“You have been very preoccupied of late,” Spock ventured to say over a chess game with his captain.

Jim looked up from the chessboard. He was looking at Spock, but there was a definite sort of distracted, vacant look in his blue eyes that rather unnerved Spock.

Over the last few days he had been considering confessing the dept of his regard for Jim, but his captain’s recent behavior did not encourage such a conversation.

Logically, Spock doubted that he was the cause of Jim’s off behavior. But he could not be one hundred percent certain either.

Whatever or whoever the cause was, Spock was concerned.

Jim smiled but it turned into a sort of grimace as he picked up and then put down his chess piece. Then he leaned back and sighed.

“Sorry, Spock, not really into chess right now.”

“I can see that. If you would like to discuss whatever is occupying your thoughts, I am more than happy to listen.”

The smile he got this time was a little more genuine but also more distant. “Nah, it’s-it’s nothing. Um. How are you, anyway?”

“Me, Captain?”

“Yeah. You know with Uhura. The-the breakup.” Jim scrunched up his face and then shook his head. “That did happen right?”

“Yes. We are no longer in a relationship. So far, there has been no difficulties for either of us.”

Jim nodded, but Spock got the distinct impression Jim wasn’t even listening to him.

“Good. I’m uh I’m going to go back to my quarters. I’m sorry, Spock. I know I’m being weird. I’m just…I have a lot on my mind right now.”

“Jim…”

He smiled again, shook his head, and headed for the door to exit Spock’s quarters.

And he was gone like that before Spock could say more.

Spock closed his eyes and sighed.