Fic: The Gift That Keeps on Vexing: Part Two | Mirrorverse | NC-17

[ivycross]

Title: The Gift That Keeps on Vexing, Part Two
Author: ivycross
Beta: pamdizzle but all mistakes are mine
Series: Mirrorverse
Rating: NC-17
Length: 3,925
Warnings: N/A
Summary: It is Solstice and Captain Kirk keeps receiving gifts from a secret admirer. The thing is Kirk doesn't want the gifts or an admirer, because it would be daft to think that there is someone who actually wants him and not his command.

"So Farrell and his boys show, then what happened?" McCoy dared to ask as he and the Captain walked down to deck five.

 Without slowing his stride Kirk cast a glance at the doctor, "What do you think?"

"They found absolutely nothing and have no idea who this person is," McCoy hazarded a guess.  They had reached Kirk's door.

 "That's right. A big fat fucking nothing and nobody knows anything," Kirk growled as he punched in the code to his quarters.  He shook his head at the absurdity of the situation.  The previous evening, Mr. Farrell and his team had once again scanned Kirk’s and yet again, found no trace of the intruder.

Kirk's two guards that had been posted at his door come around  shortly after and Kirk had ordered an interrogation.  They hadn't  see anyone. They hadn't heard anything and could not remember what had even knocked them out. Kirk had been so angry by that point he sent them both to the agony booth simply because he wanted to punish somebody.

"What about your computer controls? Did they get fixed?"  Kirk gave McCoy a tired look before hitting the button to open the door.

"Yeah they got fixed. Of course, I had to wake up Mr. Spock to do it.  You know that he looks as put together at three in the morning as he does on the bridge ­­--just in black flannel pajamas instead of his uniform."

McCoy seemed to consider this, "I had always wondered if there was ever a time when he would look unkempt. I guess that answers my question."

They both stepped into the room and Kirk made his way to his desk.  He sighed as he saw sitting on top of it a cheerful looking box in blue gift wrap and ribbon.  

"Another fucking gift," he said as he reached out to hit the button on the COMM to once again summon Mr. Farrell to his room.  Suddenly McCoy reached out a hand and stopped him.

"What are you doing?" Kirk snapped.  McCoy pulled his hand back but gave his captain an intense stare.

"Open it," he said.

Kirk simply stood there, shocked at the suggestion, before uttering a single: "What?"

"Open it. Don't call in your guard. Just open the damn thing,"  McCoy whispered.

"Have you lost your mind?" Kirk shouted back.

"No. And I will thank you not to shout. Look, you have already received two gifts and their sender has been in your room. I think if they were going to kill you they would have done so, don't you?"

Kirk shook head, "No and I will damn well shout if I want to." He raised his voice for emphasis making McCoy step back. 

Kirk took a breath and continued, "Whoever this is, is probably hoping I’ll do exactly that. That I’ll be thrown off, lured into a false sense of security. Lead me to think that everything is okay and the next thing you know my corpse is being shoved out an airlock, while someone else takes over my ship."

McCoy frowned, "You sure are a suspicious minded little thing."   This comment made Kirk stare at the doctor dumbfounded.

" Yes, as a matter of fact, something which has served me well over the years. Thank you very much."

McCoy shrugged, "Fine. You don't have to open it."

Kirk sighed and reached again to the switch on the COMM, "Thank you Doctor."

"I'll open it." 

"Wait, What?" Kirk said as he watched McCoy reach over the desk and pick up the bright blue box.  Kirk immediately snatched it from the doctor and shot him a very angry look.

"You can't open it," Kirk stated. McCoy crossed his arms over his chest and scowled. 

"And just why not?" He asked.

Kirk held the box close to him and frowned. Because it's mine, you old bat! Is what he wanted to say but instead he choose, "Because it is still dangerous and I'm still in the room with you. It could be a bomb you dummy."

"Fine. I'll take it to my quarters and open it." McCoy reached for the box in Kirk's arms but the captain pulled back. 

"Well, wait a minute. What if's not dangerous? You'll bring back, right?" Kirk questioned dubiously.

McCoy made a face and snorted, "Uh no.  Whatever it is, I'm keeping it. You said yourself that you want this person to take the hint and leave you alone. What better way to get the message across then to give whatever they gave you away? I'll keep it and they'll get the hint and you won't be bothered any more. I mean, it's not like you've been doing that great of a job making yourself clear."

"What's that suppose to mean? I told them last night to fuck off and leave me alone. I don't think I could have been any clearer,"  Kirk argued.

McCoy gave Kirk a condensing smile. "Of course. By the way, nice boots," he drawled.

Kirk looked down and then back up. "So I'm wearing the boots they gave me. Big Deal."

