So will I.” Kirk turned and smiled at his lover. “But we’ll be back. I can’t imagine ever forgetting this place.”
“Nor I.”
Kirk settled against the warmth behind him and looked back out onto the Arzorian night. The brightening orb of the moon hung high in the sky.
Finis
Fandom: Star Trek (TOS)
Pairing: James Kirk/ Spock
Summary: Kirk takes Spock along on a diplomatic mission, hoping for an opportunity to discuss a future relationship between them after seeing what he thinks is reciprocated affection in a meld.
Notes: Originally published by Merry Men Press in First Time 64.
“Is this it?” Kirk asked as he peered out the window of the aircar.
“That’s it, Mister. See that path off to the left?” Their driver pointed out of the windshield. “You take that about a hundred meters and you’ll come to the entrance.”
Kirk opened the door and got down, absent-mindedly paying the man while Spock removed their luggage from the back. He barely noticed the ‘car pull away or the Vulcan walk over to his side. All he could see was the massive wall of rock that reared up in front of them.
Finally, he pulled his eyes away and looked around. They were in the middle of nowhere, from what Kirk could see. They’d left civilization behind along with the cooling effects of the ocean as they’d traveled from the shore deep into the mountain range that marked the interior of the continent. Green vegetation had given way to a vast expanse of rock and scrub, and then to the hard packed ground of the mountains where next to nothing grew.
“I assume this is our destination,” Spock remarked. Kirk couldn’t tell if he was being a smart-ass or just stating the obvious. Probably both.
“Somehow I imagined something a bit more....”
“Cultivated? Perceivable?”
Kirk gave Spock a look. “The man said to take the path on the left.” He motioned toward the sloped passage that disappeared behind the mountain. “So, that’s what we’ll do.”
As the trail wound its way through the mountains, Kirk thought at first that they might have lost their way. But a few minutes later they spied a set of pillars carved into the rock face. Past them, an opening, dark and somewhat foreboding, beckoned.
“That must be it.”
“One would hope so.”
Shaking his head at his friend, Kirk took the lead as they approached the opening. Nearer the entrance, he was able to make out some sort of structure just within the mouth of the cave. They stopped for a moment, Kirk throwing a look back at Spock before squaring his shoulders and taking the lead into the shadowy interior.
There wasn’t much to see. The structure they’d caught a glimpse of from outside was little more than a square room built to the side of the cave. Ahead, the path sloped away and seemed to disappear into the depths of the mountain.
Kirk peered into the gloom. “There doesn’t seem to be anyone around. How are we supposed to know where anything is?”
Spock nodded toward the room. “Perhaps the information we seek lies within.”
They entered the small structure. Inside, a table took up over half the space. Across its surface five rows of elegantly bound booklets were lined up in precise order. Each was enclosed in a box of clear material.
Kirk moved closer. “They have names on them.” He moved down the side of the table, silently reading each name. Finally, he pointed to one of the booklets. “This one’s ours.”
“The box appears to be locked.”
“Good thing I have the key, isn’t it?” Kirk pulled out the thin metal disc, their ‘ticket,’ and inserted into the slot on the box’s side. Instantly, the top parted down the middle and the two halves slid to the side.
Kirk removed the booklet from its place. As he opened it, Spock came to stand behind him and looked over his shoulder.
“Here,” Kirk turned and handed a small devise to Spock, “it’s one of the keys to our room.” He returned to his perusal of the booklet. “It’s got everything: keys, maps to the caverns, a timetable for events, and a menu. Everything we need. It’s as if they’d made sure we never have to meet another person.”
“Interesting. A unique method of ensuring privacy, I assume.”
“Why would they do that?” He looked back at the table. “One, two, three...” he counted to himself for several seconds. “There’s a hundred of them. Considering the size of this place, that’s not very many.”
“It would be a logical policy to minimize the number of guest allowed at one time. The fewer people, the less chance of disruption or disturbance to the caverns.”
“Makes sense. Well, we’re here and we’ve got our keys. Let’s go find our room.”
Outside the room, the rock-hewn corridor to their right beckoned.
