smartass_captain | The Academy AU for sensors

The night Sam Kirk walks into the Kirk family farmhouse his little brother throws a fucking beer bottle at his face. He misses. If he'd hit, the next several years might not have happened.

Jim is twenty years old and his life is a fucking mess.

He's no longer in the goddamn hospital every other month, but still in mandatory therapy until he ages out of the system on his 21st birthday. His therapist has worked with him since. Well. Since he got mandated one by the University of Iowa's children's hospital when they brought him home and nursed him back from the brink of being starved to death. Sam isn't here about Tarsus though. He's here because he heard little Jimmy just got out of a stint in county for petty theft.

Why's a guy stealing bread in this day and age? Jim doesn't give him a satisfactory answer. He can't. There isn't one. He'd been better until he'd left his personal device at home for a weekend boke trip. Without his meal schedule Jim can't function. But see, his body doesn't tell him when he's hungry anymore either, so Jim hadn't noticed until it was day three and he started hurting. All sense left him. Next thing he knows he's sitting in a jail cell being watched while he eats the food they gave him because anyone can see Jim Kirk is still too thin. Jim hates it. That look of fucking pity.

He was home and on his fourth beer of the evening when his fucking older brother strides in like he hasn't been gone for the last damn near decade of Jim's life.

"Sober up. I want you to come into town with me tomorrow and take a test." Sam had said. Jim thinks he told his brother to fuck off. He thinks he tried, but he might have stormed off so the other didn't see him break down into tears. He dodges Sam for three days before they bond over noon breakfast talking about when their mom finally found out about and ditched Frank. Sam asks where Winona sent him then, since neither of them believes for a second she stayed Earthside to raise him herself.

Jim lies.

But the lie works. And so he lets Sam drive them into town chattering the whole time about Starfleet. He wants Jim to take an aptitude test. If he passes, well. Dear ol' big brother's gonna whisk him away to San Francisco so they can enlist together. Sam got in, you see. Second attempt, so maybe Jimmy won't be going with him Right away.

"Jim." Jim corrects him. He's toying with the idea of maybe letting Sam talk him into this, but he's not forgetting the last damn near decade so easily. Not forgiving it yet, either. He tells himself he'll take the stupid test to shut his brother up. And hell, maybe he'll even beat his 'big bro' and pass on a first try. He aces it, hangover and all. Sam seems real keen on congratulating himself for giving Jim pointers the last couple days and Jim doesn't argue much.

A change of scenery seems like a decent idea.

All he wants to take fits into a single duffel bag he tosses into the back of Sam's beater of a truck and they make for San Francisco...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All

From:

smartass_captain

"You didn't do any research before moving all the way out to Earth, huh?" Jim steps around the end of his bed and settles in on the side of it where he can still be facing Spock while they chat. He grins up at the other with those bright blue eyes shining in amusement.

Genuine, this time. There's no need to pretend to be friendly and cheerful with this guy. Like the doctor from orientation, Jim doesn't even realize he's being more open with Spock than he does literally anyone else. Including his own brother.

"Well, you're the first Vulcan I've ever had the pleasure to meet so. We can be new at this whole 'other species' thing together. Anything I should know about so far as what not to do around you?" Jim likes to gesture while he talks. Where Spock is stiff and still, Jim is abundant in energy. Emotion in his speech. How bright he smiles.

From:

sensors

Spock is, during this conversation, standing at a loose parade rest. It is, for him, a relatively relaxed position. Even when he is being accosted by bright, bright blue eyes.

"I did not have as much time as I would have preferred for research," he admits, "as my decision to attend Starfleet Academy was comparatively abrupt to my previous intention to attend the Science Academy on Vulcan." A beat. "I will also note," he adds dryly, "that Terran recordkeeping of colloquialisms and idioms is incomplete at best and often misleading."

But of course, Spock is the first Vulcan that Cadet Kirk has met. That has been the case for almost everyone he has met here. He is unsurprised, but it still feels like a weight on his shoulders.

