Starbuck stared off into the stars. He was on the Galactica shuttle headed toward the Rising Star and his latest date. Her name was Kerensa and she was a stunning redhead, latest in a series of one night stands.
No one really seemed to notice when things started to change for the blond warrior. He’d started shutting himself off from everyone...but no one seemed to have noticed. To all his buddies, he was the same devil-may-care Starbuck, ever on the prowl for the next lovely to grace his bed, but he’d changed.
He sighed inwardly while grinning at the others on the shuttle. He’d made these reservations sectons ago, not knowing who he’d be with, just that he’d be there with *someone*. The name didn’t matter. The face didn’t matter. As long as he didn’t have to see her again the next day he would be fine. Well, he thought to himself with a grin, he *would* see her the next day, but only briefly to say good morning, did you sleep well, goodbye.
As the shuttle landed, Starbuck tugged at the cape of his dress uniform. He usually wore it as seldom as possible but Kerensa had requested it specifically. He’d sighed but agreed to wear it. Good thing she was only a one night stand if she expected him to wear this thing!
With a smirk at the others, he disembarked from the shuttle and headed toward the main restaurant aboard the one-time luxury liner.
“Good evening, Lieutenant,” the maitre d’ greeted him smoothly, knowing what a good tipper Starbuck could be when he was pleased.
“Good evening, Aaronas. Has my guest arrived yet?”
“Yes sir. The Lieutenant’s guest is waiting in the private room, as requested.” Aaronas held his hand out in a not-exactly-subtle gesture.
Starbuck sighed and dropped a few cubits into the outstretched hand.
“Thank you, Sire.” Aaronas bowed profoundly as he motioned for Starbuck to accompany him. “Right this way, Lieutenant.”
Aaronas bowed Starbuck into the room he had reserved.
“I think that man gets more greedy and more obsequious every time I come he...” He stopped as he saw, not the lovely Kerensa, but Captain Apollo staring out the window into space. “Apollo, what are you doing here? Where’s my date?”
“She found something else to do,” the Captain answered without turning around.
“May I ask why?”
“I needed to talk to you, Starbuck.”
“We talk every day, why’d you have to spoil my date?”
“Tell me what’s bothering you, Starbuck.”
“Huh? Nothing’s bothering me...except for a certain someone interfering with my date tonight,” Starbuck said angrily.
“Something’s bothering you. I know you too well, Starbuck. I can tell when something’s up.”
‘You mean you’re just now noticing something? Some friend!’ Starbuck thought to himself.
“Nothing’s up.” Starbuck shrugged. “I guess I can try the Chancery. I might be able to find a game of pyramid or something.”
“No, we’re going to talk.”
“Look, what makes you think something’s wrong?”
“You’re out every night with a different girl, you avoid me and your other friends, you won’t talk to Cassie...”
“Why would I want to talk to her?” Starbuck interrupted.
“I thought that might be it.” Apollo sighed. “Look, Starbuck, just because she has a history with Cain...”
“History? She *lived* with him!” Starbuck exploded. “She loves him! She chose him over me!”
“I know she hurt you, but she does care about you very much. She’s worried too.”
Starbuck snorted. “Big deal!” He started toward the door.
“Wait, Starbuck. As long as we’re here, why don’t we go ahead and eat? I ordered for both of us already.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Well, I am and you might as well stay since you’ll be charged for the meal anyway.”
Starbuck turned, mouth open, ready to lambaste his captain.
“Talk to me, Bucko,” Apollo said softly, his green eyes earnest.
It was the eyes that did it. Starbuck had never been able to resist Apollo when he used those eyes like that. So sincere, so concerned, so expressive... He sighed and plopped down on the soft cushions behind the table.
“’Bout what?”
“Why’ve you been acting this way?”
“Acting what way, Apollo? I’m the same as I ever was,” he said defensively.
“No, there’s something different, something... *wrong*. It’s almost as if you’re defying somebody, Starbuck.”
Starbuck shrugged.
“Who are you defying, Bucko? Cass? Athena?” He paused. “Me?” he asked softly, almost too quiet to be heard.
“You? What? Are you crazy? Why would I be defying you, Apollo?”
“I don’t know. You’ve been avoiding me lately.”
“How could I be avoiding you lately? I’m your wingman, I see you every time we go out on patrol!”
Apollo just looked at him.
“Stop staring at me! Is my cape on backwards or something?” He pretended to look around himself to see if something was wrong.
Apollo smiled at his apparent confusion.
“You’re making me paranoid, Apollo! Stop it!”
“Sorry.” But those eyes weren’t the least bit sorry; they were laughing at Starbuck’s seeming discomfiture.
