extra extra! (excerpt by charlie)
commissioned by:ย none, personal work
fandom(s):ย star trek tos
ship(s):ย spirk (romantic, established relationship)
basic summary:ย excerpt from a scene before the events of โthe enterprise incidentโ s03e02
โA bit late for a visit, isnโt it, Mister Spock?โ he teased, pressing the page of his book between his thumb and pointer finger. Theyโd already agreed to sleep separately tonight, mainly because of Spockโs growing fatigue from grueling shiftsโsomething heโd half-heartedly admitted, and only because McCoy had threatened him with a hypospray to make him sleep the next three shifts off if he didnโt. The Vulcan had the unfortunate tendency to get overstimulated quicker at his current level of energy, and the prospect of an entire night pressed against Jim had been enough to make him go pallid.
โMy apologies, Captain,โ answered Spock, with enough frankness to convince Jim he wasnโt using that dry humor of hisโthat, and the fact that his lips didnโt twitch upwards.
Jim waved him off with his free hand, his smile remaining. โYouโre not bothering meโyou never do. Is something wrong?โ
A slight hesitance and a brief tension at his brow confirmed Jimโs suspicionsโhe was upset regarding something. โWhat is it, Spock?โ
He was not startled when the Vulcan got straight to the point, clasping his hands together behind his back and pursing his lips. โThere are certainโฆ aspects of this operation that provoke discomfort.โ It was a heavy admission, drawn out by Spockโs exhale, weighed down by the Science Officerโs familiar frustration at confronting personal emotions.ย
Jim had witnessed such a struggle many a time: a provocation, usually by McCoy or Jim himself, followed by an intense, analyzing stare and hours of meditation to process the said emotion. There were occasions where it took longer, or Spockโs concentration wavered due to a lack of energy within his mind, but for the most part, Jim made himself scarce during those timesโafter ensuring that the program tape for Altair water was set out and ready for use with the food synthesizer.
Jim closed his book with a decisive thud, tossing it onto his desk. He could wait to start the chapter until laterโa nice boost of energy for the days ahead, knowing that heโd have his fictional questions answered once his duty was over. โWhich ones?โ
Another pause, more pregnant this time. Jim watched Spockโs Adamโs apple bob in his throat as he swallowed. โMost of them.โ
It was Jimโs turn to hesitate, a frown stretching across his face. โYouโฆ didnโt mention this during the briefing.โ
His chest tightened as a brief expression of pain shadowed Spockโs face, obvious to him by how the left side of his mouth twitched and the developing strain in his neck. โI am aware, Captain.โ
โJim,โ the captain reminded gently, switching his frown to a more easygoing smile, one he used to coo and console delegates or alien officials whenever he encountered them.
It did not work on Spock. The Vulcan stepped forward, into the stream of the overhead light, and Jim immediately noticed the green tinge round his eyes, alongside the dark bags beneath them.
โSpock,โ he breathed, pushing up from his chair, feeling the resulting stretch of his overwrought muscles. He strolled around the side of his desk, stopping in front of the entrance to his bedroom. โCโmere, please.โ
โI do not see how this has any bearing onโโ
โIโd like for you to sit down before you collapse, and franklyโโhe gestured vaguely to the evidence written across Spockโs already-pale skinโโit seems thatโll happen sooner than later, soโฆโ He reached down, patting the desk with his hand. โSit, Mister.โ
