trans_9 | Simple Things

Billy could feel her scrutiny almost piercing him in that way of hers. She definitely knew that something was up. "The workload's been getting easier, which is why I finally have time to see you."

He tugged his knees up and sighed. "But you can feel that I'm confused about something, can't you?"

She smiled. "I'm glad for that. I missed you Billy, and while I'm never going to tell you to abandon your duties to see me, I'm still pretty happy when you do."

She nodded. "It's our Bond, of course, but even more, I can sense it too. Please, tell me what's on your mind."

Billy flashed her an embarrassed smile and settled down. "You'll be seeing more of me. I'm on doctor's orders to take an extended rest period every day, and I'm sure you're happy to hear that."

Everyone would be, he thought.

"And...I thought I'd ask an experienced hand about how human attraction works." It was ridiculous. He felt like a kid wondering about the birds and the bees---he had a technical definition, yes, but that didn't apply to the heart.

"Is that so?" Katara said, narrowing her eyes and looking at him the way a mother who just got an unsavory call from a teacher would look. "I wonder why a doctor would go out of the way of saying something like that. What have you been doing lately?"

But even saying that, Katara was his Bonded: he could see the lack of tension she had now, knowing that he wouldn't be doing something that could potentially cause him harm.

"How it works?" Now she sounded amused. "Well, I don't claim to know all the ins and outs of it Billy, but I'm sure I could give you the best advice that I can. Is there someone you're attracted to as of late?"

Billy squirmed a little uncomfortably. "I've been working to get the department up to speed, but I've done too much. I haven't been dealing with my issues or enjoying life, so that's what I'm working on now."

Yes, he'd definitely had a reprimand from Doc Samson.

On the other issue, he looked a little more evasive. "Have you met Ronnae yet?"

Katara nodded. "It's like the same thing that happened that caused Nanoha and Fate to fight that one time. Nanoha felt like she had a job to do as much as she could, and Fate felt that too much of it would burn Nanoha out. It's a pretty hard call to make, since they're both right. Personally, I'm glad you're taking it easy."

She nodded. "Oh yeah. Green, sort of shy, awesome pigtails? She helped out at the Outsiders meeting quite a bit, and i can tell Nura feels fondly about her. Why do you ask?"

Billy had known she would say that. He scratched at the back of his neck, embarrassed. "I'll do what I can."

Then they were back on Ronnae. "That's her. She's my newest Engineering department member, and our friendship has been rather interesting thus far. Our first day in the lab was normal enough, and we sampled the smoothie well, but it just got more complicated from there."

His face took on a telltale pink glow. He'd have to be coaxed to elaborate.

"Good," Katara said, looking him over a moment. "I know I can expect that from you."

Their friendship had been interesting? What was he talking about?

"Sampled a smoothie? Well that's good, I mean, you're being social, and her opening up to new peo-"

Oh wait WAIT a minute. It was possible that, in thinking Beastboy would be going for Ronnae (did being green like her matter?), it might not be possible that Ronnae had someone else that she liked.

"Oh-oh wow, really?! With her?! I need details, Billy!"

Of course she'd ask that. Billy smoothed a hand through his hair, looking as confused as we felt.

"Nothing felt off about it until we began testing her invisibility device. The first test didn't work at all, so I helped her with the second test. That one was more successful, but the only things we managed to vanish were my clothes."

Yes, it's as bad as it sounds.

"We fixed the problem and kept talking about how we were coping with things, but since then she's been...I'm not sure how to describe it. Shy. Almost afraid of me, but then she draws close."

A little too close, as he'd felt on a few occasions and been flushed about. Pretty girls near him meant trouble.

Katara shook her head. "I think at this point, we're all going to have to get over not having clothes. Honestly, it happens so often on this ship, its as if Stacy is forcing us to be less embarrassed about it, whether we want to be or not."

She smiled. "Oh, I see. Well, I've met Ronnae. She's definitely shy, there's no doubt about that. I don't know what things she's been through in her world, but they seemed to have made her perpetually afraid to stand out. But as for why she draws close, I mean, come on. I think its pretty obvious."

Billy groaned, rubbing at his temples for a moment. "That wouldn't surprise me at all."

He started fidgeting with his hands. "We're alike in several ways, I gathered that, but...you really think she likes me? I thought she was like you and Kaylee."

Yup, that's the root of the signals getting crossed. And he hasn't even mentioned the kisses yet.

"Me neither," she said shaking her head.

"Oh Billy, come on now: how long have you known Ronnae? Kaylee and I have been your friends for a good long time: being next to you, hugging you and stuff, it feels safe. You're our friend. But Ronnae isn't quite like that. I think she likes you quite a bit."

Granted, she'd spoken to Ronnae earlier...

Billy flushed, still bewildered by the truth. "But how? It's hardly been two weeks since we met, isn't that a little fast?"

