Star Trek Fic - Penance Chapter Twelve
PENANCE Chapter Twelve
by SlwMtionDaylite
Written for reel_startrek, Round Two
Based upon the film Atonement, written by Christopher Hampton (based upon the novel by Ian McEwan) and directed by Joe Wright
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I own nothing. Paramount, et al. own all. I really wish they would let me borrow Spock for a while though. Atonement owned by Universal Pictures, Studio Canal, Relativity Media and Working Title Films.
Rating: Strong R/M
Genre: Romance, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Action/Adventure
Characters/Pairing: Kirk, Spock/Uhura
Word Count (Chapter Twelve): ~2464
Beta: jlneveloff
Warnings: Language. Sexual situations, violence
Summary: Alternate Universe. This is the story of a young cadet that sees something he thinks he understands. But he doesn’t.
CHAPTER TWELVE - TWO LOVERS FRAMED IN A WINDOW
Andoria was cold. Kirk shivered slightly, wrapping his arms tightly around him. He hated this moon and he hated the icy landscape. He’d only been back for two days. Only two days had passed since that tumultuous rescue mission. Only two days had passed since he held the hand of the dying Vulcan, listening to her fear, her cries. He wouldn’t admit it to anyone, but it had left him more rattled than he thought possible. She had started as emotionless as any Vulcan he’d seen, but then she shattered, shaking him to his very core.
The moon of Andoria felt exactly as he did.
Cold. Frozen.
He walked down the narrow path, where he was told Uhura lived, where Alandra told him Uhura lived. He passed several Andorians, all of whom nodded respectively towards him, eyes filled with sadness. He responded in kind. It was tiring to deal with the various looks of pity he’d receive from some of the inhabitants of this moon. They meant well; he knew that. Everyone in the Federation had been shaken by the destruction of two of the most influential planets. Everyone meant well.
The path he followed eventually opened and the apartment stood before him, towering. He hesitated now that he was at his destination. He knew that she would not be glad to welcome him into her home. And he couldn’t blame her. Not after how he royally fucked everything up through his well-meaning but misinformed intentions. He had never wished more than that moment for the ability to travel back in time, to reverse the mistakes he made.
But it was not possible.
And he needed to face her and face what he did. Let her know that he now understood.
He walked toward the door, passing an elderly Andorian woman.
“Are you looking for someone?”
He stopped and looked at her. She smiled kindly at him, her antennae twitching. “Uh, I’m looking for Nyota Uhura. I was told she lived here?”
The zhen’s smile grew wider and she exclaimed, “Oh, Miss Uhura. She’s such a lovely human.”
He nodded. “Yeah. She is. Do you know if she’s in?”
She nodded, walking slowly to the door. “Uhura! There’s a lovely man here to see you!” She yelled through the opened door.
Kirk blushed slightly.
A few moments passed and then she stood before him, dressed in only her short robes, the sash untied. Staring in shock, her jaw dropped and her eyes wide. “My God.”
Kirk looked down at his feet, shuffling nervously. “I, uh, I tried sending you letters through subspace, but you’d never responded. I needed to talk to you. So I came here.”
Uhura didn’t respond, just turned around and entered her apartment. She left the door opened and Kirk took that as a sign that he was welcomed, however begrudgingly. Several old-fashioned paper-bound books - rarities now - lined the bookcases, in several different languages, in both human and alien. Small works of art adorned the plain walls. It was clean and well-kept. The apartment was exactly as he’d imagine it would for her.
He followed her into the small kitchenette, where she busied herself with making tea, setting the kettle on the stove. He leaned against the counter, watching nervously. She sighed and turned to look at him, studying him.
“So, you’re a Captain now?”
Kirk’s eyes fell to his golden uniform, pristine and clean, as though he’d forgotten about it. “Yeah.” He replied slowly. He was still unaccustomed to being referred to as a captain.
There was a long stretch of unbearably awkward silence.
The kettle suddenly went off, startling Kirk, and Uhura rushed to it quickly, eager to have something to do.
She opened the cabinet door and took out some cups - three, Kirk noticed - and set them on the counter. Barely glancing at Kirk, she asked, “Want some tea?”
“Uh. Yeah. Okay.”
She gave a nod and poured him a cup.
Suddenly, after taking the cup from her, Kirk spoke abruptly. “I want to change my evidence, Nyota.”
“Don’t call me that!” Uhura exclaimed. She turned away from him, leaning heavily against the counter. “Please, don’t ever call me that.” Her words were a whisper, a plea. He was not allowed to use it.
