****
Spock made his way to the combat training center, soundlessly walking about the quiet and mostly empty corridors. Most officers were not up and about at this hour and Spock took in the pleasant silence of the walkways. Once inside the center he quickly changed in the locker rooms and sauntered to the simulation room. He chose a simulated weapon, a long Mythracian fighting stick, and then went inside.
He was surprised to see the scientist there, his sinewy body laced with sweat as he jumped, swayed and thrusted his weapon, a long Cardassian scythe, at his computer generated opponent, a towering, growling Klingon warrior. The scientist was garnering hits, swipes and injuring his foe with graceful cat-like attacks.
Spock watched for a moment as the scientist continued fluidly moving, his body easily twisting away from his opponent's heavy swings, parrying and deflecting his hits, before diving in and inflicting a crushing death blow.
The simulation ended and the scientist turned to see Spock watching.
"Commander," he told him, breathing heavily, "I did not know you had scheduled this time slot. I'm sorry if I am interrupting."
"Do not apologize," Spock replied, "I did not pre-schedule my time here. I incorrectly assumed that there would be no one present at this time."
"You are more than welcome to join me Commander," he offered, "There is nothing like fighting a real opponent."
Spock thought a moment then nodded feeling his heart rate elevate, "I concur, that would be a more—promising engagement."
"Computer," the scientist called out, "Cue program 3145-Alpha."
Suddenly the two were in an arena, a simulation of a Greek coliseum. Thousands of people shouted and rallied above them, their screams and curses pushing them to fight to the death. Spock felt his primal instincts begin to kick into high gear.
"Shall we begin Commander?," he asked, raising his weapon.
"We shall," he told him as he raised his stick.
*****
They clashed, with Dimitri pushing Spock off-balance. Spock twisted and tried to recover and come back with a hit to the back. Dimitri saw this and quickly dodged the blow and followed through with a slice to Spock's forearm. It was a small scratch, and green blood bubbled to the surface, though the scientist was concerned, he stopped when he saw the look of fierce anger on the Commander's face. Spock could feel his blood fever rising up, the whisper of Vulcan madness rousing his primal instincts and causing him to want to hurt.
Spock quickly launched a series of spinning attacks, the stick slicing the air in a deadly arc and Dimitri gracefully sidetracked, using Spock's energy to follow through on a low kick and the Vulcan stumbled and fell, his lip now bloodied.
Spock sucked on his lip, his heart racing, his head screaming and jumped into the air, twisting to the right and launching the sharp edge of the stick, catching Dimitri's unprotected side. Red blood fluttered to the surface of his skin and Dimitri hissed. He touched the scratch and looked hard into Spock's eyes.
They circled each other, their eyes cold, hard, glittering and calculating. They were no longer scientist and Starfleet officer. They were sworn enemies partaking in a fight as old as civilization itself. They clashed again, grunting hard as they pushed, jabbed, kicked and swiped at each other, each drawing blood before stopping again, trying to assess the other's weaknesses.
"You and Nyota seem to be very friendly," Spock spit out, his characteristic monotone now savage and dark.
Dimitri came in with a flying kick and swung his weapon overhead. Spock moved off the side, watching as part of his shirt was cut and a piece fluttered lightly to the ground.
"Jealous, friend?," Dimitri smiled humorlessly and Spock came forward in a jagged formation, hoping to catch Dimitri off guard, but he correctly assessed the position of Spock's weapon and parried successfully each time. Spock growled and pressed forward, the two weapons caught each other, the sound clapping like low level thunder in the enclosed space and each weapon was raised in a stalemate, each man's face close to the other as they strove for dominance over the other.
They pushed and came apart, eyes throwing off sparks of tension and deep-seated male rivalry.
"I have never heard a first officer refer to a captain by their first name," Dimitri observed.
Spock's mouth quirked up in a rare and smug display of cockiness. "She and I have been friends for quite some time doctor."
Dimitri didn't miss the intimation in his statement and chuckled as he rushed Spock with a diagonal kick and Spock dodged low and attempted to sweep Dimitri's legs from under him. Dimitri jumped, his legs spreading out in a perfect airborne split, and he tried to come down in an attack. Spock side stepped gracefully and Dimitri came down on empty space, tumbled and bounced quickly to his feet.
"Friends? Really? Why, she hardly talks to you Commander. I don't think you two have had more than one conversation the entire time I've been on board."
Spock hissed in anger and raised his weapon, throwing all his weight into his next attack. Dimitri's weapon shattered upon contact then disappeared as the simulation was thwarted.
Unfazed, Dimitri raised his arms and hands in defense. His body spread into a Talexian martial art offensive stance as he prepared to be attacked.
He didn't have to wait long, as Spock thrust his weapon forward. Dimitri bent backwards, the back of his head nearly touching the floor as Spock's weapon sliced the air above him. Quicker than Spock's eye could follow, Dimitri twisted to the side, using Spock's forward momentum as energy to carry through his blow.
Spock's stick shattered, disintegrated and disappeared.
They walked around each other, menacing like caged Terran tigers.
"I care very much for Nyota," Spock told him, his voice ragged and fierce, "As I am sure she cares for me. I would not want you to house hurt feelings if she felt the need to—suddenly discard your friendship."
"I hear your friendship with her was so strong she left the ship and never came back," Dimitri smiled coldly at Spock, "I doubt my friendship will cause her to react so."
Spock's face became even darker with anger, a green tinge building in his cheeks.
Spock then came at Dimitri with a roundhouse kick to the face, and Dimitri scaled low and backwards the whoosh of air could be heard as he dodged the attack.
"Impressive," Spock told him a slight hint of haughtiness in his tone, "I always presumed the fighting arts to be used to face an opponent or an attack and not avoid confrontation."
Dimitri smiled and delivered as series of quick and almost imperceptible blows, clipping Spock in the face, drawing blood and causing angry green bruises to appear upon his face and body.
The next round of punches, kicks and hitting bordered on the dangerous as Spock increased the force of his attacks and Dimitri responded in kind.
Spock attacked, his blood pumping loudly, his breathing harsh and heavy and his head filled with the haze of anger and the need to spill Dimitri's blood. Frustration gnawed at him as the scientist matched him blow for blow.
"Nyota," Spock breathed out, his anger mounting, "Would never want to sever our ties."
"Is that so?" Dimitri told him, "They seem very severed to me."
"If you care about her," Dimitri continued, "You would want to see her happy."
Spock charged, his emotions making him forceful.
"I care for her," Spock told him, "You cannot know much about her, as you have just recently met her."
"I know she is a wonderful woman. And I know she doesn't deserve to be hurt. Perhaps you should stay with your Kirk, Vulcan. He seems more your speed."
"How--," Spock inquired.
"Who can miss the looks he's been giving you about the ship? Passionate, lustful, saddened looks. It's not very hard to guess," Dimitri chuckled, "There's no accounting for taste."
Spock rushed forward, a look of utter and total brutality written across his face. Dimitri spun swiftly, and just in time, as Spock's fist came crashing into the wall beside him, splintering the tile.
Spock was breathing heavily, the fog in his head lifting and clearing. What was he doing? He could have fatally injured the scientist. Feelings of guilt and remorse washed through him. He had let his emotions dictate his actions. He had nearly seriously hurt someone.
"Computer," he rasped, "End program,"
A look of intense shame momentarily crossed his face before stony impassivity took its place. Spock turned and hurriedly left the simulation room.
********
A/N: This may be just a bit OOC for Spock, but he is experiencing a lot of emotions as well as the urge to fight for who he perceives to be his mate.