When you think about it, Kirk probably didn’t actually have friends when he was at the Academy, and that’s why he sought out a friendship with his instructor.

I know it’s popular to hc that him and Gary were classmates, but Gary was at the Academy when Kirk was a lieutenant and an instructor. Not a cadet/midshipman.

And these guys who were only jealous of Kirk and his success were still lieutenants like ten years later...

Triumvirate Prompts: Day 4

(Prompts Link)

#4. Favorite Triumvirate headcanon?

Because I literally couldn't think of anything else, I'm gonna share my headcanons on how they all met/became a Triumvirate. Note I haven't seen SNW yet so that won't count towards this.

Kirk and McCoy met first. In my headcanon Kirk got into some kind of trouble during his pre-Captain career at least ten or so years before TOS began. His injuries were severe enough that he had to be left at a Starbase for treatment, and the doctor he got was McCoy. As McCoy handled his rehab, the two would talk and McCoy would let Kirk air out his frustrations and worries before easing him through it. Kirk was grateful for all he did even when he was stubborn and once discharged, kept in contact with him. Whenever Kirk was able to stop by, he'd have a drink with McCoy, and slowly they began to form a friendship. Eventually, Kirk felt comfortable enough opening up around him, and eventually they got assigned to the same Starship, allowing them to be around each other more regularly and grow to trust and rely on one another unconditionally. When Kirk got the Enterprise, McCoy had taken leave to take care of his dying father and when the original CMO retired, there was no doubt in Kirk's mind as to who he'd choose for the position. In a way, getting the offer helped McCoy become motivated again after David's death, and he accepted it.

Spock and Kirk met when Kirk became the Captain. Spock was a little apprehensive seeing someone take over Pike's command, but now as both Science Officer and First Officer he knew that he had to work with him. Thankfully, it didn't take long for him and Kirk to connect, with Kirk understanding his logical mindset and showing that he was a perfectly capable Captain. He wasn't Pike but he did his job efficiently and that helped Spock with accepting him. Kirk eventually asked him to play chess against him and won and since Spock very well couldn't take that lying down, that became their thing. Kirk would eventually start using that to talk to Spock more, though mainly keeping it limited to Enterprise-related business with the occasional quip since that's what Spock mostly responded to. It opened the door for them to learn more about each other and become not only better as a command duo, but to become friends.

Spock didn't meet McCoy until he became the CMO, though I can imagine Kirk mentioning him once or twice. Hearing about him and checking his records, Spock wasn't so sure but trusted Kirk's judgement. McCoy had no idea what to make of Spock when they first met, though if Kirk liked him, there had to be something there. While their first meeting was a little 'mmmm...', I don't think it went as badly as some may have thought. They were affable to one another, but had no idea how to communicate and from what they saw of the other, weren't sure if they'd even want to outside professional business. But as the First Officer and CMO, they both share a duty of checking on the Captain and his well-being, so they would meet once in a while to discuss it, especially if either noticed that something was off. They would debate on their philosophical differences and while it was sometimes frustrating, they found that they liked having those debates and having someone equal to have it against. It became their way of getting to know each other better. They saw the capabilities of the other and formed a trust before eventually, without even realizing it, it became a friendship.

Eventually, after the events of Season 1, the three often just kind of drifted together. They trusted each other as colleagues already, but having now seen the best and worst of each other, there was a bond there. Kirk trusted them most to take only them with him on Away Missions, Spock asked them to be there at the ceremony when he underwent pon farr, and McCoy was willing to knock them out and sacrifice himself to save them. They didn't know when it happened, but they'd become friends. A family.

...or something like that XD