Aaronas entered with a bottle of ambrosa, nicely chilled. He poured two glasses and offered one to each of the warriors in the room.
“Thank you,” Apollo murmured as he accepted the proffered glass. Aaronas shot him a knowing wink.
Starbuck sipped his drink slowly. “Not bad. This stuff must be at least 100 yahrens old. Where did you find it?”
“From my father’s private stock,” Apollo said with a grin. He sat down beside the lieutenant. “So... do you want to talk about what’s bothering you?”
“For the last time, Apollo, nothing is bothering me.”
“If you say so,” Apollo said noncommittally, sipping his ambrosa.
They sat for a few centons, enjoying the ambrosa and each other’s company. Aaronas brought in their food and they settled down to eat.
When they were almost finished, after almost an entire bottle of ambrosa, Starbuck brought up the topic again. “She told me she loved me.” His voice was somber. “Then when he showed back up, she went straight back to him.”
“She thought he was dead, Starbuck. She loved him before she ever met you.”
“Why does it always seem that I’m the one who gets hurt? Every time I think I’ve found somebody special, she leaves me.”
“*She* leaves *you*?” Apollo asked with a grin.
“*She* leaves *me*,” Starbuck repeated doggedly. “Happens every time.”
“Mm-hmm... Have some more ambrosa, Starbuck.”
“You don’t believe me!”
“It’s just that I’ve seen you. I’ve known you since we were kids, Bucko.”
“And...?”
“And I’m sure you’re right; *she* dumps you,” Apollo answered, holding his hands up in a gesture of surrender.
Starbuck took another sip of ambrosa. The potent beverage was starting to have an effect on him. “I don’t know why I bother with women, 'Pol. I only get hurt.”
Apollo put a gentle hand on his friend’s arm. “I’m sorry, Bucko.”
The blond shrugged and took a fumarello from his pocket. He turned toward the small window as he lit it. When he turned back, his eyes were as sad as Apollo had ever seen them.
“You really cared for her, didn’t you?” Apollo asked.
Starbuck shrugged. “I thought I did.”
Apollo cocked his head in a silent question.
The blond rose and began pacing in the small room. “Apollo, can I be totally honest with you? What I have to say might make you uncomfortable...”
“We’ve always been able to talk to each other, Starbuck. Please tell me what’s wrong.”
“Lately I’ve...” He stopped, unable to think of the right words. “I’ve been thinking a lot lately, Apollo, and some of my thoughts have been a little disturbing.”
“Disturbing? How so?”
“I’ve been thinking about who I’d like to spend the rest of my life with.”
“Well, who is she?”
“That’s the problem, it’s not a she,” Starbuck said uncomfortably.
“Oh.”
“I’ve been playing the field all my life now, going out with all these beautiful women but not one of them has ever been someone I’d seriously consider sealing with.”
“What about Cass?”
“I think she came the closest of any of them, but I don’t think I could have spent the rest of my life with her. There’s really only one person I *can* think of, one person who’s been a constant in my life.”
“Oh?” Apollo kept his voice level with an effort.
“And that’s another part of the problem. I don’t know that this person would... reciprocate.” He turned and looked Apollo in the eye for a micron, then turned toward the window again, his head bowed.
“He might.”
The blond head raised up some. “Oh?” unconsciously repeating what Apollo had said.
“Why don’t you tell me who it is.”
Starbuck’s shoulders drooped a little. “It’s kind of awkward, Apollo.”
“Anything you tell me will go no further than this room, if that’s what you want,” Apollo reassured him. “Is it someone I know?” he asked innocently.
“Well, you’ve known me just about longer than anybody else, 'Pol.”
“And I believe you said it was someone you’d known for a long time, didn’t you?” Apollo tried hard to keep the emotion from his voice. If Starbuck meant what he thought...
“Yeah, I think I did.” Starbuck sounded nervous. He looked out the window again, anywhere but at his best friend.
“Well, you’ve known Boomer for a long time, Bucko...” Apollo let his voice trail off.
“Boomer’s a great friend, but I just can’t see him in that light.”
“Well, there’s always Bojay; you’ve known him a long time.”
Starbuck snorted. “Apollo, I thought you wanted to talk seriously!”
“Alright, then, Starbuck...who is the lucky man?”
The blond shivered. ‘He’s gonna hate me for this!’ he thought to himself. He looked down at his best friend, relaxing on the soft cushions in the room. Nothing showed on his handsome face but concern...and...something else...something Starbuck hadn’t seen too much of in his life.
“Lucky? You think he’s lucky?”
“Yeah, I do. I’ve known you for a long time, Bucko, and...” He stopped.
“And?”
“You’re a good friend, Starbuck. The best. Anyone would be glad to spend a lifetime with you.”
