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The Women of Billy Keikeya
by trajictale
i.
When Billy first met Laura Roslin, she'd been scribbling frantically in a spiral bound notebook, glasses slipping down her nose just a bit. She'd looked busy, focused, so Billy contented himself with tightening and loosening his tie and making sure his shoes were shined.
"Are you going to speak or stand there and fidget?"
Her voice had been calmer than he'd thought, light and airy. She wasn't looking at him.
"I didn't want to interrupt you, ma'am."
A laugh. "You're very polite," she said, letting her pen drop to the table. She was smiling when she looked at him.
"Billy Keikeya," he said, thrust an eager hand out. She took it, shook it firmly.
"Yes, I know. I've been expecting you." A small pause and Billy got the distinct impression he was being sized up, examined so to speak. "You're awfully young." She stood, gestured towards him and he followed her. "What kind of education do you have, Billy?"
His first name. That was a good sign, wasn't it?
"Uh, four years at Caprica University, two years interning at a small public school. I have the paperwork," he said, fumbled with the brown briefcase dangling from his hand.
She placed a light hand on his wrist, stopped the frantic rummaging.
"I believe you, Billy. I don't need to see proof. Your word is good enough."
And she looked so honest, so open that he believed her without a second thought, slid the paperwork back inside his briefcase.
"Thank you."
"Besides, what makes you think I haven't already checked your credentials?"
He can't help the look of surprise and her laughter rings in the halls.
--
Today, the Laura Roslin Billy knows is older, wiser, and so tired. He could see that just by looking at her. A burden never expected and a precious responsibility is on her shoulders, balancing precariously.
She takes it admirably.
"You're daydreaming, Billy."
He smiles sheepishly. She had her head in her hand, a brief moment of quiet and respite on the Colonial 1 for both of them.
"Remembering, actually. When you hired me."
She smiles at him, eyes crinkling. "Yes, well you've stopped that annoying habit of fidgeting." She laughs when he tugs at his tie unconsciously. "And you're pretty smart to boot. I guess I did all right."
"Despite all this, despite everything, if I knew back then what I know now, I still would've taken the job."
That seems to shake her. She averts her eyes, wrings her hand together on the table. "Thank you."
"You look tired," Billy says softly.
"So do you."
"I guess that means we go back to work then, huh?"
When she looks back up at him, she's the President again, moment of emotion compartmentalized and catalogued. "I guess we do."
ii.
The Galactica's a big ship and Billy gets lost more than he likes to admit.
"Lost?"
The voice startles Billy and he jumps. And he's just given Kara Thrace something to laugh about.
"Yeah," he mutters.
Lieutenant Thrace looks at him seriously and Billy doesn't know if he's about to get reprimanded or laughed at. "Do I need to draw you a map?"
Billy shifts nervously, thinks about just bolting down a corridor and figuring the rest out later. "No. I'm just not...used to something this big."
"Size doesn't matter where you come from?"
That's an innuendo and Billy swallows heavily. "Well, of course it does. Bigger is better. More pleasure and..."
He's cut off when Lieutenant Thrace starts to laugh again, leans against the wall for support. "I didn't mean it literally. I'm just giving you a hard time."
"Oh." Billy runs a hand through his hair. Too long again. "I knew that."
Lieutenant Thrace pats him on the shoulder. "Of course you did. Just testing me, right?"
"I'm just trying to find my way back," Billy mumbles.
"C'mon, I'll take you," Lieutenant Thrace says, pulling him down one corridor.
"I appreciate it."
She throws him a smile over her shoulder. "Yeah, but how do you know I'm not just leading you somewhere else you don't know? I could be getting you lost again. You trust a pilot?"
She's still pulling him down one corridor and Billy starts trying to memorizing markings, signs or anything that might help him find his way back.
"I hope a member of the military wouldn't do that."
Lieutenant Thrace stops, leans in close to his ear. "But, I'm off duty."
Before Billy can reply, she's pulling him along again. "Maybe I'll just find my own way back."
She shakes her head. "Nope. Uh uh. It's my duty as a member of Galactica's fleet to personally escort you to your destination." She's being flippant and sarcastic.
"You're taking me back to President Roslin, right?"
Lieutenant Thrace stops, smiles at him in the dim light. "I guess you'll just have to wait and see."
iii.
Billy thinks the Galactica must be his lucky charm because he's been kissed twice since arriving. First time had been unexpected, Dualla pouring out grief and relief into one soft press against his lips. He hadn't kissed back, not much, because she'd surprised him and he didn't want to scare her. Second time had been soft, sweet. Tongue and lips and Billy kissed back this time.
There hadn't been a third time, not yet, because he'd been too busy with the Quorum and military duties had tied her up. But, he'd taken an evening off, slipped away while President Roslin argued with Vice President Baltar and walked slowly down the living quarters.
Billy's not sure if she's going to see this as an intrusion, as her privacy being invaded but he's determined and he hopes he can block a punch if it comes to that.
He knocks.
The door's pulled open after a moment and Dualla's standing in front of him, out of uniform.
"Hi." Might as well start off with something nice and easy.
"Billy. How'd you find my room?"
Billy waggles the small sheet of paper Lieutenant Gaeta had given him.
"Friends in high places. I do know the president, after all."
That draws a smile out of her. "You're not working tonight?"
"The President's arguing with the Vice President and any attempt I made to intervene was being met with yelling directed at me or a death glare."
"A death glare?"
"Yeah, you know..." Billy stops, narrows his eyes, furrows his brow and tries to look as threatening as possible.
Dualla laughs.
"You're death glare needs work, Billy."
Billy waves a dismissive hand. "Trust me, it's much more affecting when President Roslin does it."
"I do trust you. Do you want to come in?"
"Yes." He's sliding by, brushing against her when she stops him with a hand on his chest.
"You're not hear to gather information again, are you?"
"No. Of course not."
Dualla looks at him a while longer before letting her hand slide down, wrap around his, and pulling him inside her room.
She shuts the door behind them.
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