LOGIC IN PAROXYSMS

Chapter VII – Kirk Why Must You Always Cause Problems!

Over the course of the following month, I got back to my typical routine, with the exception of seeing Professor Spock twice a week at his apartment in the evenings. Sometimes our meeting were successful, other times I stayed there for hours, returning back to my own place late in the night. Some people had seen me, mainly instructors I have had in the past, coming out of his room that only resulted in getting eyed suspiciously, yet nobody commented on anything. Perhaps it was due to the Commander's proper Vulcan nature, so nobody dared voice their assumptions.

I found that I enjoyed being in his company, probably due to the calm and collected nature he expressed. It was a fantastic contrast to what I was used to. My family was always crazy, loud, expressive, and I chose my friends who also somewhat fit into that category.

Regarding my studies, although Kirk had chosen the Xenolinguistics elective for me, I was glad he did. It was refreshing to have a class where everything wasn't scientifically oriented, which actually enabled me to learn and become more open minded. My somewhat decent knowledge of Vulcan did sometimes make the basic teachings a little bit boring, up until Professor Spock mentioned to the class that starting the following lesson I would be his second hand, so that a student could perhaps get some knowledge drilled into their thick skulls. The Commander never actually said anything like that, but that was surely what he meant. I knew he was getting a little frustrated with this class.

So emotional, I thought to myself sarcastically.

Throughout this lecture, my mind drifted to one awkward interaction I had with Captain Pike. I wasn't sure what I should do exactly about it, I felt that Nyota would be able to help me, but I didn't really want to risk anything with the Professor's heightened Vulcan hearing. So I ripped out a page out of my notebook, writing: Nyota, I need your advice on something. One she read it, she mouthed to me, "I can't read this…"

Of course, not that many people could make out my cursive. In print I rewrote the previous statement, adding: Captain Pike saw me leaving Professor Spock's apartment in Vulcan clothing once, and has brought up the topic of me sleeping with the Commander several times now. What do I do?

Once Nyota read my note, her head snapped to me, a shocked expression and her mouth hanging open. "Well are you?" she whispered, clutching my note as if it held nuclear codes on it.

"No." I shook my head, "It's all a misinterpretation of events. He won't listen to me though. I'd rather he not think that, and casually mention in to my father during one of their guy's nights. My father wouldn't approve, even if it's not true, and I'd never hear the end of it."

"Maybe talk to the Professor, tell him this situation. He might want to have words with the Captain. I'm pretty sure he'll bring up protocol and legal … stuff."

"Yeah you might be right. The question is how though." I said rhetorically, gesturing for the note back, "I should burn this."

However, before I could take the note from Nyota's hand, it was intercepted by some big male hand behind up. Neither of us were quick enough to respond to the situation and Kirk read what I had written. A naughty gleam, and smirk, breaking onto his features.

"No way! You and pointy-ears? If that's the type of men you're into, no wonder you rejected me." He whisper-yelled chuckling slightly, "This information is absolutely wonderful."

Just then it registered that Kirk could possibly use this against me. Nyota seemed to get the message as well, both of starting to curse him for invading someone's privacy and threatening him, would he decided to share this information with anyone, not noticing that our voices gradually had risen from a whisper. Almost everyone in the lecture call, except for some students at the back who were dozing off, were staring at us wide eyed.

But best of all, Kirk looked a little taken aback from being verbally, and rightfully so, attacked by two females. Two hella good looking, independent, strong women.

"You again." Boomed the voice of Professor Spock, "This is that third disruption you have caused in my class this term. Expect me to write up an incident report. Three of you, stay behind after class."

Although Spock's expression was as stoic as ever, I could tell he was beyond displeased. The amount of time I had spent with him lead me to be able to distinguish the slightest changes in his tone, facial expression – usually his eyebrows and ears, which any other human would seem unchanged.

"Thanks Kirk." I growled, shooting him a death glare, before returning back to my notetaking, "Have fun explaining to the Commander what this was about."

However, to Nyota, I sent a nod, telling her that we weren't in deep shit. Because if we were, she would have probably picked up on it as well.

After class, I was really unsure of what to expect. Kirk was quite unpredictable, most of his decision being rationalized by god knows what inside his brain, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Especially now that he assumed I was sleeping with the Professor and I wasn't sure how exactly to explain to him that I wasn't. Perhaps, that attempt would just be a waste of time.

Once the three of us stood at the bottom of the lecture hall after everyone left, there was an awkward silence, nobody daring to speak. I let out an audible sigh, leaning my back against the surface of the wall, crossing my arms.

"Sir, I would like to apologize on behalf of everyone," I started, once I understood neither Nyota or Kirk knew exactly what to say, "I understand this is not the appropriate way to act during a lecture."

"No, it is not." Spock agreed. "I would expect better. You are training to be Starfleet officers and should behave accordingly. It is my belief that that all three of you should face conseq–"

"Wait, Professor, neither Uhura or Xy'thia should be held responsible for this. It was entirely my fault." Spoke out Kirk all of a sudden.

"Do elaborate, Cadet."

"I intercepted a private message between those two, which had very personal information in it. I can't say I regret it, that was some spicy stuff!" exclaimed Kirk with a smile, looking around the three of us, "But still, you get my point Professor… I hope."

"Very well. Cadets you are dismissed."

