Growing Pains

They'd grown up together. Two boys living on the same street. S'chn T'gai Spock, known simply as Spock. And Leonard McCoy, Len to his family and friends.

Spock was and had always been the quiet one. Slim as a willow and pale as milk, hair as black as an oil slick with eyes like dark chocolate.

Len was brash, and loud. Defending Spock from the bullies that liked to pick on the Ambassador's son for whatever reason then had picked that week. His hazel green eyes fierce and protective, despite Spock's assertions that their words had no affect on him, and that violence was no logical way to proceed with an argument.

It wasn't until Middle school that they had met Nyota Uhura and James T. Kirk. Nyota had attached herself to Spock, assuring herself that they had much in common. Jimmy had followed Len around, despite being a year younger.

And though they made new friends, met new people, Spock and Len stayed friends. Junior High was when everything changed.

XxX XxX

Len had never thought much of Spock in any way other then being his best friend. So when he had woken on the morning of his fourteenth birthday from a dream that involved Spock's mouth, and the portion of his anatomy that was saluting him good morning, he was a little freaked out, to say the least.

He pulled his sheets off his bed, and threw them in the wash himself, not wanting to be caught by his mother, or something equally embarrassing. Rather then dwell on it, he made his lunch, reread the chapter of The Outsiders for the test they were having that morning in English, and forgot all about the dream. Until he saw Spock waiting at his front door, already on his bike. Then it all came flooding back, the heat of Spock's mouth, the obscene slurping noises he'd made. Len nearly walked into the bushes trying to avoid eye contact with his friend.

“What is the matter Len?”

“Nuthin'. What's the matter with you?”

“You are acting rather odd this morning.”

“You act odd every morning but I've never said anything.” Len regretted speaking as soon as the words had left his mouth. Spock looked affronted, then blinked, his face placid and free of emotion. “Sorry, just having a weird morning.”

“You do not need to apologize.”

XxX XxX

Things didn't get better, Len dreamt of Spock nearly every night, leaving him surly and acid tongued in the morning. He didn't mean to push Spock away, but he wasn't sure what other options he had. He knew what it meant, dreaming about your best guy friend, meant he was queer as a three dollar bill. And Spock was dating Nyota, had been for the last six months. They were happy together, she made him happy, and Len didn't want to fuck that up with his own issues.

Jim always wanted to know what was going on, why he and Spock didn't share text books or trade bananas for granola bars at lunch anymore. Was it something Spock had done, because obviously Leonard McCoy was God, and he could do no wrong in the eyes of James Kirk.

“Seriously though, what did he do? Do you want me to kick his ass?”

“Drop it Jimmy.” Len glared in the way his mother had told him made him look like a crotchety old man and felt better

“But, you're never like this. Why aren't you friends anymore?”

“I don't know, shut up.”

XxX XxX

Len started to throw himself into his school work, his grades improved in a way that made his teachers ecstatic and his parents suspicious. He wasn't hanging out with Spock like he'd used to, would go out to a movie with him maybe once or twice a month now, and at the insistence of Nyota, who knew they were best friends and didn't want to exclude Len.

“Why doesn't Spock come over any more? You two used to be joined at the hip.” His mother asked one night at dinner. Len mumbled something about Spock's girlfriend and pushed his meatloaf around his plate, not hungry anymore.

His sister, Jocelyn, made a snarky remark about being replaced by an actual girl, his other sister Joanna, flicked a piece of broccoli at Jocelyn and glared at her. Len smiled at his sister, and finished his meal, though his stomach was churning and every bite tasted like ash.

He had to talk to Spock.

XxX XxX

“Hi Spock.” Len was waiting outside Spock's house the next morning. His friend regarded him with a blank cautious face.

“Leonard. What can I do for you?”

“Nothin'.” Len scratched the back of his neck, not sure how to put this. “Sorry I've been weird. I just...” He looked away. He had to make something up, had to say something other then the truth. You didn't just go out spouting about being in love with your best friend, especially not your best straight friend.

“You do not have to explain things to me Leonard. I have read studies of teenagers and how they frequently change friends during their formative years.”

“You haven't changed one bit.” Len looked off at the sunrise, squinting into it and shoving his hands in his pockets. “Don't know how you constantly make me feel like an ass.”

“As mother would say, it is a gift. Are we friends again?” Spock held out a fist and Len gently bumped his into it, glancing at Spock and taking in the pale boys smile.

