[faithful_lt]

He escorts President Roslin back to Galactica, confirms that he'll await her summons for the next steps, and takes his leave as quickly as he can.

Hoshi makes his way immediately to the nearest semi-isolated storage room and pulls the door open to Milliways.

He has to talk to Felix. He can't even begin to imagine how the other man's feeling right now.

Hoshi takes the steps up to Felix's room two at a time, and hurries down the hallway until he's at the room. He grabs a second to breathe, then knocks on the door.

Comments

[mr_gaeta]

"It's open!" calls Felix over the sound of Gogo's excited plocking.

The smell of cooking vegetables -- onions, peppers, and tomatoes -- intensifies once Louis opens the door. Gaeta stays at his spot in the kitchen, bent over a skillet as he stirs the food.

Fifteen more seconds of distraction. That's all he needs. He can get himself in order within fifteen seconds.

[faithful_lt]

He hesitates just inside the door, reluctant to intrude.

(It doesn't matter how many times he's been here before; today, right now, it feels like an intrusion.)

"Hey," Hoshi calls. "It's me."

[mr_gaeta]

He looks over his shoulder and smiles, a little distracted. "Hey. Come in here."

Gaeta nudges the vegetable mixture with his spatula.

"Have you had fajitas yet? I found a recipe for them last week; thought I'd try them out."

[faithful_lt]

"Faji-- no. I don't even know what that is," he says. Hoshi finds an answering smile of his own as he steps further into the room, even while he's searching Felix's face.

"I'm sure it'll be good, though, with you making it."

[mr_gaeta]

He shrugs one shoulder, the halfhearted smile staying put. "Hope so."

Gogo waddles in, close on Louis' heels, and starts circling his feet as he plocks hopefully. Hello. Hello, friend. How are you this evening? Marshmallows?

[faithful_lt]

He crouches down and ruffles the bird's feathers, but keeps his eyes on Felix.

"I'm sorry that I didn't warn you - about Roslin. It, uh, all happened pretty fast."

[mr_gaeta]

The spatula pauses, then takes up the stirring again, slower this time.

"Yeah," he says, quietly. "I kind of figured as much."

[faithful_lt]

"Still."

He gives Gogo a final pat, and stands back up. Hoshi takes one step closer, then hesitates and stops.

[mr_gaeta]

Gaeta chews his bottom lip. Some part of him wants to drag the conversation elsewhere, forcibly if necessary: so, fajitas are these little flatbread wraps with meat and peppers in them...

That's never going to fly.

He sighs, softly, and turns his attention from the stove to Louis.

[faithful_lt]

He stays where he is, watching Felix with visible concern.

[mr_gaeta]

No louder: "What do you want me to say?"

[faithful_lt]

"I don't know."

Hoshi sighs, very quietly.

"I'll set the table."

[mr_gaeta]

"Okay."

Gaeta hesitates, then turns back to the stove. The peppers and onions are nearly done cooking; next up is the chicken.

...he probably should've started cooking the chicken first. Dammit.

[faithful_lt]

He gets down the bag of marshmallows and pulls out a couple for Gogo before he does anything else. With a slight smile at the bird's delighted plocking, Hoshi deposits them neatly on the edge of the food dish and turns his attention to setting the table.

It's a simple task, but he concentrates on it as if his life depends on the careful placement of each plate, the napkins, each piece of cutlery.

[mr_gaeta]

Gaeta fires up another burner, settles a pan on it, and tosses in the chicken.



"You didn't tell me the alliance was still a thing."

It's nearly inaudible over the sizzle of vegetables and meat.

[faithful_lt]

"You didn't ask. But, Felix --"

Quiet, but firm.

"-- why wouldn't it be?"

[mr_gaeta]

He tucks his free arm tight across his belly.

Doesn't answer, as he watches steam rise from the pans.

[faithful_lt]

He sets the last of the glasses down with a little more force than strictly warranted, and turns to face the man he loves - still, always, despite everything.

"Maybe I should have said something, but -- I thought you understood that. Given... after... well."

He trails off into awkward silence. A beat passes.

"And they've been helping. And we godsdamn well needed the help."

[mr_gaeta]

"Helping," he mutters. "Right."

You should have seen, he thinks. Should have known. Having Louis echo that back to him makes his stomach tighten.

[faithful_lt]

"Yes," Hoshi says, very clearly. "Helping."

Another beat. He's turned away from the table entirely now.

"I didn't want to fight about this, Felix. I ... okay, yes, I should have been clearer about who we were working with and how, but I didn't want -- I didn't want to hurt you, with... all that you've lost."

He draws a deep breath.

"But I guess I've done just that, haven't I?"

[mr_gaeta]

"Yeah," he says, frankly. Gaeta drops the spatula onto a spoon rest near the stove and finally turns around. "You have."

He folds his arms tighter, forcing himself to meet Louis' eyes; trying not to let his breath speed up.

"I know I should've seen it, all right? I frakking know."

[faithful_lt]

It takes a second, but only that. Comprehension lights his eyes, and the look on his face is suddenly stricken.

"Baby, no. I'm sorry. I didn't mean -- not like that. Not at all."

A beat.

"We've just been ... avoiding talking about it."

[mr_gaeta]

"So why point out that even if I'd been off Galactica for almost two years, I should've figured it out on my own?"

There's no challenge to his voice; little more than frustration. Gaeta's standing as straight as he can, looking as if he could physically hold himself together with his arms.

[faithful_lt]

Hoshi doesn't say anything for several long seconds.

Having finished his marshmallows, Gogo looks back and forth between them, feathers ruffling in the presence of the rising tension. He scoots to Gaeta's side and leans against his foot, offering comfort with his presence.

"I didn't mean it like that," he says again, finally. "I'm sorry for hurting you."

Another long few beats of silence.

"But the mutiny failed, Felix. What you and Zarek were trying to stop -- it happened. We've been working in partnership with the Cylons ever since."

[mr_gaeta]

In partnership.

Bile rises fast in Gaeta's throat. Blindly, he turns back to the stove -- Gogo plocks! as he's jostled away from Gaeta's leg -- and grabs the spatula to get back to work.