there are sometimes days and nights when they’re on different shifts for whatever reason, and sometimes Kirk’s shift is earlier and Spock’s is later, so when Kirk goes to bed, Spock’s not there
and he tries to get some sleep, but the bed feels so big and cold and like there’s too much space and he’s too small for it, so he tosses and turns and tries every trick in the book, from counting backwards to reciting regulations in his mind, but none of it works because he can’t sleep without Spock’s arms around him or without his face nuzzled into Spock’s neck, his palm warm and spread out against the fluttering heartbeat in Spock’s side, so much faster than a human heart
