The Truth Of The Matter
Words: 982
Plot: A Romulan transmission comes through requesting negotiations - the reader volunteers. When Spock objects, she’s more than a little offended that he thinks she can’t do her job. But that’s far from the reason he’s not happy.
A/N: I love Spock x reader pairing SO MUCH. SO MUCH. Despite having requests out the wazoo I’m going to take a little time to give this pairing to end all pairings a little love. It’s sort of a sequel to Shon-ha’lock, if you want it to be.
The transmission had come through, cracked and stuttering as it played on the bridge; a Romulan diplomacy ship having lost primary and auxiliary engines due to a massive malfunction. They requested aid; Kirk had offered a boarding party to discuss the terms of such aid.
They had, reluctantly, accepted.
When the transmission darkened, the room went silent.
“What are the odds this is a trap?” Sulu asked, turning over his shoulder to look over at the captain.
Kirk’s brow furrowed; he reached his index finger to his lips in thought before pushing out of his seat.
“I don’t know. Which is why I’ve got to be the one to go” Kirk added “I’ll take a small ground crew. Raise all shields, monitor life signs”.
“Uhura? You’re fluent in Romulan, right?”
Lieutenant Uhura folded her hands behind her back, raising her chin.
“I am. But I don’t know how confident I am discerning what happened; I’m not familiar with Romulan ship mechanics”.
Kirk clenched his jaw, drumming his fingers against his sides.
“Captain”
(y/n) stood awkwardly from behind her desk; pulling at the hem of her yellow shirt as she nudged her chair with her foot.
“I think I can do it. I wrote a dissertation on Romulan spacefairing in the Academy. If they’re lying, I should be able to figure it out-”
“-Captain, it seems reasonably illogical to remove the Communications Lieutenant from her post when we will be needing to send transmissions to starfleet” Spock interjected hastily, his mouth a thin line as he stared at Kirk, almost deliberately avoiding (y/n)’s gaze as he did so.
(y/n) bit her lip, her eyes dropping to the floor immediately in frustration.
She had trained for this. She knew what she was doing. She had this under control.
“Mr. Sulu can monitor comms in her absence. I don’t doubt he can do a reasonable job until we get back” Kirk added, tapping figures into his PADD. (y/n) swore she could see a smirk on Jim’s lips; but if it was there, it was gone in moments.
“-Then allow me to go in your place. I have familiarity with Romulan ships and am the First Officer of this ship. Should anything happen I would-”
“Spock” Jim asserted, turning to the Vulcan “I need you here. You being the First Officer is exactly why you need to be here when I beam over. If it all goes to hell, there’s nobody I’d rather have commanding this ship.”
Spock keyed a command into his PADD before turning to Kirk, his eyes sharp.
“Yes, sir.”
“Excellent” Jim grinned, clasping his hands together “Lieutenant, we beam out in five minutes. Suit up and I’ll meet you in the transporter room.”
(y/n) felt her stomach turn with nerves, her heart thrashing in her chest. Nodding to Kirk, she quickly logged herself out of her panel and darted over to the turbolift, tying her hair back out of her face with a band she kept around her wrist. Pushing the button to take her to her quarters, the lift doors began closing.
A hand reached out, and the automatic doors slid open again.
Spock walked in coolly, his hands held tightly behind his back as he stood beside her. From here, she could see the way his cheekbone curved in the light; the way his hairline dusted against his ears-
No. She couldn’t bare to think about those things right now.
She’d been smitten for him for too long; always tripping over her words in the corridor; always making up reasons to stay behind on the bridge when she was exhausted just to be in the room alone with him. He never seemed to give her the time of day; or if he did, it always had to be for something.
He’d saved her life once; she’d been shot, disruptor fire causing her to fall and break her ribs. He’d carried her, then. Visited her in the medbay. He’d been kind.
But there were always reasons. Always answers.
Never the ones she wanted.
“Lieutenant-” Spock began.
“Why did you do that?” (y/n) asked, turning to face him as the turbolift clicked, beginning its descent away from the bridge. He looked straight ahead; only acknowledging her out of the corner of his eye.
He visibly swallowed.
“Clarify”.
(y/n) gritted her teeth.
“You know I’m more than qualified to go on this mission. You previously described my field performance as ‘exemplary’ in regards to identifying cultural differences in regards to spacefairing designs” she breathed.
Spock’s hands seemed to move slightly behind his back; he re-adjusted his posture.
“You are likely the most qualified candidate for this mission”.
(y/n) opened her mouth in shock, her brow furrowing as she looked at him incredulously.
“Then why would you-”
“Your conclusion that I would insist on you remaining on the ship as a result of your incapacity is incorrect. It is far from the truth of the matter.”
(y/n) felt her frustration draining; her hands shaking as the feelings of inadequacy left them, replaced with a haze of confusion and anticipation. Spock barely looked at her; he almost never truly looked at her. It was as though he was always looking just over her shoulder, just over her head.
“What is the truth of the matter, Spock?”
The turbolift dinged as it approached her floor.
Spock turned then, his eyes darting across to hers. His gaze was so intense she felt her face grow hot; something held within it making her heart hammer in her chest.
“If a situation occurred in which your safety was threatened; others may not handle your safety being at risk with so much comfort.”
The doors slid open, and Spock strode out quickly.
(y/n) swore she saw his ears tinged with green; but if that were the case it was only for a moment, and then he was out of sight.
