Title: Colonial Night
Author: Ancalime
Word Count: 742
Date: 2004
Rating: T
Category: Relationship Lee/Kara
Warnings: Angst
Summary: How does it happen that Lee comes to Kara with that stupid mooncalf expression on his face and she ends up going home with Baltar?
Spoilers/Disclaimers:Colonial Day and Kobol's Last Gleaming Part I / Not mine! Haha, if only. Thanks to Tim for beta services kindly rendered.
She stands at the bar, sipping a glass of ambrosia, knowing he's coming by the tickle between her shoulder blades. There is no surprise in her face when she turns away from the bar, her eyes landing on him. His face is -- well, amusing beyond measure. The way he's just staring at her, she thinks it looks like every single thought in his head has simply vanished. Apollo's reaction to seeing her in a dress had been a great source of anticipation for her since finding out about the dance. She knew it'd be good. Thinking back, she's not sure he's ever seen her in a dress before.
"S-So, um, that bum knee of yours is looking pretty good." He's actually stammering. And he's definitely turning pink. She glances away, almost a roll of the eyes. She didn't know it'd be THIS good. A smirk settles on her face.
"And the other one's not too bad, either."
"Lee. If you wanna ask me to dance, just ask." As amusing as it is to watch him flounder, she'd like to get to the dancing while the night is still young. She can see him searching for normalcy as he steps towards her; a gleam enters his eye. He tries to act smooth.
"You wanna dance?" One point for Captain Oblivious!
"Me in a dress is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." And she plans to make the most of it. His hand settles in the small of her back as they walk together to the dance floor.
Lee's hands are light on her body, his smile relaxed and happy, his breath warm. She lets him lead, but takes an active hand in moving them around the floor. They fly together well; naturally they dance together well, too, once Lee gets over his awkwardness at the concept of her as female. She enjoys herself immensely.
Another woman bumps into them, trying to steal Lee, but for the moment she is too selfish to let him go. She puts herself between them, dancing for a moment against the other woman, and Lee leads them away with a grin.
"Captain Adama. May I?" For a confused moment she thinks Gaius Baltar is trying to dance with Lee, then her mind clears and she realizes it's her he wants. Like it hasn't been obvious since he first set eyes on her. Lee's eyes darken, but he steps back. Her lips part, he looks away.
"Mr. Vice President." They nod to each other. Gaius takes her in his arms, not too aggressively but with him it's all about getting what he wants. She dances through a couple of songs with him, his charm wearing her down bit by bit, until he suggests a short trip to the bar for another drink and she has been worn down enough to think it's a good suggestion.
On the way off the dance floor they pass by Lee, stiff and less than comfortable with some pretty redhead from the fleet whose hands range over as much of him as she can get away with. She can feel his eyes follow her, confused, beseeching, but he let her go and she doesn't feel like rescuing him. Suddenly she's had enough of their dance. She doesn't want to get near Lee. She knows the only possible outcome is for everything to go horribly wrong, and she'd rather just stay away than irreparably frack things up with Lee.
In the end it's more than just one more drink. She knows Lee will hate her for it. He'll hate her for a very long time, but she also knows that in the end he'll get over it, the way he got over it with the Major. Just like the good old days.
She hasn't counted on the night and the drink loosening her tongue. For a moment, the world spins and she would swear it's Lee above her, Lee's mouth on her neck, Lee's hands...and so it's Lee's name rising from her lips.
But it isn't Lee. And so Lee hates her after all.