A/N: Just to be clear, this is not a story. It is a collection of drabbles or one-shots about Uhura's musings regarding Kirk. I actually wrote this as one long one-shot, but decided to break it up into ten parts as they weren't cohesive.

On another note, my Uhura is nice in keeping with canon, compared to most portrayals of her in fanon. See the movies again if you want, but Uhura is utterly respecting of Kirk since he became Captain. Also, just because a woman is strong, doesn't mean she needs to be a bitch.

oOo

Her second year at the Academy had been eventful. She was stimulated by her studies and Uhura was a very intellectual person. She loved Starfleet and what it had to offer but her parents had not been so thrilled when she had made her intentions clear.

Being their youngest daughter out of two, she was a bit spoiled. Her older sister had pursued a Doctorate in Chemistry and was working in a private firm in her native. Their parents had approved as she was living in a place twenty minutes away from home.

But Nyota had been different, she always had been. She had first pursued a degree in Computer Science and then proceeded to get a degree in Linguistics. She was 25-years when she said to her parents that she was going to join Starfleet and become a Communications Officer aboard a starship. They had at first been reluctant and wished for her to settle down. But Nyota was adamant. She did not think settling down with a nine-to-five job, staying at home and waiting on a husband(!) was for her. Not that she ever planned to get married soon. She had had about five casual relationships during her school and college days. But she had gotten bored of them and what they had to offer her.

Seeing her determination, her parents had finally accepted. Nyota had planned to go, whether they accepted or not, but having them support her was a boost of confidence. And so she had happily moved out of Africa and stepped into the bustling city of San Francisco, the most species diverse city on Earth. She was thrilled to meet so many different species of aliens. Growing up in Africa had not introduced her to many aliens.

She had gotten herself many friends and acquaintances; she was the most socially-active person in her family after all. She had taken some time to adjust to the rules and discipline every cadet was expected to follow, but later, it was all part of her day-to-day life.

oOo

Uhura was surprised to find Jim Kirk in some of her classes on her fourth semester. He had joined only that year, so how he was taking second-year classes was beyond her. They didn't get much opportunity to talk one-on-one however. But she did see him around the Academy and in various social settings where he mostly talked, or rather, pestered her to give him her first name. Most of her friends knew the game they played and refused to reveal it to him, even though he didn't ask them.

She heard all about how he had cleared his first year exams in his first semester and was now promoted to second year from her friends. She was quite stunned by the revelation. She hadn't thought of him to be that much of a genius. But, Uhura was never much good on first opinions so she had learned to change her judgments, Commander Spock, being one of them. Her first impression of him had been quite nasty. She had never met Vulcans before and was quite irritated by the huge snob that was Commander Spock. But, as time progressed she learned to appreciate his intellect and his talent at wry humor. She started seeking him out for opinions on her assignments and projects and the continued one-on-one meetings loosened him up enough for Nyota to see the smart and caring individual that was Commander Spock.

Coming back to Kirk, she had met him face-to-face sometime during the first week of third year. By then, his reputation preceded him. She had heard even from her friend circles about Kirk and his way with women. Uhura wasn't going to comment. What he did in his spare time was his own business.

Still, it was a bit awkward at first, when they met in a bar again.

Uhura was sipping a beer sitting by herself on the counter. She was dressed in a white T-shirt and skinny jeans and her hair let loose but pinned back neatly. She had been in the bar a little over an hour and already had turned down four men clearly interested in her. So it was almost with plain irritation that she said "I'm not interested' without looking up from her PADD, to the fifth guy to sit next to her. A chuckle from a distantly familiar voice caused her to look up.

"Well, don't I know that!"

Kirk was dressed almost the same as he had been when she first met him, the only thing different was that his cocky attitude had been replaced with a warm smile.

She replied in a tone, not quite hostile, but not very friendly either "Then what do you want?"