“We never stopped being friends.”

XxX XxX

Things went back to nearly the same. Len and Spock hung out more then they had been, had supper at each others houses, laughed at stupid movies and Len tried to push down the little flame that burned just under his heart.

It didn't work, and watching Nyota twine her fingers around Spock's hurt like nothing he'd ever felt before. He liked Nyota, he truly did, but he wanted to be where she was. Everything he felt about Spock had to be pushed down, pushed away.

XxX XxX

He's done a good job of it. He can sling an arm around Spock's shoulder, draw him in for a half hug and no knows any better. They'd better not, he's had four years of living with the constant want humming underneath his system. He's perfected his Best Friend persona, and wishes to all the Gods that might be listening in that one day he'll wake up and won't be so in love with his best friend that it hurts.

It's Spock's birthday, and as such they're all out to dinner. Jimmy, Nyota, Spock's parents, the birthday boy himself, and Len. They're all dressed up, all looking damn fine, if the looks from the other diners are anything to go by.

Len is sitting beside Jimmy. Spock and Nyota sit across from them. Amanda sits beside Spock, Sarek across from her and beside Len. Nyota kisses Spock deeply when the cake is brought to the table after the table has been cleared. And when she whispers make a wish into Spock's ear, Len has to look away from the intimacy of it all. He can't bear it.

He takes a breath, and when he looks back, a big smile on his face, Amanda is looking at him, like he's a puzzle to solve. And that is never a good thing. Spock's mother has several degrees and PhD's in psychology, and the look on her face tells Len she's analyzing him right now, and can see right through him. Shit, not good.

“Excuse me, I need some air.” He stands abruptly, and Jim stands with him but Len pushes him back into his seat. “I'll be back in five, you can have my cake.” The table is quiet, everyone knows Len's sweet tooth, him refusing cake is not normal.

Len makes it to the door before he hears Amanda excusing herself from the table as well, he curses under his breath, needing to get his composure back in order before he goes back inside to face the happy couple.

He walks around the building, leans against the brick wall and lets out a shuddering sigh. Waiting for Amanda to come out and analyze his one sided love for her son. Except it's not what he expects, she doesn't' come barging around the corner demanding questions. Instead she takes one look at the misery on his face and wraps her arms around him, pulling him into a hug. He shudders once and then pulls back, refusing to let himself walk back into the restaurant with red eyes and tear stains on his cheeks.

“Oh Leonard. How long?”

“All my life.”

“Why didn't you say anything?”

“How could you ask me that? He's so happy, Nyota is perfect for him. Their a matched pair, I-” He trails off, not sure if he even knew what he was thinking. “Please don't say anything. I almost ruined our friendship once, I don't want to lose him.”

“Leonard, sweetie, you won't lose him. Talk to him, keeping something like this bottled up is gonna destroy you. I've seen it happen.”

“And you don't care that I'm in love with your son, when he has the perfect woman draped on his arm like she was born to be there?” Len can't help the contempt dripping from his words, the self loathing that he keeps hidden away, the wish to be normal, anything but what he is.

“All I want is for both of you to be happy, and if I have to make him look away from Nyota, who never gave him a chance to look in your direction, I will.” Amanda was fierce in a way that reminded Len of his own mother.

“I'll talk to him, promise me you won't say anything. I promise I'll talk to him.” Len begged, and Amanda nodded after a moment. She would talk to Spock herself if only because she knew Leonard McCoy like he was her own, and he would never place his own happiness above his friends. The last eighteen years had been proof of that.

XxX XxX

“Spock.”

“Yes mother?”

“May I talk to you for a moment?”

“Of course mother.” They both said good night to Sarek, waiting until he entered the house before turning to each other.

“Why did you choose to date Nyota?” Spock blinked at the question, he was positive his mother adored his girlfriend.

“Her intellect matches my own, we share a common interest in many things, she has beautiful features and a superb bone structure-” Spock was about to go on when his mother held up a hand, silencing him.

“How long have you known Len?”

“All my life.”

“And how much do you know about him?”

“Everything.”

“Are you ignoring his feelings for you then? Or have you truly not noticed them?”

“His feelings? Mother, what are you saying?” Spock took a step forward, confusion on his sharp, angular features.

