Starbuck picked up his drink from the bar and looked for a place to sit. The place was packed, despite the early hour. At last he spotted an empty seat beside a gentleman with an incredible tattoo, horns, and a T-shirt which read "Sith Lords Kick Ass." He made his way over there, wondered if he was doing something incredibly stupid, then decided he probably was.

"Mind if I sit here?" He shouted over the noise of the crowd. The stranger grunted. Taking that as assent, Starbuck sat on the stool beside him and sipped his drink.

"You're not from here." The stranger spoke, not raising his gaze from his beer.

"Nah, I'm from the Battlestar Galactica. Never heard of this place before."

"Welcome to Coruscant." The striped man grinned evilly.

"Coruscant, huh? I didn't even know the name. I think it's odd, though, all these humans and.. others," he shot a look at his neighbor's horns, "have never heard of Earth or the Thirteenth Tribe."

The stranger grunted again and knocked back his beer in one gulp. "Bartender! Another Pete's."

Starbuck shrugged and turned his attention to the dance floor. Too bad Apollo hadn't wanted to come along. Although... maybe that was a good thing. Starbuck wasn't too sure what Apollo would think of all the simply lovely boys in leather, or how they were dancing... This must be quite a place, to be so hot this early.

"Quit that." Quiet menace radiated from the figure beside him.

"Quit what?" Starbuck returned his thoughts to the present, away from speculating on what Apollo would look like in tight black leather. Damn Apollo, anyways- he was so unbelievably dense! Starbuck took another drink. No matter how obviously he tried to come on to the Captain, the idiot just kept getting all buddy-buddy.

"You're thinking about your boyfriend."

"How'd you know that? And he's not my boyfriend!"

Was that a laugh? Nah... must have been a snarl. "You think loud. Now quit it, or I'll lightsaber your ass. If you miss him so much, you should have brought him along."

Starbuck wasn't sure what a lightsaber was, but he was certain he didn't want to find out with his ass. He gulped at his drink again. "He's really not my boyfriend, you know. And he wouldn't be caught dead in a place like this."

"I first got together with my boyf- casual sex partner here." The man finished off yet another Pete's and the bartender refilled it without prompting.

"Lucky you. Where is he?"

Another snarl. "On a mission with his Master. I think the aging hippie just needed a new stock of weed, myself."

Master, huh? Sounds kinky. Starbuck returned his attention to the dancers and finished his drink. He ordered one of what his neighbor had- a Pete's Wicked Ale. "Whooee- now that's the stuff!"

"At least you have taste. You think loud, you may not have much brains, but you do have taste."

"Hey! What's with the crack about my brains?" Starbuck glared at the striped man.

"If you had brains, you would have found a way to get your boyfriend down here. All the mushy love song bullshit starts in an hour."

"Mushy love song bullshit?"

"Yeah. The Jedi twits had a contest. Tonight they'll be playing the winners for four hours straight. Mushy love songs, everyone dancing and getting all sappy- that much atmosphere, a few Pete's, top it off with a Hamster Death Gulp- you'll be getting laid in no time."

"Hey! That's a good idea!" Maybe it was the beer, but that suddenly sounded like the best idea Starbuck had heard in a long time. "I'll go get him. Thanks- hey, I don't even know your name."

"Maul. Darth Maul."

"Thanks, Maul! Will you save a seat for us?"

Starbuck was gone before Maul had a chance to reply. What kind of name is Darth, anyways? Never mind... He'd get the Captain here tonight, even if it meant tying him up and dragging him!

 


Apollo shifted uneasily. "Are you sure about this, Bucko?" He glanced at the seedy surroundings, at the cheap neon sign which proclaimed this to be the "Gray Side of the Force."

"Yeah, I'm sure. I was here earlier- they've got the best beer you'll ever find anywhere."

"Okay, if you're really sure..."

Starbuck dragged him forward. The bouncer nodded at Starbuck and passed them through. He sought out his striped companion of earlier and found Maul in the same spot, this time with two empty seats beside him. "C'mon, 'Pollo, there's a place over there."

"What kind of place is this, Starbuck?" Apollo avoided an unsubtle attempt to grope his ass.

"It's a bar."

"No shit! I mean, I can see that- but what's up with all the leather? And really, some of these guys- couldn't they just get a room somewhere?"

"Lighten up, 'Pollo! It's a bar. They have good beer. That's all that matters, right?"

"If you say so." Apollo shot a dubious look at the dance floor.

Starbuck stepped up to the bar beside Maul. "Bartender! Two Pete's."

"Just in time," Darth Maul muttered at him. "They're about to start. Good luck."

"You aren't staying?"

"Sith do not do mushy love songs."

With that enigmatic statement, the tattooed man left. The crowd parted smoothly before him, allowing him a clear path to the door.

"Who was that?" Apollo craned his neck after the departed Sith.

"Someone I met earlier. He's the one that suggested I get you and share the excellent beer."

"Ah. I see."

Just then, the PA system cut loose with an impressive squeal of feedback. A short, green figure in a pink corset stepped up to the mike. "Winners we have, of contest, yes." The creature raised his (her?) big pointed ears. "Music we shall play. Dance, you shall. Boogey the night away... good for the soul, it is. Start music now, yes!"

