The Time We Lost [open, post-rebellion]

[morphitudinous]

Podded and popped again? Billy was less than enthusiastic, especially considering the circumstances. He'd been podded to hinder the engineers---of that, he was certain. He hadn't tried nearly hard enough to affirm his loyalty to the Daligig. Billy would really have to work on his ability to lie.

He'd shivered in the puddle of biostasis fluid, bogged down by worry and fear carried over from his last memory. What had happened, how long had he been gone? Weeks, months, years? Was there even a single familiar face still here?

At least one, his heart answered, though that little warmth in his chest couldn't tell him how he'd be received by her. He hoped there were more friends waiting. Resigning himself to the fact that he'd have to face them sooner or later (especially if she was telling people that he was awake---the last thing he wanted was anyone rushing down here to check), Billy rose to his feet and trode onward and upward.

Finally, he reached the traditional destination, the Observation Deck. As he gazed around at the strangely barren environment, that nagging sense of wrongness finally clicked in his mind. It felt wrong because it was empty. Where were the other popping crew members, where was the welcoming committee? A quick visual sweep across the room revealed no presence that caught his eye---was it his blind spot, were these new glasses not the right prescription strength? Or was everyone asleep, or...worse?

Billy knew by now that it was best to fight pre-emptive panic---his body needed the resources for when it was truly time to panic. He knew at least one person was alive. That was enough. So he settled on a small meat-chair, thinking of exactly what he'd say to the first person he saw. Where to begin? Apologies, questions...he had so many words in his head he worried he'd trip on them.

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[morphitudinous]

Even after dealing with someone's idea of a practical joke, the uneasiness still lingered. Billy knew and trusted his heart, he was sure that Kaya was still there. But where was she? Injured, asleep? He'd go look for her as soon as he was ready to leave.

Luckily, he didn't have to. That faint feeling of warmth surged about ten seconds before the shout hit his ears, and at that moment he knew that moving would be very unwise. All he had to do was rise and open his arms, flashing his tired but relieved smile.

"Kaya. I knew you were here."

[kaya_waterwave]

Kaya was likely not going to be joking about something like this. She'd leave that up to someone who thought Billy coming back was something to be funny about. Kaya had, luckily for the most part been brigged during the time Billy was gone.

But now that he was here? She wasn't going to waste anytime just feeling awkward or reflecting on how bad things had been, or the sleepless nights. No, right now there would be nothing short of rejoicing and hugging and laughing right now.

"I missed you so much! When did you come out?"

[morphitudinous]

"Just now," Billy explained, hugging her just as tightly as she was holding him. It felt fantastic not to be afraid of losing her anymore. It wasn't a perfect situation, he still had doubts, but this felt right. It was coming home again.

"How long has it been?" He sounded hesitant, afraid of the answer.

[kaya_waterwave]

"Not too long, just a few weeks," she said, "same as when I was gone for that small amount of time. You missed all the fireworks, but that's probably for the best for now. Long story short, though I bet you figured it out, Stacy is Stacy again. The fight is now to get our allies."

She rubbed his shoulder. "I know you must hate being podded at such a time, but you definitely dodged a bullet here."

[morphitudinous]

"I should've been there," Billy agreed. "I was too reckless. I never should have been in a position to get caught---that's my fault, and I'm sorry."

His shoulders sagged. All this talk of bullets was unnerving him even more. "...how many people were hurt?"

[kaya_waterwave]

"Their orders were set to kill, Billy," she said. "And it wasn't some mindless robots this time, it was the Kessek who's job it is to defend the Daligig. You can't apologize for not being here, it couldn't be helped! It's your job, and if there's anything you should have pride about, its that you were doing it until they stopped you!"

Why yes Billy, even though Kaya was overjoyed to see you, self deprecation wasn't going to fly with her.

"Your standard bunch, but they were all treatable. We were in sync this time: no deaths, just ridding the Daligig off the ship."

[morphitudinous]

Billy knew when to be quiet around her, and a scolding was one of those times. He held her gaze until she finished, then nodded silently. "I won't be able to escape every dangerous situation. I have to be better prepared. But I'm glad no one else died."

His hand loosely touched one of hers. "...but I am sorry you were hurt. That was one of the worst times to give you that pain, wasn't it?"

[kaya_waterwave]

"In this case, I'm glad, if you had to be podded, that it kept you safe. If there was anyone I didn't want getting hurt it was you. Things got pretty hairy, but in the end, I don't think the Daligig was expecting us to fight back as viciously as we did."

