When it came to paying the bill, Nyota felt torn between wanting to make him pay for acting like a jerk to her in the lab earlier and avoiding another awkward conversation with Spock on the symbolism of letting him pick up the tab.
"It is perfectly logical that I should pay half," she told him, proffering her thumb.
"Dining in this establishment was my suggestion," Spock said, holding his own thumb in a similar manner
"Spock I would prefer to pay for my own meal," she said with a sigh but he pressed his thumb against the scanner anyway.
"Arguing at this point would be illogical."
It had stopped raining and so it seemed logical for them to leave. Spock escorted her to the transit station. Standing together on the main concourse he turned to her abruptly.
"You seem displeased that I did not allow you to pay for your meal."
Nyota shifted from one foot to the other and exhaled a breath through her nose. "Spock I know these things are difficult for you to understand but women don't like to feel obligated," she told him without looking at him. Spock licked his lips and nodded.
"And my paying might cause me to believe you have an obligation to me?" Nyota swung her arms back and forth in the chilly evening air.
"It might," she coughed, still not looking at him. Spock was very confused.
"Nyota I have observed your conflicting emotional states recently," he said. Nyota's head snapped around suddenly. Now he had her attention. "I hypothesize that my presence is not always agreeable to you." Nyota felt...she wasn't quite sure.
"It...You..." she stammered, flushing with embarrassment. Spock seemed equally uncomfortable.
"I am unaccustomed to Human emotions. If my behaviour is...not correct, I apologize. I do not think I am able to interact with you in the manner which you require." Nyota's heart sank. He seemed...saddened.
"Spock," she breathed. "I'm sorry." He was staring at her shoes. "I was just...you were very cold today and...I guess it hurt my feelings," Nyota confessed. She glanced up to see a passer-by watching them and realized the absurdity of the situation, of standing in the middle of a busy concourse talking to a Vulcan about her feelings.
"I do not understand how my body temperature affects your emotional state," Spock said, his brow furrowed. Nyota smiled.
"It's an expression," she explained gently. "Meaning emotionally distant." He nodded.
"My behaviour this afternoon was...irrational," he said. "I have recently been...distracted. Clearly it is affecting my judgement." Nyota took a moment to process.
"Why wuh...would you be distracted, Spock?" she asked very quietly. Spock looked her right in the eye and opened his mouth to speak but he could not seem to get the words out. They stood in silence for a minute. The sound of the shuttle arriving at the platform sounded up from the below.
"That's my shuttle," Nyota said, blinking and after a moment's hesitation, she turned away from him towards the stairs.
"Nyota," Spock said, stepping after her and catching hold of her hand. She gasped in surprise and turned to stare at where his fingers gently circled her wrist.
"I...I thought Vulcans didn't like to be touched," she breathed.
"I am half Human," he reminded her gently and when she lifted her chin, her breath hitched at the intensity of his stare.