DPP: With Arms Wide Open

[callmeonetrack.livejournal.com]

Alright shippers, today, in the immortal words of Jeremy Piven....we're gonna hug it out, bitches!



Here are several definitions (stolen from memebells) of different kinds of hugs. Pick one that sings to you (or hey, use a random number generator if you have to), or create a totally unique context for an embrace if you like, and write us a great big hug between Kara and Lee!

1. Friendly Hug: The default hug; a hug as a show of platonic affection. Is it a normal hug, or a pouncetackleglomp? You decide!

2. Romantic Hug: Can't kiss your lover right now, or just want to change it up a bit? Give them a romantic hug!

3. Comfort Hug: They look so sad... give them a hug to cheer them up!

4. Awkward Hug: You really don't want to give this person a hug; maybe you just had a fight, or you're just too stoic/manly/badass to do hugs in general. Too bad, you have to give them one. Do your best!

5. Scoop Hug: In addition to a hug, the hugger picks up the huggee slightly off the ground. Works best when they're bigger and stronger, but hey, seeing little girls try to pick up 6-foot badasses is cute too.

6. Violent Hug: Hugs are supposed to be friendly, what gives? Whether you're squeezing the wind out of them or are just getting them into the perfect position for a backstab, you're only giving this person a hug in order to hurt them.

7. Surprise Hug: Sneak up on them from behind with a surprise hug!

ETA: If you don't write fic, post about your favorite hug in canon, with pics, gifs, or just tell us why you like it so much.

Comments

[winegums.livejournal.com]

I can't pick between all their lovely hugs, that is just cruel, but this one gives me lumps in the throat EVERY TIME (they all do, but still).



(Back-from-the-dead plus the fact that Lee doesn't even care about the entire crew seeing them**......UNFFFFF)

[word-vomity.livejournal.com]

*sigh*

Favorite pilots moment ever!

"OK. It's OK. Me too" <-- *dies forever*

[kballgetlost.livejournal.com]

OMG this hug KILLED me.....

[winegums.livejournal.com]

I can't pick between all their lovely hugs, that is just cruel, but this one gives me lumps in the throat EVERY TIME (they all do, but still).





(she's back from the dead and can't quite understand the reason why he's hugging the life out of her, but still returns the hug anyway *melts*)

BONUS I DON'T CARE IF THE WHOLE CREW SEES US/THINKS WE'RE FREAKS:

Full Contact: an awkward hug+

[requialexa.livejournal.com]

The third time they all hang out, it's a grand day with a picnic and some pyramid and lying in the sun listening to music. The day passed lazily with two Adama brothers entertaining her, making her laugh until her sides hurt. The way they compete, the stories they can tell on each other--Kara might have snorted at least once, especially after the wine.

As the sun sank down below the horizon, they packed up and trudged back to Zak's truck, laughing and bumping into each other on purpose. Lee and Zak used her like a human ping-pong ball, bouncing her between them. Somehow they both knew how to keep the shenanigans just on this side of pissing her off, so that she never even had to ruin the evening with yelling and stomping. It was a good day.

It was an hour ride back to Caprica City from the foothills and she always got sleepy if she wasn't driving. Kara forced herself to stay awake sandwiched between the brothers in the cab of Zak's pickup so that she didn't risk drooling on Lee. Zak she could drool on, he'd seen it enough times but she couldn't guarantee her head would land on the right shoulder.

Back at the apartment, Lee separated his own blanket and radio and returned them to his car, then followed the couple in to help put away the rest. Kara immediately flopped onto the sofa after dropping her armload in a heap just inside the door. She kicked off her sandals and stretched loudly.

Re: Full Contact: an awkward hug+ 2/2

[requialexa.livejournal.com]

"Lee, come on, knock it off! It's time for bed, not cleaning the kitchen! We'll get that crap tomorrow!" Her speech was slightly warped by her yawning, but she figured she got her point across.

