Title: Light from the Far Side
Fandom: Star Trek: the Original Series
Rating: G
Length: 504
Author notes: also for gen_bingo prompt: fire and firelight
Summary: Kirk and Spock shared their childhood experience about fire when stranded on a beach.

While Spock prepared the seaweed soup, Jim packaged a fish in clay and put it in the coal of the fire, saying, "It's not that bad for a wilderness survival experience. Do you remember that time on Ryuion II? This is pretty much a luxury resort. "

 "The weather here is more habitable, " Spock replied, "But I recalled you describing Ryuion II as a fairytale land to the doctor. 'A magical place that one should never miss. ' was your original wording. "

 Jim laughed, "I am just pulling his leg. Nothing gets past your Vulcan ears. "

 After dinner, Jim and Spock settled into their beach side shelter they dug above the tide line. Jim smiled at Spock's back as they lied by their side, "It's like a sleeping over. When I was a kid I always looked forward to one, talking and playing with my friends through the nights. "

 "Did your parents approve? "

 "Of course. It was a common thing back home, and our parents knew each other and us pretty well. What about you? What did you do as a kid? Apart from study and meditation, I mean. "

Spock was quiet for awhile before he said, "When I was young, I always hiked to the hills near my home. It was quiet, and you could walk for days without meeting anyone. When I wanted to think I went there. "One day I hiked long past my meal time, so I collected some cacti and tubers, setting up a fire to prepare a meal. Unfortunately I did not plan the site well. With a sudden change of wind, the fire burnt up dry plants nearby and spread around. "

"What did you do? " Jim’s throat constricted at an image of a young Spock trapped in a wild fire.

"I used my coat to put it off. After extinguishing the sparks, I chose a safer place to cook my dinner, and cleaned off my coat back home. "

Jim laughed. "It's so you. I once caught up in a fire as a kid, and I panicked and ran uphill. Bad idea."

"Did you endure any injury? " Spock asked, with more worry in his voice than when he recalled the fire.

Jim's heart warmed up. "I burnt my arm, and breathed in a lot of smoke so I stayed in the hospital overnight. My arm itched like hell when it healed. Then my mother arranged for me to join the boys scouts. Always prepared. Did your parents find out? "

"My parents remained silent, but from then on I always found an emergency kit in my bag. "

"I hope you didn't need it often. "

"I have practised safety rules with fire ever since. "

"This's great. I hate thinking of the fleet losing its best First Officer because of a fire. " Jim said, his unspoken relief in his voice.

Spock's voice softened, "And I am equally grateful that the fleet still has its best captain. We should rest and preserve our energy until the rescue came. "

"Good night, Spock. "

"Good night, Jim. "