Fic: Educated Differences - Chapter Two
Title: Educated Differences
Universe: AU
Rating: PG-13 (NC-17 later)
Relationship status: first time
Word count: 3119
Genre: romance, friendship
Trope: teen
Warning: Language, talk of bullying.
A/N: Set in modern day. Hope you enjoy it! The chapter after this one is where things really pick up pace. :)
Summary: College AU. Jim and Spock are freshmen and are put together as roommates.
Chapter Two
‘Spock,’ Jim said, dragging Spock’s eyes away from his laptop. He stared at Jim in question. ‘Does this shirt look good?’ Jim said, tugging down the dark grey shirt and doing up a few of the middle buttons.
‘Good is subjective to each individual,’ Spock said blandly, turning back to his computer.
‘Well, I want to look kind of good as it’s the first chess club meet tonight.’
Spock stiffened before turning around to pin Jim with a stare. ‘You have joined the chess club?’
‘Yeah, didn’t I tell you?’ Jim said casually, shrugging out of the shirt and picking up a blue one and throwing it on. ‘This?’
Spock’s lips thinned, his mind clearly on the idea of Jim in chess club, before nodding once at the shirt. ‘That looks adequate.’
‘Awesome,’ Jim with a smile, surprised he got an answer considering he was not expecting any kind of opinion on any shirt. He noticed Spock staring at the floor, deep in thought. ‘Something wrong?’
Spock looked up and frowned. ‘I often pride myself on my usually accurate study of human character. When I first met you I had assumed you were probably studying a degree with no real challenge or importance in the outside world, such as Media or Drama. However, you then explained that you were studying maths and I admit, I was,’ Spock paused, ‘stupefied. Now, I discover you have joined chess club which is the club I thought would be furthest from your interests considering I’m sure the ratio of males to females is very low. You infuriate me and I have only just met you.’
Jim grinned at his ability to shake up his roommate. ‘I’m enigmatic.’
‘Indeed,’ Spock said, standing up and grabbing his cell phone and stuffing it into his pocket.
‘Wanna walk there together or would you rather I keep 5 steps behind you?’ Jim teased.
‘If our destination is the same and we leave here at the same time, it is predetermined that we will walk together,’ Spock said stiffly, indicating the door. Jim grabbed his jacket and walked out, waiting for Spock to join him and they started the walk to chess club.
…..
‘You’re lost,’ Jim said with a grin as they strolled through an empty corridor in the English building.
‘I am not,’ Spock stated, stopping and looking both directions with a small, almost not there frown.
‘It said lecture hall B in the Drama block, we’re in English, this isn’t right,’ Jim said, looking into one of the empty classrooms curiously.
‘I am aware of where we are, thank you,’ Spock said curtly, turning around a few times before striding down the hallway the way they came.
‘Should have followed the signs like I said but noooo, you said that you knew how to get there in a more time efficient way so here we are, in some empty building which I doubt is anywhere near the Drama building.’
‘Please desist from your observations,’ Spock said, striding along more briskly, Jim following behind him at a near jog.
‘Slow down,’ Jim said, putting a hand on Spock’s shoulder. Spock immediately stopped, causing Jim to smash into his back with a loud ‘oof’. ‘What the hell?’
‘Do not touch me,’ Spock said, turning to pin Jim with a look.
‘Sorry, I just wanted you to slow down,’ Jim said with a light shrug in apology.
‘I apologise. I am uncomfortable with my lack of knowledge on our current position,’ Spock said, shoulders slumping in defeat as his eyes flew up and down the corridor in annoyance.
‘Yeah, you don’t seem like the type of guy who makes mistakes. How about we retrace our steps and follow the signs?’ Jim suggested gently.
‘That would be an acceptable suggestion if the club had not already started by now and by retracing steps and following signs, there would be little point of our presence at the club.’
‘Ok,’ Jim said, clapping his hands together once. ‘Do you have a chess board?’
‘Of course.’
‘We play each other for now back in our room until the next chess meet up,’ Jim suggested, looking eager.
‘I suppose that is an adequate alternative, however, I doubt you are at my level,’ Spock said.