"What the hell was that thing?" Apollo said into Starbuck's ear. "And what contest?"

"Beats the hell out of me," Starbuck confessed. The first strains of a love song drifted out of the speakers. He smiled when he caught the chorus and glanced at the man beside him. You're the meaning in my life, you're the inspiration... ain't that the truth. "So what do you think of the beer?" he asked aloud.

"Pretty good... in fact, I'm in need of another one." Apollo had no sooner set his glass down on the bar than it was refilled. "Great service here."

"Yeah." Starbuck watched the dance floor fill with couples wistfully.

Never opened myself this way, life is ours we live it our way... All these words I don't just say, and nothing else matters...

The beer was working its magic on Apollo. Starbuck could feel his friend loosening up.

"So, Bucko, why did you drag me here, anyway?"

"I told you- for a beer." Starbuck grinned. And a seduction attempt, but let's not worry about that right now...

"Really, now. I'd almost suspect you had some kind of ulterior motive, but I know you too well." Apollo grinned back, sipping his beer.

"Ulterior motive? Me? Nah..." Starbuck widened his eyes, all injured innocence. "Never me..."

And what would you say if I called on you now and said that I can't hold on? There's no easy way, it gets harder each day, please love me or I'll be gone, I'll be gone... I'm all out of love, I'm so lost without you...

Starbuck gulped. Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea- that one hit him where it hurt. He stole a glance at Apollo and was torn between surprise and jealousy at what he saw. Apollo was staring with obvious appreciation at one of the dancers, an almost too pretty boy in beige who danced with inhuman grace.

"Damn, wish I could dance like that..." Apollo muttered, sipping absently at his ale.

"Yeah, so do I."

"Oh do you now? And what's wrong with the way I dance?" Apollo turned the full force of those brilliant green eyes on him and Starbuck felt his bones turn to liquid.

"Nothing..." he said faintly.

"Good." Apollo returned his attention to the beige dancer.

You know it's you, babe, giving me the courage and the strength I need... please believe that it's true, babe I love you...

Damn you, Maul, I'm supposed to be getting laid here, not watching the man of my dreams go all sappy over some beige twit!

More evil laughter.

"I'm sensing a pattern here," Apollo said, oh-so-casually.

"Huh?"

"All these mushy love songs."

"Ah, what about them?"

"I should think it was obvious."

"Umm... there's a lot of guys trying to get laid?"

Apollo just laughed.

 

Now you tell me that the time is right
You've let your feelings go
And you know I won't use them up too fast
I can't promise you the best there is
But ooh, I'm gonna try
I'm never gonna let you go tonite

 

Starbuck felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over his head when he heard those words. Oh yeah, Apollo... I sure am gonna try. But will you let me do my best for you? He inched closer to his friend, who seemed to be migrating slowly towards Starbuck as well.

 

Tonight, the start of a love to remember
Tonight, a love that will never be ended
Tonight, tonight

Oh, please... Starbuck drank more beer, carefully did not look at Apollo.

 

Let me take you where there's no return
Where dreams can all come true
I've got the feeling we've been holding on too long
What we're feeling is ours alone
No one will ever know
Just how we feel about tonight

Starbuck felt Apollo jump beside him. "What's wrong?" He laid a hand on Apollo's arm.

"Nothing, I just... nothing." Apollo drank deeply from his beer, then set it behind him on the bar.

"C'mon, you can tell me," Starbuck urged.

"I just got the oddest feeling, like maybe those words are rather... significant, appropriate- I don't know."

 

Tonight, the start of a love to remember
Tonight, a love that will never be ended
Tonight, tonight

Starbuck couldn't breathe. Apollo's hand had covered his own, Apollo's eyes were gazing at him... Apollo was leaning closer to him...

"Yes, they are, rather significant..." he agreed, when he succeeded in taking a breath.

 

How many times has love fallen through
When I left it all up to you
I took your words when you said
It's got to be just right
I need you now, I need you now

"I thought so," Apollo said, somewhat breathless himself.

And then they were kissing. Starbuck wasn't sure how it had happened, but he was sure that it was the best thing he'd ever felt.

 

Tonight, the start of a love to remember
Tonight, a love that will never be ended
Tonight, tonight

They broke apart, both panting for air, as the song ended.

"Are you sure you didn't have any ulterior motive tonight?" Apollo ran his fingers lightly across the back of Starbuck's hand, sending shivery sensations up his arm. "Because I'd be quite disappointed if you didn't."

They kissed again.

"Maybe I'm one of those guys who's here trying to get laid. Wonder what my chances of that are?"

"Pretty damn good, I'd say..." Apollo blushed. "That is, if you're interested...?"

"Apollo-" Starbuck shook his head sadly. "Sometimes you can be so dense... of course I'm interested!"

Then they were kissing again. The people, the music- everything faded out of his world except Apollo.

"Then what are we waiting for?"

Apollo stood up. Starbuck followed him out of the bar in a daze. Somehow, he thought the words of the song had been right, and this was the start of a love that would never end. And he didn't even need a Hamster Death Gulp... whatever that is.

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