Until Him
Title: Until Him
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Not mine
Prompt: From no_takebacks yesterday an Alternate First Kiss
Until Him
Kara Trace tries to be good, tries to do the right thing, but for some reason doesn’t quiet make the mark. Each time she thinks it’s going to be different. When it’s not, she dies just a little more inside.
She thinks she’s already half given up on Zak and her. Doesn’t know why. Kara just knows now that it will be something. The sweet look in his eyes and the hope in his smile never falter, but everything else will. Like the spring blooms losing their vibrancy as she bounds up the steps to the SIMs. Then she realizes she’s testing Zak today. Her heart sinks. A cloud floats in front of the sun, darkening the cool spring morn. Everything she touches fades, always does.
It gets easier after the first time she lies. Zak believes her all too easily. His eyes filling with pride as he gets his wings. His smile is so solemn. Kara feels like she’s going to throw up every time she sees those wings until the day they finally take him down in ball of fire. Then she barely makes it to the head before puking up her breakfast, black coffee burning all the way back up.
Kara doesn’t meet Lee until the wake. She steps outside for a smoke, squinting into the traitorous sunshine and finds Lee Adama alone by the coy pond. He’s a beacon in the sea of grief, stayed and silent. Kara feels ripped at the seams, racked by guilt and fear that everyone knows. She’s tumbling even as she walks.
He very nearly smiles when she joins him on the bench. Her heart skips a beat. His eyes are rimmed in red but bright as the blue sky. “I’m sorry,” he breathes as though it’s all he can eke out. “He loved you.”
It’s back to that old sinking feeling, wilting flowers on the vine. Her lip is trembling despite her best efforts. She clenches her eyes shut. It’s too perfect a day for death. Lee’s saying something to her, reassuring and undeserved. She braces, waiting for those lies to end. Finally she opens her eyes. They’re nose to nose. Dancing blue eyes peer into her soul. He knows even if he doesn’t ever say. So she kisses him.
Kara Thrace has been kissed before. Many times. But never like this. It’s soft and slow but not tentative at all. It’s like he just knows. She can’t pull away or even close her eyes. They’re broken chards fit back together. He’s pieces she doesn’t know are missing. She glows with him.
They kiss delicate and beautiful until he moves back. His blush lights up her heart. Without thinking Kara reaches out as he leaves her. Her fingers graze the back of his hand. He gives a start but keeps moving away from her. She’s glad. She wouldn’t want to take his light too.