Balance (Star Trek: TOS story)

Fanfiction
Title:	Balance
Author(s):	Amanda Warrington
Date(s):	2009
Length:	27,541 words
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:	Balance on AO3 Balance on the K/S Archive
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Balance is a TOS Kirk/Spock story by Amanda Warrington.

It was published in the print zine T'hy'la #29.

Summary

Spock notices Kirk keeps getting erections during times of danger - and wonders if Kirk is deliberately seeking these situations out. But appearances can be deceiving... Written in 1st person from Spock's POV

Excerpt

"It has been my observation, Jim, that at times you appear to take unnecessary risks." There had been no preamble, nor any prior discussion that would likely prompt such a remark and he did not disguise his surprise at the sudden introduction of the subject. I had anticipated he may have attempted to prevaricate by requesting a definition of and debating the word, 'unnecessary'. However he was more direct. "Name me one time," he challenged.

Reactions and Reviews

2009

I loved this unusual story, told from Spock’s POV. Spock’s POV is so well written and so believable, one of the many things I love about this story. “Balance” starts out with Spock starting to notice Kirk’s erections, and studying the conditions under which they occur. What a way to catch the reader’s attention! I loved how Spock logically analyzes all the reasons for Kirk to have erections, and how he approaches Kirk with his conclusions. After the trip to Vulcan due to Spock’s pon farr, Spock finds that he has changed, and discovers why he really was noticing Kirk’s erections. His deeply buried feelings for Kirk are revealed, both to himself and to Kirk, by intimate scenes in the gym when they are wrestling. Spock’s encounter with both Kirks in “The Enemy Within” helps Kirk and Spock discover that they want a committed, permanent relationship.

After reading this LOC over, I see that I haven’t really been able to describe what makes this story unique and why I liked it so much. I wish I had the words to do this story justice, but can only add that this is one of the best stories I’ve read in a long time. (And have I mentioned the incredibly erotic love making? After reading so many K/S stories over the years, sometimes I just skip over the love making descriptions in stories, but not in this one!)

Spock’s analytical narrative is unusual and tells us of his observations regarding an atypical reaction his captain seems to have to danger. He first observes it during the Romulan attack described in “Balance of Terror” – the human obviously has an erection. This of course prompts Spock to not only be more observant, but to critically analyze and research this phenomenon. I liked the way the author brought in bits of episodes, just a smattering of dialogue from “Balance”, then the foxhole scene from “Arena”. I always liked that one – it seems as if the two of them simply cannot be more than centimeters apart.

Later on, she skillfully weaves in just enough of Kirk’s experience of being split into two halves by the transporter to help us visualize the events as she writes them.

Their first physical encounter is inevitable, but is more for relief of sexual tension than the gentle falling in love scenario that I generally prefer; yet it is quite believable. I won’t give away a lot more of the detail here, but as I turned more of the pages, any disappointment I may have had quickly dissipated, as the loving became all that I wanted and more.

This is very much worth a read.

2010

I am not normally a fan of first person POV. It usually feels awkward to me and tends to pull me out of the story, however not in this case. This author did a stellar job of telling a story completely from Spock’s point of view. I was never pulled out of the story; I felt like I was really in Spock’s head, listening to his thoughts. What an absolute delight.

The story starts early in their professional relationship, during the episode Balance of Terror, when Spock notices that Kirk has an erection during the battle with the Romulan warbird. He finds it interesting and decides to investigate the odd phenomenon. I enjoyed the snippets of other episodes where Spock realizes this behavior is not uncommon for Kirk. And he begins to realize a few unsettling things about himself... all quite logically of course.

I especially liked the scene in the gym, not the harshness, but the almost compulsiveness of it. The ending is perfect. Sigh. It’s everything I could wish for in a K/S story. To quote the author, “It does feel absolutely right.”

If you’re in the mood for a good read, try this one. I dare you not to like it.

2013

"Spock notices his captain seems to get a thrill out of being in danger and spends months closely monitoring Kirk before approaching him about it. Just about then, events in his life overtake him..." Perfect and wonderful in every way.