Title:  Battlestar Galactica Great Grid Challenge Fic
Author:  SM (burntsm0re)
Fandom:  Battlestar Galactica
Pairing:  Sound (Billy/Lee, 100 words), Wet (Billy/Lee, 459 words), Water (542 words)
Rating:  NC-17

Sound

There’s no sound in space. Billy can’t imagine being out there alone, unable to hear anything, to speak without air. He remembers air brushing next to his cheek as the gun went off and the loud ringing in his ears for days was almost a comfort.

The casket slowly drifted away from Galactica and Billy hates himself for being glad he survived. He’s still alive.

Lee still won’t look at him or acknowledge he loved her too. He’s still angry Billy helped her, even considered going with. He owed her that much after his betrayal.

But he loved Lee more.

Wet

Billy woke up and stretched, aching muscles protesting slightly but the memories that flooded back from the minor discomfort made his cheeks warm. He raised his hand to rub is eyes and Lee's face was there, fingers connecting with rough stubble instead.

"Morning," he breathed in Billy's ear.

Billy blinked, the rustling of the bed and cool skin pressed against his hip and back colliding to tell him that Lee had been up already. He could see Lee hovering over him now, tugging the blankets the rest of the way off.

Gods, not yet.

"We don't have much time left," Lee said tiredly, regret tinging the sharp pleasure of his fingers tweaking one of Billy's still tender nipples. Wet fingers.

Before he could react beyond a startled gasp, Lee caught Billy's foot, dragging him from the bed.

He stopped just short of cracking Billy's head on the floor as he flailed to get free. "We need to clean up," was Lee's only excuse for the sudden attack, his eyes gleaming in the artificial 'sunrise' seeping through the slatted blinds as he shook his wet hands at Billy's face and rained the last drops on his skin.

Billy blinked and rubbed his hand over his face. "Right, that should do it."

"We do need to conserve water," Lee agreed practically, but the grin curling his mouth gave him away. "Come here." He grabbed Billy's wrist and dragged him to the bathroom.

Yes, even the luxury liner had to ration water so the thought of taking a shower with Lee, though appealing, was impossible. Lee had been quick earlier, but surely he used a good portion of their supply and Billy was sure showering with Lee would take more than just quickly washing up separately. "Wait, this isn't a good--"

"Get in," Lee ordered, gesturing to the oversized tub filled with clean clear water. Somehow Billy hadn't noticed it when he'd been stumbling around in the dark before.

Lee raised an eyebrow at his surprise. "It is a honeymoon suite," he reminded him. Billy thought he heard a touch of jealousy there because the room had been reserved for Billy and Dualla. His skin flushed warmly before the hot water turned him pink as he sat down.

"Good thing too," Billy smiled, pulling Lee in with him. Wet skin slid together as they sunk beneath the surface and pushed wave after wave over the edge to pool on the floor.

Billy shivered as cold water splattered his face again. He wiped the stinging rain from his eyes as he pushed the memories aside and followed Commander Adama through the wet underbrush.

He’d follow the Commander all over Kobol if he had to, if it meant Lee might forgive him.

Water

“Whoa!” Starbuck laughed, ducking as another water balloon hit the sink and splattered her arm. Helo grinned and dodged behind a locker door as she fired back. Apollo almost slipped on the wet floor, trying to get around the edge of the sink and hang onto his last balloon.

He’d come into it late, accidentally discovering Starbuck and Helo enjoying some of their spoils from Kobol. The big balloons, the white ones, said happy birthday with purple stars and hearts. They were too thick for this game, but the smaller ones, usually used for balloon animals, were perfect. The smell of rubber filled the room as the balloons stretched, screeching softly as they filled. His fingers ached from tying off the tight knots without popping them.

Starbuck hit him again, smack in the bare chest and he wound up and fired instinctively to get her back. She turned, just as the new CAG crossed the threshold. The balloon was true like a missile and it splattered against the side of Stinger’s face.

Bullseye.

That’s how you earn a call sign, Apollo thought, listening to Stinger yelp as his face bloomed red from the stinging smack, sharp like a rubberband. The angry CAG took a moment to focus and then launched himself at Apollo. “What the frack!?”

Apollo’s head bounced off the racks before he crashed against the wall and pain curled in his stomach. His vision dimmed and that was the excuse he’d remember later when he thought about Stinger pressed hard against him, one knee grinding between his legs as the towel around Apollo’s waist worked loose and fell between them. He felt Stinger’s breath hot on his face, wet hair dripping into his eyes as he glared.

Apollo reached between them, gasping for air as Stinger’s hand closed around his throat defensively. He would’ve laughed if he could breath. Didn’t stop him from pulling the towel free though and waving it in front of Stinger’s face.

Not a truce. Apollo closed his eyes, trying to relax enough to get the word out. “Towel?”

He could see when Stinger’s mind registered naked skin and the response was automatic, undeniable, before he jerked back.

Helo and Starbuck pulled him further away, crossing in front, in formation, as Apollo slowly wrapped the towel around his hips again. He cracked his neck, ears ringing a little from the bump on the head, and watched Stinger pace a step back and forth before pointing a finger, somehow, at all three of them. Starbuck imperceptibly shifted into the direct sight line.

“You were hit by friendly fire,” she said. Apollo could see her shoulders shake minutely. “Sir.”

“This conduct--” Stinger sputtered, “wasting resources--”

Helo turned, thoroughly assessing Starbuck’s wet tee. She flipped him off. “Saves on laundry,” he pointed out.

Starbuck snorted, but nodded, conceding his wisdom. “He doesn’t need a shower now,” she chimed in, winking at Apollo.

“Floor’s finally clean,” Apollo added. Well, except for the bits of exploded rubber on the floor like confetti. He shrugged.

“Frack the floor!” Stinger snapped. He turned on his heel and left, presumably to report them.

“What a prick,” Starbuck muttered.

“Yeah,” Helo agreed and Apollo didn’t turn fast enough to avoid another assessing gaze.