Grey Matter | STXI | NC-17 | Part 2/2
Title: Grey Matter
Author: lalazee
Beta: rainbowstrlght
Series: STXI AU Academy Mirrorverse
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~11,000
Warnings: D/S, biting, bare-backing, violence. Oh, and Gaila - a girl like her should wear a warning.
Summary: At the Starfleet Winter Masquerade, Jim Kirk encounters a mysterious man dressed as a Vulcan. The consequences of one night of fun threaten to come back in ten-fold.
A/N 1: Keep an eye out for carouselcycles’ sexy as hell accompanying art and be sure to let her know just how hot you think it is!
A/N 2: Written for ksadvent.
“This wasn’t exactly the date I had in mind,” Cadet Kirk commented with a closed-mouth smile as he meandered into Captain Pike’s office. “Mornin’ Pike.”
Cadet Kirk nodded at the Captain and then peered at the uniform Spock wore. He smiled with as much emotion as a Vulcan. “Professor Spock.”
Spock instinctively stiffened in his chair and cast the man a single glance before he stared ahead once more. This was a matter of formal business, and so Spock needed to act accordingly.
Unfortunately, that did not hinder his eidetic memory from betraying him with that swift survey. Spock had catalogued the rumpled nature of the cadet’s uniform, as well as the dishevelled hair - and what appeared to be black eyeliner smudged beneath those super-saturated eyes.
Spock could only deduce that Cadet Kirk had made the most of his New Year celebrations. In fact, a tentative conclusion could be made from the ruddiness in Kirk’s cheeks that he was still under the effects of the night.
This meeting had been called rather suddenly. Spock suspected Captain Pike had not notified Cadet Kirk of this small assembly until this very morning, simply to gain an edge in the conversation. Judging by the unkempt status of Kirk’s person, the Captain had succeeded in his goal.
Cadet Kirk stood behind the remaining empty chair, his posture slouched and hands buried in his pockets. His gaze lingered on Spock’s, but there was no flicker of warmth there - only frigid ice.
Even after these weeks it continued to perplex Spock, how a Human could emulate stereotypically friendly mannerisms and yet be so devoid of emotion. The effect would have been disconcerting to a cowardly man, yet with Spock it merely fascinated him.
Cadet Kirk had the potential to be more formidable than both Humans and Vulcans. Of course, the irony was that Spock was both, and yet he encountered the opposite situation than with Cadet Kirk.
Try as Spock might, he could not douse the flame of his emotions. Maintaining a cool exterior was more challenging than it should have been for the average Vulcan. But Spock was not average.
Captain Pike’s steely voice sliced through Spock’s thoughts. “Sit down, Cadet Kirk.”
He did so, and Spock was surprised to find that the cadet sat straight and proper despite the fatigue that lingered in his eyes. Perhaps the cadet was more alarmed than he had expressed. It would not be surprising.
The Captain folded his hands atop his desk and leaned forward. “I’ll get straight to the point, Cadet. I’m putting you on academic probation for the coming semester.”
“Happy New Year to you too,” Kirk drawled, but his expression had gone caustic and his eyes flinty. “May I ask why, or are you in the habit of dishing out unreasonable punishments simply because of the hangover you’re pretending not to nurse?”
Captain Pike’s eyes flashed. “You will treat your superiors with respect Cadet, or you’ll be back in Bumfuck, Iowa before you know it. I’ve got enough here to ruin your chances of admittance into any other respectable school. The only reason I’m keeping you enlisted is because we both know you are your graduating class’ largest asset.”
Spock had been unaware of this detail. Not an entirely unexpected factoid, but intriguing nonetheless.
Judging by the sharp curl of a corner of Cadet Kirk’s mouth, he had been fully aware. Cadet Kirk appeared wholly unperturbed by the Captain’s outburst. “Well, as long as we’re on the same page.”
Spock could not sense a single ripple of unease from this man. It was uncanny. Spock could not help but hypothesise what would educe a genuine reaction from the cadet. Only when Spock had sunk his teeth into the firm flesh of Cadet Kirk’s neck had he reacted with unbridled emotion.
Spock could not place the moment when something so inconsequential had become important to him. He had never required Humans to be honest or forthright with him - not when he could not expect that of himself. Spock existed in an empire built upon deceit and aggression, and so would assume nothing less from its inhabitants.
And yet something about Cadet Kirk’s countenance had Spock imagining they were both as ostracised and unusual as the other.
That notion was undoubtedly foolish - and yet it had sunk itself into Spock with jagged, twisting barbs that refused to pull out.
Cadet Kirk finally leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs. His fingers clenched at the armrest. “So, what’s the deal? What do you claim to have on me, and what the hell does Spock have to do with this?”
Captain Pike raised his eyebrows, and Spock wondered if he ever looked as undeniably pompous as this man when he made a similar facial expression. The Captain slid open a desk drawer to his right and removed something, holding it tight in his palm as he closed the compartment.
Then a red data-card was skittering across the desk, followed by, “In academic vernacular - you cheated.”
Cadet Kirk froze, but did not spare the desk a glance. Judging by the cadet’s reaction, the Captain might not have presented the datacard at all. In fact, he smiled - and Spock found himself recalling the fanged grin of the Terran hyena.
Cadet Kirk politely said, “Respectfully, define cheating.”
For the first time since Kirk had entered the room, Spock found cause to speak. “To deceive by trickery.”
Cadet Kirk shifted in his seat and brought Spock into the conversation. The smile had yet to melt from Cadet Kirk’s icy demeanour. “And what exactly have I done that involves trickery and merits academic probation?”
Why was he attempting to deny what was so clear to everyone in this room? Spock curtly replied, “Cadet Kirk. It is obvious that you had planned to install and activate a sub-routine in the programming code of the Kobayashi Maru exam, thereby changing the conditions of the test.”
