A Bit Thorny

A bit thorny

💙Leonard McCoy x gn!reader💙

⚠️: mentions of small injury

word count: 562

You had gone out on a simple exploratory mission, you know basic stuff: Can you breathe here, will the inhabitants kill you, are there even any inhabitants, can you eat the plants. So far it was pretty chill, no one had been eaten alive, you went out with three redshirts and still had three redshirts, which was impressive because they seemed to have a knack for being the first ones down.

Finding that there were no inhabitants, but that there were plenty of plants, everyone, botany department and otherwise, had been assigned to collecting plant samples. With no perceived danger, the landing party had been permitted to separate into smaller groups, so of course Y/N and Leonard had gone off together.

Kirk had made his jokes about the pairing, but quickly shut up when Bones shot back that, “We all already know you’re going off with Spock, and you aren’t gonna get any real work done!”. Certainly Jim had been a bit embarrassed, but everyone else had a good laugh at the captain’s expense.

Y/N knelt down by a vine of blue flowers, “This would be very pretty to keep in your quarters,” they softly commented, looking up at Leonard for his reaction. Leonard held his tricorder up to its leaves, “I don’t think so,” He said, focusing on the tricorder reading, “It reads as poisonous,” he informed. 

“Oh!” Y/N exclaimed, hopping back from the plant and putting on gloves. “But,” Y/N started as they knelt back down to take a sample, “Your quarters could still do with a plant to liven the place up a bit,” Y/N remarked. “That’s what I have you for,” Leonard chuckled, Y/N looked back at him with a raised eyebrow.

“Well I can’t sit there and look pretty all the time you know,” Y/N said as they closed the petri dish around the sample. Moving over a few inches, Y/N went to inspect a different plant that didn’t have flowers at all, but rather thorns.

“What about this one for your quarters?” Y/N asked, briefly tugging at one of the branches to indicate which plant she was referring to. “It’s just like you, I’m sure you’d be great roommates,” Y/N remarked as they attempted to avoid being stuck with thorns.

“Ha, ha,” Leonard replied humourlessly, lightly kicking up dirt in Y/N’s direction. They coughed a bit as they inhaled some of the dust that was now floating around, reflexively squeezing their hand around the branch they had been holding in the process.

“Crap,” Y/N bit out in shock at the sensation of the thorns puncturing the palm of their hand. Leonard kneeled by their side to have a look at Y/N’s hand.

“You’re in the botany department, I would have thought you knew not to touch these things,” He lightly scolded as he began cleaning the small puncture wound.

“Maybe,” Leonard began as he wrapped up Y/N’s hand, “It’s time to go back before you hurt yourself too much more,”

“Mmmm,” Y/N considered the idea briefly, “Is there a nap and cuddles involved in this going back  plan?” they asked, now holding their hand to their chest.

“Of course that’s involved,” Leonard promised. He pulled Y/N’s hand away from their chest and planted a delicate kiss firmly on their palm.

This sat in drafts sooo long and I finally gave it an ending 🥲

The Things We Do For The Fleet

Chapter 8: Not so secrets

💙Eventual Leonard McCoy x Fem!reader💙

⚠️: insinuations of something 🌶️🌶️🌶️, but no 🌶️🌶️🌶️

word count: 1,044

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Leonard stood stiffly against the other side of the door as he waited quietly. Good god, what’s wrong with you? Of course she doesn’t want you there when she changes, he internally reprimanded himself for his inconsideration.

He didn’t have a terribly long time to dwell on the thought as the door fell open behind him and he stumbled backward a few steps. “Oh! I’m sorry!” Y/N let out and got up to help him before she could think better of it.

Regret instantly racked her body as pain shot up her leg. “No, really it’s fine,” Leonard insisted as he put a hand to her waist and pressed her back into sitting down.

“You really don’t need to hurt yourself more for my sake,” He said sort of wryly as he took his own seat again.

