Star Trek Imagines (Reader-Inserts) Part One

Voy. Tom Paris - Old Flames

A/N: In honour of Robert Duncan McNeill's birthday today, I decided to write this request for Tom. This was requested by kate_the_dork :)

You pushed your food around your plate with your fork as you sat in the messhall alone. Neelix had only been on board for a few days but he had already taken over the kitchen and made several interesting meals for the crew. Today was a pasta with a thick creamy sauce made from some root he had. It was decent, though you didn't have much of an appetite. Getting thrown seventy-thousand lightyears from home would do that to anyone.

A figure appeared in front of your table. You lifted your head and your eyes widened when they were met with a familiar face from your past.

"Hi Y/N," Tom said. The Tom Paris that you had dated a few years back during your time in the academy. You two were together for a while but broke things off when you realized you were just at two different points in your lives and wanted different things.

"Tom?" you asked incredulously. "What are you doing here? I heard you left Starfleet."

"That's right. Did you hear the whole story?" he asked as he took a seat across from you.

"Bits and pieces," you replied, still shocked that he was sitting across from you. What were the odds that you two would end up on the same ship that got taken into the Delta Quadrant? "You joined the Maquis after, right?"

Tom nodded, keeping his emotions steeled. "Janeway asked me to join this mission to help track them down. I guess I got more than I bargained for."

You huffed out a laugh, though it wasn't filled with any humour. "We all did."

You were both silent for a few moments.

"How have you been?" Tom asked finally.

"Good, until a few days ago," you admitted. "What about you? I guess you've had a rough few years."

He nodded. "They could have been better. But I brought it on myself. I'm hoping to prove myself here. Show that I'm more than my past."

You smiled slightly. "If anyone can do that, it's you, Tom. You're an incredible pilot, and you're a hard worker when you put your mind to something."

"You always did believe in me," he said, sounding nostalgic.

"I'm glad to know someone on board," you said. "I mean, there's some people I know from the academy, but not well."

Tom smiled. "Seeing a friendly face around here will definitely make this mission a lot easier, that's for sure. If you ever want to grab a meal or go to the holodeck, just ask. Or if you just need someone to talk to."

"I'd love to catch up more and spend time with you, but..."

"But you don't feel the same about me as you used to," he finished for you, not sounding upset or disappointed. In fact, he sounded understanding. "Y/N, I get it. It's been years, and we're both different people. I'm not looking to restart what we had, but I do think that we need each other. Being so far from home is going to be hard on all of us. We need support from one another. I won't force you to be my friend. Just know that I'm here for you."

You smiled and reached your hand across the table. When he took it, you said, "You're right. Just because we used to date doesn't mean we can't be friends now. I still care about you, Tom. I never stopped."

"Well, that's a relief."

You laughed softly. "Just talking to you now has made me feel better. I'm glad you're going to be here with me."

Tom smiled. "I am too. And who knows? Maybe our feelings for each other will change back to what they used to be some day."

You smiled and shrugged. "Let's just focus on being there for each other and see where things go."