"But-"

"Spock! Remember your place." Sarek stood in front of his son, his face blank as unblemished paper, only his eyes revealing a tinge of annoyance. "You are not yet a man, even by this meagre planet's definitions. If you insist on visiting this lecture then you must be accompanied by two guards. The matter will not be discussed."

"Father, please listen," said Spock, calmly despite the flare of frustration that had burst within him, "I am merely requesting that I only take one guard so as not to draw as much attention to myself."

"Your safety is of vital importance to me Spock. I agreed to bring you to this planet because it was convenient and you were persistent in asking to come as well not because I thought that it was a good idea. Therefore we will handle this situation in a way that suits me as well as you."

"Yes Father." It was only logical to end the argument. Whether Sarek was correct or not was immaterial as he was clearly not changing his mind on the matter. Sarek marched to the door and left Spock's room without a word of goodbye, closing the door behind him. Spock sighed, and then pulled out his meditation mat. He needed to calm his emotions. Of late, they had been slightly erratic. But as Spock entered the trance, the errant feelings followed him. Spock smothered them quickly before focusing on a complex mathematical equation that had so far evaded an answer.

Approximately 10.4 minutes later, Spock felt the burning of emotions again. He mentally reached to squash them again, but not before a single thought drifted over his mind. Why not simply leave? It was an illogical deliberation and Spock pushed it from his mind. But it provoked a visual response, memories of the car journey there: the trees which Spock had never seen on Vulcan before, the strange curved architecture so much simpler than the buildings back on Vulcan and more than this, the habitants with their oddly rounded features and strange customs.

And of course, there was the main attraction of the city: Starfleet Academy. The imposing white building stuck out among the grey and brown building that surrounded it, resembling a cross between an ancient temple of worship and a school from the late twenty first century. Would it not make sense to simply visit the 'Fleet building to study the building and its residents before the lecture? It was mid-term break and the Academy was open to visitors for the majority of the day. Spock was intrigued and slightly putout that his escorts tomorrow would simply lead him to his lecture and then back to this apartment directly afterwards without the chance for any further exploration.

Spock began to muse on plans of escape. The embassy where he and his father were currently habiting was hardly a locked down facility and Sarek had asked for no extra security, assuming that his son would not betray him. Something about that thought ate at Spock. It was illogical; the obedience his father expected of him was completely natural of a single parent in an unknown environment and yet...

Spock couldn't help but conclude that his father's actions seemed more fuelled by an emotions rather than a logic. Despite his father's objections that Terrans were violent and stupid, Spock had witnessed no such behaviour. In fact he had not witnessed any Terran behaviour and if any of them did show any particularly aggressive intentions, studies had shown that even Spock at his young age would be able to overpower them.

Suddenly, the idea of leaving did not seem like such an illogical idea. His father would not be back for five hours, time which he had no doubt hope Spock would spend studying. Currently all Spock was wearing was his meditation robes but sets of Terran clothing had been left for him in the wardrobe, courtesy of the Embassy. Spock opened his eyes, breaking the trance and reached for the wardrobe. Within five minutes he was wearing a simple blue t-shirt with matching jeans and black shoes. There was baseball cap on top of the wardrobe that advertised the New York City Yankees, an Earth sports team although what sport Spock did not know. Spock pulled this down over his dark hair and tucked his pointed ears underneath; it wouldn't do to draw attention to himself. Slipping a few credits into his pockets, Spock was ready to leave.

Calmly, Spock walked towards his door but then stopped. The door was electronic; there would be a record of him having left. Spock looked at his window thoughtfully. Outside was a gleaming metal staircase, most likely a fire escape built in case all electronic precautions against fire hazards should the safety precautions malfunction. It might sound strange but Sarek had assured him that with Terran technology was famous for its tendency to fail at inopportune moments. After climbing down the fire escape, Spock walked from the embassy and down the path that he remembered travelling down the day before when he and his father had arrived. Spock half expected one of the guards to recognise him and detain him but they did not seem to notice him.

Starfleet Academy was something to behold even when it was just a brief glimpse through a tainted window. The building was a lot more impressive in full view. If Spock didn't know better he would swear that the building retained some intelligence and was staring down at him. Scattered around the campus were various races, most with parents. Few were wearing the standard red uniform and regulation black trousers signifying that they were students. Spock studied them all from underneath a large tree, hoping the shadow would provide some small cover.

