Two to One (BSG - K/L)
Title: Two to One
Author: plum (zeplum)
Fandom: Battlestar Galactica
Rating: T
Pairing: Kara/Lee UST
Notes: Spoilers through 2x07 "Home Pt. 2". Much thanks for hand holding to bantha_fodder, she who attempts to keep my hand waving to a minimum.
Summary: This kind of thing happens when one gives their frat pin away.
They are given two tags when they enlist. One tag is left with the body at burial for identification purposes. If there is any body, because sometimes there's not.
One tag always goes home to the family. If there is a family to go home to, because like a body, sometimes that doesn't even survive.
Everyone in service becomes protective of their tags, often to the point of paranoia. They never take them off; not to wash, not to eat, not to frak. They are always there, a weight around their necks reminding them -- and everyone else -- of who they are.
The tags are the most precious thing they own.
*****
Her sweatshirt gapes open almost indecently, but here, where privacy is at a premium, showing a little skin is ignored. Lee got over it long ago, just like everyone else. Other things start to attract their attention.
Like how Kara's only wearing one tag. It's settled low, between her breasts. He should be able to look away -- he has before, successfully -- but he can't. His eyes keep flicking back, not because the sight makes his pulse jump, or because the back of his neck starts to tingle.
But because she's wearing only one tag and doesn't seem concerned about it.
She wouldn't lose it. Couldn't.
So where did it go?
He's drawn back into the game by Perilli's voice. "Unfair advantage, Starbuck. Zip up, you're distracting the CAG."
His eyes snap to hers. She's smiling at him, like she knows more than he does. But underneath the smugness and the humor, there's something else. A question in her eyes.
Well, he has one too.
*****
One day, during a briefing with the Commander and the President, Kara starts a passionate argument for a return to Caprica. There are survivors there, she says. Resistance cells fighting the Cylons, in vitro farms that need to be liberated.
The whole room goes pale at that, and Lee's stomach churns.
When his father and President Roslin nod their heads, not in assent but in consideration, Kara looks quietly triumphant. Back straight, head high, the beginnings of a smile quirking her lips.
He's seen that look before. It's the one she had when she told him that she was dating Zak.
The old ache starts to rise; he takes a quick breath and holds it. When he's at last able to meet her eyes he can tell she's a little sad, but she hides it well.
*****
With her feet hanging off one of the many gangways that criss-cross the hangar, arms crossed on one of the supporting bars, Kara looks like she's fifteen years younger. Lee stops a few feet from her and smiles; she could've probably kicked his ass even back then. But she plays dirty.
"You're not usually the brooder in this relationship," he says, dropping down beside her. It's an interesting view from up here. Quiet, but not removed.
She smirks but doesn't look at him. "Yeah, I'm trying this new thing. Brood more, hit less. Maybe I'm maturing."
"Nah, it'll never happen." Lee knocks his shoulder into hers, teasing. And that's when he notices it for the first time, the Buccaneers warm-up jacket she's been wearing since Kobol.
He wants to be mature, casually ask her, "So, who was he?" Like they're still friends, just friends. But they're not, and haven't been for a very long time.
"Since when are you a fan of the Buccaneers?"
Kara looks at him sharply, and he can see that she's tensing for a fight.
Okay, maybe not so mature.
"Since I'd already bled through my old jacket. Besides," she shrugs, "they're really not that bad. Comparatively."
"Guess organizing a resistance movement earns a few points, huh?"
This is just like being in the ring -- whoever flinches first looses.
"Yeah. It also helps that I beat their captain in a pick-up game." She's proud again, and Lee starts to laugh along with her. He tries to ignore that split second of regret in her eyes, but can't.
He's trying to remain calm, because he can guess exactly what happened on Caprica. He's seen her face when she talks about it.
Him.
Talks about him without ever saying his name. This isn't like frakking the Vice-President; whoever this guy was, she cared about him and that just starts off a whole different kind of ache in his chest.
He wants to yell at her like he did before, but things are different. Things were different down there --
"He must've been a great guy." The air between them is thick and heavy.
Kara nods, biting her lip, holding her words back.
"I know, because you gave him one of your tags." Softly said, he leans over to point to where her tags lie against her chest.
Kara flinches first and he's all the sadder for it. Her face screams through at least five different expressions before settling on pinched and angry.
She stands up and walks away before he knows what else to say.
