*History* [Uhura & Spock] Academic Vernacular

[sonofsarek]

Starfleet Academy, 2256

If there was one thing that was frustrating about conducting linguistics courses at Starfleet, it was the general lack of interest in Xenolinguistics put for by most of the students. Though they were expected to interact with alien species and conduct themselves in a respectable and ethical manner while creating lasting

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[sonofsarek]

“The Phonological shifts experienced across system boundaries share a common…” He began the lecture at the usual time, and was surprised to see Uhura just settling in and preparing for class. The exchange between her and the other young man near her made him want to raise an eyebrow and possibly inquire, but he stayed focused on the lecture until the end of class.

As usual, students with questions and comments approached him when the lecture was finally concluded, but he kept becoming distracted (like so many others) by the dark marks that riddled his assistant’s body.

Once the last of the students left them alone, his features softened. It was almost as if in trying harder not to show the emotions he did feel he became even more emotionless. It was only when they were finally alone that he didn’t have to try as hard to keep up the facade.

“I trust you are not harmed badly?” He asked, trying not to speak too loudly as they ventured out into the hall, on their way to their office. They weren’t alone just yet and he wasn’t comfortable exposing her to the stares of the other cadets any longer than necessary.

[atalentedtongue]

"I'm fine, Professor." Her tone was bright, her smile brighter and the look she gave him would (to anyone else) have seemed innocent, as if she were just answering the question.

As they walked down the hall, she held her books tightly in front of her, her head ducked just enough to hide the mark on her neck as that was the one that she felt most self-conscious about. Not embarrassed, never that, but the one she felt others noticed most. And once he opened the office door and she stepped inside, she set her books down on his desk before turning to him and giving him a very serious look.

"I am fine, Spock." The second time she said it, her tone was softer, more sincere and with a deeper meaning. She wanted him to know that while she was achy and a bit sore, she didn't mind it in the least and certainly didn't regret anything. "I wouldn't change any of it, not even the looks I've been getting all day."

Once the door was shut behind him, she stepped forward and placed a soft kiss against his lips. "I promise."

[sonofsarek]

Before he counter her response and argue the fact that the visibility of the marks was proof that there was pain involved her lips were already on his. The response wasn’t near as passionate than it had been on the previous night. He had never lost control like that before, and the delicate line between control and insanity was so thin when he was around her. That guard, that stoic and logical mind and temperament, was the only solace he had from his irrational fear of hurting her. One day he would have the balance and control (with practice, he hoped).

“Understood.” He said monotone as his attention focused on the details of her injuries. His thumb slid gently over the surface of the particularly bad mark on her neck, and he scanned over each of the other marks he left on her body. Nothing of much concern; even the color change in her wrist was fairly normal. However, the mark on her thigh was particularly bad.

“Nyota, if desired I will accompany you to Medical in order to receive treatment.” His eyes were sympathetic when he looked at her, though his voice did not falter from its previous tone.

[atalentedtongue]

Uhura could tell that he was holding back. Not just that he wasn't being as responsive as the night before but he wasn't even being as responsive as he had in the times they had spent alone in his office.

She understood where he was coming from, or she thought she did. Maybe he was afraid of losing control or maybe he was afraid the whole thing - taking it to that level - had been a mistake. Whatever it was, she wasn't going to push him any further.

Keeping her hands to herself, she shook her head. "There isn't any need to go to Medical," she assured him, a small smile playing about her lips. "There isn't anything wrong. I had a very pleasant night with my-" She gave a little motion toward him, unwilling to call him 'Professor' and not quite sure if she should call him her boyfriend, "and that's all there is to it. It's no one's business, and if I go to Medical, I'd have to explain."

[sonofsarek]

He exhaled audibly when she gestured towards him and set down his things on the desk. Hesitation on a name to give him when coupled with the word ‘my’ only meant there was an inability for her to identify exactly what he was to her. Or perhaps what he was comfortable with her calling him. There was still something holding him back, telling him not to hold her.

“Nyota…” It was as tenderly as he had spoke it the previous night (prior to the more intense portions), but he kept his distance away from her still, crossing his hands over he chest. “You may refer to me as whatever would be appropriate in our situation.” Cold, perhaps detached, but certainly honest. He was certain that she would at least be able to get that from his voice.

“Perhaps in the future physical harm will not be necessary.”

[atalentedtongue]

Actually, she was unwilling to go into Medical and say she'd spent the night with her professor. She was also unsure as to what Spock wanted to be called, in terms of their relationship. She watched as she crossed his arms over his chest and tilted her head curiously, eyes never leaving his.