"Kara," he mimicked her tone, "If the meat and cheese isn't properly refrigerated, it could be toxic by tomorrow!"

She made a big production of getting up, rolling her eyes theatrically. "Gosh, I'm sure glad that stick up your ass stepped in to save our lives! You're a real hero, Adama!"

She reached around him to grab a cold beer from the fridge Lee had left open. She made eye contact and covered her grin by taking a swig. She loved pushing Lee, and he always pushed right back.

Unfortunately, her stomach did a little quivery thing that almost made her choke on the beer when she in turn caught him trying to hide a smile.

"You two, into your own corners! This is good night, don't let it end in blows!" Zak intervened, exaggerating the gravity of their exchange and snaking an arm around Kara's shoulders from behind. "I wanna take my woman to bed while she's still all warm and mushy from the sun, not all het up from sparring with my girlfriend-stealing brother!" Zak kissed her neck and let her go so that he could embrace his brother who had moved to leave, having satisfactorily replaced all refrigerated goods in the appropriate places.

Kara swatted at him, "His woman? Do you see how he treats me?"

Lee quickly hugged his brother good night and immediately turned to embrace her, in what seemed to be an automatic gesture. She felt him hesitate at the last second, perhaps in response to her own half-second of stiffness. Were they hugging now? After their moment on the table the night they met, she'd made a deliberate effort to avoid touching him. She wondered if Lee knew what a bad idea this much bodily contact was. At least Zak was alert and nearby.

His proximity didn't make the moment pass faster, though. All of her senses slowed down as she allowed herself just a fleeting moment to indulge in the feeling of his body against hers. She forced herself to keep chin on shoulder without leaning in to sniff him. Part of her mind scolded her, but it felt so good, he fit so well, his arms around her shoulders, her arms around his waist. There was even one tiny fraction of a moment when she felt all of him pressed against her that, even as she replayed the moment later as she lay sleepless next to Zak, she was just not willing to admit which of them had added the hips. She wanted to say she hadn't sought full body contact, albeit in a socially acceptable way.

The hug ended as quickly as it started, but less automatically. She grinned at him and forced herself to maintain eye contact and not hide even though she felt how flushed her face had to be. Lee's eyes twinkled just a bit and she thought his cheeks were pinker, too, Gracefully, he bid them adieu, moving on out the door and into the night.

Kara sighed into Lee's wake and let Zak pull her off to bed.

[requialexa.livejournal.com]

And while I'm at it (all this posting on today's DPP is just to console myself for not having time to indulge lately. I miss Pilots so much, and y'all too!)

My most favoritest:


I'm sure its status has nothing to do with the fact that this hug as bonus added surprise kissing in it. *nods*

edited because I actually used an apostrophe incorrectly *is so shamed*

[winegums.livejournal.com]

I know! Unexpected bonus kissing + the fact that Kara's hands are still on him even after she's pulled away....*goes mushy*

Of course, it was followed by not-so-pleasant Lee!rage and pilots getting mad ad each other, but the hug was the bestest ever :)

[kballgetlost.livejournal.com]

This is definitely an epic hug! The surprise kiss at the end was awesome! lol

Hugfic

[winegums.livejournal.com]

Totally self-pimping, but here is a hugfic I wrote a few months ago (some of you may have already read it)

The Return (http://winegums.livejournal.com/12763.html#cutid1) (c. miniseries)

Re: Hugfic

[workerbee73.livejournal.com]

Aww yay! I'm so glad someone wrote a scene for this. You know, I don't ever remember reading this scene in fic before so double hooray!

I love it when Lee gets all serious and feelings-y. **sigh** I'm a sucker for the swoony bits. ; )

[callmeonetrack.livejournal.com]

Ooh my writing time is limited this morning but I want to propose another kind of hug:

THE ALMOST-BUT-NOT-QUITE-A-HUG

Do with that what you will! ;)

The Most Favoritest Pilot Hug I ever did write.