Kirk cleared his throat, his nerves threatening to overtake him. “I don’t expect you to forgive me. What I did was terrible.”
Uhura snorted, shaking her head. “Oh, don’t worry. I won’t.” She headed into the living area of her apartment. Not looking at him, she continued. “They’ll never reopen the case. How can they? It’s in the past. Where Earth is. Where Vulcan is.”
“Well, I can at least tell the Admirals. I’ll return to headquarters and I’ll tell -“
Uhura whirled around to face him. “So what’s stopping you? Oh, that’s right. They’re dead now. Just like everyone else.”
Kirk’s gaze dropped. He didn’t like this bitter version of Uhura. He wanted to see her effervescent personality, like at the Academy. But, things were different. Everyone was different. Including her. He knew that. He just didn’t like it. “I wanted to see you first.”
Uhura rolled her eyes.
Suddenly, the bedroom door slid open and Spock stood in front of Kirk and Uhura, wearing his uniform trousers. His shirt had been removed and there was a large bandage taped over the wound on his solar plexus.
Kirk was surprised at how different he looked, how much more tired and thin he seemed. Only two weeks had passed since he had last seen the Vulcan sharing a tender moment with Uhura.
Uhura immediately moved to Spock, standing in front of him and obscuring his view of Kirk.
As he watched them exchange quiet words, Kirk was thankful for the reprieve, no matter how small it might be. He had not anticipated that Spock would be here, as well. Last he heard, the Vulcan had been deployed in some kind of secret suicide mission on Romulus.
“Pardon me,” Spock spoke softly. He nodded to Kirk, though he did not seem to look at him directly, and then he returned to the bedroom.
Awkward silence blanketed the room. Kirk watched Uhura watch the closed bedroom door.
“He sleeps so deeply,” she said suddenly.
Kirk said nothing but just stood in front of the small coffee table, his nerves tingling.
Uhura’s gaze shifted from the door to him and she waited.
For what, he didn’t know. For him to say something? But he had no idea what to say. Eventually, she gave a soft sigh and moved back to the kitchenette. Kirk heard her milling around the kitchenette, cleaning dishes, taking food out of stasis.
Finally, the bedroom door opened again and Kirk darted as far away from it as he could. Spock’s eyes finally landed on him for the first time and the Vulcan halted his movements, his fingers poised on the buttons of his shirt.
Kirk couldn’t hold his gaze, his eyes dancing across the room.
Spock did not address him. Instead, he moved to the kitchen area and spoke to Uhura. “What is he doing here?”
Uhura moved to the doorway, leaning against the wall. “He came to speak to me.”
Spock stood erect, placing his hands behind his back - a stance Kirk remembered painfully well from the Academy. “Indeed.” Spock spoke slowly.
Kirk couldn’t read his facial expression, as it was still so carefully blank. It frustrated him and made him anxious.
Spock looked at him. “He wishes to speak to you about what, I wonder?”
Kirk cleared his throat. He felt his heart pounding fiercely in his chest. Spock and Uhura simply stood side by side, watching him. This was not how he imagined this. “That thing I did.”
For the first time since he’d known Spock, Kirk saw the first sign of emotion flicker across the Vulcan’s face. Spock’s jaw tensed and his eyes narrowed. It was clear to Kirk that he was furious, barely containing it.
Spock stepped closer, his hands dropping to his sides, clenched in fists. “If I may be completely honest with you, I find myself at odds. I am torn between breaking your neck here and throwing you out the window.”
Kirk took a deep breath and shaky breath but refused to let Spock’s words frighten him.
Spock continued to stalk toward him and Kirk realized he was standing before a volatile Vulcan.
“Have you any idea what it’s like to be forced into a ritual to erase your emotions against your will? Because you dared to love? Because some fool cadet misinterpreted your actions for violence? Of course you do not. Did you find pleasure in my banishment from Starfleet, from my people, my family?”
Kirk’s eyes dropped. “No.”
“But you did nothing.”
He shook his head. “No.”
“Did you think I assaulted Nyota?”
“No - yes. I don’t know.”
Spock’s eyebrow rose. “You don’t know? And what has made you certain now?”
“Growing up.”
Both brows inched upwards and Kirk realized Spock was looking at him in disbelief. “Growing up?”
Kirk’s eyes darted around the room. “I was a cadet.”
“A cadet? How does this excuse your actions?”
