After his father left - the old man managed to make it, gods frakking dammit - and his mother's call from Libron, Zack started drinking. Ambrosia was too sweet for the bitter churning of his stomach, so he downed whiskey after whiskey until even the most stalwart drinkers left him alone.

He sat on the sofa staring at nothing, the glass in his hand, the whiskey burning at the back of his throat. He didn't look up as the door opened. Didn't move.

The bottle was set on the table in front of him, and he gave it a cursory glance. The glass was golden, warped by heat and time, the swirling gases inside it a shimmering purple. He lifted his gaze, blinking back surprise and drunkenness.

"Happy birthday, little brother."

Zak exhaled slowly, his breath catching halfway through, his chest heaving. "You missed the party."

"I know. I'm sorry."

Zak gestured to the bottle. "And that's supposed to make up for it, right?"

"No." Lee picked up the bottle of Orion Mist, an aphrodisiac that would have cost him his career had he been caught with it, and carried it over to the counter, watching it as the light danced around it. "It's supposed to be your present. A little something for you and Kara. I'm sure it'll be well used."

"The frakking Commander was here, Lee."

"Well then, you had one more guest than I did." Lee shoved his hands into his coat pockets, his whole body resigned. "I just wanted to say happy birthday, Zak."

"And you have. Obligation complete. The dutiful Lee Adama as completed all his prerequisites for godhood."

"Frak you, Zak," Lee said softly, his voice light and dangerous.

"Careful, Lee." Zak stood up and walked toward his brother in a slow, drunken swagger. "The Gods might take offense."

"You're drunk."

"So observant." He leaned in close to Lee, his breath hot as it brushed Lee's ear. "I'm celebrating."

"By yourself. Let me guess, you told everyone to go home so you could be miserable, pout for not getting your own way. Just like always."

Zak jabbed his finger against Lee's chest. "I just wanted you here."

"Well, I am here. And I can't imagine why." He shoved the bottle along the counter toward Zak. "Happy frakking birthday."

Lee was almost to the door when the bottle smashed into the wall not a foot from his head. The gasses flooded the room, the majority of them swirling around Lee, fading to lavender and then gone in the air, in their skin, the smell of musk hanging in the air for a moment.

"Glad you enjoyed your gift," Lee managed after a long silence. "Next year I'll just get you a chit at some store on the Riverwalk."

"Frak you, Lee."

Lee grit his teeth, his jaw clenching as he turned around to face his brother. "What the frak is wrong with you?"

Zak tackled him at the waist, both of them crashing hard to the ground. Lee winced as the back of his head hit the table, then groaned he fell the rest of the way to the ground, the air leaving his lungs. "You." Zak's lips trembled as he spoke. He crawled up Lee's body, grabbing his brother's arms at the wrists and pinning them beside his head. "You're my frakking problem."

Snarling, Lee jerked hard, trying to buck Zak's body off his. "Well, get off me and I'll get out."

Zak shook his head as he lowered it, his dark hair brushing Lee's chest. "No."

"Zak…"

He looked up, still shaking his head as he brought his face to Lee's, bodies aligned. Lee's eyes closed and he turned his head away. "No. No. Zak."

"Yes," Zak pleaded quietly, his mouth planting soft kisses along Lee's jaw. "Yes. Yes. Lee. Please." He shifted his body and managed to find Lee's lips. The words were soft against them, a stolen secret. "It's my birthday."

Zak had been fourteen the first time. It was early; even their mom wasn't awake, but it was his birthday and he knew Lee would understand the heady rush of excitement - money, gifts, attention, the Commander's presence. He pushed open the door and froze, words dead on his lips as he watched Lee sprawled on his bed, legs spread, his hand moving rapidly along the length of his cock.

Lee didn't notice Zak as he moved closer, careful not to make a sound as he approached the small bed, the room flush with silence until he broke Lee's frantic rhythm with the light brush of his fingers across the head of Lee's cock.

