Ah, Data, my beautiful angel that never did anything wrong and the other 2 divas with a disorder...💕
Warnings: unhealthy relationship dynamics (except for Data, of course)
x gn Reader
Q is a fickle individual so you're used to be a bit wary of his whims in general, but due to his equally carefree attitude he also rarely gets mad - if he does though, it gets quite intense.
It's by far not the first time you'd bring up moral concerns about his dubious activities while messing with other species, but this particular event he did something you considered so vile that you actually threatened separation.
He'd definetly gaslight you at first, yapping about how you're unable to see the bigger picture and to just trust him or whatever, but as he grows more frantic he wouldn't shy away to demonstrate the immense power imbalance between you two to end this farce.
Would be utterly shocked because he did not expect your fearful reaction. You can't seriously be so foolish to think he could ever harm you, right? He could easily read your mind and find out, but he's too afraid himself of what he might learn if he does. Also considers erasing your memory of the incident but can't bring himself to sabotage your relationship like that.
Throws his own ego out of the window as soon as he realizes the severity of the situation. He'd literally be on his knees, hugging your legs and asking your forgiveness.
Would be very theatralic to make it up to you, expect to be spoiled rotten. Humor him would you, he's really trying.
"I couldn't handle the toll of being human for a single day. Believe me when I say you're far stronger than me in any way that matters."
Lore would 100% blow a minor reaction of yours completely out of proportion. It’d be a completely subconscious reaction, but nothing goes past him after all.
You wouldn’t even be arguing or something – he’d be upset at the other crewmembers as per usual, get in your face while he rants, and maybe you’d flinch or any similar trivial thing.
The spiraling begins right away: Surely the others were finally successful in planting doubt with their warnings about him. He should never have trusted an organic to understand him in the first place- no, it’s his own fault for being an inadequate partner. Always defective, never enough…
Sadly his first reaction is to verbally lash out at you. Can’t even help himself as he taunts and ridicules you to cover up his own hurt, berating you for being so ‘irrational’ and ‘downright pathetic’. He feels bad about it almost instantly but his mouth is faster than his reason.
Will backtrack eventually but the damage has been done, and he’d grow more and more frustrated by his own inability to treat you right. He’s trying to fix this, stop crying damn it! You should know better than to think he would hurt the only sacred thing in his damned life!
It’d be best to let him sulk a little so he can calm down and process everything. Give him space but let him know you’re still there for him. He’d actually feel even worse for needing to be comforted after being the one wronging you, but you’re just that good of a person. He got used to it over time.
Won’t openly apologize, at least not with words. Instead he’s been working on a device that can turn him off remotely (which he totally didn’t invent to mess with Data initially), gifting it to you so you’d feel more in control.
Becomes super clingy after you overcame this misunderstanding, still fearing your perception of him might change eventually. Not in a blatantly obvious way, never daring to voice his feelings, but touching you so revering it’s proof of his utter devotion.
"You really have no idea what you do to me, do you? It is me that should be afraid."
With Data you’d probably feel a little uneasy around him after he’s been compromised once again. You know it’s unfair, everyone in the crew had been under enemy influence at some point after all, but you can’t really help it either way.
He’d give you his usual speech about how it cannot affect him since he does not possess (or at least process) emotions like you do, but the topic will preoccupy him constantly.
Ironically, he sees this as absolute enrichment - it provides him with useful experience of how to handle external factors influencing one’s relationship after all. Probably even uses the holodeck to replay the incident to better understand your emotional response to what happened.
Keeps his distance until you are comfortable enough to approach him again, but will let you know through other thoughtful gestures that he understands and cares: Leaving affirmative messages, playing the violin outside of your quarters, making sure you are provided with professional care.
Asks many of his friends and superiors for advice on how to resolve this issue, but ultimately just tries to talk it out and ask you directly for what you need. You’d do most of the talking while he just interjects with some questions, but it would definitely feel better already to pour out your heart without judgement.
In the end he is just a very sweet and patient man that will effortlessly melt the walls you built without even realizing. You never doubted him.
"There is no need to apologize. If anything, every emotion you direct at me is a blessing. It gives us both the opportunity to grow together."