“I don’t know.” His arms waved around helplessly. “I didn’t know much about Vulcans. I...”
“You are a member of Starfleet, are you not? A captain, judging from you uniform. How can a member of Starfleet - then a star cadet - purport to not know about Vulcans, one of the founding races of the Federation, the race that initiated First Contact with your race?”
Kirk took a deep breath, his eyes darting to Uhura, who only looked at Spock. “I...I have no excuse.”
Spock's voice was cold. "Precisely. There is no excuse when the information is so readily at hand. This only leads me to conclude that your actions were the result of jealousy."
Kirk opened his mouth, set to protest, even though Spock's words had a ring of truth to them. Even if only slightly.
"I was well aware of your regards for Nyota. I was also aware of her repeated protests, of which you ignored. I can only assume that it was your jealousy that led to your inclination to lie to Captain Pike, to Admiral Barnett, my father of my behavior, my intentions regarding Miss Uhura."
"But you didn't protest. You just went along with it. I thought you did do it when you didn't argue."
Spock shook his head, visibly upset. "How could you think that I had been capable of what you accused me? It goes against the very nature of a Vulcan. I would have never forced my will or my body -" He broke off, his eyes closing tightly.
Uhura slowly approached Spock, pulling him away from Kirk, closer to the kitchenette. "Spock, don't. Please, look at me, Spock. Look at me."
Spock met her gaze and she smiled sadly, bringing his face to hers and kissing his face gently, lingering on his lips.
Kirk felt uncomfortable, shifting from foot to foot. He looked elsewhere, feeling as though he were intruding on a private moment. He moved to the window and looked out, gazing at the cold Andorian Mountains in the far distance. He heard soft murmuring from Spock and Uhura but couldn't make out their words.
"Kirk." Uhura's voice was calm, collected.
He turned slowly, facing them.
Uhura stood slightly in front of Spock - Shielding him? - and held his hand tightly in hers.
Kirk's gaze lingered briefly on their joined hands before he brought his eyes upwards to meet hers.
"There isn't a lot of time. Spock has to report to duty at 1800 hours. So, sit down. There are a few things you're going to do for us. If you're serious about repenting."
Kirk nodded emphatically. "I am. I just want to make everything right." He sat down on the sofa, next to Uhura, who tightened the sash of her robe around her waist.
Spock chose to remain standing, his hands behind his back, looming over Kirk. "You shall return to Starfleet headquarters. Once there, you are to speak to the remaining admirals. You are to tell them you wish to retract your accusation and tell them everything you must to convince them your evidence was false. You will tell them you wish to inform them the correct version of events."
"Yes, sir. I will do that." Kirk looked at Uhura.
She scrutinized him studiously.
Spock gave a quick nod. "However, despite this, it is highly unlikely that I will be reinstated, nor do I wish to be, because I did commit an infraction."
"Then why -"
"This next mission for Starfleet is set to be my last. I wish to return to Nyota, bond with her, and live the rest of our lives without shame. Without the stigma of rape looming over my head. Only you can ensure that will happen. When you have done all of this, you are to inform Miss Uhura via subspace. Afterwards, we do not wish to see you again. Is that clear?"
"Yes." Kirk looked from Spock to Uhura then back to Spock. He waited to see if Spock would say anything else, but he didn't. He didn't like the idea of never seeing Uhura again, of never seeing her smile again, but he had to respect their wishes. Even if it pained him to do it.
Spock moved to the window and looked out, studying the Andorians below.
Kirk got to his feet slowly. Directing his words to Spock, he looked at Uhura. "I'm very, very sorry for the distress I've caused. So sorry."
Spock turned to look at him. "Do what I have asked of you. That will be all."
"I will. I promise." He quickly left, his breath shaky.
When he exited and returned to the street, he turned and looked at Uhura's window for what he knew would be the last time.
Spock and Uhura stood in the window, locked in a tender embrace. She brought her hands to his cheeks, pulling him in for a kiss. Spock wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, bringing her closer to him. His hands moved to the sash of her robes, which he deftly untied and the robes fell open, revealing her body to him.
Uhura wrapped her legs around Spock's waist, dropping her arms briefly to her sides, allowing the robes to fall to the ground. She was nude underneath.
Kirk watched them, his eyes wide, for several moments, before he felt himself grow warm. He dropped his eyes, embarrassed and ashamed to have watched them at such a moment.
