Archived fic rec - A Gilded Hook

[sakura_no_miko]

Title: A Gilded Hook

Author: Eldritchhorrors

Fandom: Star Trek (film, 2009)

Rating: NC-17

Pairing: Kirk/Spock, Kirk/Spock Prime, Kirk Prime/Spock Prime (and a surprise pairing)

Warnings: sex (gay), dark fic, mental manipulation, mental breakdown, character death, suicide (or murder? not sure, actually)

Other notes: alternate universe, dark fic, twist ending, mirror universe

Length: 10k

Summary: Kirk was worried. Something wasn’t right. He was having trouble sleeping. Wasn’t eating. And those dreams. Those goddamn dreams…

 

Man, how do you deal with surprise/twist ending fics? I don’t want to spoil things, but I also have to tag for triggers, and i get this tiny little itch when I realize, wait, should I post this as Kirk Prime/Spock Prime–what it appears on the surface–or what it really is, which is Mirror Kirk and Mirror Spock (/Prime)? I feel sad for someone who searches for some TOS nostalgia fluff and accidentally clicks on my tags.

The build up in this fic is amazing–haunting, slowly creeping up on you like sickness. Like yesterday’s rec, Safe From Harm, this is a fic about abusive manipulation, a twisted take on a well-known and loved pairing. Of course, once you realize who Spock Prime really is, it suddenly falls into place, because evil Mirror Spock would do this sort of sick abusive thing, this possessiveness, this stripping Kirk of his autonomy and trying to convince him it’s all for the better.

I love Kirk’s self-awareness here, his sense that something is wrong, and yet, at some point, he just throws himself headfirst into it, because his love is that strong. Of course, that’s likely more horrible manipulation going on, so it ends up being more of a shit, no moment than a triumphant one. It’s very Mirror Universe in that way–that the most horrible, despicable things are the ones that will get you the most glory, the biggest prize.

Wonderful, creepy little fic.

 

(Looking for more fic recs?)
Originally posted on tumblr on 05/21/13