Kirk looked at their map, bringing it up to within inches of his face. “I hope the light gets better. I can barely make out what’s on this.”
“Perhaps if we proceeded...”
Kirk grinned. “In a hurry, Spock?” He tucked the booklet under his arm, keeping hold of the map in his hand. “Okay, let’s go.”
While the floor of the corridor was smooth and polished, it was still an unnerving experience. As they proceeded slowly downward, the sides of the cave gradually narrowed and it felt as if they were traveling into the bowels of the planet and away from the comfort of the light. That light had almost disappeared when they approached a bend; a soft glow emanated from the other side.
They took the turn—and stopped.
“Fascinating.”
“I’d say that’s a word and a half for it.”
Kirk slowly let his gaze take in the view before them. The cave had finally opened up and had spread out in all directions. Below them, a jungle of exotic flowers was laid out with no discernible pattern, a riot of colors that would put any rainbow to shame. A scent that caught at the senses without overwhelming filled the cavern.
“Where do we go from here?”
“We appear to have three choices,” Spock responded, as he nodded toward the ground in front of them. The path they stood on split in three a few feet ahead, two arms following the walls of the cave to each side, the third disappearing into the vegetation. Small, inset plates in the ground lit the way.
Kirk looked at the map again. “Our room is to the left. I say we go there first. After we unpack we can decide what we’re going to do next.”
They took the passage on the left, following the directions through the cave. About a third of the way through, the path split off again, this time taking them along a pathway that bisected the next cave. On each side, crystalline stalactites and stalagmites grew in abandon. Each turn brought new wonders, so the plain, stone tunnel that finally faced them was something of a shock.
“I think we’re almost there,” Kirk said, as he once more perused the map. “This passageway seems to leads to our room.”
It did. At the end of the corridor, a large wooden door was set into the wall. Kirk took his key out and placed it in the slot set above the door’s handle. There was a soft click and the door silently opened. They gave each other a look and then stepped inside.
“Impressive.” Kirk dropped his luggage by the door and then walked to the center of the room to look around. The spacious room, too, had been hewn from the rock, the carpeting and drapes softening what could otherwise have been oppressive. A large bed was set to one corner, swathed in a curtained canopy. Across the room, a table and chairs was set in front of a wall that was draped from one end to the other in a rich brocade.
“I wonder what’s on the other side,” Kirk remarked as he moved over to where a small panel was set in the wall. With the push of a button, the curtains parted to reveal another cavern, a series of pillars all that separated it from their room. He walked out onto a small platform, the ground continuing for another ten feet or so before giving way to an immense pool of water.
Spock came up beside him. “I had heard of the Lagoon Gardens. I had not appreciated just how large they were.”
Kirk leaned out to get a better view and looked both ways. The water stretched out in both directions, but while one continuous body, it was interspersed with pillars and partial walls of stone, giving the appearance of separate pools. Lichen and moss, in a myriad of shapes and colors, clung to its surfaces. Not more than thirty meters away, Kirk could make out the outer wall. Here and there, breaks in it allowed patches of sky to be seen.
“We must be on the outer edges of the mountain range.”
“Actually, the reverse,” Spock corrected. “What you see is an enclosed valley.”
Kirk turned to look at his friend. “I thought you’d never been here before.”
“I have not, but I knew of their existence.”
“You seem to know an awfully lot more than that they existed.”
“Once I was aware that we would be visiting Arzor, I made a point of learning as much as I could about the planet, its people and their history.”
“Yes, I suppose you would.” Kirk looked back out on the water. “I can’t imagine that these caves could not but be a big part of their history.”
“Prehistory would be more precise. The caverns were already here when the first settlers arrived. The original inhabitants went extinct millennia ago, so what the caverns’ original purpose were, no one knows.”
“I wonder if we’re allowed to swim in it.”
“I assume that information would be in the booklet we were given.”
Kirk turned and walked briskly back into the room. He picked up the booklet from where he’d placed it on the table and took a seat in one of the chairs. He opened it and started flipping through the various pamphlets. “I can see why Brandon encouraged me to book more than one day, this place is huge. A person could stay here a month and still not see it all.”
