"I think you just liked seeing me all messed up," he hummed in a playfully accusatory tone. Even if Bones found something attractive in that, honestly Jim wouldn't hold it against him. He'd cleaned up rather well himself once he joined the Academy, though, and even if he got into a scuffle here or there, it was never the kind of bar brawls he landed himself in back in Riverside.

"Mm... looked at you more than just twice, even," Jim didn't bother hiding that from Bones. But then they'd become close friends, and Jim hadn't really wanted anything more serious than some fling or a one-night stand, and he knew that'd be the kind of thing that could've very well ruined their friendship. He'd have had no one else at the Academy. So putting those thoughts away had been an easy decision to make.

But it was nice he didn't have to keep them hidden in that box forever. Not that he couldn't have, but still.

Hands curling on Bones's waist, he slowly guided the doctor into turning around so he was facing him. The food could wait a few seconds, probably. For now, leaning in to kiss Bones properly seemed well worth the risk of burning what they had managed to savage from the mess Jim had made. Lips pressed softly but lingered for a while, and he stayed close even as the kiss broke, licking the taste of Bones's mouth from his own lips. "Always needed you around too. So— I'm glad you didn't leave me behind."