Lee cried out at Zak's touch, the sound muffled as he caught his lower lip between his teeth. Lee jerked away, shaking and shivering on the frantic edge of orgasm until Zak crawled onto the bed and ground his body against Lee's - chest against Lee's arm, cock against Lee's thigh - leaving Lee no recourse but to come, his body spasming against Zak's, his muted breath hot and loud against Zak's skin.

Zak took a deep breath, inhaling the Orion mist still thick in the air. It was illegal and expensive and he'd wasted probably six month's of Lee's pay when he'd shattered it, but the thick pulse of his blood and the hard pressure of Lee's body beneath his was worth the loss.

His fingers tightened around Lee's wrists, digging beneath the fabric of his jacket to bite into the flesh. Lee's eyes were still closed, his body trying to fight the effects of the drug, but Zak could feel it working as Lee relaxed beneath him, muscles taut with need but not with tension, his legs spreading and allowing Zak to sink further against him.

Zak's mouth found Lee's again, his tongue sliding easily between Lee's parted lips. Lee groaned and shuddered, struggling against Zak's grip just enough to thrust up against him.

"Lee," Zak whispered, half pleading against his brother's mouth. His hips rolled down, the length of his erection grazing Lee's through layers of cloth. Zak kissed him again, quickly, desperately, then broke away, forcing himself away from Lee and getting to his knees.

Lee shuddered hard, his blue eyes opening slowly, glazed with the drug, pupils dilated. He stared up at Zak, blinking, fighting to focus, his reactions slowed as he started to sit up. Pulling his shirt off, Zak tossed it away then pushed Lee back to the floor, the thick lassitude of the drug weakening Lee's responses. Zak's fingers moving easily despite the weight of alcohol in his blood as he undid Lee's belt and then his fly, urging the fabric down, tugging it and Lee's boxer-briefs away from the hard flesh beneath.

Lee sat sullenly on the deck, ignoring the party, ignoring Zak. The bottle he'd stolen from the bar was empty at his feet, the one he'd brought with him was halfway to empty between his legs. Zak shut the door behind him as he came out onto the patio, the heavy glass cutting off the hard beat of music.

He knew what the problem was - always was. The Commander had insisted Lee come, that they be a "family" and then Adama hadn't shown. No harm, no foul, no surprise to anyone but Lee, who should know better than any of them.

Zak screened the glass, darkening it to match the fall of night. He locked the door, his foot catching the switch to keep it from opening from either side. He walked over to the edge of the balcony, leaning against the dark wrought iron bars. "You haven't wished me a happy birthday."

He was 15, years younger than half the people in the other room, his own friends secretly stealing bottles from the shelves behind the bar and taking them back to Zak's room.

Lee lifted the bottle and took a long pull from it, not meeting his brother's eyes. "Happy Birthday." Things were strained between them, had been for a year now, with Lee unwilling to forget and unwilling to remember. Zak reached out and stole the bottle, taking a drink of his own. It was his first - of the night, of his life - and it hit him hard and fast, burning a path straight down his throat to his stomach and landing solidly at the base of his already hard cock.

"Lee?" Zak set the bottle down as he sank to his knees at his brother's feet, watching Lee watch him with hazy eyes, the blue dark with drink and self-loathing. Zak touched Lee's thigh tentatively then more boldly, the heat of the alcohol burning away anything resembling inhibition as he reached out and brushed his fingers across Lee's crotch.

Lee backed up in the chair, his gaze snapping into hard focus. He shook his head and opened his mouth to speak several times, no words ever forming, while Zak scrambled with belt and pants and freed Lee's cock with a mixture of hunger and fear and trepidation, all warring with the thick driving need as he parted his lips for the taste of his brother's flesh.

The knuckles of Lee's hands stood out white as he gripped the arms of the chair, the wood squeaking in protest as Zak took Lee into his mouth, his lips and tongue moving over the flesh with awkward hunger. His hands settled on the flat plane of Lee's hips, holding him down and supporting himself as he moved over him.

