RP LOG: Jim Kirk; Spock [COMPLETE]

[jimtiberiuskirk]

WHO: Jim Kirk; Spock [COMPLETE]
WHAT: The start of a beautiful friendship. Sort of.
WHEN: Right upon taking off. This is backlogged quite a bit.
WARNINGS: PG for mentions of sex and violence.


Technically it really should have been done before the Enterprise left dry dock. He had expected to be given a chance to get it taken care of. Spock should have known better. It seemed almost as though the minute James Kirk boarded the ship the engines were revving and they were pulling away. The Vulcan was trying not to feel irritation, and was actually succeeding rather well, all things considered.
 
But he had his duties just like Kirk had his, and one thing he needed to wrap up was the untidy stack of PADDs sitting on the desk in his quarters. With a determined set of his jaw, he gathered them up and tucked them into his arm, stalking from his room and heading down the corridor towards the Captains. If anything, it would get them out of his way. 
 
Before he knew it he was standing before the others door, inquiring entry from the computer.

Currently, the ship's captain was enjoying some well-deserved rest. After what had transpired, after all the red tape Jim Kirk had to go through and the paperwork he had to finish in order to actually obtain his captaincy, Kirk absolutely never wanted to see another Federation form ever, ever again. He was sleeping -- snoring, even, the benefits of being Captain happened to come with one of the more comfortable beds that he had ever slept in. It only seemed like he had been asleep twenty minutes before the computer sprung to life, asking for him to either verify or deny entry of his first officer.

Perhaps against his better judgement, Kirk yawned and pressed the button that would allow Spock entry. He begrudgingly straightened up, glad for once that he had fallen asleep in his Starfleet uniform, rather than having stripped down to next to nothing. Kirk blearily looked at the Vulcan, hoping his blue eyes conveyed what he was about to mutter next.

What the hell do you want? Except, he remembered just in time that he was trying to be nice to Spock -- they were supposed to be friends, engrained into one another's lives and all, so a figure from another world told him. Instead, Jim simply yawned again and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Do you need somethin'?"

There were times that Spock forgot that Humans needed more sleep than Vulcans. On campus it had been easier. For most of the time that it was dark, humans would sleep, and for the most part when it was light, they would be awake. Day and night in space were monitored by shift changes and chronometers. He stepped neatly inside when the doors slid open to allow him in, alerted first to the dimness. 
 
Kirk was sitting up in bed, looking as though he had been sleeping when Spock had arrived. It made him pause a millisecond longer than he would have otherwise, and he inclined his head just a fraction. "Captain. It was not my intent to wake you, however, there are forms that need your immediate attention." Maybe not immediate, but it was safer to put it that way. 
 
Spock boldly stepped further into the room, heading to the desk to lay down the various PADDs of varying colors. "I have separated the forms according to station. You will find they are in order and merely require your authorization code so that they may be transferred back to Command." He finished setting them out, then turned and slipped his hands behind his back, looking to the one still in the bed.

Immediate. God dammit, he hated that word. Kirk ran a hand through his hair, not even wanting to look at the PADDs that were set on his desk. He peeked anyway -- and immediately regretted it. "How many forms do they NEED, anyway for the Enterprise...I already filled half of these, I swear it." He complained, heading over to the desk to look at the forms. At least they were organized, more than likely in every which way possible -- Kirk immediately started into them, wondering what happened to his never wanting to see a Federation form again. Not that he wanted to, but it was his responsibility he guessed, now that he was captain.

"I bet you did this just to torture me." He smirked over one of the PADDs, unable to resist poking just a bit of fun at the stoic looking Vulcan. "If you wanna take a seat, go ahead -- it's gonna take me a while." He finished with a few forms, continuing on forward through the massive amounts of paperwork that Spock had bestowed down upon him.

Spock did not respond to the first question, knowing that it was rhetorical. It would only take him a moment to add them all up and give the other an answer, but he figured that it would only irritate him. He took a moment when Kirk was looking down at the PADDs to glance around the room. 
 
"I am comfortable standing, Captain, and despite your gamble, it is not my intent to cause you any duress." He said, turning his attention back to the desk top and the forms that Kirk was going through. "It is better, they say, to finish your work before you play." A tiny tick of a frown settled in the corner of his mouth, knowing that that had not come out with quite the easy way humans seemed to make comments of the sort. He would need more practice.

