Don’t even think about it
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Pairing: Jim Kirk x F!Reader
Warnings: drinking, swearing, fighting, bleeding mentioned, flashbacks are in block italics! Not proofread
A.N: Hope you guys enjoy! I’ve had this one in my drafts for a while! Just a wholesome Kirk fic 🥹
Please let me know what else you guys would like to see me write! I do have a few other fics on the back-burner (for now!) that I'll start to post soon and just let me know if you'd liked to be tagged in further works too ✨
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Jim had been going to the same bar almost every day since the day he started the academy. He didn’t know how he ended up in the bar hidden in a back lane but the second he stepped in, he fell in love with the place. It was a little run down and barely had over ten people in it at the one time, but he liked that. He liked the music too, the old classical music from the 1950’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s with a few songs from the 2000’s mixed in with the occasional blues tune. It had a certain charm to it.
Jim didn’t always go to the bar to drink, he’d just go in most times just to talk to you.
He had quickly realised that what he loved most about the bar was you. The often tired, underpaid, overworked barmaid that he’d frequently catch writing in a journal. Jim questioned you about it after the fifth time he entered the bar, he saw you with it so much that it was unusual to see you not holding it. The first day he questioned you about he remembered as you glanced over to it while drying a glass and said;
‘I want to be a writer, much to my fathers dismay. He wanted me to join Starfleet. So I gotta a job here and I’ve been saving up since to escape the clutches of this crappy bar that constantly smells like puke and vodka to hopefully write full time.’
Jim admired you from the other side of the bar. Always near you, he never strayed too far in the building.
He walked in with a big grin on his face that grew wider when he saw you sitting on a stool frantically writing. You glanced up seeing a figure getting closer to you. “Hey, Blondie.” You greeted and snapped shut your journal before placing it down. Jim let out a puff of amused air through his nose hearing his nickname that you gave him a month after he had first stepped into the bar. Three years later, you still called him that. “No Bones?” You stretched your neck to peek behind Jim.
“Not today, he’s studying.” Jim replied taking a seat and playing with a cardboard coaster, tapping it on the wooden bar.
You organised Jim’s drink “Like you should be?” You teased with your back to him and his cheeks turned a light pink- like they usually did around you. Jim then briefly recalled the first time he had brought Bones to the bar, a few months after Jim had been sauntering into the place.
“Who’s your pal, Blondie?” You asked seeing a stranger with Jim. He often came in himself. Leonard raised a brow at the strange nickname you called Kirk by.
“This is Leonard McCoy, or Bones as he’s sometimes known by. He’s training to be a CMO.” Jim explained, sitting by the bar with his friend.
“Ohh a Doctor!” You smirked and rested a hand on your hip. “Well your first drink is on the house.”
“Whisky please, darlin’.” He motioned to the bottle behind your shoulder.
“Your usual, Blondie?” Jim nodded and you placed a glass in front of Bones and another in front of Jim. Jim handed you a few crumpled notes. You kept your hand held out and Jim raised a brow at it, silently questioning why you were still holding your hand out. “Yours is fifteen.” You said.
Jim’s jaw dropped “What?!” He yelped. “It’s always six dollars fifty!”
“Yeah but we gotta compensate for your friend here with the skilled hands. Cough up.” You smirked and Jim’s lips curved into a smile. Even Leonard laughed. Jim handed you the money while shaking his head.
“I like her!” Leonard smirked.
Jim glanced up, softly smiling as you tided up the place and admiring you from afar once again. “Yeah...me too.”
You turned around with a glass in hand and you caught Jim trying to reach across to your journal. “Don’t even think about it.” You warned and Jim quickly pulled back with a sheepish grin on his face. You took the coaster off him and placed it down on the bar harshly and then placed his drink on top of it.
“Thanks,” he uttered before taking a large sip. “Why won’t you let me see what you write?” He asked, like he always did when you warned him away from your journal. He had tried to sneak a peak of your writing since he had been coming to the bar.
“Like I’ve told you before- it’s for my eyes only.” You paused. “For the moment, anyway.” You sat down across from him and rested your chin on your hand. “Tuesday shifts seem to drag in.”
“Surely not with me here?” Jim winked and you rolled your eyes, fighting the urge to smile.