[workerbee73.livejournal.com]

I suck at writing on the fly, so here's my favorite hug. It comes from Borrowed Time, and it's an imagining of what happened in the squadron ready room after Lee came back from the dead in the miniseries.

*******

"I'll be in the squadron ready room."

Kara wasn't sure why she had come. Probably a mix of wanting to make sure her eyes hadn't been playing tricks on her and a halfhearted attempt to meet the unspoken challenge he'd laid down. He was standing in front of the assignment board, studying the names and making corrections. She hovered in the doorway and leaned back against the frame, hands tucked behind her, not quite knowing what to do.

Sensing someone in the room, he turned, his eyes widening for only a moment.

Kara took a step forward, wrapping her arms protectively around her. She closed the distance between them and just stood there, studying his face. Making sure he was real.

She reached out to touch him, but her hand couldn't quite make contact. Instead, the fingers balled up and she brought her fist to her lips. She wanted to move, but something overrode her determination and she stayed where she was, fingers clenching and unclenching as she focused on breathing. He stood perfectly still, studying her just as intently as she was studying him.

She felt the tears sting her eyes, but she refused to think about why. She leaned the tiniest bit closer, enough to see the pulse flutter along his neck and the steady rise and fall of his chest. Finally, she couldn't hold back any longer and reached out again.

Fingertips carefully touched the side of his face.

"You're here," she whispered.

He grabbed her hand and held on tight. "I'm here."

She wasn't sure who moved first—or maybe they both moved at once—but before she knew it, his hand wrapped around her neck and pulled her towards him just as she slid one arm over his shoulder and the other around his torso. His free hand wrapped around her waist and pulled her close. She could swear to gods she almost heard an audible click as they locked into place.

Kara didn't know what the hell this was or what the frak it meant, and she didn't care. The only important thing right now was that he was here. And so was she. She just held on tighter. She had no idea what tomorrow would bring or how they'd all survive or if they'd even they'd make it through the week, but right now—in this moment—none of that mattered. It was just him and her.

And that was all she needed.

Re: The Most Favoritest Pilot Hug I ever did write.

[kdbleu.livejournal.com]

Just beautiful. *sigh of contentment & angst*

Re: The Most Favoritest Pilot Hug I ever did write.

[word-vomity.livejournal.com]

How does it break & fix my heart at the same time?! Waaaa! But also, Yay! I love when they audibly click into place. I gets me right in the feelings spot.

*runs away in blubbery shame*

Re: The Most Favoritest Pilot Hug I ever did write.

[embolalia.livejournal.com]

Sigh. Yes, that's how it needed to be :)

Re: The Most Favoritest Pilot Hug I ever did write.

[kballgetlost.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous! This is totally canon in my book, lol

Re: The Most Favoritest Pilot Hug I ever did write.

[winegums.livejournal.com]

This just SLAYS me. Kara's tentativeness, the way she can't help but reach fir him, and OH MY GODS THE HUG. I don't know how you manage to both break my heart and levitate it skywards at the same time (a bit like the show itself, though that was heavier on the heartbreak).

*snuggles this fic*

Hug plus bonus kissing

[embolalia.livejournal.com]

“It’s really coming down,” Kara says, frowning out at the rain.

“No worries,” Zak says with a grin. “You give Lee a hug goodbye and I’ll pull the car around.” Tugging his sweatshirt hood up, Zak slips through the screen door, leaves it rattling behind him.

Kara watches him go, then turns, right into Lee. His arms are around her in an instant, holding her tight and close. His lips press against her cheek, casual for just a moment before she leans into the contact. Her whole body flushes as he shifts, lips finding her earlobe, the side of her throat. Kara gasps as Lee nips at her neck and she hasn’t even exhaled before his mouth is covering hers, eager and demanding. She returns the kiss, her hands fisting in his shirt as she holds him against her.

Out in the driveway a car honks. Zak.