“Thanks, 'Pol. That means a lot, coming from you.”
“Why from me?”
Starbuck froze.
“Am I the one, Starbuck?” Apollo asked tentatively, hopefully.
Unable to get the words out, Starbuck just nodded, his eyes on the floor.
Apollo rose and walked over to where his friend stood by the window. “What’s so interesting out there?” he teased gently.
‘I guess that’s my answer,’ the lieutenant thought dejectedly. Out loud he said, “Just the stars.”
“They’re beautiful. It’s so different, being out here with them. Remember when we used to count the stars while lying in my backyard?”
Starbuck was able to summon up a smile at the memory. “Yeah. Those were the days, weren’t they, 'Pol?”
“Those were good days, yeah.” He paused. “You want to know what I always used to wish for?”
“What?”
“That someday you’d love me as much as I loved you.” He put an arm around his friend’s shoulders.
Starbuck breathing stopped for an instant. He looked at the hand on his shoulder and then up at his best friend’s face in disbelief.
Apollo nodded. “Yes, I. Love. You,” he enunciated carefully. He reached over the short distance between them and kissed Starbuck gently on the mouth. The two men settled down onto the cushions behind the table.
When the kiss finally ended, Starbuck just looked at Apollo, his best friend. “I never knew you loved me, 'Pol. Why didn’t you say somethi...?”
“You weren’t ready. I was afraid I’d lose you.”
The blond snuggled in closer to his friend. “You know, this just feels...*right* somehow.” He laughed. “I can picture waking up to this every morning. When I try to picture myself with any of the women I’ve been with, I can’t see them *every* morning for the next thirty yahrens. I can see this with you though, 'Pol.”
Apollo squeezed his love tight. “You don’t know how long I’ve waited to hear you say that.”
“Umm, Apollo, what do we do from here? I mean, I know where this would go if I were here with a woman, but I’ve, uh, never been...” He gulped. “With a man before.”
“I know. I have... and if you’re willing, this can go pretty much the same as a date with a woman.”
Wide blue eyes stared up at him. Starbuck’s breathing sped up. He nodded slowly in response to the question in Apollo’s eyes.
Green eyes smiled into blue. Apollo looked deliriously happy as he reached for the clasp on Starbuck’s cape.
Getting into the spirit of things, Starbuck pulled his best friend’s shirt up and gently caressed his torso. Apollo’s soft moan made him raise his eyes back up to his friend’s face. “You like?” he asked hesitantly.
“I like...very much.” Apollo pulled him back up so he could kiss him again.
By the time they finally managed to get out of their uniforms, both men were thoroughly aroused.
Looking at his best friend and captain stretched out on the cushions, Starbuck suddenly got nervous. ‘What if I can’t go through with this? What if I’m not what he wants?’ His heart hammered in his chest.
“What is it?” Apollo asked, noticing the change in expression. “What’s wrong, Starbuck?”
“Nothing, I just...” his voiced trailed off.
“I’m not going to change my mind and abandon you, if that’s what’s worrying you. I’ve loved you this long, I’m not going to stop anytime in the foreseeable future,” Apollo reassured. “If you want to stop what we’re doing now, that’s okay too. I love you, Starbuck, today, tomorrow and always.” The last word was said directly into the lieutenant’s mouth as Apollo went in for another kiss.
Starbuck pulled back after a centon and stared into Apollo’s face. They’d known each other for so long, that face was as familiar as his own, but he’d never seen it quite like this. Apollo had never looked at him with so much love before. He reached out to touch that face as if he couldn’t believe what he saw. Apollo just smiled and nodded reassuringly. He pulled the willing Starbuck back down into his embrace. Starbuck snuggled in as close as he could get.
Gingerly Apollo reached down and began stroking his friend’s erection. Starbuck moaned and purred at the same time.
“You like?” Apollo asked with a smile, consciously repeating Starbuck’s words.
“I like...very much, 'Pol.” The words came out in a whisper. He reached down to reciprocate but Apollo pushed his hand away.
“Tonight is for you, Bucko. Later, if you still want to, we can do this again.”
Apollo kissed his way down Starbuck’s chest, spending ample time on his lover’s erect nipples. He licked his new lover’s stomach in slow, lazy strokes, until the other man was panting for more.
“'Pol...” the blond moaned, kneading his hands through the dark hair. Starbuck was in paradise. It was almost like Apollo was worshipping his body. Nobody had ever made him feel like that. He opened his eyes and looked down at his best friend. Apollo looked back with such love in his eyes that Starbuck couldn’t believe his luck. The love and acceptance he’d dreamt of his entire life was right there with him.
