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Then There Was You

Summary:

Spock looked up from his PADD at precisely 1405. The doors to the building across the way were open as a sea of red uniformed cadets filed in and out of the Engineering building. Spock watched as the crowd died down to just a handful here and there coming and going, until finally, there he was.

The object of Spock’s illogical affection.

A blonde-haired cadet whose name Spock didn’t even know.

Notes:

Title is from a line in Kylie Minogue's song called Love at First Sight.

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

Spock looked up from his PADD at precisely 1405. The doors to the building across the way were open as a sea of red uniformed cadets filed in and out of the Engineering building. Spock watched as the crowd died down to just a handful here and there coming and going, until finally, there he was. 

The object of Spock’s illogical affection.

A blonde-haired cadet whose name Spock didn’t even know. 

Spock’s heart in his side beat faster than normal, his breathing came a little header. Each time he saw the cadet, feelings welled up inside him that Spock could not properly place at first. He researched his symptoms and soon found his physical reactions to the young man was perhaps love.

The first time it happened, the first time he met wondrous blue eyes across a crowded auditorium during the first week of new students, Spock had thought he had been irrationally put under a spell. An invisible pull. Their eyes stayed on each other for only a few moments before the cadet looked away, talking to a grumpy looking brunet male beside him.

But from that short eye contact, Spock knew, just knew, that cadet was supposed to something special to him.

In the near year since, Spock never found out his name. Never taught him and seemed to only catch him amongst crowds here and there. But then, a month ago, Spock was sitting on this bench, enjoying the pleasant spring day, when he looked up and saw the cadet leaving the building.

Spock knew it was illogical of him, but now, Tuesday and Thursdays, Spock made time to sit on this bench and wait for the cadet to leave the building at 1405. He could not bring himself to approach and make conversation. Spock did not make friends easily. Nyota, yes, but she forced her way into his life, and he was grateful for it. She brought him out of comfort zone at times, but Spock was unable to force himself to even mutter a hello. Instead, he watched from afar.

The cadet walked down the steps from the building’s entrance and paused a moment. Spock watched him lift his head and take in the sun on his face.

Finals were next week. He surmised the cadet was ready for things to be over, just like the rest. Many would leave campus for a brief summer break. Spock wouldn’t. He never. Would the cadet go somewhere? Did he have someone to spend the break with? Spock’s stomach churned at the thought of someone else in the cadet’s life.

“Spock.”

Spock jumped, startled for only the third time in his life. He moved his gaze from the blonde Adonis to find Nyota standing next to the bench. Spock gave her a nod. “Nyota. Greetings.”

“Afternoon, Spock. Enjoying the weather?”

“Yes.” And the sights. “Are you on your way to a class?”

“No, I’m meeting a friend to go over some things for linguistics club.”

Spock once attended the club but now the time was taken over by a lab he oversaw.

“Are we still on for lunch tomorrow?” she asked, sitting next to him.

Spock turned his body slightly to give her his attention. “Yes, of course,” Spock replied. “And I do believe it is my time to pay for the meal.”

“I won’t say no, and I’ll get the next one.”

Out of the corner of his eyes, Spock saw someone approaching them. He glanced in that direction and tensed. The blonde cadet was approaching. The blonde cadet was drawing nearer. The blonde cadet…Spock looked down at his lap to his PADD as the cadet came to stand before them.

“Hey, Uhura, there you are.”

“Kirk.” Uhura stood and greeted the blonde. “I’m am here. I just saw the professor and wanted to say hello. Do you know Professor Spock?”

Kirk.

At that the mention of his name, Spock looked up, not feeling as if his legs would work for him to stand. His heart felt like it was going to beat out of his side as he once again met the brightest, bluest eyes.

The blonde, Kirk, smiled at him, which did nothing to help Spock’s current predicament of tachycardia and stomach flipping and flopping.  “No, I don’t,” the cadet spoke. His voice…Spock could listen to him talk forever and not get bored. “Hello, Professor.”

He said my name. “Cadet Kirk,” Spock forced himself to return the greeting. He held up his hand in a Vulcan salute. “Live long and prosper.”

The cadet raised a hand of his own, mimicking Spock’s action. “Peace and long life.”

Spock’s brows raised. He knew how to respond.

Kirk dropped his hand then looked away from Spock to Uhura. “You ready? I have a study room booked at the library.”

“You live in that library,” she teased.

“Sometimes,” Kirk replied. He glanced back to Spock. A slight pink tint grew over his cheeks. He looked away again. “It was nice to meet you, Professor.”