Spock had retrieved their bags from near the door and proceeded to his unpacking.
“Brandon Parker, the senior delegate?”
“One and the same.” Kirk opened a pamphlet. “He was at my table,” he added as an afterthought, his attention on what he was reading. Apparently, Parker had also been right about the time it would take to do justice to the place.
“Have you found the information you require?”
“Not yet.” Kirk continued reading. After a minute he closed the pamphlet and returned it to the folder. “But I’ve just about figured out an itinerary for today. The way the place is lined up, we can check out three or four of the gardens, and then have dinner at one of the larger dining halls. We’ll end up not too far from here.”
“That would be acceptable.” Spock closed his bag and placed it in the wardrobe. “We may proceed whenever you are ready.”
“Now’s as good a time as any,” Kirk responded as he stood. He figured he could always unpack when they got back. After making sure he had his key, he followed his friend out the door.
As they walked through the Caverns, Kirk could not help but appreciate the quiet and solitude. From time to time, they would spot other visitors, often from a distance. Then, the people would disappear around a corner and he would have Spock all to himself again. Considering its size, he still thought it a strange way to run the place, allowing so few people in at a time, but the longer they were there, the more Kirk was thankful for it.
They had decided to visit the Crystal Garden first, and Kirk had been pleasantly surprised to find a gift shop to one side, tucked away in a small cave. He bought something for his mother, and even found a set of wine glasses for himself. After setting up to have his purchases delivered to their room, they continued on to the next garden.
The day passed quickly as they made their way deeper into the Gardens. They stopped only long enough for a light snack around noon, and then continued their exploration of the Caves. Kirk was delighted that Spock appeared to be getting as much enjoyment out of the place as he was.
He watched as his friend bent down to examine a particularly intriguing plant, its fibrous needles creating a low hum as they swayed in the artificial breeze. He turned and gave Kirk such a look of pleasure, that Kirk could only smile back, any words he might have spoken locked behind the lump in his throat. He loved this man so much, wanted him in every way, but he still didn’t know if he had the nerve to risk moments like these with a declaration of those feelings. So, at least for now, he pushed down what he felt and stepped away, leaving Spock to his own observations.
Afterwards, Kirk tried to forget that the moment had happened at all and to be happy with his status as Spock’s friend. As Spock’s best friend, he knew he had that. Why was it that he always seemed to want more? Eventually, he was able to ignore his desires and find contentment with just being with Spock.
As evening fell, hunger drove them to the dining hall. The place was small and intimate, not more than twenty tables in all. They decided on a table near the windows that overlooked one of the flower gardens.
A waiter appeared and after looking over the list, Kirk ordered a bottle of wine. As the man moved off, Kirk picked up his menu and started scanning the selections.
“Like everything else around here, they seem to only carry the best.” He shook his head. “You know, I never thought I’d see the day when I’d be glad I didn’t get to go on shore leave.”
“I assume Dr. McCoy and Mr. Scott were disappointed in your being called away.”
“Not really. He didn’t say it in so many words, but I got the distinct impression that Bones wasn’t bothered by it at all. To tell the truth, I think I’ve been something of a drag on them recently.”
“Indeed?” Spock remarked, one eyebrow lifting.
Kirk chuckled. “Don’t act so surprised. Contrary to popular belief, I’m not some hedonistic satyr who can’t control himself.”
“I never believed you were. But I did assume that they would miss your company.”
“That’s because you’re used to the way we are with each other off-duty. But when I’m on shore leave with Bones or Scotty, little actual time in spent just in each other’s company.”
“You acquire female companionship.”
“Something like that.” Kirk looked down at his menu again. More than any other time, he didn’t feel like talking about his ‘female companions.’ Spock had always taken Kirk’s dalliances in stride, often seemed slightly amused by them, but Kirk had always been slightly uncomfortable talking about them to him. Maybe because of who they were often a substitute for.
He looked up in relief at the return of their waiter. After sampling the wine, Kirk nodded in acceptance and their glasses were filled. Their orders taken, they were once more left alone.
Not wanting to return to their previous conversation, Kirk looked out onto the garden below them. “I’ve never seen so many plants all in one place.”
