Jim had been so excited about the game that he would've skipped dinner if Bones hadn't forced him and, of course, sitting next to the object of his excitement hadn't helped. During the meal, Jim was so focused on containing himself that he almost didn't notice that Spock was getting as close to shoveling his food down as a Vulcan can. Which was simply larger spoonfuls than normal and his wrist gained a speed 0.05x faster than normal. Not that Spock would comment if asked. After he had finished, he looked at Jim for the first time since the meal started, "At what time should I be in your quarters, Cap-"

"It's Jim."

Spock did an almost sigh, "At what time should I be in your quarters, Jim?" He rolled Jim's name off his tongue in such an illegal way that Jim had to repress a moan.

"19...19" Dammit, now he was stuttering, "1900 hours is fine." It was 1730 hours, that gave him an hour and a half to get his shit together...and it still wasn't enough.

Nodding, Spock stood up with the grace of a feline, put his tray away and calmly walked out of the mess hall (translation: threw the tray away and sprinted out the door).

All the while, Jim was watching him with an almost hungry look in his eyes. When Spock was out of sight, Jim started to get fidgety as he was put under the judging and almost bewildered gaze of the forgotten doctor. Slowly, as though not to disturb a slumbering lion, Jim started to stand as if to follow Spock when he was delivered a swift slap upside the head.

"I don't know what's made you and that hobgoblin so goddamn jittery Jim, but sit your ass down and eat your food!"

After nearly vacuuming up his tasteless dinner (Bones still had him on a diet), he bolted to his quarters, took a shower, cleaned them once, then again, and then was pacing the length of them waiting for 1900 to come.

It was 1830 when the door chimed and Jim was brought out of his self-induced panic of thinking that Spock wouldn't come. Shaking his head, he went to answer his caller. It was Spock, Jim was so surprised that he stood in the doorway for a bit, just staring.

"Captain?"

"Hm?! Yes, Spock?" Jim was still a bit bewildered at why his impeccable Vulcan First Officer was early to a game of chess with him.

Spock took a moment and just blinked at the Captain, "I found that I had finished the required preparations for an experiment planned by the science department during my shift and...and decided to come here earlier than our previous agreement."

Jim could see right through the lie, but let it slide.

"Oh! Ok then, come right in." He stepped aside to let the stiff man into his quarters. He watched as Spock scanned over his room and then Jim himself.

"See anything you like?" Up went the eyebrow, Jim wanted to slap himself.

"Indeed Captain."

There was a long silence where they just stared at each other, not moving. Finally, Jim broke the perfect silence, "Well, um, why don't we start then?" His hands started shaking when he pulled out a chair for Spock.

'He's not a fucking maiden!' Jim mentally chastised himself.

"Thank you Captain."

"Call me Jim, Spock." He practically purred.

"Thank you...Jim." A small, almost unnoticeable, apple-green blush bloomed on Spock's cheeks.

"You're welcome Spock." His voice cracked, dammit why couldn't he get his emotions in check? "By the way, what was the real reason why you were so hasty in leaving the mess and so fast in getting here?"

If possible, his XO's already tense back went ram-rod straight so fast that Jim thought he was going to snap in half. Surprisingly though, he gave in without much force, "I was performing the proper activities of cleansing my physical and mental well-being as part of my daily schedule. However, I enacted this routine earlier and far more thoroughly than ever before. Most irregular and illogical."

By now, Spock seemed to be talking to himself more than to the gaping man sitting across from him.

Speaking of which, Jim was nearly ecstatic with joy, Spock was just as nervous/excited as he was! While Jim had thought he was overdoing it with the preparations, Spock was doing the exact same thing.

He shook himself out of his relief when he noticed that Spock was still rambling.

Right. Chess. Spock. Rawr.

Reaching out, Jim gently tapped him on the shoulder, "Spock, let's just focus on the game."

The Vulcan's speech came to an abrupt halt when he snapped his mouth shut and gave Jim a small nod.

There was the blush again, this time Jim noticed that it went all the way up to those sensitive, delectable pointed ears of his.

'I wonder what they feel like…' Jim's eyes widened as he realized where his thoughts were heading, straight for his c-the gutter. After giving himself a mental slap, he once again focused his attention on Spock.

"How 'bout we start?"