Pep Talk

[madimpossibledreamer]

Main Points:
Star Trek (the 2009!movie verse) Cambion AU
Summary: Pike meets his strangest recruit...
Word Count: 620
Rating: Teen, probably

        The next time they meet, Jim squints a little through swollen eyes before grinning and waving cheekily at him from the table.  From the looks of things, he’s still as in love with dangerous things like fights as he is the sexual relations he needs to live.
        Still, he’s unfailingly cheerful as he rolls the towels and places them up his nose to stop the bleeding.  “I’ve been thinking about your proposition.”
        It gets easier to ignore the flirting over time.  “Oh?” is all he asks.
        “Yeah, well.  You really were kinda trying to recruit me to Starfleet last time, weren’t you?” the kid asks.  “All those rosy pictures you painted of your workplace.”
        Pike blinks, because while it’d been a hope, he hadn’t actually tried hard or expected anything.  “If you’ve been thinking about it that long, I must’ve been very persuasive without even trying,” he responds dryly.  Usually, he’d take credit for that, but Kirk would see right through him if he tried.
        “Yeah, went and took the entrance tests and everything.  Think the recruiting officer could be persuaded to let me join up?” Jim’s still smiling winningly.  And okay, yeah, so he had been paying way too much attention to the career of Captain Pike, which was flattering, really.
        “After picking a fight with possible fellow cadets?” Pike responds with a raised eyebrow.
        “I give a really good blowjob?” the kid offers.
        Christopher doesn’t bother to hide the wince.  “Less convincing.”  They’ll probably have rumors anyway; no need to add fuel to the fire.
        “It’s time I did something with my life?”  He sounds incredibly unsure, and at the look, smiles a little.  “Yeah, okay, I’m bored and it’d be cool to see the stars, but I don’t know how convincing that is.”
        “Your aptitude tests are off the charts.  There’s enough happy military brats in the service.  Look at the Vulcans, look at the Andorians, or any other Federation species deciding to join Starfleet.  We’re stronger in diversity.  We need people who will approach problems with unique solutions.”  He shakes his head at the look Jim gives him.  “Just saying, arguments like that?  Happen to be more convincing.”
        The kid’s silent for a decent amount of time, wordlessly calling for another glass and draining it before he speaks.  His voice is quiet, lost.  Showing a vulnerability he doesn’t, often, and that’s a privilege Pike doesn’t take for granted.  “I’m sick of drifting in George Kirk’s orbit.  I want to do something for me, and if that involves throwing myself into the black whether or not Mom’s okay with that?  That’s what’s gonna happen.”
        “If you put your mind to it, kid, you could be officer in four years.  Have your own ship in eight.”  Jim snorts disbelievingly, but there’s a thoughtful look, still, in his eyes.
        “You really think I could do it, huh?”  There’s still a wonder, there, but he’s had years to get used to the idea that anyone could actually believe in him, after all.
        “Let’s put it this way.  George Kirk was captain of a starship for twelve minutes.  He saved eight hundred lives, including your mother’s, and yours.  People are going to keep comparing you to him, thinking there’s no way you can live up to the name.”  He leans forward, holding eye contact, no matter how uncomfortable Jim looks.  “I dare you to do better.  Prove ‘em all wrong, kid.”
        Jim’s gone back to defensive and quiet, but he does manage a slight, lopsided smile that leads to his lips splitting.
        “Riverside shipyard.  The shuttle for new recruits leaves tomorrow at 0800.”  And he stands up to leave.  If nothing else, Jim Kirk could make even a ground assignment interesting.