The rush of blood in his ears couldn't mask the hard grind of Lee's teeth, the twist of his hands. Zak increased his pace, his throat protesting as he took Lee deeper with no finesse, just wanting more, wanting to taste. He moaned around Lee's cock and a thick tortured sound seemed to rip from Lee's throat through his clenched teeth.

Zak gasped as Lee came, only the slight tensing of his body as warning. Zak pulled back, choking and sputtering on the hot taste, the sting of it hitting his skin. He slumped back against the deck and shuddered, wiping him face with the hem of his t-shirt. He swallowed hard and nearly gagged, grabbing the bottle from where he'd set it and taking another hard pull.

Getting to his feet, Zak held the bottle back out to Lee, jerking his hand free as Lee took it and with a lightning quick movement, threw it off the balcony into the night, never once meeting Zak's eyes.

Lee's hands caught Zak's, his iron grip tight on Zak's wrists. A slow frisson of heat ran through Zak and he let his weight fight against the strength of Lee's arms as his brother held him at bay. He wouldn't for long. Lee could fight the mist - would fight it - but the heavy dose he'd taken when the bottle shattered would break him down. His arms shook slightly and Zak sank closer, shifting against Lee.

Zak closed his eyes for a moment as his body made contact with Lee's, the heat of Lee's cock searing him even through the rough fabric of Zak's pants. He moaned softly then gasped, shocked as Lee reared up, shoving Zak away from him. Zak fell back and to the side of Lee, his eyes tracking his brother as Lee got rapidly to his feet. Lee was all caged animal and predator at once, his eyes darting to Zak's, where he sat blocking the door, and around the rest of the apartment.

Zak got to his feet and leaned against the door. There was a dark spot forming on Lee's right temple where he'd hit the table and Zak stared at it, the thrill of marking and marring his brother's flesh sending another rush through him. His cock was harder than it had ever been - painfully so - and if the look on Lee's face was any indication, he was suffering as well.

"Come on, Lee."

Lee took a step forward, the desire for escape clear in his eyes. Zak shoved himself off the door, taking Lee by surprise with a hard tackle. Lee grunted, both of them stumbling against the couch. Zak steadied himself on Lee's shoulders, the back of the couch digging into Lee's spine. Sliding one hand down to Lee's flat stomach, he used the other to strip away Lee's pants and boxers completely, his eyes burning as they held Lee's.

Lee's knee caught Zak in the chin, throwing him back. Lee's feet tangled in his slack clothing as he twisted away, nearly sending him sprawling to the floor next to his brother. Taking advantage of the movement, Zak, the corner of his mouth bright with blood, surged upward, his fist catching Lee's temple. They fell against each other for a moment, arms and bodies entangled until Lee pulled away, his breath rough and hard as it forced its way out of his mouth. Zak pushed at Lee's shoulders, forcing him to straighten as he let his gaze sweep swept Lee - his heaving chest, the flushed red tip of his cock standing out against his otherwise pale skin.

Zak raked his eyes up from Lee's cock to the heavy jacket and shirt he still wore. He reached out and grabbed jacket and pulling Lee closer. He felt the zipper cut into his palms as he jerked the jacket back over Lee's shoulders, his mouth finding Lee's in a hard kiss. Lee bit Zak's lip hard and pulled away as Zak raised one hand to his lip, allowing Lee to shed the jacket in Zak's fist.

Zak tossed it aside and grabbed at Lee again, catching his wrist. Lee freed himself with a deft twist, wiping at the blood trickling down the side of his face from the gouge of Zak's class ring. Blood darkened Lee's lips where Zak had kissed him, the sight making Zak smile as he licked at his sore lip and sucked it into his mouth, his breath catching as Lee's eyes followed the motion. Zak's hand snagged out again, fast and quick, catching Lee and turning them both so Lee's back was hard against the door. Zak's fingers worked the buttons of Lee's shirt, undoing them as rapidly until he frustration and need overpowered him and he just ripped the fabric apart.

