It occurred to Spock as he began to prepare the noodles that he hadn’t questioned Jim about his allergies. He knew that Jim had mentioned some. And since Spock’s ‘go-to’ noodle recipe included peanuts, he thought he’d better ask.

He set the jar of unopened dry roasted peanuts on the counter and made his way to the door of the bathroom.

“Jim?” He rapped lightly.

“Come in.”

With a shrug, Spock opened the unlocked bathroom door. Jim, completely nude, had just stepped out of the glass shower and was reaching for a towel off the towel bar.

“Whoa! Whoa!” Jim exclaimed, quickly covering himself.

Spock, face turning a dark shade, quickly backed up and exited the bathroom, rushing back to the kitchen.

He turned on the kitchen sink and splashed his face with ice cold water. He was mortified. He wondered if he ought to leave the dorm for the night. Was that the appropriate thing to do?

He’d have to leave a note of course.

While Spock was still trying to decide what to do, Jim suddenly appeared before him, fully clothed in sweatpants and a tank top. Spock couldn’t meet his eyes.

“I apologize.”

“Didn’t you hear me say don’t come in?” It was just a question, with no censure or anger behind it.

Spock stole a glance and noticed Jim looked merely curious.

“I thought you said come in. Normally my hearing is exceptional.”

Jim’s lips curved ever slightly. “Maybe ‘come in’ was what you wanted to hear.”

“Jim—”

“I’m kidding. Trying to lighten it up for both of us considering such an embarrassing incident. What did you want?”

“To know if you were allergic to peanuts.”

“I’m not. I’m not really allergic to most foods. I’ll eat anything really. I have a touch of asthma they think was from having weak lungs when I was born prematurely. And some perfumes and incense. That kind of thing.”

“Very well. And I apologize again. You should feel safe enough here to shower without being ogled.”

Spock was surprised when Jim laughed.

“I don’t think your very quick peek at the sight of my body could really count as ogling. And stuff happens, Spock. No big deal, really.”

“They you still wish to dine with me?”

“I’m still hungry, so why would I change my mind?”

“Then I will commence making them.”

“Great. I’m just going to sit over here in the living room and respond to some messages while you cook.”

Spock turned to cooking and as he did so, he could not deny, to himself, anyway, that he would gladly ogle Jim given the chance.