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"That arrogant, self-righteous, know it all man needs to keep out of my sickbay," Leonard said as the door to Jim's quarters closed behind him.
He stormed across the room and not being willing to stand still turned back around to continue pacing. As he turned again he saw that Jim had looked up from the PADD he was reading, lounging on his bed. The asshole was smiling at Leonard's anger. He wasn't even pretending to be sympathetic.
"I take it Spock stopped by earlier?" he said.
It sounded like a question but it wasn't. Leonard knew that Jim already knew who he was talking about. He was the only person that ever got him so worked up.
"Yes," he growled. "Spock showed up uninvited and unannounced and just started arguing with me over the paper I wrote about the effects of Orion pheromones on hormonal irregularities in human patients. Didn't even say hello, just started telling me the things that I could have done better. Or should do better in further research."
Leonard knew he was ranting, but also didn't care. He needed to get it out. And the only person on the ship he could talk to about it was Jim. Who was not only Leonard's best friend, but also the only person on the ship that seemed to understand just how much Spock really got to him. But in a mostly good way. A way that made Leonard think more.
His rant didn't get rid of the smile on Jim's face, if anything it made it bigger. In a smug way. Which did not in fact make Leonard feel better.
"When was this?" he asked, the smile turning to a smirk.
"I don't know," Leonard said. "Not long after the bridge shift changed I guess."
"Was it busy in sickbay?"
Leonard stopped pacing to stare at Jim. What was he going on about? What did the business of sickbay have to do with Spock invading his space and criticizing him there? It made no sense. But sometimes Jim really didn't make any sense.
"Not at all. There was practically no one there today."
"So, Spock came to sickbay, during a time he knew was empty, after his shift was over, specifically to talk to you about the new paper that you published and he read. In detail."
"Exactly! He did it to mess with me."
Jim's face changed from a smile to a frown. Like he was finally getting what Leonard was saying. Or not based on his next words.
"Or he was trying to have a real conversation with you," Jim said.
"By insulting my work?"
"By discussing ways to further your research. You should know by now he likes that kind of thing."
Jim was right of course. He did know that Spock liked scientific research. But that didn't mean that was his reason for coming to bother Leonard. Though it did line up with him coming at the beginning of his off time. It just didn't make any sense.
"Why come to me though?"
Jim shrugged in a way that said he had ideas as to why but wasn't going to say anything to Leonard about them. Which further annoyed him and he gave up on the frustration. Instead choosing to walk over to the bed and flop face down onto it. In moments Jim's hand was on the back of his head, finger's running through his hair.
It had been a long day. They had encountered hostile aliens, Jim had nearly died, and Spock nearly got himself killed trying to keep Jim from dying. Which meant Leonard was truly exhausted to the bone. All he wanted to do was get clean, eat, have a drink, and collapse into bed.
All things that would take longer since when he got to his quarters, he found Jim sitting at his table that acted more as a desk. Without food or drinks in sight. But the annoyance was mitigated by the slightly sleepy smile he got.
"Hey, Bones," Jim said. "Didn't want to be alone tonight."
Leonard returned the smile.
"I certainly won't mind the company," he said.
They didn't talk much after that while Leonard took a quick sonic shower and changed. He was just about to bother Jim about whether he needed food too when there was a chime at the door.
"If there is another emergency I am making them get M'Benga," Leonard said.
Jim chuckled, both of them knowing Leonard wouldn't do that. He would go and take care of whatever was wrong.
He was saved from having to do either of those things by the fact that when the door opened, it was Spock standing there. Holding a tray with three meal plates on it. Which was just about as shocking a sight as Leonard had ever seen. He was so stunned that he didn't say anything. Which meant Jim did after pushing Leonard to the side a bit.
"Spock!" he said. "What a surprise. What can we do for you."
Spock didn't seem to be even the slightest surprised that Jim was in Leonard's quarters. Though of everyone on the crew he was the one that was most likely to have figured out that they were together.
"I noticed that both of you had refrained from getting dinner so I brought it to you," Spock said, somehow even more stiffly than usual.
"That is great," Jim said. "Come in and we can all eat together."
Spock didn't need to be told twice and to Leonard's annoyance, entered his quarters with only Jim's permission. He move to set the tray on the table before taking one of the seats. Opposite to where Jim had been sitting earlier, leaving Leonard the chair on the end between the two of them.
They sat and began to eat in silence. It wasn't as awkward as Leonard would have expected since they were in his private space rather than the mess hall. It was almost nice, having all three of them in one spot, safe and sound, and alone.
"Doctor, if I may have a moment of your time," Spock said.
Leonard finished the note he was writing on a file and set it aside to give Spock his full attention. He was standing in Leonard's office, in front of his desk with his hands clasped behind his back in the way he so often stood.
"What can I do for you this fine day," Leonard said.
Spock smoothly raised one of his eyebrows in a way that Leonard had started to find endearing rather than annoying. Which was an unexpected development in their relationship.
