In the After Time

[mirroredcommand]

After Jim and his Spock had left, Pike retreated into himself somewhat. He settled back into the chair he had left, his eyes closing and hand cupping his chin. Much had happened and been learned in a very short amount of time, some that had changed his very knowledge of not only this universe and their situation, but the people involved.

Kirk. That was a surprise in all of itself. Instead of the annoyed brat with a huge ego and a surprising sense of ruthless, charm, and intelligence to back it up, he was meeting someone he almost could respect. There was a keen sense of intelligence behind those golden eyes, tactile and strong, though obviously naive in certain cases. Even that naivety seemed protected by the knowledge of being aware of it. A most strange situation, but it came together in someone that in their universe, he would have considered a truly enemy.

Instead, he found himself surprised in the sense of having enjoyed himself within the limiting concerns of circumstance. There was a play between himself and Kirk that was as intricate as the game of chess that had been played out. Pike's eyes opened to focus on the board before him, pieces assembled off to either side. White, and black, with no shades of gray. He had found himself without another move, unable to win. Yet Kirk had been in the same circumstance. Both trapped, unable to make another move to win.

How very much like life.

Then, there was Spock. So similar to his own, yet vastly different. Shades of gray, indeed. He was curious to what had occurred during that mind meld that had drawn such reactions from his own bond mate, curious about the differences that were far more difficult to see. The relationship between the two men was unlike their own, forged in a vastly different way, but with the same purpose behind it.

He looked to his own Spock, who looked both thoughtful and tense to his knowing eyes and inner-sense brimming over from the bond between them. There had been a sense of dodging, avoidance, that he wanted to know the truth of.

"Spock."

Comments

[mirroredspock.livejournal.com]

Spock rose from his place at the foot of the bed at the sound of his name. There was so much in his mind to sort and file and lock away - right now the other Spock's memories were floating untethered. Disruptive.

It was a few steps to Christopher's side, a single graceful movement to sit on the floor beside his chair and rest his forehead against his mate's knee.

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

It was an automatic response to draw his fingers through the dark strands of hair. "That was a very... interesting experience." He suggested lightly, looking down at Spock.

[mirroredspock.livejournal.com]

"Moreso than I had expected. It is easy to underestimate them for their softness but, these two at least, are capable of surprises."

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

"Indeed." A smirk came to Pike's lips. "I rather enjoyed their company, but did you?"

[mirroredspock.livejournal.com]

"It was... educational. Though portions of it were uncomfortable."

That sky, full of consciousness.

"I would not object to spending more time in their company."

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

"Uncomfortable." Statement, question. He wanted to know what had occurred in that meld.

[mirroredspock.livejournal.com]

He rubbed his face against his mate's knee, slowly, idly, unconsciously. A gesture to comfort himself.

"You have seen the empty sky in my mind. His is... quite full. Alive with his people, all whispering and sighing on the wind. I cannot fathom containing such a multitude."

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

Pike stroked Spock's hair slowly, frowning very slightly at those words. "We are each other's sky." He said quietly, using the word Spock had said. He had, at least for the last few years, been content with such a thing.

[mirroredspock.livejournal.com]

"You are my sun, Christopher."

It is a simple, plain fact, unembroidered.

"Sarek took the sky from me before I could even know it. I do not... miss it, but the possibility of it was overwhelming. I only have you; he has his t'hy'lara, his companions, and his people. It is... loud. Even we are there."

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

"Does that mean we have our own connections, in our mind?" Pike thought about that idea, but the idea was something that he could not consider fully without venturing within. "To them, I should say."

[mirroredspock.livejournal.com]

Spock looked up at Christopher.

"I have these connections already. Threads. He called them... resonances."

One to each counterpart, fragile but tangled with even finer threads for their own mates - or potential mates, the youngest remained unbonded. And a third.

"I do not doubt you have such a resonance with James T. Kirk's Spock at least."

It is... less than ideal. Christopher is his but his bonded counterpart would do nothing. The younger one... Spock recalled all too well the taste of the desire and yearning that had been left behind when that one fled Christopher's mind.

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

"I am fairly sure there is one with the younger Spock as well." It was only a murmur, thoughtful. "A... resonance. Kirk said the same thing."

[mirroredspock.livejournal.com]

"The young one is weakened - the destruction of his home world would be a terrible wound. He wants you. I could taste it in your mind when I arrived."

Spock's displeasure is evident.

"It seems a logical consequence of being in proximity to our other selves. And their mates."

There was no Spock mated to the Admiral Pike of this world - that was the rank his counterpart had thought to himself, deep in Spock's inner mind.

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

"Weakened but able to be molded. There is a naivety in him I have never seen before." It was delicious.

[mirroredspock.livejournal.com]

His head came up at the words. It was not the words themselves but the prickle of the bond that came with them.

"You want him, too."

This position, so familiar and comfortable to them both was suddenly...

Spock rose to his height and took a few steps back.

He had never had another at all and now Christopher wanted... another Spock?

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

The reaction made Pike tense, his eyes narrowing as he looked to Spock. "And if I did?"

[mirroredspock.livejournal.com]

He retreated another step and ignored the question in favor of his own.

Why him?

There was still a certain angry bafflement to the tone, and the beginnings of betrayal.

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

The answer was easy, despite the tension in his body. He reminds me of you, when you were younger.

[mirroredspock.livejournal.com]

Even so, we are not the same. He would take you if he could.

The challenge to his bond had not come the expected place after all, the mated one with all of his connections to others tangled in his mind, spreading him wide.

The younger one and his own bond mate who did not understand.

He moved to the far wall, as much open territory between them as he could manage as he calmed his heart and his breathing.

Do you think he would bow to you so well?

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

I think he would bow no more then you would. Pike frowned at Spock, standing up.

He tilted his head, Are you jealous?

[mirroredspock.livejournal.com]

You did not want him in my mind - James T. Kirk's Spock, when I told you. Do you not like to keep what is yours?

There is a sense he has of the younger one, something that cries out danger when he remembers how that one would have inserted himself between them in the mind meld, when he came to Christopher.

He is quieter than usual, the syllabants slightly hissing.

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

But I allowed it, did I not? His mental voice was crystal clear, a rumbling growl that betrayed his displeasure.

[mirroredspock.livejournal.com]

The bitter note is foreign to Spock's mouth.

I could not deny you, Christopher. You are aware of that. I was not aware that I also had to like it.

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

And it is no different for me. His eyes were mere slits, anger bubbling up. I don't like that he was in your mind where only I have tread since your father.

[mirroredspock.livejournal.com]

And what if he came to my mind with a desire to take your place? To replace our bond with his own? Would you have so calmly allowed it then?

He closed his eyes.

He reminds you of me but he is... not me.