Cadet Kirk’s eyes went wide, and for a moment Spock had concluded that the cadet was expressing surprise - until the impending realisation when Cadet Kirk said, “That’s an awfully forward accusation to make, Professor.”
Spock fought back a glare. “I accuse nothing, Cadet. I am simply stating facts.”
The Cadet looked between Spock and the Captain, his expression nearly bordering on what Spock recognised was a genuine smile. “What facts are those? You’ve found what looks to be a datacard. I’m with you so far. But you’ve somehow managed to make the jump from that to me. How, exactly?”
Spock gritted his teeth as inconspicuously as possible. “Once I informed Cadet Vro of the circumstances surrounding the datacard she carried and how you had planned to utilise her in your scheme, she was content to relay the information you had given her regarding the circumstances in which she was to install this programme.”
Kirk pursed his lips, with his eyes bright and stark above the smeared kohl lining his lower lash-line. “And I’ll ask you again. How can you claim this is a programme I created? How can you know what it’ll do without testing it out first?”
“I -”
“Also, when was the last time I even took a programming class, Professor Spock?” Cadet Kirk asked, his words pricking and needling with surprising accuracy. “Have you looked into that? I’m on the Command Track - computers aren’t exactly my forté.”
Captain Pike snapped, “Quiet, Cadet,” and veered his attention towards Spock. “Yes, Lieutenant Commander, would you please reiterate why it is you know this piece of technology belongs to Cadet Kirk?”
Spock regarded them both evenly. He would not be backed into a corner by a cocky cadet with a penchant for warping the facts.
But with Humans there’s all this grey matter. Twisted and bent perceptions of the regulations, of normalcy.
“My conclusion can be undeniably supported by the discoveries I have made. First is Cadet Gaila Vro’s report. She clearly stated that she was to install this programme in the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory ten minutes prior to the time in which Cadet Kirk would be taking the Kobayashi Maru exam for the third time.
“In addition, we have the datacard in our possession, and I was not required to install it in the laboratory to check the contents on a separate computer. There is no question that it is a subroutine and, following logic, the only person who could be responsible for its design is you, Cadet Kirk.”
Spock fixed Cadet Kirk with a look and gained an identical blank expression in return - until Cadet Kirk grinned. His eyes sparkled like the sun rising over the Pacific, and it was then that Spock realised the Cadet had enjoyed this chase. Possibly relished it.
Fascinating.
Cadet Kirk cocked his head and his voice went low, akin to the purr he had utilised in first speaking Spock’s name. “Okay, you caught me there. But admit it Spock, you loved what I did - didn’t you?”
Jim tugging roughly at Spock’s hair, murmuring hot words in cool breath against his ear.
Spock blinked and swallowed. “You have a certain undeniable talent. Regardless, your offence cannot go unpunished.”
Captain Pike cleared his throat and grounded Spock to the present. Spock squared his shoulders and inclined his chin against the unexpected burning pull in his stomach.
The Captain nodded faintly. “Lieutenant Commander Spock is right, Cadet. It’s academic probation for you.”
Annoyance snapped across Cadet Kirk’s face like a flash of lightning. His features tightened, but his cadence maintained its easy flow. “I don’t get it, Pike. I mean, I haven’t done anything. This is all heresy and what-ifs and probability. The fact of the matter is that nothing came of this subroutine, and obviously nothing will now.”
“The fact of the matter is this, Cadet,” Captain Pike replied with evident exasperation. “You carried the intent to cheat, and that’s what you’re paying for.”
“But I wasn’t cheating,” Cadet Kirk’s replied so simply that both Spock and Captain Pike both openly gawked at the cadet.
Spock composed himself quickly. “You certainly were.”
Cadet Kirk thrummed his fingertips atop his knee as he considered Spock. “Were you able to understand the purpose of the subroutine?”
“Of course,” Spock snapped a bit too strongly. He would not be talked down to by a Human.
“Okay then Professor - why don’t you share what would have happened had the programme been installed?”
“What would be achieved by my doing so?”
Cadet Kirk smiled and Spock felt a chill. “Maybe you didn’t understand it after all?”
Spock dearly missed the whimpering subservient Kirk tied up with his own belt. He allowed a muted sigh. “Your programme ensured that the enemy ships’ shields would collapse and the entire fleet destroyed. Afterwards I would assume that you intended to rescue the remaining crew of the Kobayashi Maru.”
“Excellent, Professor Spock,” Cadet Kirk chimed in and sounded pleased. “I’m impressed, although I guess I shouldn’t be. You seem like a man of many talents.”
“I - thank you.”
Captain Pike uttered a sound of derision. “If you two are finished, let’s adjourn.”
“With respect, I’m certainly not finished,” Cadet Kirk replied quickly, training his attention on the Captain. “I’m not going anywhere until my probation is retracted.”
“You don’t give me orders, Cadet,” Captain Pike growled.
“I’m not giving you any orders, Captain,” Cadet Kirk said reasonably, his head cocked. “I’m simply saying that I’m not leaving this room until this is settled.”
The Captain’s eye twitched and Spock felt empathy. “I don’t think you understand that you have no say in this, Cadet Kirk.”
“Seeing as it’s my future on the line, I think I do.” Cadet Kirk held up his hands, palms out in a gesture of peace. “Just hear me out, okay?”
Captain Pike slumped in his seat and dragged a hand over his face. “If it’ll quiet you, go on then.”
Cadet Kirk beamed, looking pleased with himself. “Listen. Yeah, I was going to slightly tweak the conditions, but what of it? How I see it, this test is meant to scare the shit out of us. We’re meant to feel like trapped animals about to be butchered and eaten by the enemy, right? Right.
“And look at me - I got it. I get the principle of it, don’t I? I see what you’re going for. And you know what? I think it’s a load of bullshit. I think there’s always a way out and no simulation is going to make me feel otherwise. I know you want me to feel fear, but fuck if I’m going to.
