Strong Together

Fanfiction
Title:	Strong Together
Author(s):	Susan Legge
Date(s):	1997
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:	Strong Together
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Strong Together is a Kirk/Spock story by Susan Legge.

It was published in the print zine T'hy'la #18 and later online.

Summary

"Kirk's solution to making money while he and Spock are in New York of the 1930's eventually brings about an understanding for both men."

Reactions and Reviews

1997

The plotline is simple. The first scenes are set on Earth during City on the Edge of Forever, Kirk and Spock are discovering that they cannot earn enough money honestly to purchase the components Spock needs to tap into the information about past and future that is stored in his tricorder. At the same time, Kirk's healthy good looks are attracting unwanted advances. The solution, from the captain's point of view, is obvious, and though he confesses to his first officer that he'd only before had male-to-male sex when he was starving on Tarsus, he resolves to do what needs to be done. The future of the galaxy, after all, is at stake.

A few pages later we find ourselves on the Enterprise, in the time after the episode with the Melkotians, after the meld imposed by Spock so that the three humans can withstand the bullets at the OK Corral. More than just purpose and will pass between Kirk and Spock during that meld. Spock is unable to withhold the emotions he harbors for his captain. Later that evening Kirk interrupts Spock's despair and humiliation and makes his own declaration. Two nicely drawn sex scenes, that pull the opening scenes through, conclude the story.

For me, it was the characterization of Kirk that lifted this story above the ordinary. He is so much the captain, so much the leader and the man who is able to make sacrifices when they need to be made. This is the Kirk who has the strength to watch Edith die, and also the man who will suffer for it. The conversations between Jim and Spock in the beginning scenes of the story are filled with such ... comfort with each other, and they also ring very true. The scene after Kirk returns from prostituting himself is priceless; "It's been a long time since anybody waited up for me, Spock." I could read this kind of dialogue between them all day.

There was one section in Spock's mind that impressed me mightily. On page 130, he is left behind while Kirk goes There was one section in Spock's mind that impressed me mightily. On page 130, he is left behind while Kirk goes off for the night, and he analyzes what he is feeling, as any good Vulcan would. I was struck by the insight "...reflecting, not for the first time, how much easier it was to control in the presence of others." Also, his understanding that much of his response to what Kirk was about to do was "the grossest of sentimentality.... It was time for him (to) recognize that his captain was an intelligent, capable and sexually experienced adult who could be trusted to do what was necessary...." How refreshing this was! This very appealing characterization of Spock was continued in the concluding sex scenes, I believe, but lapsed in the intervening section immediately after the Melkotian incident. There Spock is portrayed as we often see him, overwhelmed by his own emotions, desperately afraid of what he's done to destroy his friendship with Kirk. I would have vastly preferred a consistent interpretation, which would have provided something novel.

There were a few problems, though. The story reads as if it were written in two pieces and then patched together. I think the jerky transition would have been helped quite a bit if the meld scene between them on Melkotia had been presented in real time and not just told. The swift transition on page 131 was just too swift. Likewise, though the dream Kirk has about Tarsus is an attempt to link the two pieces of the story together, it didn't quite work as well as it should have for me, perhaps because the Tarsus incident was incidental to their experiences in 1930s Earth.

Also, I was quite confused by the dream sequence on page 140, and honestly did not know what was happening or how it fit in the story until I read the entire story a second time.

However, Kirk's confession afterwards, on page 141, "I don't have to do this alone anymore, do I?" is magnificent.

There were also a few times when I was confused as to whose head I was in, and had to go back to re-read to figure that out, and that's almost always due to a point of view shift. There were several that were probably unnecessary, and certainly not clear.

But the intriguing characterizations and the overall tone that captures affection as well as love make this a story I'll be re-reading. I recommend Strong Together.

I was happy to settle back and enjoy this wonderful story, opening in 1930 New York City. I love this episode's setting for a K/S story, and this was a unique treatment of it.

