1.16 - Comfort

~~*~~

Still waiting for Cali just outside the classroom, Bones was shocked when the door suddenly slammed open and Cali rushed out, slipping past him quickly and down the now empty corridor. He quickly chased after Cali, still wanting to find out what was wrong and comfort his friend. As he finally caught up to the younger man, grabbing his shoulders to finally stop his movements, he moved in front of him so they could talk.

However, Bones was shocked to see tears rolling down Cali's cheeks. Forgetting about confronting him, Bones quickly pulled Cali into a hug, trying to comfort the man, allowing him to cry into his shoulder.

Bones ended up escorting Cali home, setting him on the couch silently. He stayed to try and help him, but Cali didn't speak a word to him, just staring off into space, tear stains covering his bluish cheeks.

After an hour of silence, Bones was becoming desperate. He stepped outside and pulled out his communicator, calling Jim.

~~*~~

Jim had just gotten back from his last class and collapsed rather ungracefully onto his bed when his communicator started going off in his back pocket. Groaning in annoyance, he pulled it out, answering with a disinterested hum after seeing it was Bones.

"Jim," Bones' voice calls out on the other end of the line, "I'm at Cali's apartment. I'm really worried about him. He left his lesson crying and hasn't said a word since."

Jim sat up immediately, suddenly very aware, his eyes wide, "What?"

"You've gotta forget whatever you two argued about, get over here and help him. He needs you." He replied and Jim was able to hear how seriously worried he was.

"I'm on my way." He replied instantly, already having jumped up and rushing out of his dorm, not bothering to grab anything as he left.

"Thank you." Bones responded before hanging up the call.

~~*~~

Getting to Cali's apartment as fast as he could, Jim knocked on the door and was let in by Bones. He didn't even greet his friend, who still looked overwhelmingly worried but also relieved to see him, instead moving immediately to his boyfriend's side on the sofa. As soon as he got there, he could see the absolute state that Cali was in. Dark bags, tear sodden cheeks and bloodshot eyes.

It was obvious the man hadn't gotten any sleep in a few days. Jim quickly sat close to him on the sofa and pulled him into a tight hug, causing the floodgates to open up as Cali started breaking down again. He clung onto Jim tightly and balled into his shoulder. Except this time, he spoke. A complete mess, his words were completely indecipherable to Bones, but Jim managed to understand them him.

"Spock asked me about the incident and I had to tell him everything. He knows about all the rumours. He knows how shitty I am. I can't see him anymore. Cause of those stupid rumours. Why do people do this? What did I do to them? Just cause I'm a Polyvore they think I'm this disgusting thing. I wish I were human. Then I wouldn't be so weird. And people wouldn't hate me for something I couldn't control." Cali rambled quickly. Barely taking breathes between sentences and yet gasping due to his hysteric crying. "And then you weren't there. And I was alone. And I needed you. I really needed you. I don't want to be alone. But I'm gonna be alone. Why weren't you there?" He continued before breaking down completely into sobs, clinging closer to Jim.

Jim was almost brought to tears himself as he listened to Cali cry. He should have been there before. "I know angel. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm here now. I'm here." He shushed, holding his boyfriend as close as he could, stroking his soft hair to try and comfort the hysterical man.

They stayed like this for a while, Jim continuing to try and comfort Cali with his words and contact while he cried all the tears that he had ever held in. At some point, Bones made his silent exit, leaving the two alone, knowing Cali now had Jim.

As Cali finally started to calm down, he pulled away from Jim in embarrassment, felling stupid for crying for hours on his shoulder. "I'm sorry." He mumbled, trying to scrub his drenched cheeks dry.

Jim quickly shook his head, pulling Cali's hands down gently onto his lap so he didn't hurt himself and then wiping his cheeks gently with his thumb, "Never apologise for your emotions. They are always going to be valid. If you ever need to fall apart, that's okay, cause I'll be here to put you back together."

His words caused Cali to start crying again, though much more controlled tears in comparison to his previous heavy sobs, feeling Jim's love as he was pulled back into a hug.

At some point, Cali ended up passed out from exhaustion. Jim gently picked him up and carried him into his room, tucking him into his bed with the fur blanket. He thought about whether he should get into the bed with him, but decided against it, not wanting to disturb Cali.

Instead, he grabbed a spare blanket and pillow and moved back into the main room, making up the couch for himself. That way he was giving Cali his space to sleep but would still be there if he were needed. It took him a while to finally fall asleep, his senses too focused on the other room to make sure he could react if Cali called him.

~~*~~

Suddenly, Jim woke up with a jolt as he heard movement in Cali's room. Opening his eyes, he noted thankfully that the sun had risen meaning Cali had slept throughout the night. He knew that his boyfriend had needed the rest. Yawning, Jim sat up just in time for the bedroom door to open. As Cali entered, he was shocked to spot Jim still half laying on the sofa, wrapped in a blanket.

"Did you sleep on the couch?" Cali asked with furrowed brows as he walked over to get a closer look at his partner.

"Yeah," Jim confirmed, sitting up fully so he could move the blanket and pillow of his makeshift bed. It had been a lot more comfortable than he thought it would.

"Why?" Cali questioned as he moved around the side to sit down next to Jim.

"I knew you needed sleep and didn't want to disturb you by invading your bed." He replied with a caring smile, making Cali frown.

"You're always welcome in my bed, you really don't need to sleep on the couch. But thank you."

Jim smiled, finally giving his boyfriend a look over. He looked a lot better than the night before. His eyes were no longer swollen and bloodshot, and his eye bags had shrunk significantly. That had probably been the first decent sleep he'd gotten in a week. "How are you feeling?"

Cali smiled sadly as Jim, "I'm still tired, but still not as bad as last night." Cali didn't say anymore, which Jim takes as a hint that he wasn't ready to talk about it.

Respecting his boundaries, Jim decided to change the subject, "It's a free day for you right?" Cali hummed in response, having closed his eyes and leant back on the sofa to doze despite only just waking up. "Okay, I'm gonna make up breakfast and we're gonna stay here and have a lazy day." He said, making Cali look over at him in appreciation even though he still felt too numb to fake a smile.

~~*~~

In the end, Spock didn't do anything. Deciding against reporting the students even though a part of him still thought it best to do so. Cali had been right; it would only make the rumours seem more real to those spreading them. They were lucky they had stayed within the class and not gone school wide. They couldn't risk that.

He allowed Cali to continue to avoid him, doing the same to him, no matter how much it pained him to do so. He no longer greeted the cadet in the corridors, keeping his eyes forward as if he had never met the man. He didn't even call upon him in class anymore, they were becoming a lot quieter for him. And, of course, Cali no longer stayed behind on Thursdays, no matter how much it pained him to see the cadet leave at the same time as the others each one.

Spock felt a great aching in his heart over the loss of companionship but tried his hardest to push the painful emotions away, deep behind his walls. Spock still hadn't quite accepted his feeling that he had slowly developed for Cali. But he definitely wasn't going to be able to fully accept the loss of them.

~~*~~

And that's the end of part one. I know you probably hate me now but don't worry! Part Two will be coming out at some point, though there will be a few weeks break in uploading. Jim, Spock and Cali's story doesn't end here.

Thank you for reading this far! As always, feedback is appreciated!