Chapter Text
Tuvok, 2371
The first sign Tuvok observes are the clenched fists of his Captain at the mention of the name B'Elanna Torres. Next he notes Torres' flinch when she sees Janeway, later she doesn't seem fazed by her command decision at all. He is undecided on the meaning of this specific interaction, Maquis are known for their independence after all.
When the first chaos of arriving in the Delta Quadrant has died down, he re-examines some of the files he had collected during his time in the Maquis, remembering that something had caught his eye about B'Elanna Torres from the start, he just hadn't been able to pinpoint what.
Looking through the files in connection to Janeway feels strange, but as Chief of Security it's easy enough to justify. This connection to his commanding officer gives him a new angle, more to go on. That is when he finds it - on dozens of stardates, for years, Captain Janeway and B'Elanna Torres have conveniently been at the same place, at the same time; starting with one particular date connected to a shore leave on Betazed.
That's when he makes the connection. He's known of B'Elanna for a while, a few months after that particular event in fact. Janeway just never mentioned a name, let alone a profession. She just quietly informed him of an ongoing agreement between her and this woman. Then, it had been for security and tactical reasons. It wouldn't do to keep him in the dark about any potential entanglements.
He decides on an especially rigorous meditation that night, her private affairs are none of his business but he can see the fire between them and lets her know he knows, owes his old friend this much. First she hedges but he just arches a brow and she relents, fingers pinching the bridge of her nose as she lets out a shaky breath.
'We haven't resumed our relationship. We never talked about our lives outside of our arrangement. What do you think, old friend?' She pushes out and he can see the conflict in the way she flexes her fingers around the ever present coffee cup.
'I think if your "arrangement" was beneficial to you both before, it has the potential to be again. However I would advise caution, considering the added command structure.' He knows he's right but he doesn't miss the stormy look of pain in her eyes and the way she steels herself, shuts off from her feelings. He hopes she'll be able to access this part again some time when it's easier, but for now, he knows she made the right call.
B'Elanna, 2373
It's taken her two years, but she has finally allowed you to claim her again. You had never really talked about your lives, outside of the dynamic you'd been nurturing. Then, all of a sudden she was the Captain - formidable, powerful, exquisite - and you couldn't wait to have her on her knees, head bowed, again. It had taken time to negotiate your new roles, on duty and off.
Kat is on all fours in front of you now, breathing hard, and you can't help but admire your handiwork. Her back is littered with half-moon cresting bite marks, trailing from her shoulders down to the delicious curve of her hipbone, along the back of her legs. Her skin shines from a thin sheen of sweat and you love that you can cover her body, claim her entirely and she just begs you for more.
You growl as you push her legs apart, roughly, and are instantly assaulted by the scent of her arousal, heady and spicy and uniquely her. She is dripping, and you did this to her. Your Kat. Your Captain. She grunts at your rough hands and you can't hold back then and bury your fingers in her in one sharp stroke.
Her back arches and she lets out a guttural moan at the way you're pushing into her, curling your fingers inside her with little regard for her pleasure, only your own. She lowers her head and pushes her hands against the headboard to meet your thrusts and you find yourself straddling the delicious curve of her lifted ass then, grinding against her as your fingers make her whimper in quick, sharp bursts.
The way she shamelessly arches into your cunt as you push against her is entirely too hot and you lean forward, never breaking your movements on her, in her and sneer 'You like it when I take you like this, don't you? You like it when I use your body and make myself come. You enjoy being used like this, being fucked.' at her breathless nod you push harder, faster and go for the kill, with as much command in your voice as you can muster.
'You love it when I fuck you so hard you can't even breathe, Captain' and the word is dripping with its implications. Kat goes entirely still under you and for a second you think this is it, this is the line and you’ve crossed it this time. But you don't stop, couldn't if you wanted to, and then she's coming all over you with a primal scream and you’re so in awe of her that you follow her right along.
Kathryn, 2375
I know I need to tread lightly, considering the days' events. It's not every day B'Elanna gets attacked in her own engine room, especially not in the particular... way it happened today. She's been petulant all day after this incident, Chakotay reporting several run ins with not only him but also her team. I caught her ready to snap at me on the bridge earlier, just before she made the wise decision to turn that comment into a huff. Still, not ideal.
It's time to stop pondering the right approach here, at least that's what I've been telling myself. The moment I chime at her door it opens, Tom standing before me. With a bit of an impish grin, just typically him, he just says 'She's in the shower. I'm off to the gym'. I shoot him a thankful smile and pass him on his way out. After a few seconds of hesitation I join her in the ensuite.
'Hey Lanna, is it ok if I come in?' I ask. All I hear is a thud and a following groan and I can't help the chuckle.
'Yeah, sure Kath. I'll take a moment, just got in.'
We first got into the habit of talking to each other in the shower way back in the day. Showering together felt too intimate at first, but the added barrier of not actually seeing the other person helped shed some of the insecurities around connecting on a more personal level. What started out as a way to bond has become a beloved ritual, and usually one we only employ now when we want total honesty from each other.
'I heard you had a rough day today.'
