Okay, slightly longer chapter :3 I decided to do a recap from Spock's point of view so everyone could know how he feels about this.
They reappeared on the surface of Uriel just at the base of the massive amounts of steps leading up to the council hall. Jim gaped a moment, feeling suddenly angry that she had worn heels, but sighed and began up them without any complaint, Spock one step behind her and the ensigns around them.
On one step midway through, Jim gasped when her heel suddenly tilted and she pitched backward. The idea of falling down all those steps, probably breaking her neck flashed through her mind and she shut her eyes for impact. Before she fell against the stone steps though, she felt an arm around her waist, another on her upper arm, lifting and righting her. Looking up she was somewhat surprised to see it was Spock. The other ensigns were tensed as if about to help, but her first officer's reflexes had allowed him to act first. When Jim could stand on her own his arm retreated and he stepped back. "Are you alright Captain?"
Jim was not blushing. She had not enjoyed the feel of that strong arm around her, supporting her, keeping her safe. Or the inhuman heat that had come through two layers of clothes to her skin and made her wonder what it must feel like with no barriers. Or the barest, tiniest hint of concern in those dark eyes that made her wonder if she was the only one that got that look. I'm not a goddamn school girl with a crush! Focus, Jim! "Um, yeah, fine. Just uh, not use to taking stairs in heels I guess."
Spock nodded. "It seems your earlier analysis of their usefulness in the field has merit. As some of the women of the crew have been making inquiries into being part of away teams more recently, I will look into requiring that they wear more sensible shoes."
"Yeah…pants too, would be good. Bit, uh…distracting to be worrying about flashing people."
"Flashing?"
Jim gave a wry grin. "I'll explain it to you later, Spock. Let's keep going."
Once at the top, she felt moderately exhausted and could tell she would have some blisters and other sores, but she straightened her back and smiled when Surrel walked out and smiled back.
"Captain Kirk, enterprise crew, Councilman Raganere is waiting in his chambers. Please follow me." They did so, Jim admiring the open and airy architecture. Much of the Urellian buildings seemed to be built of a white, smooth stone like marble, but without the natural veins and spots. The buildings outside the council hall were no different, or so it looked from the huge airy windows they passed. Natural temperate breezes wafted in through some of the windows that were open and Jim smiled since it felt rather nice. There were decorations of woven portraits on the walls, depicting both battles and scenes of beauty. Jim had to keep from pausing when they passed a picture of nude Urellian women dancing around a fire on the beach beneath the stars. My kind of party…
They came to one door made of a dark red wood and Surrel pushed it open. Inside was a large room that held a desk at one end, with many personal effects and accomplishments around it, and conferencing table with chairs around it. At one of the chairs was what must be Councilman Rangere, and Jim gulped a little. While the female Urellians were catlike in their faces and grace, males were more like lions. Rangere stood and turned to face them, a good seven feet tall with dark lavender skin and a muzzle reminiscent of a lion. His large ears were somewhat hidden under a mess of black hair that Jim couldn't resist to call a mane. And he was broad and muscular, looking more like a warrior than a councilor, though his longer robes of black and silver weren't fit for battle. Rangere's yellowish green eyes widened when he saw Jim, taking in his current curvier form, and a small smile came to his face.
"Captain Kirk, I may presume," he said in a deep voice that Jim had to admit was sexy.
Jim nodded with a smile. "I'm Captain James T. Kirk, yes. It's a pleasure to meet you, Councilman Rangere."
Rangere offered his large hand and Jim took it, noticing that with his smaller stature nearly his entire hand fit in his larger one. Kind of hot… They shook hands and sat down at the table, Spock next to Jim and the ensigns were relieved to go on a tour with Surrel that they might better understand the culture of Uriel for Starfleet and the Enterprise's future use. "I'm sorry that for you to have been called here so abruptly," Rangere said. "I realize you must be busy, being a the captain of a ship. However, Admiral Archer and I…differed enough on one subject that we ended up in a heated argument, and I have trouble taking to him at all now."
