Story: Searching for Heaven
Author: MikoAkako
Beta: None
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Pairing/Character: Jim, Spock
Word count: 725
Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize.
Summary: l. Breaking the Rules. Spock was fully aware of each rule he was breaking by setting foot in the Lower City.

A/N: Halfway done!


Breaking the Rules

Spock was fully aware of each rule he was breaking by setting foot in the Lower City. As son of one of the members of the Vulcan High Council, he'd memorized each law and could recite them word-perfect on command, which meant he knew exactly what the punishment for mingling with the Humans.

The young Vulcan wore a light cloak pulled over his head to hide the markers of his species – black, cropped hair, pointed ears and straight, slanted eyebrows. He'd traded his traditional black outfit for something less ostentatious that he'd borrowed from one of his father's slaves.

"What the hell are you doing here?" He'd thought he was blending in well when he was suddenly confronted by a boy about his age with flashing blue eyes and blond hair. Spock could do nothing but stare. This Human could be his polar opposite, radiating light where Spock was dark.

"E…excuse me?" He winced, all too aware of his distinct Vulcan pronunciation.

"You shouldn't be here," The boy said, reaching out and grabbing Spock's hand. A thrill passed through the Vulcan at the physical contact and he was too shocked to recoil. "Come with me."

"Who are you?" It was a loaded question. What was this strange boy's name? How had he recognized Spock when hundreds had just walked past unaware? Where had he come from? Where were they going? And why did he get the distinct feeling that they'd met before?

The questions went unanswered as Spock was led by the hand through the crowded streets of the Lower City. Despite his superior memory, he quickly lost track of the twists and turns the younger boy so skillfully navigated. The Upper City was laid out carefully, each road in a perfectly straight line, kept up beautifully. The Vulcan's resided there, and had for the past two hundred years when they'd invaded after their land in the South had been destroyed. The Humans had put up a fight, but eventually been subdued and forced into service. The Lower City housed the Humans who served the Vulcan's and their families.

"Go back to your people," the boy said, coming to a stop at the smooth, black stone wall that separated the upper and lower cities. There was a small indent that the Human grabbed and pulled to reveal a door that wasn't on any map Spock had ever seen. "You choose a pretty stupid day to tour the slums." Spock recognized the word as slang for the Lower City. He'd heard several slaves use it before they realized he was in the room.

"Why is that?" Spock asked.

"Let's just say you're not the only one who's going to break the rules today," the boy said, releasing Spock's hand. The lack of physical contact was even more jarring, leaving the Vulcan momentarily disoriented. "In about an hour, you're going to want to make sure you're inside, okay?"

"Why are you doing this?" Spock still wasn't sure what the Human was alluding to, but he caught a tense undercurrent that was fascinating. And the way the boy kept glancing around, not on the Vulcan side of the wall but back towards the throng of humans, indicated he didn't want any of his own species to overhear him.

"I don't know," he admitted. "There's something…different…about you. Different from other…you know…Vulcans and Humans. Normally when one of you people want to look around the slums you get about a million guards and shove people out of the way. But you didn't. I don't think anyone else could recognize what you were. So just stay inside today, alright? And if you ever come back, go to the Enterprise, it's a bar right inside the slum, and ask for Jim."

"Jim," Spock repeated, trying to follow the Human's jumbled speech. "I'm Spock." He said belatedly.

"Yeah?" Jim's lips twisted in a wry smile. "Your names are kind of dumb, by the way. But Spock? Yeah, I can see that." He gave Spock a gentle shove towards the door and turned to leave. He didn't go far before he turned back around. "Don't tell anyone about this, yeah?" And before Spock could come up with a response, Jim had vanished into the crowd.