However, the inquiry after his comfort levels is a pleasant surprise. He does not startle but he does, briefly, widen his eyes before returning to the baseline. "While risk of accidental transference to psi-null species is low," he hazards, the term psi-null rolling off his tongue as simple fact and observation rather than anything pointed or disdainful, "I have noted that many Terrans are extremely tactile." He thinks back to several initial greetings where handshakes were offered and he had simply saluted them traditionally instead, pretending he had not seen the hand outstretched toward him. He is aware this is likely viewed as impolite, but he views it as impolite to not do what Cadet Kirk is doing right now.

"I would prefer that any physical contact that becomes necessary is done while avoiding skin-to-skin contact," is what he finally concludes with. "Though I am aware that in emergent situations this is not a priority. I have no desire to dictate the manner in which you act. Should anything occur I find noteworthy, I will inform you." Another beat passes. "I request that you also inform me in a similar manner."

Edited Date: 2025-01-29 09:21 pm (UTC)

From:

smartass_captain

"Yeah stuff can mean different things depending on context. The invectives in my vocabulary do a Lot of heavy lifting. Think of it like learning a tonal language! Often the tone can tell you exactly what something means, regardless of dictionary definition. Ask me any time and I can help."

It kinda sounds like he got uprooted in much the same way Jim did, to be honest. Jim hopes the reason for it is less uncomfortable than his was, but probably not. Spock here doesn't seem like the kind of guy who Likes making decisions on a whim. Man probably has ever day of his school year planned out by the hour already.

"Oh! Yeah we definitely are." Jim points to himself all excited and then stops. Listens. Runs his tongue along his lower lip as he very quickly recalculates and guesses the odds of being believed if he lies through his teeth. "Uh."

He gives a little awkward laugh.

"Okay, sure. I'm gonna be honest. I am literally the most tactile person you will ever meet. Hell you've already seen me move when I talk, so. I will try really hard to keep that in mind. Be respectful of boundaries and all that, alright? If I ever forget and fuck it up, just move and tell me straight away. I won't take offense. Might be confused for a second but I won't be a dick about it."

From:

sensors

As vague as Jim's answer is, comparing it to a tonal language helps. Spock is able to shift his means of recall accordingly: xenolinguistics has always been of particular interest, after all, even if he still struggles to note which tonal shifts mean what without prior experience. That is what learning is for, however. "Your offer of assistance is appreciated. I will endeavor to not require burdening you with it often."

Cadet Kirk's initial reaction to Spock's request is illuminating, but so are his recovery and followup. "I am grateful. It is difficult to alter ingrained habits, and what you are doing by attempting to do so is far more than any I have met recently." There is something pointedly dry at the end of the last comment, a clear dig at all of the people who never even asked.

But then his brow furrows somewhat.

"I am unclear on the meaning of 'not being a dick,' but am I through context to take it as further assurance as to your response to correction?"

From:

smartass_captain

Jim can't help it. He grins like a little kid hearing their first swear when Spock says 'dick'. He manages, just barely, not to giggle. It takes a Lot of willpower though. He should get an award for being so well behaved here.

"But, and keep this in mind here, when Terrans Try to be tactile they're trying to be friendly. I know that probably doesn't feel great given the clash of customs. Just. Don't worry about it. I'll stick by you and play bouncer."

He does finally nod a little though.

"Ah, it. Mostly just means I won't take it personally in another way of saying it. Don't. Say that to like your teachers though. It's not a respectful way to phrase it."

From:

sensors

Cadet Kirk should get so many awards for being well behaved. He is being SUCH a good boy. Look at him go.

That said. Play bouncer. Spock knows, academically, what a bouncer is and what they do. "In this exchange, I am the establishment you are preventing well-meaning but impolite Terrans from gaining entrance to?"

His tone is dry. It is EXTREMELY unclear if he is making a joke because his expression does not change at all other than just how high his eyebrow is raised. However, the next part may help. Or not.