“Likewise, Cadet Kirk,” Spock replied.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Spock,” Uhura said.

Spock nodded and watched them walk away. Once they were out of sight, Spock closed his eyes and focused on regulating his breathing and heartrate to normal.

Kirk. Cadet Kirk.


Spock nodded along to whatever Nyota was saying to him. He was half listening. He could respond back if needed but his thoughts were occupied. He wanted to bring up Kirk but did not know how. Did Humans speak of others when they were not around? Did they ask about their relationship status? Educational path? Age? Their favorite color? Did they like chess?

“You seem distracted.”

Spock blinked and came back to Earth. “Pardon?”

Nyota took a sip of her drink then repeated herself. “You seem distracted. I said a double negative just a moment ago and you didn’t correct me. You love correcting grammar.”

“I do not love correcting grammar; I merely feel compelled to point out grammatical errors to linguistics students who are above such things.”

Nyota lightly laughed. “True. But you still seem distracted. What’s on your mind?”

Cadet Kirk with his sun kissed skin, Bombay sapphire eyes, pink lips, breathtaking smile, and physically fit physique. And he talked to me yesterday.  “Nothing,” Spock lied. “Finals are next week. I have been finetuning my examinations and the simulations I will proctor.”

“Don’t stress so much about exams. You’re the teacher.”

“Affirmative and Vulcans do not stress.”

Her comm pinged in her purse. She excused herself and looked at it. She shook her head then snorted and tapped at the screen.

“Sorry,” she said, putting the comm away. “A friend’s been bugging me.”

“Bugging you?”

She nodded. “They like someone and want to know more about them. I told them they should just talk to the person themselves but for some reason they seem to be shy. If a Vulcan likes someone, in a romantic way, do they let them know it? Or do they dance around the issue in hopes that the other will make a move?”

“Many children on Vulcan are bonded to another at the age of seven and do end up bonding one day. Others…dating on Vulcan is not the same as dating on Earth. I have had no experience with either so I…I do not know.”

“How did you father ask your mother out the first time?”

Spock opened his mouth then shut it and shook his head. “I never asked. Mother told me they met at a Federation event in Seattle. She was presenting a paper on educational merits of diverse classrooms and instruction. They courted for six months before they married in the human fashion. Soon afterwards she moved to Vulcan with him and bonded in the Vulcan way.”

“But did she ask him out first or did he ask her?”

Spock let himself shrug.

Uhura sat back, a glint of something in her eyes. “Interesting.”

“Who is your friend?” Spock questioned. Kirk? Kirk is a friend of yours.

She picked up her fork and speared into her salad. “A friend.” After a moment of eating, she spoke again, “There will be a beach party next week. Friday evening after finals. You should come.”

“It would be inappropriate.” Spock took a bite of his own salad.

“Why? You told me yourself that you spent your time at academy, exclusively studying hard and not participating in frivolities.”

“That is correct. It was logical. I came to Starfleet for many reasons. Partying was not one of them.”

“It’s not a party,” she insisted with a light-hearted laugh. “It’s an end of the year social gathering at the beach. Food, fun, friends.”

“A party. Drinking, drugs, and other things that are unbecoming of officers.”

“There will be some drinks but no drugs. You know the academy tests regularly for that.”

Spock nodded.

Uhura leaned forward. “Please. It is logical to invest in the welfare of fellow Starfleet members. I heard Pike and a few other officers may show up. It’s not a big cadet only party.”

Spock sat up a bit straighter. Pike was his superior officer. He had served with him and planned to continue serving with him once the Enterprise was complete. He supposed it was logical to attend a social gathering if Pike would be there.

“I will think on it, Nyota.”

She grinned a big grin and clapped her hands together. Spock almost allowed a smile back.

He almost asked if Cadet Kirk would be attending but held back. He shoved a big helping of his salad into his mouth instead.


While Spock had come to respect Nyota’s opinion on many things matters, he still always deferred to his mother on human matters. He knew, with the time difference, his mother and father would be just starting their day. He sent a request from his home terminal for a video call. While he waited, he checked over his schedule for the following week. He did have most evenings free, especially next Friday when the beach party was to occur.  

The wait was only a few minutes, but his terminal pinged. He turned his attention to the screen just as his mother’s face appeared.

“Kan-bu.”

“I am not an infant,” Spock replied.

She smiled then held up her teacup and took a sip.

“I do hope I am not interrupting your morning.”

“A call from my son is never an interruption. It is always welcome.” She leaned back in the recliner chair Spock recognized from his father’s study. “But it is odd for you to call so early. Usually, you call when it is our evening.”