Quickly, he turned away from the window and set off the way he came, heading for Starfleet headquarters.
by SlwMtionDaylite
Written for reel_startrek, Round Two
Based upon the film Atonement, written by Christopher Hampton (based upon the novel by Ian McEwan) and directed by Joe Wright
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I own nothing. Paramount, et al. own all. I really wish they would let me borrow Spock for a while though. Atonement owned by Universal Pictures, Studio Canal, Relativity Media and Working Title Films.
Rating: Strong R/M
Genre: Romance, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Action/Adventure
Characters/Pairing: Kirk, Spock/Uhura
Word Count (Chapter Twelve): ~2464
Beta: jlneveloff
Warnings: Language. Sexual situations, violence
Summary: Alternate Universe. This is the story of a young cadet that sees something he thinks he understands. But he doesn’t.
CHAPTER TWELVE - TWO LOVERS FRAMED IN A WINDOW
Andoria was cold. Kirk shivered slightly, wrapping his arms tightly around him. He hated this moon and he hated the icy landscape. He’d only been back for two days. Only two days had passed since that tumultuous rescue mission. Only two days had passed since he held the hand of the dying Vulcan, listening to her fear, her cries. He wouldn’t admit it to anyone, but it had left him more rattled than he thought possible. She had started as emotionless as any Vulcan he’d seen, but then she shattered, shaking him to his very core.
The moon of Andoria felt exactly as he did.
Cold. Frozen.
He walked down the narrow path, where he was told Uhura lived, where Alandra told him Uhura lived. He passed several Andorians, all of whom nodded respectively towards him, eyes filled with sadness. He responded in kind. It was tiring to deal with the various looks of pity he’d receive from some of the inhabitants of this moon. They meant well; he knew that. Everyone in the Federation had been shaken by the destruction of two of the most influential planets. Everyone meant well.
The path he followed eventually opened and the apartment stood before him, towering. He hesitated now that he was at his destination. He knew that she would not be glad to welcome him into her home. And he couldn’t blame her. Not after how he royally fucked everything up through his well-meaning but misinformed intentions. He had never wished more than that moment for the ability to travel back in time, to reverse the mistakes he made.
But it was not possible.
And he needed to face her and face what he did. Let her know that he now understood.
He walked toward the door, passing an elderly Andorian woman.
“Are you looking for someone?”
He stopped and looked at her. She smiled kindly at him, her antennae twitching. “Uh, I’m looking for Nyota Uhura. I was told she lived here?”
The zhen’s smile grew wider and she exclaimed, “Oh, Miss Uhura. She’s such a lovely human.”
He nodded. “Yeah. She is. Do you know if she’s in?”
She nodded, walking slowly to the door. “Uhura! There’s a lovely man here to see you!” She yelled through the opened door.
Kirk blushed slightly.
A few moments passed and then she stood before him, dressed in only her short robes, the sash untied. Staring in shock, her jaw dropped and her eyes wide. “My God.”
Kirk looked down at his feet, shuffling nervously. “I, uh, I tried sending you letters through subspace, but you’d never responded. I needed to talk to you. So I came here.”
Uhura didn’t respond, just turned around and entered her apartment. She left the door opened and Kirk took that as a sign that he was welcomed, however begrudgingly. Several old-fashioned paper-bound books - rarities now - lined the bookcases, in several different languages, in both human and alien. Small works of art adorned the plain walls. It was clean and well-kept. The apartment was exactly as he’d imagine it would for her.
He followed her into the small kitchenette, where she busied herself with making tea, setting the kettle on the stove. He leaned against the counter, watching nervously. She sighed and turned to look at him, studying him.
“So, you’re a Captain now?”
Kirk’s eyes fell to his golden uniform, pristine and clean, as though he’d forgotten about it. “Yeah.” He replied slowly. He was still unaccustomed to being referred to as a captain.
There was a long stretch of unbearably awkward silence.
The kettle suddenly went off, startling Kirk, and Uhura rushed to it quickly, eager to have something to do.
She opened the cabinet door and took out some cups - three, Kirk noticed - and set them on the counter. Barely glancing at Kirk, she asked, “Want some tea?”
“Uh. Yeah. Okay.”
She gave a nod and poured him a cup.
Suddenly, after taking the cup from her, Kirk spoke abruptly. “I want to change my evidence, Nyota.”
“Don’t call me that!” Uhura exclaimed. She turned away from him, leaning heavily against the counter. “Please, don’t ever call me that.” Her words were a whisper, a plea. He was not allowed to use it.