"I am aware," he clarifies, "of what the word 'dick' means and why it is generally unused in polite and professional company. Hence my request for clarification on the further colloquial use of it as it did not seem to fit previous definitions I had encountered, which I believe, in many situations, would be considered a positive thing to be."

Fully deadpan. Just absolutely flat delivery.

Edited (HE DOESN'T CALL HIM JIM YET EVEN IN HIS HEAD IGNORE ME I DID IT IN ANOTHER COMMENT TOO) Date: 2025-01-30 12:22 am (UTC)

From:

smartass_captain

So much for being good. Jim snorts outright, his shoulders lifting as he tries to stifle a laugh and fails. Shakes his head quickly, to clarify.

"Gain access to, in this case. I feel like you oughta be the one calling the shots on who gains Entrance." His eyebrows bounce in a way that just screams immature humor but Spock started it so Jim's not afraid to finish it. If he flushes and whatever then he'll look apologetic but not until.

"But, okay. Yeah. No touching. Cool. I will do my best. I uh. Speaking of quirks. I don't sleep wall. Just, throwing that out there. If I wake you up, sorry. Don't touch me. I'll be fine. Nothing to worry about."

Which is the mildest totally chill way of saying he has night terrors and panic attacks and will be spending many many nights curled up in their shared bathroom hyperventilating instead of sleeping. As normal people totally do. Don't worry about it.

From:

sensors

"One would hope," Spock says, suspiciously mildly in response to the human's waggling brows, in a way that screams 'I know exactly what I did.' It is... A relief, one he is unwilling to admit even to himself, that his roommate seems so accommodating. Time will tell, of course, but his mother told him to try optimism and despite his better judgment, he is going to try.

And when the request comes in turn, Spock blinks but does not question. Cadet Kirk did not question Spock's request and he will extend the same courtesy despite the curiosity burning in him. "Vulcans require far less sleep than many other species, including humans. Even should you wake me, it will not be detrimental to my being rested the next day."

Spock is definitely being totally cool and chill and normal and a good roommate and everything. Look at what a good job he is doing.

Edited Date: 2025-01-30 12:46 am (UTC)

From:

smartass_captain

So far as first meetings go, it's really pretty great! Jim tells Sam as much and seems a bit confused that his brother doesn't seem to believe him. Whatever, he's probably never met a Vulcan before either. He'll come around. Jim doesn't see how anyone couldn't given how cute and charming Spock is.

But life at the Academy can't all be following Spock around and chatting the man up. He's got classes to go to, and that is such a drag for their first week. It's quickly apparent that most of the introductory level classes Jim's in are not going to challenge him In the Slightest, which is honestly just such a disappointment. All Jim's ever heard is how Starfleet's the best and brightest but even here he finds himself listlessly staring out the window instead of at the instructor's presentation.

Then there's the talk. Jim expected a little bit of name recognition, but it's Shocking how many people seem to give a shit about George Kirk's kids. Who think Jim and Sam are only here because of their dad's name. Or worse, who knew their folks and want to meet Jim and talk about how great his dead father was who Jim never got to meet. It leaves him crawling out of his skin within three days and quickly making a second home for himself inside the Academy's expansive library.

Despite how well appointed it is, there don't seem to ever be many cadets lingering about. Crazy, so far as Jim's concerned. There's nothing nicer than the heft of a real book in his hands. He learns to appreciate the solitude. Outside of class he's always found either at Dr. McCoy's--Bones as Jim calls him-- or Spock's sides. While he keeps a respectful distance between himself and Spock, only just barely in the man's personal space and never touching, he always has his hands on the doctor.

Dr. McCoy is having a rough go of things his first week in and Jim makes sure to never be too far away. Ready to give Bones a coffee or a bottle of water instead of suggesting they hit up the local campus bar. Ready with a distraction or just Needing the other to walk with him across campus to get something to eat just when Leonard looks ready to lose it.

