[Room 372]

[mr_gaeta]

[Shortly after this.]

Soup seems like a good idea tonight. It's warm, and comforting, and doesn't need a hell of a lot of work to turn out well.

Gaeta dumps all the ingredients into the biggest pot he owns, dropping it on the stove's back burner to let it simmer for a couple hours. Gogo hasn't strayed far from his side since they left the bar; when Gaeta gives up and opts to sit on the kitchen floor, rather than take a proper seat at the table, the dodo scoots closer with all seeming intention to climb into his lap.

"No," he murmurs, pushing him back a little. "Stay there."

Gogo cocks his head, as if considering the request, then thumps down next to him and sets his beak on Gaeta's shoulder. Gaeta has to crane his chin back to make room for Gogo's head; with a defeated sigh, he draws an arm around the bird to ground himself a little further.

He can breathe. The anger hasn't ebbed back as far as he thought -- a meal that doesn't require much work means he can spend more time replaying the conversation in his head -- but the tension isn't as bad. Even if his palm hurts like all frak, he didn't do anything worse than sling a few insults Javert's way.

Gaeta still wouldn't mind staying on the floor a little while longer.

Comments

[faithful_lt]

"Bad enough," he disagrees, and presses a gentle kiss to Felix's injured palm.

"I'm sorry, baby."

[mr_gaeta]

He shakes his head. Softer, "It's not anything."

Gaeta isn't quite aware of how he sounds: trying to convince Louis, but trying to convince himself as well.

[faithful_lt]

Hoshi is, however, and it only adds to his growing determination.

"Mm. What was his name?"

[mr_gaeta]

Gaeta catches the look in Louis' eye. He hesitates.

"Javert," he says. "But it's not worth it, Louis. You don't have to do anything."

[faithful_lt]

"I know."

He smiles, and it's sincere.

"I know, baby. You can take care of yourself, and compared to any of the old stories, I'd make a rotten hero. But given everything, I'd kind of like to keep an eye out for this guy, you know?"

[mr_gaeta]

A tentative smile finds its way back to Gaeta's face.

"Yeah," he murmurs. "I know."

Beat.

"And may I say, in my one hundred percent unbiased opinion, that you'd make a fine hero?"

[faithful_lt]

"Oh, completely unbiased, I'm sure."

He leans in to kiss Felix's cheek.

"Anything else I should know about this Javert guy? Or the insults he was throwing at you?"

Why would be one thing he'd really love to know, but from what he's managed to gather so far, Felix himself may not even be sure.

[mr_gaeta]

The smile falters a little. "I know it's not worth it," he murmurs again. "But he has this..."

Gaeta shrugs.

"He's very concerned with right and wrong, and how they're both absolutes with nothing in between. And I think he's trying to do what he considers right, even if the execution's pretty terrible."

His smile, now, has barely any humor to it.

"Sound like somebody you know?"

[faithful_lt]

Hoshi freezes.





"Oh, Felix." He raises his free hand to touch Felix's hair, then shapes his fingers to the curve of the other man's face.

[mr_gaeta]

Gaeta leans into the touch, unconsciously.

"It's infuriating trying to talk to him." Quiet. "But I still want him to turn out okay. You know?"

[faithful_lt]

"I understand," he murmurs.

"You're a good man, Felix Gaeta. Don't you ever forget that."

[mr_gaeta]

He huffs out a small laugh. Fondly: "Now who's biased."

He still doesn't feel like a good man, most days. It's getting easier, and better, but it's not like either can erase what he did -- either on New Caprica or Galactica.

[faithful_lt]

"Gogo."


Hearing his name, the dodo looks up and emits an inquiring 'plock'.

[mr_gaeta]

"Clearly." Even closer to laughter, as he stretches out a hand to rub Gogo's neck. "I could never enlist him as a lab assistant."

[faithful_lt]

"But an apprentice cook, now..."

He waits a beat.

"Especially if marshmallows are involved."

[mr_gaeta]

Instantly, Gogo perks up and eyes Louis.

"Oh, gods," is all Gaeta manages before sagging into quiet snickers. "You reminded him."

[faithful_lt]

"In that case, it looks like I owe him one," Hoshi responds, smiling.

[mr_gaeta]

"If you want to do the honors, they're on top of the fridge."

By now, Gogo's doing his earnest best to squeeze next to Louis, plocking the whole while.

[faithful_lt]

"Seems like the least I can do."

He ruffles Felix's hair, and starts to push himself to his feet.

"Want a hand up?"

[mr_gaeta]

"Sure." He grins, reaching to put his hand back in Louis'. "Probably ought to check on the soup anyway."

[faithful_lt]

"Soup sounds good."

He helps Felix up, then squeezes his hand before letting go and turning towards the fridge.

"Okay, Gogo, let's get you a treat."

[mr_gaeta]

FINALLY. Gogo's delighted plocks have nearly run together in his enthusiasm as he follows close on Louis' heels.

Gaeta lifts the lid off the pot; a burst of fragrant steam washes through the kitchen as he peeks inside. "Yup," he says, straight-faced. "Still soup."

[faithful_lt]

He takes a couple of marshmallows from the bag and crouches down to offer them to the dodo on an outstretched palm.

"Good," Hoshi says, glancing up at Felix with a chuckle. "Much better than it not being soup."

[mr_gaeta]

Solemn: "It'd be very disconcerting if it turned into a chicken midway through."

Gogo wolfs down the marshmallows and promptly bonks his head against Louis' shoulder. YOU ARE THE BEST OF FRIENDS.

[faithful_lt]

"Or at any time, come to think of it."

He ruffles the bird's feathers and stands up again.

"Can I help with any of it?"