“Why do you still even come here? Hell, I have to come here but if I didn’t- I would stay well away.” You lowly laughed. Jim picked up on the tiredness laced between each soft inhale of breath.
He leaned forward “Cause my favourite bartender in the whole universe is here,” he winked and you rolled your eyes again. “That and she gives me discounts.” You loudly laughed and playfully nudged his arm. Two people spilled in and you organised their drinks, telling them to take a seat and that you’d bring them over. “You’re so much kinder to other people than you are to me- your favourite and best customer.” He joked and you popped out from behind the bar with a tray in your hand.
“That’s cause you tip so badly that I’m legally allowed to be less kinder to you,” you teased. You and Kirk often threw playful remarks to each other, as well as some flirty ones. There was no denying that the blonde was handsome and each time he entered the bar, your heart jumped for joy in your chest and a volcano of butterflies would erupt in your stomach. You wondered if Jim felt the same.
He did. He really did. As the nights passed he was finding it harder not to fall for you. You’d both confessed many things to each other from either side of the bar; hopes, dreams, fears and aspirations. You both had built up a good deal of trust with one another. The only thing you never really confessed between you both was your true feelings you had for each other.
But Jim knew you always had his back- hell he’d been in enough fights inside the bar to know that. And you knew that Jim always went out his way to keep an eye out for you, walking you to your cab when you were working late and had to close up.
You were pretty much the only one running the bar most of the time. Your boss, who was also the owner, was far too busy watching tv half the time to come down and help out- or employ more people. It thankfully never really got busy enough that you’d need another set of hands. If you did, in the back of your mind, you knew Jim would help out. He had watched you prepare enough drinks to figure out what to do.
Jim had held back asking you out for so long because he didn’t want to potentially ruin what you both had, so, like you, kept his true feelings to himself. He finished off his beer and you took the glass from him, he wiggled it before you grabbed it, silently requesting another. You hesitated for a moment before looking up at him. “Uh...I’ve got another drink I think you might like. It’s a cocktail, wanna try it?”
“Sure! You know me, I’ll drink anything.” You let out a chuckle and prepared something you had been working on. He knew whatever you made would be great. You knew yourself that you were as good as a bartender as you were writer. “What is it?” Jim asked when you placed a pale yellow drink in front of him.
“I created it and came up with it myself.” You began to explain and Jim’s smile was dripping with jest.
“Wow! A mixologist now are you?” You snorted at his comment. “You’re gonna turn this bar into the Ritz if you keep making fancy ass drinks.”
You nudged his hand. “Oh don’t make me laugh! I only make up drinks because I get bored behind here.” You grabbed a water and sat across from him again.
Jim motioned to a stool beside him. “Come to this side then. You won’t be bored with me.” He sent you another one of those trademark winks and you playfully smirked.
“Anyway...” you pointed to the drink and Jim picked it up and smelled it’s sweet aroma. “I’ve named it ‘The Blondie’.” You said and Jim looked up to you in pleasant shock and surprise. Those thankful and touched blue eyes making your heart skip a beat- so much so that you had to grab a napkin to toy with between your fingers to calm yourself down. “It’s cream liqueur, a dash of bourbon, honey and almond extract. Shaken with ice but none in the glass.”
He took a long, steady sip. Jim hummed when he pulled the glass back and licked his lips, it tasted just as good as it smelled. “Just as sweet and cool as me too then?”
You sent him a amused, yet deadpanned, expression. “Too much of it will give you a headache...just like you too.” Jim sarcastically laughed. “It’s it good then?”
“It’s amazing, I’m touched that I have a drink in my name and honour.” He held his hand to his heart. “But honestly, it’s really fantastic, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Jim reached for his wallet. “Oh no! That’s on the house. I mean it. It’s experimental, plus I can’t charge the man it’s named after.”
Jim’s lip curved into a half smile and he put away his wallet. “Well, I’ll be sure to leave you a decent tip.” You nodded once and went through to the back to get more ice, trying to keep yourself busy to calm down your frantically beating heart. The two from earlier left and you cleaned up their table, grabbing the money they had left on it. Jim glanced at his watch “Closin’ time already? Time sure flys when you’re in the company of a gorgeous, talented bartender.”