Both Nyota and Kirk didn't need to be told twice, wanting to escape this troublesome interaction with the Professor. I however, following the advice I got from Nyota, decided that perhaps I should talk to the Commander, considering both of us were placed in a particular awkward situation by Captain Pike.

"Professor Spock," I started once Nyota and Kirk left the room, causing the door to close with a loud thud that echoed through the empty hall, "There is something I need to talk to you about."

"Go on Cadet, I have exactly 12.7 minutes," he stated making me grimace slightly at the exact detail, making me doubt whether I should bring this us at all.

"I don't.. I'm not exactly sure how I could phrase this properly. But Christo- um, I mean Captain Pike, thinks that we have something going on."

The Commander slightly furrowed his eyebrows, "I don't understand, Cadet, we do have 'something going on'. I am your professor, and I have been giving you meditation lessons outside the classroom. What exactly are you referring to?"

"Not in that sense," I smiled a little, still trying to keep it …. "He thinks that we have something more – that we have become involved with one another, like sexually."

At that explanation, Spock choked a little bit on air, trying to compose himself quickly, but a slightly green tint appeared at the top of his ears. "I understand now, Cadet. What lead him to such a conclusion?" he asked, so I explained the sessions at his apartment, leaving in the morning in Vulcan robes and so on.

"Considering human nature, it is logical for him to come to such a conclusion, but his assumptions have no basis or evidence."

"Tell me something I don't know. In our time together, I have started to consider you a friend, but I don't think I would ever start developing feelings for you romantically." I told him, but as soon as those words left my mouth, I felt a pang in my heart. How unusual, I thought, I was just telling Spock what I thought was the truth. I couldn't imagine dating the Commander. But how interesting would that relationship be?

A slight smile tugged on the corners of his lips, "I must say I agree with your statement. I also think of you as friend, Xy'thia. But I suggest you do not worry about the Captain, he must be aware that such relations are against protocol."

"Perhaps you would like to join me for lunch today at 1330 hours, with my friends Kalique and Doctor McCoy? Perhaps it's better for the Captain to see that our relationship isn't professional anymore but doesn't cross the friendship barriers. He'll be in the lounge at that time." I suggested, hoping deep inside me that he will accept.

"If you feel that is appropriate, I won't refuse the offer," he nodded.

Both of us were leaving the lecture hall to carry on with our business. Unusually so, Spock's hands were to the side of him, so as I went to adjust the bag on my shoulder, my hand brushed slightly against his. The sensation that passed through me was like being hit with static electricity, causing me to jump slightly away from the Commander, wide eyed. Although his expression remained unchanged, the only exception was his clenched jaw and ears that turned a deeper green shade than I encountered before.

Neither of us said anything more, except for biding each other our goodbyes. The next lesson I had was dissection, that way I could relax a little bit and process my thoughts properly. To me, dissection was a form of meditation, not sitting in a room filled with incense. It really bothered me that Kirk thought the same thing as Captain Pike, and took the blame for today's incident. There was no way he did this out of the kindness of his heart. There was bound to be a quid pro quo.

Today we were dissecting a pig's heart. Nothing too exciting for the class, considering we always hope for some extraterrestrials, but extremely useful in understanding human heart functions. I did not partner up with anyone, preferring to be left in my thoughts today. Putting on my latex gloves, I took a cold heart that I found most appealing with visible veins stretching through the entirety of it. It was no larger than my hand, and didn't carry a particularly appealing aroma. Starting with a pair of scissors, I cut through the side of the pulmonary artery and continued cutting down into the wall of the right ventricle.

I knew the heart pretty well. At one point of my life I desired to specialize and become a cardio surgeon, so I spent a very extensive amount studying everything there was to know about hearts in humans and humanoid species. Once I opened the internal structures of the heart, there were several large blood clots inside the chambers. Taking them out, I placed them onto my tray. One of the satisfying part of working with fresh hearts. From that point on, I was doing my initial observations about the thickness of the ventricle, the network of irregular muscular cords on the inner wall of this chamber, basically the things one can do in their sleep.

My mind wandered to the previous conversation with Professor Spock. Quite fitting with the dissection lesson, I couldn't understand why I felt my heard drop. Usually that feeling was when human's experienced intense emotions that transferred into physical. Such as heartbreak or a stab of love. But I knew that I couldn't be experiencing either. Sure, I cared for Spock as a human being – well Vulcan being, to be more specific, but like I told him previously, I wouldn't crush on in.

Surely, I had to admit to myself, there was something captivating about Vulcan's, almost sexy. Spock was a very intelligent, attractive in a non-traditional way, and an interesting disposition. Besides, I don't know how I would date a Vulcan. Do they even date? In the recent century the concept of interspecies relationships had become more prominent, but not that it mattered. I was not crushing on Spock. Even if my subconscious, and therefore my body was telling me otherwise – that I did indeed have some type of attraction towards him. Which I did not.

Perhaps, as long as I kept the intention of being just friends with him, being certain Spock held the same position, everything was going to sort itself out. The universe had plans for all of us.

Hi guys, sorry for such a long wait! I am in the middle of finals right now. It's crazy that I am almost done and that graduation is in a month!

So what do you think will happen between the X and S? Will they stay friends? Friends with benefits? I am totally not foreshadowing anything.