“So I changed the exam. Don’t you think that’s kind of - fuck, I don’t know - impressive? Ingenuitive, intelligent?” Cadet Kirk laughed and grinned almost maniacally, “Hell, I’d commend me if I were you.”
Spock had not known horror until this moment. His mouth may have dropped open for a split second as he fumbled for a reply to such a ludicrous speech. He pointedly ignored the sliver of him that was impressed and slightly in awe of Cadet Kirk’s confidence and charisma.
“That is absolutely inconceiv -“
Captain Pike held up a hand. His piercing stare was trained upon Cadet Kirk. “Sounds more like cowardice than ingenuity to me. You couldn’t face the fear and stress and so you worked around it.”
Cadet Kirk straightened in his seat and met the Captain’s look head-on. “Respectfully, sir - you’re wrong. You can take the usual path of the test and die - or if you’re lucky, the Maru crew is decimated and your crew limps away like a pathetic dog that should be shot.”
There was a glint in Cadet Kirk’s eye that Spock was growing to recognise as blind, brazen boldness that would one day get him killed - but insinuated that Cadet Kirk would first attempt to obliterate those who tried.
Cadet Kirk leaned in, his hands clenched upon his knees. “Don’t you see it, Captain? I didn’t run away - I snuck in the back door. You think that makes me a coward? I think it’s a snivelling diplomat who decided we’d make fuckin’ friends with the enemy before we destroy them. That’s more two-faced that I’ll ever be. Everybody already knows I’m dishonest, so it’s not a surprise when I am.”
Captain Pike’s gaze narrowed on Cadet Kirk as if seeing him for the first time. He pressed his lips together and rubbed a hand over his mouth before he spoke. Every word sounded scraped out of him. “Cadet Kirk, you are... a different breed of Command Track altogether. You’re a cocky fool who sifts your undeserved potential into all the wrong venues.
“And yet Starfleet needs men like you - those who look outside the box and even reshape it.” Captain Pike gave a hefty sigh and looked to the ceiling for a moment. When his gaze hinged upon Cadet Kirk again, he appeared somewhat resigned. “What you did was undoubtedly stupid, but I don’t suppose it deems suspension.”
Cadet Kirk was grinning ear-to-ear, and Spock was going to hyperventilate.
The Captain’s lips twisted into a scowl as he waved Cadet Kirk away. “You are hereby under academic arrest. It might as well be on probation, but you’re allowed to take your classes and sit your exams. You may not leave the premises of the academy and its dormitories for the entire coming semester, and your ID code will be monitored to track your whereabouts. You will also volunteer fifteen hours a week in the teachers’ offices, basically running whatever errands they request of you.”
The punishment would be as equally devastating and dull to a man like Cadet Kirk, but Spock suspected that this incident would be kept quiet and that was what Cadet Kirk had specifically intended.
Cadet Kirk stood and eagerly took the Captain’s hand to shake it and adamantly give his thanks. His emotion of triumph was so thick in the air that Spock illogically imagined he might choke.
Never could he have anticipated that this would turn out so poorly. Spock had certainly not entertained ideas of Cadet Kirk being expelled, but he had assumed the cadet would have been punished more appropriately than this. At the very least, Cadet Kirk should have felt admonished.
But Cadet Kirk had, as Humans would say, talked his way out it. That tongue was far more skilled than Spock had initially conceived - and much to his dismay, he had imagined it quite often.
Spock’s heart banged a deafening beat in his ears as he dumbly followed Cadet Kirk out of the room and into the empty corridor. It was New Year’s Day, and most of the staff and students were on holiday. Those who had remained certainly would not be lurking around the offices at this time of morning.
The door swished shut behind them, and Cadet Kirk turned to smile up at Spock.
Spock was growing to realise that this particular expression generally implied, ‘I am going to dismember you slowly’.
Cadet Kirk said, “Relax. You look like someone just told you Surak is make-believe.”
“I am perfectly relaxed,” Spock lied.
“Really?” Cadet Kirk’s shark-smile did not wane. “Good. Then we can go somewhere and talk about this.”
Spock clenched his jaw. “What is there to discuss?”
Cadet Kirk firmly gripped Spock’s elbow and began to lead him towards the building’s exit. “Oh, you know - the usual. Like the real reason you knew what I was planning and why you decided to fuck me over in the first place.”
They hustled out of the building and headed in the direction of the dorms, where Spock assumed Cadet Kirk lived. He was still speaking, his voice slightly breathless with what was very likely rage.
Spock considered ripping himself from Jim’s grip and possibly dislocating his shoulder for good measure - but he had the unsettling impression that it would only antagonize the cadet.
Cadet Kirk marched forward like a proper soldier moving in for the kill. “I mean, not that I’m not impressed at your deductive skills. Real good stuff, I’m not gonna lie. And you executed it all so nearly perfectly that I might have actually had to swallow the bitter pill. But that just would have been incredibly unpleasant for everyone involved. I think you know that I don’t go down without a fight, and I certainly wouldn’t have hesitated to drag you along for the descent.”
He swept through the Alpha Dormitory - living quarters reserved for the best and brightest - and the force of Jim’s fingertips were nearing the Vulcan bruising point. Kirk’s cheeks were pink and his eyes almost inhuman in their colour. From the first time Spock had seen Kirk clearly from across the room at the masquerade, that infallible turquoise had drawn him in.
Spock blanked his mind and brushed off Kirk’s hand as they paused in front of 28F. Kirk keyed in the code with short, sharp stabs and stalked into the room, clearly assuming that Spock would follow - which he did, without particularly understanding why.
The door closed behind them and Kirk whirled, his expression suddenly tight and unreadable. He narrowed his eyes. “Okay, Professor or Lieutenant Commander or whatever the fuck you like to be called -”
“Spock will do.”
