Half-Klingon.
The word followed her around like a whisper on the breeze, a scarlet letter permanently affixed to her back. It was a stigma she could not shed, a dark cloud that was constantly over her head.
No one ever called her half-human. It was only when her species was something to fear that there was a modifier placed in front of her name. She was never just Chief Engineer; she was the half-Klingon Chief Engineer. She was never just Tom's wife; she was Tom's half-Klingon wife.
The ridges on her forehead scared potential friends away and stalled conversations before they began. It was one of the reasons she so enjoyed working in the bowels of Engineering. No one except the engineers would have to see her ugly, marred face. No one could judge her. As soon as they saw her face, she was reduced to something less than humanoid. Watered down to a collection of misinformed stereotypes and lies. In their minds, she transformed into a cartoonish parody of a Klingon, swinging a Bat'leth and growling about battle and honor. That wasn't who she wanted to be. Not by a long shot.
Her father had truly loved her mother; she had no doubt about that. But what her father didn't – couldn't – love was the Klingon inside her. And B'Elanna's greatest fear was that the Klingon in her could never be separated from the true B'Elanna Torres. And someday, when Tom came to the same conclusion, he would leave, and she would be left bitter, sad, and alone.
Just like her mother.
And I don't want the world to see me, 'cause I don't think that they'd understand. When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am.