Asymptote

Fanfiction
Title:	Asymptote
Author(s):	Tahariel
Date(s):	2010
Length:	5,973 words
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: AOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:	Asymptote on AO3 Asymptote on the K/S Archive
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Asymptote is a K/S story by Tahariel.

Reactions and Reviews

I found this little gem on the crack-van Live journal site, and followed it to the Archive, where it's easier to read for my aged eyes. An author new to me, and well worth seeking out. I had to look up the meaning of the title, as geometry never really was my thing, but—hey--I learnt something, and it adds depth to the story, as it's from Spock's POV, and this term is so-o Spockian. I love how he thinks in such precise concepts. (And at least I knew about Venn diagrams!)

Kirk and Spock are negotiating on a planet where they quickly discover that it is forbidden for 'inferiors' to touch their 'superiors', as, say the aliens in explanation,

'Leadership must be separated from desires and comforts of the flesh'. There's a heart-tugging yet amusing aside as Spock refuses to think about Jim taking his comforts elsewhere, and from then on he becomes hyper aware of the fact that his Captain cannot touch him casually, as is his usual wont... Poor Spock becomes obsessed, missing the sensations acutely and at one point daringly brushing feet, seemingly accidentally, under the table. He remembers other times when he had been able, even forced, to touch his Captain, and notes almost resentfully that Kirk is managing quite well, even to the point of wondering what is wrong with Spock... Eventually, all is successful and they are back on the ship, debriefing, and the Captain is touching crew-members 'because he can' and poor Spock notes every one. The best bit comes when the two of them remain in the Briefing room and Spock finally feels Jim's hand on his shoulder. It has an amazing effect and Spock crumbles, pulling him into a kiss and lots more! There follows perhaps the hottest frottage scene ever, and I'm sorry if I'm revealing too much, but who now doesn't want to read this?! I hope we see more from Tahariel soon.

Asymptote by Tahariel is a reboot story told from Spock‘s POV, set during a diplomatic mission where Spock, Kirk and a number of Enterprise crew beam down to a planet peopled by the Raksulach.

They have only just arrived when it quickly transpires that touch between anyone other than equals is forbidden and Kirk is therefore forced to rein in his natural inclination for casual bodily contact. Spock knows this isn‘t going to be easy for his captain, and as he observes: [...] he was waiting for Kirk to touch him in the rude and proprietary manner he so often used to Spock’s annoyance on the bridge, leaning over him with a hand braced on his shoulder to read things from Spock’s screen that could have easily been transferred to the Captain’s chair. The man’s breath would huff out against the side of Spock’s head, moist and warm, and Spock would shift to a more appropriate distance away. Given this, what‘s so fun about this story is to his dismay, it‘s Spock who is missing that contact, as the opening line attests: Anticipation was not an emotion Spock had intended to allow himself to feel; yet, it made itself known despite him, and that it was never satisfied made it harder to suppress, each time the Captain walked past or stood near and conscientiously avoided even the brush of their sleeves. The author does a great job of having Spock watch Kirk closely, for him to tense at all the near misses, yet at the same time, find himself missing the occasional touches – an altogether illogical and puzzling state of affairs given his own antipathy towards such contact previously. As a result, the UST deliciously increases as the plot unfolds. By Spock‘s own observation, the Kirk we're presented with is more poised and professional than he had been at the start of the mission – something the Vulcan not only approves of, but admires; and it‘s lovely to be inside Spock‘s head, to witness his observations, his feelings and reactions to the events as they unfold. Ultimately, both characterisations really worked for me. In addition, the narrative is smooth and flowing, and the alien planet, the indigenous species and their culture add an extra richness to the reader‘s experience, all combining to make this a delight to read on a number of levels.

This is a wonderful story -- not only a very clever premise, but incredibly well executed – and with a satisfying, if somewhat NC-17 conclusion. Asymptote (the definition being a line that a graph approaches, but does not intersect) is around 6,000 words and can be found on the K/S archive.