Whatever amount it would have been would have probably been at least 356 too many. Kirk scowled at the little number in the corner of the page, the one detailing the engine specifics and the orders of replacements after a few years in space wore down the finer pieces of machinery. Annoying, specific things, really, and Kirk's disdain for the Federation paperwork only grew with every little tick, every little initial. He waited a second before responding to Spock, finally growing tired of reading through every little thing, just initialing and signing and authorizing every line that Spock had marked for him. Thank god for first officers who had way too much time on their hands.

"Suit yourself," Kirk shrugged, only just finishing the first PADD before handing it over, already quick to start in on the second one. "Play, huh?" He let out a low whistle, continuing to keep his main attention on the little JTKs that his pen made on every marked line, smirking at the other's rather awkward delivery of the usual saying. "I haven't played since I got back from the Enterprise the first time. Hard work, this whole captaincy thing, yeah?" He grinned, really, he wasn't attempting to lord it over the other that he had ended up as captain. It was just how things had turned out.

Spock stood silently, watching the Captain scan through the pages at first, then begin to seemingly only look for places he needed to initial and check off. Spock had expected that, and had made sure that everything was exact before bringing them for approval. Despite it all, he didn't really mind. Irritation was an emotion, of sorts, and he pushed it down were it belonged, refusing to be bothered by it. 
 
"I do not have enough experience to make a substantial conclusion, sir. My brief stint as Captain of this vessel was served under extreme circumstances and admitted duress. It has never been my desire, however, to be captain." he turned the PADD Kirk had given him in his hands, looking down at it placidly. His voice had remained thoroughly neutral while speaking, but his thumbnail picked slightly at the corner of the tough acrylic frame.

The quiet way Spock responded to everything had been irritating at first. Admittedly, it was irritating now in a way -- Kirk was a man who led through emotions, often going whichever way his heart told him, working on instinct. They were entirely different in that way, but it was a such a stark contrast that they complemented each other. Spock had, after all, gone through all of the forms with a fine toothed comb, perhaps knowing that soon enough Kirk would tire of looking at the little details and viewed the picture as a whole.

Truly -- it was a good thing that Kirk had taken him on as a first officer. He hadn't really expected it. In fact, he was nearly about to take off without one until Spock had (surprisingly) volunteered himself for the occupation.

"Guess so," He finally muttered, and continued on going through the forms, flipping the finished ones over to start the next one - and the next one, and the next one. Kirk narrowed his eyes at the PADD, quickly finishing it and handing it to Spock with a sigh. "So how are things -- er." Probably an odd question to ask. But given that it was on his bridge, it really was his business, wasn't it? "With Uhura?" He gave Spock a weak smile. After all, as well as Kirk had played the hero, Spock was the one who'd ended up with the girl. Funny how that worked out.

Spock was comfortable with the silence. It was mildly unnerving to be standing there beside the other. They'd nearly died together, he had put his life into this man's hands, but he didn't know how to stand there without wanting to twitch away from him, or closer, or just..something. 
 
It was hard, at times, keeping up with his Vulcan half. Despite everything there was a little part of him, buried deep down, that wanted to have the sort of friendships he had seen constantly while living with humans. It was sort of impossible, he knew, given the sensitive nature of his skin. No hugs or back slaps or hand shaking would ever feel exactly comfortable. It had taken a hell of a long time to acclimate himself to Nyota's touch. 
 
When Kirk brought her up Spock immediately glanced up from the PADD he was holding to look at the other, but made no movement otherwise. "The lieutenant and I, sir, are quite well." There was a mild warning in his tone that time, letting him know that it could be dangerous territory.

Paperwork, more paperwork. Kirk started in on the third, going through them in order, grateful to only have a few more to go. The oddly tense conversation he was having with Spock certainly wasn't doing anything to help the time go by, but it was welcome none the less. The captain flipped through papers, just barely glancing at titles before initialing.

