Ficlet: "Testing the Waters" (G)
Title: "Testing the Waters"
Author: yahtzee63
Pairings: S/U
Characters: Spock, Nyota Uhura
Rating: G
Warnings: N/A
Spoilers: Pre-film
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Summary: Certain gaps in a Vulcan's education are entirely logical.
A/N: For the schmoop_bingo prompt "Swimming."
"Testing the Waters"
“The Vulcan body is technically more buoyant than the human body due to various biological differences,” Spock said. “Therefore it is logical to assume that swimming - though a nearly unknown practice on my homeworld - is a task Vulcans could not only accomplish but master.”
Nyota folded her arms. “None of this explains why you’re standing on the side of the pool instead of jumping in.”
Was it her imagination, or did Spock look - sheepish? As close to that as a Vulcan could look, anyway. “I confess that I have not yet learned to swim.”
“Ah.” She did her best to hide her amusement and respond as he would have preferred. Despite the increasingly flirtatious warmth between them, he was still, technically, her instructor. “An entirely logical omission. You would never have had any opportunity to practice as a child, and since coming to Starfleet, I’m sure you’ve had a … lot to do.”
“Precisely.”
“So you agreed to accompany me today - because - ?”
There was the sheepish look again, a very subtle expression, but she knew it now. “I thought perhaps I might call upon your expertise and take this chance to learn a valuable survival skill.”
And here I thought you might want to see me in my bathing suit. Nyota pulled at the sides of her swim cap - white, to match her singlet - and said, “I’m no expert, you know.”
“I thought most Terrans learned this in childhood.”
“Sure. I did too. But for expertise, you don’t want Terrans.” She pointed at the far lane of the pool, where Ensign Bollulubleeoo was whipping back and forth, lap after lap, her tentacles churning the water around her.
Spock pointed out, “I meant, expertise with a body type similar to that of Vulcans. Although any Nereiadian would undoubtedly be a superior swimmer than any humanoid, none would be likely to offer advice useful to me.”
“Very logical again.” Nyota held out one water-beaded hand - as a gesture only, not really expecting him to touch her. “So jump on in, Mr. Spock. The water’s fine.”
He didn’t jump in, but he did descend the ladder into the pool, if somewhat stiffly. Spock clearly disliked being wet, but Nyota hoped he might get used to that. Otherwise, this wasn’t going to go well. As he made his way toward her, clearly walking through chest-deep water for the first time in his life, she realized something.
“Um, Spock?”
“Yes?”
“I can give you explanations of what to do. I can even demonstrate. But there will be times when it’s easiest for me to show you, by touching you.” She had occasionally brushed his arm, even tapped him on the shoulder, but touching a Vulcan through clothing, while not ideal, was permissible and not likely to trouble him as a touch telepath. Bare skin on bare skin: That would be different.
But Spock said only, “In the context of instruction, that would be acceptable.”
Acceptable. Okay. She put one hand on his arm, just - testing the waters. What did he feel? How much was she telling him? How much was she ready to tell him?
Spock didn’t look horrified. He didn’t look smug. The awkwardness had left him now. “I’m ready to begin, Nyota.”
She grinned. “Me too.”
**
Mods, I tried repeatedly to add my author tag, but it said that wasn't allowed? Not sure what's up.
Author: yahtzee63
Pairings: S/U
Characters: Spock, Nyota Uhura
Rating: G
Warnings: N/A
Spoilers: Pre-film
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Summary: Certain gaps in a Vulcan's education are entirely logical.
A/N: For the schmoop_bingo prompt "Swimming."
"Testing the Waters"
“The Vulcan body is technically more buoyant than the human body due to various biological differences,” Spock said. “Therefore it is logical to assume that swimming - though a nearly unknown practice on my homeworld - is a task Vulcans could not only accomplish but master.”
Nyota folded her arms. “None of this explains why you’re standing on the side of the pool instead of jumping in.”
Was it her imagination, or did Spock look - sheepish? As close to that as a Vulcan could look, anyway. “I confess that I have not yet learned to swim.”
“Ah.” She did her best to hide her amusement and respond as he would have preferred. Despite the increasingly flirtatious warmth between them, he was still, technically, her instructor. “An entirely logical omission. You would never have had any opportunity to practice as a child, and since coming to Starfleet, I’m sure you’ve had a … lot to do.”
“Precisely.”
“So you agreed to accompany me today - because - ?”
There was the sheepish look again, a very subtle expression, but she knew it now. “I thought perhaps I might call upon your expertise and take this chance to learn a valuable survival skill.”
And here I thought you might want to see me in my bathing suit. Nyota pulled at the sides of her swim cap - white, to match her singlet - and said, “I’m no expert, you know.”
“I thought most Terrans learned this in childhood.”
“Sure. I did too. But for expertise, you don’t want Terrans.” She pointed at the far lane of the pool, where Ensign Bollulubleeoo was whipping back and forth, lap after lap, her tentacles churning the water around her.
Spock pointed out, “I meant, expertise with a body type similar to that of Vulcans. Although any Nereiadian would undoubtedly be a superior swimmer than any humanoid, none would be likely to offer advice useful to me.”
“Very logical again.” Nyota held out one water-beaded hand - as a gesture only, not really expecting him to touch her. “So jump on in, Mr. Spock. The water’s fine.”
He didn’t jump in, but he did descend the ladder into the pool, if somewhat stiffly. Spock clearly disliked being wet, but Nyota hoped he might get used to that. Otherwise, this wasn’t going to go well. As he made his way toward her, clearly walking through chest-deep water for the first time in his life, she realized something.
“Um, Spock?”
“Yes?”
“I can give you explanations of what to do. I can even demonstrate. But there will be times when it’s easiest for me to show you, by touching you.” She had occasionally brushed his arm, even tapped him on the shoulder, but touching a Vulcan through clothing, while not ideal, was permissible and not likely to trouble him as a touch telepath. Bare skin on bare skin: That would be different.
But Spock said only, “In the context of instruction, that would be acceptable.”
Acceptable. Okay. She put one hand on his arm, just - testing the waters. What did he feel? How much was she telling him? How much was she ready to tell him?
Spock didn’t look horrified. He didn’t look smug. The awkwardness had left him now. “I’m ready to begin, Nyota.”
She grinned. “Me too.”
**
Mods, I tried repeatedly to add my author tag, but it said that wasn't allowed? Not sure what's up.