That's not to say Jim is staying dry. Come the end of that week he can be found at the Damascus, one of the trendier campus bars and Jim's favorite of the ones on offer because it's got a dom-jot table. He sharks his fellow cadets for drinks and flirts handily with anyone that will look at him twice. Maybe once Leonard crawls out of his self loathing he can come with. Jim would love the company of a friend. As it stands he's always out late either studying or partying.

Decent enough not to bring anyone back to their room though. Plenty of other places he can find around campus to have a bit of fun. Not decent enough not to leave his clothes on the floor though, especially when he comes back sloshed and shucks out of his things before falling face first into his bed.

From:

sensors

Spock's first week is... Difficult to describe. A majority of people treat him like exactly what he is: an alien. Different. Strange. He is constantly in a liminal space, always on edge, and spends a lot of time just centering himself.

He is comfortable, however, when he is around Jim Kirk. He has to get used to Dr. McCoy's mannerisms even more than he has had to get used to Kirk's, but he does not dislike him. He seems to enjoy a debate, though he gets very heated about it—Spock has noted that their mutual acquaintance seems to be playing distraction for the doctor. He does not need to ask why, but he does know that when he is too busy arguing semantics of something with Spock, he is too busy to need being wrangled by Kirk himself.

Assisting without requiring explanation.

Academically, Spock is... Also disappointed, to an extent, that there are certain courses he is disallowed from simply testing out of. He shares several courses with the other Kirk, and he is aware that Sam Kirk appears to dislike him, but he is unsure why. He tries not to dwell on it. He also spends quite a bit of time in the library: Spock enjoys physical books and also the solitude provided. It is only sheer coincidence that his times there do not coincide with his roommate's more often.

And overall, Kirk is a tolerable roommate. He is charming when they are both awake, Spock is able to rest with little issue, and for the most part, Kirk is, while not as tidy as Spock, tidy enough that Spock manages his expectations. Somewhat.

He does, at one point however, engineer moving the laundry receptacle for Kirk's clothing closer to his bed so that he is able to simply drop them in instead of moving around. To many this would seem an act of passive aggression, but in reality Spock is simply trying to be helpful and hopes that, having spent time with Spock, Kirk will realize that. Because when Kirk is sober, there is little difficulty in simply asking Kirk to pick them up and then he does so. It is attempting to reason with a drunk human so that the issue does not occur in the first place where Spock has no desire to tread.

Hopefully, simply making it easier is inobtrusive but efficient enough.

His only other issue is what temperature to set the room at, as Spock prefers it several degrees warmer than most humans. That one, he is not sure how to bring up. That one, he simply does not allow himself to shiver in moments where the temperature is too low for him. San Francisco is much colder than Vulcan over winter though, and it will be coming up quickly. He will have to bring it up at some point. For now, he stubbornly refuses to do so.

From:

smartass_captain

It doesn't take Jim long at all to simply drop his clothes either on his desk chair (still wearable, not dirty) or into the laundry receptacle Spock has arranged for him. He's even tried once or twice after watching Spock do it to care enough to fold his clothes when dumping them on his chair, but eventually he settles for Sorta neatly hanging them and that is gonna have to be the end of the matter.

The man isn't the type to leave trash about and doesn't seem to own much to have clutter in the first place. Most of the Stuff taking up room in his side of the room are class materials of some kind or another.

Spock's side of the room smells of incense. Jim's smells of coffee. Spock wears his heavy robes around outside of his uniform. Jim dresses Down to his black undershirt and boxerbriefs. He'd love to go nude half the time but something tells him Spock would Not appreciate that. They both stay up in bed reading actual books on several occasions, and Jim isn't even always the first one to go to sleep. Sometimes he's even still awake when Spock wakes.