“My presence has been requested at a social gathering.”

His mother took another sip of her tea, hiding a huge smile. She put the cup down then said, “Does this social gathering happen to be what humans call a party?”

“Yes. A party at the beach which is held each year after finals.”

“Ah, that party. You used to mention your fellow cadets going while you stayed in the dorms.”

“It was logical to stay and continue my studies.”

“Even though your studies were done for the semester?” his mother quipped, raising a brow at him—a habit picked up from her prolonged time with father and other Vulcans.

“I was on an advanced track. My studies never stopped.”

“Well, now you are a teacher. Take a load off. Relax. Let loose.”

“Illogical.”

She chuckled then looked up, past the computer screen. “Sarek, those do not match.”

“They do.”

“Sarek, you are color blind.” She pointed off screen. “That one is black. That one is navy.”

“Negative, they are both black.”

Mother muttered in Yiddish about stupid boys before waving his father over. She held the socks in front of the computer screen for Spock to see. “Spock, are these the same color.”

Spock shook his head. “One is black, and the other is navy.”

His mother looked triumphantly back at his father. “You are colorblind. Listen to your wife.” She held the black one back. “Find its match.” A hand appeared and took the black sock. “And say hello to your son.”

Sarek walked behind Amanda’s chair and nodded at the computer screen. “Sa-fu.”

“Sa-mekh.”

“I am not color blind.”

Spock raised a brow. He knew his father was to a certain extent but decided to keep his mouth shut. His mother turned her head and looked up at Sarek. “It’s cute how much you protest an inherited trait.”

“Spock is as well,” Sarek retorted.

Spock shook his head. He’d been tested. He saw many shades of colors and had no trouble distinguishing them from an adjacent color.

“Spock has my eyes,” she said. “Beautiful and not at all colorblind. Now, go finish dressing for work while Spock I and I discuss him letting his hair down.”

“Spock is growing his hair out. For what purpose?”

His mother shooed his father from the room. It was almost time, Spock knew, for him to leave for the VSA.

Mother’s attention came back to him. “Now, about this party.”

“I have no desire to grow my hair longer than it is.”

His mother laughed. He quite enjoyed her laughter. Vulcans never heard laughter on Vulcan except from her or the occasional human in the city.

“It’s just an expression. A human one that means to behave in an uninhibited or relaxed way.”

“Interesting.”

“Very interesting,” She took a sip of her tea then said, “It seems you do not want to go. So do not go.”

Spock opened his mouth then shut it then opened it again then shut it.

His mother continued to smile at him.

“I called because I had a question.” Spock paused then said, “There is…. there is someone I…I’ve become…attracted to.”

His mother slowly put her cup down then stood and left view of the screen. Spock raised a brow and stared at the empty chair his mother once sat.

“Mother?”

.

.

.

“Mother?”

Just then his mother returned, sitting back down. “I’m sorry. I needed a moment.”

“Why?”

“Because my son, my twenty-six-year-old baby, finally has a crush on someone.”

“A crush?” Spock rifled through the dictionary in his head and found crush and the several definitions associated with the word. She shook his head. “No, mother, this is not a brief infatuation. My…what he does to me, what he makes me feel is far more…its...”

His mother’s eyes glistened. She touched her cheeks and stared at him. “Is my baby in love?”

“Can you be in love with someone you have barely spoken to?”

She smiled a little brighter. “Love at first sight? Yes, I believe in love at first sight. I believe in that feeling you get, deep down, that tells you that this—this person is the one I’m meant to be with.”

Spock wrung his hands together in his lap. It did feel like that. “Its…illogical.”

“Love isn’t logical.”

“Father said it was logical to marry you.”

“Did he?” She smiled. “Well, it was logical. Because he loves me, and I love him.”

“He did not mention love.”

Her smiled turned into a wicked grin. “Are you trying to get your father into trouble?”

“Certainly not.”

“You know how he can be. And you know how I am. Why would a stiff lipped Vulcan marry someone so illogical if not because of love?”

Spock nodded in agreement. He was just teasing. He did know his father loved his mother very much. It may not have been so outwardly displayed but Spock say it in the little things he did for her. The garden, the AC, the little just because gifts he always had a logical reason to give her.

“How did father begin courting you?”

“Oh, well, you would think he just walked up to me and asked me out, wouldn’t you?”

“Yes. That would be the logical thing to do.”

“Right. But again, love isn’t logical. Your father had been bonded to his previous wife when they were children and were apart until his time when they married.”