Kirk turned to order a drink, and Uhura took that time to notice how tired he looked. Kirk caught her staring and looked back quizzically. She frowned, "How did you get by your first year so fast?"

He smirked, "Not because of sleeping around, believe me."

Uhura chuckled, "No, of course not. But you had to be some sort of genius to finish two years' worth of classes in one. And Command track is not very forgiving from what I've heard."

Kirk shrugged nonchalantly, "I don't know if I'm a genius, but I'm no fool either."

Uhura sipped her beer, "I surmised as much," and mentally sniggered. She was speaking like Commander Spock.

Kirk laughed and took the proffered glass from the bartender and took a long draught. Clearly, he must be more exhausted than he looked.

He plunked the beer glass on the counter and let loose a hearty sigh. Uhura looked at him, "Long day?"

Kirk shook his head staring into his half-empty glass "You don't know the half of it."

Uhura remained quiet. She didn't know what to say which was a first for her, being the social butterfly that she was.

She was curious and wanted to inquire further, to know what had led to his exhaustion. But she didn't want to sound too earnest lest he took it as some sign of her being interested in him. Which she was not.

She didn't have to worry. Kirk emptied his beer and asked for another one and started talking.

"It's really not as easy as it looks."

Uhura frowned in confusion "What is?"

"Joining Starfleet. I was really cocky when I accepted the challenge, but now I'm not so sure."

Uhura was left in silence as she pondered what he said. She had heard of many students in her year, speaking ill of Kirk because he had gotten such high scores, that he had ruined the curve for all of them. She had thought Kirk being the genius that everyone said he was, he might have enjoyed doing so and must have simply breezed through with little to no effort. The fact that he slept around with so many hot girls while simultaneously surpassing all of the scores in the Command track only served to anger his peers.

Uhura could sympathize with them. She was a hard-worker and she felt she had earned every single grade because of it. If there had been a student in her Communications track who was breezing ahead without seemingly doing anything, she must have become envious at the least and spiteful at the worst. But seeing him now, she felt sorry for him. It wasn't his fault that he was just that good.

"Is this the same guy that was cocky enough to ask for more guys during the fight that night?" she said with a drawl.

Kirk's eyes lighted with recognition, but he frowned. Uhura watched as his expression started to close off and hastened to explain herself. She had sounded condescending, just like how the others must speak of him.

"I get that you worked your ass off to get where you are." And she did. She, or anyone else for that matter, hadn't seen Jim's struggle to reach his place. All they had seen was a cocky bastard, upend the entire grading system while screwing around and a smirk on his lips.

"And you hide it well, what with all the assholery you get up to," she said with a roll of her eyes.

A smile pulled on his lips as he watched her. Uhura turned to look seriously at him, "But you are allowed a moment of weakness every now and again. You don't have to prove anybody anything."

Kirk turned away as she spoke and she waited for him to respond. She would never know what he wanted to say though, cause they were interrupted by a tall, leggy woman who had come up to them and caressed Kirk's shoulders. Uhura watched as his shoulders tightened from the attention.

"Hey, handsome. You're not spending your night with this woman are you?" she said with a distasteful (or jealous?) look towards Uhura.

Uhura turned away from the situation before her. She did not want to watch what they were going to get up to and prepared to leave when she was surprised to hear Kirk's strong voice defend her.

"Watch what you say about my sister, lady."

The woman looked up at Uhura and positively tensed. Uhura was warmed by Kirk's choice of words and played along. She glared daggers at the woman as she put her hand around Jim's bicep and pulled him "Come on Jim, let's go home."

Kirk stood up and followed Uhura out of the bar. Kirk had a wide smile playing on his face. Uhura looked up at him and asked gruffly, "What?"

He beamed, "You called me Jim, which is so not fair if I don't return you the favor of calling you by your first name, Miss - ?"

She smirked as she refused to give in "Uhura."

He (there was no other word) whined "Come on!"

"Good night, Kirk!" she said cheerfully as she walked away and left Jim who was still grumbling.