A/N: It's not easy being green. ;)

Chapter 5

Spock reported to the detention room later that day for his punishment. When he entered the classroom, he noted the other students who had been issued with detention, all of whom looked extremely irritated. None more so than Peter, who looked angry beyond belief at the fact that he was carrying out a punishment for something he was not responsible for.

Spock was not provoked into emotion by the circumstances: it was not the first time he was serving a detention on account of Jim. He seated himself, as he usually did, at the back of the room. Opting for a more secluded spot over the seat aside Chekov, who was also sentenced to two hours of detention.

The teacher who was presiding over them was the same woman who had supervised the detention that was held in the gymnasium. Spock deduced that she was not a very capable authority figure, on account of the fact that the gym had been unnecessarily loud during the time when it was supposed to be completely silent. However, as Spock had no interest in engaging in conversation at the current time, he was not affected by the teacher's lack of competence.

24.8 minutes into the detention, Spock was fifty seven pages into a book that he was finding quite educational. He had just reached a particularly engrossing section when the door to the classroom swung open and hit the wall with a soft thud.

Jim strode into the detention, a careless grin adorned on his face. He shut the door behind him with his foot as he walked in and presented the teacher with a detention slip, notifying her of his reason for being there. She didn't seem surprised to see him and seemed even less surprised that he was both late and disruptive. She took the slip silently from him and motioned for him to sit down. Kirk angled his feet in a direction that was clearly leading towards Spock. On his way to the back of the room, James passed his friend Chekov, whose hair he ruffled with his hand.

"Hiya Chekov," he said as he passed, "havin' fun?"

"Jes, so much," the boy replied sarcastically. Jim chuckled as he walked over and set his books down at the table adjacent to Spock's. He then took a seat and propped his feet up on Spock's desk, while leaning his head against the wall. "What's up Pointy?" he drawled, making no effort to keep his voice down. As Spock had suspected, the teacher made no move to quiet him.

"Must you insist on referring to me as such?" Spock asked, somewhat wearily.

"Sure why not? It's fun. Also it kinda fits doesn't it?" he said, flicking the tip of Spock's ear as he often did. Had Spock been human, he would have sighed audibly. However, being Vulcan, he had more control over his reactions and did not allow himself to give Jim the satisfaction of knowing he had succeeded in his goal of provoking him. "Hey Spock?" Jim asked.

"Yes, Jim?" Spock said, looking over at him. There was still a hint of a smile on Kirk's face but he seemed serious enough, for the most part.

"Do Vulcans ever get nosebleeds?" He asked and Spock pondered the implications of his question.

"It is not an overly uncommon occurrence," he answered eventually, "we bleed similarly to humans."

"Except for the colour," Jim said, smile back in place.

"Affirmative," Spock replied curtly, "Why do you ask?"

"Oh, no reason," Jim assured him, before quickly putting his hand to the back of Spock's head and suddenly slamming the Vulcan's nose into the desk. Green blood trickled out of one of Spock's nostrils as he stared incredulously at Jim. However, before he could question Jim's actions, the boy was on his feet.

"Ms Hoffman! He's bleeding," he cried, making the teacher look up, startled. Jim grabbed Spock's hair and yanked his face away from his hands, which were attempting to stem the bleeding, in order to show the teacher. "He just suddenly got a nosebleed," Jim said, his voice sounding extremely alarmed. Though Spock knew the panic was completely fabricated, he had to admit that Kirk was quite convincing. "He needs help," he implored gesturing at Spock's blood spattered face.

"Very well," the teacher said, trying to remain calm. "He may go to the nurses office."

"He's new, he doesn't know where it is," Jim called, seeming more panicked than ever. "Please miss, he's bleeding."

The hand in Spock's hair forced his head forward until he was slumped on the desk. "See? He needs medical attention. He can't get there by himself." Jim pleaded, his eyes wide with fear.

"Okay," the teacher said, "James, you make take Mr Spock to the nurse's office."

"Can I stay with him please?" Jim asked. "He might have a concussion, he won't know what's going on." Spock frowned down at the desk. How gullible did Jim assume this teacher to be?