‘I doubt you’re at mine.’ Jim grinned as Spock raised an eyebrow and they slowly made their way back to their room.
…………….
‘Damn it,’ Jim said, standing up and running an aggravated hand through his hair as he looked down at the board.
‘That is five times I have beaten you,’ Spock said, re-doing the board.
‘You’re impossible,’ Jim said, putting his hands on his hips as he stared down at the board with annoyance.
‘Nothing is impossible, although you are correct in deducing the very small likelihood of you ever beating me at chess.’
‘Fine, I give up for now but this isn’t over, I will beat you,’ Jim insisted as Spock raised an eyebrow at him, like he was extremely doubtful.
Jim quickly went to have a shower and when he came back he found Spock laying out his clothes for the next day on his chair with exact precision.
‘Can I ask you something?’
‘By asking that you have invalidated your question,’ Spock said, getting his pyjamas out and laying them on his bed.
Jim sat down on his bed and leant back. ‘Are you straight?’
Spock raised his eyebrow. ‘I do not believe in labels.’
Jim rolled his eyes. ‘Fine, but if you were to label yourself, what would you label yourself as?’ Jim tried.
Spock laid two socks neatly across the back of his chair. ‘I have no personal preference of gender.’
‘Oh, you’re bisexual, that’s cool,’ Jim said with a nod, feeling slightly surprised.
‘I do not find myself attracted to other people easily,’ Spock admitted.
‘Seriously? There are a lot of beautiful girls around campus.’
‘Indeed,’ Spock said slightly disapprovingly, giving Jim a sideways glance as Jim strolled over to his duffle bag in his boxers.
‘So, how come you’re really intelligent but you were never put up a few years?’ Jim asked.
‘My mother believed that I would be more likely to get on with peers if I minimized my differences from them. Being different in age would be a marked difference my peers would abuse.’
‘You have a lot of friends back home?’ Jim asked, already feeling like he knew the answer as he crawled into bed and turned toward Spock’s bed, his head resting on the pillow.
‘I do not,’ Spock said, his tone slightly clipped as he took his pyjamas and left the room for the shared bathroom to change. He came back a few minutes later and got under the covers of his own bed, turning toward Jim and making no move to turn off the light.
They stared at each other for a beat, their gazes unwavering before Spock looked away and swallowed. ‘I did not make many friends back home as I found it difficult to find common areas of interest between others and I,’ Spock said quietly, like he’d never spoken about it before.
‘You were bullied?’ Jim asked softly, watching Spock carefully.
‘Yes. I am immune to it now, however, as I have developed techniques and emotional barriers which allow me to withstand insults from peers.’
Jim felt his stomach knot in sympathy as he’d always been firmly in the popular group in school and so he’d never experienced bullying in any form. ‘Well, if anyone is rude to you, let me know and I’ll throw a punch to defend your honour,’ Jim joked.
‘I have significant emotional control that allows me to block hurtful comments from affecting me,’ Spock said before pausing, like he was considering saying something else. ‘I have not had anyone offer to defend me before. I do not understand why you would, considering our relationship is not yet a week old.’
Jim shrugged before smiling. ‘I like fighting for the underdog and you seem like a pretty decent guy.’
Spock looked at Jim in bewilderment, like he didn’t understand the logic, before reaching his hand out to the lamp and flicking the off switch.
………….
‘Nyota,’ Jim said with a sickeningly sweet voice, sitting down next to her with a grin. ‘Foreign languages for the next year together, isn’t this wonderful?’
Nyota turned to give him a look like she wanted him to die. ‘Go away,’ she snapped, grabbing her laptop and opening it, ready for the lecture.
‘That’s harsh,’ Jim said, pretending to be offended. ‘What would Spock say if he could hear you?’
‘Probably agree with me,’ Nyota stated, staring at the front and doing her best to avoid Jim.
‘Doubt it. Spock and I are actually getting along. Well, getting along as well as can be hoped considering how weird he is.’
‘He isn’t weird,’ Nyota bit out, her cheeks flushing slightly.
‘Oh he is, but maybe that’s your type, I don’t know.’
Nyota stood up abruptly and moved two seats along, sitting back down with a loud huff and flicking her hair behind her ear.