You looked at him between your lashes as you put the stools up on the table. “Such a smooth talker, Blondie.” Jim hung around until you had cleaned up completely, he helped you stack the stools on the table before paying for his drinks. You jumped behind the bar to grab the keys to lock up as well as your jacket and handbag. Jim pointed to your journal that was sitting between tequila and rum. You grabbed it and you both made your way outside, your journal under your arm.
“You working tomorrow?” Jim asked.
You hesitated for a moment locking up when he asked that question before getting on with it. Jim noticed. “Why wouldn’t I be?” You casually chortled and turned around to him when the bar was locked. “Nothing special about the day. Just another Wednesday.”
Jim kept his cool pokerface. “Wednesday is special- it’s happy hour.” You laughed and walked down the alley with him, brushing arms every so often. “I was just wondering. I don’t like coming if Mojo is on.”
You rolled your eyes “You mean Milo,” you corrected with a smile. “And you don’t like it when he works cause he doesn’t give you a discount on your drinks.”
“And he can’t make ‘The Blondie’.” Jim added. “It’s my new favourite.”
You were thankful enough that it was dark enough that Jim couldn’t see your bashful grin. “Milo isn’t on this week. Just me- all day every day.”
“Oh then every hour is happy if you’re behind the bar.” He purred and you half-heartedly simultaneously laugh and groaned at his blatant attempt at flirting. “But seriously, I’m glad to know you’ll be in and not stuck in your bedroom writing and listening to your vintage record player that’s like 300 years old.”
“250 years old actually and I’m very proud of it. Fixed it up myself.” Jim nodded with a fond smile remembering the story you told him of buying a busted record player, fixing it up and then scouring for ancient vinyl records, you had a small handful already in your collection. You walked to the street in silence before finally breaking it while Jim tried to hail a cab for you. “It’s hard knowing that someone else might read it.”
“What are you talking about?” He asked, pulling his arm back in. You motioned to your journal and he clicked on. “Yeah, but you want to be a writer, people are bound to read your stuff.” He stuck his arm out again.
“I know but...those pages have little pieces of my heart spilled all over them. The thought of someone reading it makes me feel vulnerable. That journal is like the physical manifest of my soul.” You explained, the late night and company making you feel emotional.
Yet another confession of fear and worry spilled to Kirk.
Jim looked down at you and softly smiled. “You even talk like a writer. It’s beautiful that you see it like that.” A cab pulled up and you both wished that it wouldn’t stop beside you. But it did.
“Goodnight, Blondie. I’ll probably see you tomorrow.” You got into the taxi.
“See you then. I hope your dreams are sweeter than the drink you named after me.” You both laughed before Jim became serious. “You deserve them.” Your smile froze for a spit second and then, before you knew it, the cab had pulled away from the sidewalk and Jim was no longer in front of you. You sighed before getting comfortable and clicking your pen, opening it to a page that had been a work in progress for a while.
—•—
You let out a soft sigh while staring out to the empty bar, a little over two hours since the bar had opened that night and only one person had been in and gone. You took the opportunity however to turn up the music a little and write. That was until the door opened and a group of people, lead by Jim, came in. You raised a brow seeing them holding bags, boxes of pizza and balloons. “W-what is all this?” You asked, placing down your journal, completely taken aback.
Jim grinned “Happy birthday, beautiful.” You looked at him in stunned silence, as if to ask ‘how?’ Without even opening your mouth. Jim’s grin grew wider. “I managed to track down your boss- who’s absolutely delightful by the way!“ He sarcastically added and you giggled shaking your head knowing exactly what he meant. “Anyway, he gave me the day. I roped in a few friendly faces, and Bones,” you burst out laughing and Leonard rolled his eyes. “And we thought you should have an amazing night, you certainly deserve one.”
“This is so amazing!” Your cheeks hurt from smiling so much. “Thanks, Blondie.” He shot you a wink before you caught up with Uhura, Sulu, Scotty and Spock who handed you gifts. You had met them before, Jim successfully managing to drag them to the back alley bar. But between studying and exams you didn’t see them as much as you would have liked. You were over the moon to see them all.
You began making and pouring out their drinks, Leonard took the chance to pull Jim to the side to have a heart to heart. “Are you gonna tell her tonight? Cause I’m fed up seeing your lovesick puppy eyes every time you look at Y/N.”