She lowered her eyes. "It was hard. I don't think I ever had to go through something like that since the first time Aang left."

[morphitudinous]

"I know you did," Billy agreed. He tugged on her hand as he sat, urging her to join him on one of the couches. If it was anything like he remembered, the loss and reconnection, she would want him close right now.

"And I'm so, so sorry. But you're such an incredibly powerful warrior, you know? One of the best I've ever seen."

He lifted a hand to her arm and squeezed it. "Not everyone can do what you did."

[kaya_waterwave]

"I did just what you did when I was gone: I had to deal with it, but it wasn't easy. Still, I kept in mind that you would be rooting me on, wherever you were."

Seriously, he didn't need to apologize to her. She was just glad that he was back again.

Kaya squeezed his hand just as hard. "I did what I could at a time like that. I would have fought until I had no strength and died, or until we could overwhelm them all."

[morphitudinous]

Billy nodded fiercely. He had to think about what he was going to say for a second. After that, the words were clear. He reached up to touch his chest.

"I was always with you. And I hope I always will be---hopefully in person more often than not."

[kaya_waterwave]

Kaya smiled. It had been awhile since she was able to this much, aside from Nokosi, and it meant more to her than anything that Billy was still here, that he hadn't left and that, even if he had, that void would never have gone away.

Unable to say all of this aloud, she reached over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

[morphitudinous]

Billy wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. Was he blushing? Probably. The relief here was overwhelming.

"Just let me know how I can help you, all right? If there's anything you need, anything at all, I'm here."

[kaya_waterwave]

Kaya smiled. "Billy, you're here. That's all I need right now. I missed you terribly, even in the holding cell."

The hug, right now, was filling the emptiness she'd been experiencing the past few days.

[morphitudinous]

Ah, right. Kaya would have been one of the jailed rebels, at least temporarily. "That's never easy on you, is it? If you're ever jailed while I'm around, I'll find some way to entertain you if I can't fight the sentence."

He shrugged, almost smiling. "Or maybe I'll be behind bars with you."

[kaya_waterwave]

Kaya sighed. "With you being podded, it was actually worse. Other than that, I found meditation was the easiest way to pass the time. Focusing on defeating the Daligig when we got the chance, beating the Kessek: I made sure I focused on that."

She chuckled. "I would like that, but then it wouldn't be punishment anymore would it?"

[morphitudinous]

"It's still punishment. We're not needlessly cruel to our prisoners." Billy shrugged and smiled, leaning against her.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through that. I'll make it up to you somehow."

[kaya_waterwave]

Kaya shook her head. "I won't argue you there! Honestly, I'm just happy it was a mistake."

She hugged him, gratefully and long. "Just...be here, ok? That's all. I know you have a lot to do, and you and Ronnae are so, so lucky but...if you get the chance, just see me."

[morphitudinous]

Billy nodded, clinging to Kaya fiercely. He could guess what this was about, and the thought made him bubble over with anger all over again. Life on Stacy could be so cruel.

"I'll be here as long as I possibly can, and you're always welcome with us. I promise. Of course I'm going to look after my...my only sister."

[kaya_waterwave]

Kaya was quiet a moment. The ordeal...with Sherlock and the others had actually taken a tool on her. While she had kept her idealism as much as s he could, Billy had given her back something she needed: a reminder of what all of this was about.

"I'll do my best not to be a bother. I missed you both very much, you have no idea!"

[morphitudinous]

"You could never bother me by spending time with me, Kaya," Billy swore, taking the initiative to stand and pull her with him. He pressed a kiss to her cheek. "I promise. So let's get back to working and training together, all right?"

[kaya_waterwave]

Kaya laughed lightly, just more than happy that he was here. Her mood, which had been rapidly deteriorating the past few days, finally got a well deserved lift.

"You don't have to ask me twice: there's still so much to do!"

[morphitudinous]

"Absolutely," Billy agreed, content to simply be with her for a little while. "And one of these days you'll have to tell me what's going on with you. Why do I feel that there's been more than my disappearance going on?"

[kaya_waterwave]

Kaya sighed. "I'll tell you eventually...and I think the easiest way is going into each other's dreamscopes. But feel free not to see the whole thing. It wasn't something people should ever really do."

[morphitudinous]

Billy nodded solemnly. "It's that bad, huh." He squeezed her hand. "Just say the word and we'll find a private place to go over this."