“I see. At least I know you were not deliberately hurting him then.” Amanda took a breath, suddenly unsure if she wanted to speak at all. How certain was she that Spock would accept Len's feelings in return, that he would still want to talk to his best friend once this secret was out in the open.

“Mother?”

“He loves you Spock. More then a brother, more then Nyota ever could. It's tearing him up inside, and he would rather keep quiet about it all then risk damaging your happiness with Nyota.” Amanda took a breath and murmured quietly. “It's killing him.”

“How....why?”

“I am a trained observer. I notice things others never see. And I see it written all over his face when he looks at you and Nyota. Talk to him Spock, because he won't come to you about this. We both know he won't.”

“Mother.” Spock is unsure of where he stands. He knows she's right. Len would take a bullet for him, would fight through hell and back to keep him happy and safe, and the knowledge of what he's been hiding makes Spock sick. He hates the thought of his best friend being unhappy about anything.

“I'll talk to him.” Spock whispers, and Amanda nods, knowing that Spock will keep to his word.

XxX XxX

It was a sleepless night, and Spock is up early, wanting to get this conversation over and done with. He paces outside Len's house, waiting for his friend. Len waves goodbye to his mother, closes the door and takes one long look at Spock.

“Dammit all to hell and back.” are the first words out of his mouth when he realizes that Spock knows, and it almost makes the brunette smile even as Len thunders past him, careful not to brush against his shoulder like he would have a thousand times in the past. It wipes the smile of Spock's face and he hurries after Len, the older boy storming down the street at a quick pace that's easy to keep up with, considering the length of Spock's legs.

“Len, please, we need to talk.”

“About what?” His tone is waspish, the words like acid. “Forget everything your mother told you, just fucking forget it. It ain't gonna do either of us any good.”

“Leonard. Look at me.”

“Fuck off.”

“Leonard.” Something in Spock's tone must get through to Len and he slows, takes a deep breath and turns to face his friend. Spock sucks in a breath at the agony and humiliation in Len's deep hazel eyes. “Why didn't you tell me?”

“And say what? Hey, I know you've got the perfect woman, but I'm gonna fuck it all up for you and profess my undying love. Life doesn't work like that, we both know it. This isn't a fucking movie, you've got the girl...and I've got-” He trailed off, swallowed roughly, then turned and started walking.

Spock stayed where he was, shell shocked. Maybe Len was right, maybe he should forget everything, it would be easier. The ambassador's son took a breath and started after his friend, Len was obviously hurting, thinking Spock would leave him if he ever found out. And when had he ever taken the easy route? His father would be ashamed.

XxX XxX

Len avoided him at school when he could, it wasn't easy as they shared most of the same advanced classes. But he somehow managed it, disappearing as soon as class was over, before Spock could open his mouth. He never showed up for lunch, and Spock had to put up with Jimmy, yammering away about the latest cheerleader he'd banged the night before.

Nyota's fingers twined with his, her expression curious as his mood and the disappearance of Len. It isn't like him to leave, and Spock knows she's worried about their friend. Though apparently she didn't need to be.

Len shows up half way through the lunch hour, expression dark, though his eyes are red and slightly swollen as if he's been crying. It takes Spock's breath away to think that he may have inadvertently harmed his friend, and he tugs his hand free from Nyota's, ignoring her questioning look.

“You still wanna talk, follow me.” Len mutters bitterly and takes off before Spock can even get to his feet. He nearly runs after his friend, clapping a hand on his shoulder and startled when Len whirls around, rage on his features.

“Don't touch me.”

“I-I'm sorry if I offended you.” A lesser man would have fallen under the curdling glare Len shoots him with, but Spock is used to his looks and simply gazes back, expression calm, heart pounding so loud he can hear it echoing in his ears. Len's jaw jumps as he grits his teeth, stalking away again until he yanks open the art room door, the class empty.

Spock follows him into the room, watching as his friend stomps across the room, kicking a chair out of his way with a violent clatter and slouching in another at the far end of the room.

“Talk.”

“What would you like me to say?'

“You were pretty fuckin' keen this morning. Cat got your tongue?” Spock has known Len long enough to understand this supposed episode for what it is. Leonard is terrified of losing Spock as a friend, and even more terrified of possibly gaining him as something more. The knowledge makes Spock's chest ache.

“I will never stop being your friend.” He says calmly, heart lurching into his throat when Len laughs a little too sharply. His eyes darkly green now and bitter.

“Good for you.”

