Snippets of Spirk
One – Armageddon
A/N: Set during and after 'A Taste of Armageddon'. 50% observation, 50% imagination. Reviews are always welcome... Enjoy!
"Why, Mr. Spock, you almost make me believe in miracles," smiled Kirk, the slightest trace of a chuckle in his tone. It had been intended as a joke to lighten the mood, but suddenly the atmosphere on the bridge seemed to freeze as he turned his patented Kirk smile up toward his first officer.
Spock appeared a little taken aback by the statement, considering for a moment with his head tilted to one side, as was his wont when confronted with an enigma. After a second of deliberation, he settled for raising both eyebrows in confusion. Sometimes, he thought he would never understand humans.
Later, when they met for their customary chess game in the captain's quarters, Spock arrived at a more satisfactory response. Raising his knight to the next level, he stated conversationally, "Sir, you are aware that the miraculous is defined as being inexplicable by normal scientific standards?" Kirk nodded, his vision blurring into soft focus as so often happened when his gaze settled upon Spock. "Assuming this to be correct, I must assert that you, also, are evidence that miracles can – and do – occur."
Kirk looked across at his half-Vulcan friend curiously, feeling his cheeks burn as a blush made its treacherous advance up from his neck to the top of his head. Spock had to be referring to his awkward statement made earlier in the day on the bridge, but what did he mean by bringing it up again now?
"The probability of your survival up to this present moment, taking account of every situation thus far in which your life has been endangered in just 13.7%," Spock informed him serenely. "Therefore, statistically speaking, you ought to have expired before this point in time, and your avoidance of the almost inevitable may be legitimately defined as miraculous." He surveyed Kirk warmly, or at least, warmly for a Vulcan. A soft glow illuminated his black eyes that sent shivers through his friend.
Kirk sighed. He felt disappointed, but what had he expected? He really needed to stop letting his heart take the wheel. "Thank you, Spock," he offered, the words sounding a little hollow even to his ears. Spock allowed himself a slight frown as he considered this response.
"Illogical. I was merely stating a fact. However, you appear to be labouring under the impression that survival is your only miraculous quality – a false impression, I assure you." With trepidation, Spock raised his eyes to meet Kirk's golden-browns before plunging ahead. "However, I consider it the most fortunate. Had you not survived-" Spock stuttered to a halt. He had intended to comment on the necessity of survival for his friend's other qualities to manifest themselves, but the thought that Kirk might not have made it through all of their escapades, though by no means new to him, pulled him up short.
"Jim," he whispered softly into the silence. "I cannot express the friendship that I feel for you in words. But... oh." He breathed a surprised sigh as the captain reached across the forgotten game of chess to touch his two fingers to Spock's.
"I know, Spock," he murmured gently, suddenly illuminating the room with a dazzling smile. "I love you, too."