Jim let out a puff of amused air from his nose, crossing his arms over his chest and shaking his head at Leonard’s bluntness. “Tonight.” He finally confirmed with a nod. “After you’re all gone and it’s just me and her.” Jim glanced over to you and could see the joy radiating off you, everyone felt it’s affect. Even Spock cracked a smile when you talked to him. “What if she doesn’t feel the same?” Kirk’s smile slowly fell. Bones let out a snort, telling Jim that he was off his head to be thinking like that.
The two eventually joined everyone again. Uhura nudged you a little “What do you say about closing the bar?” She smirked and your friends all had a mischievous look in their eyes before chanting ‘Close the bar! Close the bar!’ And banging their hands off the counter. With a growing smile, you slowly came out from behind the bar and they all started cheering. Scotty scribbled ‘closed for repairs’ on a piece of paper and placed it on the window as you shut the blinds. “Can we set up the Karaoke?” Uhura then asked.
You softly chuckled “You could literally set this place on fire and I wouldn’t mind. We can set it up. Scotty, think you can help me hook the system up to the speakers?”
“Course lassie! C’mon!” You made your way over to the corner with him and ended up being entangled in cables for a good ten minutes before managing to set up the karaoke machine. Jim looked on with a fond smile gracing his face. He turned back around to take a sip of his drink but his eyes soon caught on to your journal.
Your open journal.
Jim couldn’t help himself, his eyes began to scan the pages. ‘Blondie’ was at the top of one page with countless of words spilled underneath. ‘I notice things that no one else might, Blondie might not even notice either. The way his eyebrow creases in concentration,’ Jim realised he was doing it while reading then continued. ‘Or the way his blue eyes widen ever so slightly when he’s in a good mood.’ His heart swelled and bounced in his chest.
You wrote about him.
“You want a ‘Blondie’?” You asked, making Jim jump. He tried not to look so suspicious while he nodded with a silent, tight smile.
“Did you name a drink after him? Jeez! Are you trying to boost his ego?” Leonard huffed out and your eyes rolled while you smiled. “What is it anyway? Can I get one?” Curiosity got to the better of Bones. You decided to make one for everyone, and yourself. It was your birthday after all.
A few hours later and more than a few songs sung by Scotty, the karaoke was swapped for the music you usually played. You were sitting next to Jim at the bar, Scotty and Sulu were playing pool while Leonard watched them play with a whisky in his hand and Uhura and Spock were deep in conversation. “Did you like my rendition of ‘Fight For Your Right’?” Jim asked.
“That was you singing?! I thought there was a dying frog outside. You absolutely butchered that song!” You teased and Jim let out a loud, chesty, chuckle. You reached across and gently nudged his hands before letting your fingers tangle with his. Jim felt his breath hitch as his pinky twisted around yours. You looked up to him between your lashes with a gentle grin. “Thank you, I’ve had an amazing birthday thanks to you. Didn’t have much of one at home.” Your grin fell slightly.
“Dad still giving you a rough time?” Jim asked with a sympathetic look.
You forced a tight smile while shaking your head “I could be a Starfleet admiral and he’d probably still be disappointed.” Jim soothingly rubbed your knuckles with the tips of his fingers. “No, he was working today so I didn’t see him this morning. Chances are I won’t see him till tomorrow, or the weekend depending on his work.“ You sighed. “I know it’s tough for him and I know he wishes my mom was still here as much as I do to celebrate these things with us. But still...I’d always want more time with them both.” Jim nodded, knowing how you felt. He never had the chance to know his father.
A slow song came on and you looked up to the speakers. “Do you want to dance with me?” Jim asked and you met his gaze before nodding with a smile.
“Don’t even think about it...” you warned as he lead you to the space in the middle of the bar and placed a hand on your hip while his other took yours. Jim raised a perplexed brow. “If you even think about dipping me while we dance, Kirk, I’ll deck you.”
Jim burst out laughing but it caught in his throat when you rested one of your hands on his shoulder. He gently swayed you to the rhythm and held you close. The two of you danced, it felt like it was just the two of you in the bar, just the two of you in the world- in the entire universe even.