Spock nodded. And made Sybok his annoying older brother.

“So, because of that, he had no experience asking anyone out. So instead of just asking me, he presented me with a bullet point list of reasons why the two of us should begin a courtship. It was quite a long list. Matching socks by color was not on it, unfortunately.”

Spock kept back a laugh.

“You want to ask this young man out, don’t you?”

Spock nodded.

“But for some silly reason, you just can’t bring yourself to.”

Spock nodded again.

“Vulcans,” she sighed. “Smart with many things, dumb with romance.”

“Mother.”

“Ask him out.”

“I…I do not even know his first name.”

“Then introduce yourself. My name is Spock. What is your name? Would you like to join me for a meal sometime?” She waved her hands a bit. “See, easy peasy.”

Spock opened his mouth, but his mother continued talking. “Make a list. Make a presentation. I know you like making those. Make a presentation listing all your wonderful, endearing qualities. What you will bring to a relationship. How you will treat them. Don’t think too hard on this Spock. Just do it. Just ask him out. And once you do finally ask this young man out, let them know that you do feel, so deeply, and that they will have your heart even if you do not show it often.”

Spock nodded again. “You are wise, mother.”

“Oh, I try to be. Usually, I feel I’m just talking out of my ass most times.”

“Another curious human saying,” Spock chuckled. “And with that, I will leave you to your day.”

“And ask out that man. I want grandchildren.”

“Mother.”

“Alright, alright. Just call me more often. I love seeing your cute face.”

Spock held up a Vulcan salute. “Goodbye, Mother.”

She held her hand up as well. “Love you, kan-bu.”

“And I you, mother.” Spock disconnected then took out his comm. He texted Nyota.

Spock: I will attend the beach function.


The following week, Spock could not find time between the busy finals to sit on his bench and catch a glimpse of Kirk. Thursday evening, though, he managed to carve out time before leaving campus to visit Starfleet’s library.

Spock wondered the first floor. The library café held no blonde cadet, well, not the one he wished to see. The rest of the floor were computer terminals and tables filled with cadets cramming for the last day of tests tomorrow.

Spock walked up stairs to the second floor. Several rows of bookcases laid out before him with dozens of private study rooms and desks sprinkled about. Spock went up and down the bookcases, but no sign of Kirk. He walked around the perimeter, peeking into study rooms but no Kirk either.

The third floor had more books and study rooms. Spock was about to go back to the stairs to leave when he paused after passing the final study room on the floor. He backed up and looked back inside. There were dozens of books, stacked high on the rectangular desk.

A blonde head could barely be seen over the tops of the books. Spock knocked a knuckle against the glass wall.

The head shot up and blue eyes found his. Spock raised his hand and gave a little wave. The eyes twinkled and Kirk stood and smiled, waving Spock in.

Spock backed up to the door and opened it. “Cadet Kirk.”

“Professor,” Kirk replied. He was out of his cadet jacket. It was draped over the chair behind him, Spock could see. The black undershirt fit him well. “What can I do for you?”

“I noticed you and thought I would say…hello. Hello.”

“Hello,” Kirk replied.

Spock forced himself to look away from those sapphires. He scanned the books spines in his view. “Are you studying multiple subjects at once?”

“What? Oh, no.” Kirk motioned the books. “These aren’t…I’m not studying.” Kirk wrung his hands together. “I was but I’m taking a break. The library is doing inventory this year. I asked if I could help so, these books are ones they are thinking of weeding. Um, getting rid of. I’m just going through them, checking the publication date and if the contents would still be relevant to be kept on the shelves.” Kirk picked up a book from one of the stacks. “This is the master’s thesis of computer science pioneer Claude Shannon. A symbolic analysis of relay and switching circuits.

Antiquated? Yes. From 1937. We’ve come a long way since then but it’s still relevant. Many of Shannon’s works are.” Kirk put the book back. “So, that’s the keep pile. Also, I don’t like getting rid of books. Part of the reason I volunteered. Figured I could save a bunch of this history from being recycled. Yes, most of this. Well, all of it is online now but there’s still something so…so wonderful about holding an actual book.” Kirk wrung his hands together. “Fuck, I’m talking too much. Fuck, I said…shit…no…I’m sorry.”

Kirk put his hands behind his back. “I ramble sometimes.” Kirk’s hands came back to the front and fiddled with something on the table. The projection screen on the wall by the head of the table turned on. Spock looked and saw a presentation slide.

“I’m multitasking,” Kirk laughed. “Reading and also making a slideshow.”