Kirk cleared his throat, his nerves threatening to overtake him. “I don’t expect you to forgive me. What I did was terrible.”
Uhura snorted, shaking her head. “Oh, don’t worry. I won’t.” She headed into the living area of her apartment. Not looking at him, she continued. “They’ll never reopen the case. How can they? It’s in the past. Where Earth is. Where Vulcan is.”
“Well, I can at least tell the Admirals. I’ll return to headquarters and I’ll tell -“
Uhura whirled around to face him. “So what’s stopping you? Oh, that’s right. They’re dead now. Just like everyone else.”
Kirk’s gaze dropped. He didn’t like this bitter version of Uhura. He wanted to see her effervescent personality, like at the Academy. But, things were different. Everyone was different. Including her. He knew that. He just didn’t like it. “I wanted to see you first.”
Uhura rolled her eyes.
Suddenly, the bedroom door slid open and Spock stood in front of Kirk and Uhura, wearing his uniform trousers. His shirt had been removed and there was a large bandage taped over the wound on his solar plexus.
Kirk was surprised at how different he looked, how much more tired and thin he seemed. Only two weeks had passed since he had last seen the Vulcan sharing a tender moment with Uhura.
Uhura immediately moved to Spock, standing in front of him and obscuring his view of Kirk.
As he watched them exchange quiet words, Kirk was thankful for the reprieve, no matter how small it might be. He had not anticipated that Spock would be here, as well. Last he heard, the Vulcan had been deployed in some kind of secret suicide mission on Romulus.
“Pardon me,” Spock spoke softly. He nodded to Kirk, though he did not seem to look at him directly, and then he returned to the bedroom.
Awkward silence blanketed the room. Kirk watched Uhura watch the closed bedroom door.
“He sleeps so deeply,” she said suddenly.
Kirk said nothing but just stood in front of the small coffee table, his nerves tingling.
Uhura’s gaze shifted from the door to him and she waited.
For what, he didn’t know. For him to say something? But he had no idea what to say. Eventually, she gave a soft sigh and moved back to the kitchenette. Kirk heard her milling around the kitchenette, cleaning dishes, taking food out of stasis.
Finally, the bedroom door opened again and Kirk darted as far away from it as he could. Spock’s eyes finally landed on him for the first time and the Vulcan halted his movements, his fingers poised on the buttons of his shirt.
Kirk couldn’t hold his gaze, his eyes dancing across the room.
Spock did not address him. Instead, he moved to the kitchen area and spoke to Uhura. “What is he doing here?”
Uhura moved to the doorway, leaning against the wall. “He came to speak to me.”
Spock stood erect, placing his hands behind his back - a stance Kirk remembered painfully well from the Academy. “Indeed.” Spock spoke slowly.
Kirk couldn’t read his facial expression, as it was still so carefully blank. It frustrated him and made him anxious.
Spock looked at him. “He wishes to speak to you about what, I wonder?”
Kirk cleared his throat. He felt his heart pounding fiercely in his chest. Spock and Uhura simply stood side by side, watching him. This was not how he imagined this. “That thing I did.”
For the first time since he’d known Spock, Kirk saw the first sign of emotion flicker across the Vulcan’s face. Spock’s jaw tensed and his eyes narrowed. It was clear to Kirk that he was furious, barely containing it.
Spock stepped closer, his hands dropping to his sides, clenched in fists. “If I may be completely honest with you, I find myself at odds. I am torn between breaking your neck here and throwing you out the window.”
Kirk took a deep breath and shaky breath but refused to let Spock’s words frighten him.
Spock continued to stalk toward him and Kirk realized he was standing before a volatile Vulcan.
“Have you any idea what it’s like to be forced into a ritual to erase your emotions against your will? Because you dared to love? Because some fool cadet misinterpreted your actions for violence? Of course you do not. Did you find pleasure in my banishment from Starfleet, from my people, my family?”
Kirk’s eyes dropped. “No.”
“But you did nothing.”
He shook his head. “No.”
“Did you think I assaulted Nyota?”
“No - yes. I don’t know.”
Spock’s eyebrow rose. “You don’t know? And what has made you certain now?”
“Growing up.”
Both brows inched upwards and Kirk realized Spock was looking at him in disbelief. “Growing up?”
Kirk’s eyes darted around the room. “I was a cadet.”
“A cadet? How does this excuse your actions?”