“We cannot-”

“Don't you think I fucking know that? Why the fuck would I keep something like this to myself for the last four years? Shits and giggles?” Spock blinks, not sure how to respond. “Fuck this.” Len says softly, looking down at the ground.

“Len.” There's fear in Spock's voice and it makes Len look up sharply. “Why?”

“I don't know. I don't fucking know.” Len buries his head in his hands, and Spock's first reaction is to go to him, offer comfort, but he's already guessed from Len's reaction before that it would not be the wisest course of action, so he stays where he is. “I never asked for this, I never wanted this. I fucking prayed every night for a year to stop this bullshit.”

“But you don't believe in God.”

“Apparently he don't believe in me either.”

“I'm sorry.”

“Don't be. I'm the dumb ass in love with his best friend. Go back to Nyota.” Len takes a breath. “I'll see you in class.”

“No.” Spock isn't sure where this is coming from, but he hates seeing Len like this, hurting so bad.

“Fucking LEAVE.” Len roars, and Spock takes a step back involuntarily. “I don't need you, and I don't need your fucking pity.” Len glares, and knowing how stubborn Spock is, he leaves instead. His shoulder brushing roughly against Spock's as he pushes past him to get out the door. “You never would have known if your mother hadn't said anything, don't even try to be all fucking caring when we both know it's complete bullshit. You want everything back the way it was, and I can live with that. So just pretend this never happened, it's easy. I've been doing it for the last four years.” Len says quietly, acidly, and then he's gone.

XxX XxX

Spock goes back to Nyota and Jimmy, shaken and upset. Nyota is all over him, concern on her features and Jimmy's only concern is where Len went, and why was he acting so strangely. Spock doesn't have an answer for either one of them, and after a few minutes of ignoring their questions, they stop asking him anything.

He hates this, hates that his best friend on the entire planet seemingly doesn't want to be his best friend anymore. And he hates that he doesn't want to be anything more then friends. He should want Len back, shouldn't he? He looks at Nyota, sees the love and concern in her deep brown eyes and smiles a little. He's not sure what to do about Len, but it feels like everything he could try would only make things worse, so maybe he'll do what Len suggested, and pretend he doesn't know.

XxX XxX

Len stops hanging out with him at lunch, sits in a different spot during class, and moves his locker to the other side of the school, and Spock is certain that he would move his house if he could. Len doesn't even look at him anymore, and it's that that hurts the most.

Graduation comes and goes, and Len stands by Spock if only for appearances sake. A big goofy Leonard McCoy grin on his face, arm slung over Spock's shoulders as both their parents snap pictures. Amanda is the only one who knows what's going on between them.

Len's parents are confused, not sure why Spock hasn't come around the house in ages, why Len gets so upset when they ask him about it. Sarek has asked his wife a few times, but all he gets is her quiet stare in response, her gentle voice telling him that when the boys sort it out, he'll understand, but until then it is not her place to tell.

As soon as the pictures are over Len is gone, and Spock morns the loss of his friend more in that one moment then he did their final year. Nyota's fingers are twining with his, her gentle brown eyes searching his for some sort of answer.

“What's going on Spock? What's wrong with Len?” And suddenly he can't hold it in any longer.

“He loves me.” Spock says quietly, and Nyota smiles.

“Well how could he not.”

“No.” He gets the sudden urge to shake her, how could she be so dense when she's always been so intelligent. “He loves me.” A sudden understanding dawns. “Not like a brother, not like a friend, but like you.”

“Wait...are you saying he loves you? Like that?”

“Yes. What is there to understand?”

“How long have you known...was that why he stopped spending time with us?”

“Yes, that is why he stopped spending time with us.” Spock refused to answer her other question, knowing she was already about to blow this out of proportion.

“That's just sick. I can't believe he confessed something like that.”

“He did not confess. And when my mother told me of his feelings for me, he refused to talk to me about them. His only wish was to keep me happy, and he inferred I was most happy with you by my side rather than him.” Spock said quietly, eyes locked onto Nyota's face for any change in emotion. She smiled, running a hand down Spock's chest.

“He's a good friend then, not wanting to burden you with something like that. It's unnatural.”

“You will not speak of Leonard in such a way.” Spock hissed, not sure where this anger was coming from. He should be relieved that Len wasn't hanging off of him, intent to keep him like a decoration, always at his side. Spock inhaled sharply.