“Indeed. It has taken many years for the Arzorians to collect them.”
“I thought you said this place has been here for eons.”
“It has. But while some of the gardens, such as the Crystal Garden and pools are essentially in the same state as when they were discovered, much of the vegetation was little more than dust. Only through careful analysis were they able to determine what had once been here.”
“Well, I for one am glad they took the trouble to recreate them.” He smiled at Spock. “I’ve had a wonderful time today. I’m glad Bones recommended this place.”
Spock looked down a moment, and then gave him a curious smile. “As am I, Jim.”
It was quite late by the time they made it back to their room. They’d talked over their meal and then ended up finishing off the bottle of wine, something that had been a pleasant surprise to Kirk. While Spock was not above having a glass of alcohol from time to time, it was usually under extraordinary conditions. That he would match Kirk, glass for glass, was highly unusual.
Still, he seemed none the worse for wear during the walk back to their room. In fact, once there, while Kirk could think of nothing but getting out of his clothes, taking a quick shower and crawling into bed, Spock took the opportunity to change into a loose-flowing robe and then pronouncing that he was in need of meditation.
Kirk lifted his hand and waved him away. He was sprawled out on his stomach and couldn’t get up the energy for much else.
Spock walked over to the window and pulled the drapes open a couple of feet. “I will meditate out on the ledge in order not to disturb your sleep.”
“I doubt I’d hear a full phaser barrage at this point. I can hardly keep my eyes open.”
Spock turned toward the lamp on the table nearby. “I will turn this off, then.”
“No, go ahead and leave it on. No sense you stumbling around in the dark.”
“I do not ‘stumble around.’ In any event, the light from outside should be enough for me to be able to see my way.”
“Not once you close the curtains it won’t. Just leave it on, Spock. I promise, it won’t bother me at all.” He pulled the covers up over his head. “See? No problem.”
“Very well. Then I will wish you a good night.”
“‘Night, Spock,” Kirk answered, though so softly that he doubted Spock had heard him from where he most certainly must now be sitting out on the ledge. Kirk yawned. God, he was tired, and still had a slight buzz. Good thing, he realized. The bed was big, but not so big that he would have been able to ignore the fact that Spock was lying a couple of feet away. Better this way, he thought muzzily. At least he’d had the wherewithal to don pajama bottoms.
He must have drifted off because the next thing Kirk knew he awoke to a darkened room.
He shifted around onto his side and came up on one elbow. The drapes were still open, yet a glance at the chronometer told him that almost four hours had elapsed. He sat up and walked quietly over to the window. If for some reason Spock was still meditating, Kirk didn’t want to take the chance of disturbing him.
The ledge was empty but for the robe Spock had been wearing. Kirk picked it up. Spock’s scent and the warmth of his body still permeated the silken cloth. Kirk hugged it close and breathed deeply into its folds. He could give himself this, at least.
He heard the sound of water splashing and looked up. At the far end of the pool, Spock had broken the water and was turning to swim off in another direction. Figuring it must be okay if Spock was doing it, Kirk swiftly removed his pajama bottoms and slid into the water.
Kirk gave a sigh of pleasure. For some reason he’d imagined the water to be icy cold. It wasn’t. Instead, it flowed over his body in a comfortably cool sheet of liquid as he sliced through it, quickly making his way over to where he’d last seen his friend. He slowed, and then stopped as he came to the outer wall of the cavern.
In front of him the jagged walls had created an alcove, an intimate shelter with a floor about a foot below the water’s surface. To one side, more water flowed down the rock, the sound of it only adding to the tranquility of the place. To the other side, a wall extended out to create a small platform just above the water line.
He pulled himself onto the submerged ledge and sat. He turned, and through a break in the wall behind him he could see the river that flowed through the valley outside, cliffside to cliffside. At its end, a waterfall tumbled down, lit by the stars and moon above.
It was like something out of a fairy tale, a wonderland of grottoes backlit by the heavens themselves, and he couldn’t imagine a more perfect place to finally confess his feelings. It was as if this place had been created specifically for that one purpose. All he could hope for was that, if what he’d seen was only the delusions of a yearning heart, his proclamation wouldn’t damage their friendship.
