Necessary and Inevitable Consequences, Part 1

It was time to part ways, and neither of them wanted to do so.

Seven and Chakotay both stood at the end of the hall, both with their hands held behind their backs, both trying- with more success than most of the crew would have displayed- not to shift nervously.

It hadn't been that strange, had it? They had a few things in common.

Like a habit of tucking their hands behind their backs. A general tendency to mask emotion with stoicism (nevermind that Chakotay's was intentional and for the sake of sarcasm, while Seven's was a compulsive need to hide emotion- it was still a similarity they shared on some level). Not to mention they had both been part of a hive mind at one point. They both could hold their own in hand-to-hand combat (again, nevermind that Chakotay's ability was born out of a love of boxing while Seven's had been a forced adaptation in the Tsunkatse ring). And then, of course, they both shared a visible marking of their respective heritages above their left eyes (again, nevermind that Chakotay's was voluntary and culturally significant while Seven's was… well… not).

Not to mention they both had been in a similar position: left wondering, for a rather unreasonable amount of time, whether a certain person in their life really was romantically interested in them or not and having to deal with said person refusing to make their own feelings and intentions clear. But oh no, it was Seven and Chakotay who were the villains and who had to deal with the consequences- Galaxy forbid anyone aboard the ship question the lack of concrete action on the part of a certain captain and chief medical offi-

"You're trying to rationalize it again, aren't you?" Chakotay finally asked.

"Yes," Seven admitted.

Chakotay sighed. "Look. I don't like having to deal with this any more than you do. But we did do a pretty stupid thing."

"So did they. You're just not willing to admit that the captain could ever be wrong."

Chakotay was silent long enough that Seven eventually turned to look at him.

He was wearing a very small, very irritating smirk.

The Doctor's complete distaste for violence had rubbed off on her, but that stupid smirk made her want to punch him. How had they made it past three dates?

"You're right," Chakotay said, still smirking. "I don't like to admit when Kathryn's wrong. That's why I'm willing to put up with all this." He gestured vaguely toward the Mess Hall at the end of the hallway, where some of the male senior officers were waiting for him. "So what's your excuse for putting up with it?"

Seven glanced at the turbolift. She was "on her way to Sickbay" for a "routine medical exam". But of course she knew there would be no exam because some of the female senior officers were waiting for her. She looked back at Chakotay. "An unhealthy sense of guilt and obligation."

"I thought so. We both have our own toxic reasons for letting this continue."

Seven tilted her head. "At least that is what we tell ourselves."

They both turned away from eachother.

Seven decided to speak again, before continuing to the turbolift. "Perhaps the real reason is that neither of us truly minds it as much as we pretend to. We know that ultimately the actions of our crewmates are the result of their affection toward us in spite of our previous blunder. A blunder that both of us, in our better moments of self-honesty, have come to see as simultaneously regrettable and laughable."

Chakotay grinned and had to suppress a laugh. "I think you hit the nail on the head. But we'll never let them know that."

"Of course not."

"I guess we better get going before someone sees us talking alone together and thinks something dangerous is going on."

"Agreed."

Chakotay paused. "Don't ever let anyone convince you you still don't understand emotions or human behavior, Seven. You obviously do."

Seven smiled. Yes, the past was regrettable. Absurd, even. But she still valued his opinion. "Thank you, Commander."

With that, the two of them continued their separate ways to meet their fate.

…It was nice to know they could remain friends. But they both also realized the rest of the ship probably wasn't ready for that particular piece of information.