Apollo moved down to the throbbing erection between his love’s legs. He buried his face in the dark blond hair and just smelled his arousal for a centon. When Starbuck whimpered for more, he smiled up at him again and began licking, just teasing at first.
Starbuck protested wordlessly when Apollo pulled away to grab something from one of his pockets. He opened the small tube and squeezed a small amount onto his fingers then returned to his position on the cushions. He rolled Starbuck over onto his stomach and kissed his back as thoroughly as he had his front. When he reached the crevice between the two globes of Starbuck’s buttocks, he began to lick his way down to the puckered opening.
“'Pol!” Starbuck jumped, startled.
“Trust me?”
The blond nodded.
“This is going to feel wonderful.” Apollo smiled as he resumed his task. Starbuck was soon squirming under him, moaning his pleasure. Apollo’s tongue slipped into the tight pucker and teased the blond’s hole. The moans became almost constant as the moist heat relaxed the tight muscle. When he judged the moment to be right, Apollo replaced his tongue with a lubricated finger. Starbuck’s head popped up off the cushions again as he felt the finger invade his most private entrance.
“'Pol, wha...?”
“Shh, it’s alright, Bucko. This is to loosen you up so I don’t hurt you. Just relax and let me do the work, okay?”
Leaving the finger where it was, he reached up and kissed his lover on the cheek. “Trust me?”
Another nod, a little more hesitant this time. Apollo gave him that look of love again and he was lost once more.
When he felt the muscle begin to relax, Apollo added another lubricated finger to Starbuck’s hole. The two fingers gently scissored to ease the muscle open. All the while Apollo kissed Starbuck’s back and buttocks some more to keep the rest of him relaxed.
“Feel good?”
“Mm-hmm,” Starbuck murmured with a smile.
“And now there’s one more thing before we make love. Let me introduce you to a part of your body you probably didn’t even know you had. Starbuck, meet your prostate.” The buried fingers found their target and stroked it gently.
“Wha...?” Starbuck panted.
“It’s a pleasure center for a man. We all have one, but it’s not very easy to reach without a little help.”
Starbuck gasped as Apollo’s fingers teased the gland again.
“You like?”
“L-l-love y-you,” was all the blond could get out.
Apollo’s eyes filled with tears of joy. He’d waited a long time to hear those words from his best friend. “There’s more to come, love.”
“M-m-more?”
“Yes. I want to make love to you, Starbuck.”
The blond nodded. He couldn’t imagine anything better than this, but if Apollo wanted it, he’d get it. Starbuck whimpered as Apollo gently pulled his fingers out. He looked up to see Apollo smoothing something onto his own straining organ.
Apollo stretched out above his lover and whispered, “This is going to be a little uncomfortable at first, but that feeling will pass quickly, I promise.” He pulled Starbuck up into a better position and moved into place behind him.
Starbuck nodded. As Apollo gently began to push into him, he stiffened. The discomfort eased as the head of Apollo’s penis slipped past the tight ring of muscle and he relaxed a bit. He moaned at the sensation of being filled. Apollo moved slowly to allow his lover time to adapt to the new situation. Once he was all the way inside his lover, he stayed still, letting Starbuck adjust to the feeling. As soon as he felt the man under him begin to relax, he began to rock gently, not thrusting, just moving their hips back and forth. When Starbuck began to push back against him, he pulled slowly out and gently pushed back in, angling his thrust to graze the other man’s prostate. They continued in this manner for a few centons, until need took precedence and their lovemaking grew more fevered. Both men were sweating now. Starbuck threw his head back wantonly. Apollo grabbed his mouth in a fierce kiss. As their tongues mimicked the action of Apollo’s thrusts, Apollo began to moan loudly. He felt his balls begin to tighten up for release and tried to slow things down. Starbuck would have none of that, however. When Apollo’s thrusts eased up, he slammed back against his pelvis harder moaning even louder.
It was the moaning that finally did it. Unable to hold back any longer, Apollo thrust hard into his lover once more...twice...then called out that beloved name as he spurted his seed into the man under him.
Starbuck’s eyes opened wide as he felt himself filled with something hot and liquid. It took a micron for him to realize just what had happened. When he finally did realize it, he smiled contentedly and erupted himself.
Aaronas shook his head as he moved away from the small hole in the wall. Would these warriors never learn? He quietly flipped the sign in the door to the most private setting, notifying the staff to leave this room until the status changed. He smiled, despite the fact that the Lieutenant had been a generous tipper. Aaronas had made quite a bit of money in the past few sectons but he did genuinely care for the troubled young man. At least now he wouldn’t have to worry about his daughter falling prey to the handsome Lieutenant. That was why he had informed the Captain of what was happening. Sometimes wishes needed a helping hand to come true.