“But Spock, it's weird. It's gross. Friends don't do that, they don't force their love on you.”

“He did not force it. I however forced him to play his hand.” Spock took a breath. “You would hold it against him, even now when he is miserable and alone?”

“Please, he did it to himself when he told you.” Nyota rolled her eyes, unwilling to accept what Spock was saying.

“For the last time Nyota. He did not tell me, he would never tell me willingly.” Spock gritted his teeth, unsure of where this sudden stupidity was coming from.

“Why are we even talking about this? He's a guy, we've been going out forever, and I'm clearly the better choice. And you're mine.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Why would you want to waste years of a relationship that we know works to go gallivanting after your best friend when he abandoned you?” Nyota smiled, gazing up at Spock with affection. The ambassador's son looked ill at her words.

“He did not abandon me, but I abandoned him.” Spock whispered, his heart clenching. What had he allowed to happen. He wrenched himself from Nyota, intent on tracking Leonard down.

XxX XxX

Len clinked his bottle against Jimmy's, his mouth twitching at the familiar whining. He was gonna miss this, one of the few things he would miss about the hell that was higher learning.

“I'm gonna miss you guys when you're gone. You were the only thing that made school bearable, you and Spock. What happened with you and Spock?” Jimmy asked, and Len sighed, taking another swig of beer. His father had mentioned that when a man graduated he was allowed a beer. Apparently his father had done the same thing, and he was just following tradition.

“I love him.” Len muttered.

“I love him too, he's a great guy.” Jimmy said with a grin, obviously not taking it seriously. He didn't take much seriously.

“Yeah, he is.” Rather then try and argue the point, Len slouched forward on the hood of the car.

“Wait. Like love love?”

“What other kind is there?” Len muttered, wondering just how pissed one could get off a single bottle of beer.

“Oh.” Jimmy let out a nervous laugh and Len turned to shoot him a glare normally equated with flaming daggers. “Is that why you stopped hanging out with him? Does he know?”

“Yes and yes.”

“Man...what an ass. I can't believe he's just ignoring you.”

“I told him to. He's just using the common sense God gave him.”

“Why would you tell him to ignore you?” Jimmy had been raised on the tragic love story of his parents, he loved romance, loved anything to do with a good Romeo and Juliet type of anything.

“What good would it do? He's happy with Nyota, and that's all I want for him. He's happy without me, it's easier for everyone if I just stay away.”

“When do I get a say?” Len whirled, nearly losing his bottle of beer as he stared wide eyed at Spock who looked out of breath.

“I'm guessing you already had a say.” Jimmy sneers and Spock doesn't even shoot him a glance, his eyes all for Leonard who still looks like a deer in oncoming traffic.

“What are you doing here?”

“I'm sorry Leonard.” Spock takes a step forward and Len flinches back a little. “I have been selfish beyond reason and your feelings did not enter my thoughts.”

Len still looks shell shocked and Spock looks at his feet, feeling like the lowest kind of slime. He knows Len's expressions well enough to read the fact that his friend assumed they would never talk again.

“Dude.” Jimmy whispers poking Len in the side, he jolts and glares at Jim, rubbing his side and looking back at Spock who is regarding him with caution.

“What do you want?”

“To apologize.” Spock takes a step forward and in a split second Len is off the hood of the car and half way around it, keeping it between himself and Spock, who seems confused at his behavior.

“What the hell are you doing you crazy bastard?” Jimmy yells, looking between his two friends.

“Why are you here? I thought we had an agreement.”

“We did not shake hands, therefore no agreement was made.” Len snorts loudly, remembering how they had spat into their hands and shaken solemnly over any large decisions as children.

“Why are you here?” Len asks again, his face a wash of confusion, anger and fear.

“Nyota asked why you had been absent, so I told her.”

“You did WHAT!?!” Len yelps, stumbling back when Spock forgoes circling the car and slides over the hood of the car smoothly.

"She overreacted, and I came to somewhat of a conclusion." Len stumbles back a bit more when Spock steps forward, falls on his ass. Spock smiles a little at his expression.

“What the hell are you doing?” Len demands when Spock crouches beside him, he scrambles to get up, but the gentle touch along his jaw has him going motionless. He isn't sure if his eyes can get any wider when Spock leans in and places a chaste kiss on his lips.

“Nyota only cares that I am by her side, yet you watched from the sidelines, refusing to share your secrets.”