“I don’t know.” His arms waved around helplessly. “I didn’t know much about Vulcans. I...”
“You are a member of Starfleet, are you not? A captain, judging from you uniform. How can a member of Starfleet - then a star cadet - purport to not know about Vulcans, one of the founding races of the Federation, the race that initiated First Contact with your race?”
Kirk took a deep breath, his eyes darting to Uhura, who only looked at Spock. “I...I have no excuse.”
Spock's voice was cold. "Precisely. There is no excuse when the information is so readily at hand. This only leads me to conclude that your actions were the result of jealousy."
Kirk opened his mouth, set to protest, even though Spock's words had a ring of truth to them. Even if only slightly.
"I was well aware of your regards for Nyota. I was also aware of her repeated protests, of which you ignored. I can only assume that it was your jealousy that led to your inclination to lie to Captain Pike, to Admiral Barnett, my father of my behavior, my intentions regarding Miss Uhura."
"But you didn't protest. You just went along with it. I thought you did do it when you didn't argue."
Spock shook his head, visibly upset. "How could you think that I had been capable of what you accused me? It goes against the very nature of a Vulcan. I would have never forced my will or my body -" He broke off, his eyes closing tightly.
Uhura slowly approached Spock, pulling him away from Kirk, closer to the kitchenette. "Spock, don't. Please, look at me, Spock. Look at me."
Spock met her gaze and she smiled sadly, bringing his face to hers and kissing his face gently, lingering on his lips.
Kirk felt uncomfortable, shifting from foot to foot. He looked elsewhere, feeling as though he were intruding on a private moment. He moved to the window and looked out, gazing at the cold Andorian Mountains in the far distance. He heard soft murmuring from Spock and Uhura but couldn't make out their words.
"Kirk." Uhura's voice was calm, collected.
He turned slowly, facing them.
Uhura stood slightly in front of Spock - Shielding him? - and held his hand tightly in hers.
Kirk's gaze lingered briefly on their joined hands before he brought his eyes upwards to meet hers.
"There isn't a lot of time. Spock has to report to duty at 1800 hours. So, sit down. There are a few things you're going to do for us. If you're serious about repenting."
Kirk nodded emphatically. "I am. I just want to make everything right." He sat down on the sofa, next to Uhura, who tightened the sash of her robe around her waist.
Spock chose to remain standing, his hands behind his back, looming over Kirk. "You shall return to Starfleet headquarters. Once there, you are to speak to the remaining admirals. You are to tell them you wish to retract your accusation and tell them everything you must to convince them your evidence was false. You will tell them you wish to inform them the correct version of events."
"Yes, sir. I will do that." Kirk looked at Uhura.
She scrutinized him studiously.
Spock gave a quick nod. "However, despite this, it is highly unlikely that I will be reinstated, nor do I wish to be, because I did commit an infraction."
"Then why -"
"This next mission for Starfleet is set to be my last. I wish to return to Nyota, bond with her, and live the rest of our lives without shame. Without the stigma of rape looming over my head. Only you can ensure that will happen. When you have done all of this, you are to inform Miss Uhura via subspace. Afterwards, we do not wish to see you again. Is that clear?"
"Yes." Kirk looked from Spock to Uhura then back to Spock. He waited to see if Spock would say anything else, but he didn't. He didn't like the idea of never seeing Uhura again, of never seeing her smile again, but he had to respect their wishes. Even if it pained him to do it.
Spock moved to the window and looked out, studying the Andorians below.
Kirk got to his feet slowly. Directing his words to Spock, he looked at Uhura. "I'm very, very sorry for the distress I've caused. So sorry."
Spock turned to look at him. "Do what I have asked of you. That will be all."
"I will. I promise." He quickly left, his breath shaky.
When he exited and returned to the street, he turned and looked at Uhura's window for what he knew would be the last time.
Spock and Uhura stood in the window, locked in a tender embrace. She brought her hands to his cheeks, pulling him in for a kiss. Spock wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, bringing her closer to him. His hands moved to the sash of her robes, which he deftly untied and the robes fell open, revealing her body to him.
Uhura wrapped her legs around Spock's waist, dropping her arms briefly to her sides, allowing the robes to fall to the ground. She was nude underneath.
Kirk watched them, his eyes wide, for several moments, before he felt himself grow warm. He dropped his eyes, embarrassed and ashamed to have watched them at such a moment.
Quickly, he turned away from the window and set off the way he came, heading for Starfleet headquarters.