The night he turned sixteen, Zak got laid.

His mom was on a date - No, it's fine, Mom. I don't want a party. Dad can't come, and Lee hasn't responded. I'll just go out with some friends - and so he'd gone out to a club he wasn't old enough to get into, sneaking in on Lee's old ID and the frakking Adama name.

The club was full of pretty boys and prettier girls and he and his friends had taken the top table they could find with the chits they'd stolen from their parents. He danced and drank and played along with the dares until he'd seen the two of them across the room. They were in their uniforms though stripped down to their tanks and pants. He got up from the table, waving his friends away as he walked over.

She was a cool blonde who gave him one glance. He was medium build and broad, hair shorn to a rough, dark buzz. Zak swallowed hard. "You guys from Galactica?"

"Pegasus."

"Zak Adama." He thrust his hand out and watched the light in their eyes change at the sound of the name. There was a measure of respect in their tone and he stood taller. They bought him a drink, toasted his birthday and by the end of the night he was in his mother's bed with both of them.

He doesn't know who touched him where or who he touched; his world narrowed down to sensation - heat and full and thick and hard and soft and sweet and salt and alone. He gasped for breath, fingers and flesh inside him, fucking him when the phone rang and Lee's voice carried into the room.

Zak's body came alive, moving roughly against the hands and mouths and tongues and cock and cunt as his brother spoke. His orgasm rocketed through him as Lee ended the call with a quiet "Happy Birthday."

Lee groaned as Zak's mouth found the bare skin of his throat, sucking at the hollow. The sound reverberated in the silent apartment, the only sound warring with it the rough scratch of cloth on skin as Zak shoved Lee's remaining clothes off, fending off his brother's half-hearted protests, feeble hands pushing at his skin.

"Damn it," Zak growled, grabbing Lee's shoulders and jerking them forward before slamming Lee back hard against the door. Lee's eyes closed and he slumped slightly, allowing Zak a moment's advantage to guide Lee to the floor. He stripped his own pants off, his hands shaking, his breath heavy in his chest.

Lee lifting his head, expression dazed despite the hard glint of pain in his eyes as he reached up to his head and the hard knot no doubt forming on the back of his skull. Zak grabbed his arm and pinned it to the floor, leaning over Lee, nudging Lee's legs farther apart.

"No," Lee moaned softly, the word barely registering as Zak found Lee's mouth again, biting at Lee's closed lips, sinking his teeth into the swollen flesh until Lee parted them, letting Zak's hard tongue thrust inside. Zak lowered himself on top of Lee, bodies fitting together strangely and yet right, his cock hard against Lee's, his body without the hard trace of muscle, but still firm. He ran his chest over Lee's, the rough sprinkle of hair sliding against Lee's smooth skin, catching on the hard nipples.

Zak thrust his hips, sliding his length along Lee's, feeling heat and friction and the slow burn of pleasure. "Yes."

Zak watched Lee and the blonde move through the mass of people, laughing and joking. They looked good together, dark and light and yet everything else the same. Both hard and compact, something urgent in their eyes, danger clinging to them like the Viper pins on the collars of their uniforms. Zak moved around, keeping away from them both as they moved further in. Keeping away from Lee's gaze as he sought Zak out.

Lee liked her. Zak could tell by the way he talked to her, leaned toward her. He could tell by the casual touches that Lee skirted over her arm, her hand. She angled her body toward Lee's, a subtle offer, but Zak could see Lee holding back, unsure of how to take the final step, to seal the deal.

Zak smiled and slid through the guests easily until he was at the blonde's side. He watched Lee for a moment before tugging gently at her arm, guiding her away from Lee and turning her to face him. "Zak."

