Author's Note: Rated T just in case. A little spirk idea I had that I thought I'd share with you, enjoy!
"You know this is a pattern, right?" Bones drawled. Jim turned to the doctor with a frown. "Spock rebuffs your attention, then you go out and get laid. Generally with a female."
"Always with a female," he corrected then cringed. "You're-"
"I am right," he interrupted. "But the question is, are you going to stick with the same pattern, or do something about it?"
"Bu-"
"No," he interrupted firmly with a glare.
"But-" The doctor held up a hand. "But Bones-"
"I don't want to hear any excuses."
"He's dating Uhura!" he declared in frustration.
"Indeed I am," Spock stated. Jim flinched, before turning to face his First Officer. "Unless of course you are speaking of someone else, in which case, is there something you wish to tell me?"
"No," Jim replied quickly, turning to give his Medical Officer a fierce look.
"You are not speaking of me, or you have nothing you wish to tell me?" The Vulcan persisted.
Jim made a sound of frustration, then turned to face the Vulcan with a smile, gesturing behind his back for Bones to stay quiet. "No, I have nothing I wish to tell you," he stated. "Bones and I were just having a discussion-"
"It sounded like an argument," the Vulcan interrupted.
"All right then, a heated discussion," he corrected. "Which is over," he said with an emphatic look at the CMO.
"We haven't finished our discussion," Bones corrected stubbornly.
"Then we can pick it up again later," he stated, just stopping himself from growling.
"Fine," his friend huffed. "I have work to do," he stated with a tight smile, and left Captain and First Officer alone.
"You needed me for something?" Jim asked easily.
ST09ST09ST09ST09ST09ST09ST09
"Jim-" Bones began as he entered the blonde's quarters.
"Don't start with me," the blonde ordered.
Bones snorted. "Trying to pull rank with me?" he retorted. "Never going to happen. Well, outside of emergencies."
"At least you listen to me then," he muttered. "I'm not in the mood," he stated, gesturing for the doctor to help himself to the bottle on the table.
"Don't mind if I do," he remarked, pouring himself a generous measure before taking a seat. "We still need to talk about it."
"No we don't," he replied stubbornly.
"And why do you think that?"
"One, because of my rank. Two, because of his rank-"
"Both of which cancel each other out if you do it right," the brunet interrupted.
"Three, and most important, he is in a relationship," he ground out.
"You don't need to fuck him," he said bluntly, causing Jim to choke on his drink. "Spending time with him will be enough, won't it?" Jim nodded grudgingly. "So if you talk to him, it might make him more mindful about not rejecting your invitations."
Jim groaned. "What if it makes things weird?"
"Nothing else has so far, why would this?"
"Fine," he sighed. "Now shoo, before I change my mind."
With only minimal protest, the brunet drained his drink and left. With another sigh, Jim drained his own drink before sending Spock a request for his presence. Thankfully, the Vulcan appeared before he could brood too much.
"Captain, you wished to see me?"
Jim nodded. "Take a seat please, Spock."
"There is something you wish to speak to me about," he murmured as he sat.
Jim sighed. "This is nothing to do with Uhura," he stated firmly. Spock arched an eyebrow. Jim blew out a breath. "I need to tell you something, and it'll be easier if you don't interrupt." The Vulcan inclined his head. "I have feelings for you," he spoke in a rush, averting his gaze. He spotted the brunet blink out of the corner of his eyes. "I'm aware that you're in a relationship, and that even if you weren't, you wouldn't return them," he spoke, licking his lips. "I'm just asking that you spend time with me," he spoke softly.
"May I speak Captain?"
"Of course Spock."
"Why was Dr McCoy determined that you share this with me?"
"He pointed out I was following a pattern of behaviour; you reject my attention, and I go out and find a female partner to drown my sorrows in. Alcohol is often involved," he admitted. "Which is fine, when we're on shore leave, but when we're not that leaves me only alcohol since I refuse to sleep with any of the crew."
"Why?" he asked softly.
"It's my job to take care of their wellbeing, not use them for my own," he answered strongly.
"Not protocol," the Vulcan remarked, lips curving upward.
"You know me better than that," he retorted with a grin. "Anyway, while we're on the ship, it would help me if you could spend time with me where you can. I'm not asking for touch," he stated firmly. "Just…" he trailed off.
"Captain?"
"Chess and conversation," he finished.
"Would that truly be enough for you?" the brunet asked softly.