-end-
Author: plum (zeplum)
Fandom: Battlestar Galactica
Rating: T
Pairing: Kara/Lee UST
Notes: Spoilers through 2x07 "Home Pt. 2". Much thanks for hand holding to bantha_fodder, she who attempts to keep my hand waving to a minimum.
Summary: This kind of thing happens when one gives their frat pin away.
They are given two tags when they enlist. One tag is left with the body at burial for identification purposes. If there is any body, because sometimes there's not.
One tag always goes home to the family. If there is a family to go home to, because like a body, sometimes that doesn't even survive.
Everyone in service becomes protective of their tags, often to the point of paranoia. They never take them off; not to wash, not to eat, not to frak. They are always there, a weight around their necks reminding them -- and everyone else -- of who they are.
The tags are the most precious thing they own.
*****
Her sweatshirt gapes open almost indecently, but here, where privacy is at a premium, showing a little skin is ignored. Lee got over it long ago, just like everyone else. Other things start to attract their attention.
Like how Kara's only wearing one tag. It's settled low, between her breasts. He should be able to look away -- he has before, successfully -- but he can't. His eyes keep flicking back, not because the sight makes his pulse jump, or because the back of his neck starts to tingle.
But because she's wearing only one tag and doesn't seem concerned about it.
She wouldn't lose it. Couldn't.
So where did it go?
He's drawn back into the game by Perilli's voice. "Unfair advantage, Starbuck. Zip up, you're distracting the CAG."
His eyes snap to hers. She's smiling at him, like she knows more than he does. But underneath the smugness and the humor, there's something else. A question in her eyes.
Well, he has one too.
*****
One day, during a briefing with the Commander and the President, Kara starts a passionate argument for a return to Caprica. There are survivors there, she says. Resistance cells fighting the Cylons, in vitro farms that need to be liberated.
The whole room goes pale at that, and Lee's stomach churns.
When his father and President Roslin nod their heads, not in assent but in consideration, Kara looks quietly triumphant. Back straight, head high, the beginnings of a smile quirking her lips.
He's seen that look before. It's the one she had when she told him that she was dating Zak.
The old ache starts to rise; he takes a quick breath and holds it. When he's at last able to meet her eyes he can tell she's a little sad, but she hides it well.
*****
With her feet hanging off one of the many gangways that criss-cross the hangar, arms crossed on one of the supporting bars, Kara looks like she's fifteen years younger. Lee stops a few feet from her and smiles; she could've probably kicked his ass even back then. But she plays dirty.
"You're not usually the brooder in this relationship," he says, dropping down beside her. It's an interesting view from up here. Quiet, but not removed.
She smirks but doesn't look at him. "Yeah, I'm trying this new thing. Brood more, hit less. Maybe I'm maturing."
"Nah, it'll never happen." Lee knocks his shoulder into hers, teasing. And that's when he notices it for the first time, the Buccaneers warm-up jacket she's been wearing since Kobol.
He wants to be mature, casually ask her, "So, who was he?" Like they're still friends, just friends. But they're not, and haven't been for a very long time.
"Since when are you a fan of the Buccaneers?"
Kara looks at him sharply, and he can see that she's tensing for a fight.
Okay, maybe not so mature.
"Since I'd already bled through my old jacket. Besides," she shrugs, "they're really not that bad. Comparatively."
"Guess organizing a resistance movement earns a few points, huh?"
This is just like being in the ring -- whoever flinches first looses.
"Yeah. It also helps that I beat their captain in a pick-up game." She's proud again, and Lee starts to laugh along with her. He tries to ignore that split second of regret in her eyes, but can't.
He's trying to remain calm, because he can guess exactly what happened on Caprica. He's seen her face when she talks about it.
Him.
Talks about him without ever saying his name. This isn't like frakking the Vice-President; whoever this guy was, she cared about him and that just starts off a whole different kind of ache in his chest.
He wants to yell at her like he did before, but things are different. Things were different down there --
"He must've been a great guy." The air between them is thick and heavy.
Kara nods, biting her lip, holding her words back.
"I know, because you gave him one of your tags." Softly said, he leans over to point to where her tags lie against her chest.
Kara flinches first and he's all the sadder for it. Her face screams through at least five different expressions before settling on pinched and angry.
She stands up and walks away before he knows what else to say.
-end-