Prompt:
I keep coming back begging you for more
Watch my knees as they fall to the floor
Want you to push, you always take the shove
You don't need this broken kind of love
-"Ugly Love" by Griffin Peterson
As he held her tightly to himself, her head resting on his chest, Billy's heart ached for her. This was the second time that Jason had hurt her with his unkind words. He use to respect the slightly older Lieutenant Crowe, one of Voyager's engineers, but not anymore. Now he kind of wished that the engineer might encounter one of the many dangers of this unknown quadrant and not survive.
Not that he would utter that sentiment to Tal. Even now, her sobs echoing in the otherwise empty mess hall, she would scold him for such thoughts. It was just the way she was. Tal was a better person than he was. He didn't really deserve even her friendship. However, that didn't change the way he felt about her.
Maybe he should tell her how he felt. Take the risk of rejection, and see if maybe, just maybe, she might be able to return those feelings.
Or he could hold his tongue and keep holding her every time some jerk, like Jason Crowe, broke her heart. He was definitely more worthy of Tal's love than he was, wasn't he?
Looking down at Tal's tear stained face, Billy knew what that answer was. The only way to protect her from episodes like this, was to tell her how he truly felt about her.
But he wouldn't do it tonight. He probably wouldn't even do it tomorrow. First, he needed to give Tal time to mend her broken heart, and then perhaps he would stand a chance.