WHO: Spock & Kirk WHEN: Friday, November 6th WHERE: 505.E1 WHAT: Kirk beats Spock at his own game; or, that time Spock wanted to play chess, and something else happened. WARNINGS: Suggestive content, borderline telepathy, implied fade to black, kissing, the abuse of Vulcan biology (i.e. the hands), cheating at chess (sacrilege!), use of military rank as terms of endearment.
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Spock moved a piece to match that of his captain's. They'd been at this for some time, one piece moving to match another, until Spock calculated his odds of winning as -- very good.
"Your strategy of play is -- unique." It was a compliment. One that he'd given before, albeit a long time ago. They had not been here long, and yet everything from aboard the Enterprise seemed well in the past.
Jim smirked. "My strategy is to win," he said. His hand found Spock's, fingers running over the palm of Spock's hand before tracing symbols into it. His eyes stayed focused on the chessboard in front of him. He was rusty, and Spock was a challenging partner, which meant that desperate maneuvers were called for.
Spock made to move his hand, but hesitated. This was a new situation, one that he found to be… pleasant. He raised an eyebrow. "A no-win situation is indeed rare in chess."
"True, and who knows, Spock, this time I might actually beat you," Jim said, the corner of his mouth twitching upwards in a smirk. the edge of his ragged fingernail dragged along Spock's palm. "This bothering you, Spock?"
"It is a possibility," the Vulcan agreed, surveying the array of pieces on the board. "That the unexpected may catch the most practical strategy off guard. I believe…" But whatever it was he'd been about to say was lost to the press of the captain's touch to his open palm. The Vulcan drew back his hand. "Jim, you underestimate yourself."
The look Jim gave Spock was one of his pouts, mixed with feigned injury at being rebuffed. He didn't expect it to work on Spock but old habits died hard. Instead, he reached for Spock's hand, brought it to his mouth and placed a kiss on the palm. "Perhaps I estimate myself just right, Commander."
Spock gave the captain an impassive look, torn as he was between encouraging this brazen behavior and offering a remark of reproach. "Cheating is beneath you, Captain." But even though his words carried a note of rebuke, his expression had softened, and he did not move his hand from the other's reach. "Must I make an amendment to the rules?"
"I'm simply changing the parameters of the game to make them more advantageous to my strengths," Jim replied, lips moving against Spock's hand as he kissed the palm again before sucking on each finger in turn. "Surely you can acknowledge the brilliance of such a strategy. After all, you know how much I like to win."
Spock was too busy watching the captain's efforts to truly hear what was being said. That Vulcan hands were more sensitive than human ones they both knew, and that Jim was using that to his advantage should have irritated the Vulcan. But somehow, he found it difficult to be irritated in the face of the overwhelming warmth that seemed to emanate from his friend. That he could feel that even through his usual telepathic shields usually made him wary, but not now.
Now, more than ever, he was grateful Jim could not read his mind.
"Speechless, Commander?" Jim teased, though the title held little meaning here, it had become something of a habit between them - almost a term of endearment. He looked up from Spock's hand to meet the other man's eyes, a look of smug victory and arousal in his eyes. "Surely you don't concede the game that easily to me?"
Spock met the other's eyes, pulled suddenly from his internal musings. "Captain." The word, a softer utterance as though that wasn't quite what he'd meant to say. His hand ghosted over the captain's face, wanting to feel the connection that he knew was there. That he rejected, and yet simultaneously accepted. It was an impossible quandary to feel so close to someone so unlike himself. "Ashalik" --- a Vulcan term of endearment --- "I believe you have your check."
Kirk leaned into the touch, allowing the connection that normally filled him with terror. With Spock, the connection was a comfort, an extension of their friendship and whatever this new relationship was. "I suppose the real question is whether you'll catch me in check mate on my next turn.."
Spock let his hand fall into his friend's, fingers entwined with the other's. What he wanted depended on logistics, and even now, he knew the exact distance created by the chess board. How easy he could knock it to the floor, pull the captain towards him. But even as these thoughts occurred to him, he had moved, moved closer until now he was sitting on the edge of the captain's chair. "Consider this my match resignation," he said, kissing the other man.
Without thinking, Jim's other hand went to the back of Spock's head, tangling in his hair and pulling Spock onto his lap to get better leverage for the kiss. He pulled back after a few long moments, licking his lips as he rested his forehead against Spock's. "Resignation accepted, Commander."