“Spock,” Kirk repeated with none of the warmth he once had. “We both know that you didn’t just follow a hunch you happened to overhear. Or - hell - maybe it started out that way, but you didn’t know Gaila’s name or anything that would have led you to her. Or maybe you sifted through the Orions in the academy database and found her picture, I don’t know.”
Kirk shook his head and looked legitimately aggravated. “What I do know is to follow my instinct, and something here is wrong. So let’s cut the bullshit, shall we - because I’ve kind of overdosed myself on it after that pointless meeting. Goddamn I have a headache!”
The cadet spun on his heel and went to the kitchenette. He poured himself a glass of water straight from the faucet, and downed it in one gulp as Spock silently watched.
This was not the smooth, sexy Kirk of the masquerade. This was not the charismatic cadet of the office. This was a different Kirk - rough around the edges, slightly jittery and most assuredly emotional. They were all him, but this one felt the most tangible for some reason.
“Okay.” Kirk cracked the glass on the counter and glared icily at Spock. “The whole silent thing isn’t going over well with me. There is an easy way to do this and a hard way.”
“I do not react positively to threats, Cadet Kirk.”
Kirk snorted a laugh, and gesticulated wildly with his hands as he approached Spock. “Oh! Oh I’m so sorry, did I hurt the little Vulcan’s feelings? You don’t take very well to bullying do you? Well - no - that’s not quite right. You can fuck me but I can’t return the favour, huh? On what planet is that fair? Actually, I guess the answer would be Vulcan!”
Spock gritted his teeth. “I will not apologise for adhering to the rules of honesty and integrity that the school sets for its cadets.”
“I could have been expelled!” Kirk hissed and lunged. Kirk’s hand was clenched around Spock’s neck - his palm pressed firm and steady against Spock’s Adams apple. “I know I can’t strangle you, but it’ll hurt like fuck when I try. Now tell me.”
For a moment they stared at each other - into each other with hot, searing glares. Their chests heaved mere inches apart, with thighs brushing and noses nearly touching.
Spock brought a hand up to encircle Kirk’s wrist and squeezed. “I utilised a Vulcan mind-sweep during your orgasm.”
Kirk blinked as if he were unable to process this information. Spock experienced a bizarre kind of relief, that in this contact he could sense Kirk’s anger and confusion and that undeniable pang of lust.
From the moment they had met Spock had seen past that façade of smiles and laughter to - well, that had been the wall. Spock had recognised Kirk’s mask, but what had lurked underneath remained a mystery.
Now the mask had fallen and this was Jim Kirk.
Kirk punched Spock square in the mouth, with his knuckles coming down like an avalanche. Fortunately for Spock, his reflexes were far superior and he ended up catching the second fist aimed his way as he gripped Kirk tight and spun them. Kirk’s back slammed against the wall with both of his wrists pinned beside his head - and suddenly they were in an all too familiar position.
Spock swallowed an inadvertent and shameful whimper when Kirk looked up at him with eyes flaring with fire and desire.
Kirk clenched and unclenched the fist he’d punched Spock with, and Spock finally felt the bone-deep ache in his jaw. He considered Kirk patiently.
“Are you relaxed now?” Spock inquired lightly, mirroring Kirk’s earlier comment. “Because I assure you I will not allow you to take me by surprise again. I am confident I would be able to cripple you rather easily.”
Kirk laughed and grinned, his chest still heaving with latent fury. “Not as easily as you might think, big boy. Now let me go.”
Spock quirked an eyebrow. “I think not.”
“I think so.”
“No.”
Kirk glowered, his ears going red along with his cheeks. “At least apologise for being a douchebag. Again, I mean I’m kind of impressed with your Vulcan stealth - how could I not be? But still, you being a douche and all...”
Spock’s brow climbed higher. “I admit I was impressed with your ability to convince Captain Pike into choosing an alternative path of reparation.”
Kirk balked. “That is your apology?”
Spock stared silently at Kirk for a moment. When Kirk didn’t let up, Spock repressed a sigh and looked to the side. “I also enjoy your company, as dangerous as it may be to my health and yours.”
This time Kirk seemed pleased as he flashed a smile. Of course, he did not remain at ease for long as he then frowned. “You can’t even take me on dates now that I’m confined to these fucking grounds.”
Spock felt a slow drop in his stomach. “What?” he distantly heard himself ask.
“You heard me.” Kirk looked determined now, much in the same way he had in the office. “Do you honestly think I’m going to release the only person around here who’s able to outsmart me?”
“You have an unorthodox manner of thought,” Spock murmured, his mind still feeling slightly fuzzy and his heart beating too fast.
“Really? I thought it was a perfectly logical conclusion.” Kirk’s lips curved warm and slow. Hands still secure to the wall, he leaned forward until their noses brushed. He murmured huskily, “Keep your enemies closer.”
The gesture was so uncommonly sweet that it had Spock loosening his grip in shock. Kirk took the moment to slip under Spock’s arm and out of his hold - where Kirk then smacked his hand to the back of Spock’s head and promptly slammed his forehead into the wall.
Kirk giggled and shimmied away from Spock’s fist. “Cripple me rather easily, huh? You should probably know that I take that kind of talk as a challenge and not a threat. I don’t exactly see things as most idiots might.”
“Grey matter and twisted facts?” Spock asked once he’d caught a breathless Kirk in his arms and tossed him in a fireman’s carry.
“I would never say something so pompous, you asshole - now put me the fuck down or you will lose the ability to procreate!” Kirk shouted, already kneeing Spock in the chest as best he could while raking his nails up the small of Spock’s back.
It was possible that Spock laughed as he threw Kirk to the bed, but it also might have been an oof from receiving a foot to the solar plexus. Either way, Spock experienced a curious inkling that he would finally come to comprehend the concept of a Happy New Year.
