[Milliways infirmary]

[mr_gaeta]

Gaeta quieted down considerably after a certain stranger paid him a visit; once Simon finished his analysis and added oral THC to his regimen, he stopped singing more or less for good. The pain still breaks through every so often -- twinges here and there, a gradual build when one drug or the other starts to wear off, but it's never bad enough to take up the tune. Not anymore.

He'll be able to get through this, he thinks. He still has his other leg; he has a means to manage the pain; he has plenty to keep him distracted until he's better.

Right now, the current distraction involves the IV bag hanging above his bed: he's watching the liquid inside with rapt fascination.

Comments

[mr_gaeta]

"Yeah."

He curves his back, stretching it as best he can like a cat basking in sunlight.

"I don't know, frak if I can explain what I know, but I know it. Sometimes you just do. And it's fun when that happens."

[faithful_lt]

"..."

Try as he might, Hoshi's completely unable to parse what he means by that.

"As long as you're having fun," he decides, and puts his fingers under Felix's chin, trying gently to tip his head back so he can see his face.

[mr_gaeta]

It's okay, Louis. Gaeta's thoughts have already wandered far enough away that he probably couldn't explain what he meant, either.

"Mm-hm." Without complaint, he moves where Louis directs him and grins, bright and unfocused. (It's hard to tell against the natural color of his eyes, but his pupils are pretty dilated.)

[faithful_lt]

He can't not return that smile. Hoshi laughs.

"Good."

[mr_gaeta]

He's happy; Louis is happy; he can still hear the echoes of Louis' heart like a pleasant ringing in his ears, and nothing hurts at all.

This really is perfect.

Still beaming, Gaeta stretches up to kiss him.

[faithful_lt]

He doesn't have to stretch far.

Hoshi bends his head and leans down to meet him, returning the kiss with aching tenderness.

[mr_gaeta]

When it finally breaks, Gaeta sighs and lowers his head back to Louis' chest.

"So I wasn't able to bring back any souvenirs," he murmurs, "but I promise I'll get you a really good one if I'm ever away again."

[faithful_lt]

"You came back," he counters. "That's the important thing."

Even if he didn't come back safe, exactly... he came back alive.

Not everyone on the Demetrius did.

[mr_gaeta]

"Yeah."

Quieter, now, and more contemplative.

"I mean...not in one piece, but -- I'm still back."

[faithful_lt]

"Yes," he says, making it as firm as he can. "You are. That's what's important."

Hoshi can't stop his glance from flicking toward the blanket-shrouded shape of Felix's leg, though... or rather, where his leg should be, and isn't.

[mr_gaeta]

"You're okay with this?"

He blinks up at Louis.

"The...me not having one of my legs anymore bit?"

[faithful_lt]

Hoshi stares at him in surprise.

"Am I okay with this?" he repeats, blankly.

[mr_gaeta]

"Yeah," says Gaeta, blinking a bit owlishly again. He hasn't processed Louis' disbelief at all. "Are you?"

[faithful_lt]

He shakes his head; tries to speak, fails to find words at first, then tries again, very carefully.




"... are you asking me if this changes how I feel about you?"

Very, very carefully.

[mr_gaeta]

Gaeta nods, just as carefully -- though his own care has far more to do with the medication than the topic at hand.

[faithful_lt]

"It could never. I could never."

His words are low and fervent, and his arms have tightened around Felix without him even being aware of it.

"I love you, not your leg."

[mr_gaeta]

"...Okay."

His smile grows, wobbling a little on its way to full formation.

"'Cause, it's going to be a lot of work, and I'm not going to be able to do much for a while -- "

[faithful_lt]

"-- and I'll be right there with you the whole way," Hoshi interrupts him. "We'll figure it out."

[mr_gaeta]

Gaeta cranes his neck just enough to peer down at his stump, eyeing the truncated limb thoughtfully.

"You're such a good man," he decides at last, very softly. "Have I said that lately?"

[faithful_lt]

He shrugs, a little awkwardly due to trying not to disturb the other man with the movement.

"I'm just me," he murmurs. His glance follows Felix's.

"... look at it this way. At least you never wanted to be a Viper pilot," Hoshi offers, after a moment.

[mr_gaeta]

A tiny snort of laughter. "Yeah."

He relaxes against Louis again.

"Tigh's down an eye and still serves on the bridge okay. When he's not drunk," he thinks to add. "I can still serve when I'm down a leg."

[faithful_lt]

"Exactly."

He kisses Felix's hair.

"It doesn't change that. It doesn't change who you are."

[simon_doctor]

And that's when the door to the infirmary opens.

"Lieutenant Gaeta? And ..." Simon may be slightly startled at the presence of the other man, but doesn't show it.

[faithful_lt]

"-- Lieutenant Hoshi, sir," he replies.

Tension flashes through him as he fights his automatic impulse to come to attention, since doing so would disturb Felix.

[mr_gaeta]

Gaeta feels the tension, but can't be sure why Louis is feeling it. Forehead knotting in mild concern, he lays a hand on Louis' arm before mustering his attention toward Dr. Tam.

"Hey, Simon," he greets him. "Um, this is Louis -- Louis, this is Simon, he's the doctor I was telling you about."