Lee steps back at once, his eyes worried and contrite. “Gods,” he pants. “I’m sorry, I--”

Kara cuts him off, pulling him in for one more kiss. This is one is softer, surer. His arms are around her again and she never wants to leave.

This time Kara steps back, and Lee’s eyes are dark with hunger. She swallows hard, and leaves without another word.

Re: Hug plus bonus kissing

[kdbleu.livejournal.com]

Oooh, very hot for a hug. hee.

Also, I'd like to point out that it's a good thing that Kara's not much for lipstick. A girl cannot get away with on the sly kissing like that when she wears lips stick. ;)

Ficlet: Dangerous Games (1/2)

[callmeonetrack.livejournal.com]

Lee isn't sure how they managed to talk him into this, but the six rounds of Picon whiskey shooters might have had something to do with it.

Now he's on his hands and knees practically in the middle of Kara's living room, playing a game he hasn't since high school. A game that's bound to get him into trouble.

From the safety of the armchair in the corner, Zak gleefully calls out, "Right hand on red!" Lee stretches for a spot near the top of the row, thinking it's a safe distance from Kara, who's crouched near his ankles. But then suddenly she's shouting "Make a hole, Adama! I'm coming through!" and she's slithering under his arm to smack a hand down, claiming the furthest red dot.

Lee arches higher, bridging his body so he touches Kara as little as possible. It's been months since that first night, on the table, when they'd almost ruined everything in one ambrosia-fueled indiscretion. But they'd moved past it, the three of them developing a surprisingly easy friendship for their differences.

Still, he tries not to touch her more than is strictly necessary. So when she tilts, cackling at some joke of Zak's that he missed, and the side of her breast presses into the crook of his elbow, Lee gulps.

"C'mon already, Zak," he says, too impatient. "Call the next move, I want to finish before the pizza gets here."

"Hold your horses, bro," his little brother says, rolling his eyes. "You can't rush a master."

Beneath him, Kara snorts. "A master of that....that spinny thing?! Wow, Zak, your parents must be so proud." He watches the back of her blonde head shake with laughter. "I guess everyone has a s-skill," she chokes out amid guffaws. Her drunken amusement makes Kara tilt again, this time to the other side, her hip knocking into his groin, and without thinking Lee lifts his free hand to the curve of her waist to steady her. She's wearing low-slung jeans and a cropped top, so his fingers meet bare skin and rough denim, and Lee grips her a little harder than he intends.

"Hey, hands on the mat, Leland, not my girl!" his brother calls, whirling the game board dial with a flourish. Lee lets go immediately, muttering an apology, as Zak cries, "Right hand on green, now!"

Green is on the opposite side of the mat and as Lee goes to move, so does Kara. She flips over onto her back, one hand propping her up on the second green dot, just as he reaches out diagonally to plant his hand on the first one. And suddenly, he is face to face with Kara, his body twisted over hers, his arms bracketing her body, one propped over her shoulder, the other low near her hip. She smirks, lips inches away from his and when she takes a deep breath, their stomachs touch.

Re: Ficlet: Dangerous Games (2/2)

[callmeonetrack.livejournal.com]

"Leland?" Kara raises one eyebrow.

He watches her lips trace the shape of his name and forgets to answer.

"They named you Leland?!" she repeats incredulously. "Gods, I guess Zak really is the favorite."

She's beaming wide, clearly joking, but it stings more than it should. So he lets himself drop down slightly, crowding her, and lowers his voice to a near-growl, "That's not very nice, Kara."

Her eyes glitter, lips curving into a smirk, and for once she has no snappy comeback. She just stares. And he stares back.

"Left hand yellow!" Zak interjects loudly, his tone slightly shrill.

Still holding Lee's eyes, Kara shifts beneath him, her body stretching, as she slides her foot unerringly onto the last yellow dot in the row.

There's only one spot open that Lee can reach....right between Kara's thighs.