If temperature is Spock's stubborn issue, sleep is Jim's. He tries to catch naps in the rare pockets of time where Spock is in classes and Jim isn't. He hasn't had an episode sleeping yet, but he's terrified of it happening. Spock seems nice! And he's way smarter than Jim first thought. Jim really doesn't want to freak the guy out. So he naps in weird places and tries not to sleep in his dorm room whenever possible. Bones is starting to (loudly) worry but Jim always manages to brush him off.

It's the middle of the week on one of Jim's 'secret nap slots' that he's got no homework to do (did it already) hasn't bothered reading the material for his next class (already knows it) and it's too damn sunny out to properly fall asleep that Jim looks around his empty dorm room.

The temptation is there to call up one of the friends he made at the bar the other week for a quickie. But Jim's not really feeling it. He's tired. This was supposed to be his time to sleep. His eyes drag across the room before falling on Sopck's little shelf of things. The Tri-D set catches his eye at first. He'd love to ask Spock to play sometime. But the other? The giant mess of sticks all glued together or something? That one stumps him.

When his curiosity can no longer be contained Jim wanders on over the invisible line to Spock's side of the room and starts to futz with it. Maybe he just dropped it in the move and couldn't be bothered to put it back to rights? But it doesn't...move. The way he expects.

Huh.

Jim leaves. Comes back with a canned coffee and drags his desk chair over in front of the mess of rods. Three cans of coffee later when the sun starts to get lower he tosses the cans in the trash and bounces his brows to the completed sculpture. There. Much better.

Time to crash.

From:

sensors

The solution is adequate. Spock does not like to see the clothes hanging on the chair, but he is able to tolerate it far more than he is able to clothing on the floor. And as far as messes go, it is low on the scale: Spock's true issue lies in trash, food, and so on. That has not been an issue in any capacity, and so Spock is content.

Spock is too cold to not wear his full uniform or heavy robes, but that does not mean he begrudges Kirk in his choice (or lack thereof) of clothing in their shared space. He very studiously Does Not Stare despite the fact that he finds the human to be incredibly physically attractive: he will maintain respect as much as possible.

(He does, however, take surreptitious glances. No one is perfect.)

Kirk's strange sleep schedule confounds Spock, however. McCoy is not the only one concerned, and they have shared glances more than once in one of the very few things they wholly agree on with not a drop of confrontation. Jim Kirk needs more rest than he is getting.

Spock has not seen Kirk most of the day, which is not entirely uncommon as they share very little actual course time, but what is surprising is that when he enters their shared space, Kirk is in his bed asleep. His eyes sweep over his fellow cadet's sleeping form and over to the other side of the room to—

—It takes an inordinate amount of effort to keep himself from waking Kirk to inquire why his kal-toh set has been put into one of the solution states over the course of a single afternoon. Kirk has never mentioned using a set before had mentioned Spock as the first Vulcan he ever met, how long has he been playing? It is one of the simpler solutions and Spock is capable of much, much more complex, but he grew up playing it, learned from his father, has years of experience.

He must know.

Somehow, he manages to keep from waking him, as he is fully aware that Kirk needs the rest. However, whenever Kirk does wake, Spock is seated on his bed primly, PADD in hand. He had messaged with T'Pring for quite some time about it and she had sent him increasingly blunt responses instructing him to simply speak to Kirk about it.

He will not be. Not yet, he has decided. He is aware by now that Kirk enjoys challenges, much as Spock himself does. In the time between his conversation with T'Pring and settling himself on his bed, he rearranged the kal-toh into a different starting configuration than it had been in previously, one requiring a markedly higher level of skill to solve. It is, again, set next to the tri-D set. Should Kirk ask, he will answer. If he does not, Spock anticipates he will simply have understood the implicit offer of a worthy challenge and continue to work out solutions.

He does not seem upset in any way, either: he is as relaxed as he ever is, even to the point that his legs are tucked beneath him far more casually than he would anywhere with someone other than Kirk himself in it.

