“Well, what do you think?”
Spock looked at Jim as though he hadn’t been paying attention to what Jim had been saying for the last ten minutes.
And honestly, Jim was sort of used to that. If Jim wasn’t talking about Starfleet related business, Spock pretty much shut him out. So much for the friendship to end all friendships.
“About what?” Spock asked, cluelessly.
Jim sighed. He probably shouldn’t even bother. Mostly he had tried to engage Spock more because his relationship with Uhura was on the outs again. Some said it was permanent this time but Jim doubted it. Uhura got made at Spock’s lack of emotional connection all the time, only to decide he was worth it for the orgasms.
Jim snorted out loud.
Okay, he didn’t know that for a fact but Jim couldn’t really guess why they were on again off again all the time. When he had briefly tried a real relationship with Carol, once it was caput, he had zero interest in going again with her. And he was pretty she concurred.
“Whether I should accept the invitation to stay at the royal palace on Cridal.”
Spock stared.
“Princess Alia extended an invitation to stay in the suite next to hers during the negotiations.”
“Why would you not accept, Captain?”
He shrugged. “Mostly because we have a sort of history and I’m thinking she wants me to stay there to—”
“You have previously engaged in coitus with her royal highness?” And here he sounded both shocked and appalled.
“Not the way I’d phrase it, but basically yes. A long time ago and it didn’t end well and I—”
“Certainly not.”
“What?”
“You should stay at the official quarters arranged for you by Starfleet for the negotiations.”
“But you just asked why I wouldn’t accept?”
Spock arched a brow. “That was before I realized that she might perceive this as an opportunity.”
“Okay, sure.” Jim nodded. “But why would that matter? I mean to you. It wouldn’t interfere with my duties if I were to—”
“I believe that it would. It is best to be neutral in this instance.”
“But Cridal isn’t part of the negotiations. They are just hosting them.”
“Nevertheless it is inappropriate to give the appearance of any impropriety.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“You did seek my counsel,” Spock pointed out.
“I did. And I really don’t want to restart something with Alia.”
Spock frowned slightly. “Then why are you arguing with me?”
Jim opened his mouth to reply then closed it. “I don’t know. Habit, I guess. We’re like a bad rom-com. The only time it seems like we communicate is when we’re fighting.”
“I was unaware you felt that way.”
Jim shrugged. “Well. I mean, I know you don’t like me much. You never have. I’m pretty much used to it.”
“I was under the impression that we were friends.”
“Sure, we’ve talked the talk, but we’ve never really walked the walk.”
“What?”
“What I mean, Spock, is we always say we’re friends, even when I was dying, you admitted we were friends, but to be honest I’m not sure we’ve ever acted like friends. Saying the words really isn’t the same thing. I mean, I rely on you, definitely, but I never quite get beyond the fact you seem just to tolerate me. You never even told me you broke up with Uhura or why. I had to hear about it from other sources.”
Spock started to reply but Jim cut him off with a wave of his hand.
“And the very fact that you’re about to tell me that’s private and personal is exactly why I am saying we aren’t really friends. Not by my definition.”
For a moment, Spock remained silent, and Jim thought he was going to walk away in a huff or something.
But then he said, “We ended our relationship for good due to my emotional attachment to another.”
Jim frowned. “You like someone else?”
“Negative. I love someone else. Given that, Nyota was not interested in continuing our romantic connection.”
Jim sputtered, “Well, yeah I imagine not.” He thought about it. “Who is she?”
“My emotional attachment is not to a female, Jim.”
“Oh. Well.” Jim nodded. He wondered why that made the pit of his stomach ache. Well, and his heart too. A strange reaction to a friend being in love with someone else. He licked his lips. “Who then?”
Spock gave a slight huff of air that could have been a sigh. “I am quite certain if you consider the matter long enough, you will figure it out. If you will excuse me, Captain, I am due on the bridge.”
And this time Spock did walk away, leaving Jim staring at him in confusion.
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 