Work Text:
experiments
Nyota keeps finding herself in Spock's quarters, and she can't quite work out why. Sure, she's been nursing a bit of a crush, but how Spock feels about her is - well, it's a lot harder to figure out. Sometimes she's not entirely certain that he likes her. And yet, he keeps inviting her to talk, to play music, to discuss obscure linguistic foibles in the latest language he's studying. She's trying very hard not to read too much into it.
She didn't actually mean to draw him into the conspiracy, but as it turns out, even Spock has noticed the way Pike looks at Tilly; he was surprisingly on board with becoming part of their little matchmaking scheme.
"Tomorrow's definitely our best shot," she tells him, the night before Pike's party. "And at least if nothing happens then, we have the big celebration as a backup, another chance to put them in close proximity in romantic surroundings."
"Would it not be simpler to point out to them both that their attraction is mutual and that as such it would benefit them greatly to form an intimate relationship?"
Nyota giggles. It's not the first time Spock has had this conversation with one of his fellow officers, and he's still quite convinced he's right, though far too scared of Una to countermand her. (Not that he'd ever admit that.) "Tilly doesn't believe me, I've tried, and Una says Pike won't make the first move because he used to be her captain."
"Hmmm." Spock looks perplexed. "I do not believe Tilly would feel pressured if Chris were to ask her out."
"I know that, you know that," she agrees, "I think even Pike probably knows that, but-"
"But he is an honourable man and cannot risk it." Spock shakes his head. "I am afraid it is a near certainty I shall never understand human mating rituals."
"I saw Tilly programming the replicator for mistletoe; I think she has plans. She seemed determined."
"What is the significance of 'mistle-toe'?"
"Oh, see, if you find yourself under the mistletoe with someone during the holidays, you're supposed to kiss."
Spock raises an eyebrow. "Intriguing."
She flushes hot, but does her best to ignore it. "I'd like to make Tilly really irresistible. He obviously wants her, but he has to admit that to himself when he sees her under the mistletoe."
"Might I suggest glitter?" Spock says thoughtfully. "I have observed that many humans are attracted to shiny things, in the manner of, so I am told, magpies. Much of Captain Pike's personal decor is either bright or shiny, so maybe the same will hold true for him with regards to Lieutenant Tilly. If you make her shine, he will find it more difficult to resist his obvious attraction to her."
"So he can't take his eyes off of her." Nyota laughs. "Glitter, and maybe other shiny things. Spock, you're a genius," she says, and kisses his cheek impulsively.
"I am aware," he agrees. On someone else, it might be cocky, even arrogant; for Spock it's merely a fact, and not one he considers particularly important. "I am glad to have helped," he says, but he seems troubled.
"Are you all right, Spock?"
"Nyota, you- you kissed me."
"I'm sorry, should I not have done that?"
His forehead creases very slightly. If he were entirely human, it might actually be a frown. "I am not opposed," he says.
"Oh?"
"I have no mistle-toe, but I would not mind if you did it again," he admits.
Nyota gulps. "Oh." She leans in very carefully and kisses his other cheek, but as she pulls away, he turns his head and brushes his lips lightly but deliberately against the corner of her mouth. "Oh!"
"Nyota?"
She studies his face for a moment, tries to decipher his expression. Spock doesn't always find it easy to express his desires, especially those he feels come from his human side, that he's been taught to suppress. Now and then, he needs a little help. "Do you want to kiss me more?" she asks, very gently.
"Yes."
"I'd like that, too."
They look at each other for a moment, then they're both leaning in, and Nyota finds herself smiling.
It's soft. Careful. But it makes her skin tingle and her breath quicken anyway.
"Hmmm," he says, when their lips part, and he sounds like he does when an adjustment to the warp core has been particularly successful.
"I thought Vulcans didn't much like kissing?" she asks.
"That is an oversimplification, although it is true of many Vulcans. Besides, I am only half Vulcan," he says, before kissing her again.
"So," she manages, "half-Vulcans like kissing?"
"I am conducting... experiments." His voice keeps getting lower, and the rumble of it is making her a little fuzzy.
"Oh. And what conclusions have you drawn?"
He puts one hand to her jaw, tilting her head up, and leans in till his breath is hot on her ear. "I believe any conclusions I reached about half-Vulcans would be unacceptable generalisations," he murmurs, "but I can reasonably surmise that I enjoy kissing you very much."
"Oh."
He kisses the corner of her jaw, then her neck; Spock might say he's just experimenting, but peer review says his hypotheses are extremely sound.
"Is this satisfactory, Nyota?" he whispers between soft kisses where her shoulder meets her neck.
She giggles. "I, um, yes."
"I trust your mirth is not at my expense."
She shivers deliciously as he runs his fingers over her hair. "No, no, it's good laughter, Spock."
"Yes?"
She wriggles. "Sometimes laughter just means you're happy, or that what's happening is unexpected, but in a good way." She takes a deep breath. It's hard to keep hold of her train of thought. "It's... very good."
"Fascinating." Very carefully, he cradles her head in both his hands and coaxes her to look up at him. "Then I take it this experiment is proving successful for you, too."
She smiles. "Yes, Spock. Very successful."
He doesn't smile back, but there's a look on his face, as if he's on the verge of smiling, as if there's a smile waiting in the wings he's not yet ready to unleash. Bright. Open. "I am glad."
"Me too." Her eyes drop involuntarily to his mouth, and when he licks his lips, she mirrors it. "You can continue kissing me, if you'd like," she ventures, because it's Spock, and dropping hints would probably be both unfair and ineffective.
"Thank you," he replies. "I believe I would like that very much indeed."
If it were anyone else, she'd laugh again at his formality, but somehow from Spock it's oddly sweet. It's just so him. So polite, and careful, and she feels very much as if he's looking after her.
He leans in again, slow and gentle, and kisses her lips; so soft, not tentative, just as if, for now, this is all he needs from her. Little sips, tiny tastes, and at the same time he's running his fingertips over her head, down her neck, over her face; it's like he's learning her by heart.
Nyota's never been kissed like this. Never even knew she wanted it. It deepens so gradually, so carefully, and not for one moment does she feel less than cherished.
"Nyota," he whispers, when they surface again, as he traces his fingers over her shoulder, down to her elbow, till he's gently touching her hand.
She gulps. She doesn't completely understand what kissing means to Spock, it's not clear if he even knows that, but she's a linguist and a communications officer. She knows what it means for him to touch his fingers to hers, to trace over her hand so tenderly.
She turns her hand over, so they're palm to palm; he smiles the tiniest smile, almost relieved.
"Nyota," he says again.
"Spock?"
"I wonder if you would consider accompanying me to Captain Pike's party."
Nyota smiles back. "I would like that very much."
"I am glad."
She leans her head down to tuck it into the crook of his neck, and he lets out a long breath, wrapping his other arm around her shoulders. She's really not sure what any of this means, but she feels warm, and safe, and maybe even loved. The rest of it, they can figure out as they go.
~ fin ~