Once seated and collected he finally had enough time to take her in as she wore his shirt. It wasn’t terribly big on her, but it certainly didn’t fit, the most noticeable thing was the way Y/N had to roll the sleeves back to keep them out of the way.

 “Anyway,” Y/N said in a way that intimated that she had already been talking for quite some time before Leonard actually tuned back in. “Maybe we could play a game or something? '' She said, shrugging and sipping the remnants of her smoothie.

 “And what game do you suggest?” Leonard asked, raising an eyebrow.

 “I dunno, we don’t really know each other. Maybe truth or dare, or twenty questions or something,” Y/N tossed out the first ideas that came to her mind.

“Alright, then, shoot,” Leonard said, taking a bite out of his sandwich.

 “Err, okay,” Y/N tried to think of something interesting to ask him. “Oh! Okay, your first kiss?” She asked excitedly and seemed pleased with herself for thinking of it.

Leonard sat pensively for a moment before looking at her, “The girl next door brought me a juice box, we were best friends at the time,” he answered shortly as if the sentence burned him. “ We were maybe five,” Leonard explained as an afterthought.

Y/N sat thoughtfully for a short while, “ That’s very sweet,” she said, “I suppose that makes it your turn,” Y/N said, readjusting in her chair.

Leonard stared at the wall behind her for some time before looking back to her again, “How about this, what’s an odd or embarrassing little thing about you?” He asked the question carefully.

 “Oh that’s a good one,” Y/N started and put her glass down on the desk, “I would have to say the fact that I love oranges, but can’t peel one for myself is both a bit odd and a bit embarrassing,” she admitted softly, still looking down at the glass now collecting condensation around the rim.

 Now that’s cute, Leonard thought as he looked at the girl who looked as though she were adamantly avoiding his eyes. “Alright then,” He paused for a moment, “Believe it’s your turn,” he said, returning to his sandwich.

They went on this way for quite some time until there was a sudden knock on the door. Y/N nearly fell out of her seat in surprise. She held hand over her heart as Leonard did his best to refrain from laughing at her.

“Come on in,” Leonard called out to whoever was on the other side of the door. The door began to open and revealed one of the nurses peeking in.

“The captain is here to see you Dr. McCoy,” The nurse announced. The silent question as to what should be done, hung in the air after her words.

“Tell him I’m not here right now,” Leonard said without hesitation and shooed the nurse away quickly. She left without any sort of hesitation or even surprise at the order.

“What do you think he wants?” Y/N asked, looking at McCoy with large, curious, doe-like eyes. Good god, that look’ll kill me, Leonard sighed and rubbed his eyes.

“I dunno, I just hope he leaves it be, whatever it happens to be,”  he said before he looked up at her suddenly, “I never did ask I don’t think, how’d you hurt yourself?” he asked, a look of curiosity now plastered over his own face as well.

“Well, umm,” Y/N began and started to fidget with the sleeve’s end, “I just tripped over a pot in the supply closet,” She said so quietly, as though it were somehow the most embarrassing thing to ever happen to her. Though this certainly wasn’t the most embarrassing thing to happen to her by a long shot, everything felt embarrassing for her at the moment for some inexplicable reason.

“Well then, I-” Leonard started, but was abruptly interrupted by the door swinging open in a way that had the hinges creaking.

“See, I knew you were lying to me!!” Kirk bellowed as he pointed an accusatory finger at McCoy. At this moment Y/N sat stiffly in silent shock.

Leonard briefly looked over at Y/N before turning his attention back to Kirk, it was really nothing more than a flicker of his eyes, but it was still enough to draw the captain’s attention to whatever Leonard was looking at.

“Why didn’t you tell me you had company?” Kirk asked, full of a certain smugness that grated on McCoy’s nerves.

“Because it wasn’t any of your business,” Leonard hissed as he gripped the arms of his chair. Y/N fidgeted nervously with the sleeves more intently, an action which drew Jim’s attention.

