-1Chapter Four

Clandestine Romance

"I'm intrigued, Spock." Chansi was saying.

She was practicing for an upcoming chess tournament and Spock found her to be a fearsome opponent. He won consistently, but sometimes she found creative ways to beat his logic, so far she had won three times (including when she distracted him through conversation). It was most astounding actually. A testament perhaps to human ingenuity.

"I do not understand why you are intrigued." He moved his King.

"Because you said it's irrelevant. That's the Vulcan equivalent of I don't want to talk about it."

Spock said nothing, though he knew from human interactions that she was mocking him. Chansi smiled slightly.

"So something happened between you two, then?"

"Dr. Chansi, what was your intent when you told me to ask Cadet 3rd Class Uhura to dinner?" Spock asked and stared at her with an analyzing flicker of his black eyes.

Chansi smiled, it was her moment to stay silent.

"Checkmate, Dr. Chansi." Spock said almost smugly.

"That was the quickest game I've ever played in my life. Now, please, indulge an old woman. What happened?"

"I…am assuming that you will not disclose this information and that this is not to affect our professional lives within the Academy and Starfleet?"

"Of course not! For godsake Spock! I'm just trying to get the juicy details, not have you ousted from the Academy!"

"What are…juicy details? Is this a meal? What does a meal of tasteful qualities have to do with-"

"Just continue."

Spock's eyebrow quirked.

"We went to an Andorian restaurant. I forgot the affect of Andorian liquor on humans and due to Cadet Uhura's size and weight she was drunk fairly quickly. Due to the possibility of seeming inappropriate if I were to leave her at sickbay, she coaxed me into taking her to my quarters."

"Oh wow. I thought you were going to tell me you guys shared an awkward dinner of restrained anger or something! This is like a soap opera. I hope you're not going to tell me you got her pregnant."

For a moment Dr. Chansi almost saw a visible reaction of surprise.

"No. We did not engage in sexual intercourse. She went to sleep on my couch and I meditated. I gave her tea and she persuaded me to go to brunch with her to make up for her drunken state. I am currently starting to think the situation began inappropriately and logically ended inappropriately. I am unsure if asking her to dinner could be misconstrued."

"Oh, Spock. Faculty and students have dinners and luncheons all the time. It's common. Captain Pike takes his students out regularly to celebrate the end of the year or the end of midterms. Professor Ivey takes her students out to dinner and coffee sometimes. It's expected that faculty and students will mingle appropriately outside of school. It fosters unity that will later be necessary if any of our cadets will be alongside their superiors on a starship."

"That is a logical psychological analysis. I am sorry, we shall continue this later. It is almost eleven and I have prior arrangements. I will see you again on Monday, Dr. Chansi."

"Good bye, Spock! Good luck you Vulcan stud you."

He blinked at her twice in response. She could see the question forming in his Vulcan eyes, but he chose to ignore her and left.

Dr. Chansi chuckled to herself.

Uhura decided to wear something other than her uniform.

For one the sweltering heat was not overcome by the usual cool breeze of the bay. No, heat upon rugged heat bore into her flesh and consequently made her sweat. Something she was not happy about doing so profusely in public if she wasn't exercising.

She was a simple woman, so she picked a white tight fitting tank and green shorts that stopped midway at her thighs. She pulled on sandals and grabbed a small bag with her credits and a PADD inside.

Gaila was staring at her curiously from across the room as she surveyed Uhura briefly surveyed herself in the mirror.

"Where are you going without a uniform?" The Orion asked in Orion.

"It's hot, and I'm hungry." Uhura replied in Common.

"Suuuure. Where exactly were you last night?"

"The library." Uhura said smoothly.

Spock might be capable of turning her into an awkward preteen but on a usual occasion she was entirely in control. That included lying cleverly without premeditation.

"Sure. So you don't mind me coming to get something to eat with you then?" Gaila asked smugly.

