browngirl: (Jim/Gaila (taraljc))
browngirl ([personal profile] browngirl) wrote2011-03-16 07:48 am

Mistaken For A Crime (Star Trek XI, R with warnings)

Title: Mistaken For A Crime
Fandom: Star Trek XI
Rating: R for violence.
Pairing: Mirror!Captain Pike / Mirror!Cadet Kirk; Gaila/Kirk & Kirk/Nogura alluded to
Summary: While in the Infirmary, Jim gets some advice from his mentor.
Content Advisory: Mirrorverse; violence alluded to, dubious consent alluded to, especially blunt Anglo-Saxon language used, general aura of jailbaitishness. Um, slash, het alluded to.
Acknowledgments: [livejournal.com profile] brighteyed_jill for whom I originally wrote this during the Five Acts Meme. If it's good it's because her awesomeness inspired me.
Disclaimer: This fanwork has been created for pleasure only and not for profit.
Title from "Father Figure" by George Michael, because that's how I roll.
Author's Note: Ever since I wrote "A Star Quaking" and "In the Gleam Of Eyes" (really, since "Undistracted") I've wanted to write about Mirror!Kirk & Mirror!Pike's relationship. Hence, this.



Jim isn't really comfortable, splayed out on his front in an Infirmary biobed, but he's about as close as modern tech can get him. There's agony somewhere off to the side, along the sliced edges of his flesh and between the shards of shattered bone, but the meds have him floating mostly above it as the regens strapped to his body stitch him back together. Better yet, a broad hand strokes soothingly through his hair, strong fingers pushing over his scalp in a steady rhythm. He smiles as much as he can with the busted cheek, the healthy one tucked against the pillow, and could almost drift off to sleep under this petting.

Except, of course, he'd never be so fucking stupid as to fall asleep around Captain Fucking Pike, in the Infirmary or anywhere else, even before the hand currently stroking his hair drove a dagger into his arm. He hums instead under the raspy slide of rough skin, listening to the answering chuckle rumbled above him, and when he's pretty sure he can say something without drooling he says, "Thanks for sending Dr. Puri to check on me, Sir."

Pike lengthens his next stroke to caress Jim's cheek, the light touch tingling through layers of half-healed flesh. "I take it you're feeling better?"

Jim shrugs with his far shoulder, since the near one has an osteoregen on it. "A little down, a little high. Well enough to have learned my lesson."

Pike snorts dubiously, and Jim can't help grinning though his cheek burns with the stretch and the new scar on his chin tries to tug open. "Somehow, Kirk, I doubt that, but I'll be satisfied if next time you find a real reason to defy me." His hand slides down Jim's bare neck and between his vulnerable shoulderblades, and Jim is too habituated to that touch to suppress the answering shiver. "Not just some pretty face."

Jim grits his teeth to keep from saying, 'Can't we drop it?' He sighs gustily, and Pike's hand stills on the back of his neck, the bristle-short hairs there prickling up against Pike's palm. Of course, the bastard's more patient than Jim'll probably ever be, and soon enough he has to give it up. "I stick to my deals, Sir," Jim mutters, remembering Gaila's tear-sheened eyes and the proud lift of her curly head. "Gaila didn't want to blow that nasty old goat." Who really was muttony, no less. A twitch crawls down the back of Jim's neck, but he manages to shove down its following shudder. Officers of the Empire can't be squeamish.

Pike palms Jim's head, rolling it back and forth a little, not quite enough to mash his face into the pillow. "Show respect, son. That 'old goat' is Admiral Nogura, an intimate friend of the Empress herself, and one of the men who taught me the valuable lessons I'm trying to get through your thick skull. Such as, since when is life about what we want?" Jim's got an answer to that, but Pike's hand presses over his mouth and and he knows better than to push at it, even now. "If you step in for every subordinate who whines about getting on their knees," said along with a nearly painless tug on Jim's lower lip, "I don't know if even this generous mouth will be able to handle the amount of dick you'll have to suck and cunt you'll have to lick."

Jim swipes his tongue across Pike's thumbtip, curling it the way he likes, and when he chuckles Jim murmurs, "Oh, no, not sex," against his fingers to win a full-bore laugh. "Most of my underlings won't be worth it. She's worth it."

"She'd better be, boy." Pike pushes his hand up over Jim's cheek and ear again, nice and rough the way Jim likes, scouring away the feel of memories. "Nogura thought you were a worthwhile substitute, at least. Said he hasn't been so sure in a long time that he's been blown by a future captain."

"Not since the last time you blew him," Jim says, because the adrenaline spike is dizzyingly sweet and it's an even chance Pike'll blame that bit of mouthiness on the pain meds. Pike snarls, but only indulgently, and barely even bounces his hand off Jim's ear before going back to petting him. Jim smiles a little wider and watches the stars fly across the insides of his eyelids.

