Ease Into Love

Fanfiction
Title:	Ease Into Love
Author(s):	kira-nerys
Date(s):	2003
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:	Side by Side Collection on AO3
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Ease Into Love is a Kirk/Spock story by kira-nerys.

["Shining Space" by Animasola]: I know how much work went into this drawing. It’s a difficult angle and position, and the figures are in water which is always difficult to do. But I like the way Animasola drew the swirling water around them. There’s great feeling in this piece—a powerful emotional quality as Kirk and Spock are swept up in passion.

It was originally published in the print zine Beyond Dreams #6 and later online in the e-zine Side By Side #20.

Summary

"The thorns Spock took on Vaalʼs planet have an unexpected side effect that puts distance between him and Kirk just as Kirk invites him to share shoreleave."

Reactions and Reviews

Another great story in this outstanding zine! Hmmm, but how to describe it? I don’t really want to call it a masturbation story since that will make people think it’s a PWP story. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that—I enjoy a good PWP story!) But this story is so much more.

The masturbation scenes (while on shore leave Spock watches Kirk masturbate, and then later Kirk watches while Spock attempts to masturbate) are merely the catalyst that results in a significant change in their relationship. I loved the scenes between Spock and McCoy in this story. After Spock’s behavior on Vaal’s planet where he took the thorns for Kirk, McCoy talks to Spock and figures out he’s in love with Kirk. McCoy convinces Spock he should talk to Kirk about his feelings, and to join Kirk for shore leave. (I liked the way McCoy convinced Spock to take shore leave by telling him his efficiency levels were down!) The only problem I had with this wonderfully kind, compassionate and understanding McCoy, is that he was so nasty to Spock in later episodes (such as Bread and Circuses, The Tholian Web, and Requiem for Methuselah) that it’s difficult to reconcile the TV McCoy with this McCoy. But I only thought of this on my second reading of the story, so it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story at all. Besides, I wish McCoy had been more like this in the episodes! Spock’s POV in the first part of the story allows us to understand the seemingly uncharacteristic behavior of watching his captain shower and masturbate. Spock’s longing for Kirk was so beautifully written in these scenes. Later the story switches to Kirk’s POV as he hears Spock attempting to masturbate, and we learn of Kirk’s carefully hidden feelings for the Vulcan. Kirk being Kirk, decides to finally take the initiative and find out what (or who) Spock really wants.

This story was a bit different, and I really liked it a lot.

I spent a recent evening immersed in murder, mayhem, blood and gore, autopsies, all the other disgusting offerings that one finds snippets of when surfing the idiot box. In a fit of self- preservation, I shut it off and turned to my eternal love, K/S. I dug into Beyond Dreams 6 again, looking for a slice of paradise and found it in kira-nerys' lovely story. It's set in the time after Spock has taken the thorns for Kirk, on Gamma Tranguli VI. McCoy knows some of the toxin is still in the Vulcan's system. He insists that Spock needs rest and knows where and with whom he should get that rest. Earlier Kirk had requested his best friend's presence, too, down at the cottage on Earth where the captain was heading for vacation. Spock, feeling guilty about his hidden desires, had refused Jim. But he is persuaded after a heart-to-heart chat with the nosy and irritating CMO. Spock beams down, finds the cottage deserted, knows where to look for his water-loving Human and goes in search of him. Spock catches his friend just coming out of the sea and, under the cover of shade trees, can't keep himself from watching as Jim steps into the outdoor shower. Spock still doesn't reveal himself when it becomes apparent that the man he loves more than his life begins to masturbate beneath the running water. Spock, very aroused, can't believe how sexy and beautiful his captain is. He has time to slip back to the cottage, shower and change before Kirk returns.

Then, Spock surprises Kirk in the living room; Kirk is elated that Spock has changed his mind, though a bit disappointed that it was McCoy's insistence that made Spock join him.