“I see, I wouldn’t want company for such activities either,” Kirk said with a smirk and a wink in Y/N’s direction. She turned bright red under his gaze and the insinuation of his words. Leonard on the other hand, absolutely seethed at it, he stood and slammed a hand on the desk.

“I know exactly what you’re implying and I do NOT appreciate it. Not only is that not something for you to speculate about, but nothing of the kind happened here!” Leonard exclaimed at the top of his voice. Jim was taken aback, yeah he had irritated McCoy before plenty, but he had never reacted this way before.

Tension loading…

The Things We Do For The Fleet

Chapter Ten: Tea unattended

💙Eventual Leonard McCoy x fem!reader💙

⚠️: none

word count: 1,470

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Y/N woke up later that afternoon when she heard the door slide open. She sleepily rolled over to look towards the door. “Oh, hi Len,” Y/N greeted softly as she began to stretch.

“Hiya, Angel,” Leonard greeted in return, seeming to actively relax as the door closed behind him. His shoulders slumped as he moved to sit in the armchair next to the coffee table. 

“How was the rest of your day?” Y/N asked, now very delicately attempting to stretch out her legs.

“Mostly quiet and slow,” He said honestly as he stood up again. “You want some tea?” Leonard asked, walking into the kitchen and already filling the kettle with water.

“Yes please,” Y/N called gently as she sat up on the couch and continued her stretching. “I think there’s some vanilla chai in the cupboard,” she added.

“Alright, vanilla chai it is,” Leonard said and began to shuffle through the cabinet behind him. “How was your nap?” He asked as he continued sifting about the teas until he came upon a small box of vanilla chai.

“Fine, although I had this odd dream that I was an orange cat swimming in a glass of orange soda,” Y/N explained casually. She looked up at the time displayed on the wall, it read 5:30.

“Well that certainly is an interesting dream isn’t it?” Leonard said while pulling down two mugs and putting tea bags in them.

“So,” He started as he came back to sit in the armchair, “What’re ya gonna read this evening?” He asked, eying the book on the coffee table.

“Err,” Y/N began as she decided how to tell him. “Well, I,” She finally decided that maybe the best she could do was simply say it outright. “I have a date this evening actually,” Y/N spat the words out as fast as she could and looked to the ground.

“Oh, well alright then,” Leonard said lightly after a brief pause. He straightened himself up in his seat and just sat quietly until the kettle whistled.

“There ya go,” Leonard said as he sat a mug of tea on the table in front of Y/N and then sat back in the armchair again.

“Thank you,” Y/N said, stirring the tea bag around in the hot water. “I should probably hop in the shower real quick,” Y/N commented as she looked up at the time again.

Leonard glanced at her cup of tea before looking at her again. “Oh, that’ll be alright,” Y/N said lightly with an airy giggle, “It’s much too hot now, I’ll be able to drink it when I get out of the shower,” She explained as though she could read Leonard’s mind on the subject.

Y/N got up and walked toward the bathroom, “Oh, before I take up the bathroom, do you need it?” She offered kindly, stopped in front of the bathroom door.

“Oh no, that’s alright, all yours,” Leonard said, “I have to sort through that paperwork I brought last night,” he said as he got up to inspect the boxes still sitting on the floor.

“Alright then,” Y/N said and closed the door behind her. She pulled a towel out from under the sink to hang up and started the shower running. As the water ran and Y/N undressed she couldn’t but wonder what exactly Miles had in mind for this evening.

As the door closed behind Y/N Leonard turned back to his own cup of tea, one he had simply so Y/N wouldn’t feel bad that he was really just making her tea. He stood up and took his cup of tea to the kitchen, opting to have it while leaning against the counter.

I wonder who she’s going out with, Leonard thought as he swirled his tea before he could think better of it. “Not that it’s any of my business or matters to me,” He muttered the amendment to his thought under his breath.

Leonard swirled his tea around some more and decided he would not in fact be going anywhere this evening. He went back to the bedroom and pulled one of his nightgowns out of the closet.