Without missing a beat Jim moved along too, sitting back down next to her. ‘Hi there.’
‘Will you go away?’ Jim gave her a look as he got his phone out of his pocket and flipped it open. ‘You can’t have phones in here,’ Nyota snapped.
‘Lecture hasn’t started, we’re good. Anyway, I want to text Spock to let him know I’m keeping you company.’
Nyoya turned to look at him, a hint of question in her eyes. ‘You have his number?’
‘Sure do,’ Jim said, running his finger along his phone to get to Spock’s name.
Nyota not so subtly glanced over to the phone like she didn’t believe he had Spock’s number. ‘Why do you even have his number if you hate him?’
Jim looked affronted. ‘Hate him? I don’t hate the guy at all. In fact, we’re becoming friends in a weird, tentative kind of way.’ Jim quickly started tapping out a message, holding it toward Nyota so she couldn’t see.
‘Stop being a jerk,’ Nyota said, shrugging him away from her.
‘You wanna say hi?’ Jim said, referring to the text.
‘No,’ Nyota snapped.
‘Oh, Ok,’ Jim said, looking down at the phone. ‘‘Nyota does not say hi. I think she’s PMSing,’ that good?’
‘I’m going to hurt you,’ Nyota hissed under her breath as the lecturer coughed loudly to get everyone’s attention.
Jim grinned obnoxiously at her, putting his phone back into his pocket before leaning over toward her and lowering his voice. ‘I’ll let you know when Spock texts back, OK?’
Nyota stared at the front, her face tense and annoyed. Jim sprawled lazily in the chair next to her with a satisfied smile.
……..
‘Jim.’ Jim looked up from his chair in the library and took out his earphones. Spock did not look happy.
‘Hey, you wanna join me?’ Jim said, moving some books from the chair next to him.
‘Did you use my shampoo?’ Spock asked, his eyes dark.
Jim gulped, looking down at his book. ‘Err, yeah, I might have. I couldn’t find mine and I was in a rush,’ Jim said apologetically, smiling up at Spock.
Spock slowly sat down next to him. ‘I have known you for 7 days and 3 hours and I am worried that if you have already disrespected my privacy, we may encounter conflict and I find conflict undesirable.’
Jim nodded. ‘I am really sorry, it won’t happen again.’
‘You also borrowed my shower gel.’
‘Oh, yeah, that. Sorry again?’ Jim said as Spock looked at him with hard eyes.
‘Perhaps if you kept your side of the room in a less chaotic state you would not find the need to steal my things,’ Spock said pointedly.
‘Is this you, not so subtly, telling me to tidy my half of the room?’ Jim said with a small smirk.
Spock stared back at him. ‘I find it difficult to study when there is such a chaotic mess behind me.’ Spock placed a hand on the table and curled his fingers to release some tension.
‘I’m a guy, Spock, I’m not going to always have my side as meticulously tidy as yours.’
A tiny, almost not there frown graced Spock’s features. ‘I do not see what being male has to do with cleanliness and tidiness.’
‘Ok, I’ll try and tidy up when I get back. I promise,’ Jim said, patting the back of Spock’s hand. Spock tensed ever so slightly before relaxing, his hand slipping out from under Jim’s as he stood up.
‘Thank you,’ Spock said with a nod.
‘See, I’m not too bad, am I?’ Jim said, ever present cocky smile on his face.
Spock looked down at him, an expression of slight curiosity on his face. ‘We shall see.’
………..
‘Ta da,’ Jim said as Spock walked into their room, his arms wide as he showed off his side of the room which, whilst still cluttered, was still a lot tidier than earlier in the day. He waited for approval.
Spock shut the door behind him and raised an eyebrow. ‘I had no doubt of your abilities to tidy your bed area. I question your abilities to maintain that tidiness for a prolonged period of time.’
‘Shoot me down, why don’t you?’ Jim said with a small laugh, launching himself backwards on his bed and bouncing softly on the mattress. ‘What you up to now?’
‘I believe I should e-mail my mother,’ Spock said, sitting down at his desk and starting his computer.
‘You haven’t told me about your parents. You already know all about mine,’ Jim said, turning onto one side to look over at Spock.