Edited Date: 2025-01-30 03:42 am (UTC)

From:

smartass_captain

Spock is aware that Jim is awake long before the man sits up. There's a sudden breath and then Nothing from the bed next to him. On his side of the room Jim has gone still as the dead, eyes wide and unseeing at first where he stares at the dormitory door. After five to ten seconds he seems to adjust. Remember where he's at. Relax. God he wishes he could get used to this new place quicker. Of course then Jim is all casual airs hauling himself upright with his messy hair and big yawn.

It's dark out. He napped a lot longer than he planned on. And when he glances over Spock is already changed into his evening attire. He looks over to the sculpture he'd fixed to say something. Point it out. And then freezes when he sees it having been jumbled all up again.

"...You didn't like it?"

Awh. He spent all afternoon fixing it.

From:

sensors

Jim Kirk has inquired, and so Spock may also inquire. However, the human's wording is strange, as though he does not realize what has been done.

Spock pauses, looking from his PADD to the set before swiveling his head to look at Kirk himself.

"I apologize if you desired to keep it in the completed state for a longer period of time; I have reset it to a different staring position so that you may play again, if you desire. The original solution you posited is an intriguing alteration to one I have implemented before, and I find myself curious as to how you would solve the new presentation." A beat passes. "Where did you learn how to play?"

From:

smartass_captain

"Completed...??" Jim squints, trying to follow the conversation but he did just wake up and moreover he had no goddamn idea that thing was supposed to be a game. Is Spock doing that weird kind of joking with him again? A suspicious glance, but no. His room mate seems perfectly calm and earnest.

So Jim stifles a yawn with the back of a hand, drags it through his hair after and circles round the bed to sit on the far side of it the way he usually does when he intends to sit and chat with Spock.

"Didn't know it was a game. I thought it was a sculpture or something." He genuinely shrugs. "I saw you hadn't fixed it since moving in and hell, I had nothing better to do this afternoon so I figured I'd fix it for you."

From:

sensors

He did not know it was a game. Jim Kirk has never before played kal-toh. He looked at the set, deemed it broken, and decided he must fix it for Spock.

"Fascinating."

The tips of his ears have gone slightly green. He hopes that in his current state, Kirk will not notice the flush. He certainly does not desire to explain why he is slightly flustered.

"The sentiment is appreciated," he says first, of Kirk desiring to fix something of Spock's for him, "it is called kal-toh; it is a strategy game of Vulcan design. The goal is to return the shape to a perfect sphere. It can be played alone or collaboratively either by working out a solution together or by one party setting the beginning configuration for another to solve. To have reached a completed state in a single afternoon your first time playing is quite remarkable."

High praise from someone like Spock.

From:

smartass_captain

"So it's...a puzzle game." That's kinda cool actually. And Spock set up a new one already? So it's not just a one time thing. You can solve it over again without it being the same. That is getting an eyebrow raise.

"Honestly by the end I was getting one of those headaches you get from working on a difficult but like .. Engaging? Problem?? It's the first thing I've had to Try at since I got here. It was fun so I kept going.

And once I fixed it the sun finally wasn't coming in the window so I could catch a nap."

Though it seems more like he crashed pretty hard given the time now. That's good honestly. Get the sleep debt paid up so he can go back to Not. That new set up Spock arranged is getting hella eyeballed though. This afternoon has been the most fun he's had since arriving here. It was challenging. He knows already he's going to try this one too. It's taking all his willpower not to get started right fucking now.

From:

sensors

"Precisely." Spock can tell that Kirk is interested and engaged in a way he normally is not even without him saying so and that too is fascinating. He watches the human quietly for a moment, as the explanation of the work and the resultant headache is of note despite his apparent flippant nature about it.

Spock is familiar with the sensation. It is satisfying.

"I would find it a gratifying activity to set configurations for you to solve should you also desire to continue. I am aware that many of the courses are not as engaging as one would hope for both of us."

From:

smartass_captain

It is!