There's a lovely nighttime scene, moonlight and all, when Kirk, unable to sleep, hears sounds from his friend's next door bedroom. Kirk looks in from the patio, sees Spock naked and half asleep, handling his erection yet his Vulcan face registering pain, not pleasure. Kirk's sympathy is aroused, along with his penis! He tries to resist but can't, and slips into bed with Spock, trying to relieve his Vulcan friend. Spock comes awake, realizes what he's done and stops Kirk, wanting to talk. Kirk is in no mood for talking! He's in bad shape and doesn't mince words about it. Spock obliges him and he explodes. Finally after some soul-searching they are able to admit their love for each other. A satisfying ending, sweet and uncomplicated, well- written story. So it was with relish that I consumed it and the romantic illo accompanying it. It's my kind of fairy tale! But you have to read it in its entirety to savor the deliciousness.

Please don't miss it!

The aftermath of Spock's taking the poisoned thorns for Kirk in "The Apple" is thoroughly and entertainingly explored in this offering from Kira. A very revealing conversation takes place between McCoy and Spock, in which the good doctor questions why Spock took the thorns himself instead of simply pushing Kirk out of the way. The unshakable Vulcan finally admits he cannot think clearly when it comes to his Captain and friend. "Sounds a lot like love to me", Bones diagnoses.

The poison reactivates Spock's Pon Fan-, maybe. Sounds like plain ole healthy lust to me, and I prefer that theory, as I would just as soon see Kirk and Spock decide for themselves to take the plunge into love rather than it be a biological imperative. Not that there aren't good PF stories out there. But, I digress. This one isn't violent and both men retain their sanity, which is very good. They are staying in one of those nicely secluded cabins that Kirk seems to favor.

For the voyeurs out there, Spock gets to watch Kirk satisfy himself in an outdoor shower and later Kirk manages to be outside his first officer's balcony window as Spock makes a frantic and painful attempt to take care of his own raging erection. Both are very erotic and well written scenes. Even better are the ones where they take care of each other!

Contrary to most people, I quite liked the episode “The Apple”. Although the plot was not one of the strongest in the series, it does provide several interesting K/S opportunities. In this tale, Spock has been affected quite badly by the poisoned thorns he saved Kirk from, and is eventually forced by his deteriorating condition to confide in Dr McCoy who, having worked out his secret, advises him to tell Kirk how he feels, Determined not to do this, Spock is eventually compelled to change his mind and he joins Jim on shore leave at the picturesque cottage he is staying in next to the beach.

On arrival, Spock goes looking for Kirk and makes a discovery which changes his whole perception of the situation. This was a very enjoyable scene, and the author’s descriptions of Kirk in a very private moment, when he thinks he is alone, in a lyrically described tropical setting is wonderfully done. Later that night when Kirk discovers Spock in a similar situation his reaction is convincingly portrayed which leads to some surprising revelations between them.

This story had some lovely moments, including Kirk and Spock’s mutual realisation that they both feel the same way about each other, which leads to a romantic first time in their moonlit cottage. In fact, they get so wrapped up in each other, the question of Spock’s imminent pon farr is almost an afterthought. There are so many different episodes which could spawn a first time K/S scenario, it was nice to read a story based on an episode which I haven’t seen being used in this way before.

I drove home from work on Friday, thoroughly weary of the petty bickering and childishness, thinking how badly I needed a K/S “fix”. Next up in my re-reading of BD 6 was “Ease Into Love” and it fit the bill perfectly.

Kirk’s reactions were right on target, especially the disappointment he felt when Spock once again turned down his shore leave invitation. Spock is always seen differently by authors. I’ve never been able to narrow down how I expect him to react in any given situation, so it’s easy for me to enjoy reading another’s interpretation. In this instance he is fairly quick in accepting the inevitable, both about his own internal feelings and the capriciousness of nature (Vulcan biology).

There is no intenseness in this author’s depiction of Spock awakening to his feelings for Kirk or his Pon Farr being reactivated by taking the thorns meant for Kirk in “The Apple”. For the purpose of her story, this is very acceptable and makes for quite pleasant reading. It’s a love story, and a most fine one at that. It gave me my much-needed dose of K/S! What better outcome could there be? Thanks, kira!