Changing quickly, one of the books on the nightstand caught his eye. Now in his nightgown, Leonard picked up the small, blue book. He inspected the intricate patterns of little silver stars and trees on the cover. As he read the title something distant stirred in the back of his mind.

‘Peter Pan’ the cover read, Leonard swore he had some memory of only a brief mention of the story somewhere deep in his subconscious.

He took the book back out to the living room and settled into the armchair once more, this time with the intention of staying there for quite some time. Cracking open the book to the first page, he poured over the very delicate looking pictures in it.

“All children, except one, grow up,” Leonard spoke  the words in a feathery light voice to himself, just to hear the words, just to feel them on his tongue. Somethin’ about feeling the words, he tried to recall Y/N’s words from last night.

Leonard ran his fingers over the page before continuing to read the book.

As Y/N stepped out of the shower and reached for her towel she realised she hadn’t brought clothes into the bathroom with her. She took a deep breath in, tightening the towel around herself and turning to the door. Here goes nothing, Y/N thought, remembering the way she had answered the door the other night.

She threw open the door, finding Leonard engrossed in a book, Y/N took advantage of his absence of attention to his surroundings and scurried away into the bedroom. She closed the door and began to tear her closet apart to find something to wear this evening.

The longer she looked, the more upsettingly sparse her wardrobe became. She really only owned her dress uniform and her day to day uniforms. In the end Y/N opted for her dress uniform, choosing to dress as nicely as possible for the evening ahead.

Now wearing her dress uniform, Y/N gave herself a once over in the mirror. There were certainly things that she wanted to fix, but noticing that it was nearly 6:30, she gave a small huff and turned away from the mirror. I guess this is as good as it gets for now, she thought and opened the bedroom door.

Now all she had to do was wait, unfortunately, Y/N was not particularly good at waiting, so she puttered about and paced back and forth in the living room. She rearranged some things on the counter and went back to her pacing, somehow still going unnoticed by the reading doctor.

Y/N was still pacing when the bell suddenly chimed. Leonard jumped in his seat and clasped the book shut, Y/N stopped in the middle of a step and looked up at the time, it was only 6:50. He’s early, she thought, both glad that her waiting was over and also a bit bothered by the fact that he was early. What if I had still been getting ready?, Y/N reasoned to herself as she still stood in place.

“Are you gonna answer that or are we gonna pretend we’re not here?” Leonard joked as he looked up at Y/N.

“Oh, umm, yeah I’ll get it,” Y/N said, startled out of her thoughts. She went to get the door, “Oh, hi Miles!” Y/N greeted once the door was open, “You’re a bit early,” She commented offhandedly.

“I hope that’s alright, I was just excited to see you,” Miles said as a sheepish smile crossed his face.

“That’s alright,” Y/N said and returned Miles’ smile. For a moment she contemplated saying goodbye to Leonard, but she didn’t want to make the moment awkward in case Miles hadn’t already noticed him.

So with a guilty feeling lingering in the back of her throat, she simply stepped out and let the door close behind her.

Once the door had closed, Leonard watched the door for a moment with the book still clutched closely in his hands.

After a while he glanced over to the cup of tea still on the coffee table, now tepid at best, untouched and oddly gloomy to look at. With a sigh Leonard put down the book and took the mug off the coffee table.

In the kitchen he took one last lingering look at the untouched tea swirling within the mug and poured it out. He placed the cup in the sink and tucked himself into a corner of the couch to continue reading.

I can’t wait to see what happens next 😅. I wish I was joking, I have no clue yet

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the characters may be fictional, but my feelings for them are definitely real so I got to cry and mourn and scream and kick my feet and dig my nails into my pillow and giggle and smile and laugh and think and talk about them 24/7 and write fanfics/make fanart about them and use them as my emotional support blorbos and you don’t get to tell me how I can or can’t express my feelings you soulless twat