Jim can't remember the last time he had to actually put some Effort into cracking anything. It scratches at an itch he's left untouched for so long he forgot it was even there. And he desperately wants to get that delicious sense of accomplishment again. But considering he'd kinda banged his head against it this afternoon instead of sitting down and going about things they way you probably should a thing like this he's loathe to let Spock see him stumbling at this. Sure, he complimented Jim on finishing it but he could just have been being nice.

What if it's like, a kids game???

Yeah, Jim can't risk that. He'll wait until his next secret nap slot time and knock this one out, too.

"I'd like that." Jim pipes up. He tears his gaze away from the kal-toh set and looks back at Spock. His excitement is palpable on his face even without the huge grin plastered there. "Fuck, you can say that again about the courses. Taking everything I've got not to fall asleep in class." Is it boredom or the whole NOT SLEEPING thing that is causing that, Jim?

"For now though, can I ask what you've been reading? I finished up the book I was reading about the design of the first warp core and until class assigns something I haven't already read I'm kinda short on options and the library won't open until 0700."

Edited Date: 2025-01-30 02:17 pm (UTC)

From:

sensors

Kirk's grin is as bright as the sun and Spock finds himself blinking slowly, normal and nictitating eyelids both, in the brilliance of it. It takes every bit of self-control he has not to flush slightly; Jim Kirk is fascinating on several levels, and his joy to simply be challenged in any capacity has Spock feeling warm.

"They are not intellectually stimulating in the least, and the lack of ability to simply test out of courses that would do us no further service is short-sighted."

They are in agreement, at least. Deeply so, it would seem.

At the question however, Spock pauses. "I have been reading a recently published piece of Vulcan literature by an author I have until now been unfamiliar with. There is a translation into Standard, should you desire I send you a copy."

There is something oddly cautious about his demeanor talking about it though, as though he anticipates the interest dissipating once Kirk knows its origin. While there is much prolific Vulcan literature, it is often ignored by other species due to assumptions about Vulcans' ability to weave fiction. Spock finds the viewpoint tiresome, and he finds he feels positively enough about Kirk that should he have a similar viewpoint, Spock would be inordinately upset.

Edited Date: 2025-02-01 03:19 am (UTC)

From:

smartass_captain

"Trying to figure out who I have to go kick the door in to get permission to test up from some of these prereqs. No luck so far, I'll let you know if that changes." It would be helpful if Jim had a goal really for his education here. He sort of figured he'd spend the first year determining where he wanted to end up. But he also figured (incorrectly) that the prereqs themselves would be more challenging than they are.

He wasn't expecting Spock to be reading fiction, since he can't imagine it being part of a curriculum in the sciences. But after a second Jim remembers that Spock has way more free time than an average cadet. He can afford to read for fun. More than most.

"I don't think I've read much aside from first contact with Earth from a Vulcan authorship. I'd be interested in checking it out." Truth be told Jim is not very picky with What he reads. Leave him in a room long enough and he'll read ever printed word he can find. Maybe it'll be really good! Even if it's not, it'll be a common taking point he can share with Spock.

That feels worth the time sink for a new book series.

From:

sensors

"I was unaware that kicking doors in was a standard practice in the process," Spock says, with a slight air of mystification. Surely he is misunderstanding something in the phrasing.

He is, at least, mildly pleased by Kirk's willingness to read (no, interest in reading) the piece of literature: he nods and quickly sends off the translated copy to Kirk's PADD. "Please share your thoughts when you have read it," he says, a warm curl of gratification settling in his stomach again.

And so things continue. They chat about the book as Kirk reads it and Spock finds his views insightful and an interesting angle to see the work from a non-Vulcan experience. The Kal-toh set is primed, and Spock anticipates when Kirk will solve it again.

A few days later is when Spock returns from his courses slightly early, the last having been cut short due to a prior engagement on the instructor's part, which Spock has several opinions about and voiced at least one of before his fellow cadets had so unanimously agreed that they were glad for the shortening of the class time that he had relented.