She glances down finally, sees it just as he does, then looks up. The smirk disappears, and a speculative gleam shines in her eyes. Kara shifts, spreads her legs slightly and pretty much all of the blood in Lee's brain rushes to parts farther south. He freezes.

"C'mon, Leland," she drawls mockingly, her voice lower now too. "You got game?"

He wants to. He wants....a lot of things. He hesitates.

"I dare you," she whispers, winking. "I double dog dare you."

Lee breathes deep, and before he can second-guess, he does it, just reaches down and splays his hand on the yellow dot, his forearm pressing hard against the warmth of her inner thigh. He swallows and watches Kara's face, watches the pale skin at her neck flush, watches the flutter of her eyelashes as her lids half-close, the quiver of her upper lip as she breathes, nostrils flaring slightly. He shifts, presses harder. The muscle in her thigh clenches.

Lee is lost--the game, the room, his brother--all of it fades into a hazy background as Lee tracks the motion carefully as her lips part and even, white teeth sink into her bottom lip.

His head dips unconsciously and he is mere seconds away from mirroring her actions, covering her mouth, tasting for himself...

and the doorbell rings.

"Pizza's here," Zak calls, jolting up from the chair as he heads for the door and the spell is broken. "Game over!"

Reality returns with a rush and Kara blinks and falls, losing her balance and sprawling onto the mat. The motion knocks Lee's hand aside and he falls too, half on top of Kara, one arm trapped beneath her. He expects her to shove him aside immediately, but Lee should know by now that Kara never does what he expects. She wraps her arms around him instead, laughs into his neck, and he closes his eyes, squeezes her back for as long as he dares, until he hears the apartment door close at the top of the stairs. Then Lee gets to his feet and pulls Kara up with him.

They eat pizza, and Lee tries not to notice the funny looks his brother keeps shooting them. After dinner, when Kara suggests they play truth or dare, he just smiles and tells her to bring it on.

Three months in the company of Kara Thrace and he's getting used to playing dangerous games.

BEE'S BRAIN TAKES OFF IN A WILDLY AU DIRECTION!!!

[workerbee73.livejournal.com]

Inspired by Tara's delicious Violent/Sinister Hug prompt....

********


Kara’s fingers shook as worked the dials of the safe.

She should never have risked coming back like this, but she couldn’t just walk away. As an agent with the bureau, she’d been on countless undercover missions. She knew the drill---get in, get out, and get the information. Above all, never get attached. But six months ago, that all changed. She’d been recruited to seduce the only son and heir apparent of a suspected mafia family.

And oh gods, had she ever succeeded.

Kara looked over at the unmade bed and shivered as the memories of last night flooded her mind.

She'd never meant for things to go this far. She had to get out. Her feelings had turned her upside down and she wasn’t sure of anything anymore. Except that she couldn’t go through with this. Not now.

She slipped off the gold band and placed it inside the empty safe, along with a hastily scribbled letter. It wasn’t really an explanation and it didn’t say nearly enough, but she could not---would not---simply vanish into the dark.

He had to know.

She felt the safe give up a barely audible click. Placing the contents inside, she quickly pushed it closed with both hands, stopping just long enough to lean against the metal.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered to no one.

She straightened up and closed her eyes, giving herself permission to remember all the things she was trying so desperately to forget. Just this once, she told herself. The color of his eyes, the crease of his smile. The way he moved---the sound of his voice.

The feel of his arm around her her waist.

Kara’s eyes shot open as she realized that last part was no memory. Before she could react, another arm wrapped across her shoulders, and she felt the unmistakable edge of a knife pressing against her throat.

The breath on her ear was warm even as tone was ice cold. She knew even before the words were uttered. He’d found her.

“Going somewhere, Mrs. Adama?”

Re: BEE'S BRAIN TAKES OFF IN A WILDLY AU DIRECTION!!!

[callmeonetrack.livejournal.com]

Ooh fun AU! Double agent Kara and Mafia son Lee! I knew someone would have to do a violent hug for them considering that's how pilots usually roll but I didn't expect AU. Good stuff!

