Spock made his way long the corridor, his eyes staring blankly ahead and his expression utterly neutral. He did not stop to speak to any of the students he passed, hesitating only for a moment to glance through a window at the seminar going on beyond. Nyota was in front of a small group, perched on the edge of a table with her legs swinging back and forth as she gesticulated with her one hand, a PADD clasped in the other. Through the glass his sensitive ears could hear the muted sound of aspirated Vulcan consonants as she spoke. Her eyes flicked towards the door and her hands stilled for barely a moment as she met his gaze before she looked away and continued her lesson. Spock tucked his hands behind his back and meandered down the hall to wait by a tall window at the end, gazing out at the dreary sky of the early evening.
After a while the sound of voices sounded down the hall behind him and he turned to watch as the students filed out of Nyota's class. Through the hubbub of chatter his sensitive ears filtered out the sound of her voice as she spoke in low tones to one of her students. She glanced out of the corner of her eye to see him standing at the end of the hall and when her student bid her a polite farewell, he approached her cautiously.
"Alright?" she murmured, hovering in the doorway of the classroom.
"Perfectly," Spock replied. She swallowed and shifted the bundle in her arms.
"Glad to hear it," she said quietly, looking at the floor and starting down the hall.
"If I might have a moment of your time," Spock called, taking a few steps after her. Nyota hesitated and turned to meet his eyes.
"What can I do for you?" she asked, licking her lips and looking past him with an unfocussed gaze.
"If you please, we may speak in my office," Spock told her. Nyota straightened her spine and held the bundle of materials in her arms across her chest like a shield.
"I'm very busy this afternoon," she replied and Spock's eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
"Must I make it an order?" he asked with the slightest hint of irritation. Nyota's brows went up and her lips pouted a little.
"Very well," she muttered, starting down the corridor towards his office, her arm brushing his fleetingly as she passed.
He followed her into the office and hovered inside the door for a moment, reaching up to swipe his hand across the door panel. Nyota gave him a dark look through the corner of her eye as it slid shut behind him.
"I have reviewed the assessments from your Morphology seminar," he began, walking around the desk and plucking a PADD from the surface. Nyota turned and placed the contents of her arms on an empty chair as he handed it to her across the table.
"Oh," she said, taking it from him and flicking it on.
"There has been substantial improvement," he said with a nod of his head. Nyota pressed her lips together.
"Good," she answered, glancing down at the comments on the screen in her hand.
"You have just been with your intermediate Vulcan group, yes?" he continued, ambling towards the window to stand with his hands behind his back.
"Yes," Nyota told him, flicking off the PADD and sliding her bag around her shoulders.
"I trust you are satisfied with the progress of your students?" Nyota tucked the PADD into the bag and dropped her gaze to the pile of teaching materials on the chair beside her.
"Is my performance inadequate?" she queried despondently, reaching down and starting to slowly pack the various items into her bag.
"I have never doubted your competency in Vulcan," he told her, his eyes following the movements of her hands.
"Is that your way of saying I'm doing a good job?" she asked with mild irritation. Spock's expression darkened.
"I am satisfied with your work," he replied and she sighed.
"High praise indeed," she muttered, zipping her bag closed. Spock's nostrils flared.
"The recent improvement in your performance has not gone unnoticed," he stated. Nyota stared at the shelf behind his desk and nodded mutely. "I must wonder though, at what personal cost."
She turned her head to scowl at him. "What does that mean?" she demanded. Spock let his eyes flick up and down her body.
"I am concerned for your well being," he answered, clicking one of his knuckles behind his back. Nyota was unimpressed.
"I'm not sure that's any of your business," she replied neutrally, peering at him through slitted eyes.
"I disagree," Spock told her, stepping a little closer. "As your supervisor I have a pastoral responsibility to consider."
"Oh, of course," Nyota breathed, dropping her head back and staring at the ceiling. She gripped the strap of her bag for moral support as Spock stared intently at her profile.
"You have lost weight," he stated and she turned to glare at him.