‘I did not ask to know about your parents, you informed me without my asking,’ Spock stated, turning to look over his shoulder.
‘How you ever thought about, I don’t know, being less hostile? We’re living together for a year at least so we may as well get on.’
Spock turned back around to look at Jim, eyes carefully masking what he was thinking. ‘My mother is named Amanda and my father is called Sarek. We have a pet cat and I have no siblings. Do you require any other information?’
Jim sat up and crossed his legs. ‘You have a cat? What’s it called?’
‘Chaya, he is male.’
‘Cool, I’m more of a dog person but cats are kinda cute.’
Spock stared at him like he’d just offended his family. ‘Cats are far more rewarding.’
Jim scoffed. ‘Cats are hostile and territorial. Clearly the owner matches the animal type,’ Jim said with a smirk.
‘Chaya is not at all hostile,’ Spock stated, sounding defensive.
‘Fine, but I still love dogs. So, did you have a significant other back home?’ Jim asked casually, trying to make conversation even though he knew the answer would be to the negative.
‘As I stated before, I do not often find myself attracted to others,’ Spock stated, watching Jim with a measured look as he shifted on the bed.
Jim gave a quick nod before his eyes went wide. ‘Wait, does that mean you’ve never had sex?’
‘That is an entirely personal question considering I have only known you just over a week,’ Spock bit out, his eyes guarded.
‘Oh, sorry. It’s just guy talk, talking about conquests and stuff.’
‘I have a high respect of both women and men and would never refer to them as conquests,’ Spock said, his voice laced in disapproval.
‘This year is going to be so much fun,’ Jim said to himself as he rolled his eyes.
Spock gave him a look before swivelling his chair toward his desk and opening his browser on his computer.
Jim stared at the ceiling, waiting for the quick tapping of the keyboard to stop before getting up slowly and sitting down on Spock’s bed so he was right behind him. ‘I’m bored, wanna play some chess?’
Spock turned immediately, quickly determining Jim had moved closer and stared in shock as Jim made himself comfortable on his bed.
‘Something wrong?’ Jim asked, looking confused.
Spock blinked a few times, taking in Jim sprawling himself across Spock’s bed like it was his own. ‘Please get off my bed now.’
Jim looked toward him in confusion but immediately got off at the hard look in Spock’s eyes. ‘Sorry, I forget you were weird about your bed.’
‘I am not weird about my bed. It is natural to find it an invasion of privacy. I would think you would also find it uncomfortable if I were to get into your bed.’
Jim smirked and gave Spock a leering look. ‘If you ever want to get into my bed, you just go for it, I’m a pretty open guy,’ Jim said, waggling his eyebrows for effect as Spock looked back at him like he couldn’t be any less amused.
‘At this present moment I have no interest in your bed,’ Spock replied sternly.
Jim sat back down into his own bed and gave Spock his best flirtatious smile, knowing it would get under his skin. Spock remained immune and turned around to face his computer.
Jim sat up, his back against his headboard and glanced over at Spock. ‘Entertain me.’
‘Whining does not suit you,’ Spock said over his shoulder, tapping a few keys on the keyboard and clicking the mousepad.
‘Wanna go grab some food together?’
‘It is not yet 5pm,’ Spock stated, not turning around to face Jim.
Jim let out a long sigh and started whistling to himself, grabbing his own laptop from the floor and opening it. ‘Know any good porn sites?’ Jim said, hoping to make Spock so uncomfortable he’d agree to entertain him and get food.
Spock whirled around quickly to pin Jim with a glare, looking angry. ‘You assume I would demean people by watching pornography?’
‘Hey, consenting adults,’ Jim said defensively with a cheeky smile. ‘This could get awkward for you as I don’t have earphones which mean all the noise will come out of the speakers.’
Spock stood up abruptly. ‘I am hungry, would you care to go to dinner?’
Jim pushed his laptop away and stood up in triumph, a large smile on his face as Spock stared back at him like he was a long, complicated equation that would take a while to crack. Jim walked over to the door and waited for Spock to walk out into the hall before giving him a friendly smack on the back. Spock turned to give him a warning glance as Jim shut the door behind them and they went to get food.