"That's understandable. I'm sure he meant no disrespect, but you have to understand many of us who join Starfleet are…well, stubborn and difficult, to say the least. It's practically a job requirement."
Spock's eyebrow twitched at her but he kept his mouth shut.
Rangere laughed. "Truly? And here I thought you would defend him more nicely."
"I've never met the admiral personally, so I can't really defend him."
"And what of you? Are you stubborn and difficult?"
"Oh, horribly so. I make life a nightmare for my crew quite often, though I do try and make it up to them by being the fun captain. Ask him," she pointed at Spock. "About being stubborn that is, he's not much for the fun part."
Spock's face remained impassive but he nodded. "Captain Kirk is renowned for his obstinance, even within Starfleet."
If Rangere heard the "his" he didn't acknowledge it. "I see. Shall I worry about disagreeing with you as well?"
Jim smiled, shifting in the chair subtly to cross her legs, not missing the quick glance Rangere gave to them. "Perhaps, though we'll have to see if we disagree on anything first."
Rangere smiled, then his eyes strayed across her body again and Jim felt a slight shiver. Huh…is that how I look when I look at a girl?
"I suppose we should focus on reestablishing our good ties then…perhaps afterwards you will allow me to show you around?"
Jim smiled. "I think I'd enjoy that."
Truthfully, Spock was disgusted with his behavior of late. In fact, his behavior since the Narada incident and the destruction of Vulcan was dismaying. Part of the reason he had agreed with Nyota to break up was ironically that they didn't feel the same way about each other as before, and that actually disappointed him deep down in that human part of him he had once tried to ignore. But since he had lost so much, he decided not to force it away entirely. Mostly because in part of him he thought it was the only connection to his mother he had left.
Lately however it was making itself known in worse ways.
Ways usually involving his captain.
And no amount of meditation seemed to help.
In the months they had worked together since the Narada incident they had become more docile in each others presence. They didn't attempt to kill each other anymore at least, especially after several incidents when they had to work together much like before and…other incidents that Spock was remiss to relive though they weren't unpleasant. He sometimes found himself sharing humor with the man-and the woman-but Spock was rather intrigued to find the captain had learned to recognized his brand of humor that most found too dry to understand.
He had not been…overly concerned when after arriving to find he was now a female the captain had suddenly lost consciousness when he realized it himself.
The idea of others trying to take advantage of his captain as he was now a she in a sexual manner had not created an emotion that tentatively tapped at the one he remembered strongly when he was younger and someone made a comment on his mother. It had prompted, while not a violent reaction, one he was still not entirely sure he took as far as he did…
He found himself watching over his captain when possible, to ensure that the change did not interfere with his duties he assured himself. And to ensure that the captain did not, as the Dr. McCoy put it, "get himself knocked up" when he began flirt with many of the crew. Luckily the crew remembered his warning quite well of what would happen if they did.
He did not feel the tiniest bit of annoyance that the captain did not ask him at all. That would be illogical as he didn't wish to be solicited for such things.
And when one of his science officers said he had seen the captain running through the halls to sickbay with his standard issue blanket around him like some sort of pariah he had to squash down the slight bubble of worry that rose up. Yet he still found himself seeking out McCoy when he was reported by the gossip to have left the sickbay with the captain still inside to get nourishment in the mess. And when McCoy had refused to tell him, he did not feel like threatening the man for news that the Captain was alright. If something was wrong, McCoy could at least be trusted to tell him so as the second in command. Yet again he found himself traversing the halls to wait outside the captain's quarters for her return.
He did not feel embarrassed when she revealed she was menstruating and he had not realized it sooner. Nor a little chastised when she had snapped at him, nor relieved when she had apologized and said he was not to blame.
He did not feel worried when she would double over every now and then on the bridge the next day in pain. Nor a darker feeling when he'd walked in to deliver the inventory orders to Dr. McCoy to see the captain holding on to the disgruntled doctor with her body pressed close to him. And when a sudden light feeling came into his chest when he realized his captain's intent at trying to steal some of his body heat for relief, he had not panicked in both denial of that feeling and denial of all feelings that were unVulcan and, as humans would say, "shot her down cold." Nor did he feel regret that she looked hurt and disappointed at his rejection of contact.
