Stating the Obvious

Star Trek VOY Fanfiction
Title:	Stating the Obvious
Author(s):	torch
Date(s):	1997
Length:
Genre:	slash
Fandom:	Star Trek: Voyager
External Links:	Read at Archive of Our Own
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Stating the Obvious is a Paris/Kim story by torch.

Summary

"Summary: While checking out one of Tom Paris' holonovels, Harry Kim starts to wonder if they really have anything in common, and how far he can trust Tom with how he feels. Both are surprised by the answers."

Reactions and Reviews

Although I plan to delve further into the archives (after all, writing reviews is just an excuse to spend *more* time reading), I want to make sure that anyone who missed this little gem has another

opportunity.

This is in some ways my favorite P/K, because it's ~different~; partly because it's missing something that is a common (albeit enjoyed) element in most P/K: Angst. Apart from a little "first date" anxiety, there is no, I repeat, *no* angst. It's little more than an extended PWP, but with an emphasis on emotions.

In a word, this story is ~charming~. When I first read it, it was a lovely, smutty little palate cleanser between the more angsty courses of P/K slash, a "feel good" love story, with wonderful bits of humor, and some really funny scenes involving Tom fretting about what happens next, and the crew's reaction to Harry and Tom getting together.

A simple, sweet, yet intensely passionate love story, torch explores the boys' feelings, about themselves, about love, about relationships and dreams. You learn some surprising things about Tom (and Harry the boy scout - always prepared). Tom is a little edgy, and little insecure, Harry is calm and serene, their emotional states demonstrated in their actions - torch shows, rather than tells. This was also a very visual story for me. At first I thought it was very detailed, but I realized that instead, there are a few sharp details, things that snap the scenes into focus. I can *see* Harry and Tom sitting in the sleazy holonovel bar, finding out things about each other they'd never suspected.

Excerpt, Tom speaking:

"It used to be... all I wanted was someone I liked enough to have sex with, you know? The way it was with Megan. A simple agreement, : something to give pleasure to two people. Or however many there happened to be present," he added with a quirky smile. "And : what do you want now?" Harry asked quietly, holding his breath. Tom scowled. "I want something I can call real," he said. "I :want love."

Although this is a fairly short story, much of the pacing feels slower and more mellow than a lot of smut. The sex is hot and heavy, mind you, but the getting there feels more relaxed, as if there's all the time in the world. This also makes the contrast between the simplicity of the story bits and the intensity of the smut bits more marked, so the passion becomes even more marked.

The emphasis for me is on the actions and interactions of the characters when they're *not* literally wrapped up in each other. The first time I read this, I realized after reading about the first kiss that I'd been holding my breath, the anticipation was so sweet, so intense.

Even if you're not a P/K fan, I encourage you to look this one up.