Chapter Three
Universe: AU
Rating: PG-13 (NC-17 later)
Relationship status: first time
Word count: 3119
Genre: romance, friendship
Trope: teen
Warning: Language, talk of bullying.
A/N: Set in modern day. Hope you enjoy it! The chapter after this one is where things really pick up pace. :)
Summary: College AU. Jim and Spock are freshmen and are put together as roommates.
Chapter Two
‘Spock,’ Jim said, dragging Spock’s eyes away from his laptop. He stared at Jim in question. ‘Does this shirt look good?’ Jim said, tugging down the dark grey shirt and doing up a few of the middle buttons.
‘Good is subjective to each individual,’ Spock said blandly, turning back to his computer.
‘Well, I want to look kind of good as it’s the first chess club meet tonight.’
Spock stiffened before turning around to pin Jim with a stare. ‘You have joined the chess club?’
‘Yeah, didn’t I tell you?’ Jim said casually, shrugging out of the shirt and picking up a blue one and throwing it on. ‘This?’
Spock’s lips thinned, his mind clearly on the idea of Jim in chess club, before nodding once at the shirt. ‘That looks adequate.’
‘Awesome,’ Jim with a smile, surprised he got an answer considering he was not expecting any kind of opinion on any shirt. He noticed Spock staring at the floor, deep in thought. ‘Something wrong?’
Spock looked up and frowned. ‘I often pride myself on my usually accurate study of human character. When I first met you I had assumed you were probably studying a degree with no real challenge or importance in the outside world, such as Media or Drama. However, you then explained that you were studying maths and I admit, I was,’ Spock paused, ‘stupefied. Now, I discover you have joined chess club which is the club I thought would be furthest from your interests considering I’m sure the ratio of males to females is very low. You infuriate me and I have only just met you.’
Jim grinned at his ability to shake up his roommate. ‘I’m enigmatic.’
‘Indeed,’ Spock said, standing up and grabbing his cell phone and stuffing it into his pocket.
‘Wanna walk there together or would you rather I keep 5 steps behind you?’ Jim teased.
‘If our destination is the same and we leave here at the same time, it is predetermined that we will walk together,’ Spock said stiffly, indicating the door. Jim grabbed his jacket and walked out, waiting for Spock to join him and they started the walk to chess club.
…..
‘You’re lost,’ Jim said with a grin as they strolled through an empty corridor in the English building.
‘I am not,’ Spock stated, stopping and looking both directions with a small, almost not there frown.
‘It said lecture hall B in the Drama block, we’re in English, this isn’t right,’ Jim said, looking into one of the empty classrooms curiously.
‘I am aware of where we are, thank you,’ Spock said curtly, turning around a few times before striding down the hallway the way they came.
‘Should have followed the signs like I said but noooo, you said that you knew how to get there in a more time efficient way so here we are, in some empty building which I doubt is anywhere near the Drama building.’
‘Please desist from your observations,’ Spock said, striding along more briskly, Jim following behind him at a near jog.
‘Slow down,’ Jim said, putting a hand on Spock’s shoulder. Spock immediately stopped, causing Jim to smash into his back with a loud ‘oof’. ‘What the hell?’
‘Do not touch me,’ Spock said, turning to pin Jim with a look.
‘Sorry, I just wanted you to slow down,’ Jim said with a light shrug in apology.
‘I apologise. I am uncomfortable with my lack of knowledge on our current position,’ Spock said, shoulders slumping in defeat as his eyes flew up and down the corridor in annoyance.
‘Yeah, you don’t seem like the type of guy who makes mistakes. How about we retrace our steps and follow the signs?’ Jim suggested gently.
‘That would be an acceptable suggestion if the club had not already started by now and by retracing steps and following signs, there would be little point of our presence at the club.’
‘Ok,’ Jim said, clapping his hands together once. ‘Do you have a chess board?’
‘Of course.’
‘We play each other for now back in our room until the next chess meet up,’ Jim suggested, looking eager.
‘I suppose that is an adequate alternative, however, I doubt you are at my level,’ Spock said.
‘I doubt you’re at mine.’ Jim grinned as Spock raised an eyebrow and they slowly made their way back to their room.
