After walking away from Sepek, Spock immediately beamed back up to the ship by himself. As soon as they were alone, Jim rounded on Bones.
"What the hell was that?" He was on the verge of yelling.
"Well, I'd call it a spat, but-" Bones was cut off by Jim.
"You know what I mean! That guy deserved to be knocked on his ass!" he fumed. Bones sighed and placed his hands on his hips. He regarded Jim with a serious expression.
"Think about it, Jim. Not only would you have gotten your ass kicked, but do you really think Spock wants us to fight his battles for him?" Seeing that Jim was about to start back up, Bones raised a hand. "Spock may be more human than a full Vulcan, but he still has his pride. I'm sure the entire situation was humiliating enough for him, but, if you had stepped in..." he trailed off. With the look of a reprimanded schoolboy, Jim rubbed the back of his head.
"It would've been worse." Bones grinned at him and patted him firmly on the shoulder.
"Now you've got it!"
~x~x~x~
Spock paced the floor in his quarters like a caged animal. He was attempting to get his emotions under control after his run in with Sepek, Sofek, and Stark. This was exactly why he had apprehensions about coming to New Vulcan in the first place. He can't believe that, on his very first day here, he had to run into those three. After a moment's contemplation, he threw himself into the chair of his desk. He dialed up a familiar, yet never used, number and waited for the other to answer. He saw the shock in his older counterpart's eyes at being called this way.
"Spock, why are you on the Enterprise?" he questioned.
"Is it necessary to be planet side until the ceremony?" he asked without hesitance.
"I was hoping you would. While some revere you after the battle with the Narada, there is still hostility toward you and your father held in the hearts of some. To hole yourself up in the Enterprise during this very important event would only serve to further alienate you from our people."
"Ambassador, were you ever harassed as a child?" Spock asked solemnly.
"Are you speaking of anyone in particular."
"Yes. Sepek, Sofek, and Stark. They confronted me today in front of Jim and Le- Dr. McCoy." Spock's face tinged faintly with green at his slip-up. His counterpart simply smiled.
"I was. Although, after joining Starfleet, they never approached me further. As you know, this timeline is different."
"Yes. Thank you for your time, Ambassador." Spock switched his computer off and just sat for a moment. He was contemplating everything that his counterpart had said. As he thought, there were people who still thought ill of him. It was so hard to comprehend that. Vulcans were supposed to be ruled by logic. Disliking him simply because of his heritage was highly illogical. A knock on his door startled him from his thoughts. Rising from his chair, he schooled his features and answered. To his surprise, Jim and Leo were on the other side. Spock walked back into the room, allowing the other two to follow.
"Are you okay?" Jim asked. Never letting his expression slip, Spock answered.
"Yes." Suddenly, a vociferous sigh came from Leo.
"I call bullshit!" he announced. He stalked over to Spock, backing him up until he had no choice but to sit on the bed. Leo knelt in front of him with hands on either knee. "Listen, Spock. For this thing to work, we all have to be completely honest with each other. You have to let us in, darlin'. Let us know what's going through that super smart brain of yours." Spock's gaze never left Leo's face and the other two men in the room watched with fascination as his shields slowly began to come down.
"I am not okay." Spock began, his tone of voice soft. "The three Vulcans we ran into have attempted to intimidate me since I was a child. They take every chance they get to degrade me." After Spock said this, Jim walked over and knelt beside Leo. Blue eyes looked up into brown as Jim began to speak.
"You've tried ignoring them, yeah?" At Spock's nod, he continued. "Well then, try brute force." he said as if it was the simplest thing in the world. Leo sighed in a defeated manner and let his head drop to Spock's knee. "What?"
"Don't listen to this knucklehead over here. Just avoid them. That, or flaunt your position as a First Officer in their faces. There's nothing in this universe they can do that's more honorable than that. And, if that doesn't work, I'll find a reason for them to come visit me in sickbay." As Leo finished his statement, a slightly unnerving smile overtook his face. Jim snickered and patted Spock's knee before standing.
"Your dad was looking for you. Said he wanted to talk." Spock nodded, then, for the first time, initiated a kiss with each of his new lovers.