“Why I should not have to make my bed,” Spock read from the title slide.

“Yeah, my roommate and I are having an argument.” Kirk picked up the device, a clicker Spock noticed and pressed a button. The slide changed. “Reason one, I do not want to.” The slide changed again. “I’m an adult and I do not have to.” The slide changed again. “The end.” Kirk fiddled with the clicker. “I’m weird, I know. Making a presentation over something so trivial.”

He makes presentations. Fascinating. Spock looked from the screen back to Kirk. Kirk was looking down at the clicker. “May I make a suggestion?”

Kirk looked up. “If it’s not to show this to anyone, yeah, I won’t.”

“No, no, I merely wish to suggest another reason. There has been research on the matter which concluded that leaving your bed unmake, exposes your sheets, and covers to light which causes microscopic dust mites to dry up and die.”

Jim smiled big and bright. “Well, how about that? That’s…that’s a good suggestion, Professor. I’ll add it into presentation. Thank you.”

“You are welcome.” Spock stepped back towards the door. “I will leave you to your books and your presentation.”

“Oh, okay.” Kirk’s eyes almost looked hurt. Spock didn’t understand why. The cadet smiled through it though. “Have a goodnight.”

“You too, Cadet Kirk.”

“Jim.”

Jim. “Jim,” Spock repeated. His name is Jim. “Live long and prosper.”

“Peace and long life,” Jim replied.

Spock turned away, opening the door, and stepping through. He was about to let the door close behind him, but he twisted back and caught it. Jim was still standing on the other side of the table, looking at him. His eyes widened—maybe they looked hopeful? Spock couldn’t really tell.  

“Will you be attending the social gathering tomorrow evening?”

“Social gathering?” Jim asked, looking quizzical. A beat later his eyes lit up. “Oh, oh, the beach party? Yeah, yeah, I’ll be there.” Jim licked his bottom lip. “Will you?”

“Yes.”

“I…I suppose we’ll see each other there.”

Spock nodded. “Yes, I will see you there.”

Jim nodded back, the hopeful look still in his eyes.

They stared at each other for some time before Spock snapped out the pull Jim had on him. “Goodnight, Jim.”

“Goodnight. Spock.”

Spock’s knees nearly gave out hearing Jim say his name. Spock gave another nod then left the room. He walked in a daze back to his apartment. He sat on his couch, took out his personal PADD, and started making a presentation. His father enjoyed making lists, Spock enjoyed presentations.

Slide one, title slide.

Reasons I Would Be a Good Boyfriend to Cadet Kirk.

No.

Reasons I Would Be an Exceptional Boyfriend to Jim Kirk.

Spock shook his head. Jim…Jim Kirk. Oh, Captain George Kirk’s son. James Tiberius Kirk. Spock glanced to his work PADD on his coffee table. He could very easily pull up the cadet’s file. He shook his head. No. He wanted to know Jim. He wanted to know more than just what was in his cadet file.

He focused back on his presentation.

Logical Reasons Why I, S'chn T'gai Spock, Would Be an Exceptional Significant Other to James Kirk

Yes, the title was wordy, but it made the intention of the presentation clear.

Slide two, reason number one.

Spock stared at the blinking cursor waiting for him to type his first reason.

Make a presentation listing all your wonderful, endearing qualities. What you will bring to a relationship. How you will treat them. Don’t think too hard on this Spock. His mother’s words echoed in his head.

Spock closed his eyes, took a deep breath in and out, then opened his eyes and started to type.


Spock dressed casually in slacks and a long sleeve shirt. He rolled his pant legs up to mid-calf and donned sandals as it was a beach party. By the time he arrived, the beach was crowded with Starfleet cadets and officers. Spock met up with Nyota at the agreed location and walked with her around the beach. He was introduced to her various friends. Some Spock had taught, other’s he hadn’t. They all seemed nice enough. He trusted Nyota’s good judge of character.

In-between mingling, Spock couldn’t help but search for Jim. There were so many cadets and superiors on the beach and up at the picnic area. No sign of Jim, though.

A hand gently grabbed his arm. Spock’s attention drew back to Nyota beside him. She started to walk; Spock went with as she had his arm. “So, my friend really, really likes someone.”

“You mentioned that last week at lunch.”

“He’s a good guy. Can be a little awkward at times. Sometimes doesn’t make the best first impression. My first impression was that he was a dumb hick. He got into a fight at this bar in Riverside. Not his fault, by the way. I figured, though, he would be this party animal, bed hopper. Turns out, he is not. Actually, a hopeless romantic. He called himself that, by the way.”