Author: lalazee
Beta: rainbowstrlght
Series: STXI AU Academy Mirrorverse
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~11,000
Warnings: D/S, biting, bare-backing, violence. Oh, and Gaila - a girl like her should wear a warning.
Summary: At the Starfleet Winter Masquerade, Jim Kirk encounters a mysterious man dressed as a Vulcan. The consequences of one night of fun threaten to come back in ten-fold.
A/N 1: Keep an eye out for carouselcycles’ sexy as hell accompanying art and be sure to let her know just how hot you think it is!
A/N 2: Written for ksadvent.
“This wasn’t exactly the date I had in mind,” Cadet Kirk commented with a closed-mouth smile as he meandered into Captain Pike’s office. “Mornin’ Pike.”
Cadet Kirk nodded at the Captain and then peered at the uniform Spock wore. He smiled with as much emotion as a Vulcan. “Professor Spock.”
Spock instinctively stiffened in his chair and cast the man a single glance before he stared ahead once more. This was a matter of formal business, and so Spock needed to act accordingly.
Unfortunately, that did not hinder his eidetic memory from betraying him with that swift survey. Spock had catalogued the rumpled nature of the cadet’s uniform, as well as the dishevelled hair - and what appeared to be black eyeliner smudged beneath those super-saturated eyes.
Spock could only deduce that Cadet Kirk had made the most of his New Year celebrations. In fact, a tentative conclusion could be made from the ruddiness in Kirk’s cheeks that he was still under the effects of the night.
This meeting had been called rather suddenly. Spock suspected Captain Pike had not notified Cadet Kirk of this small assembly until this very morning, simply to gain an edge in the conversation. Judging by the unkempt status of Kirk’s person, the Captain had succeeded in his goal.
Cadet Kirk stood behind the remaining empty chair, his posture slouched and hands buried in his pockets. His gaze lingered on Spock’s, but there was no flicker of warmth there - only frigid ice.
Even after these weeks it continued to perplex Spock, how a Human could emulate stereotypically friendly mannerisms and yet be so devoid of emotion. The effect would have been disconcerting to a cowardly man, yet with Spock it merely fascinated him.
Cadet Kirk had the potential to be more formidable than both Humans and Vulcans. Of course, the irony was that Spock was both, and yet he encountered the opposite situation than with Cadet Kirk.
Try as Spock might, he could not douse the flame of his emotions. Maintaining a cool exterior was more challenging than it should have been for the average Vulcan. But Spock was not average.
Captain Pike’s steely voice sliced through Spock’s thoughts. “Sit down, Cadet Kirk.”
He did so, and Spock was surprised to find that the cadet sat straight and proper despite the fatigue that lingered in his eyes. Perhaps the cadet was more alarmed than he had expressed. It would not be surprising.
The Captain folded his hands atop his desk and leaned forward. “I’ll get straight to the point, Cadet. I’m putting you on academic probation for the coming semester.”
“Happy New Year to you too,” Kirk drawled, but his expression had gone caustic and his eyes flinty. “May I ask why, or are you in the habit of dishing out unreasonable punishments simply because of the hangover you’re pretending not to nurse?”
Captain Pike’s eyes flashed. “You will treat your superiors with respect Cadet, or you’ll be back in Bumfuck, Iowa before you know it. I’ve got enough here to ruin your chances of admittance into any other respectable school. The only reason I’m keeping you enlisted is because we both know you are your graduating class’ largest asset.”
Spock had been unaware of this detail. Not an entirely unexpected factoid, but intriguing nonetheless.
Judging by the sharp curl of a corner of Cadet Kirk’s mouth, he had been fully aware. Cadet Kirk appeared wholly unperturbed by the Captain’s outburst. “Well, as long as we’re on the same page.”
Spock could not sense a single ripple of unease from this man. It was uncanny. Spock could not help but hypothesise what would educe a genuine reaction from the cadet. Only when Spock had sunk his teeth into the firm flesh of Cadet Kirk’s neck had he reacted with unbridled emotion.
Spock could not place the moment when something so inconsequential had become important to him. He had never required Humans to be honest or forthright with him - not when he could not expect that of himself. Spock existed in an empire built upon deceit and aggression, and so would assume nothing less from its inhabitants.
And yet something about Cadet Kirk’s countenance had Spock imagining they were both as ostracised and unusual as the other.
That notion was undoubtedly foolish - and yet it had sunk itself into Spock with jagged, twisting barbs that refused to pull out.
Cadet Kirk finally leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs. His fingers clenched at the armrest. “So, what’s the deal? What do you claim to have on me, and what the hell does Spock have to do with this?”
Captain Pike raised his eyebrows, and Spock wondered if he ever looked as undeniably pompous as this man when he made a similar facial expression. The Captain slid open a desk drawer to his right and removed something, holding it tight in his palm as he closed the compartment.
Then a red data-card was skittering across the desk, followed by, “In academic vernacular - you cheated.”
Cadet Kirk froze, but did not spare the desk a glance. Judging by the cadet’s reaction, the Captain might not have presented the datacard at all. In fact, he smiled - and Spock found himself recalling the fanged grin of the Terran hyena.
Cadet Kirk politely said, “Respectfully, define cheating.”
For the first time since Kirk had entered the room, Spock found cause to speak. “To deceive by trickery.”
Cadet Kirk shifted in his seat and brought Spock into the conversation. The smile had yet to melt from Cadet Kirk’s icy demeanour. “And what exactly have I done that involves trickery and merits academic probation?”
Why was he attempting to deny what was so clear to everyone in this room? Spock curtly replied, “Cadet Kirk. It is obvious that you had planned to install and activate a sub-routine in the programming code of the Kobayashi Maru exam, thereby changing the conditions of the test.”
