Disclaimer: I don't own any Vulcans.

Tyback appears in "Descartes' Error" for the first time in Chapter 63 "Tyback". One of my most highly reviewed chapters. He is a very special Vulcan...and several people have prodded me to write more about him.

Firsts

It had been a really nice first date. Tyback had taken Ashanti to a Thai place far from campus. The decor had been authentic -- which had lent an air of romance. The food had been delicious...and Tyback had eaten nearly three times as much as her. This had been wonderful. At 1.83 meters tall and a tad over 72 kg and with two hours of swim practice every day she ate like a man. A very hungry man.

She'd gone on one date where she'd ordered a dessert, after appetizers and a full dinner, of course and her date asked increduously, "Are you going to eat all of that?" Then launched into a discussion on calories and fat and...ugh! Not all dates were that blunt...but they often stared.

Tyback just seemed thrilled to have someone who wanted to try everything on the menu as much as he did.

Between her interest in all things Vulcan, and Tyback's interest in all things Terran they'd had plenty to talk about. And it was kind of fun to slip in and out of Standard and Vulcan and see the confused looks on peoples faces around them.

But now the moment of truth was arriving. Tyback was walking her to her dorm room. This was...awkward.

She wasn't sure what to expect. Probably just a nod and a polite goodbye. He hadn't so much as accidentally brushed against her all evening. And of course his face was difficult to read. His expressions seemed limited to blinking -- surprise. And head tilting -- many meanings and dependent on context.

She was a little sad that there wouldn't be more, but it was a cross cultural exchange she was engaging in here and really she shouldn't push it. Vulcans were notoriously undemonstrative.

They reached her door. She opened it. Her roommate wasn't in.

She turned.

"Ashanti, in my research of human courtship customs it has came to my attention that a kiss might be expected after our first...date." Tyback said.

It sounded like he had prepared that line. More power to him.

"Well, it might be expected. But it isn't necessary. Especially if you feel uncomfortable."

Tyback looked down the hall. A few cadets walked past and eyed them curiously.

"It is not something I would consider appropriate in a public place... Although I understand that it is a human custom." He said in Vulcan, looking down at the floor.

It was the only time she had ever seen Tyback look vaguely uncomfortable. She parsed what he had said...Wait a second. He hadn't said no...

She swallowed and said in his own language. "Please, come in."

He tilted his head. "If it is not inappropriate."

She nodded and stepped inside. He followed a pace behind. The door whooshed behind them.

She turned around nervously saying, "You don't have to..."

And found him so close to her that she could literally feel the heat radiating off his body...which actually wasn't that close. Vaguely, she remembered Vulcans had a higher basal metabolic temperature.

For a moment they just stared at one another. Tyback's eyes were Vulcan, deeply black, hardly blinking. Where a humans eyes would have a slight pickish cast at the corners, his had a slight greenish cast. His skin was pale, he could almost pass for human from a distance if he covered his ears and slanting brows...but there were definite green undertones.

She wondered what she looked like to him, with her dark skin, and brown eyes. Was she exotic?

It seemed like the moment went on too long. She was about to step back when Tyback leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. For a brief moment they connected, his lips firm, dry, too warm -- and then he drew back.

It happened so quickly she had no time to react.

Tyback straightened himself. "This...is unsatisfactory."

Her heart sank. Then she was insulted. He'd barely given her a chance and...

Suddenly he put his left hand up so his palm faced her.

"Ashanti, with your permission I would like to..." he tilted his head, "establish an empathetic connection between us."

She wasn't sure what he meant, but it sounded interesting. "How do we do that?"

"Please put your hand against mine, put your fingertips to my fingertips."

Ashanti reached up tentatively and did as he asked. As she touched him she felt the warmth of his hand...and more. A flash of gentle current...then she wondered if she was doing this right, felt uncertainty and a feeling of incomprehension...

She felt something else too...something strange. She couldn't place it.

Tyback held up his other hand. She met it with her own. Now she felt more confident, and suddenly curiosity and affection filled her to brimming. And that other thing...what was that other thing? Desire? Lust? It was so alien...

"It's you!" she exclaimed! "I'm feeling your emotions!"

"Yes," Tyback said. His face still impassive but his hands were warm, dry and filled with that electricity.

He leaned towards her, and her pulse quickened. That other emotion seemed to grow. Was it desire? Lust? No it felt like something more than that...

"If I may?" He asked eyes half closed lips just a hands breadth from hers.

"Yes," she murmured.

He put his lips on hers. This time he let them linger. That strange emotion welled up like a tide in Ashanti. She wanted the kiss to deepen, wanted to get closer...

As if on cue Tyback leaned a little closer in and moved his lips just slightly as his body adjusted. She answered feeling herself warm. He mimicked.

The feeling spiked, and Ashanti felt warmth rush right to her center. Tyback pulled his lips away suddenly, but left his hands on hers. She took a deep breath.

That emotion was still there...but modulated now. She wished he'd kiss her again, she wanted more of whatever that feeling was. She swallowed.

Leaning his forehead against hers he said, "that was much more satisfactory."

"Yes, much," she agreed.

A/N:

I think our guy Tyback would move this fast. He's ummm...motivated. Which doesn't mean his feelings aren't real.