He…was not sure what possessed him to look up more natural remedies to help his captain's cramping. It was logical, he told himself, to wish to ensure his captain could effectively do his, or rather her, job without the distraction of pain. He would admit to feeling a sense of longing when he read about raspberry leaf tea and remembered his mother would drink it on occasion, wondering if she ever felt the same pain his captain did. But he had managed to find some raspberry plants in the biosphere and dry them artificially enough to make the tea, telling himself he was doing this for his duty to his captain and not any sort of familiarity they now shared after a year of working together.
He would not admit to feeling chagrin when a towel was thrown in his face. Nor amusement when the captain looked up at him (being even shorter now…he would not admit that was endearing) with such a clear look of apology.
And he was not "happy" when she sipped the tea and said it was good. Nor pleased when she continued to replicate the tea (which he had had Scotty program in after it seemed to help) and it worked.
He didn't admire his captain when she stood up to Pike on the value of women in Starfleet, though he will admit surprise that his captain would abdicate so strongly.
He was not worried when his captain's voice was heard screaming when one ensign had sought to get his signature on something later that day, the sound having echoed down the hallway and gotten everyone's attention when the comm button was pressed. He was not annoyed when Uhura would tell him nothing despite hearing his captains complains and laments in the background.
And he was not, nor will he ever be, pleasantly shocked and awed when the next day when he walked in from the bridge to see his captain dressed so…he was not pleasantly anything.
He was not annoyed when the captain and ensign Mercado shared a moment of emotional connection and the captain had smiled as if charmed. He was not secretly plotting that Mercado would in the future would be placed on consecutive night and morning shifts.
He had not been pleased when the Captain had smiled, once again understood his dry sense of humor and laughed.
He had not felt alarm when he saw his captain pivot on those odd, illogical shoes and start to tip back. He had acted before he thought really, grabbing hold of her around her waist. She felt like nothing at all in his arms, just a warm, soft slight wait. He had not felt a strange fluttering in his chest when she looked up at him in grateful surprise.
That would be highly illogical.
It was most vexing when, though not denying his human traits now, he didn't want to broadcast them to the world either. But it was hard to deny, something about the Captain in either of his forms, even before his sudden transformation to a female, brought out the most…human feelings in him. Ranging from anger to concern to a strange amiability he continued to skirt around and not examine too closely.
As the captain and Councilman Rangere spoke to each other, it was hard to miss the looks the Councilman was giving her. More specifically her breasts, legs and, oddly, neck. He also looked at her mouth almost 49% of the time during negotiations. Spock wondered if this was Urellian custom even though most species preferred to look in a person's eyes as they spoke. Yet the look in the man's own eyes as he continued roaming Jim-the captain's form was somewhat concerning.
Not that Spock was concerned.
Or annoyed.
Or any such emotion.
And he certainly did not feel anything that made his abdomen tighten uncomfortably when the captain would smile back.
He was annoyed however when Rangere would often try to steer the conversation away from negotiations and back to his captain in some way. Captain Kirk would indulge him a moment and then, to his credit, attempt to get back to business. And if that failed, Spock would do it and not care in the slightest when Rangere gave him a look of obvious annoyance.
Finally a break was called and Rangere smiled. "Would you care to join me for lunch, Captain Kirk? Urellian food is digestable for humans, and even so we have some things brought in for visitors."
Jim smiled and nodded while standing, using the chair to keep herself from tipping over in the heels. "Thank you, councilman, that would be nice." Rangere smiled, raking his eyes over her with an obvious grin of fantasizing. Jim's smile became a little more terse. Is that how I smile at girls? It's kind of creepy…then again, the councilman doesn't have my good looks to help. "However, Spock is a vegetarian, so no meat for him please."
Rangere frowned, obviously not having intended to invite the Vulcan along, and Spock's lips twitched just barely. And then they twitched down just barely, trying to suppress the twitches.