…………….
‘Damn it,’ Jim said, standing up and running an aggravated hand through his hair as he looked down at the board.
‘That is five times I have beaten you,’ Spock said, re-doing the board.
‘You’re impossible,’ Jim said, putting his hands on his hips as he stared down at the board with annoyance.
‘Nothing is impossible, although you are correct in deducing the very small likelihood of you ever beating me at chess.’
‘Fine, I give up for now but this isn’t over, I will beat you,’ Jim insisted as Spock raised an eyebrow at him, like he was extremely doubtful.
Jim quickly went to have a shower and when he came back he found Spock laying out his clothes for the next day on his chair with exact precision.
‘Can I ask you something?’
‘By asking that you have invalidated your question,’ Spock said, getting his pyjamas out and laying them on his bed.
Jim sat down on his bed and leant back. ‘Are you straight?’
Spock raised his eyebrow. ‘I do not believe in labels.’
Jim rolled his eyes. ‘Fine, but if you were to label yourself, what would you label yourself as?’ Jim tried.
Spock laid two socks neatly across the back of his chair. ‘I have no personal preference of gender.’
‘Oh, you’re bisexual, that’s cool,’ Jim said with a nod, feeling slightly surprised.
‘I do not find myself attracted to other people easily,’ Spock admitted.
‘Seriously? There are a lot of beautiful girls around campus.’
‘Indeed,’ Spock said slightly disapprovingly, giving Jim a sideways glance as Jim strolled over to his duffle bag in his boxers.
‘So, how come you’re really intelligent but you were never put up a few years?’ Jim asked.
‘My mother believed that I would be more likely to get on with peers if I minimized my differences from them. Being different in age would be a marked difference my peers would abuse.’
‘You have a lot of friends back home?’ Jim asked, already feeling like he knew the answer as he crawled into bed and turned toward Spock’s bed, his head resting on the pillow.
‘I do not,’ Spock said, his tone slightly clipped as he took his pyjamas and left the room for the shared bathroom to change. He came back a few minutes later and got under the covers of his own bed, turning toward Jim and making no move to turn off the light.
They stared at each other for a beat, their gazes unwavering before Spock looked away and swallowed. ‘I did not make many friends back home as I found it difficult to find common areas of interest between others and I,’ Spock said quietly, like he’d never spoken about it before.
‘You were bullied?’ Jim asked softly, watching Spock carefully.
‘Yes. I am immune to it now, however, as I have developed techniques and emotional barriers which allow me to withstand insults from peers.’
Jim felt his stomach knot in sympathy as he’d always been firmly in the popular group in school and so he’d never experienced bullying in any form. ‘Well, if anyone is rude to you, let me know and I’ll throw a punch to defend your honour,’ Jim joked.
‘I have significant emotional control that allows me to block hurtful comments from affecting me,’ Spock said before pausing, like he was considering saying something else. ‘I have not had anyone offer to defend me before. I do not understand why you would, considering our relationship is not yet a week old.’
Jim shrugged before smiling. ‘I like fighting for the underdog and you seem like a pretty decent guy.’
Spock looked at Jim in bewilderment, like he didn’t understand the logic, before reaching his hand out to the lamp and flicking the off switch.
………….
‘Nyota,’ Jim said with a sickeningly sweet voice, sitting down next to her with a grin. ‘Foreign languages for the next year together, isn’t this wonderful?’
Nyota turned to give him a look like she wanted him to die. ‘Go away,’ she snapped, grabbing her laptop and opening it, ready for the lecture.
‘That’s harsh,’ Jim said, pretending to be offended. ‘What would Spock say if he could hear you?’
‘Probably agree with me,’ Nyota stated, staring at the front and doing her best to avoid Jim.
‘Doubt it. Spock and I are actually getting along. Well, getting along as well as can be hoped considering how weird he is.’
‘He isn’t weird,’ Nyota bit out, her cheeks flushing slightly.
‘Oh he is, but maybe that’s your type, I don’t know.’
Nyota stood up abruptly and moved two seats along, sitting back down with a loud huff and flicking her hair behind her ear.
