BEFORE WE START

I just wanna say that I've gotten a lot of comments that people are excited to see Harrison x Peleia become a ship, BUT I JUST WANNA WARN YOU THAT THAT'S NOT ENTIRELY WHAT I DID PLEASE DON'T HATE ME BUT I USUALLY DON'T PUBLISH FICS AT ALL COS I REALLY JUST TEND TO DO WHAT I WANT IN THEM AND PEOPLE DON'T REALLY APPROVE SO ALL I ASK IS THAT YOU JUST BEAR WITH ME BECAUSE LIKE PLOT TWISTS OKAY LIKE A LOT OF THEM JUST

PLEASE STAY

*Rihanna voice* I want you to staaaaayyy

also

friggin thank you for reading this; it really does mean a lot to me :) I appreciate each and every view this gets and I love you all and all of your constructive criticism; this is an awesome place to grow as a writer and you all are helping me do that! Thank *bows*

The captain looked at me stopping mid conversation and looked back to the one I assumed to be Spock who was busy with something on his tablet. He looked up and the captain pointed him to me.

"Looks like you've got an admirer," the captain said and the crew chuckled.

Spock stepped out from the group and jogged slightly to reach me while the rest got out their badges to reenter the campus.

"Peleia," he said and a small smile grew on his face. He took my books and put them on the ground so as to take my hands and I couldn't help but smile a bit. It had been over five years since I had last actually seen Spock back on Vulcan. We had been friends since childhood and I was delighted to see him again and for once, I wasn't even ashamed of the emotion.

"Peleia, I am glad to see you," he said. I could feel the emotion through even just his hands and he immediately pulled me into an embrace. I felt uncomfortable for a moment but not at all because I was not comfortable with Spock, but because I was uncomfortable in my own expressing of emotion. It was hard for me to tell what was too far and what was not far enough.

I decided simply that I would relax. Spock seemed comfortable with his expression and that was good enough for me. I wrapped my arms around his back and hugged him, placing my face on his chest for a brief moment before there was a catcall from behind him and he held me at arm's length.

"Yeah, Spock! You go girl!" the captain hollered and I was not sure who he was referring to as a girl.

"Please excuse my captain," Spock said. "He is sometimes too human for his own good," he said.

"To be honest, I do not really care what your captain says," I said. "I am just relieved to see you."

"Is there something troubling you?" he asked, seeming worried.

"Not particularly. It is difficult for me to explain, but your presence gives me a sense of safety," I said and almost immediately regretted it.

"As does yours," he said instantly making me feel better. He stood looking and smiling at me for a moment and I enjoyed the moment, relishing this time that I had with an ally. "I need to go; our shuttle leaves in ten minutes," he said and my face fell.

"How long is your mission?" I asked. I had only just regained my friend; I did not want him leaving so soon.

"We are going to New Vulcan to survey their progress so I should be back in approximately six days if all goes according to plan," he said.

I nodded. "And I will see you again then?"

"Without a doubt," he replied. He leaned down as if to kiss me and I tipped my head up a bit before realizing-

"Wait, lieutenant," I said, having spotted the bars on his uniform.

"May I remind you that we are still off campus, cadet," he said and kissed me anyway.

(Perhaps this all seems a bit strange and rushed to those of you reading this story. It is difficult to explain Vulcan tradition to humans, but I will do my best. At a young age, all Vulcans choose a partner to which they will be bonded for their entire lives and to whom they are tied to mentally. For Spock, I was this partner. For the sake of time, I shall put this briefly and bluntly; by saying that Spock and I had been friends since childhood, I really meant that Spock and I had been betrothed in childhood).

Spock made the sudden and surprising kiss quick as his crew seemed to be leaving without him and leaned back.

"Please, feel free to contact me; my channel is always open," he said.

I smiled. "Be safe," I encouraged him and he stepped back. "Live long and prosper," I said, holding up my hand in a Vulcan salute.

"Peace and long life," he said and smiled before turning around and running to catch up with the crew of the esteemed USS Enterprise.