" You don't think that sends the wrong message?" McCoy smiled some more.  Kirk pouted giving McCoy an evil glare.

"No. It just means that I'm wearing the boots. Why shouldn't I? They were a gift and beside they are really nice. They don't hurt my feet, they look really good, and they're genuine leather."  Kirk pretended that he was not hearing the whine creeping into his voice.

McCoy held up his hands. "All right, all right. You win. Now are you going to open that thing or not?" 

Kirk looked from McCoy to the box in his arms and sighed, "Fine, but if I'm about to die then so are you."

"If that will make you feel better, fine. Do you need me to hold your hand while you do this?"

"Don't know. It depends if you need me to punch out your teeth?" Kirk had said this seriously but his words just made McCoy laugh,

"Calm down. Now open the damned box."

Kirk shot the doctor one last dirty look before setting the box back on the desk. Slowly, he pulled at the ribbon and the wrap, listening to the doctor huff impatiently. He pulled the lid off the box and pushed aside the blue colored tissue paper. 

"What is it?" McCoy hissed behind him. Kirk reached in a pulled out a pair of heather gray lounge pants.  

He turned and held them up for the Doctor’s inspection. "They're pants," he said, not sure what to think.

McCoy took a leg in his hands and rubbed the material.  "They're really fucking nice pants," he amended. Kirk also rubbed the cloth with his fingers and marveled at how soft it was. He had never felt anything this soft -- not even as child. His father had never gone in for cushy things and didn't think his two sons should have either.

Kirk turned his head to peer back into the box and found what he was looking for nestled in the remaining tissue paper.  He reached behind him and retrieved the note. He turned back to McCoy who had raised one the leg of the pants to his face and was currently rubbing it against his cheek.

"Hey!" Kirk yanked the pants out of McCoy's hand. He balled the pants in his arms and tucked it close to him while he unfolded the note, making sure to ignore McCoy's grin.

"My Sweet Captain,

I want you to know that I enjoyed our time together last night, even if I did conduct myself poorly. I can only hope that you will forgive me and accept this, my latest gift to you. I noticed that you sleep in your regulation trousers.  I find this to be unacceptable and think that you will sleep better in these.

As ever I remain your faithful and besotted servant."

Kirk stared at the note and the strangest thing happened: he felt himself begin to blush. Before he could marvel at it further, McCoy’s voice sounded beside him.

"You sleep in your uniform?"  McCoy's expression was disbelieving.

"No. Not all of it anyway, just the pants." Seeing that the doctor's face hadn't changed he added, "It makes sense. If something happens, I don't want to be stumbling around trying to get dressed. Will you stop looking at me like that?"

McCoy turned his head to one side making no effort to hide his amusement. "Better?" He was practically giggling. 

Kirk growled, "No."  

He then looked back at the note in his hand. So his admirer felt bad about getting fresh with him? It made Kirk wonder which member of his crew he was dealing with.  As Kirk pondered how he could best find out who was behind this, McCoy chirped in to interrupt his thoughts, "You know for a romantic, this person is kind of dull."  

This made Kirk frown, "What do you mean?"

McCoy gestured to the pants in Kirk's arms, "You're trying to court someone, are you going to give the comfy pants and boots?"

"Well, I wouldn't," Kirk admitted.

 McCoy nodded. "Exactly. This person, whoever they are, has good taste but in all the wrong things. Where's the jewelry, the scented oils, the sexy undergarments?"

"Doctor? Could you please tell me at what point did you started to think that my dick had fallen off and I became a woman?"  Kirk asked annoyed.

McCoy just smiled, "From the moment I met you princess, but seriously someone is trying to woo you and they're giving you boring gifts. No wonder you're not interested."

"They're not boring. They're nice yet practical," Kirk said before he could stop himself. McCoy's eyes widened and he grinned wildly.

"You're defending them. Hah! That's too good.  I think maybe you're starting to like your little admirer."

McCoy was smirking and the blush that had started with the note had taken on a  life of its own. His face now beet red, Kirk was no longer able to take the embarrassment. He huffed, set the pants down on his desk and took McCoy by the shoulders shoving him toward the door.

"Okay, that's it. You. Out. Now!"

"Oh, don't be like that Captain. I'm just having a little fun with you," McCoy said his mocking grin becoming wider by the minute. 

 "Well I'm not having any fun, so get out." Kirk shoved McCoy out the door of his cabin and glared.

McCoy stumbled but remained upright and laughing.

"You will tell me if your sweetie show up tonight, won't you? Things have been too dull around this ship."  And before Kirk could think to pull out his phaser and shoot him, the doctor was down the corridor.