They're quiet for awhile, broken only by medical beeps and boops, as Jim drifts under Pike's stroking hand, breathing against the narcotic tug of sleep. He's just about to start playing the odds with himself that the lecture's over when Pike says in a deep rumble, almost more felt than heard, "Jim, not everyone's going to find it cute." The sound of his first name in Pike's voice raises prickles all over Jim's skin and pushes his eye open; Pike's eyebrows are relaxed and his mouth isn't tight, and he's looking down at Jim as if he thinks Jim's actually worth something, which doesn't happen often. "So you have a deal with the Orion girl. Protect her from your classmates if you like -- I've stashed her in my quarters until you get out of here." Jim curls his lip, but Pike's serious calm doesn't shift. "But when a superior officer demands access to something of yours, you may want to consider obeying orders."

Pike's right, of course, which is why Jim doesn't actually harbor any plans of killing him aside of the usual contingencies, but he won't entertain Pike half as much if he just gives in and agrees. Besides, Jim hasn't seen him fuck any girl cadets, just boys and grown women, so he shoves his good hand under his cheek to angle his face up, widens his eyes to simulate innocence and says, "Are you speaking on your own behalf, Sir? Because you could just talk to her. I think she likes you."

Pike smirks and backhands him lightly, hardly enough to make his face sting. "Thank you for the completely superfluous permission, Kirk," he says dryly. "How could you stop me, anyway?"

"Is that a real question?" Jim bluffs, because he actually has no idea. He needs to learn how to strategize even when this banged up and drugged up. He's working on it. Pike gives him a Lifted Eyebrow of No Shit, Son, and Jim takes a dramatic deep breath, drawing out the moment until Pike's expression starts to actually bend towards human curiosity, then announces, "Without advance warning."

Pike laughs for a long time, a dry crackly sound that warms Jim's vestigial heart, and pats Jim's cheek as he stands up. He leans over and kisses Jim, lightly, even undemandingly, and Jim kisses back as best he can from the awkward angle. "Don't make me repeat this lesson, boy," Pike murmurs, his lips brushing Jim's ear. "You're prettier when you're whole. Now get some sleep and finish healing up."

"Aye, aye, Sir," Jim mumbles, saluting from his prone position. Pike gives him an actually non-frosty smile and turns on his heel, and as soon as Jim hears the metallic click of the door lock engaging, he shuts his eyes and follows his mentor's orders.

[personal profile] starsandgraces 2011-03-16 01:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Your mirrorverse is deliciously creepy! The fact that Pike seems vaguely affectionate towards Jim just heightens that, really, and as always your writing is just so vivid that it made my stomach clench a little. Gorgeous, gorgeous work!

[identity profile] rubynye.livejournal.com 2011-03-18 07:10 pm (UTC)(link)
*curtseys* Your McCoy icon looks appropriately horrified. *laugh* Thank you very much, bb!

[identity profile] severinne.livejournal.com 2011-03-16 02:42 pm (UTC)(link)
The tension in this between Pike's affection and concern for Jim and the fact that he's responsible for Jim's injuries at the same time... oh, I love it. Especially because I can utterly believe that Pike does legitimately feel that protective, aw. Great bit of mirrorverse, thank you!

[identity profile] rubynye.livejournal.com 2011-03-18 07:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Jim is his boy, after all. To train, to discipline, to help grow into something he knows he'll be proud of. I do so love the Mirrorverse for letting me write this kind of dark thing. :D And I'm really glad you enjoyed this!

[identity profile] spikeface.livejournal.com 2011-03-16 03:35 pm (UTC)(link)
So sad that Jim, so good at weaseling honest affection out of Pike while navigating the deadly politics of their relationship, has so much trouble when dealing with the always honest and affectionate McCoy.

[identity profile] rubynye.livejournal.com 2011-03-18 07:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Truly, truly. [livejournal.com profile] ninhursag observed that Jim likes people who snap and snarl at him, and here I turned that up to 11.

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/_samalander/ 2011-03-16 04:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Ooooh, I want more of them. I don't want to call it banter, but that's what it is, in their own fucked up way. Lovely job.

Also this phrase? sound that warms Jim's vestigial heart makes me want to do a dance.
Edited 2011-03-16 16:05 (UTC)

[identity profile] rubynye.livejournal.com 2011-03-18 07:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Mirror!Jim is so terrifyingly happy in his world. I kept trying to nudge the story towards trauma and he kept saying, "No, he taught me a lesson, I'm learning, I'm fine." Meep.

Also, your ICON. BWEE.