He waited, content in just sitting and taking in the sights and sounds around him. He knew Spock would be back soon. While the cave was large, much of it was too narrow and twisting for swimming. And there was plenty of time. Yet, he felt his heart start to beat just a little faster when Spock came into view, the Vulcan’s powerful arm and back muscles, contracting and then extending, as they propelled Spock through the water.
He almost passed Kirk by. It was only when he was even with the alcove that he stopped, a look of surprise passing quickly over his face.
“I thought you asleep,” Spock said as he tread water.
“I woke up.” Kirk patted the space beside him. “Come, sit down.”
Spock looked down at himself and then at Kirk, as if attempting to see through the water. After a moment, he nodded his head and swam over. When he sat, it was only inches away from Kirk. It threw Kirk off, having the Vulcan’s naked body so close to his own.
“I was surprised to find you gone,” Kirk finally managed to say.
“I was not fatigued. And this place,” he looked around, “is uniquely fascinating.”
“Yes, it is, isn’t it? It makes me feel like we’re the only two people on the planet.”
Spock turned and gazed at him for long seconds. Finally, with a look of resolve, he brought his legs up and moved over into the middle of the platform. He came up on his knees, so that the water covered only his lower legs. He held out his hand.
“Come.”
Kirk looked at him quizzically, but then shrugged and, following Spock’s lead, shifted over and knelt in front of his friend. “What is it, Spock?”
Ever so slowly, Spock brought his arms around Kirk’s body. Placing his hands on Kirk’s back, he pulled him closer until their bodies were pressed together from chest to groin.
Kirk’s heart was pounding. He’d wanted this, dreamt of this, yet he found himself almost paralyzed, caught in the heat of Spock’s body, in the eyes that seemed to see right into his soul. When Spock lowered his head, bringing his lips to Kirk’s, Kirk let out a moan and opened himself to the exquisite feel of Spock’s mouth on his, Spock’s tongue pushing in and demanding a response. Kirk brought his arms up and pulled the Vulcan even more tightly against him.
The kiss deepened, the low moans Kirk couldn’t seem to stop making, reverberating within the small confines of the alcove. Spock’s hands were all over him now, sliding down his back to cup his buttocks, then following the contours of his body back up to his chest. He felt Spock’s organ against his belly, its full, heavy heat dueling with his own, almost a replay of what Kirk had seen in the meld. Only now he was in his own body, his responses and Spock’s completely male.
Finally, breaking the kiss, Spock’s mouthed his way down Kirk’s jaw and neck, biting and sucking the tender skin.
“God, I’ve wanted this for so long,” Kirk said. His hand maneuvered between their bodies until he could wrap his fingers around their cocks. He began a slow glide, up and down, Spock’s low groan more gratifying than he would ever have thought.
“As have I,” Spock responded in a low whisper. “I thought to wait for you to speak, but I found I could wait no longer.”
They were words he’d never thought to hear. He brought his other hand up to cup Spock’s neck and renewed their kiss.
They were completely out of control, the kiss almost frenzied as Spock’s tongue thrust against his own. Kirk moved his hand faster, the two organs slipping through his fist. Both unwilling to part, their breaths were quick gasps of air before pressing their lips together once more.
Spock’s hands slipped down to squeeze Kirk’s buttocks, and then pulled their bodies even closer together. The feel of those fingers digging into his flesh pushed him over, and Kirk felt his orgasm wash through his body, the sticky heat of his seed spilling between their bodies. He had barely enough control to continue working his hand until he felt Spock follow him into completion.
All strength gone, Kirk slid further into the water until he was sitting on his feet, his face pressed against Spock’s chest. The only thing holding him up was the Vulcan’s strong embrace. He sat there, trying to gather his wits about him as his breath slowly returned to normal. As the haze of passion dispelled, Spock’s words came back to him. He pulled back and looked up.
“You knew what I wanted.” It wasn’t a question.