“Oh?”

She nodded. “Apparently, he’s liked this person for like a year now.”

“Why has he not asked the other out?”

“A few reasons. One, he wanted to focus on his studies instead of romance. And two, he thought the other was unobtainable.”

“Are they unobtainable?”

Nyota looked at him. “I don’t think so. I told my friend just to go for it. But he’s acting all shy.”

“Why are you telling me about your friend?” Spock questioned.

“Uhura!”

They turned and saw her Orion roommate down the beach. She waved at Uhura to come over.

“I see Captain Pike,” Spock said. “I will find you later.”

“Okay.”

Spock turned and headed up to the picnic area where Pike and Una were.

“Spock,” Pike beamed. “I’m surprised to see you here.”

“I was told I should let my hair down more so here I am.”

“Your mother?”

“Yes. And also, a friend asked me to come and socialize.”

“Your mother and the friend are right. You need to socialize more.” Pike said. “How is Lady Amanda?”

“She is well as is my father.”

“Give them my regards next time you talk to them.”

“Of course.” Spock turned to Una and nodded his head.

“Spock.” She looked him over. “It really is weird seeing you so dressed down.”

“When in Rome.”

“Enough with the sayings.” Pike clapped him on the shoulder. “Can I get you a drink?”

“No, thank you.” Spock looked around. “Would you perchance know a Cadet Kirk?”

“Jim? Of course, I know him. I recruited him. Why?” Pike suddenly looked serious. “What’d he do?”

“Nothing,” Spock replied. Pike’s expression softened. “Jim has done nothing. I was merely looking for him.”

Pike looked at him oddly then broke out into a big grin. “Ah. I see.”

“You see what?”

“Nothing,” Una said. “I think Jim is playing volleyball over there.”

Spock looked to where she pointed. Spock did see a familiar blonde head on the beach playing volleyball. Spock excused himself and wandered to the ‘court’. He found a spot in the sand nearby and sat down, watching Jim laugh and play.

When the teams switched sides, Jim caught sight of him. Spock lifted his hand and waved. Jim beamed at him and waved back.

Spock watched the game begin again before taking out his comm and pulling up the slide show. He had completed it the night before but now he wished to double check and make sure his points were right and would show Jim he was the one for him.

He zoned out, spending several moments on each slide. He didn’t hear anyone approach until a familiar voice pulled him away from his screen.

“Hey.”

Spock didn’t startle easily but after spending so much time fixating on his presentation, Spock jumped a bit where he sat and looked up to meet those brilliant sapphires. Jim stood over him, holding a volleyball.

“So, you’ve barely watched the second half of the game at all, Spock.” Jim tossed the ball back and forth between his hands, a small, cute smile on his face. “You’ve been glued to your communicator. Are you bored?”

“No,” Spock replied. “I am merely working on a presentation.”

Jim stopped tossing the ball back and forth. “A presentation? At a beach party? About what?”

Spock glanced down to his comm. He was thirty slides into reviewing his fifty-page presentation. He looked back up. “In thirty minutes, I will share it with you.”

“Not twenty-five?”

Spock allowed a small smiled. “Thirty minutes.”

Jim’s smile grew bigger. “Okay. Thirty minutes, Mr. Spock.”


Twenty-nine minutes later, Spock stood and looked around for Jim. The game had ended, and new people were playing. He wandered around the beach for several minutes before finding Nyota on a blanket with some friends.

“Nyota.”

“Hey, Spock, there you are.” She patted the spot next to her.

“No, thank you.” Spock looked around. “Have you seen Jim?”

The grumpy looking brunet from the first time he laid eyes on Jim huffed from where he sat on the blanket. “Of course, he’s looking for Jim.”

Spock arched a brow.

“I haven’t seen Jim,” Nyota said.

“He’s down there,” the grumpy man spoke. He looked up at Spock and pointed down the beach, past where the party stopped.

“Thank you.” Spock turned and headed in the direction the man pointed. A yard or two past where the party stopped, Spock paused.

There he was again.

Jim.

Sitting alone, away from the party, on a blanket and staring at the water, watching the sun set. Spock stood still and just took in the sight that made him all gooey inside. Jim was gorgeous and looked so at peace just sitting there.

Spock approached.

Jim slowly turned his attention to Spock. The soft, peaceful expression he had light up. A smile spread across his mouth. “There you are.”

“Here I am,” Spock replied.

“It’s been like forty minutes.”