Without missing a beat Jim moved along too, sitting back down next to her. ‘Hi there.’
‘Will you go away?’ Jim gave her a look as he got his phone out of his pocket and flipped it open. ‘You can’t have phones in here,’ Nyota snapped.
‘Lecture hasn’t started, we’re good. Anyway, I want to text Spock to let him know I’m keeping you company.’
Nyoya turned to look at him, a hint of question in her eyes. ‘You have his number?’
‘Sure do,’ Jim said, running his finger along his phone to get to Spock’s name.
Nyota not so subtly glanced over to the phone like she didn’t believe he had Spock’s number. ‘Why do you even have his number if you hate him?’
Jim looked affronted. ‘Hate him? I don’t hate the guy at all. In fact, we’re becoming friends in a weird, tentative kind of way.’ Jim quickly started tapping out a message, holding it toward Nyota so she couldn’t see.
‘Stop being a jerk,’ Nyota said, shrugging him away from her.
‘You wanna say hi?’ Jim said, referring to the text.
‘No,’ Nyota snapped.
‘Oh, Ok,’ Jim said, looking down at the phone. ‘‘Nyota does not say hi. I think she’s PMSing,’ that good?’
‘I’m going to hurt you,’ Nyota hissed under her breath as the lecturer coughed loudly to get everyone’s attention.
Jim grinned obnoxiously at her, putting his phone back into his pocket before leaning over toward her and lowering his voice. ‘I’ll let you know when Spock texts back, OK?’
Nyota stared at the front, her face tense and annoyed. Jim sprawled lazily in the chair next to her with a satisfied smile.
……..
‘Jim.’ Jim looked up from his chair in the library and took out his earphones. Spock did not look happy.
‘Hey, you wanna join me?’ Jim said, moving some books from the chair next to him.
‘Did you use my shampoo?’ Spock asked, his eyes dark.
Jim gulped, looking down at his book. ‘Err, yeah, I might have. I couldn’t find mine and I was in a rush,’ Jim said apologetically, smiling up at Spock.
Spock slowly sat down next to him. ‘I have known you for 7 days and 3 hours and I am worried that if you have already disrespected my privacy, we may encounter conflict and I find conflict undesirable.’
Jim nodded. ‘I am really sorry, it won’t happen again.’
‘You also borrowed my shower gel.’
‘Oh, yeah, that. Sorry again?’ Jim said as Spock looked at him with hard eyes.
‘Perhaps if you kept your side of the room in a less chaotic state you would not find the need to steal my things,’ Spock said pointedly.
‘Is this you, not so subtly, telling me to tidy my half of the room?’ Jim said with a small smirk.
Spock stared back at him. ‘I find it difficult to study when there is such a chaotic mess behind me.’ Spock placed a hand on the table and curled his fingers to release some tension.
‘I’m a guy, Spock, I’m not going to always have my side as meticulously tidy as yours.’
A tiny, almost not there frown graced Spock’s features. ‘I do not see what being male has to do with cleanliness and tidiness.’
‘Ok, I’ll try and tidy up when I get back. I promise,’ Jim said, patting the back of Spock’s hand. Spock tensed ever so slightly before relaxing, his hand slipping out from under Jim’s as he stood up.
‘Thank you,’ Spock said with a nod.
‘See, I’m not too bad, am I?’ Jim said, ever present cocky smile on his face.
Spock looked down at him, an expression of slight curiosity on his face. ‘We shall see.’
………..
‘Ta da,’ Jim said as Spock walked into their room, his arms wide as he showed off his side of the room which, whilst still cluttered, was still a lot tidier than earlier in the day. He waited for approval.
Spock shut the door behind him and raised an eyebrow. ‘I had no doubt of your abilities to tidy your bed area. I question your abilities to maintain that tidiness for a prolonged period of time.’
‘Shoot me down, why don’t you?’ Jim said with a small laugh, launching himself backwards on his bed and bouncing softly on the mattress. ‘What you up to now?’
‘I believe I should e-mail my mother,’ Spock said, sitting down at his desk and starting his computer.
‘You haven’t told me about your parents. You already know all about mine,’ Jim said, turning onto one side to look over at Spock.