"I'd sooner do innocent activities with you, than the most carnal without," he admitted.
Spock's lips curved upward. "Of course I will." Tension left Jim's frame. "How could you think I would reject your request?"
"Some people wouldn't be able to get past the idea of it," Jim spoke softly.
"Neither you nor I are most people," he stated. "Would you like to play?"
Jim smiled, keeping his amusement at the unintentional double entendre to himself, as he replied, "I would love to."
ST09ST09ST09ST09ST09ST09ST09
"What are your plans for shore leave, Captain?" Spock asked as he made a move.
"They're pretty fluid, depending on other's schedules," he replied, lifting a shoulder absently. He blinked and locked gazes with the Vulcan. "Don't feel you need to spend time with me Spock," he said firmly. "While I appreciate our chess matches, you shouldn't feel obligated-"
"I do not," he interrupted firmly. "I enjoy spending time with you, Jim," he stated, "and would like to do so off of the Enterprise."
Jim smiled. "In that case, let me know when and where."
ST09ST09ST09ST09ST09ST09ST09
Jim blinked awake, surprised to be doing so. "Don't be so melodramatic," Bones retorted as he scanned the blonde, "you were barely dead."
"How-"
"I synthesised Khan's blood," he stated. "Feeling psychotic, homicidal, any megalomaniac tendencies?"
"No more than normal," he replied with a tired smile.
"Stay where you are," he ordered. "And nothing strenuous. I'll be back." With that, he retreated.
Jim blinked, and realised that Spock was in the room too. "Hey," he breathed. Spock nodded. "You all right?" he asked in concern.
Spock's lips curved. "Only you would be so concerned for others in this state," he murmured and crossed the room to sit at Jim's bedside.
"What is it?" The Vulcan quirked an eyebrow. "Something is on your mind," he stated. "Share," he compelled. "It's not as if I've got anything else to do," he pointed out.
Spock's lips curved again. "I terminated my relationship with Nyota," he stated.
"How's she taking that?"
"Better than I expected," he answered honestly. "I believe she saw it coming."
"Huh," he breathed.
"What is it Jim?"
"That would explain the friction between you, especially if she knew it was coming, and was waiting for you to figure it out. Puts a whole new light on her actions; she wasn't trying to change you to suit her better, she was pointing out to you the ways in which you were incompatible."
"That was my analysis as well," the brunet stated.
Jim regarded him for a moment. "There's more, isn't there?"
"May I speak freely?"
"Of course Spock," he replied immediately.
He inclined his head. "You know that when you were dying, I was unable to prevent my emotions," he began, and Jim nodded. "I felt a rage toward Khan greater than I did toward Nero," he stated and the blonde startled. "Yes," he acknowledged. "So great was my rage, that when I caught up to Khan, I would have beaten him to death had Nyota not interceded." Jim's eyes widened. "It was only later, when I had the time to reflect, that I realised I had a greater emotional reaction in that moment, than I had when Nyota was being strangled by Klingons."
"Ah," Jim breathed.
"It would have been unfair to her to continue relations," he stated.
"Yeah," he agreed. Spock's eyebrow quirked. "What?"
"I expected a greater reaction from you."
"Humans have a phrase, 'assumptions make an ass out of you and me'," he remarked. Spock's eyebrow quirked once more. "Spell out 'assume'," he recommended and Spock inclined his head as he got it. "Just because your emotions caused you to end relations with Uhura, does not mean that you would want to begin a relationship with me."
"Then I shall be clear in my intentions, Jim," Spock stated. "I wish to instigate a relationship with you," he declared and laid his hand over the blonde's. "Which will include touch."
Jim shuddered. "Save that talk until I'm up to it please," he breathed.
"Apologies."
Jim grinned. "But thank you, for the clarification."
"You have an excellent mind, can decipher nuances as well as any Vulcan, however, in such situations, you prefer to be straight-forward." His lips quirked. "Although I admit my declaration to be somewhat selfish." Jim's eyebrows shot up. "You are a force to be reckoned with when you set your will to something, and I knew that if I made my intentions clear, you would channel that energy into being well, so that we could begin relations."
Jim's lips curved. "You know me so well," he spoke warmly lips curved in a bright smile. "This will have to do for now," her murmured and shifted so he could press his two forefingers against Spock's in a Vulcan kiss.
Spock shuddered. "I look forward to sharing human touch with you, t'hy'la."
"The feeling's mutual."