Comfort Hugs for Emo Lee

[word-vomity.livejournal.com]

She'd never seen him cry. Not even at Zak's funeral. Not when the worlds ended or when she'd left him that morning on New Caprica. Not ever. Lee didn't cry. Just like she didn't cry.

But he was crying now. Harsh panicked sobs, ragged breaths as he fought and failed to control his breakdown. His body standing rigidly besides her shaking with an irrepressible relief as he watches Cottle examine her body for positive proof of her cylon wiring. She reaches for his hand, hoping it will calm him.

She still doesn't understand what's happening, everything's jumbled and confused inside, but if she's been gone for as long as they say she has, she knows that he must have gone through a great deal of pain in her absence.

His hand squeezes tight around hers, tears splashing silently onto their joined fists. He grips her fingers like he'd held her body on the flight deck, bone crushingly tight, his fear and relief equally apparent in the gesture. She lets him take the comfort he so obviously needs.

When Cottle takes the vial of blood beyond the bounds of the curtain, she pulls him closer to where she sits.

"Lee?" She prods nervously.

He chokes out a gasp at the familiar ring of her voice and forces himself to look at her face. Another face he thought gone forever. He lets himself hope, for a moment, that this is real.

"I thought..." His voice breaking as he struggles to find the words. "Kara you were..." But he stops himself again, fearful that any missteps might take her away again, like before when he'd let her go. Just another misstep in a lifetime of missteps, he thinks. With every moment, he fears that she might disappear as quickly as she'd returned. More punishment for his failures. He clings to her hand tighter, painfully so.

Taking a deep pull of air to steady himself he pleads, "It's you, right? It's really you?"

Uncertain how to prove it to him any other way, she simply pulls him against her. Her arms wrapping solidly around his tense neck and back, stroking away his panic, cradling him to her as he had done.

"It's me." She promises. "It's really me."

He anchors her against him, praying to Gods that rarely listen, that this will last.

"Don't leave again." He begs, breathing her in.

Nodding fervently, she just pulls him closer. "Don't let me."

Re: Comfort Hugs for Emo Lee

[kballgetlost.livejournal.com]

Aww poor Lee. I imagine he needed more than just the hug on the flight deck after her return....so I call canon on this one!

A late hug...

[rirenec.livejournal.com]

(Frak it, here’s a hug, which probably links to a hug number above but for speed, I’m just gonna hug without restraint).

Warmth, she needs it. Warmth, he wants it. They both want the other more than they individually need air.

She stumbles out of her Viper; stinking of the sweat of battle. He equally falls down the steps knowing that he’s intact and that so is she.

It’s enough.

Enough that Starbuck and Apollo have returned to the roost.

Enough, that this night they can tumble into their racks and get some sleep and there slumber through the mindless hours while working to blanket out the misery over what was, was, and what will be… but first… first they need to face one another. First they need to relish in the lust that they are still alive… first they need to take those few, fateful and final steps towards one another, and in that, like magnets, like a ring of fire, circle one another, gaining the frisson in the press of warm flesh and in so, a touch to never be released... a clasp that will only bind them tighter and until the end of forever…

Kara clutches Lee close, closer than she’s ever held anyone. Lee wraps around her as if to imbue everything that he is with her… the hug lasts for breaths, hours, always…

...Starbuck and Apollo...

Re: A late hug...

[kdbleu.livejournal.com]

It is a hug without restraint. But who needs restraint anyway? :D

Silence Says it All

[useyourlove.livejournal.com]

My "Scar" head-canon is vast. But ah, goodness, I always wanted to know what happened after they cut away from the ready room. (Also, HI EVERYONE. I'm new here and am crashing the party! Apparently way late. Ah well. Couldn't pass this up.)
***


"Starbuck."