That’s was until Leonard came up and tapped Jim’s shoulder. “I want a dance with the birthday girl.” You and Jim shared a brief amused glance before he passed you to Bones who swung you about like the pair of you were at a barnyard hoedown. You roared with laughter and Uhura and Scotty joined the both of you, twirling around and stomping your feet. Jim couldn’t remember a time where he had seen Leonard enjoy himself so much.
Eventually all of you ended back up at the bar with almost empty glasses, deep in conversations that were probably made for 11pm. They were mainly about dreams and aspirations. “What about your dreams, Y/N?” Uhura asked with a hazy smile.
“They died in this bar!” Jim joked before taking the last mouthful of his beer, you rolled your eyes with a half smirk. Kirk then noticed the time and cleared his throat, nudging Bones who got the message.
“We should be off,” he stood up, along with everyone else who pecked your cheek and wished you another happy birthday, Scotty removed off the makeshift sign from earlier. “See you soon Y/N! Happy Birthday!” You saw them out while Jim remained perched on his stool, eyeing up the gift bag by his feet.
You sat across from him once more and he pulled up the bag. “You have one more gift.” His voice was starting to tremble. “From me.” You insisted that he didn’t have to get you anything, that planning your surprise night was more than enough, but Jim pushed the bag further towards you. With a small grin you pulled out a thin, square gift. When you ripped off the paper, you gasped. “Blondie- Greatest Hits vinyl for your record player. Two things you can’t get enough of, Blondies and that player.” He nervously laughed, his eyes meeting your journal for a brief moment. You were about to thank him and give him a hug before he stopped you. “Ah! There’s one more...” Jim trailed off and you reached down into the bottom of the bag. A new journal. “For more of your wordy works of art.” Jim smiled. You ran your thumb over the pages and noticed a bump. There was an item between two pages. Prying open the book, you found a necklace with a silver drinks charm on it. “Did I say one more? I meant two.” Jim shot you a trademark, mischievous smirk. “A little cheesy and cliché, I know.“
“I-it’s so lovely and thoughtful. I don’t know what to say! This is so sweet of you. Thank you!” You hugged him before sitting back down and unhooking the chain and holding the necklace out. “Can you put it on me?” You asked and Jim took it from you. You leaned forward, your forehead hit his shoulder as he secured the necklace to you. Kirk’s fingers ghosted over your skin before he eventually pulled back. You straightened back up slowly, your eyes meeting his as he tilted his head to the side. His neck craned forward a little. His lips just beginning to pucker up before the door opening disturbed you both. You quickly pulled away and saw a group of four men around Kirk’s age walk in. You shot Kirk a sorry look before getting up and politely smiling at the small group. “Sorry, we’re shut.”
One of them stepped forward with a cocky grin. “Well the lights are still on and he’s drinking, gorgeous,” you tried not to physically grimace and Jim tried not fly from his seat to punch the guy. “So I’d like a drink. Four beers and whatever you want.” He winked.
“Uh no thanks. I’m good.” You went behind the bar.
The guy leaned on the bar and looked you up and down, licking his lips. “Maybe instead of a drink, I could give you something stronger...”
“Hey, knock it off!” Jim spat, the grip on his glass getting tighter by the second.
“What’s it to you?” The same guy asked and you kept a close eye on them all while pouring the first drink. You didn’t want trouble- especially after such a good night. “Unless you want in her pants-”
Before you had put the glass down, Jim had lunged for the man. After a few punches were thrown, you finally managed to get in between them both.
“Out!” You barked at the man and the group behind him.
“He started it!” The man yelled, holding his jaw.
“Yeah well I’m ending it!” You hissed. ”Get out!” You ordered. Jim wondered where he had heard a tone like that used before as he sat down at the bar again, pinching the top of his bleeding nose. The four men begrudgingly left and you slammed the door shut behind them. You turned and saw Jim with a bloodied and bruised face. “I’ll get you ice and the first aid kit.” You sighed and walked over to him. “I swear! One more fight you’re barred, I me-”
Jim cut you off “You mean it, yeah I know.” He groaned when he rubbed his nose. “Like you meant it the other six-”
“Eight.” You quickly corrected.
“Eight times.” Jim said before his brow creased. “Eight times? Really?”
