My Living and My Dying - Spock × Kirk [COMPLETE]

My Living and My Dying

“Commander Spock and Captain James Tiberius Kirk,” Scotty addresses, his accent thick with emotion. He is standing in the heart of the Enterprise -- a secluded sect of Engineering blocked off and prepared for this very ceremony -- between and slightly behind his two superior officers. It is only fair that, while neither are able to lead this particular event, the second officer of the ship should take charge. “Today, you are surrounded by family and friends, all of whom gather to witness an exchange of vows and share in the joy of the occasion.” Here, the Scotsman pauses to gather the thin, vibrant strings lying in a coil on the small table in front of him. On either side of the strings sit two small saucer-like trays, one with a single bite of a Vulcan-grown bread and the other with a short glass of a deep red wine. Scotty eyes both men before nodding, and just like they practiced Jim and Spock raise their right and left hand respectively and press their first two fingers together in a traditional Vulcan ozh’esta. In tandem with their movements, Scotty follows soon after to circle the blue string twice around Jim’s wrist and twice around his and Spock's joined fingers. He is respectfully careful not to brush his skin against theirs. Once looped, he brings the ends of the string together and ties them into a neat bow. He repeats the action with the gold string except around Spock's hand, and when he is finished, there lies two delicate bows against the side of each man’s hand.

After quickly assessing his work, Scotty nods in approval before continuing. Jim is both surprised and, conversely, not surprised at all that his chief engineering officer seems to have his lines memorized. “Let this,” He gestures pointedly to the loopy arches the strings paint across their skin, “be a statement of what you mean to one another and your commitment of marriage.

“When you love someone, you do not love them all the time in exactly the same way, from moment to moment. It is an impossibility. Illogical, as Commander Spock would say,” Scotty diverts with a wry grin. A collective chuckle weaves through the crowd, and Scotty is sure he sees a minute twitch of Spock's lips, even though he doesn't seem to have eyes for anyone else but Jim right now. Scotty continues after the noise dies away. “It is a lie to even pretend to, and yet… this is exactly what most demand. There is so little faith in the ebb and flow of time -- of love and relationships. We leap at the flow and resist in the ebb. In these moments, we are afraid it may never return.

“We insist on permanency -- duration, continuity -- when the only continuity possible (in life as is in love) is in growth, fluidity, and freedom. And the only real security is not in owning or possessing, or demanding or expecting -- not even in hoping. Security in relationships lies neither in looking back at what brings nostalgia and reminiscence nor forward toward what will become fear and anticipation, but rather in living in the present and accepting what is now. Kaiidth.” At the impromptu nod toward Vulcan philosophy, Spock’s lips twitch again, and Scotty counts it as a win. He had spent at least two hours perfecting the intonation of just that single word. “Relationships must be like ships; acceptance not despite, but rather because of its limits. Ships, surrounded and thus interrupted by the sea, and continually visited and abandoned by the tides of life. An apt comparison for a Captain.” Another round of chuckles as Jim and Scotty exchange brief grins.

“If I may so cordially refer, Spock and Jim have chosen to incorporate the ancient Celtic ritual of handfasting in their wedding ceremony today. Vulcan biology being as it is, I have elected to only tie their first two fingers together as anything more than that might scandalize our poor Commander here.” This time, Spock's cheeks tint a soft green as the good-natured laughter rolls through the room. “Handfasting, as I'm sure most in this room know, is a declaration of intent that clearly states the couple is marrying of their own free will. Spock and Jim, know now that before you go further, the paths of which your lives have intersected have formed between you an eternal bond. As you seek to enter this state of matrimony, you should strive to make ideals that give meaning to this ceremony and to the sanctity of your union. With full awareness, know that within this room you are declaring your intent before your friends and family as witnesses.