Cadet Kirk’s eyes went wide, and for a moment Spock had concluded that the cadet was expressing surprise - until the impending realisation when Cadet Kirk said, “That’s an awfully forward accusation to make, Professor.”
Spock fought back a glare. “I accuse nothing, Cadet. I am simply stating facts.”
The Cadet looked between Spock and the Captain, his expression nearly bordering on what Spock recognised was a genuine smile. “What facts are those? You’ve found what looks to be a datacard. I’m with you so far. But you’ve somehow managed to make the jump from that to me. How, exactly?”
Spock gritted his teeth as inconspicuously as possible. “Once I informed Cadet Vro of the circumstances surrounding the datacard she carried and how you had planned to utilise her in your scheme, she was content to relay the information you had given her regarding the circumstances in which she was to install this programme.”
Kirk pursed his lips, with his eyes bright and stark above the smeared kohl lining his lower lash-line. “And I’ll ask you again. How can you claim this is a programme I created? How can you know what it’ll do without testing it out first?”
“I -”
“Also, when was the last time I even took a programming class, Professor Spock?” Cadet Kirk asked, his words pricking and needling with surprising accuracy. “Have you looked into that? I’m on the Command Track - computers aren’t exactly my forté.”
Captain Pike snapped, “Quiet, Cadet,” and veered his attention towards Spock. “Yes, Lieutenant Commander, would you please reiterate why it is you know this piece of technology belongs to Cadet Kirk?”
Spock regarded them both evenly. He would not be backed into a corner by a cocky cadet with a penchant for warping the facts.
But with Humans there’s all this grey matter. Twisted and bent perceptions of the regulations, of normalcy.
“My conclusion can be undeniably supported by the discoveries I have made. First is Cadet Gaila Vro’s report. She clearly stated that she was to install this programme in the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory ten minutes prior to the time in which Cadet Kirk would be taking the Kobayashi Maru exam for the third time.
“In addition, we have the datacard in our possession, and I was not required to install it in the laboratory to check the contents on a separate computer. There is no question that it is a subroutine and, following logic, the only person who could be responsible for its design is you, Cadet Kirk.”
Spock fixed Cadet Kirk with a look and gained an identical blank expression in return - until Cadet Kirk grinned. His eyes sparkled like the sun rising over the Pacific, and it was then that Spock realised the Cadet had enjoyed this chase. Possibly relished it.
Fascinating.
Cadet Kirk cocked his head and his voice went low, akin to the purr he had utilised in first speaking Spock’s name. “Okay, you caught me there. But admit it Spock, you loved what I did - didn’t you?”
Jim tugging roughly at Spock’s hair, murmuring hot words in cool breath against his ear.
Spock blinked and swallowed. “You have a certain undeniable talent. Regardless, your offence cannot go unpunished.”
Captain Pike cleared his throat and grounded Spock to the present. Spock squared his shoulders and inclined his chin against the unexpected burning pull in his stomach.
The Captain nodded faintly. “Lieutenant Commander Spock is right, Cadet. It’s academic probation for you.”
Annoyance snapped across Cadet Kirk’s face like a flash of lightning. His features tightened, but his cadence maintained its easy flow. “I don’t get it, Pike. I mean, I haven’t done anything. This is all heresy and what-ifs and probability. The fact of the matter is that nothing came of this subroutine, and obviously nothing will now.”
“The fact of the matter is this, Cadet,” Captain Pike replied with evident exasperation. “You carried the intent to cheat, and that’s what you’re paying for.”
“But I wasn’t cheating,” Cadet Kirk’s replied so simply that both Spock and Captain Pike both openly gawked at the cadet.
Spock composed himself quickly. “You certainly were.”
Cadet Kirk thrummed his fingertips atop his knee as he considered Spock. “Were you able to understand the purpose of the subroutine?”
“Of course,” Spock snapped a bit too strongly. He would not be talked down to by a Human.
“Okay then Professor - why don’t you share what would have happened had the programme been installed?”
“What would be achieved by my doing so?”
Cadet Kirk smiled and Spock felt a chill. “Maybe you didn’t understand it after all?”
Spock dearly missed the whimpering subservient Kirk tied up with his own belt. He allowed a muted sigh. “Your programme ensured that the enemy ships’ shields would collapse and the entire fleet destroyed. Afterwards I would assume that you intended to rescue the remaining crew of the Kobayashi Maru.”
“Excellent, Professor Spock,” Cadet Kirk chimed in and sounded pleased. “I’m impressed, although I guess I shouldn’t be. You seem like a man of many talents.”
“I - thank you.”
Captain Pike uttered a sound of derision. “If you two are finished, let’s adjourn.”
“With respect, I’m certainly not finished,” Cadet Kirk replied quickly, training his attention on the Captain. “I’m not going anywhere until my probation is retracted.”
“You don’t give me orders, Cadet,” Captain Pike growled.
“I’m not giving you any orders, Captain,” Cadet Kirk said reasonably, his head cocked. “I’m simply saying that I’m not leaving this room until this is settled.”
The Captain’s eye twitched and Spock felt empathy. “I don’t think you understand that you have no say in this, Cadet Kirk.”
“Seeing as it’s my future on the line, I think I do.” Cadet Kirk held up his hands, palms out in a gesture of peace. “Just hear me out, okay?”
Captain Pike slumped in his seat and dragged a hand over his face. “If it’ll quiet you, go on then.”
Cadet Kirk beamed, looking pleased with himself. “Listen. Yeah, I was going to slightly tweak the conditions, but what of it? How I see it, this test is meant to scare the shit out of us. We’re meant to feel like trapped animals about to be butchered and eaten by the enemy, right? Right.
“And look at me - I got it. I get the principle of it, don’t I? I see what you’re going for. And you know what? I think it’s a load of bullshit. I think there’s always a way out and no simulation is going to make me feel otherwise. I know you want me to feel fear, but fuck if I’m going to.