Notice that he's not admitting to or denying any feelings of his own...

Katara made a face. "Everyone is different Billy, and come on. Kaylee and I have told you how amazing you are, now you have somebody who's seeing it all on her own. You'd be surprised the kind of feelings that can be exchanged in two weeks."

She crossed her arms. "So how do you feel about Ronnae?"

Billy stumbled a little with that one. "I...suppose that's true. I've had minor infatuations before, but this feels different. I guess it doesn't help that I haven't dealt with this sort of thing since before my world was destroyed. I'm out of practice."

Oh wonderful, the question he doesn't want to answer because he wasn't quite sure of it himself. "I feel protective when I look at her. She's someone I want to take care of, and her smile's certainly worth seeing"

Okay, slow down, maybe he's admitting too much too fast. "I felt warmth when she kissed me---on the cheek," he hastily clarified for Katara's wild imagination. "But is that how it starts?"

"Well, of course," Katara said. "It was like I said: there's no manual for liking someone, or what happens. It's all about reading body language, and sometimes its about just really knowing the person you're starting to have feelings for."

She smiled. "I know what you mean: I look at her and hear her and I see she's been through a lot. But there's more there to: I'm glad you see it too."

She smiled. "You're Billy and she's Ronnae: I doubted you would have actually kissed by now. But yes, Billy, I can honestly tell you that this is how it starts."

Billy nodded gloomily. He didn't like things that were imprecise and uncertain, and these...adolescent feelings of attraction were exactly that.

He sighed, pulling his knees up to his chest. "I understand, but I'm not really sure I should pursue this. It's improper for a department head to date someone from their own department---that's very likely to end in accusations of favoritism and a demotion. And...would I have time to devote to building a relationship?"

Katara rolled her eyes. She loved Billy, but she couldn't believe how he was over-complicating things that really didn't need to be so fenced in.

"Billy, come on. I realize that you might like her, and you might even date, but are you really going to give her a job, jeopardizing the progress we need, just because you like someone? I don't. I think you'll give tasks to whoever deserves it, and anyone who would think otherwise obviously doesn't know you at all. Besides, anyone who really wants a relationship will make the time, if it matters that much."

Billy sighed. "It's not about whether I'd misbehave. It's...a common 'rule' of etiquette on my world. People can be fired for being in relationships with others on different levels of the hierarchies. I don't know if this ship has a rule about that, but I should definitely check first."

Yup, that was him. Always checking the rules.

Katara had to restrain herself: she really had never felt so exasperated with Billy's point of view.

"Billy, we're on an alien ship where every hand on deck is needed and no one is more trusted than the person who's held an been good about his position for a long time. How is that going to change just because you get a girlfriend in the same department. For goodness sake, try dating her first before you start caring about rules and stuff like that. At least then you'll have an idea of how you feel about the girl."

She shrugged. "Besides, if you don't, I know Beastboy has his eye on her too."

Billy grumbled but nodded. "I hope you're right."

Beast Boy? He'd briefly seen the other around, but...

"If you're hoping to use envy to pressure me, Katara, you might be barking up the wrong tree. If she ends up happier with him, I won't mind."

Oh sure, he can say that, but what if he saw her again?

Katara looked genuinely exasperated. "Billy, you..."

She sighed. "It's too soon to say anything like that. Just be around her a little longer and see how you feel, ok?"

Ronnae made her way back to the pool, she walked past them both, her thought lingering on the twin swords she carried with great affection. She had gone to grab these feeling she shouldn't leave something so valued to her unattended. She walked to one of the chairs that currently held her towel and hair wraps.

She knelt down to place them at the chair with care before standing up, rearranging her bathing suit. "Sorry! Had to get my mom's swords. I'd die of something happened to them!" She said as she turned, going completely pale as she finally noticed it wasn't just her and Katara anymore.

Billy had been about to attempt to calm Katara down when something caught the corner of his eye---sorry if he's not paying complete attention to the lecture here.

Sure enough, Ronnae came into view just then, carrying swords and wearing a rather form-fitting swimsuit. She looked even prettier with her hair down, he thought idly.

It all went well until she noticed him. Their eyes met, teal on green, and he blushed. Had she heard any of that?

"Uh...Ronnie, hey!" Billy smiled at her. "I didn't know you were here." Of course, his thoughts were running in two directions---one admiring Ronnie and the other wondering if Katara had intentionally set them up.

Oh she hadn't, and that was the awesome part: in fact, Katara had only recently learned that the two of them had an eye for each other to begin with. In any case it was clear that Billy was noticing what Katara herself had noted earlier: exactly how Ronnae looked with her hair down and wearing something that didn't hide her figure.

She smiled. "Well, join us, Ronnae: Billy and I were just talking about, um, the Outsiders and things. I'm glad we all get to swim together!"

Ha ha.

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Hopping in with permission :3

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