Prompt: Jake - "Stop hitting them! Kicking them will hurt more." - 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine'
Having finished his duty shift on the bridge, Tom Paris walked casually through the corridors of Voyager. Though he nodded politely the crewmates he passed, most of them looked away instead of acknowledging him. He really wasn't surprised. He was an outsider to both sides of this crew. A pariah to Starfleet personnel and a simple mercenary to the Maquis.
Tom suppressed the urge to sigh. The universe may have granted him a second chance by stranding them in the Delta Quadrant but it didn't appear as if his crewmates were going to be so kind. In some ways, it was like being a kid again and not fitting in with his classmates. At least nowadays he knew how to fight back if it became necessary.
"We don't want you here. What do you have to say to that?"
The harsh words from up ahead caused Tom Paris to quicken his steps. Apparently being ignored by crewmates wasn't the worse thing that could happen.
"Looks like a cat's got his tongue," another voice chimed in.
"Or a Cardassian," the first voice added, a harsh laugh following the crude joke. "Is that it, Bojoran? Did a Cardassian cut out your tongue?"
Reaching the intersection of the corridors, Tom spotted two Starfleet officers standing in front of one of his former Maquis crewmates. The one Starfleet officer, a member of security, had his hand against the young Bajoran's chest holding him against the wall.
"Is there a problem here, gentlemen?" Tom asked, striding toward the group.
"What's it to you, traitor," the non-security officer asked.
"Suffice it to say I don't like bullies," Tom said, even as he heard the mocking voices of bullies from his own past in his head. "Stop hitting him? Kicking him will hurt more," the taunting voices from his past whispered.
"This is a security matter," the security officer replied. "Just move along."
"I didn't realize harassment was part of a security officer's job," Tom countered. "It doesn't look like he's causing any trouble to me."
"Let's just go," the other man said, grabbing the security officer's arm.
The security officer glared back at the Borjan Maquis member and raised his hand causing the Bajoran to cringe.
"Pathetic," the man said before following his companion down the corridor.
"You okay, Gerron?" Paris asked, walking over to the young Bajoran, taking in the bruise appearing on the side of Gerron's face.
"I'm fine," Gerron replied softly looking at the floor.
"Let's go see Chakotay," Paris suggested, knowing that Voyager's new first officer was the best person to deal with the situation.
"No. Let it go."
With those few words, Gerron headed down the corridor in the opposite direction the other two had gone, gaze focused on the ground in front of him.
Watching, Tom was left debating what to do. Did he report the incident himself or hope it was a one time thing?