'Hah, well, not as rough as Seven I'm guessing.'
At the mention of Seven I feel that pull to her again, am reminded that I would much rather sit vigil at her biobed, make sure that the voices that are haunting her don't completely overwhelm her. My initial morbid curiosity at the plethora of personalities suddenly alight in Seven's face, her body, quickly made way for the abject horror at seeing her suffer like this, grasping the magnitude of the situation. I take a deep breath.
'Why are you here and not with her, Kath?' B'Elanna follows up, obviously tired of my silence and annoyingly right on the money in her observation.
'Because you've been acting strange lately and the events of today have made it worse. So I would really like to know what gives.' To the point. Often the best strategy with her. Not always though. I hear her sigh and by the way the sound of the water changes I'd bet she's leaning against a wall.
'Do you have a thing for Seven?' B'Elanna asks and I can only huff. This wasn't supposed to be about me.
'This isn't about me Lanna. Besides. She's just coming to terms with being human, doesn't even know who she is yet.'
'That's not really an answer though, is it?' She counters.
'Is that what this is about? You're jealous?' I can't keep the disbelief out of my voice.
'I don't know. No. Maybe? It's just. You treat her differently. You never treat me differently.' Oh great.
'B'Elanna, you're the Chief Engineer. She's just come out of 18 years as a borg drone. Of course I treat you differently.'
'That's not what I mean and you know it. Don't insult me by insinuating I'm not capable of understanding that. I can tell you two have a connection, and if you can't tell or can't admit it to yourself, fine. But don't discount how it makes me feel. You asked, for fucks sake.' I hear the barely restrained anger and take a deep breath.
'Look, I know I give her more attention and more leeway. And yes, I'm... invested in her. I'm also intrigued by her. But that must not go anywhere. She's... been through so much. She still has so much to discover, learn about herself and the world. I can't get in there and abuse the bond we have. I need to keep my distance and let her find her own way. Giving her some extra leeway, maybe, is my way of showing her how important she is.' It's my time to lean against the wall for some extra support. I wait for her answer, patiently. After a few seconds I hear the shower turn off.
'Alright, Kath. Thank you for sharing that with me. I'll try to be a bit more understanding.' She doesn't share of what she'll be more understanding, but I'm mainly relieved we seem to have an understanding. Then she steps out of the shower and leans against the shower stall. I can't help the sudden dryness of my throat at the view.
'How about I make it up to you and next time we play, you get to tie me up?' she purrs in a voice that should be illegal and I swallow and nod. 'Good girl' she smirks and proceeds to wrap herself in a big fluffy towel. I'm busy trying to breathe. Damn that woman.
'For now I think you need a hot coffee and then you can tell me what exactly is going on with Seven.' She steps close to me and pulls me into a hug, the one that really only she can give, her strength wrapping me up and drawing tension out of me I hadn't even realized I was holding.
Seven, 2378
Cataloguing my physical and emotional reactions to him has become easier since the removal of the failsafe. The romantic protocol is progressing according to established parameters. The time we spend with each other is pleasurable, however I do not feel especially stimulated in a mental or physical capacity. My mind tends to wander when we spend time together, but his demeanor is a welcome emotional support.
Comparing his effect on me with the effect other members of the crew elicit yields interesting results. With Tuvok my mental faculties are consistently highly stimulated, while I find Naomi's or Tom's presence lead to a positive effect on my emotional wellbeing. The only people in whose vicinity I regularly experience mental, physical and emotional stimulation seem to be B'Elanna Torres and Captain Janeway, however to differing degrees. Neelix yields mixed results, mainly of an emotional nature, if I consider his capacity as a cook, a physical impact is undeniable.
I am unconcerned about the lack of mental or physical impact by the Commander at this point. All data indicates for this to be a possibly normal facet of developing interpersonal relationships. I do however feel apprehension about disclosing the changed nature of our relationship to other members of the crew. The reason for this is unclear to me at this point, a most frustrating situation.
Kat, 2378
For a few blissful moments you don't know who or where you are, your brain deliciously devoid of thoughts and filled with pulsing stars instead. Slowly you become aware of your body, aching deliciously, limply lying face down. Next you register her weight draped over you, pinning you down and it makes your cunt clench. You moan and hear an answering breathless chuckle from somewhere to your right 'you ok there, Kat?'
You flail out an arm and squeeze the closest piece of skin you find reassuringly, humming the affirmative. Just a few more minutes of this weightless bliss, that's all you need. As always, she knows and just grunts in acknowledgement. She proceeds to drag blunt nails across your back and your breathing picks up again, your body reacting entirely outside of your control. She holds you there, suspended in that space between conscious thought and pure tactility, until you're ready to face the world again.
When you're back to being yourself she takes your hand and looks at you with a serious expression. 'You were way brattier than usual today, Kathryn. Wanna tell me what's up?' You try to glare at her but it doesn't really work when you're naked, on your bed, and you know she cares. You take a deep breath and remind yourself that you've know this woman for ten years now, that you've been doing this for just as long and that you can trust her.
'Seven' you press out between clenched teeth, and she nods knowingly. Somehow it always comes back to her.