Chapter Text
Spock approached the lounge with quick strides, his hands clasped behind his back as he walked. Crew members stepped quickly out of his way, not willing to get in the way of whatever duty brought him forth at such a pace. He paused outside of the doors, taking a moment to run a hand over his hair, making sure that it was smoothed into place, and walked inside as if he had not just been hurrying through the halls.
Jim was at their usual chess table, the board already set for their game. He had a plate in his hands, filled with some sort of green salad, and a long-suffering expression on his face. Next to him, Leonard was leaning forward in his chair, speaking quietly, but just as clearly berating Jim about his diet. Spock hesitated when he saw Leonard, his breath catching as it always did these days when he saw his lover.
Leonard, true to form, looked up just in time to see Spock hesitate, and his face was lit by a brilliant grin. Spock felt drawn forward; Leonard always wore his joy so fiercely.
Thinking himself forgotten, Jim slumped a little in relief and put the salad on the table. The sound of it was enough to bring Leonard’s attention back to him, and Leonard turned to glare.
“Please, Bones,” Jim said, and Spock thought he sounded very tired. They were due for shore leave soon; Spock would have to make sure that Jim took his share of leave, even if it meant foregoing his own plans with Leonard and a planet-bound full-sized bed.
(“Live a little, Spock,” murmured the Leonard in his memory as he leaned over Spock’s shoulder, peering at the hotel confirmation page. “Request the king.” Spock, shivering, had agreed).
Spock sat in his chair, holding his fingers out to Leonard at the height of the table, pleased when Leonard reached back without hesitation. Vulcan public displays of affection were by their very nature discreet, and many of them were alien enough to human mentalities that they were not recognized for what they were. When the level of conversation around them did not change, Spock knew he and Leonard continued undetected, as they had these past three months.
(And what months they had been. Spock had spent the first few weeks dazed with affection and lust and touch freely given. Leonard had been little better, his wide grin ever-present and infectious. Uhura had commented once that she rather liked this happier McCoy, as his good mood seemed to bring the whole ship up. In fact, the only crewmember who seemed disturbed my McCoy’s good mood was Scotty--who had shaken his head and loudly proclaimed that he “didnae need the details!” when Leonard had presented him with a bottle of aged scotch as a thank you.)
Jim knew. Of course Jim knew. Spock had long since stopped trying to hide many things from his captain, and he knew that Jim would be happy for his friends. At Leonard’s request, the specifics of their decision to pursue a romantic and sexual relationship were kept to themselves, as (“If Jim finds out, we’ll never get a moment’s peace!”). Spock had no issues agreeing. As comfortable as he was becoming discussing sexual matters, and as much as he understood the need in humans, he would rather his own desires remained private.
“Spock,” Jim said, faintly pleading. “Can you please tell Bones to leave off my food? I just wanted a chicken sandwich.”
Leonard scowled. “You need some damn variety in your diet, Jim! Not to mention some green leafy vegetables--you’re not in your twenties anymore!”
Spock raised an eyebrow. “I am sorry, Jim. I have long since refrained from contradicting Leonard when it comes to medical matters. As Chief Medical Officer--”
“Yeah, yeah,” Jim said, waving him off and grumbling. “I’ll eat the damned salad. You really know how to make a guy’s evening, you know that?”
Spock tilted his head. “I did,” he said, and Leonard threw his head back with laughter. After a moment, Jim laughed as well. He even took a bite of his salad without complaint.
In the corner of the room, a familiar group of crewmembers from engineering laughed delightedly over something on a datapad. Spock watched them for a moment and noticed the way they hid it away when Sulu walked into the lounge.
Spock thought about it, and instead turned back to his game.