October 2012
Author's Note: Pardon my Klingon, but I'm pretty sure B'Elanna would kick Chakotay's ass for that whole C/7 thing.
"CHAKOTAY!"
Voyager's executive officer raised his head at hearing his own name called out above the din of engineering. He had been listening to Vorik's analysis of the latest warpcore diagnostic, but the quiet ensign seemed to melt away as B'Elanna stomped towards them, red in the ridges.
"B'Elanna," Chakotay called out in greeting, but grew alarmed as she didn't seem to be slowing down.
By the time he realized she wasn't stopping, he was pinned to the wall and B'Elanna was pummeling every inch of him she could reach.
"What-in the-name of-Kahless- could- possess you- to date- Seven-of-NINE?!" Each grunted word was punctuated with a punch.
Chakotay finally managed to free his hands and caught B'Elanna by the wrists. Joe Cary, Harry Kim, Chell and Vorik had reappeared and formed an uneasy sort of half-circle around the two. The rest of engineering unashamedly silenced to listen in.
"B'Elanna-" Chakotay started angrily.
"-don't you dare "B'Elanna" me, Chakotay!" B'Elanna spat out his name with a venom he hadn't heard since their Maquis days.
"Lieutenant Torres-"
"Don't you "Lieutenant Torres" me either! That woman-" she wriggled a hand free to dramatically point to the ceiling, at what Chakotay could only assume was meant to be the bridge "-our captain, loves you! She loves you so much, Chakotay, and you love her, I know it!"
Chakotay frowned. "This isn't about-"
"Then what is it about, Chakotay?" B'Elanna snarled. "Is it about Seven? She's not even a woman, Chakotay, she's an angst-ridden, self-centered teenager. Why do you even like her? Is it because she's young? Do you have a thing for blondes? Is it her massive-"
"THAT'S ENOUGH, LIEUTENANT!" His voice echoed roughly in the abruptly weighted silence.
Chakotay took a deep breath and gave the sufficiently startled engineer in his arms a sharp glare.
"Mr. Tuvok," he called out without breaking eye contact with B'Elanna. The security chief had been standing, unnoticed, by the door. "Please escort Lieutenant Torres to her quarters."
The engineering crew all suddenly became very interested in their boots or remembered an urgent matter in the other room.
"Not that it's any of your business," Chakotay growled to her over the rising noise, "But Seven and I aren't dating, and Kathryn has personally assured me she'd kick my ass if we were."
"What?!" B'Elanna gasped. But she was already being "firmly escorted" by Tuvok to her quarters, and the last she saw of engineering was Chakotay smirking to himself-and glancing up.
