Author's note: Back by popular request (over on AO3, anyway)! I should write popular ships more often.

Jim stumbled as he tried to navigate the unusually wobbly corridor.

This was a bad idea. This was a really, really bad idea.

He hit the buzzer a little harder than he intended, mostly because the bulkhead jumped out at him as he reached for it. He'd definitely had more brandy than was good for him.

The door slid open.

…on second thought, he hadn't had nearly enough.

"…Jim?"

"Hey," said Kirk, not quite meeting his eyes.

"Are you quite all right?"

"I'm drunk," he said, rather unnecessarily. He took half a step sideways by mistake and nearly fell over.

Spock reached out and caught him, holding him by the arm and looking extremely uncertain through his Vulcan mask.

"Would you…like to sit down?"

Kirk reached out with his other hand and took hold of Spock's shoulder, steadying himself.

"Uh-huh," he said, eloquently.

Spock hesitated for a long moment, and then guided him inside, making no effort to avoid physical contact, though their uniforms still precluded any actual skin contact.

The door slid shut behind them, and Kirk made a valiant effort to avoid breaking away and making a run for it. Mostly, he succeeded only because running was currently beyond him.

"Are you all right?" asked Spock again, still holding him up. God, they were standing close together.

"Drinkin' with Bones," he muttered. "Told me to get drunk."

Spock's eyebrow furrowed. "That seems…doubtful advice from a medical professional."

Kirk shook his head. "Not doctor. Friend. He's…yeah, friend. I should get drunk. Am drunk. Shit."

He wobbled again, and Spock made a move to deposit him on a lightly-padded chair. Kirk increased his grip on his shoulder and leaned forward.

"Shit," he said again. "Had to be drunk."

Spock's brow furrowed further.

"…to what are you referring?" he said. Hesitantly? Probably hesitantly.

Oh god. So drunk. Not nearly drunk enough.

Still leaning on Spock's shoulder, Kirk pulled his arm from where Spock was still holding it. Spock dropped his arm instantly, pulling back slightly (which much have been difficult with Kirk hanging off of him), but Kirk dove forward again. Not intentionally. He was going for "stepping forward", but missed.

Either way, he managed what he was going for, which was grabbing Spock's bare hand with his. That was important. Very important. Somehow.

Spock froze and looked down at their joined hands.

"So drunk," muttered Kirk to himself.

Spock looked up his face for a long, inscrutable moment, and then pulled his hand away.

"Captain," he said in his most controlled voice. "I believe you I should return you to your quarters."

Kirk looked up, hurt.

"…already?"

"You are not yourself."

"Yes I am," he insisted, in roughly one word. "I'm drunk. Drunk self."

Spock looked away.

"…if you are only willing to consider me while intoxicated…"

Kirk wrinkled his brow and blinked. "What? Wait. Wait, no. Not…"

He swayed again and caught himself, still leaning on Spock's shoulder. "Not…no. Not like that. Can't talk. Couldn't…figure out what to say."

Spock was looking at him in…confusion? Probably.

Kirk tried to pull himself together. This was important.

"Wanted…to say," he insisted. "Couldn't figure out how."

Spock was looking at him again. That was…good? Terrifying? Oh god.

"Wanted to," he insisted again. "You're…telepath. You tell me."

Spock still didn't move.

Kirk scowled. "Stupid Vulcan…something. Dunno. Something." Understand. He needed to make him understand.

He shifted forward again, and put his hand out, catching himself with his hand flat on Spock's chest.

"Understand," he muttered, and then leaned all the way forward and kissed him.

Spock froze entirely.

Then, hesitantly, he reached up and touched the back of Jim's hand on his chest.

Jim closed his eyes, and he was pretty sure he could feel it when Spock lowered his telepathic shields—he could feel something warm through his hand that had nothing to do with the temperature of Spock's skin. It was like a whisper, or a breeze across bare skin.

He felt Spock relax slightly and then draw him closer. That was better. Yes. Much better.

All too soon, Spock broke the kiss.

"Jim," he said. "You are drunk."

"I know."

"You should sleep."

Jim made a move to protest, but Spock silenced him.

"Sleep," he repeated. "If…you still have the same intentions in the morning, we may speak then."

Kirk made a face. "Not good at talking sober."

Spock raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps a skill set it would be constructive for us to practice."

Kirk took a steadying breath. " 'kay."

He pushed himself up and let go, trying to stand on his own. He swayed dangerously, and Spock caught his arm again.

"I will accompany you."

Kirk gave an off-kilter grin. "…walk me home?"

"Afirmative."

" 'kay."

"…tomorrow, then?"

"Yeah."

As they walked down the hallway, Jim smiled and made a rather illegible mental note to thank Bones in the morning.

In the morning, he scratched it out that mental note and replaced it with a threat and a demand for a hangover remedy.