Strictly Regulation 4
Clarification
Now he was apprehensive. "Nyota, are you well? While I do appreciate the uniqueness of this conversation, I am nevertheless becoming convinced that you have something specific in mind - concerning me - about which I have not yet been made aware."
She twined her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest again. "I am planning on making a killing." He tensed and she sat up, laughing out loud. "No, Spock, no! It's an old expression. It means 'making a lot of money.'"
He averted his face. It did not please him when she mocked him.
She pulled away a little and, placing one palm alongside his jaw, turned so he could read her countenance. "Look," she said, seriously, "I don't mean to tease you."
She gazed directly into his eyes. "I can't possibly explain why the whole Rule thing is so funny. I just can't. It's a laugh-at-the-stuff-that-terrifies-us type of thing: Completely illogical and foolish, but it makes us all feel better. You are going to have to trust me when I say that, to the rest of us, it's hilarious; and just go with it, okay?"
He nodded once.
She scooted toward him and wrapped her arms around his torso. She pressed herself against his chest.
"Good. You know I got upset with Jim on the Bridge?"
Yes, he knew. He had heard her exhalations. He nodded.
"I thought he was trying to make you look foolish and take advantage of you - Not because he's mean, but because at the time he thought it would be funny."
Spock thought about that. He had no reply.
"I knew that, to you, it was like an attack: He was invading your privacy and insulting your sense of justice. Thing is, he wasn't going to see it from your point of view - simply because he didn't want to."
It was not a question. Spock was not required to speak.
"I love Jim, but we both know that that man doesn't want to do anything that isn't fun."
This was a just assessment. Fortunately, the Captain was, on occasion, able to temporarily overcome this natural predilection in order to accomplish necessary but unpleasant duties in a satisfactory manner.
He nodded.
Whilst he was contemplating, she had tightened her arms around him. He returned the gesture gently, and lowered his cheek once more to rest on her head.
"So, when you left, I was angry. I wanted to make him pay in a way that would make him feel foolish - but still be funny."
He waited.
She sighed softly. "That 'even for you' was masterful," She breathed, her quiet voice holding a hint of wonder.
He did not choose to tell her that he had considered omitting those words from his peroration, but had decided, instead, to indulge himself.
"So I got to thinking…"
Again, he waited.
"Do you want to know what I came up with?"
Upon short reflection, he nodded. He could feel her hair, smooth against his skin.
Now the smile was plainly evident in her voice. "The best payback would have to take advantage of the differences in your personalities. Really, of your own, most excellent, qualities…"
"Nyota, - " She moved her head a little so that her hair caressed him. He fell silent.