(Spock is also glad, but for different reasons. His protest is due to the fact that he realizes the others in the course desperately need the instruction time.)

He intends to take a shower and then head to the library to study but when he enters the dorm he sees that Kirk is working on the kal-toh set and all his plans suddenly seem far less important in favor of getting to see the sharp, gleaming edges of Kirk's brilliance in action.

From:

smartass_captain

At this rate Spock is going to realize that this slot of afternoon time must be one of the few open slots in Jim Kirk's schedule. He's consistently been in the dorm at this hour on this day several times now. However, this time Jim isn't catching a nap. Sleep is the absolute furthest thing from his mind.

He's folding little square candy wrappers into little geometric shapes for something to do with his fingers while he studies the partially finished kal-toh set he's sat down in front of. Uniform jacket hanging open. His bag cast carelessly over his bed. It's clear Jim had not bothered to do Anything after coming into the dorm but pull up a chair and get to work.

Well. Nearly anything. He's got a half empty water bottle next to him and the little bag of wrapped candies he's been working on slowly one at a time. It clacks against his teeth as he works it from one side of his mouth to the other while lost in thought. The wrapper gets crumpled. Jim reaches up and moves three of the rods. Taps the tip of his index finger on the desk several times. Moves one back.

Tap, tap. tap.

Two more get moved in place of the one he returned. He reaches over to twist off the cap of the water bottle and take a sip. Pockets the crumpled little wrapper. Reaches for another candy. This one he pops into his mouth, wrapper and all, and reaches out to turn the set around about thirty degrees to get a better look at it from another angle.

Tap, tap, tap, goes his finger against the desk. A speck of reflection on the surface and Jim turns around. Damn, was it that late already? He reaches up to wave at Spock, then belatedly reaches up to pluck a perfectly intact wrapper from between his lips and throws that one away before he goes to wipe his hands off fastidiously. Shit he must look like a mess right now. He hasn't been able to solve this one nearly as fast.

"Oh," Clack! Goes the candy against his teeth. Jim shifts it so he can talk more easily. "Hey, sorry. I didn't realize it had got so late. I can get out of the way. I was hoping I'd have this done before you got back." A self depreciating little chuckle.

From:

sensors

Unfortunately for both of them, by the time Kirk turns to look at Spock, Spock is fully distracted. He has spent the moments before being noticed alternately watching Kirk's work on the set and his hands' movements, and for a moment his gaze remains squarely on Kirk's hands before he seems to snap out of it and realize he is being spoken to, blinking twice before dragging his gaze up to his fellow cadet's face with some difficulty.

"My course ended early for the day," he finally says, "and I found myself with more unused time than is usual. You are not in the way," as he speaks he stalks over to look over the kal-toh setup, eyes flicking to each positioning, before:

"Had you finished it prior to my normal time of arrival after starting it today, I would have suggested you join a team of tournament players." Simple, to the point. "Your current progress is remarkable. What time did you begin?"

He almost sounds eager when he says it, but he swallows and stifles it after.

From:

smartass_captain

"Well, I finished the first one in a little over three hours. I wasn't sure what to expect for this one." Jim offers a bit of a cocky grin Spock's way. One that gets a little bit wider. More eager. When he thinks he might have caught Spock (!!) of all people checking him out. Jim can't help but to notice that compliments from his room mate are pretty rare.

Yet he does seem to be getting more than most. His brother's full of shit; Jim's definitely got a shot with Spock, right? He's looking at the Vulcan with the same expression he'd been giving the kal-toh set a moment ago for a second, but then his grin flickers back to full intensity.

Okay, operation: hit on hot Roomie is a go.

"Oh, I didn't get to start quite as early this time. I desperately needed a coffee after class so Bones, me, and this girl in my compsci class went to scope out this cafe on the other side of campus. Decent. We should go sometime." You know. On a date or something.

"Anyway. I've been at this for a good twoooooo and a half hours?"