‘I did not ask to know about your parents, you informed me without my asking,’ Spock stated, turning to look over his shoulder.
‘How you ever thought about, I don’t know, being less hostile? We’re living together for a year at least so we may as well get on.’
Spock turned back around to look at Jim, eyes carefully masking what he was thinking. ‘My mother is named Amanda and my father is called Sarek. We have a pet cat and I have no siblings. Do you require any other information?’
Jim sat up and crossed his legs. ‘You have a cat? What’s it called?’
‘Chaya, he is male.’
‘Cool, I’m more of a dog person but cats are kinda cute.’
Spock stared at him like he’d just offended his family. ‘Cats are far more rewarding.’
Jim scoffed. ‘Cats are hostile and territorial. Clearly the owner matches the animal type,’ Jim said with a smirk.
‘Chaya is not at all hostile,’ Spock stated, sounding defensive.
‘Fine, but I still love dogs. So, did you have a significant other back home?’ Jim asked casually, trying to make conversation even though he knew the answer would be to the negative.
‘As I stated before, I do not often find myself attracted to others,’ Spock stated, watching Jim with a measured look as he shifted on the bed.
Jim gave a quick nod before his eyes went wide. ‘Wait, does that mean you’ve never had sex?’
‘That is an entirely personal question considering I have only known you just over a week,’ Spock bit out, his eyes guarded.
‘Oh, sorry. It’s just guy talk, talking about conquests and stuff.’
‘I have a high respect of both women and men and would never refer to them as conquests,’ Spock said, his voice laced in disapproval.
‘This year is going to be so much fun,’ Jim said to himself as he rolled his eyes.
Spock gave him a look before swivelling his chair toward his desk and opening his browser on his computer.
Jim stared at the ceiling, waiting for the quick tapping of the keyboard to stop before getting up slowly and sitting down on Spock’s bed so he was right behind him. ‘I’m bored, wanna play some chess?’
Spock turned immediately, quickly determining Jim had moved closer and stared in shock as Jim made himself comfortable on his bed.
‘Something wrong?’ Jim asked, looking confused.
Spock blinked a few times, taking in Jim sprawling himself across Spock’s bed like it was his own. ‘Please get off my bed now.’
Jim looked toward him in confusion but immediately got off at the hard look in Spock’s eyes. ‘Sorry, I forget you were weird about your bed.’
‘I am not weird about my bed. It is natural to find it an invasion of privacy. I would think you would also find it uncomfortable if I were to get into your bed.’
Jim smirked and gave Spock a leering look. ‘If you ever want to get into my bed, you just go for it, I’m a pretty open guy,’ Jim said, waggling his eyebrows for effect as Spock looked back at him like he couldn’t be any less amused.
‘At this present moment I have no interest in your bed,’ Spock replied sternly.
Jim sat back down into his own bed and gave Spock his best flirtatious smile, knowing it would get under his skin. Spock remained immune and turned around to face his computer.
Jim sat up, his back against his headboard and glanced over at Spock. ‘Entertain me.’
‘Whining does not suit you,’ Spock said over his shoulder, tapping a few keys on the keyboard and clicking the mousepad.
‘Wanna go grab some food together?’
‘It is not yet 5pm,’ Spock stated, not turning around to face Jim.
Jim let out a long sigh and started whistling to himself, grabbing his own laptop from the floor and opening it. ‘Know any good porn sites?’ Jim said, hoping to make Spock so uncomfortable he’d agree to entertain him and get food.
Spock whirled around quickly to pin Jim with a glare, looking angry. ‘You assume I would demean people by watching pornography?’
‘Hey, consenting adults,’ Jim said defensively with a cheeky smile. ‘This could get awkward for you as I don’t have earphones which mean all the noise will come out of the speakers.’
Spock stood up abruptly. ‘I am hungry, would you care to go to dinner?’
Jim pushed his laptop away and stood up in triumph, a large smile on his face as Spock stared back at him like he was a long, complicated equation that would take a while to crack. Jim walked over to the door and waited for Spock to walk out into the hall before giving him a friendly smack on the back. Spock turned to give him a warning glance as Jim shut the door behind them and they went to get food.
Chapter Three