I hosted a drabble challenge at team_jones this weekend. There's just something so instantly gratifying about drabbles!

Kirk, McCoy
100 words
Prompts: uniform, awkward, play

Watching Jim play with the fasteners on his dress uniform for the hundredth time, Leonard has never seen him so uncomfortable before.

"This is going to be awkward," Jim remarks.

"It's a memorial service, Jim; it's not supposed to be easy."

Jim's lips twitch into a half-hearted smile. "You don't think it cheapens it? Me sitting up there, alive, while they talk about those who were lost?"

Leonard barely manages to keep his voice from wavering. "There's nothing cheap about your life, Jim. Without you..."

He doesn't finish, doesn't have to. The gleam in Jim's eyes says that he understands.

+

Kirk/McCoy
100 words
Prompts: upset, alien, remove

Bones has every right to be upset.

Jim doesn't like having alien weapons aimed at him. He definitely doesn't like having damn darts in his shoulder.

He watches Bones remove them, hands gentle while his face is scowling.

"At least they're not poison-tipped, right, Bones?"

"There's always the next time."

Jim lifts the arm that isn't being worked on, resting his hand at the back of Bones' neck to rub soothing circles at his hairline. "Hey... I'm fine."

Bones sighs. "Just don't get hurt beyond what I can fix."

He can't promise, but Jim hopes his kiss says I'll try.

+

Kirk, McCoy
100 words
Mirrorverse
Prompts: cage, din, meaningful

Kirk sits in the cage, ignoring the din of the other prisoners around him. He knows they're talking about him, trying to gauge if they want to provoke him or not. None have tried yet.

He gets released the next morning and isn't surprised to see McCoy there, looking angrier than usual. "They said you killed five civilians and two cops before you were detained."

"My father thought there was such a thing as a meaningful death," Kirk responds, unprompted. "I'm yet to see an example of one."

"Keep this up, they'll have you executed, and then you never will."

+

Kirk/McCoy
100 words
Prompts: complicated, cheek, refuse

Jim hadn't meant to screw up the friendship, to go and make things complicated by sleeping with Bones. The memories of the downright fantastic sex last night do nothing to assuage his panic.

He's trying to figure out a way to play this off as nothing when he feels the bed sink, the scratch of stubble against his jaw as Bones kisses his cheek, causing Jim's anxiety to immediately evaporate.

"You have to get out of bed sometime today, darling," Bones drawls.

"And if I refuse?"

Bones' responding grin makes Jim's heart stutter. "I'm sure we can work something out."

+

Kirk/McCoy (BFFy or slash, though)
100 words
Prompts: longest, at, color

Leonard almost collapses with relief when Jim's eyes finally open. He activates the privacy screen, glancing at the biobed monitor.

"Mouth's dry," Jim says, voice rough.

Leonard helps Jim sit before feeding him replicated ice. "Your color looks better."

"What happened?"

Leonard doesn't mention the fourteen hour surgery, the longest Jim's ever been on his table, or that he'd died for five minutes. "The away team is fine."

"Good." Jim sighs. "You look like hell, Bones."

"That's because you keep putting me through it." Jim squeezes his hand, weaker than normal, but it's still reassuring, and Leonard squeezes right back.

+

Kirk/McCoy
100 words
Prompts: ass, cancel, vain

Leonard returns to catch Jim in the bathroom, focused on his reflection while pulling at and adjusting the gold tunic that had been delivered earlier.

"And here I thought you weren't really that vain."

"Not vanity if it's true, Bones. My ass looks fantastic." Jim does a little shimmy to prove his point before turning serious. "I'm waiting for it all to sink in."

Leonard moves to stand behind Jim, his arms around Jim's waist as their eyes meet in the mirror. "Not like they're going to cancel your commission. You more than earned it," he kisses Jim's neck, "Captain."

+

Kirk, McCoy
100 words
Prompts: demanding, passenger, exercise

"Bones, it's just a training exercise. It'll be fine!"

Leonard won't be swayed by Jim's optimism as he glares at the shuttle. "I seem to recall you saying these things are safe."

"You still need to know what to do if there's a hull breach in the passenger section."

Leonard, feeling the color drain from his face, doesn't realize he's crushing Jim's forearm until Jim's filling his vision, demanding Leonard's full attention. "You can do this."

He forces a deep breath. "You'll be there?"

"Right next to you the whole time."

Leonard relaxes his grip. "Let's get this over with."