"All days are the same on the ship," Spock said. "There are climate controls for a reason."
"It's a figure of speech," Leonard said. "And there hasn't been any major issues today so I would consider that fine."
"I see your point."
Leonard couldn't help but smile at the slightly pained way that Spock said that. It was so unlike him in so many ways. He normally would never acknowledge that Leonard had a point nor would he want to say that there was a benefit to a human phrase. But the fact he had to both was amusing.
"So, what did you come to see me about?" Leonard asked, giving some pity to the other man.
"We will be docking for repairs at the Pegasus Colony for about two weeks," Spock said. "During this the crew will all be receiving shore leave on the planet."
Leonard raised an eyebrow and leaned back a bit further in his chair. He had no idea where Spock was going with that line of thinking. Of course he knew that they were all getting shore leave. It was one of the reasons that they were taking the repairs slower than the one week that they really needed. But why was Spock telling him things that he already knew.
"I am aware," Leonard said.
"There is a facility there that is studying adaptations to the local fauna for the unique environmental conditions on the planet. They have invited me to come and learn about what they are doing," Spock said.
"That sounds quite interesting."
It did. And it absolutely sounded like something that Spock would use his shore leave for. Something that Leonard would do sometime as well. There was always interesting research being done on the colonies.
"Would you care to accompany me to the facility?" Spock asked.
The invitation was a surprise. Spock normally would have avoided spending any of his shore leave with anyone. Other than maybe Jim. But he had never actively sought out Leonard's company during one. But it was a great opportunity and he did understand the scientific merit of inviting another person that would understand. So it made some sense that he would invite Leonard.
"I would be delighted," Leonard said with a big smile.
It came to Leonard suddenly one night. It was a fairly normal night, he had gone to Jim's quarters after shift to spend some time with him. Then just before they had done more than say hello, Spock appeared with dinner. Something that had been happening more and more. It had annoyed Leonard at first, having his limited free time with Jim interrupted by Spock, but over time he had come to enjoy it. He liked having Spock around and it was as if it was something that had been missing before.
Which is what led him to his realization as they all sat around after eating, discussing the merits of the film they had watched at the recent movie night on the ship. It wasn't just friendship that was building between the three of them anymore. There was more there that Leonard hadn't felt before.
"You've been dating us," he said, interrupting the conversation. "Or courting, or whatever it is you want to call it."
Both Spock and Jim stopped talking to look at him with different expressions. Spock had a slightly puzzled look on his face. While Jim was looking at him with amusement. Which answered whether he had known or not.
"I have," Spock said. "For the past four months. Was that not clear?"
"No!" Leonard said.
"Yes," Jim said. "Bones is just oblivious."
Leonard glared at Jim. Leave it to him to pull that kind of thing out. He never wasted a chance to tease Leonard. And since this was also at Spock's expense it was even better. The asshole. And Leonard was sure that Jim had kept it from him on purpose. Because he would have refused if Spock had said something outright.
"It helps when it is verbally made clear what is happening," Leonard said. "Like actually asking people for permission. Or anything really."
"My apologies," Spock said. "I thought I had made my intentions clear."
He had been so distracted by his annoyance at Jim that he had started to ignore Spock. Who looked distinctly uncomfortable. Which upset Leonard. He didn't like being the reason that Spock had that look on his face.
"Our dear doctor doesn't exactly know much about Vulcan courting," Jim said. "It's not like you were intentionally trying to deceive him."
"I can speak for myself," Leonard said. "But I guess Jim is right about that. Especially the second part."
Spock still had the uncomfortable look on his face. And something that clouded it, that Leonard thought might have been disappointment.
"I will withdraw my intentions then," Spock said. "I did not mean to cause any harm."
Spock started to stand up as if to leave. Which wouldn't do. Leonard didn't want Spock to leave nor did he want the man to stop their relationship. Not when Leonard himself had just realized that he wanted it to continue. And to be even more.
So he reached out and gently grabbed Spock's wrist, making sure to only touch his sleeve. It had the intended effect of getting Spock to stay put and settle back into his seat, a new look of confusion settling into the smallest turn of his mouth.
"I didn't say I wanted you to stop," Leonard said. "I just realized what is happening. And that I like having you around. I want this to keep going."
"Are you certain?" Spock asked, his demeanor back to nearly emotionless.
"I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true. I want to keep dating you. And Jim of course. The three of us fit."
Jim laughed. When Leonard looked at him there was joy in every fiber of his being.
"I want this too," he said. "Especially now that Bones understands what is going on."
"You could have said something," Leonard said.
"The couple of times I tried you shut down the conversation," Jim said with a shrug. "I knew you would figure it out eventually."
Leonard rolled his eyes and then looked back to Spock.
"So, are you okay with this? Even if I just got onto the same page."
"Of course," Spock said, a hint of a smile on his face.
Leonard smiled and he knew that they were alright. It would be okay even if he he was going to overthink every conversation they had recently had.