“So I changed the exam. Don’t you think that’s kind of - fuck, I don’t know - impressive? Ingenuitive, intelligent?” Cadet Kirk laughed and grinned almost maniacally, “Hell, I’d commend me if I were you.”
Spock had not known horror until this moment. His mouth may have dropped open for a split second as he fumbled for a reply to such a ludicrous speech. He pointedly ignored the sliver of him that was impressed and slightly in awe of Cadet Kirk’s confidence and charisma.
“That is absolutely inconceiv -“
Captain Pike held up a hand. His piercing stare was trained upon Cadet Kirk. “Sounds more like cowardice than ingenuity to me. You couldn’t face the fear and stress and so you worked around it.”
Cadet Kirk straightened in his seat and met the Captain’s look head-on. “Respectfully, sir - you’re wrong. You can take the usual path of the test and die - or if you’re lucky, the Maru crew is decimated and your crew limps away like a pathetic dog that should be shot.”
There was a glint in Cadet Kirk’s eye that Spock was growing to recognise as blind, brazen boldness that would one day get him killed - but insinuated that Cadet Kirk would first attempt to obliterate those who tried.
Cadet Kirk leaned in, his hands clenched upon his knees. “Don’t you see it, Captain? I didn’t run away - I snuck in the back door. You think that makes me a coward? I think it’s a snivelling diplomat who decided we’d make fuckin’ friends with the enemy before we destroy them. That’s more two-faced that I’ll ever be. Everybody already knows I’m dishonest, so it’s not a surprise when I am.”
Captain Pike’s gaze narrowed on Cadet Kirk as if seeing him for the first time. He pressed his lips together and rubbed a hand over his mouth before he spoke. Every word sounded scraped out of him. “Cadet Kirk, you are... a different breed of Command Track altogether. You’re a cocky fool who sifts your undeserved potential into all the wrong venues.
“And yet Starfleet needs men like you - those who look outside the box and even reshape it.” Captain Pike gave a hefty sigh and looked to the ceiling for a moment. When his gaze hinged upon Cadet Kirk again, he appeared somewhat resigned. “What you did was undoubtedly stupid, but I don’t suppose it deems suspension.”
Cadet Kirk was grinning ear-to-ear, and Spock was going to hyperventilate.
The Captain’s lips twisted into a scowl as he waved Cadet Kirk away. “You are hereby under academic arrest. It might as well be on probation, but you’re allowed to take your classes and sit your exams. You may not leave the premises of the academy and its dormitories for the entire coming semester, and your ID code will be monitored to track your whereabouts. You will also volunteer fifteen hours a week in the teachers’ offices, basically running whatever errands they request of you.”
The punishment would be as equally devastating and dull to a man like Cadet Kirk, but Spock suspected that this incident would be kept quiet and that was what Cadet Kirk had specifically intended.
Cadet Kirk stood and eagerly took the Captain’s hand to shake it and adamantly give his thanks. His emotion of triumph was so thick in the air that Spock illogically imagined he might choke.
Never could he have anticipated that this would turn out so poorly. Spock had certainly not entertained ideas of Cadet Kirk being expelled, but he had assumed the cadet would have been punished more appropriately than this. At the very least, Cadet Kirk should have felt admonished.
But Cadet Kirk had, as Humans would say, talked his way out it. That tongue was far more skilled than Spock had initially conceived - and much to his dismay, he had imagined it quite often.
Spock’s heart banged a deafening beat in his ears as he dumbly followed Cadet Kirk out of the room and into the empty corridor. It was New Year’s Day, and most of the staff and students were on holiday. Those who had remained certainly would not be lurking around the offices at this time of morning.
The door swished shut behind them, and Cadet Kirk turned to smile up at Spock.
Spock was growing to realise that this particular expression generally implied, ‘I am going to dismember you slowly’.
Cadet Kirk said, “Relax. You look like someone just told you Surak is make-believe.”
“I am perfectly relaxed,” Spock lied.
“Really?” Cadet Kirk’s shark-smile did not wane. “Good. Then we can go somewhere and talk about this.”
Spock clenched his jaw. “What is there to discuss?”
Cadet Kirk firmly gripped Spock’s elbow and began to lead him towards the building’s exit. “Oh, you know - the usual. Like the real reason you knew what I was planning and why you decided to fuck me over in the first place.”
They hustled out of the building and headed in the direction of the dorms, where Spock assumed Cadet Kirk lived. He was still speaking, his voice slightly breathless with what was very likely rage.
Spock considered ripping himself from Jim’s grip and possibly dislocating his shoulder for good measure - but he had the unsettling impression that it would only antagonize the cadet.
Cadet Kirk marched forward like a proper soldier moving in for the kill. “I mean, not that I’m not impressed at your deductive skills. Real good stuff, I’m not gonna lie. And you executed it all so nearly perfectly that I might have actually had to swallow the bitter pill. But that just would have been incredibly unpleasant for everyone involved. I think you know that I don’t go down without a fight, and I certainly wouldn’t have hesitated to drag you along for the descent.”
He swept through the Alpha Dormitory - living quarters reserved for the best and brightest - and the force of Jim’s fingertips were nearing the Vulcan bruising point. Kirk’s cheeks were pink and his eyes almost inhuman in their colour. From the first time Spock had seen Kirk clearly from across the room at the masquerade, that infallible turquoise had drawn him in.
Spock blanked his mind and brushed off Kirk’s hand as they paused in front of 28F. Kirk keyed in the code with short, sharp stabs and stalked into the room, clearly assuming that Spock would follow - which he did, without particularly understanding why.
The door closed behind them and Kirk whirled, his expression suddenly tight and unreadable. He narrowed his eyes. “Okay, Professor or Lieutenant Commander or whatever the fuck you like to be called -”
“Spock will do.”