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I wasn’t sure if what I’d seen was real.” Kirk sat up enough so that he could slide his arms around the Vulcan’s body. “I was afraid that it would change everything—and not for the better—if I said anything to you and I turned out to be wrong.”
Spock cupped Kirk’s face in his hands, staring deep into his eyes as his thumb gently brushed Kirk’s lips. “Jim, did it not occur to you that, if you could see what was in my mind, that I could even more easily see what was in yours?”
“I—” Kirk snorted in amusement. “I guess I was so preoccupied with my own dilemma, the thought that you might have seen anything didn’t even cross my mind. But if you were sure of me, why didn’t you say something?”
“While I was aware of what you felt, I could not be sure if you intended to do anything about it. There could be...difficulties in our being together. If you were to decide that those difficulties were too great....”
Kirk came up on his knees and lightly kissed Spock on the lips. “Whatever difficulties there may be, I think we can manage to overcome them, don’t you?”
Spock smiled and pulled Kirk close once again. His kiss was answer enough.
They spent the next two days exploring the Gardens—and this new relationship that had blossomed between them. They saw gardens of crystal and rock, their growth mimicking life, and gardens of plants and flowers too numerous to mention. Now that he knew what to look for, Kirk was amazed that he’d missed the signs that proclaimed what this place was and for who. The signs may not have been written in words, but they clearly manifested themselves in the very foundation of the place, in its very heart.
They discovered many spots of interest, yet every evening they found themselves back at the alcove that had seen their beginning. On their last night, they floated a basket of food and drink and celebrated their new life together.
Kirk sat in the water, his fingers toying with the stream of water cascading down the rock wall.
“I wondered why the water wasn’t colder. This water is almost hot.”
Spock stood near the ledge, drying himself off. “It comes from deep within the planet. The inhabitants have yet to discover its originating source.”
“I hope they never do,” Kirk responded, climbing to his feet and joining Spock on the ledge where they’d set out a blanket. He pulled a bottle of wine from out of the basket and proceeded to serve them both. Using the wall as a prop, he leaned back, savoring the liquid.
“Why would you wish that?” Spock asked. He’d sat across the blanket from Kirk with his legs crossed beneath him.
“Because it would take away from the mystery of the place. Now that I finally know what this place is all about, I think it would detract somehow if all its secrets were ferreted out. It deserves to keep some things to itself.”
“You may be correct. Even I have noticed a certain uniqueness to the place. There is something here...”
“You feel it, too? I thought it was just me. I wonder,” Kirk’s gaze wandered over to the nearby break in the wall and to the scene beyond, “if this place was always meant as a place for lovers.”
“That is difficult to say. Whatever the intention of the original inhabitants of the planet, it died along with them. The Caverns, and the ruins of a large city, are all that’s left to show that they were ever here.”
“And no one has any idea as to what happened to them?”
“None, though one theory holds that changes in their sun may have been responsible and that the caverns may have been their last retreat.”
“If that’s the case, making them into tourist attractions seems...almost sacrilegious.”
“Perhaps, but perhaps it is the Arzorians way of celebrating life—the life that was and the life yet to be.”
Kirk stood and wandered over to the edge of the ledge. The stars were only just beginning to appear as evening fell, the rose-hued sky slowly darkening into a rich blue.
‘The life yet to be.’ Kirk liked that. It had certainly been that for them. He imagined he’d have gotten up the courage to approach Spock eventually, but who knew how much time would have been wasted. Instead, being here had allowed Spock to take the initiative to bring them together.
They had both wanted more than the tepid affiliations of a casual friendship and so had forged a relationship that defied definition. But still not satisfied, wanting, demanding, a bond deeper than most people could ever know, they had hungrily reached for the burgeoning attraction and love that had grown between them.
Kirk felt the Vulcan’s arms surround him as Spock came up from behind and pressed his body against his. He rested his chin on Kirk’s shoulder.
“I will regret leaving this place in the morning.”
“So will I.” Kirk turned and smiled at his lover. “But we’ll be back. I can’t imagine ever forgetting this place.”
“Nor I.”
Kirk settled against the warmth behind him and looked back out onto the Arzorian night. The brightening orb of the moon hung high in the sky.
Finis