You chuckled and shook your head, moving to stand between his legs that he had opened a little more to accommodate you. You cupped his cheek, inspecting the damage. “What am I gonna do with you, James?”
His heart fluttered when you said his name. He had only heard you say it a handful of times before. But each time his name left your lips, it sounded like the first. He was glad you often called him by his nickname because each time you said his name, it was much more special. You made the mistake of gazing into his oceanic eyes and you couldn’t escape, especially when his hands landed on your waist. “Kiss it better?” He asked with a hopeful expression.
“What you gonna do after that?” You asked, your voice barely raising above a whisper. “Take me back to the Midwest and make an honest woman out of me?” You lightly teased.
Jim smirked and rubbed his hands up and down the curve of your waist while you rubbed away the blood under his nose with your thumb. “You read my mind.”
“You’re a smooth fucker I’ll give you that.”
“Will you give me anything else?” He asked, still holding onto that ounce of hope, especially when you started to lean forward.
“I’ll give you a chance to get out the door before I throw you out if you start a fight again.” Your lips were almost touching his when the door opened once more. Jim let out a loud groan and you swiftly pulled back. You glanced to the door and then back at Kirk. “I’ll get you that ice and kit.” You quickly and quietly blurted out before disappearing in the back.
Jim felt a presence sit next to him but he couldn’t look at the man in the face. Especially in the beaten, bloody, flustered state he was in. “Didn’t think I’d see you in here, Sir.” Kirk uttered and continued looking forward to save himself from having to look at Pike glaring at him.
You returned and placed a glass of something in front of Pike and ice wrapped in a dishtowel along with the first aid kit in front of Jim. “Yeah...” You chimed in. “Thought it would be too much of a dive for you a place like this.” You forced yourself to smile at the Captain who was dressed in an official looking outfit. Jim raised a brow at how openly you spoke to the captain, then again, you were always pretty ballsy.
“Yeah, well, I knew he’d be here.”
He motioned to Jim who let out a soft, sharp gasp feeling the cold against his face when he brought the ice to his stinging cheek.
“How did you know?” Jim asked, holding back a wince.
“Because I know you better than you give me credit for.” Pike replied and look a sip of his drink. “Glad to see you’re still getting your ass handed to you.” He said with a smirk and Jim rolled his eyes while he attempted to clean himself up a little. Kirk had a fond smile on his face as he followed you with his eyes as you stepped out from behind the bar so you could begin to put the stools up on the tables and give the place a general tidy. Pike noticed. “Don’t even think about it.” He lowly spoke and Jim looked at Pike while raising a silent, perplexed brow. The captain sounded like you when you told him off. “I’m warning you, Jim. She’s trouble.”
“I like trouble.” Jim pointed to his face. “Clearly.”
Pike shook his head and finished off his drink. The second he did, you took the glass off him. “I’m closing up. Jim, you alright?” You asked and he nodded, handing you back the ice pack and medical kit. Jim suspiciously eyed up Pike who was lingering about. He had thought maybe the captain had heard the spat and wanted to make sure everyone got out the bar alright. You grabbed your coat, bag and journal as well as all the gifts and walked out the bar with the two men. You were juggling everything and it didn’t occur to you that you’d have to get the keys out your pocket and lock the doors. “Damnit!” You hissed. Jim outreached his hands to take something but you shook your head. “It’s alright, dad will take it.” You said and tossed almost everything to Pike.
Jim felt like he had been punched in the face again. “D-dad? Pike? Dad? As in father?” He pointed to the man- who was shooting him a deadpanned expression- with wide eyes and a gaping mouth. “Your dad? Him? Pike?”
You nodded nonchalantly, as if it was the most unsurprising and least shocking thing in the world. “Yeah.” You took your things back from Pike who was still sending Jim an intimidating glare. “You want a ride home with us?”
“N-n-I-l’ll-a-a taxi...” Jim’s words tumbled out his mouth. You looked between your dad and Jim and pursed your lips.
“Well, let me know you get home safe and I’ll see you soon. Thanks for a great night and the gifts. And thanks for causing trouble...” you added with a soft, sarcastic, snort. “Not that I mind trouble. Goodnight Jim.” He nodded, still too dumbstruck to form a coherent sentence. He watched you walk away chatting to Pike who took the rest of your gift bags from you before getting into a car. The second he got back to his dorm, Leonard pounced on him with questions about what happened to his face and what happened between the both of you.