I felt a sort of lump in my throat watching him leave and had to shut myself down emotionally in order to function normally. It reminded me too much of the day he had first gone away to come here. I suppose I hadn't really realized it, but it was becoming apparent that he was very much the reason I had enrolled, even if it had been a subconscious action.

I took a deep breath and grabbed my books. I began again to cross the street, not checking for cars first as I usually did, but my apartment was just on the other side and I calculated my chances of ever being hurt on the way to or from were less than fourteen percent.

I trudged up the stairs and swiped my ID card on the pad outside the door. The door popped open and I went in, closing and locking the door behind me before putting my things down on the table directly in front of me.

I found myself unable to focus on simple things like taking my hair down or taking off my shoes. This John Harrison was much more concerning to me than anything at the moment. Even with my short encounter with Spock, I was worried about what Harrison may have had in store for me.

I went immediately to my bedroom and sat down cross-legged on the bed. I closed my eyes and breathed several times deeply, trying to search the farthest reaches of my brain for any information I may have surpassed on this new character in my life. I tried to remember any time at all that I had seen him before, but I could picture him nowhere in my memory, neither in cadet garb or his lieutenant's uniform. There was no way he had been there long enough to become a lieutenant. He probably hadn't even been there as long as I had.

Whether it was an act or not, he had admitted that he wasn't very familiar with the campus. Either he was a very talented liar or he was being very confusingly truthful. I could only assume from the admiral's counsel toward me that John Harrison was an exception to many of the academy's regulations. I supposed he and the admiral were in an alliance of sorts. This led me to a conclusion which would require a direct disobedience to my orders.

I needed to gather more information about John Harrison; I needed to not only speak with him about his past but also observe his actions and attitudes. I had already seen that he was capable of a sort of malice by his last comment to me that day, as was the admiral. I wondered if they were in league in a less than benefiting way.

I opened my eyes, having decided to act against my orders for the greater good. It was logical that if treason of sorts was being committed, someone be aware of it and stop it before getting any worse.

I stood up and went to the bathroom, checking my appearance in the mirror. Such a thing was a bad habit of mine; something that my parents had tried to discipline me in, but in which they were unsuccessful. They were also unsuccessful in convincing me to maintain the typical Vulcan styles. I had grown my hair out but usually left it up in a high pony or, as of late, a bun on the top of my head.

There were only about 30 minutes of daylight left and I wondered if that would be sufficient time for me to do any investigating. Even if it was, I wasn't exactly sure where I would start. I hadn't any information of this man's schedule except what I had learned today. I looked at the clock. It was nearly seven o'clock and it was Friday; the higher officers would be going to dinner soon.

I decided it would be in my best interest to wait until I could see them filter out of the campus grounds and try to spot him. I would be free to follow him to wherever he might be headed for dinner and observe his mannerisms around other people. Of course this was a slightly flawed plan in that I had never lied before and if it came to it, I wasn't sure what I would say if he found me out. Of course, although I hadn't ever lied, I had told plenty of half truths. I decided one might be in order for that night.

I went to the window and stood there, waiting for the gates to open and the cars to file out. I wondered if I would even be able to spot him at all, but if I couldn't, it wouldn't be too hard to guess where he was; probably with the admiral at his favorite restaurant. That would mean a bit more walking for me, but it was hardly a problem seeing as the cause was just.

I was right; it didn't take long for the gate to open. Several cars filed out, all turning left, toward the city. I tried to catch a glimpse of anybody in any of the vehicles, but it wasn't possible with the tinted windows. I grabbed my coat and ran downstairs before the line finished. The cars were all federation vehicles and it wouldn't be possible for me to discern a higher officer's car from any others, but they all seemed to be headed to the same general direction. I had a plan anyway; I would visit the admiral's favorite first.

I walked down the sidewalk without a single care of anything else in my mind, the last of the cars rolling out into the avenue just before I rounded the corner from the stairwell. The cars all took a left just ahead and I hurried to catch up at least a little so I could see where they were headed. I crossed the street without looking either direction; it was rare that cars drove near the academy unless they belonged to the higher officers and right now, the majority of them were in front of me.