Suddenly a tanned hand darted out and stole Spock's hat. Had Spock not been studying his surrounding he might have caught the hat before it was snatched away but he grasped for it 2.9 seconds too late. Wheeling around, Spock came face to face with a human boy, grinning and twirling his hat in one hand. The boy's blue eyes were lit up with dark mirth, his blonde hair like a rather ironic halo and he appeared to be well muscled for a Terran hence his surprising speed and agility that was exemplary for a Terran. By human standards Spock supposed he might be quite attractive. Spock made another grab for his hat but the boy darted away with that agility.

"Give me my hat back," Spock demanded, not bothering with traditional greetings. Already he felt a slight paranoia that somebody might spot and recognise him.

"Hmm," the boy said, pulling a face and tapping his chin with a finger. Spock realised he was being mocked. Silently he waited for the boy to continue. "Why should I?" asked the human.

"It would be polite."

"Ah but where is the fun in that?"

"Indeed," agreed Spock, sarcastically. "What would you want in exchange for it?"

The boy smiled. "Three questions."

Spock was surprised for a second. He had expected something worse. "Only three?"

"Only three. Wouldn't want to make you feel unwelcome now would I?" Spock imagined that this was the boys attempt at humour and focused on squashing any anger the boy might create. "Do we have a deal?"

"Yes," said Spock. The boy threw the hat back to Spock and Spock pulled it back down over the points of his ears. Then he turned and walked away. He heard the boy running up beside him.

"Hey, I thought Vulcans kept their word."

"We do."

"Then why won't you let me ask you three questions?"

"Can you not walk and ask at the same time? And by the way, this brings your total down to two questions."

The boy cursed. "I suppose that is what Vulcans would consider humour," he said bitterly.

"I suppose that is what humans would consider wit," retorted Spock without thinking. The boy gave him a surprised look, and then a warm smile, which was a lot less menacing than the impish smile he had given before.

"I like you," stated the boy, unexpectedly. "Fine, two questions left. Hmm...What's your name for a start?"

"My name is Spock," stated Spock simply, calmly climbing the white stone steps of the Academy. Hopefully he could abandon this pest and still see the Academy. He only had 4.45 hours left before his father returned.

"Hi Spock," greeted the boy unnecessarily. "My name is Jim."

"I do not remember asking."

"It seemed polite."

"I thought you were not concerned with politeness strategies."

"I changed my mind. Like I said, I like you Spock."

"I feel so gratified."

They reached the top of the steps and Spock turned around to face the boy again. The boy seemed unperturbed by Spock, which was odd as most people were intimidated by Vulcans even Spock who was at least vaguely human looking. "I don't suppose you would consider giving me another question."

"That was not part of the bargain," said Spock, noting half heartedly that it was only 4.4 hours before his father returned now.

"If I asked more questions, would you answer me anyway?" asked Jim. Spock shook his head.

"I do not feel I owe it to you. That was your final question," remarked Spock stonily, "It was interesting to meet you, Jim."

All Jim said as Spock left was "Well fuck me."

Jim did not bother Spock again until it was time for lunch. Spock had purchased a salad and orange juice (apparently there were no Vulcan dishes on the replicator due to the lack of actual Vulcans on the planet), then sat down at a secluded corner to contemplate the science equipment that he had seen on the tour, all of which was at least of the same quality of those located on Vulcan. He was enjoying the moments of peaceful thought, when Jim sat across from him on the table.

Spock was almost perturbed. He had picked this table as it had been small enough that he had hoped no one would bother to come over and bother him. Apparently it had not worked. Spock considered the possibility of moving but all the other smaller tables had been taken by students and the larger tables were filled with families.

But Jim surprised Spock by keeping completely quiet, munching on something that Spock knew the locals called a 'hot dog' although it did not bare any resemblance to an actual canine. That was until Spock had finished his salad and Jim, having long since devoured his 'hot dog', stopped slurping on whatever black liquid was in his cup and started to ask more questions.

"So why are you here?" Spock wondered whether he should just ignore him, but considering that Jim had at least been polite enough to wait for him to finish his lunch he might answer a few questions if only to observe a human up close that wasn't a holovid being shown in the Vulcan Science Academy.

"Here in reference this planet or the school?"

If Jim was surprised that Spock responded he didn't say anything. Spock found that to be a pleasant change, most humans wasted too much time speaking of the obvious when more interesting conversation was waiting. "Here as in the school," answered Jim.