"Stupid redneck," Kirk muttered under his breath. He turned to go back into his room when the he caught sight of Mr. Spock coming down the hall. Kirk smiled and leaned against the doorframe.

 "Evening Mr. Spock. Have you been cooped up the labs since the end of your shift? You shouldn't work so hard. It's not healthy, you know?"

He watched the Vulcan raise an eyebrow as he approached, stopping before him with his arms behind his back.  "Captain, I will have you know that I find my work in the labs to be relaxing and a necessary respite after my shift has ended."

Kirk nodded still smiling, "Of course. Speaking of relaxing, are you busy? I just had a trying experience with McCoy and I could do with some intelligent conversation to help me wind down for the night." Kirk watched as Spock appeared to think about his offer, but then the Vulcan shook his head.

 "I regret that I have to decline, Captain. I have things I must attend to before I myself turn in. Another evening, perhaps?"

Kirk tried to smile again, but it was harder to do this time. "Another evening then. Good night, Spock." He didn't bother wait for the reply before he went back in to his cabin and shut the door.  Sighing, Kirk decided that what he needed was a shower and maybe a drink. 

He pulled off his boots and placed them lovingly down beside his desk.  He finished undressing as he made his way to the fresher.  Once h his shower was complete,  Kirk started to put his uniform back on when he spied his most recent gift sitting on top of his desk.  Looking around guiltily and forgoing the uniform, Kirk slipped on the heather gray pants , almost melting on the spot.

He did not care what McCoy thought. Whoever this person was they knew the way to a man's heart. It  was through comfortable clothes.

The boots had been a delight to wear. They had been so comfortable, he had been pleasant towards everyone on the bridge that day, even to Sulu and Chekov, which had made everyone uneasy. That, of course, had made Kirk even happier.

Now these pants. These were the pants of the gods.  This must be what the Cesar sleeps in, Kirk thought as he sat at his desk contently rubbing his palms over his thighs.  He let his thoughts wonder as he took in the feel of the cloth under his fingers.

Then standing up to get a drink, he decided that tonight would be a good night to relax alone.  Drink in hand, Kirk went back to his desk and pulled out his personal PADD which contained a library of his favorite books.   Humming to himself he carried it and his drink to his bunk to steal a moment for himself.

*****

 

There was a rustle of cloth and though he did not jerk awake like last time, Kirk was still startled to find the hooded and cloaked figure sitting at the end of his bed, gloved hands folded neatly in their lap.  Sitting up, he scooted back against his headboard.

  "Hello again," he said as he watched the figure turn towards him.

"Good evening Captain. I trust you are well."

Kirk snorted, "I would be better if I was sleep and not being stalked."  

There was a movement of the hood as if the figure was nodding their head.  "Yes and I will not stay long. I just wanted to say how pleased I was to see you wear the boots I gave you. I take it they fit and were to your liking?"

Kirk studied the figure for a moment before he answered. They left his lights alone this time, so in the dim gloom Kirk could see the figure, but there was nothing noteworthy about them. They wore black boots, black gloves, black pants, a black shirt and was covered with the hooded cloak, which was black.  The voice was scrambled again as well so that ever word rang with a hollow tinny sound.

"I do like them and they fit perfectly, but you really need to get it through your head that I am not taking you up on any proposals or propositions. You gave me boots and I liked them. That is it."

"And the lounge pants?  I noticed you are wearing them," he pointed out.

Kirk bit his lip before saying, "I like them too, but it still doesn't mean anything."  The figure seemed to watch him for a moment.

"But you do like them, yes?" There was a particular tone to the voice; one that suggested the figure was hoping or searching for any crumb of approval. For some reason, it brought a slight smile to Kirk’s face.

“Yes, I do,” he replied.

There was a sound from under the hood that Kirk thought sounded like purring, but the voice scrambler made it impossible to discern.   He shook his head and said,  "Look what do you really want? I have pull you know? I can give you anything you want. I can get you a promotion or see you get higher pay, or maybe find you someone else on the ship to be besotted with. Just tell me and we can work something out."

There was a tisk from under the hood and it moved indicating that the person was shaking their head.  "James," Kirk shivered as he heard his name, "You do not seem to understand. I do not want money or position or another person. I want you. I want all of you, completely and wholly. I have picked you to be my mate and I am afraid that no one else will suffice."

Kirk sighed, his shoulders sagging, "Look, there has got to be a mistake -- I'm not fit to be anyone's  mate.  I can run my ship, I play a good game of chess and I have been told I'm damn good in bed, but you seem to want a companion and that's not me. You will just have to find someone else and that's that."

There was a pause where it seemed to Kirk that the figure was thinking, maybe watching him then he heard: "What are you afraid of, captain?"

