Broken Shackles 17

Spock was enjoying her new life as much as a half Vulcan could enjoy anything. She was looking forward to commencing her classes soon and stimulating her mind with new information from all around the galaxy. Pike had already suggested she'd likely graduate in three years because of her advanced studies on Vulcan.

The only problem with the bright future ahead of her was how to have Starfleet iand/i

Jim Kirk, or if it would even be possible. Jim was still very embittered towards it and she didn't know what could ever, if anything, change his mind. Spock found that Starfleet, though moving slowly, had been jolted into making radical changes that would make things much more difficult for slave traders.

Pike himself was working hard to get a stronger policing presence involved in Starfleet. Being a non-interfering, exploratory organization was all well and good, but this festering problem needed rooting out. Reading the appalling statistics and listening to Jim's graphic testimony had shown him just how many innocent beings had been failed by the apathy of Starfleet. He'd spoken to Spock many times of his deep guilt at what had happened to Jim and she continued to remind him that such self castigation was illogical, as no one knew the level of evil that Frank had been capable of.

Her PADD beeped as she was pondering these problems and she quickly pulled up the message.

Spock, I'm here, standing by the giant statue of the Founders, wearing my visitors badge. Meet me whenever you can?

Jim

In seconds she replied, pretending she wasn't excited about seeing him again.

Jim, I will join you in 3.28 minutes. I hope your travels were most efficient and pleasant. Spock

Sure enough, there he was, lounging carelessly against the statue, hair and beard wilder than ever, but blue eyes as clear and dazzling as she remembered them.

"Hey, Spock," he said upon seeing her. "You're super punctual, as usual. I'm impressed." His mouth curled up at the edges.

"Greetings, Jim. You appear to be traveling incognito again, judging by your unkempt appearance."

She couldn't resist teasing him a little as Jim was ridiculously proud of his long, flowing locks.

Jim full on grinned.

"I was going for the full on homeless look for my stay on earth. No one would ever expect straight-laced George Kirk's son to look like this."

"It appears you have succeeded then, as the cadets are giving you a wide berth."

"Yep," Jim confirmed, "I think a Caitian winked at me, though. Must have been the hair. I'm told they go for hairy humans."

Spock was partly amused, partly irritated. It was true, though. Caitians valued thick, substantial, "pelts" and Jim's would have certainly impressed the passerby.

"How're you liking it so far?" He asked her, squinting around at the various campus buildings surrounding them.

"I cannot give a proper evaluation until classes actually begin, but I am satisfied with my early encounters with my professors," Spock answered. "I was especially pleased to find Captain Pike will be teaching several classes in which I am enrolled."

"I thought you were in science track. Pike's more of the command type," Jim observed casually.

"He is, but I am required to learn basic tactics and hand to hand combat techniques if I wish to make first officer in the future. I will not use them unless necessary, but they are critical skills to have."

Jim nodded. "That makes sense. You'll be a great officer, Spock. I hope I didn't come across like a jerk the other day."

"No, you did not," she assured him. "You were surprised and needed time to process it. I did not help by failing to communicate my desire to join."

"What I really need to know, Spock, is if you still want to try this...relationship thing we have. I thought for a bit this was your way of hinting you didn't think we'd work out, after all."

Jim looked at a passing group of cadets as he admitted this, brushing his hair back nervously.

Spock hastened to correct this assumption.

"I assure you, Jim, I had no such intention. Quite the opposite, in fact. Our career choices will make it difficult, but not impossible. I have spent many hours pondering the problem and speaking with my mother and my affection for you is unchanged, Jim. It is up to you to either continue as we are, or return to our previous state as friends."

Jim turned toward her then, his face open and longing. "I want this, Spock, but I'm never going to be good enough for you. You're beautiful and brilliant and witty...I'm damaged."

"Jim," she said, steeping closer to him and lifting his chin to face her, "I do not see you as either of those things you claim. I do believe that that your time on Betazed has greatly helped you and will continue to do so. With the time we will spend apart, it will allow you to fully heal and become firmly convinced in your ability to receive love. I believe your counselor would be displeased to hear you refer to yourself as damaged."

Jim laughed sheepishly.

"Yeah, probably. I'm working on that. But I like the way you think. Instead of being a detriment, this long-distance dating might work out for the best. But I'll expect frequent video chats so I don't forget your gorgeous face."

Spock flushed faintly at the way he admired her, running one hand lightly down her neck and shoulder.

To keep herself from getting carried away, she asked if he'd seen Pike yet.

"No," Jim sighed. "I stopped by to see Bones for a bit. I'm not in the mood for another recruitment spiel."

"The Captain will not do that again, I promise you," Spock informed him. "He wants to become better acquainted with you as a person. I am not the only one who wants to see you succeed, Jim."

"I'll think about it, Spock," Jim promised. "But, how about we take this conversation somewhere I can get some food? Hey? I bet you know some great restaurants around here."

"If you don't mind vegetarian, then yes, I can help you find excellent cuisine options," Spock told him.

She knew Jim was not picky. He'd lived so long on barely one or two meals a day, he'd eat just about anything.

"No problem, Spock," he said with a smile. "Lets go. Later, maybe you can give me the grand tour?"

"I would be honored to, Jim." Spock smiled at him and began directing him toward her favorite eating place, thinking how pleasing it was to see him walking straight and confident, rather than hunched and uneasy. Yes, the university and the counseling were successful so far in Jim regaining his self-esteem.

Jim, meanwhile, was trying not to think of how stunning Spock looked in the cadet reds-and failing miserably.