"Very well. You may stay with your friend," the teacher said tightly, running to open the door for them as Jim pulled Spock's arm around his shoulders.

"Go limp," he hissed in his ear and Spock, inexplicably, followed his instruction. Jim dragged him from the room, none too gracefully, before shutting the door in Ms Hoffman's worried face. He continued to help Spock walk, as if it were necessary, until they were outside the building.

It wasn't until Jim released him and burst into laughter, that Spock realised how little distance there had been between them. The aroma of Jim's aftershave lingered in the air as Kirk sauntered towards the school gates.

"The nurse's office is in the opposite direction of where you are walking," Spock informed him, easily keeping up with Jim's long, determined strides.

"I know, Pointy," Jim replied and winked. "We ain't going to the nurses office. You're fine," he smiled, handing Spock a tissue. "Here. Now suck it up. I just busted you out of detention. You should be thanking me."

"Was it truly necessary to hit me?" Spock asked, pressing the wad of paper to his nose to stifle the trickle of blood.

"Eh, probably not," Jim shrugged, offering no further information or apologies.

"Are you intending to exit the school grounds Jim?" Spock asked as they neared the gates.

"Well, duh. And I thought you were smart Spock. What did you think we were doing?"

"You know students are only permitted to leave the school grounds with permission from the Head of the Student Dormitories. And such an action can only take place on a weekend, today is a Thursday."

"Yeah I know the rules Spock. I also know how to break 'em," Jim said, looking sideways at him. "Come on Pointy. It's an adventure. We're boldly going where no one has gone before."

"I highly doubt the streets of San Francisco are uncharted territory." Spock said wryly.

"Yeah, whatever Spock. Look, you in? Or did I give you that nosebleed for nothing?"

"As I have stated previously, hitting me was an action that I have never regarded as necessary, James."

"Great, I'm taking that as a yes." Jim grabbed Spock's hand and dragged him through the gates, out on to the street. Jim remarked gleefully about the simplicity with which one could enter or exit the school and Spock was obliged to agree.

They caught a tram into town, hopping on and off at various stops, never paying a cent and avoiding ticket inspectors at every turn. The expression on Jim's face was reminiscent of a child's during a Terran festival. Spock, too, found himself admitting that he was not as unsettled at the turn of events as he should have been, considering his Vulcan upbringing. He was, however, conflicted over the circumstances, knowing that, were his parents aware of his current whereabouts, they would be appalled by his blatant disregard for authority. Nevertheless, he allowed Jim to drag him from restaurant to cafe to diner until they found an establishment they both thought suitable.

"I assume I am paying for this," Spock asked as he secured the last lettuce leaf from his dish with his fork. Despite his tendency towards traditional Vulcan food, he was not averse to a Terran diet.

"Who says anyone's paying for it?" Jim said, winking as he fished the last morsel of food from his plate and popped it into his mouth. Spock found it strangely difficult to draw his gaze from Jim's lips before the meaning behind the blonde's words managed to sink in. Spock stared incredulously at Jim.

"James, you cannot mean-" he began before Kirk had secured his grasp around Spock's wrist and was tugging him from the cafe.

Spock was well aware he was capable of breaking Jim's hold and returning to pay for the food, but the boy's excitement proved contagious as Spock found himself recklessly following Jim. Despite his better judgement, Spock allowed Kirk to drag him through the maze of side streets and alleyways until they had eventually rejoined the main road. They headed towards the marketplace, discovering a street fair that was being held there.

Spock, who had never experienced an event of quite the same atmosphere, inspected each stall curiously, assessing the nature of the goods that were being sold. Jim seemed enthralled by everything. He ran from stall to stall excitedly, wanting whatever he saw before his gaze was soon drawn to another interesting object. Spock even bought him a small, almost transparent rock, its shades and hues forever changing as the light hit it from varying angles. Jim turned it deftly between his fingers, gazing at the soft glow it emitted in wonderment. Seeing Jim so purely happy evoked a warmth within him that Spock had rarely experienced, somewhat akin to the fondness he remembered feeling as a young child, when he would curl up between his mother and I-Chaya during Vulcan's colder nights.

