nexus_sages | (no subject)

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Jim Kirk enters the Nexus in a mild daze, still a little stunned at the news he's just received from Command. He doesn't look like he's shaved for a few weeks, but his black Starfleet Academy instructor's uniform is clean and his hair is neatly combed, so it's not like he's been letting himself go or anything.

He gets a cup of coffee on autopilot, before finding a seat to really think over what the hell just happened, a look of hopeful disbelief on his face, like he's been told something that's too good to be true.

"Have you ever had a dream job you never expected to get?" he asks after several minutes, looking up. "For those that haven't, if you knew you wouldn't be home for a couple years, what would you not leave without?"

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It has been a couple of weeks since they last saw each other. And Hunter doesn't know how much he has missed and how much has changed. He is just uncertain of himself. And that feeling just got a little worse, now that Hunter knows there is two Jims running around.

"How did you find out?"

"I decided it was time I asked the Nexus a question, and got approached by several people who know the other Jim," he explains, a slightly more serious look on his face. "Speaking of which, I'll let you know now, if you come over to the house, my mom's there now too. Columbia got back to Earth a few days ago."

Hunter is assuming that Jim's question had to do something about his mother. And it takes Hunter a moment to let that information soak into his mind.

"That sounds like a big adjustment, Jim."

"It's... weird," he agrees, a little hesitant. With his other friends, except for his closest crew, he can't be completely honest about the sudden change of heart from his mother. But Hunter already knows. "They had to notify her when I... died. And then that I was back. That must've been a wakeup call that she could lose me, too. She's actually being nice to me."

"Dammit Jim..." Hunter reaches over to place his hand on Jim's. He knows how complicated Jim's childhood was. And can't imagine how difficult the situation at home is right now.

And maybe that is why it has been some time since they last saw each other.

"That would be weird."

Jim turns his hand palm-up, and interlaces his fingers with Hunter's. "Yeah. I couldn't decide if I even wanted to let her see me, but... she's trying." And despite the resentment that Jim still has for his mother, for her distance throughout his childhood, part of him has always understood why she might've done it. If she wasn't close, then maybe it wouldn't hurt to be around him. And now that she knows what it's like to lose him, maybe she's discovered it isn't going to help at all.

Doesn't mean that he approves of her choices, of course. And it doesn't get rid of years of abandonment.

"To be fair," he says, trying to lighten things slightly, "I am living in her house."

Hunter is very familiar with feeling abandoned by one's parent. And he knows that his life would be turned upside down if his father came back into his life, and tried to make amends.

And he runs his thumbs over Jim's fingers. "Does she know about your new assignment? That you will be leaving in six months?"

"Not yet," Jim confesses. "I came straight here from the Academy." As is evidenced by his black uniform. "I couldn't think of anything else to do when I saw my orders. Might've been in shock. Might still be, actually," he adds with a small laugh.

"You wanted to celebrate. We should focus on that." Hunter doesn't want to bring down the mood.

"Did you want to go for drinks?"

"Sure, I could go for that," he agrees easily. He's got a coffee that needs finishing, but he can always do that on the way to a bar, or wherever Hunter has in mind. "I'll let you pick where."

"There is a nice little restaurant nearby. I could use some chocolate." Hunter offers Jim his arm. "And I am sure they will serve champagne."

"Champagne? Fancy," Jim teases, but he's certainly down for that. "And appropriate. Lead the way," he adds, getting to his feet.

"It is a celebration." Hunter smiles.

About half way there, Hunter leans in to Jim slightly, and smiles again. "I have missed you, Jim."

Jim puts his arm around Hunter's waist, enjoying the physical closeness. "Missed you too. Sorry I haven't been around much. Duty's been keeping me pretty busy."

"You live a busier life than I do, with more responsibilities on your shoulders." Hunter wraps his arm around Jim's waist. "I understand that."

"And you life is just going to get busier."

"That's true," Jim agrees, "but think about it this way... space has a whole lotta nothing in it. Whenever we find a planet or something I'm going to be pretty busy, but in between, I might have more downtime than I know what to do with."

"As long as in some of those downtimes, you share your stories with me." Hunter gently turns so that Jim is completely in his arms.

He gently caresses Jim's face, a small look of curiosity as his thumb runs over the stubble on Jim's cheek and chin.

"Of course. You didn't think I was gonna run off and forget all about you, did you?" Jim asks, and while his tone is light, he's asking in all seriousness. When he was younger, he sometimes treated his partners like temporary flings, but even then he still tried to part on good terms. And every now and then, he still thinks fondly of his former partners.

He's never had facial hair long enough for anyone to do anything to, and he half-closes his eyes at the interesting sensations it causes. And a thought occurs... that Hunter probably has never had any either.

"I remember you promising me you wouldn't forget all about me." Hunter is not going into doubt mode because of that promise. "That no matter what happened between us, I would not be forgotten."

"I have to wonder if it will tickle..." Hunter muses out loud.

That last thought gets a smile out of Jim, knowing exactly where Hunter's mind has gone. "Hey, maybe it's a good thing we haven't seen each other for a little while," he says, lightly teasing as he leans closer for a kiss. "You got to miss the scratchy stage."

Hunter is more than glad to welcome that kiss. It feels different kissing a bearded man, but the lips are still familiar. And it is still Jim. It only takes a moment before Hunter is deepening that kiss.

"No stubble burn to deal with, then?" He chuckles.

"Not anymore. The first week it itched like hell though," Jim says with a small laugh. He's still got a ways to go before he can really start trimming and neatening it up, but it's grown out enough not to give Hunter any whisker burn.

"And now I know that I should only kiss a bearded Jim." Hunter teases him lightly. And kisses him again, just to truly appreciate the new sensation.

[bed]

It's different on Jim's side of the kiss too, though not in a bad way. He hasn't had a chance before now to experience it firsthand, but he finds that he doesn't mind the way it feels.

"Glad to know it's not a dealbreaker," he says, once they pull away.

"No. Definitely not." Hunter is no longer someone who based his attraction on appearance. There is a lot about Jim that he is attracted to.

They reach the restaurant, and Hunter finds them a table. He orders a bottle of champagne, a slice of Chocolate Explosion cake and a bowl of strawberries. And lets Jim order, if he so desires.

"Were your crew told at the same time as you were? Or were you the first one?"