Very nicely written; atmospheric. My few "constructive criticism" comments are to do with being in both POVs simultaneously; and that some paragraphs are too long/dense. Also, there is a long, drawn-out, moment-to-moment, detailed scene (in 1930 NYC), then all of a sudden in one paragraph, without a scene break, Kirk and Spock are back on the ship and we're told things have been status quo for two years and that it's now after the Melkotian incident. Other than this transition being handled rather abruptly, the flow of the story was just fine.

I also liked how it was structured, how the different episodic scenarios were put together, with relevance to the emotional progression of the story. Later in the story, their time together in NYC of the past, and also another episodic reference even further past, are tied into the story just right. Their situation in 1930 NYC is shown vividly. They've got to have more money to get the tricorder built, and their health is suffering, especially Spock's. Really nicely thought out and expressed, all of this. And it's a cool idea that in this situation, Kirk ends up prostituting himself. What a logical and brave guy; though Spock is shocked at this idea.

We learn some dark stuff about Kirk's past, on Tarsus. Again, an excellent blending of the "real" and the K/S/imaginative.

Here's a slant on Kirk I hadn't read before, and I really like it. That while he's always had a lot of great sex with others, it's always been based on a very mutual desire. In this story, it's said that he's never been with prostitutes because of the implicit exploitation involved. I can certainly see Kirk taking this moral/ethical stance in this regard.

So anyway, the Melkotian incident, the mind melds. This is beautiful, Spock's angst about this. By the time he melded with Kirk, after the others, his controls had been weakened...and all his years of careful hiding crashed down in the first touch into Kirk's mind. Lovely, lovely words, plain but vivid, of his experience in Kirk's mind. Beautiful and realistic (not that I exactly know what realistic is with regard to a mind meld).

His love revealed, he then flees, not waiting for Kirk's reaction.

I won't say all of the nuances of this misunderstanding, but I really liked it, felt it was put to good use toward a satisfying resolution. A convincing scenario as far as both of their feelings, and how their feelings of love came to be, and then finally came to be expressed. I really liked it all, and what occurs at the emotional level of the story is nicely revealing of Kirk's and Spock's inner selves.

There are so many little dynamics going on in various scenes, I can't comment on them all, but I liked each and every moment. There is intensity, some little bit of natural humor, a cute moment or two and much loving sweetness....

One sex scene especially I loved, Spock sitting behind Kirk on the edge of the bed...much erotic potential there. I also have to say that Spock's quiet laughter in these scenes is so believable.

Lovely sex, lovely words, so satisfying. Ecstasy/orgasms, almost made me cry. And a sweet, sweet ending. Thank you.

How did I love Strong Together? Let me count the ways. I loved it for the depth and love and characterization the author reached. In other shorter words I liked this story a lot! It has always struck me as amazing that all K/Sers watched the same episodes and saw the same love but from that point on they diverge and vary like insect species in the Amazon. No two fen seem to see the characters and their situation in the same way. That’s one reason that I enjoyed Strong Together so much. This brilliant author seems to be of the same Kirk species as myself. I recognize this James Kirk. The Kirk in the scenes set in 1930 is dead on. He is charming, humorous, decisive and courageous. Also she never forgets that he is a military man who does whatever is necessary. He gets on with life in a no nonsense way that I admired. She shows Kirk as the ultimate survivor.

The weaving of the earlier events on Tarsus was well done and added depth to the story. I don’t think I can properly express the reasons that I admire how the author portrayed Kirk’s vulnerability without showing weakness. She gave drama, not over-dramatics.

I utterly loved her idea that Kirk was displeased with prostitution and never used prostitutes. I am regularly subject to verbal abuse by my friends for suggesting that same thing. Thank you, Susan Legge, for so well presenting this idea in your excellent story. If James Kirk ever had to pay for sex then I am wrong about the world, renounce my gender and will join a convent tomorrow. Anyway, the story is great.

Spock is also excellently portrayed. He is vulnerable but still capable. His love, concern and yearning shine through beautifully.

