One Night's Compromise
| Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | One Night's Compromise |
| Author(s): | Sylvia Bond |
| Date(s): | 1992 |
| Length: | |
| Genre(s): | slash |
| Fandom(s): | Star Trek: TOS |
| Relationship(s): | Kirk/Spock |
| External Links: | One Night's Compromise, now at AO3 |
Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
One Night's Compromise is a K/S story by Sylvia Bond.
It was published in the print zine First Time #34 and is now online.
Summary
"Spock requests a transfer when he realizes that his and Kirkʼs relationship is nearing the point of taking that last step, but Kirk is unwilling to lose so easily. "
Reactions and Reviews
1993
Spock begins to realize his growing love for Kirk and decides to transfer off of the Enterprise to avoid the intimate relationship and accompanying pain. He expresses to Kirk that the only logical next step would be to "consummate our friendship" and he is afraid. Kirk understands he doesn't want to lose Spock, so he seduces him. There is no plot, other than the dilemma that Kirk and Spock must face, but, this is not a slow or uninteresting story. It is precisely written with intimate detail and quite realistic dialogue between characters. I enjoyed this Spock and could easily visualize him from the series. This is a gentle, novice Spock, without the weakness that some writers imbue him with. There are charming and amusing moments where Spock uses fractions of minutes and percentages as he tries to explain to Kirk that they are growing too close. It is delightful as Spock struggles to understand the courting process. There's also a marvelous explanation, brought forth in Kirk's thoughts, as to why Spock remains second in command. Absolutely first-rate description of Kirk's thoughts of Spock wanting him and the Vulcan's battle of logic versus desire... In so many stories that I have read, as an author attempts to show Spock and his problems, and his weaknesses, and his conflicts, they rob him of his strength, his masculinity, and his power. But, here, even though Spock is the "passive" one and Kirk is 'on top", it works because the author keeps Spock strong and in character. This is especially effective because I don't see it that way, personally, at all, but the writer presented Spock as an assertive individual and I accepted the idea. The sex is slow and painstaking, with some passion, but more interesting than sexy. It probably fits better this way in the context of the story, anyway. The aspect of Kirk genuinely wanting to please Spock, hence the title, was put forth very well. [1]
My favorite story in FIRST TIHMB 34 was "One Night's Compromise". What made me raise it over the others? Well, let's see... I loved the struggling relationship between Kirk and Spock, Kirk's realization that here was love. I would have liked Spock to be a little less naive, though. I think that Spock is both sophisticated (see the episode "Metamorphosis". Spock found Cochrane's attitude parochial) and innocent (you can be both). Anyway, I did like this one. [2]
This story contained a couple of problematic elements. I can't believe that McCoy would be so insensitive as to harangue Kirk about not loving Edith Keeler enough. Surely he knew how much Kirk was hurting over having to let Edith die. Also, if Spock wanted to deal with his relationship with Kirk as a developing one that had reached a certain stage then why was he willing to cooperate with Kirk' deception about their being strangers on a first date? That contradicts the entire concept of the developing relationship. [3]
1994
An author I've not read before or after. Shame. The story was obviously written by a beginning writer, but one with talent. Her use of words is refreshing and her enthusiasm invigorating. Sorry not to see her more. [4]
1998
An absolutely wonderful story, I stumbled across this one in search of some earlier stories to LOC. While maybe this author’s “The Flavor Of Gold” is better known or liked, I like this story even more because it is filled to the brim with the angst of romance, but not in the rather dark way that “Flavor” portrays. This story has a lighter touch, but doesn’t sacrifice any emotional intimacy.
Spock must transfer off the Enterprise because he can no longer abide being near Kirk considering his deep feelings for his captain.
When Kirk finds out, he becomes more and more determined not to let Spock go and invites Spock to dinner, planetside, so that they can discuss it. The difficulty is that Kirk needs to know why and Spock isn’t going to tell him.
Kirk thinks about how much Spock knows him and how he’s always been by his side. Kirk confronts the absolute impossibility of Spock leaving and his own determination to keep Spock with him.
I adored the scene in the restaurant—the setting: “real candles”, “a menu with textured, creamy paper and a silk tassel”. The conversation: Finally Spock tells Kirk that their relationship “could interfere with the safety of the Enterprise and her crew” (dancing around actually saying it) and even better: “the next step dealt with or the matter must be terminated”.
Kirk’s thoughts: He’s astonished that maybe Spock means sex. He’s got to find out and finally blurts out: “You mean I have to go to bed with you to get you to stay on the Enterprise?” And I adored Spock’s calm response when he says: “Captain, perhaps you should lower your voice.”
I adored Spock’s argument against consummating their relationship. He says: “Why should I place my trust in something which is substantiated by empirical data to be unstable?” Then: “At present count, and these are rough estimates: 55.5% of your partners have been abandoned or left behind you; 40% of them have died; 2.5% have left you, and the other 2% of your relationships have not worked out due to mental illness.” Isn’t that so wonderfully Spock?
So Kirk offers one night to show that Spock should stay and asks: “Can I order you a desert?” and they go to his cabin.
I adored this scene: Kirk lowers the lights, raises the heat, puts on romantic music and gets pink champagne! So cute when Kirk has to explain first date procedures to Spock. And all of Kirk’s thoughts are so well done—he feels honored to have been “singled out” by this extraordinary being. He realizes how much Spock wants him and trusts him.
So he promises Spock that he’ll “make this the best night of his life”.
He kisses Spock—gorgeous! See “Best Of The Best...”.
It’s equally wonderful when we get into Spock’s head—he wonders if fear is “an accepted part of passion, if panic always accompanied desire.”
Everything in this scene is gorgeous, but especially when Spock puts Kirk’s hand on his side and says: “This soul you allude to, this sense of self, had I one, would, with regards to your mythology of the body, reside somewhere in this region.” And Kirk says: “You have a soul, Spock, and it is surely one of the finer things I have known in all my travels in the galaxy.”
Then a wonderful, slow, love-making scene: “Spock....” It was almost a low moan working its way up from somewhere inside him, expressing the connection, the need. “...Spock.” I wanted to nominate this scene for “Best Fellatio by Kirk To Spock”, but it’s at least 21⁄2 pages long, but it’s gorgeous, too.
A delightful ending as Kirk has to make sure that Spock stays on the Enterprise “so that he would have time to convince Spock that this was no one night stand.” [5]
2015
It's a crime that this lovely story doesn't have more kudos and more comments! This is such a wonderful story, so thoroughly in character, so filled with insight into who these guys are, so delicate and yet relentless.
Thank you for writing and posting such a lovely tale. [6]
2021
This was such a beautifully emotional fic. I absolutely loved the way you wrote the "one night's compromise" between the two of them. It was so tender and lovely and gave me such feels :') ❤❤ [7]
This was absolutely wonderful. I loved the simultaneous understanding yet wariness of something so huge between them. And the love scene was incredible, the absolute thoughtfulness each of them has for the other. <3 [8]
References
- ^ from The LOC Connection #50
- ^ from The LOC Connection #53
- ^ from The LOC Connection #60 (1993)
- ^ from Come Together #12
- ^ from The K/S Press #21
- ^ WeirdLittleStories, from AO3
- ^ JohnMandrake, from AO3
- ^ oceanender, from AO3