"That's good," Kirk mumbled, though it was more out of boredom than any real feelings about the matter. He'd flirted with Uhura more than anyone he could ever really recall -- and it had become more to her own annoyance than ever trying to get into her skirt, really. Still, it kind of confused him to see her very much happy with the seemingly emotionless brick wall that was his first officer.

And she had told Spock her first name, which later Kirk realized was likely due to Spock being a professor at the academy. No wonder he knew her first name. He probably knew everything about her from her personal file, if given access to that whole thing.

Despite Spock's warning tone, the captain pushed further, unable to keep from being curious. "So have you slept with her yet?"

It should have been obvious to him that Kirk would have the indecency to push a question like that. But Spock had not expected it to come so soon. The only response he had at first was the slightest flare of his nostrils. He was a very private person, just like all other Vulcans, but at the same time he felt almost indignant at the inquiry. Maybe James Kirk was trying to make him mad.
 
"I do not see, Captain, how that is any concern of yours." he answered, arching one brow. It wasn't an admission or a denial and he knew it. Spock shifted to face the other more fully, reaching forward to lay the PADD he had been holding on the corner of the desk. 
 
"She has told me of your ill attempts at pursuing her. It is illogical to hold a grudge against the one she deems worthy of her affection." he said, feeling a very small thrill of satisfaction at making himself say it. Quickly he suppressed it.

"I was just asking." Kirk replied, grumpily filling out paperwork, not at all very satisfied with that answer. He was learning to read the arches in Spock's face, the subtle changes of expression, and something rather told him from Spock's tone and the way his eyebrow raised that he had either stumbled upon a sore spot, or simply was poking his nose where it didn't belong.

Probably both. "You know, it's just a yes or no answer..." He pressed forward, finally turning in his seat to face his first officer. He had left the paperwork, already mildly distracted, grinning cockily. "Nothing to be ashamed about, yeah?" Unless there was, and oh, that would just make all of this paperwork worthwhile to know the intricacies and failures of Spock's sexual relationship with Lieutenant Uhura.

"Also, I'll have you know that she started it." Kirk murmured, finishing off his third PADD, tossing it over to Spock with no particular flourish or even sportsmanship. "She's the one who ordered enough drinks to hydrate a desert, I just wanted to help her out a little."

Spock was not sure at all how to respond to the man, and he caught the PADD deftly. He knew of Nyota's more...risque behaviors. He tried not to judge her for them, letting her be her own person. It was hard at times, but he did not was to be as overbearing as he had seen his father.
 
"Is it your intention to upset me, Captain?" he asked, well versed in such attempts through past experience. He kept his words and expression bland, but he stared sharply at his commanding officer, wondering if this was to be a repeat of their unfortunate encounter on the bridge once before. 
 
"I do not need to remind you of the last time you did so." he added, tilting his head just a little and reaching forward to stack the PADDs in an orderly fashion.

Oh -- yeah, Kirk remembered, and he couldn't help but swallow harshly in remembrance of that strong hand gripping his neck, the angry vulcan descending on top of him, clenching harder, just this shy of enough to break his neck entirely. Just enough to suffocate. To watch his life fade away before his eyes. Kirk remembered far too well, and he attempted to not show that it had affected him visibly.

"I'm not meaning to upset you at all, Commander." Though he smirked in conquest, a bit cockier than he should be when the pointy eared bastard was arching his eyebrow and tilting his head in a manner which said that yes, Kirk was getting on Spock's nerves, and Spock did not exactly enjoy it. Good. Even though Kirk had been meaning to get along with his First Officer, some things still were left unsaid as they transported off of the ship.

I'll be monitoring your frequencies. What was that all about, anyway? Kirk just bit his lip, angrily initialing a few more forms "I'm just inquiring about my crew's...well-being, you could say."

Spock could tell that the other was suddenly upset just by the way his hand was moving as he initialed the forms. This was getting off to such a negative start, not even a full twentyfour hours into the mission and they were already...upset. 
 
Collecting himself, Spock closed his eyes and let out the softest of exhales, Initiating a breathing technique for calming himself. He straightened and slipped his hands behind his back, opening his eyes and looking down at the man. "Thank you, Captain....we are both very well." he conceded, hoping that the other would take that as his peace offering.