Spock stopped close to the blanket. “I have been searching for you for eleven minutes and twenty-seven seconds.” Jim patted the spot on the blanket beside him. Spock accepted the invitation from Jim, sitting down close, crossing his legs in front of him. He held out his comm with his presentation already up.

Jim took it and looked down at the screen. A moment later, he burst out laughing. Spock took no offense. It always amused his mother when he made a presentation on something trivial. Such as extended playtime outside with I’Chaya or more sweets after dinner.

Logical Reasons Why I, Chin Tagay Spock, Would Be an Exceptional Significant Other to James Kirk,” Jim read aloud.

“S'chn T'gai Spock,” he corrected but was impressed with how close Jim was to the actual pronunciation.

Jim tapped the screen, exiting out of presentation mode and scrolled through the slides to the very end. “Fifty reasons?”

“I can think of more if you wish. I can also provide character references.”

Jim gave another laugh, this time lighter and shorter. He shook his head and handed Spock back his communicator. Spock did take offense this time. With the speed Jim went through the presentation, he most certainly did not read all his reasons.

“You…you do not wish to read…”

“No, no, I will,” Jim said. “I just, it’s been a long day with finals.” Jim motioned to his eyes. “Eye strain. I should be wearing my glasses right now but I’m not. I can’t really focus on another screen right now.”

“I can read to you.”

Jim chuckled. “I would like that but not right now.” Jim licked his bottom lip. “Did you…did you make that because I made the presentation on not making my bed?”

“Partially. I am fond of presentations. It was…fortunate to know that you are as well.”

Jim pulled his legs up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. He continued to smile at Spock. “You know, I’m sure I can list fifty reasons why I wouldn’t be a good boyfriend.”

“If you wish to do that, I would like the opportunity to refute them.”

Another laugh. Jim looked away and shook his head. “You don’t know me. I don’t know you.”

“I would like to know you better.”

Jim looked back at him.

“I first saw you in the auditorium during the first week of new students last year. I had never seen someone so aesthetically pleasing before. Just our eyes meeting, it felt this…this pull towards you. This desire to…”

Jim cut him off by leaning forward and pressing their lips together. Spock melted into the contact, relishing in the pleasant tingles and thrum the touch was causing. In his head, his mind reached for something so bright from Jim—but Spock kept it at bay. Whatever it was, it had to wait.

Their lips stayed locked together for some seconds before Jim pulled back. Spock opened his eyes he didn’t remember closing.

This close, Spock could make out every miniscule shade of blue that made up Jim’s sparkling eyes.

“I…I felt that pull too,” Jim said softly. “In the auditorium. And every time I saw you around campus this year.” Jim licked his lips. Spock glanced down to them, wanting to touch them again. “I…I noticed you at the bench last month, just sitting and looking so handsome. You were there every time I left my engineering class.”

“Tuesday and Thursdays at 1405,” Spock said then remembered himself. “I was not…I did not mean…”

“You leave the science labs at precisely 1910 hours every Wednesday.”

Spock raised a brow.

Jim lightly laughed, his breath ghosting over Spock’s face. “I have chess club, across the courtyard in the Wellesley Building Wednesday evenings. I just happened to start noticing you leaving a few months back. And made sure I always had the chess table by the window to see you. It made my week better just to see you.” Jim licked his lips again. “I…I also have been bugging Uhura about you most of the semester, ever since I saw the two of you at lunch one afternoon. At first, I was crushed, thinking you two were together…”

“We are not.”

“I know. She told me. She also told me to ask you out.”

“You are the friend she had been telling me about.”

“Oh? What did she say?”

“Just that she had a friend who really, really liked someone but was too shy to make a move.”

Jim snorted. “Not, shy, per say. Just…I didn’t think it could happen. I figured I would just...crush from a distance.”

“Crush?”

Jim chuckled. “Be hopelessly in love with someone I’d never even spoken a word to.”

Spock leaned forward and kissed Jim. He was not skilled in the manner, but he had a strong desire to learn.

Jim cupped his cheek and kissed him back before pulling away and laying down on the blanket on his back. He patted the spot next to him.

Spock laid down on his back next to him. Jim touched Spock’s hand. The thrum came back and a spark, shooting up his arm and into his head and heard. An ancient, revered word flittered it the back of his mind as the pull reached out again. Spock batted it away. It wasn’t time for that. Not yet. Maybe soon.

“Static?” Jim asked, lacing their fingers together.

“Something of the sort,” Spock replied. He squeezed Jim’s hand. “This would be considered indecent on Vulcan. Our hands are sensitive.”