How much could he tell this boy? Spock pressed his fingertips together under the table. Jim seemed nice but he could so easily tell others. "You must promise not to relay this information to any other party."

"Deal." Something in Jim's gaze reminded Spock of a Vulcans, and he hoped that he would handle his secret in the same way.

"My father is allowing me to come here tomorrow to listen to a lecture on transwarp theory."

"The one by Admiral Archer?"

"That is correct."

"I heard someone else might be taking over. Apparently some twat beamed the Admiral's prized beagle into space and no-ones seen it since."

"That is disappointing. But how are you prior to this information?"

"You need to know who to ask Spock, my friend. And you can relax, I won't spill your secret. I assume if you're dad is allowing you to come tomorrow then he was forbidding you to come today." Spock nodded. Jim's grin intensified. "And here I heard that all you Vulcans were spineless."

"I assure you Jim; all Vulcans are equipped with vertebrae along with a few extra."

"What? No, that was a figure of speech, Spock. What I meant was that it was brave of you to defy your father." It was only then that Spock noticed something.

"May I ask you something?"

"Quid pro quo?" said Jim, "Fair enough. Ask away."

"Where are your parents?"

Jim shrugged. "My dad's not around anymore. My mum sent me on my own, saying if she heard one bad word from Captain Pike and I could consider my ass booted back home." It sounded like an easy statement but Spock felt some darker emotions swirling around his fingertips, which were placed perhaps a little too close to Jim's knee.

A change of subject would be prudent. "Will you be at the lecture tomorrow?"

Jim shrugged. "Sounds a bit above my pay grade. That's a figure of speech Spock I'm not paid to be here," he added, "but I have to visit three lectures at least. I might come if only to tick one box off my required attendance."

Spock felt something akin to a smile, and it took his Vulcan reflexes and experience to stop it spreading onto his face. "That would be preferable." Then Spock remembered. "But I will have escorts." Jim looked confused. Spock flicked through his knowledge of Standard for a synonym. "Bodyguards, Jim."

"Oh," said Jim, nodding. "Doesn't sound as fun as my idea."

"I'm sure," remarked Spock, not wanting to know what Jim's 'idea' was.

"I thought Vulcans didn't know anything about humour?"

"We have an appreciation for humour."

"Isn't appreciation an emotion?"

"Whoever informed you that Vulcans do not have emotions was incorrect. Vulcans are capable of feeling emotions, we simply suppress them as all Vulcans are dedicated to the pursuit of scientific knowledge and it is more efficient to rely on logic than emotions in that field," replied Spock. Jim only chuckled.

"Okay, fine you win," Jim replied, "I have no answer to that."

"What is my prize?" Jim seemed to find this amusing, snorting into his drink. Spock mentally reconfigured the enquiry. "May I ask you another question?"

"Still not as fun as my ideas."

"I'm sure I don't want to know."

"So what's your question?"

"Where are you staying?"

Jim shrugged. "They open up the vacated student's rooms to whoever needs them. What about you?"

"I would prefer not to tell you."

"I am not a psycho stalker, Spock."

"I only have your word on that. You did in fact steal my hat and then sit next to me unannounced. Logically speaking you might yet prove to have a psychosis of some kind." Jim threw his hands up in mock defeat; his outright laughter attracting a few disapproving stares and amused smiles. Unfortunately the movement led to Spock glimpsing the chronometer on the wall. He had an hour before his father returned. He would need to return to the embassy if he was to get there and change before his father arrived.

How troublesome.

"I must go, Jim."

Jim was still chuckling when he said, "Sure, will I see you tomorrow?"

"Yes," said Spock quietly, "From behind two bodyguards."

The reminder of the next day sobered Jim surprisingly quickly. "I can think of a way of getting around them," he said after a moment.

Spock lifted an eyebrow, intrigued. "You can?"

Jim grinned. "Maybe. But that's the best way to keep you in suspense. And me too of course."

"I must go," said Spock, realising that all this chatter was simply whittling away more precious minutes, as much as he found he would have preferred to stay if only to see what Jim might say next. He stood up from the chair and Jim followed him. Both of them slid their trays into the washing rack and then left. Jim followed him to the outskirts of the grounds and then waved him goodbye without a word. But Spock did not a verbal goodbye for today; he had the promise of tomorrow to enjoy.

My apologies if Spock is OOC but he is difficult to write. No emotions in a romance fic is not a good combination but I'm doing my best to keep the emotions on the down low.

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