Jim, who was still a vibrant shade of green, drew the gaze of many people. Most looked curious at his strange appearance, others' expressions seemed to be one of a judgemental nature. Although Spock could not be certain if they were attributed to Jim's skin, or simply his atrocious behaviour and tendency to break things, often previous to buying them. One such glance in particular attracted Jim's attention and he glared defiantly back at the passers by.

"What?" he yelled, stopping the immediate crowd's slow meandering. "Never seen an Orion before? We're born green y'know!" he yelled indignantly, shaking his fists at the strangers. They continued to walk hurriedly away from Kirk, throwing back affronted glares as they did.

"Xenophobes!" James yelled accusingly after them, his voice even louder, drawing a larger number of shocked views from the crowd. "Oh fuck off," he said, startling the onlookers further before they continued about their business.

Smiling as though nothing had just transpired, Jim spun back to face Spock. "So," he said merrily, "Shall we?"

The two of them spent ample time weaving between stalls, buying trinkets that struck their fancy and tasting street food that Jim 'just had to try', as they walked. After the sun had dipped behind the buildings and the remaining orange glow that had spread across the sky was all the light they had with which to see, they made their way back to the school. In their hands were clutched cream cones and small bags full of pointless items that Jim had demanded they purchase.

Spock's watch read 18:08; it was drawing near time to be in the cafeteria for dinner. Although he was so filled with street food, he was unsure of his capacity, or even his willingness, to eat once again. As they drew nearer to the gates, Jim grabbed their ice creams and threw them into some nearby bins. Spock gazed after them slightly wistfully before he remembered himself. He was Vulcan and had no emotional attachment to that ice cream whatsoever.

As dinner was to be served at 6:30, the two of them parted ways at the gates and returned to their rooms in order to deposit the trifles they had acquired. Spock had purchased a green scarf, Jim had insisted on green to 'match his dick,' he had said. He was also now the owner of a small jade elephant with amber eyes that glittered when the light struck them, and an assortment of peculiar stones, which had caught Jim's attention.

'They're all so different and cool. Individual, y'know?' he had said, scooping up a handful of the rocks and passing half of them to Spock. Now they each possessed their own alluring stones, both beautiful and unearthly. Spock appreciated their elegance and could barely contain a smile at the thought of the expression on Jim's face as he had inspected each one closely, marvelling at all of them in turn.

It was at that moment that Spock's PADD began ringing, interrupting his reverie. Glancing at the caller ID he recognised it as his mother's and picked up immediately.

"Are you aware that this is your second detention in your first semester?" she demanded before he was able to greet her, shattering the serenity he had managed to establish. "What has gotten into you lately, Spock?"

"Mother, nothing has 'gotten into me' as you say, and once again my being in detention was through no fault of my own."

"You know, I seem to remember you saying something similar the last time this happened. It would seem you have awfully bad luck Spock," she remarked angrily. Not bad luck, he thought to himself, Jim.

"I assure you, Mother, it is the truth. Vulcans cannot lie."

"I am well aware of that Spock. I am also well aware that you are half Human."

"Mother I would not lie to you, Vulcan limitations or no," he assured her, his voice persuasive. He heard her sigh through the connection.

"Spock this behaviour can't continue. Your father and I will not stand for such insubordination."

"Yes Mother, I am sorry," Spock replied, truly feeling regret as he did. "It will not happen again."

"I hope not. If it does, we may be forced to return you to Vulcan," she said, Spock felt a strange feeling of dread creep through him at the thought.

"I promise you Mother, that will not be necessary."

"Thank you, Spock," his mother said.

"Goodbye, Mother," Spock responded.

"Goodbye." She said softly and ended the call.

He made his way down to the cafeteria for dinner, not particularly hungry, but the peculiar desire to see Jim once more was taking root within him, and he was of the opinion that he could not prevent it from growing if he tried. Spock entered the cafeteria and sat down in his usual place next to Nyota. Out of habit, he looked over to the table Jim and his friends usually occupied and was surprised to find it empty.

