Chapter Text
Spock had just completed grading the most recent assignment for his class when the Orion student, Gaila, came dashing in.
“Professor! Professor Spock” She stopped before him, out of breath.
“There’s no running in my classroom, Cadet.”
“I know, it’s just. It’s Cadet Kirk, Professor.”
Spock straightened, instantly alert. “What about him?”
“It’s his boyfriend, Professor. He’s beating the crap out of Jim.”
Spock hurried from his classroom, ignoring his own rule of no running. Out in the courtyard not far from the science building, Cadet Gary Mitchell stood over Cadet James Kirk who lay on the ground holding his left cheek. Spock felt himself fill with rage as his fists clenched.
He stalked up to Mitchell and grabbed him by the back of his collar. Mitchell howled in protest.
“What the hell?” Mitchell yelled.
Spock tossed him to the ground. “How does it feel?”
Cadet Kirk scrambled to his feet, backing away, his eyes wide.
For the moment, Spock ignored him and concentrated on Mitchell. “Consider yourself on report, Cadet. We do not tolerate this sort of behavior. Get up.”
Gary Mitchell got to his feet, shooting a glare at Cadet Kirk, before turning to face Spock. “This isn’t your business, Professor. This is between me and my boyfriend.”
“You are wrong. You made it my business. Furthermore, if you go anywhere near Cadet Kirk again I will see you expelled.”
“You-you can’t do that,” Mitchell protested.
Spock arched a brow at him. “I most definitely can and will. You are dismissed. Cadet Kirk, come with me.”
He waited for Mitchell to walk away in the opposite direction before he gestured for Jim Kirk to precede him into the science building.
When they entered his classroom, Spock went to his desk and opened a drawer. He pulled out a wipe and handed it to Cadet Kirk.
“Thanks,” Kirk mumbled. He wiped his face of dirt and blood. Spock noticed he was getting a black eye on the left side and that his cheek was bruised. He had a busted lip, too.
“How often does he hit you?” Spock asked quietly.
Kirk shifted and turned red. “Um, not that often, really. A couple of times. Never as bad as this.”
“I see. And what is the cause?”
Kirk shrugged. “This time? He thought I was flirting too much.”
“You should not accept this treatment.”
“I don’t. Not really. I just…I don’t know why I do. Guess I think maybe I deserve it.” Kirk was staring down at his shoes.
Spock stepped closer to him and touched his uninjured cheek with his fingertips. “He is not worthy of you.”
Kirk’s eyes rose, their intense blueness focusing on Spock. “Maybe I’m not worthy of him.”
“There are many here who would disagree.”
Cadet Kirk smiled a little. “Yeah? You think?”
Spock nodded. “I do. You attract a lot of attention, Cadet.”
“You think you could call me Jim?”
He inclined his head. “Jim.”
“I know it’s stupid to be with Gary. Just when I first got here he was my only friend. And he didn’t start doing stuff like that until later.” Jim sighed. “I’m an idiot for putting up with it.”
“I prefer you do not practice self-abasement. What is done is done. Do not go back to him, though.”
Jim shook his head. “No, I won’t. I’m done with him.”
“I hope that is true. Does your eye hurt?”
“A little,” Jim admitted. “He sucker punched me, the bastard.”
“I do not know anything about his parentage, however—”
Jim laughed. “No, I—um never mind. Thanks for that by the way. Coming to my rescue. I was still a little dazed.”
“Cadet Gaila told me you were in need of assistance,” Spock advised.
“Oh. Cool. Yeah, she is a friend.”
Spock nodded. “I believe she is enamored of you.”
“Gaila? Nah. She’s just a friend. And anyway, she knows I only like guys.”
For some reason that made Spock’s mouth go dry. “I am gratified she came to tell me you required assistance.”
“Me, too.” Jim smiled, which made his blue eyes sparkle, even with the damage done to the left one.
“Are you afraid Mitchell will still bother you?”
“He might.” Jim shrugged. “He’s kind of stupid. Thick skulled.”
Spock hesitated. He was not exactly accustomed to human ways, but he could not deny he was rather fascinated by Cadet Kirk.
“Would you like to accompany me to dinner?” Spock asked.
Jim blinked. “Tonight?”
“Or whenever you have no plans.”
“You offering to be my bodyguard?”
“I do not believe that will be required.”
The smile flashed again. “You’re asking me on a date?”
Spock swallowed. “If my intentions are unwelcome then I withdraw the invitation.”
But Jim was shaking his head. “No, no. Not unwelcome. Just a surprise.”
“Why a surprise?”
“You’re just—God, everyone just—” Jim laughed.
“I do not understand.”
Jim sighed. “I wouldn’t have thought someone like you would be interested in someone like me.”
Spock arched a brow. “What is wrong with you?”
“Well, nothing. I guess. I’m just…not really in your league.”
Spock shook his head. “Are you accepting my invitation or not?”
“It’s not against the rules for a cadet and a professor?”
“You are no longer in my class as of three days ago,” Spock reminded him. “You got the top grade if you will recall.”
“Oh, I recall,” Jim said with a grin. “And what about my appearance?”
“Your…appearance?”
“You won’t be embarrassed to be seen with my face all smashed?”
“I will not,” Spock assured him. “If you are concerned though, you may come to my apartment and I will cook for you.”
Jim made an odd whooping noise. “You cook? Oh, my God, I’m in love.”
Spock arched a brow. “Perhaps it would be wise to sample my cooking before your declaration.”
Jim laughed. “Okay, you’re totally right about that. And I accept. Very much.”
Spock nodded. “I am finished here now if you would care to accompany me. We could stop at the market to buy the supplies needed.”
“Sounds great,” Jim agreed.
Spock shut off his computer and gathered the rest of the papers he needed to grade and led Jim out of his classroom. Strange how his day had gone. He had not expected to be taking anyone home with him that night when he’d started his day.
“Hey, tomorrow wanna have dinner with my friend, Bones and his girlfriend, Carol?” Jim asked as they left the campus.
“Bones?”
“Yeah, he’s a doctor.”
“Perhaps we should first get through tonight before making other plans,” Spock suggested.
“Oh.” Jim licked his lips. “Yeah, you’re right. Sorry. Getting ahead of myself.”
Spock studied Jim’s profile and saw tension and sadness there that wasn’t there before. He did not like it. “Jim?”
“Yeah?”
“Yes, I will accompany you to dinner tomorrow with your friends.”
He was rewarded with another one of Jim’s smiles and Spock was glad.