Well, if there was a plus side to both irritating and being irritated by Spock, it was the way his hand moved, filling out the forms nice and quick, having the fourth PADD finished in almost half the time it had taken to finish all the others. To be honest, it didn't really occur to him at all to look at the titles this time, however, already just running off auto-pilot as he went through the massive amounts of paperwork.

At Spock's sudden calm, Kirk felt just -- that much more unsettled. For a moment there was a glimmer of annoyance, of irritation, and that human emotion had made something flare up in him that was either just familiarity or intrigue at just what buttons he had to push to gain entry to whatever else Spock kept locked up inside of him. When that sudden familiarity settled back into a quiet, relaxed, vulcan calm, they were seemingly strangers again, and Kirk's own irritation dissipated as quickly as it had come.

"Glad to hear it." He managed quietly, and started in on the last PADD.

Unsure of what the subtle disconnection between them was, Spock let it settle at that, sliding his gaze away but otherwise not altering his neutral expression. This was nearly over, just one more PADD to get through and he would be able to leave, and Kirk could return to his bed. 
 
 "I shall file these immediately, Captain." he said, picking up the finished pile of paperwork. "I apologize for waking you and I will make an effort not to do so in the future." he added, attempting in his own way to build a bridge of respect between them. His future counter part had told him that he would be happy on the Enterprise, in order to do so he knew he needed to make social connections.

"Not a problem -- " Kirk hesitated for a moment, his desk finally free of paperwork, and technically he could go back to sleep now, despite not really caring to any longer. Finally, he swiveled in his chair to face Spock, a tug at the corner of his lips. "You know, we're not on the bridge." It didn't make sense to be called captain when neither one of them were currently at work, despite the fact that they'd just finished paperwork. "So call me Jim."

It was a start. It caused a surge of memories, something faint and distant and not his life at all -- and Kirk shook his head to rid himself of the after-effects of a mindmeld with the older, alternate Spock. Call me Jim indeed. As infernally annoying as Spock's cool logic could be, it was a sign that they weren't entirely incompatible to work with one another. It would just -- take a bit of effort. On both of their parts.

Spock was about to take his leave and let the other go back to sleep when he was addressed again, Kirk turning toward him. He knitted his brow just a fraction, as if wondering why in the world he would ever call the captain that. But it was common, when not on duty, for them to go around calling each other informal names. Spock was simply...Spock, though it varied between mister and commander. "Jim. I would offer you the same, but I do not believe you would be able to properly pronounce my name." he said, trying to return the gesture.

Now that it had passed into something less than business, the Vulcan was not exactly certain what to say to the other, and he glanced down, then towards the door. "I apologize, Jim, if I am not as lax during recreation hours as your friends. I will attempt to behave in a less...formal manner, in order to suit the atmosphere when not on duty." he offered, though it almost looked painful for him to say that. He certainly wasn't going to go out partying and drinking.

Kirk just laughed in response to that, grinning wide. "Yeah. No worries. Just -- Captain sounds so formal." It sounded nice, certainly, much more authoritative than being called a cadet or something. He liked Captain. Just not when he was supposed to be forming a friendship with his first officer, not when they were trying to be something at least akin to having a working relationship. "Mr. Spock. How about that?" Better than Commander, or Science Officer...it worked.

"There's no need." Kirk waved his hand idly, dismissing the idea as ridiculous. "You don't have to change who you are to -- uh, fit in, I guess?" He pondered this for a moment, almost reflective. "Though if you'd rather, it's okay. I don't know what I'm trying to say. Just be yourself, let others be themselves..." He frowned, pursing his lips.

"Yeah. That works."

Spock nodded at the other, agreeing that Mr. would be the most appropriate term. Still formal, perhaps, but not so much as commander. It was a step forward, and he was satisfied with it, tilting his head to the side a bit. "I do, though, wish to fit in." he admitted, though it sounded a bit forced. It was a hard thing for the Vulcan to admit, but he was making an effort. He had chosen to stay with humans, and it would be logical to cultivate his human side. It would also honor his mother.

"Thank you, ...Jim." he said, awkwardly pausing as he remembered to use the Captains name instead of his official title. "There is still the game of chess to be played," he offered, raising his brows, "Whenever you have recreational time to spend." Spock had never been too good with invitations like that, and it was probably obvious that he was struggling a little.