She didn't want to look at him. She didn't want to know what she'd find there in his eyes. Whether he'd be pissed, or hurt, or understanding, or what, she couldn't deal with that today. She finally raised her eyes to him--defiant, ashamed, begging for a scolding so she could have a good fight. Maybe just a little more pain.

"Are you ok?"

Her breath hitched. She didn't even reply. Didn't tell him to frak off or deny that anything was wrong. She blew a breath of air out through her nose and licked her lips, turning from him and waving him away. She cocked her hand on her hip and hid her face in her other palm.

He watched her from the doorway, studying the line of her shoulders. Even from behind, she looked exhausted. She looked defeated. She was right there on the edge of yawning precipice, waiting to teeter over. And it scared him. Just like last night had scared him. Kara was hard to unsettle. Even after all that they'd been through--apocalypses, crash landings, surprise Cylon attacks--Starbuck was the same Starbuck he had met all those years ago. And Starbuck never faltered. She didn't get lost. Whenever she strayed, she always came back. But this time....

He couldn't help it. He knew he'd probably get a black eye for his efforts, but he stepped into the room, dropping the clipboard on one of the desks. He wrapped his arms around her before she could move. She jumped, startled by the contact. Her back stiffened but he just held on tighter, arms wrapped around her middle, his chin crooked over her shoulder. Her breathing was going uneven. They stood like that for a good long while before she finally melted against him, one sob escaping her throat before she reigned in the rest and allowed them to wrack her body without a sound.

Silently, she cried out her frustrations with herself, with the Commander, with this whole gods damned universe that was crashing down around her ears. He held her tightly, his body speaking devotions that he wasn't allowed to say in words.

Finally, she snuffled and wiped her nose with the back of her hand.

"I'm on CAP."

"I know."

"I'll be late." She shrugged and his arms fell away easily. She was headed for the door.

"Starbuck?"

She turned, eyes red and full of thanks that she would never admit.

"Be careful."

She smiled softly.

"That's an order."

Her grin turned sardonic and she gave him a mock salute.

"Yes, sir."

Re: Silence Says it All

[workerbee73.livejournal.com]

Oh I like this very much. Lovely cadence. And the emotion feels spot-on. : )

**waves**

Sorry-- getting ahead of myself. Hi there! I'm so glad you decided to stop by and share this.

kind of a #3 crossed with a #7 hug ... and #5 and #6 ... did I do this right? :/ (1/2)

[themonkeytwin.livejournal.com]

I've only had time/energy to sproadically lurk this lovely community for my pilots intake, but how can anyone resist pilot!hugs? They can't, that's how. So may I offer a (late) "Pragmatic" catagory hug?



"Ah ... frak!"

She'd overbalanced her hip's precarious perch on the step, reaching her body just that little bit too far to get at the awkwardly angled flaps under the Raider's body. Her casted leg jerked painfully in reflex, but couldn't save her.

A warm, fast-moving wall of muscle did, though. Accompanied by a laugh with just enough of that teasing condescension to make her clench her teeth, and just enough of that teasing warmth to make her clench her ... teeth. "Watch it, Thrace, you don't have that many spare limbs to break."

Her teeth remained too gritted to say anything, but her elbow was expressive enough where it landed in his diaphragm. His "Ooph!" made her jaw relax enough to smile, though, and she turned it sweetly on him over her shoulder. His arm contracted where it had whipped around her waist and scooped her fall onto his body rather than the cold, unforgiving deck, and his blue eyes did their best to convincingly glare at her.

"It's your fault if I do. You're the one who got me down here." She craned her head; the angle she'd been aiming for looked a little easier from here. If she'd let them adjust tilt, it wouldn't have been a problem in the first place, but she was working on a theory here and so, okay, this one was actually her fault, but that was beside the point. "Make yourself useful, Adama."

"How?" Amusement and exertion from catching her undignified fall still lingered in his voice, which only spurred the impulse. In answer, she stretched for the spot again; not so much to reach it since it was still clearly too far, but more to give direction and purpose to her butt grinding back against the hip that cushioned and boosted it.