[identity profile] circ-bamboo.livejournal.com 2011-03-16 04:21 pm (UTC)(link)
a Lifted Eyebrow of No Shit, Son

Hahaha. I love it.

Also the rest. The tension is palpably delicious.

[identity profile] rubynye.livejournal.com 2011-03-18 07:14 pm (UTC)(link)
*curtseys* Thank you, very much. :D And well, that's the official name of that eyebrow! At least in Jim's head.

[identity profile] syredronning.livejournal.com 2011-03-16 06:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh my god, I missed these SO MUCH.

Thank you for this unexpected delight, you made my afternoon.

♥♥♥♥♥

[identity profile] rubynye.livejournal.com 2011-03-18 07:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Hooray! I am so glad I could delight you. :D

[identity profile] kayliemalinza.livejournal.com 2011-03-16 07:12 pm (UTC)(link)
This was everything and beautiful. I haven't even gotten out of bed yet and my day is already made. :)


I love the mix of violence and affection here, how their relationship is distinctly physical. And the great sense of Pike's role as mentor-- he's not just the gray-haired partner, he really is guiding Jim and helping him become capable: especially the line that He needs to learn how to strategize even when this banged up and drugged up.

And of course, the petting. I adore that. :P

[identity profile] rubynye.livejournal.com 2011-03-18 07:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Woot! Your comment makes me want to do a dance of triumph. :D

[identity profile] weepingnaiad.livejournal.com 2011-03-16 10:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Have I told you how much I love, adore, worship your MirrorVerse? There's just so much here, so much crackling under the surface. *sighs happily* Pike's mentorship and honest affection, but his willingness to break Jim to teach him. *shudders* So MU.

You nailed them. And, dammit, now I'm in love with Mirror!Pike, too!

*hugs*

[identity profile] rubynye.livejournal.com 2011-03-18 07:17 pm (UTC)(link)
*beams muchly* Eee, thank you! I just... think this is how all that crackly charged affection would come out in a more brutal world. It was fun to finally write about that a bit.

[identity profile] blcwriter.livejournal.com 2011-03-17 09:00 pm (UTC)(link)
I would love to see Jim in planning-- or execution mode, even.

Not that I don't LOVE Pike. But still. Just sayin'. I'm AWFUL.

[identity profile] rubynye.livejournal.com 2011-03-18 07:18 pm (UTC)(link)
You mean wonderful, milady. :)

Jim hasn't told me his plans yet -- some things a man needs to keep private, he says. But if he does that might be an epic story indeed.

[identity profile] burnettefan.livejournal.com 2011-03-18 05:59 am (UTC)(link)
*squee* Evil Pike!

[identity profile] rubynye.livejournal.com 2011-03-18 07:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Oooh, yes. :D Isn't he hot that way? Maybe I should have given him a goatee. ;)

[identity profile] burnettefan.livejournal.com 2011-03-18 09:17 pm (UTC)(link)
It wouldn't take away teh hawtness that is Pike!

[identity profile] january-snow.livejournal.com 2011-03-22 07:59 pm (UTC)(link)
whoa nasty; in the nicest possible way, of course.

[identity profile] rubynye.livejournal.com 2011-03-23 05:57 pm (UTC)(link)
*curtseys* Thank you. :D

[identity profile] savoytruffle.livejournal.com 2011-03-24 04:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Mmm, I liked this. I loved the calm and the tension and what it tells us about their personalities and loyalties and relationships in the mirrorverse.

[identity profile] rubynye.livejournal.com 2011-03-24 07:59 pm (UTC)(link)
*curtseys* Thank you, very much. :)
brownbetty: (Default)

[personal profile] brownbetty 2011-03-25 06:47 am (UTC)(link)
I'm going to tell myself comforting lies about the people Jim protects in this 'verse.

And then I got off topic and started wondering, if Jim is a Robin, he's definitely an even numbered one.

[identity profile] rubynye.livejournal.com 2011-03-25 07:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Jim is SUCH an even-numbered Robin, complete with rentboyish splendor. :D

(And, thank you again for the best line in here. ;)

[identity profile] re-white.livejournal.com 2011-03-27 06:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Ooh god, mirrorverse!Pike does things to me. Seriously.

[identity profile] rubynye.livejournal.com 2011-03-27 08:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Oooh, yes, doesn't he? *squeees*
Edited 2011-03-27 20:15 (UTC)

[identity profile] treksnoopy.livejournal.com 2011-03-28 06:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Fanstastic. I love your MU! The fact that there seems to be genuine affection underlying everything else ramps the creepy upt to 11!

[identity profile] rubynye.livejournal.com 2011-03-28 10:57 pm (UTC)(link)
*laugh* Is it terrible of me that I'm pleased that the affection makes things worse, as I intended it to? Thank you very much. :)