“Spock,” Kirk repeated with none of the warmth he once had. “We both know that you didn’t just follow a hunch you happened to overhear. Or - hell - maybe it started out that way, but you didn’t know Gaila’s name or anything that would have led you to her. Or maybe you sifted through the Orions in the academy database and found her picture, I don’t know.”
Kirk shook his head and looked legitimately aggravated. “What I do know is to follow my instinct, and something here is wrong. So let’s cut the bullshit, shall we - because I’ve kind of overdosed myself on it after that pointless meeting. Goddamn I have a headache!”
The cadet spun on his heel and went to the kitchenette. He poured himself a glass of water straight from the faucet, and downed it in one gulp as Spock silently watched.
This was not the smooth, sexy Kirk of the masquerade. This was not the charismatic cadet of the office. This was a different Kirk - rough around the edges, slightly jittery and most assuredly emotional. They were all him, but this one felt the most tangible for some reason.
“Okay.” Kirk cracked the glass on the counter and glared icily at Spock. “The whole silent thing isn’t going over well with me. There is an easy way to do this and a hard way.”
“I do not react positively to threats, Cadet Kirk.”
Kirk snorted a laugh, and gesticulated wildly with his hands as he approached Spock. “Oh! Oh I’m so sorry, did I hurt the little Vulcan’s feelings? You don’t take very well to bullying do you? Well - no - that’s not quite right. You can fuck me but I can’t return the favour, huh? On what planet is that fair? Actually, I guess the answer would be Vulcan!”
Spock gritted his teeth. “I will not apologise for adhering to the rules of honesty and integrity that the school sets for its cadets.”
“I could have been expelled!” Kirk hissed and lunged. Kirk’s hand was clenched around Spock’s neck - his palm pressed firm and steady against Spock’s Adams apple. “I know I can’t strangle you, but it’ll hurt like fuck when I try. Now tell me.”
For a moment they stared at each other - into each other with hot, searing glares. Their chests heaved mere inches apart, with thighs brushing and noses nearly touching.
Spock brought a hand up to encircle Kirk’s wrist and squeezed. “I utilised a Vulcan mind-sweep during your orgasm.”
Kirk blinked as if he were unable to process this information. Spock experienced a bizarre kind of relief, that in this contact he could sense Kirk’s anger and confusion and that undeniable pang of lust.
From the moment they had met Spock had seen past that façade of smiles and laughter to - well, that had been the wall. Spock had recognised Kirk’s mask, but what had lurked underneath remained a mystery.
Now the mask had fallen and this was Jim Kirk.
Kirk punched Spock square in the mouth, with his knuckles coming down like an avalanche. Fortunately for Spock, his reflexes were far superior and he ended up catching the second fist aimed his way as he gripped Kirk tight and spun them. Kirk’s back slammed against the wall with both of his wrists pinned beside his head - and suddenly they were in an all too familiar position.
Spock swallowed an inadvertent and shameful whimper when Kirk looked up at him with eyes flaring with fire and desire.
Kirk clenched and unclenched the fist he’d punched Spock with, and Spock finally felt the bone-deep ache in his jaw. He considered Kirk patiently.
“Are you relaxed now?” Spock inquired lightly, mirroring Kirk’s earlier comment. “Because I assure you I will not allow you to take me by surprise again. I am confident I would be able to cripple you rather easily.”
Kirk laughed and grinned, his chest still heaving with latent fury. “Not as easily as you might think, big boy. Now let me go.”
Spock quirked an eyebrow. “I think not.”
“I think so.”
“No.”
Kirk glowered, his ears going red along with his cheeks. “At least apologise for being a douchebag. Again, I mean I’m kind of impressed with your Vulcan stealth - how could I not be? But still, you being a douche and all...”
Spock’s brow climbed higher. “I admit I was impressed with your ability to convince Captain Pike into choosing an alternative path of reparation.”
Kirk balked. “That is your apology?”
Spock stared silently at Kirk for a moment. When Kirk didn’t let up, Spock repressed a sigh and looked to the side. “I also enjoy your company, as dangerous as it may be to my health and yours.”
This time Kirk seemed pleased as he flashed a smile. Of course, he did not remain at ease for long as he then frowned. “You can’t even take me on dates now that I’m confined to these fucking grounds.”
Spock felt a slow drop in his stomach. “What?” he distantly heard himself ask.
“You heard me.” Kirk looked determined now, much in the same way he had in the office. “Do you honestly think I’m going to release the only person around here who’s able to outsmart me?”
“You have an unorthodox manner of thought,” Spock murmured, his mind still feeling slightly fuzzy and his heart beating too fast.
“Really? I thought it was a perfectly logical conclusion.” Kirk’s lips curved warm and slow. Hands still secure to the wall, he leaned forward until their noses brushed. He murmured huskily, “Keep your enemies closer.”
The gesture was so uncommonly sweet that it had Spock loosening his grip in shock. Kirk took the moment to slip under Spock’s arm and out of his hold - where Kirk then smacked his hand to the back of Spock’s head and promptly slammed his forehead into the wall.
Kirk giggled and shimmied away from Spock’s fist. “Cripple me rather easily, huh? You should probably know that I take that kind of talk as a challenge and not a threat. I don’t exactly see things as most idiots might.”
“Grey matter and twisted facts?” Spock asked once he’d caught a breathless Kirk in his arms and tossed him in a fireman’s carry.
“I would never say something so pompous, you asshole - now put me the fuck down or you will lose the ability to procreate!” Kirk shouted, already kneeing Spock in the chest as best he could while raking his nails up the small of Spock’s back.
It was possible that Spock laughed as he threw Kirk to the bed, but it also might have been an oof from receiving a foot to the solar plexus. Either way, Spock experienced a curious inkling that he would finally come to comprehend the concept of a Happy New Year.