She felt him freeze for a second, and she really expected him to push her off and help reposition the steps they'd tried to wedge close enough for her to work from. But then he was shifting, elbows and shoulders guiding, legs and hips pushing carefully, keeping her cradled on his body and her bad leg from being bumped as he inched them both under the low-hanging tail. Before she could collect her thoughts to – she wasn't quite sure what, protest or laugh or something – she found herself face-to-ass with the Raider, propped securely and warmly for the angle she'd been trying to reach in the first place.

"Uh –" She turned, eyes a little too wide, but he didn't smirk at her breathlessness. Not the way she would have, if she'd backfooted him they way he just had her. He just looked at her expectantly. Almost earnestly practical. She felt the corner of her lips tug.

"You guys ... okay under there?" It never failed to impress her, how much commentary Chief managed to get into the delivery of inncouous sentences. "We can try and get the steps –"

She wiggled experimentally, wishing she could watch Lee's face properly as she did so. "Nah, this works, actually." She was surprised to realize how well. "Can you hand him my tools?"

It wasn't easy to make her brain focus on the casing above her, rather than the muscle below, to make her body relax on its new perch. So it was strange how quickly it felt completely natural, even normal, how his torso supported hers just where she needed it, how tools swapped between their hands sometimes without even a word being said, how a breath or sigh or a grunt sparked movement so symbiotic that she began to forget they were two separate bodies.

(2/2)

[themonkeytwin.livejournal.com]

That was, until she had to stop for a second, one hand hooked casually into the crease in the Raider above her, the other scratching her eyebrow. His hands paused, too; the one that had caught her to begin with settling into its place, comfortably spread across her stomach; the other, more active hand that had been fetching tools and holding things still and, once, brushing hair out of her eyes before she'd noticed it had fallen there in her concentration on the problem, coming to rest on her hip.

"What?" he asked after a moment, as he picked up – probably through the material of their tanks – the mental block she'd come to.

She chewed her lip, and made a small frustrated noise. "Okay, here –" she began, the explanation spilling from her to him as his questions forced her to organize her thoughts. Part way through, his hand moved from her him to wrap over his other one, seemingly unconsciously, holding her more firmly as though it made it easier for understanding to flow between them, and somehow it did. "See? Here," she said as she brought him to the end of her train of thought, lifting her hand from where they'd both settled over his to caress the casing. His followed, finger digging at the juncture thoughtfully. "I just can't figure out why the connectors operate over the joist rather than ... or maybe it's all inverted," she skipped mental tracks easily, not worried that he couldn't follow. "But why would they...."

"Unless it's not a mechanical function, the organic part might need...." He didn't have to finish the thought; her gasp of inspiration did it for him.

"Oh –" Her laugh was loud and triumphant. "Yeah. You know, Adama, you're not as dumb as they say."

"I have my moments." His arms tightened slightly around her, which seemed incongruous, until he asked, "So ... we done back here, then?"

There was no way she could deny, to herself at least, the flare of disappointment she felt at the thought of leaving their odd, surprisingly efficient little configuration under the cylon bird. But she also couldn't deny that there was no further need for it. "Yeah," she said. "Thanks for your help." It came out too flatly, especially since what she really wanted to say was: Let's just stay here a bit longer. I bet I can find more stuff to problem-solve. And there was no way she was even going to begin to analyze why she wanted to say that, except that she felt happier and safer and warmer here under an enemy ship than she had in –

"Gods, you've been on this cold floor this whole – come on –" She began to try to wriggle them both out, but her leg twinged sharply and his arms tightened again.

"I'm fine, Kara," he said, and that amusement was back in his voice again. "You're actually quite warm, as human blankets go. Now stop flopping around like a landed fish and let me save your poor limbs any more injury."

She opened her mouth, but found herself too torn between indignation, concern, and laughter to know what should come out of it. Helpfully, once again her elbow was more than expressive enough.

"Ooph!"