Now thanks to Gaila, Jim found himself looking at Spock differently as the Vulcan came through the tea shop towards where Jim sat waiting for him.

Spock had a thing for him? That seemed…impossible to believe.

“Good afternoon, Jim.”

“Hey. Are those three Vulcans still out there?”

“Three Vulcans?”

Jim nodded. “Gaila said they were out there wanting to give me gifts.”

Spock arched a brow as he took his seat. “There are no Vulcans out there currently.”

“Oh. Well then maybe she was wrong.”

“Perhaps.”

Jim shrugged. “Let’s get started then. You want some tea first?”

“Negative.” Spock hesitated. “Perhaps I should move closer.”

Jim eyed Spock. Okay that was strange. Was Gaila right? She’d gotten the three Vulcans waiting to give him Valentines wrong, but…

“Sure.”

Spock scooted his chair over until he was right beside Jim. He glanced at some of the things Jim had on the desk.

“You are intending to submit for the Vulcan Science Academy?’

“Hm? Oh. Yeah.”

“I assumed you were interested in Starfleet.”

Jim smiled. “Yes, I am. I don’t intend to actually attend the VSA.”

“I do not understand.”

“Just…I mean I’ve already been approved for Starfleet so I can’t even say I was hedging my bets. I want to prove to those old guys that a Human can be worthy of their prestigious school.” Jim laughed and felt himself blush. “You probably can’t understand.”

“You would be surprised.”

“Well, let’s just get to this.”

But shortly after they began, Jim felt Spock’s gaze on him instead of the material.

Jim looked up and sure enough the Vulcan was staring at him.

“Spock, can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Why are you coming to me for tutoring?”

“You are an expert in miliary tactics.”

“Okayyyy.” Jim leaned back. “But it’s occurred to me that you know all the answers before I cover the material. Spock, are you playing me?”

“Playing you?”

“Yeah. I mean, I don’t know, making fun of me or something. I can’t figure out any other reason.”

“You cannot?”

“Well. Gaila suggested you were interested in me romantically but—”

“She is right,” Spock said quietly.

Jim’s eyes widened and he noticed his glasses were fogging up. “What?”

“It is true. I apologize for the subterfuge but I attempted to obtain your attention when you first arrived and you did not appear to notice me.”

“Not notice you?” Jim laughed. “Are you crazy?”

Spock frowned. “I have no diagnosed mental illness.”

Jim sighed and grinned. “I’ve noticed you. Why not get straight to the pint and ask me to go out?”

“You do not seem interested in anyone. Those Vulcans outside—”

“Wait. They were out there? I thought Vulcans didn’t lie.”

“I sent them away so technically it was not a lie.”

“Technically?”

“Vulcans embrace technicalities.”

Jim leaned in and kissed Spock on the lips. “Maybe embrace me instead.”

Spock blinked. “When do you get off work?”

“Now?”

A few minutes later, Jim joined Spock on the sidewalk outside the tea shop. Three Vulcan males and two females stood nearby.

“James!”

And several held out heart-shaped cards and even boxes of chocolates.

“Uh.” Jim looked to Spock. “Am I really irresistible to Vulcans?”

“Apparently.”

Jim laughed, linked arms with Spock, and started walking away.

“Wait! Choose us, he’s only half Vulcan.”

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