Jim looked at Bones with the same wide eyes he had earlier, they hadn’t returned to normal yet. “Bones...you‘ll never guess what the hell happened.”
—•—
You got into the bar around ten the next morning, giving you enough time to clean the place and change the beer barrels before opening, music playing in the background to keep you company. The door opened and you let out a loud sigh. “We’re closed!” You yelled from the back. “Can’t people read a damn sign?” You muttered to yourself. You walked out to the front and froze. Jim was standing there nervously playing with his fingers. A bruise had blossomed just under his eye and upper lip and a cut on his cheek and bottom lip had scabbed over during the night. “Wow a little early aren’t we?” You asked. “It’s ten in the morning- I can’t sell you booze.”
“I’m not here for that.” Jim said in a serious tone. His chest already getting a fluttery feeling inside of it seeing the chain he got you still around your neck.
“I sure hope not or else I’m going to have to give you an intervention.” You tried to joke but the look Jim was giving you made your heart flip and your laughter die your throat. “I know I probably should have told you about dad, but being a Pike isn’t something I usually shout about which is why I use my mother’s maiden name.” Jim silently nodded and you came out from behind the bar to stand in front of him. “I was just as surprised as you to see him yesterday. I think it’s the second time he’s ever stepped foot in this place,” you looked around. “The week after I started and last night.”
“I see…” he drawled out.
You stepped a little closer to him. “I need to tell you something.” He motioned his head as if to tell you to continue, you sounded serious. “I saved up more than enough money to get to New York...” a flash of fear and worry appeared in Jim’s blue eyes. “I’ve had it saved up for over a year.” Confusion started to drown out the fear and shock. “I didn’t go because I’d miss this bar… and serving you too much of course.” He snorted at that. “Which means I’ve decided to say in California.” You admitted, holding nothing back. “So, with the money I’ve saved...I bought the bar.” Jim’s eyebrows almost shot off his he raised so quick in surprise. “Papers are being finalised right now. I’ve fallen In love with it over years.” You paused for a moment and smiled at Jim “And fallen in love with it’s best customer.”
Jim reached for your arm, softly holding it. “But what about the book you wanted to publish?” He asked and you almost melted at his genuine concern for your dream. You grinned at his soft, worried tone. He wanted to see you do well doing something you loved.
“Dad is going to help me out, he finally saw last night how much I enjoy it here so is helping me get published. His gift to me for my birthday.” You smiled and took his hand. “Jim, I have been working in this bar for five years and serving you for four...my dreams didn’t die in the bar, they came true.” You whispered with tears welling in your eyes. “Especially in regards to love.”
“Y/N I-”
You raised your hand with a smile “You don’t have to say anything.”
He shook his head and looked to his feet for a moment before giving you all his attention. “No, I’ve got to do this because I was going to do it last night and then I got punched in the face and then your...your dad...came in and stopped me and then I found out and it shocked me but-” he realised he was rambling on so, in a moment of madness, placed a hand behind your head and brought you towards him before finally pressing his lips to yours. It felt like sparks were flying in every direction feeling his soft lips perfectly moving in sync with yours.
His hands moved further down to your ass. “Hey, don’t even think about it.” You pulled back and warned, breathlessly. He playfully rolled his eyes and gave you another peck while your hands wrapped around the back of his neck and his secured themselves around your waist. “Not until we go out for dinner first.”
“I’ve waited all these years, I can wait until then. After dinner we could go to the pier?” He suggested.
“After all these years of waiting...it’s a date, James Kirk.”
He pulled back and held you at arms length “So...still too early for a drink?” You dramatically sighed and rolled your eyes as he cracked and burst out laughing at your reaction. “What about a recital from your journal then? Or am I going to have to wait for the book?”
“I don’t know,” you walked around to the other side of the bar. “Maybe I should make you wait.” You pointed your finger at him before musing to yourself. “Or I could write about a Blondie that is a total pain in the ass and who’s always getting into fights?”
Jim sent you a deadpanned expression, although his eyes were twinkling with amusement. He glanced at your journal, fully knowing that you had already wrote about that and smirked.
“Don’t even think about it.” He said.