"Looking for me?" a voice said in his ear. Spock suppressed the shudder that the proximity sent through him, instead turning in his seat to see Jim, who was in the process of seating himself at the table. His friends McCoy, Sulu, Scotty and Chekov had already taken up places next to and across from Jim and Spock.

"So, I heard Jim busted you out of detention and you two played hookey for the rest of the day," Sulu said, smiling. Spock noted that his mannerisms were quite reflective of Jim's

"Yup," Jim said, nodding as he took a bite of his food, Spock looked at the rather large hamburger that had clutched in his hands.

"How are you able to consume more food after having already ingested numerous street foods periodically for the last two hours?" Spock asked of him.

"Human's have four stomachs, Spock. Didn't you know that?" Jim replied, his mouth bulging with food.

"I'm pretty sure thats a cow," Bones said, rolling his eyes at Kirk.

"Yo mama's a cow," Jim shot back, causing the table to laugh loudly.

"Based on fundamental biological limitations, Leonard's mother cannot feasibly be a cow," Spock said calmly, looking at Jim, who burst out laughing. He laughed to such an extent that he began to pound his fist upon the table as a signal of lack of air. After a while he resurfaced and looked at Spock with shining eyes.

"Oh, wow," he said, subsiding into chuckles once again.

"You're such an infant, Jim," McCoy chided, shaking his head.

"I'm sorry," Nyota chimed in, addressing Sulu, "but did you just say that Spock ditched detention with Jim."

"Yep," Hikaru responded, smiling conversationally.

"You didn't actually though?" She asked, her question directed at Spock.

"In actualit-" he began, before Jim cut him off.

"Yeah, we did," he replied, unabashed. "Why? Upset I stole your boyfriend?"

She raised her perfectly arched eyebrows at him before responding.

"Don't worry Kirk," she said, a bite to her voice. "You wont have any competition from me. Spock's all yours. Just refrain from getting him expelled and sent back to Vulcan." Spock, who had told her in passing of his mother's concerns regarding him, was surprised by Uhura's sudden impartation of such information.

"What?" Kirk said quickly, expression suddenly serious, swinging his head to look at Spock.

"You will have to be more specific, James."

"Don't give me that you know damn well what I'm talking about."

"It is nothing to concern yourself over. My mother simply voiced the disquiet that she was experiencing as a result of me finding myself in trouble twice since I began at this school, approximately 5.7 weeks ago."

"So you're saying that if you get into trouble again, you have to go back to Planet Hobgoblin?" Jim asked incredulously.

"There is a high possibility of that occurring, should I be reprimanded once more, yes," Spock replied calmly, ignoring the Hobgoblin comment.

"Well Spock, that is not acceptable. You are not to get into anymore trouble young man. Do you hear me?" Spock looked over at Kirk, slightly exasperated.

"James, you are the sole reason that I ever received detention in first place," he said, causing Kirk's friends, even McCoy, to laugh.

"Aye, tha's true. Sorry mate, but 'e's got ya on tha' one," Scotty said amiably, patting Jim on the shoulder with his hand, his expression still one of amusement. Jim paused for a moment to re-evaluate what he was going to say.

"Well, that's all gonna change now isn't it? We can't lose our one and only Hobgoblin just cause he can't seem to get enough of detention. Sorry Spock, Planet Pointy is gonna miss you for a little while longer," Jim smiled at Spock and turned to his friends, "from now on, don't let me do stupid things that would get Spock in trouble." He cautioned sternly.

"You grossly overestimate the amount of control we have over your actions Kirk," Bones said. "I don't think I've ever known you to refrain from doing something because someone told you not to. Hell, I've seen you do things solely because someone told you not to." Nyota laughed at this comment and McCoy looked slightly surprised, if not a little less angry.

"Well, this time it'll be different," Kirk said, determination colouring his voice, his face was set in a stubborn scowl. Spock could not help but find his expression endearing. "You ain't going nowhere, Pointy, ya hear me?"

"That statement would indicate that I am, in fact, going somewhere, James."

"Spock! Shut up."