It worked. Well enough. Better than pointy-eared bastard at any rate, which as excellent as it sounded on his tongue just sounded more like an insult, and he was really trying his hardest not to let bitterness or anger impede with his captaincy and Spock being his first officer. Kirk shifted lightly in his chair, glancing at the door, uncertain if he wanted Spock to leave or if he would rather the commander stayed -- to socialize? To fit in? Maybe. "You're good. Really. Just stay like you are and I'm sure you'll fit in alright."

As far as the chess, Kirk just grinned. "If you've got the board, I'll play any time. Really. I used to play chess all the time with my Mom back home, got pretty good at it." He did, too. It was kind of a dorky past time, so to speak, but made good use of logic and making the right decisions at the right time. Which meant that Spock would be a god damned genius at it. "Maybe once we're docked we'll play a game or two?"

"I believe that you may be mistaken, Jim. I do not seem to fit in at all." He said, brows coming together slightly as he seemed to contemplate that statement. The corners of his mouth turned down faintly. But he was being rude, getting lost in his own thoughts. 
 
Lifting his chin a tad, he smoothed his brow into neutrality again, gazing at the other. "That would be acceptable. I do not plan to disembark." he replied. "There are boards available in the recreation rooms, if you would like to set a time for us to meet." he offered. Spock usually preferred staying in his own rooms, where he had control over the environmental settings, but he couldn't ask the captain to tolerate the thin, dry heat which was the usual setting.

"You like to plan everything out, don't you?" Kirk couldn't help but laugh, only somewhat amused at the fact that the other man didn't really seem to get the idea of just...casual friendship in general. Everything about Spock was rigid and controlled, and Kirk stood up, clapping the Vulcan on the shoulder. "I don't really know how much I'm going to be doing on Phi Omega. How about this? We can play sometime during the second day -- probably not as busy as it will be when we first arrive." Kirk grinned. "I'll be in there at some point after dinner. How about it?" Much less constricting than setting a time. "As far as the fitting in thing...you should just relax a little. Don't be so tense all the time."

Spock didn't see anything wrong at all with planning things out. It kept everything running smoothly. Things went badly when allowed to take their own course. The hand coming down on his shoulder was an affront to him, and he had to restrain himself from jerking away. Spock wasn't even sure if Kirk knew what he was doing, or was invading his space on purpose. 
 
"I am not tense, Jim." he muttered, turning his head slightly to stare at the younger one. "However...It is admittedly distracting when you make physical contact."

Distracting? This distracted him? Kirk's hand on Spock's shoulder moved away, and Kirk took just a step back, almost incredulously. For some reason, it was strange the difference between Vulcan and human, and it fascinated him in a way he was pretty sure not normal.

"Sorry,' He muttered quietly. "So the recreation room after dinner. Works for you?"

It was apparent then, that the captain honestly did not understand. Spock looked down at the hand, and then back up to the other as he took a step back. "A necessary precaution, sir, for a species capable of telepathic connection through simple touch. I apologize, but I do not wish to inadvertently catch your stray emotions." 
 
Pressing his lips together, he looked down for a moment, then back up. "I will await you in the recreation area, then." he offered.

Oh. That made sense -- and if the emotional transfers that the older Spock would happen again, if even by accident...well. He wanted to get into Spock's head, in some ways. But not like that again. It made sense, then, why it would either be distracting or rude for him to brush skin against skin, and rather an experience he wouldn't want to repeat. He had enough emotion swirling in him still from the older Spock's mindmeld, and he didn't need to feel it any more than he already had.

"Course," He murmured, because really -- it made sense. "Recreation area it is." Kirk maintained his distance just a little more, going so far as to sit back at the desk.

Spock stood silently, giving just a small nod at the captains acquiescence to his request. He didn't know about the intense connection his counterpart had practically forced on Jim, or that the captain was still disturbed by it. Had he known he would have been ashamed and embarrassed at himself, or his other self, at least. 
 
"I shall take my leave, then, Jim." he said, cocking his head a little before piping up with an awkward, "Good night." After than he turned, moving to the door and walking briskly through it as it opened for him to exit.