"And what are you to me? What is our situation? Are you my boyfriend? A lover? A... temporary thing?" She wasn't trying to be flip, she was honestly curious.

A tender smile settled on her lips and she reached out to touch his arm. "Spock." Her voice was just as soft as his had been. "Physical harm... it doesn't hurt this morning. I'm a little sore, but it's not bad. It's a pleasant reminder of how I spent my night." She paused and gave him a very meaningful look. "With you. I wouldn't change any of this. Please. Stop feeling guilty."

[sonofsarek]

Guilt. That was certainly the appropriate word for what he felt. He hadn’t felt that way in years, but somehow she had reawakened these once dormant emotions in him.

He returned her look with an equal amount of curiosity. To him it was no question what their relationship was. He had been emotionally open with her, made love to her, bonded with her mentally. With Vulcans there was truly only one term to describe that sort of relationship, but Uhura was not Vulcan.

“Perhaps boyfriend is an appropriate term for the situation.” He wasn’t completely ignorant to the politics of Human relationships. He was exposed to it daily at the academy whenever he heard the various students going on about their significant others.

[atalentedtongue]

"Maybe."

She fell quiet. To her boyfriend was something that other girls had. Something that Gaila had, day in and day out. Boyfriends lasted a week or two, maybe a month. What Uhura felt for Spock, what she saw in their relationship was something more. She felt a bit presumptuous to say so, though, and took a deep breath before saying, "You don't feel like my boyfriend, Spock. You feel like... something more. Boyfriends are something frivolous and light and I-"

Nyota exhaled and looked up at him. "I trust you and I love you. Boyfriend seems so... insignificant to what I feel for you."

[sonofsarek]

So perhaps she felt the same, he thought to himself. He heard her words very loud and clear: I love you. To him, however, the words themselves had little significance over what he felt and what he experienced when their minds had melded together. He already knew how he felt.

“Nyota… I wish to show you something.” He held his hand out to her as he did before, with the intention of melding with her. This time he would show her how he felt, without guarding it. She at least deserved that much.

[atalentedtongue]

Obviously, he felt something like what she did or he would have said she was being illogical.

When he held out his hand, she nodded, trusting him as she'd said. Closing her eyes, she placed her hands against his waist for support and waited for the jolt that she knew was coming.

[sonofsarek]

When he placed his hand against her face, the jolt from the mind melt was not as overwhelming as it was the first time they had melded. The exchange wasn’t of images or experiences as much as it was of simple feels and deep thoughts.

It was a collection of sorts, a cluster of feelings he felt when they first met in the mess lounge, when they shared their first kiss, the first night they had spent together. Most of all he emphasized how he made her feel the previous night when she was pressed so close against them and their bodies had moved together in the dim light of his quarters.

Above all of this there was the whisper of thought of his love and affection for her. How he respected her, appreciated her timely and efficient work, how he noticed the small things she would do for him throughout the day like reorganize his desk and send him careful glances up from her notes in class.

All of this compiled into just a few moments that they spent with their minds in sync, and just as quickly his hand was away from her face and he stared down at her awaiting a response. Still stoic, maybe cold, but the emotions that boiled beneath the visage were certainly there and most of them were specifically reserved for her.

[atalentedtongue]

Uhura could feel how his feelings had shifted from knowing her to truly knowing her and as she felt them shift, she realized that she had fallen for him along that same time line. And whether or not he could feel her emotions and thoughts during that same meld, she wasn't sure.

When he released her, she took a moment to regroup, savoring the rush of emotion she'd just felt from him and only then did she look up at him. His still-cold expression didn't match what she'd just felt, but she knew the truth was there somewhere. And her response was simple: "I love you, too."

Though he was clearly feeling guilt over their activities, or the roughness thereof, and he was obviously determined not to let his feelings run away with him in his office, she still gave him another kiss. Sweet and gentle, she had no intention of letting things get out of hand (at least not right then). "Thank you for sharing that with me."

It was obvious that he wasn't just a boyfriend or a lover.

[sonofsarek]

Breaking his own promise to himself fort just a moment, he leaned into her kiss and stopped it from breaking. Filled with desire for her for just a moment, but once again fully in control of himself, he pulled away from her and nodded in response to her gratitude. He was unsure of how she could need to thank him when she had given him so much of herself.

“You’re welcome.” It was almost a question, and he searched her eyes with his brows drawn close together as he responded.

He leaned his head down and rested his forehead against hers, watching her closely as he let his arms slip around her. It seemed odd that he was so contented with someone who he shouldn’t be in love with, but Spock was never one to do what his Vulcan logic told him was wrong.

Rebellion was one thing, but this was entirely another.