He could see the recognition in her eyes - where Lee takes after their mother, Zak has the dark features of his father - and every good pilot knows Bill Adama. "Kara Thrace."

"You're here with my brother."

She smiled. "He said you wouldn't mind."

"That depends. Are you my present?" He could feel Lee's attention turning back to them and smiled. He had his father's looks, but his mother's charm, the easy openness that Lee would never possess. "Because if that's the case, you're definitely welcome."

She didn't even look back at Lee. "And if it's not?"

"I bet if I unwrap you, you'll change your mind." Zak looked over her shoulder and smiled. "Hey, Lee."

Lee's jaw tightened, teeth obviously clenched. "Happy birthday, Zak."

Zak threaded Kara's arm through his and led her away, his quick nod to the door an invitation for Lee to leave. "It is now."

Zak lowered himself to his elbows, arms extended on either side of Lee's head. His fingers brushed the short hair, his mouth fitted to Lee's in hungry, breathless kisses. Lee jerked away, gasping hard and staring fixedly at the wall. Zak ground down against Lee, burying his face against Lee's neck, sliding his tongue over salty flesh.

His hips rolled easily, slick heat smoothing flesh against flesh. "Look at me, Lee."

Lee turned his head farther to the side, defiant despite the hard thrust of his body against Zak's and the hitch of need in his breath. Zak closed his eyes for a moment, reveling in the pliant heat of Lee's body and the hard press of his cock. He could see the emotions warring in Lee's eyes and across his face as the drug worked over his flesh, demanding the friction brought on by the slide of their bodies together.

"Look at me." Zak's voice took on a pleading tone, no longer anywhere close to in control. "Lee. Look at me." Zak felt his body tense, muscles tightening and constricting as his body went rigid against Lee's, the hot rush of his orgasm staining them both. Zak gasped with relief and bit hard at Lee's skin, his teeth leaving a dark red impression.

Lee was shivering beneath him as Zak braced himself on his hands, looking down at his brother. Lee's teeth were clenched, his jaw set, the pulse twitching hard and fast. Zak pressed his tongue to it, forcing a low groan from between Lee's teeth. Smiling to himself, Zak reached down and caught Lee's cock, rubbing the thick heat of his own orgasm along Lee's flesh.

"Look at me, Lee."

Lee shuddered hard, his body practically convulsing as he came, spilling himself on his stomach and Zak's moving fingers. Zak continued stroking him until Lee was gasping, his body fracturing with sensation. He came again in a short, hot burst as Zak released him, his tensed body falling back to the floor, his eyes still resolutely on the wall.

Zak rested against his brother's chest, breathing hard, flush with release and triumph. He felt Lee shift beneath him and started to speak, the words caught in his throat as Lee's hands grasped Zak's arms, shoving him aside.

Sitting up slowly, Zak watched as Lee scrambled away until his back was against the door. Lee grabbed the nearest shirt - Zak's - and scrubbed at his abdomen before tossing the shirt away, his face a mask of disgust.

Zak leaned against the couch and smiled as Lee slammed his head hard into the door, making a sound beneath his breath as he hit the knot formed from before. "You should see someone about that. And the cut." Without looking at Zak, Lee got to his feet and gathered his clothes, dressing hurriedly and methodically. "Though you might want to be careful how you explain it."

Lee froze and swallowed hard, pulse pounding in his jaw as he bent down to get his jacket. Zak stood as Lee straightened, placing himself squarely in Lee's line of sight. Lee looked away, his jaw tightening until Zak brought Lee's eyes back to him by grabbing his hand and placing something in it.

Closing his fingers around the shattered piece of golden glass, Lee met his brother's eyes. Zak watched the play of emotion as Lee's fist tightened until the quiet sound of blood hitting the floor brought his gaze down to the small pool of red expanding across the wood that splattered vividly as Lee dropped the glass.

Zak looked back up and smiled. "Wish me happy birthday, Lee."