"Nothing," Kirk said, his voice like iron and the lower part of his jaw was thrust out.  He leaned in towards the figure, staring at it hard, to prove his point..

"Yet you have issues with trust.  The inability to trust is a sign of fear.  So I ask again, what are you afraid of?"

Kirk reached out and grabbed the edge of the figure's cloak and made his face level with the opening of the hood.

"Now you listen to me. James Tiberius Kirk is afraid of nothing or no man.  You have got some fucking nerve coming into my cabin and making remarks like that."

There was a stillness in the room while Kirk waited for the figure to react, to move to say something, but they sat completely still as if they were waiting on him.  He stared at the hood, his murderous expression morphing to one of confusion.

 "Who are you?" he whispered.

"The one that wants nothing more than to win your trust and your heart," The figure replied.  Kirk shoved the figure hard as he fell back on the bed. 

"What's so great about trust? It makes people weak and stupid. Christopher Pike trusted me and you know where he is? He's dead, because I was able to use that trust to get close enough one night to stick my dagger in him.  That's what happens when you trust."

Stopping to breathe, Kirk scrubbed his face with his hands and brought his knees up to his chest.  The figure did not move or speak, but they too shifted their position bringing themselves closer to him.

Kirk thought they might try to touch him, but they made no such move.  Kirk folded his arms over his knees, suddenly replaying in his mind Pike's death, seeing the one good eye the other captain widened in surprise over and over.  Kirk closed his eyes and exhaled noisily.

"There must be someone you trust?" The figure asked breaking the spell Kirk's memory had cast upon him. 

Kirk opened his eyes, "No. there isn't."

"What of the doctor?"

Kirk made a quiet sound that could have been a laugh. "I trust him to get on my nerves and raise my blood pressure."

"But you are not threatened by him," the figured pressed

Now Kirk did laugh. "By McCoy? That is rich. No. I'm not threatened by him. He would be bored if something ever happened to me."

The figure seemed to consider this. "What of the Vulcan?" It asked.

 Kirk narrowed his eyes, "What of him?"

"You seem to spend a good amount of your time with him.  It would seem that you trust him if you invite him into your personal life?"

"It's not like that. It's not that I trust him. I just know that he's too wrapped up in his work to want my job. Besides he's nice to talk to. He's intelligent and can play chess. He knows what I'm talking about when I mention a book I'm reading or song I heard..." Kirk trailed off before continuing.

"Look, I don't know who you have to deal with, but I deal with everyone on this ship. That's over four hundred people and most of them don't like me. Not because of something I did to them personally but because I just happen to be captain and that's what everyone wants. My job.  Nobody sees anyone else as crew or team members. We're all just stepping stones to each other and out of all that bullshit I have two people out of four hundred that I know won't try to kill me first chance they get. Not because they like me or anything but because it suits their needs that I stay where I am.  So you talk about trust on an imperial starship and I'm left wondering if there isn't something wrong with you because it doesn't exist and you're a fool if you think otherwise."

Kirk lowered his knees suddenly feeling very tired. The figure reached out a hand and slowly touched Kirk's cheek.   He turned his head away and the hand fell back.   The weight on the bed changed and Kirk looked to see the figure standing up to leave.  "I am sorry. I seem to have upset you and over stayed my welcome. I will leave and allow you to sleep."

Kirk said nothing as he watched them go. He didn't even bother to get up and look to see where they went or if the guards outside his door saw anything.  He flopped back  onto his bed and stared at the ceiling, wondering just what he was going to do.

He laid there and replayed what had just happened and was horrified. While the figure had been there he didn't bother trying to attack it or even look for his phaser. He just sat there with this stranger and gave them insight into his life.  He heard McCoy in his head mocking him.

"I think maybe you're starting to like your little admirer."

Kirk thought that maybe the doctor was right and that was a mistake. A huge one, but this person was doing something that really no one else had bothered with before. They were trying to pursue him, not for sex, (even though Kirk was sure that would come up eventually), not for his position or for what they could get out of him, but because he was worth their time.

 Because they thought that somehow he would make a good partner in life. It was the daftest thing he had ever heard of and it made him wish for the stupidest things, like for it be true. That he could have someone to trust. That there was someone out there that wanted to be with him, that would give him a pair of nice boots and tell him he was worth it.

He covered his eyes with his hands and blew out a breath. He could not believe himself and could feel his face redden with shame.  This has to stop. Kirk thought to himself.  He rolled over in the bed and tried to go back to sleep. 

He slipped a hand under his pillow and felt his phaser there.  That alone calmed his nerves.  He felt the pulls of sleep and as he nodded off his mind nagged at him that his admirer was somehow very familiar to him.

Part Three