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“You should know there’s a rumour going around about you,” Hoshi said quietly as she and Malcolm sat in the mess hall.
“What sort of rumour?” Malcolm asked with a slight frown.
Keeping her voice low, Hoshi replied, “that you and Trip are romantically involved. If it’s true, then I say good for you. If not, then I could help you squash it.”
Clearly surprised, Malcolm asked, “do you know what sparked the rumour?”
“It’s been remarked more than once just how much time the two of you spend together off-duty. Not that I think that’s any indication, but clearly others do,” Hoshi said, grimacing slightly.
“I see,” Malcolm said carefully. “Do people believe the same of myself and Travis, or you and I?”
Shaking her head a fraction, Hoshi said, “not that’s been said where I’ve heard it.”
Sighing heavily, Malcolm rested his head in his hands. “Blast it all to hell.”
“Does that mean there’s some truth to it then?” Hoshi asked softly.
“Yes,” Malcolm whispered. “But it’s recent enough that I didn’t expect anyone to be commenting on it just yet.”
With a slight shrug, Hoshi said, “it’s been a while since there was any good gossip. I guess people are desperate for even the faintest hint of something newsworthy.”
Rolling his eyes, Malcolm muttered, “and of course they’ve decided Trip and I are newsworthy.”
“Well, you are, if you think about it,” Hoshi said quietly. “The chief engineer with the tactical officer… not every day something like that happens. Especially when the tactical officer is you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Malcolm asked, unable to keep a note of defensiveness from his tone.
Reaching out to touch his elbow, Hoshi said, “you’re very fond of regulations, Malcolm. And people know you were raised in a military family. Some of those traditions are bound to carry over.”
Frowning, Malcolm asked, “meaning what?”
“Meaning that the Royal Navy don’t allow such fraternisation between ranks, and even if you were the same rank, there’s a certain ingrained conservatism that continues to linger. So you and Trip together is twice as surprising,” Hoshi said, shrugging again.
“You’re referring to their antiquated notions of appropriate relationships, with regards to gender,” Malcolm said softly.
Nodding slowly, Hoshi said, “I am.”
Sighing again, Malcolm said, “there were a number of reasons I pursued a career with Starfleet rather than the Royal Navy. The more open-minded attitudes were amongst them.”
“You’re like me then - an equal opportunist when it comes to the appreciation of a nice bum?” Hoshi asked with a devilish wink.
“You might say that,” Malcolm said, finally relaxing as he laughed at her phrasing.
Grinning at the lightened mood, Hoshi asked, “want me to keep it under wraps?”
His eyes lighting up as he noticed Trip, Malcolm shook his head. “No. If they’re going to talk, it should be something worthy of discussion.”
Rising from his seat Malcolm strode to meet Trip, caught his face in his hands, and kissed him.