Very great sex scene. Humorous, natural and tender. Wish I could write like that. Some lines really stand out, like Kirk’s “fallen angel smile.” Perfect.

During the “City On The Edge Of Forever” episode, Kirk and Spock are walking back to their room after working and carrying wooden crates. They have splinters in their hands and they help each other take them out. This initial scene is so beautiful and atmospheric as well as setting up their relationship by showing how they care for each other. And the theme of how they are two parts of one was nicely carried through from this scene. I liked the sense of brooding darkness that permeated the scenes when they were in the past.

They need money for supplies for the equipment, so Kirk decides he’s going to prostitute himself. Definitely a logical solution as the author presents it. However, this is a Kirk who doesn’t frequent or even visit brothels. A big point was made of this which is the author’s prerogative.

I loved the moment of silent communication they had and the mention of how McCoy had noticed them doing it and how natural it was for them. Kirk goes out and Spock works on the mechanism while he thinks about Kirk. He confronts his feelings of love and in a very poignant moment thinks how a stranger will get to touch Kirk’s body and he never has. Spock thinks about how Kirk values his friendship. Then abruptly the incident is over. There’s a long passage of time, then the Melkotian incident happened and passed in one small paragraph.

The meld evidently affected them profoundly—that’s why maybe we should have seen it. They don’t talk about it, but Spock remembers it as wonderful and exhilarating. But he’s ashamed because Kirk is aware of how Spock feels. He tells Kirk (gorgeous and sexy in a plaid shirt and faded denim jeans) that he wants to transfer before things go too far. So Kirk says he knows everything and that when he prostituted himself, he fantasized about Spock.

Then they declare their love for each other and lie on the bed. Kirk is concerned—overly concerned—that he might rush Spock or do something that Spock won’t like or say or do something that might scare him. This takes concern a bit too far and the scene is sweet, but not erotic. Kirk wouldn’t even kiss him until Spock definitely wanted it.

The kiss and the touching and holding was good (I liked “...a clean, sweet flavor as innocent as apples, as intoxicating as new wine”). But for the most part, this sex scene was described with too much poetic language and not enough sex. Wonderful, sweeping romantic images are great, and describe the sex, but aren’t the sex.

However, and this is a big however, the next part where Kirk and Spock engage in fellatio was terrifically sexy. Again however, it seemed almost like a totally differently written story. I was not crazy about the laughing and giggling beforehand, but I fully appreciated when they decided no words were necessary!

If this and “Beside the Wells” are any examples, I look forward to more of a terrific author’s work.

1999

I liked the smooth transition between the events and feelings in the 20th century New York and their relationship two years later. The Melkotian meld is the catalyst. Kirk becomes cognizant of Spock’s feelings and takes action. Great scene in Spock’s cabin. What came next was a bit jarring and unbelievable, especially Kirk’s line of reasoning in the shower. I liked the laughter.

2000

UKJess' story showcases a total role-reversal between Kirk and Spock, and yet in the way she lets the events unfold, said reversal is entirely... logical. Ever since episode 1x12 "The Conscience of the King", I bet we've all wondered just how young Jim Kirk lived through the atrocities of Tarsus IV when so many didn't. Kirk is canonically a very practical man, and it is no stretch at all to believe that that as well as his leadership abilities lead him to make a rational decision on something that, perversely, Spock has far more trouble accepting. Well-written, plus emotionally very satisfying. What more can you ask for?

2012

This is a wonderful 'First Time' story (my favourite kind!) with two episodes neatly woven into the lyrical, flowing narrative, creating a tapestry of strong imagery that doesn't go overboard with the metaphors. The characterisations are excellent and, to my mind, very plausible. Kirk and Spock have both depth and dimension, being portrayed as strong, yet vulnerable, intelligent yet uncertain, tender and loving. Throughout the story, Kirk and Spock display a quiet humour and a wry irony at their discoveries of one another that left me, on several occasions, with a huge smile on my face. That, and the hot, hot sex. Well done, UKJess. A tour de force!