“What are you playing at Spock?” Len sounds shaky, his face bone white. Spock remembers when he confronted Len for the first time, how terrified he must have been at the thought of losing his friend. And he had for a few months, because of Spock's refusal to understand.

“I am playing at nothing Leonard. And I am sorry that I have acted the way I did. It was shameful to both myself and you.”

“Fine.” Len's voice is gruff and Spock finds he misses it, among other things that Len's simple companionship brings. “You are absolved, go forth and sin no more.” Spock takes a deep breath, squeezing his eyes shut at Len's behavior.

“I will not lose you again due to my own blindness.” Spock can hear soft sniffles in the background and concludes that Jimmy is crying. He fights from rolling his eyes. “Life without you is not worth anything on this planet.” Len swallows, his lips trembling as something like hope creeps into his eyes. “I am truly sorry Leonard, I've hurt you, and I've broken your trust in me.”

“SAY SOMETHING YOU EMOTIONALLY RETARDED FOOL!!!!” Jimmy practically screams and Spock's lips twitch in amusement. Len seems to come back to himself, rolling his eyes and pushing himself onto his feet.

“Shut the hell up Jimmy.”

“Fuck you, you whiny bitch.” Len glares at Jimmy who's grinning at him unabashedly, wiping happy tears off his cheeks with his jacket sleeve.

“I'll kick your ass from here to next week you little shit.” Len snarls, taking a step towards Jimmy who sticks his tongue out and hops off the hood of the car in preparation to start running. Len feels a hand grip onto his, soft fingers twining with his, he glances back at Spock who is watching him with something like interest.

“What?”

“I would suggest ignoring Jimmy's pathological need for attention.” There's something about the way Spock says the words that make Len's eyebrows rise to meet his hairline and he swallows, suddenly nervous again.

Spock steps into his space, deceptively skinny arm gripping at his hip to keep him from moving back again. He's got that look in his eye, the one he gets in Biology when he's about to dissect something to see what makes it tick.

“Wha-” Len starts to say when Spock darts in and Len's got an armful of his best friend. Mouth pressed tightly to his, tongue licking into his mouth. Len grips onto Spock's shoulders, eyes locked onto Spock's until the brunette slides a hand into his hair and tugs his head into a different angle.

They pull apart to breathe, Len's eyes wide and startled. Spock runs his tongue across his lower lip, intrigued at the slightly smokey taste from Len's mouth. He's pretty sure it's the beer, but scientific inquiries have been made on less.

“Fascinating.”

XxX XxX

Spock grips tight to Len's hand when he tells his father that he's dating his best friend now instead of Nyota. Rather then the cold stare and demanded explanation he expects from his father, Sarek simply raises an eyebrow and looks to his mother, who shrugs, an innocent smile on her lips.

“This was what you could not tell me?”

“I wasn't positive on the outcome, how could I come to you with a hypothesis if it turned out to be wrong?” Amanda counters and Sarek's eyes glint in a way that Len never wants to see again. He starts dragging Spock across the living room and out the door before they have to witness Spock's parent's diving at each other in front of their offspring and his boyfriend.

“Spock's staying over night, don't call us we'll call you.” Len shouts as the screen door slams.

“That was-” Spock is searching for the word.

“Potentially disgusting?” Len asks and Spock nods, squeezing his fingers in agreement as they head to Len's place to tell his parents that they're dating now.

XxX XxX

“Really?”

“Yes mother, really.”

“Why?”

“Mutual feelings make a beneficial relationship. Ergo the dating.” Spock remarks dryly and Len snickers. His mother looks at them, as if expecting them to break into a song and dance routine. Finally she sighs and throws her hands in the air, heading into the kitchen.

David McCoy shrugs and heads back towards the living room so he can catch the rest of the game. Jocelyn pouts, she's had a crush on Spock since she first started noticing that boys really didn't have cooties and Joanna high fives her brother.

“Now what?” Len wonders aloud when they've told everyone they can think needs to know. They're avoiding Spock's house like the plague, not wanting to chance catching Spock's parents potentially making him another sibling.

“I have a inquiry to make in the name of science.” Spock says, breaking the silence that's edging towards awkward.

“What do you wanna know?” Len asks, instantly regretting it at the look on Spock's face. “No, my parent's are down stairs. My sisters are probably listening through the door.”

“I suggest you stay silent then.”

“Dammit Spock, I said n-”

XxX XxX