"Mind your own business!" Uhura spat before hurrying out the door.

"He better be a hot nerd! Because if he's going out with you he has to be a nerd." Gaila called out.

Spock was sure this was another illogical idea.

Since meeting Uhura his logic seemed to be failing him lately.

He watched her move across the street, recognizing her petite frame anywhere. He noticed she wasn't wearing a uniform and he couldn't help but allow his eyes to travel down her impeccable dark skin, down her long neck, slender arms and long legs. Everything about her was elegant, smooth and petite.

She grinned at him and waved as she crossed the street. Spock felt another irritating surge of desire course through him but he buried it with a mental Vulcan chant.

"Hello Uhura,"

"Nyota." She corrected politely.

"Nyota." Spock said slowly.

"Hello Spock. Shall we? After you!" She said grinning and opening the door.

"I thought in Terran culture it is customary for the male to-"

"In the old days perhaps. Currently I'm capable of holding my own doors. After you, Spock." She said grinning.

Spock entered still bewildered.

At least she was not yelling at him anymore.

"Eggs are a chicken's fried embryo." Spock said resolutely.

Uhura almost pouted at him as she dropped her fork of eggs.

"Spock, I know Vulcans are vegetarians but if you start spouting animal rights-"

"I am not. I was merely stating a fact. It is interesting to see what humans are willing to eat." With that he began to eat his hash brown, Uhura was sure he was practically smug.

"If you weren't Vulcan I'd assume you were trying to dissuade me from eating meat."

Uhura picked up her turkey sausage and began to chew on it with a raised brow.

"I am only interested in your health."

As Uhura picked up another she saw Spock's eyebrow raise.

"I wonder what part of the turkey that is?"

Uhura smirked and chuckled lightly. It was quite surprising how humorous Spock could be when he didn't try. Despite what she thought was going to happen she truly did enjoy his company outside of a professional and academic environment. Retrospectively they were reluctant colleagues at times, and though Uhura fostered a strange lust for him it was usually negated by her irritation. An irritation that was slowly segueing into comfortable humor.

"No! You can't just eat hash browns like that! You have to eat them with ketchup!" Uhura said motherly in a soft tone.

She handed him the ketchup resolutely. Spock stared at it and then her.

"I do not need condiments."

"Just try it. It will taste better."

Spock nodded and she poured some of the ketchup on half his hash browns. Spock stared at the mess and almost sighed. Reluctantly he began to eat the substance, chewing it analytically before continuing with an increase in interest.

"Fascinating." He stated simply.

Uhura laughed. She had a very pretty laugh, like a strong willed bell. It reminded Spock of her singing drunk yesterday.

"Uhura."

"Nyota."

"Nyota. I am wondering about your vocal ability. You have a fascinating singing voice. Do you engage in vocal training or professional singing?"

"I had singing lessons before the Academy. I wanted to be either an intergalactic pop star or opera singer. I sing for choir and other events sometimes now. Why do you ask?"

"I was curious. I remembered that you sang while you were inebriated yesterday."

"Did I? I don't even remember. Oh geez, Spock, I'm really sorry. Yesterday was a disaster."

"I am assuming you are using a hyperbole to exaggerate the propensity of the event. I assure you yesterday was not a disaster,"

"But it was. I cursed at you in several languages when I was sober and then got drunk, come on Spock! It was so bad."

Spock raised an eyebrow at her word choice but did not comment. Why did humans insist on using the word 'bad' in such a strange way?

"It has happened and is now irrelevant. What is this?"

"Syrup. You put it on your waffles. See?" She demonstrated and Spock watched studiously.

"Fascinating. And these cube shaped holes entrap the substance for added efficiency?"

Once again Uhura laughed.

They had departed perhaps two hours later.

Spock was intrigued. He had never spoken to a student or anyone for that matter on such inane topics that held no intent or academic merit. But he was easily capable of both irrelevant chatter and inquiry as well as comfortable silence with Uhura.