“Well, I’m glad we’re not on Vulcan then.” Their hands dropped between them. Spock rubbed his thumb against Jim’s soft skin. “Touch telepaths. Can you read my mind.”

Spock felt the pull, greater this time, along with Jim’s voice in his head. I love your eyes.

“I am fond of your eyes as well,” Spock replied.

“That’s cool.” Jim licked his lips again, an action Spock was quite enjoying. His eyes diverted up to at the sky. “I’ve never really done a long-term relationship before,” Jim admitted.

“Neither have I.”

“I want to try with you.” Jim turned his head and looked at back at him. Spock did the same.

“I wish to try with you as well,” Spock replied. “T’hy’la.”

Jim smiled. “So, I…I taught myself a bit of Vulcan. Wanted to impress you if we ever spoke. T-high-la.”

“T’hy’la.”

“Yeah, that word. Um…it means friend, right? Or brother?”

“Close. It means both plus a third; lover,” Spock told him. “Friend, brother, lover. A…a soulmate in Terran terms.”

Jim pulled their hands up across Jim’s chest. His other hand joined and enclosed Spock’s hand between them. “Soulmate, huh? You sure?”

“I have never been more certain about anything in my life,” Spock admitted.

Jim brought Spock’s hand to his mouth and kissed his knuckles. “I suppose I’m sort of certain about that, too.”

“I wish to spend tomorrow with you.”

Jim turned his gaze back to Spock. “What will we do?”

“I do have a presentation to show you.”

Jim snorted. “Yes, of course. And yes, I’d like that. To spend tomorrow with you. And maybe the next day.”

“And Monday?”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” Jim snickered. “But maybe. Probably. Most likely. I did plan to spend some time in the library with the books, though. Wanna join me or are you going somewhere for the summer break?”

“Yes, I will join you and no, I have made no plans to travel. Are you going anywhere?”

Jim shook his head. “Wasn’t planning on it but now, maybe we should go somewhere.”

“I will follow you anywhere.”

Jim leaned close and Spock readied himself for another kiss but just before their lips touching, a loud voice called out to them.

“Hey! Lovebirds!”

Jim huffed against Spock and sat up, still holding Spock’s hand. Spock stayed laying down but turned his head towards the interruptions. The brunette friend of Jim’s was about a yard away. In the distance, Spock could see bonfires in a few spots. The beach was still crowded with individuals. Spock just wanted to stay here, away from it all with his Jim.

“What?” Jim called back.

“We’re making s’mores! Come on!”

“Oh, I love those.” Jim looked down at Spock. “Do you like s’mores?”

“I do not what they are.”

“Graham crackers, burnt marshmallow, and chocolate.”

“I cannot have chocolate.”

“Then graham cracker and burnt marshmallow.”

“Marshmelon.”

“What?”

“Mother says they are called marshmelons.”

Jim smirked. “Oh, that’s adorable. Yes, Spock, yes. Marshmelons.”

“Does it have to be burnt?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Just the rules.” Jim stood up and held his hand out to Spock. Spock happily took it and let Jim pull him up.

“I will partake in a s’more with you.”

“Good.” Jim kissed his cheek and pulled him along back down the beach.

“Jim?”

“Mm?”

“Are you colorblind?”

Jim looked at him quizzically. “No. I’m just a bit farsighted. Why?”

“No reason.” Spock walked with Jim to where Uhura, the brunette, and a few others were camped around a fire.

“There you two are,” Nyota said, motioning for them to join them.

Jim sat with Spock and introduced him as his new boyfriend. Spock sat close, arm around Jim’s back.

Jim made him a s’more, the marshmelon only slightly burnt. Spock ate it while Jim ate one with chocolate. Spock kissed a smudge of chocolate away from the corner of Jim’s mouth. Jim turned into it and kissed him back.  

Soon, Spock knew Jim would go back to his residence with his roommate and leave Spock alone but only for a few hours. Spock would see him tomorrow and the next day, and all the days to come.

Notes:

Originally the idea for this was something silly involving Spock making a presentation on why he'd be a good boyfriend. I overheard a coworker mention that a boy did this to her daughter. They were at a party, spend much of the night making eyes at each other before he finally came over and showed her his phone with a PowerPoint on why'd he be a good boyfriend. I thought that was adorable and immediately thought of Spock and Jim.

Well, it evolved from something short and silly to this. The t'hy'la made me do it.
I hope you enjoyed it.

Also, again, I am still working hard on two multi-chaptered stories that hopefully will be posted soon.

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