Jim hadn't forgotten, he just thought that Spock's full-blooded Vulcan father had been able to do it... Or no, that was a lie. He hadn't even known that Vulcans telepathically bond before they mate. It wasn't in any of the books, Vulcans were secretive about their biology to a point where he remembered Bones flopping down on the floor one day and mentioning God damned side hearts! under his breath about a year into their stint at the Academy.

Where Spock's train of thought went, so too did Kirk's right up until he found himself blocked out. It felt raw and though he wondered if he could press into it still, he was immediately sidelined by Spock's admission.

"What?" It came out both physically and telepathically, that was how great his surprise had been. Wow. Sorry man.

And a jealousy that Kirk didn't even know he'd had faded.