"Comments about my personal appearance are unwelcome and inappropriate," she growled but Spock was unmoved.
"Need I remind you of the importance of proper nutrition?" he said with moderate condescension and she narrowed her eyes at him.
"Are you my doctor now?" she snapped and he quirked a lazy brow and turned back towards his desk.
"If you are experiencing issues with your health, a visit to your physician might be advisable," he quipped. Nyota shook her head.
"My health is just fine, thank you," she assured him icily. Spock met her eyes.
"Your attitude is counterproductive and illogical," he told her.
"Illogical? Excuse me?" Nyota huffed, dropping her hands to her sides and stepping towards the desk. Spock tilted his head to one side a little.
"I am aware that you must contend with a heavy workload and a busy schedule," he explained. "There are however more suitable methods for dealing with stress."
"Suitable methods?" Nyota scoffed.
"Self medication with alcohol and Orion spice is not one of them," he told her with a sigh of consternation.
"With all due respect, sir, but what I choose to do in my free time is none of your business," Nyota uttered severely, fixing him with a stern gaze.
"When it affects your ability to carry out your duties, it is very much my business," Spock countered and she let out a cynical huff of laughter.
"Just a minute ago you were telling me my performance was adequate and now apparently I can't carry out my duties! Make up your mind Spock!" His brow furrowed and he let out a loud of huff of breath through his nose, his nostrils flaring as his jaw clenched.
"Why must you persist with this provocative attitude?" he hissed, his eyes fierce. Nyota looked at the ceiling and shook her head.
"It's not my problem or my fault if you can't control your emotions," she uttered, adjusting her bag over her shoulder and turning towards the door. Spock darted around the desk and blocked her path. "Excuse me."
"Why must you be so intractable?" he demanded. "I wished merely to convey concern and you behave as if I insult you with the mere suggestion of it."
"My personal life is none of your business," Nyota retorted angrily.
"I disagree," he told her moving closer and Nyota took a step backwards as he came near.
"If you are under the impression that you somehow figure into my lifestyle choices, you're sadly mistaken," Nyota told him through gritted teeth.
"As are you, if you believe they have escaped my attention," he informed her darkly.
"I don't want your attention," Nyota replied acidly. Spock's nostrils flared and ran his gaze up and down her body for a minute.
"I had not considered until now quite how deceitful you really are," he observed moving to stand very close and peering down his nose at her.
"Get out of my way," she demanded, squaring her shoulders and meeting his eyes without flinching.
"And if I do not? Perhaps you will call security?" he mocked and her heart began to pump erratically in her chest at the look in his eyes.
"Spock," she uttered, her thighs bumping into the ledge behind her as he slowly backed her toward the window. "I think you need to a get a hold of yourself."
"Do not pretend you are not gratified by this," Spock drawled and her eyes went wide. She swallowed and took a deep breath before stepping forward to barge past him towards the door. Spock reached out his hand to clasp her bag where is hung across her back and she staggered. He spun her around to face him and enraged, Nyota brought her hand up and slapped her palm hard across his face. Spock gasped and his eyes went wide for a second before he pulled her close and kissed her.
Nyota squealed with indignation and squirmed in his tight embrace, lifting her heel and stamping hard on his foot. His grip slackened for just a second but it was enough and she skittered across the room towards the door. Slamming her hand on the panel she darted out into the corridor before it had even opened fully, her breath coming in short gasping pants as she marched down the empty hallway. She could hear Spock's footsteps on the floor behind her and she increased her pace.
Spock followed, catching up with her in a few long strides and clasping her arm.
"Get the hell away from me," she growled, spinning to face him.
"I apologize," he uttered breathlessly and when she tugged her hand out of his grip he did not try to stop her. "Nyota, please..."
"You can keep your apologies," she spat. "But I swear to god, you try anything like that again and I will report you, you bastard. Don't think that I won't!"
"Nyota," Spock uttered, his expression stricken. Her breath hitched and she bit her lip, taking a few unsteady steps backwards before turning on her heel and escaping down the hall.