I followed them down the street for several blocks at which point I lost visual altogether, but I was getting into the city and it would only be a couple of blocks until I reached the admiral's favorite restaurant. People appeared on the sidewalks more frequently and I tried to look a little less suspicious as I could tell from having spent time with several humans that it was easy to look suspicious. I tried to act normal, knowing that the mere fact that I was a Vulcan put me up for suspicion. Despite the stupidity of stereotyping those species with pointy ears, I knew that my only chance at making it through this city without any trouble was going along with the crowd as much as possible. I folded my collar over on my coat and tried to slouch a little more than usual but it was actually physically painful for someone who had practiced pristine posture her entire life.

I was immersed in the busy life of the city in moments. People were all around, laughing and talking loudly, all things that I was far from accustomed to. I sped up a little more to get through all the people and before I knew it, was standing outside the busy restaurant. Someone brushed past me harshly and I looked to see who it was. I was greeted by the chest of a Starfleet uniform. I looked up to see the person it belonged to only to have my breath catch in my throat.

"Excuse me," I said, pretending I had only glimpsed who it was and it hadn't quite registered in my mind.

"Isn't it a bit late for someone like you to be out?" he said.

I pursed my lips. There was no way to avoid a conversation anymore.

"I'm sorry?" I asked, feigning innocence.

"Such a studious cadet as you I wouldn't expect to see out on a Friday night," he said.

"Stereotypes are dangerous things," I said, looking at his face again finally. John squinted at me for a moment before leaning in a little closer than I appreciated, having already been in a close proximity from the squeezing of the crowd.

"Not nearly as dangerous as-" he stopped himself, pausing before continuing, "as this city. What are you doing out here?" his attitude softened again with each syllable. I had a feeling there had been something more sinister to be said than what actually was.

"I'm," I had forgotten what I had decided to say and had to come up with a new half-truth in a split second, "just getting dinner." I hadn't hesitated long enough for any normal person to notice, but I could see that he had.

"Is that all?"

"No," I admitted, but I relinquished no specifics.

John looked suspiciously at me but then his face broke into a smile. "Why don't you join us?" he asked, gesturing to the group of higher officers making their way through the crowd and to the front of the queue.

"It appears that a cadet such as me would not be welcome in your group," I said. "I am content to dine alone."

"Well, I'm not," he said. He grabbed my wrist and I instinctively pulled away, but he didn't let go. Vulcans (especially me) have a tendency to act in self defense immediately and in any circumstance that has the potential to become dangerous.

I twisted his arm up, putting it in the perfect position to break. He struggled back for a moment but let go before I had even realized what I was doing.

"I'm sorry," I said immediately, pulling my hands back to me. I got my senses back about me before John could completely recover. "I'm sorry, sir," I said again and stood at attention.

"As you were, cadet," he said, stepping forward to me again. He didn't look angry at all which made me only more confused about him. "You've got more heart than I gave you credit for," he said quietly. "I know you're following me," he said and I felt fear creep into my stomach, "but you show promise so I've elected to ignore it."

I let out a breath I hadn't noticed I was holding in. I was more than confused by what the lieutenant was saying and I wasn't sure if I could trust everything he was saying or how much caution I should exhibit.

"I'll answer any of your questions but I can't right now. You best head back home before something happens that you can't handle," he said. I couldn't tell if he was insulting me or insinuating that he would have to handle whatever it was that might happen. "You should never have come out here in the first place," he said.

"I am afraid I do not understand to what you are referencing," I said. Did he know something that I didn't?

John took a moment, putting his hand on my shoulder. "Go home," he said. I hesitated. "That's an order, cadet," he said. "And be careful."

"Yes, sir," I said and he took his hand off my shoulder.

"And for Pete's sake, relax! I don't want to see you standing at attention one more time," he said lightly.

I was not nearly as light-minded as I backed away to the edge of the sidewalk before turning around. I looked both ways before stepping out into the street. I hadn't taken two steps when somebody screamed. I instinctively turned around to the crowd to see who it had been and if there was something I could help them with. There were at least seven heads turned my way, several with their mouths hanging open. I saw the woman who had screamed in a split second and she was pointing at something to my right. I saw John shove through the crowd looking overly distressed just before I glanced to the right to see-