Something within him lingered on her as he entered his quarters. She had smelled like honey and roses. The booth had been small, sometimes her fingers accidentally grazed his and he felt heat build up under his hot skin. He was fascinated with her voice. It lulled him into a calm that meditation had never allowed. It was a calm of thickening emotion, of personal, joyful contentment.

Perhaps this was not logical.

He already knew he possessed an abnormal attraction to Cadet Uhura. Dr. Chansi had insinuated that he was engaging in courtship. At first his annoyance with her behavior had made courtship an improbability. But now that he was enjoying his time with her and engaging in such excursions his actions could be seen as gestures of human courtship. The best course of action was perhaps not to see Uhura any more unprofessionally to avoid any further complications.

His thoughts wandered to her lovely brown eyes and small smile.

No, he wished to continue his time with Uhura. It was pleasant, fulfilling, and if he did not engage in inappropriate behavior it would remain professional.

Spock assured himself that his involvement was purely platonic.

For once in his life he ignored logic.

Of course they met discreetly.

Though they had nothing to be ashamed of Spock was still weary of the possible perversion of their daily excursions. Uhura logically came to the same conclusion, but did not assume that Spock was trying to engage in courtship. Instead she assumed that she would be viewed as an infatuated student who immaturely tried to engage in human dating with a Vulcan professor.

Most people, she was sure, would be suspicious of her involvement in their relationship, not Spock's. Neither of them was aware of the other's personal feelings and assumed that the other viewed their relationship as a simple friendship.

They met regularly outside of the lab for tea and biscuits, usually in Spock's quarters since Gaila was nosy and had numerous male guests in her room. Uhura had introduced him to jam, Spock preferred honey. In the halls they passed each other with knowing looks and formal greetings. In the afternoons he taught her chess. She explained to him the rules of Poker and somehow he was able to win successively after his first game. Uhura stopped playing with him after that.

"It's based on probability and logical deduction. It is a very interesting game. Though your performance in the game is hindered by your obvious physical manifestations of your emotions." Spock explained to her arrogantly.

On Fridays she introduced him to Terran movies that played at an old antique movie theater. His favorite so far was Nosferatu, which made Uhura chuckle. On the weekends they rarely saw each other except for private sessions when Spock agreed to teach her Vulcan fighting styles and techniques. At times this physical interaction could be…distracting.

Spock was now aware that Nyota, as his mind seemed to constantly refer to her now, loved chocolate, preferred orchards, loved brunch and liked violent movies and old pop music. She was also interested in alien opera and instruments. She could play piano and had three years of ballet instruction before she gave up performing arts in favor of linguistics.

Uhura was now aware that Spock could play three instruments at an advanced level: the Vulcan harp and flute, and the human violin. He enjoyed Sherlock Holmes novels and disliked all dancing except the waltz, which she agreed to teach him if he taught her Vulcan fighting styles. He was very fond of his mother, whose picture was the only one that adorned his quarters.

He also looked very good in blue.

All of these details seemed to accumulate slowly and easily within their progressing friendship.

Something about their relationship, however, had become almost too familiar. They were both aware of it but not willing to openly speak of it. There was a certain whimsical comfort in this sheltered reality they possessed. Neither of them indulged in their attraction for the other, but it was truly enough just to be close or speak together, always fully aware of the burgeoning necessity for the other.

They were opposite halves finding a balance that was becomingly increasingly similar to a clandestine romance. Not that either would admit it. Though they both realized that their once solitary efficient routines had become flexible incorporations of their significant others. It was not logical or efficient but it seemed suddenly…necessary.

A/N: A short (for me anyway) summary of the developing nature between Spock and Uhura, it needs some editing but it's okay. Next up, one year later, several months before the "incident". I also want to note that this is rated M for sexual content to eventually occur. If this makes you uncomfortable then rest assured that I will make it known through author notes when I intent to write such content.